Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes

by Billie Jean King, Christine Brennan, Holly Hunter (Introduction)

The tennis star recounts her life and athletic career, from childhood, through her athletic successes, to her life after professional tennis, and discusses the life lessons that she learned at every stage along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Business, LGBT, Autobiography

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2008

About the author

As one of the 20th century's most respected and influential people, Billie Jean King has long been a champion for social change and equality. She created new inroads for both genders in and out of sports during her legendary career and she continues to make her mark today. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp]

Powerful leadership and life lessons from Billie Jean King. This is a very short book compared to her autobiography (which is fabulous).

King's lessons and advice on integrity, giving 110%, never underestimating your opponent, and leaving a legacy are memorable.

Highly recommend!

[Kayleigh Cowan]

A bit of a cheesy motivational book, but still lovely to hear her reflections on the Battle of the Sexes

[Sunil Rajasekar]

This book revolves around the famous Battle of the Sexes game between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs and also covers her upbringing and lessons learned through her experiences. I found the book an easy read and the lessons all irrefutable but very basic.

[Emily]

I really enjoyed the story of "The Battle of the Sexes," and appreciated all of the autobiographical bits... but this is ultimately a book about life lessons, so it gets a little preachy. Always be honest. Don't underestimate a challenge, etc... I would still recommend it. Billie Jean is an amazing woman and has done so much for women in sports!

[Janet]

Too simplistic...I wanted something with a little more heft.

[Andrew Roy]

There are two halves to Pressure is a Privilege: Billie giving background on her life and story, and then giving broader self-help tips based on her experiences. It's an extremely brief and easy read, and her conversational, candid tone makes each chapter feel inviting. I didn't know much about Billie's career or the circumstances surrounding the battle of the sexes, and her transparency made all of her personal stories quite engaging. The life lessons felt less impactful, as many were very broad and obvious, like "be true to yourself" or "visualize success" or "don't make assumptions". There are no bad lessons, but there aren't any that gave me much to reconsider, and many felt so generic that I have already forgotten them. I did like this more than the similar book I recently read, The Creative Act, which felt like the same writing style but only had the self-help parts and not the personal.

[Aaron]

I've always had trouble, like many, with pressure. Ms. King gives a new perspective on handling pressure and how to be adroit, aloof, and in the zone of flow. What I also like is the aspect of humility that's involved, to play with one's peers at the top of one's game really is a privilege.
This makes me think of the missionary in "Chariots of Fire" who explains to his sister why he runs.
Basically, he runs at God's pleasure. Whether one believes in a higher power or not, the character expressed this opportunity with such gratitude, that it was an honor to be in such a place of opportunity and response-ability. These are elements of grace I can embrace.

[Laura Mitchell]

Motivational words (lessons) with tennis metaphors, and most specifically the tennis match billed as the "Battle of the Sexes". I definitely appreciated King's take on the situation, and I believe the lessons are important, but I was hoping for more description/definition/exploration of the "pressure is a privilege" concept. Otherwise it feels like another spin on the self-help genre.

[Dinesh Balachandran]

Billie Jean reflects on the key aspects or learning from her life that helped her win the game against Bobby Riggs. Considered as one of the best to have played the sport. She is also known for her efforts to get equal pay for men and women in the tennis world. A very short read, and seemed too formulaic to make a memorable read.

[Jason Bauer]

Always a fan of Tennis and Billy Jean King. The stories told about her inspired me to read this book. Wow...so glad I did. This book delves into the "Battle of the Sexes", but there is far more behind the scenes. A true champion for Title IX and someone to admire for all she has championed and accomplished!

[Caitlyn Mooty]

I absolutely loved this book. As a musician, it really speaks to me. I am a female musician that plays an instrument that is typically and historically played by men. Every single one of these lessons, I will try and exercise and implement into my own life. Highly recommend to anyone in a competitive field, or if you have any specific goal in life that you want to rise to.

[Lotus (Yang Yu)]

I love Billie Jean King.

[Laney]

Easy and fast reading. I wish Billie Jean King had explored the idea of pressure as a privilege. Instead, the book is a compilation of basic life lessons she lives by.

[Angela]

Inspiring but it lacked pictures.

[Carrie Guthrie]

Great short read from the legend. The book distills her advice and perspective learned from her career in tennis and from the “Battle of the Sexes”.

[Emily]

A pleasant, quick read - full on wisdom. I gave this 3 stars because it’s not particularly revelatory but is lovingly written and feels like the book version of a warm hug.

[Robin]

One of my personal heroes

[M. Fenn]

Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes is a combination autobiography/inspirational tome. Ms. King focuses on her historic tennis match with Bobby Riggs in 1973, the Battle of the Sexes, and shares the lessons she learned from this and other important points in her life.

Ms. King writes in a straightforward down-to-earth style, sharing her feelings and experiences that made her the number one female tennis player in the world, activist, successful businesswoman and mentor that she is. The book is divided into lessons ranging from relationships to leaving a legacy. In each lesson she shares insight into her family, her coaches, and especially, preparing for her match with Bobby Riggs which opened the door for equal treatment of women in sport. Each chapter ends with an “instant replay” of the important points of the lesson.

If you’re looking for an in-depth autobiography of Billie Jean King, this isn’t the book for you. While she talks about her life, tennis, her family, and her sexuality, she doesn’t delve deeply. It’s more like how Maria Sharapova describes it on the back of the book: a “personal conversation” where Ms. King shares some of what she’s learned in her groundbreaking life. A positive, enthusiastic book perfect for a light summer read. I wish my outlook on life was this good

[Nandini Chaturvedi]

Pretty small book. Not the kind of book I was expecting it to be.

[Lesley Looper]

Billie Jean King was one of my childhood heroes and role models, so I enjoyed this book alot. I remember watching the Battle of the Sexes on television as a 4th grader in the fall of 2003, and being so excited that she won! I liked learning more about the match in this book, as well as more women's tennis history mixed in with the advice King dispenses.

[Michael]

I Love BJK but this is full of broad generalities, glib platitudes and an oddly high volume of name-dropping. I would have learned a lot more "lessons" from straight candid memoir. Hopefully she tries again.

[Kt]

Never have I wanted to be a dyke more than after reading this book!

[Kris]

I expected a lot more out of this book since I was such a big fan of hers. It mainly was just a replay of her match with Bobby Riggs.

[Kari]

This book is the average self-help book about thinking positive. I did appreciate her personal stories and hearing her perspective about the events that shaped her life.

[Alexis Collins]

I really loved this book. I got it as a gift from my WTA client and it was inspiring. It was an easy read which embodied some wonderful principles to live by.

[Ctetlow]

Love Billie Jean but her book was fairly boring for the amazing life she has had.

[Rachael]

Meh. This slim volume would have been utterly fascinating if she had told more stories about her life and spent less time on "work hard/do your best" tired "lessons."

[Sari]

really enjoyed reading about BJK's preparation and outlook on her career.

[Ruth]

A quick and very positive read by a woman who has learned how to live as a star, a leader and also a joyful, humble person. She is cool!