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This book was given to me by my high school piano teacher over two decades ago, as I was struggling with nerves when performing in competitions or auditions. Though it was written as a guide for peak performance in tennis, the techniques can be applied to any sport or public performance activity; as you discover early in the book, the most critical and competitive element in these kinds of activities is your own mind. Even though the book was written in 1972, the advice and techniques for optimal performance and mental clarity are still relevant today (perhaps even more so, in this age of omnipresent technological distraction). I regularly revisit this book and advise my students to read it, as it has greatly helped me with stage fright in both piano performances and public speaking engagements. Perhaps one day I’ll pick up a tennis racket and surprise myself with the results....