Publishers Weekly
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Bar-Eli, a professor of business and sports psychology at Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, takes an energetic look at management and business success. Inspired to write a book on his lifelong interest-human performance-after a Parkinson's diagnosis made him realize that his time was limited, Bar-Eli presents lessons from sports psychology, a field that he posits can aid our understanding of human behavior in general, and particularly our understanding of business activities. His interesting and varied life provides plenty of fodder; he begins with his time in the Israeli army during the Yom Kippur War and describes holding down unlikely jobs such as that of psychological consultant to Israel's national table-tennis team. Focusing on the often hidden psychological forces behind human performance, he dives deep into the methodologies for cultivating mental preparedness and psychological awareness. He covers stress and performance, aspiration, self-confidence, and action, and he includes interesting anecdotes from sports history such as the story of the Fosbury Flop-an innovative new style of high jump when it was introduced at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. The exuberant tone and fresh angle make this a standout in the crowded job-performance subgenre, and readers looking for help with their careers need look no further. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

Boost! is an insightful read that explores performance enhancement in a variety of contexts. Like many other sport psychology texts, Bar-Eli's focuses on how developing and honing psychological skills can benefit an individual's performance. What sets this book apart is Bar-Eli's repeated emphasis on the applications of these skills outside a sport/exercise context. Examples throughout the text include the author's work with military personnel and businesses (General Motors and Tesla, to name a few); he offers strategies on how to enhance organization and proficiency in one's management practices. At the end of each chapter, Bar-Eli (Univ. of the Negev, Israel) provides "Daily Practices" for readers to complete as individuals and as leaders. These final tips provide strong takeaways and serve as a tangible resource for readers. Boost! incorporates a variety of trademark sport psychology principles and theories, so this could be a beneficial resource for those trying to extend these ideas beyond a sport/exercise context. The worlds of sport psychology and industrial/organizational psychology are skillfully merged here. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Caitlyn Hauff, University of South Alabama