Some reviews must be shared publicly. This review of Getting Unstuck on my Amazon page is from–admittedly–my friend John Gordon, who was my editor at SCOREGolf a thousand years ago, and a great writer and editor.
(Please note that I now post my blogs on Substack.com at toconnor.substack.com.)
John’s review:
Here’s my succinct review of Tim O’Connor’s Getting Unstuck: 7 Transformational Practices for Golf Nerds: Buy it. Whether you’re an experienced golfer or just taking up the game, buy it. It costs less than a sleeve of golf balls and not only will it last longer, it will help you enjoy the game more.
Here’s the much longer version.
A couple of disclaimers in the interests of full transparency: First, I’ve known Tim as a friend and golf-writing colleague for about 40 years. (There’s a totally unnecessary mention of me in the book’s acknowledgements.)
Second, I’m the farthest thing from a golf “nerd” or, indeed, anyone who has the slightest interest in being “transformed” in any way, shape or form. I abhor any book, podcast or other medium that presents the game (or sport, depending on your approach) of golf as some sort of mystical religion, especially if it’s communicated by some fictional dweeb called something like “Sandy McDivot.” It’s been said that the smaller the ball, the more there is written about it. While that is true, much of it is crap.
Not this book.
So, if you’ve gotten this far, understand that you don’t have to be a golf nerd or some navel-gazing transcendalist to get serious and lasting value out of this book. Tim has distilled a lifetime of playing the game, writing about the game, coaching the game and agonizing over the game into an eminently readable 145 pages. The book is conversational and, in fact, could be the written version of the excellent podcast he co-hosts with “Humble” Howard Glassman.
As I said, this is a distillation of Tim’s immersive life in golf and he doesn’t shrink from putting his own foibles and shortcomings on display, many of which most golfers can relate to: temper tantrums, unrealistic expectations, poor sportsmanship, just being a jerk. He uses these personal anecdotes to illustrate the universal impact golf has on just about everyone who has played the game. But then (ta-da!), he tells us how to do better, to be better, and stay better.
Beginners will, and should, devour every word and re-read the book regularly. I wish it had been around when I took up the game. Instead, like most longtime duffers, I learned some of what Tim espouses through a lifetime of shanks, whiffs and foozles. But what I didn’t learn, for the most part, was how to heal myself.
(The sub- subtitle of this awkwardly named book is “How to change your self-defeating behaviours and move your game forward.”)
Many snippets, passages and so-called “Interludes” in the book have proved valuable. I am Exhibit A that even an aged curmudgeon can implement Tim’s sensible advice on meditation, visualization, mental attitude, awareness and gratitude.
I can’t say I like the title of this book all that much but everything between the covers is terrific.
(Tim knew I had to throw that last sentence in.)
Thx John. I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful review, and I’m not surprised that the review itself reveals that you sir a great writer.
About Tim O'Connor