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  • How Bad Do You Want It?

  • Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle
  • By: Matt Fitzgerald
  • Narrated by: Matt Fitzgerald
  • Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (174 ratings)

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How Bad Do You Want It? cover art

How Bad Do You Want It?

By: Matt Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Matt Fitzgerald
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

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Publisher's Summary

The greatest athletic performances spring from the mind, not the body. Elite athletes have known this for decades, and now science is learning why it's true. In his fascinating new book, How Bad Do You Want It?, coach Matt Fitzgerald examines more than a dozen pivotal races to discover the surprising ways elite athletes strengthen their mental toughness.

Fitzgerald puts you into the pulse-pounding action of more than a dozen epic races from running, cycling, triathlon, XTERRA, and rowing with thrilling race reports and revealing postrace interviews with the elites. Their own words reinforce what the research has found: Strong mental fitness lets us approach our true physical limits, giving us an edge over physically stronger competitors. Each chapter explores the how and why of an elite athlete's transformative moment, revealing powerful new psychobiological principles you can practice to flex your own mental fitness.

The new psychobiological model of endurance performance shows that the most important question in endurance sports is: How bad do you want it? Fitzgerald's fascinating book will forever change how you answer this question and show you how to master the psychology of mind over muscle. These lessons will help you push back your limits and uncover your full potential.

©2015 Matt Fitzgerald (P)2016 Recorded Books

What listeners say about How Bad Do You Want It?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An excellent book about sports psychology

Great advice and insights for all levels of athletes, told by using stories. Highly recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great motivator.

Good insight. Enjoyable listen. Trippled my best in the pool after listening to the first few chapters. Lessons derived from real examples.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable and motivating

Very enjoyable stories of world famous athletes and some of what makes them tick- and how we can all use some of their mental tricks.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good stories

Good stories of athletes success. Wish the author had made the learnings/insights more clear or provide some actionable steps

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Quality Listen for all Athletes

Matt is truly dedicated to producing high quality content for athletes and sportspeople. He shares some great stories of memorable sports performances and studies, he disects them and presents the learnings in a way that anyone can apply to improve their own journey and performance.

A great listen for anyone who is striving to achieve more in their athletic endeavour.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great stories

Awesome stories that capture you. Could have focused more on making the learning and insights from them clear.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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outstanding

Thoroughly enjoyable book. First time I'll re-listen to an audiobook instantly, love Matt Fitzgerald's work.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic read

These insights on how a diverse selection of world class athletes overcame adversity are absolutely fascinating giving us fellow athletes loads of learnings.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational to athletes at all levels

Interesting & inspiring examples of the power of mental strength & determination. I love the take home messages from each example. Matt articulates each athletes story & journey so well. He had me engaged the whole time as he reads. It has made me personally consider to myself... what do I want? Why do I want it? How much do I want it? What do I need to get what I want? Lessons not just in the pursuit of athleticism, but many of lifes challenges. I highly recommend this book for those that need some guided motivation & looking to find a new level to push towards. Thanks for this book Matt. I will listen to this again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating

I couldn’t stop listening and I think I’ll replay this immediately. Fascinating insight into endurance athletes’ psychology and brilliant storytelling.

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