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Ever wonder what it takes to raise a champion-in sports, in work, or in life? Discover the secrets of triumphant parenting -- and raising a child who excels. Summer Sanders won more medals than any other American swimmer at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Three hundred twenty-three consecutive meets without a loss -- that's just one highlight in Dick Hannula's coaching record. One of the all-time great swimming coaches, Dick shares the secrets of his success in this book.

FAST Comments: A book for teaching basic foundations and techniques of swimming. It covers everything on body and hand positions of the four strokes to planning your season, to how to handle big meet pressure. It is not as wordy as some of the coaching books out there, that's why I think this is an excellent "must read" for all. Age group level coaches especially will benefit. -- Coach Ron Forrest

FAST Comments: "Doc" Counsilman is known as the Father of Swimming Science. His most recent book, written in collaboration with his son, is an update of his 1969 classic text on swimming. -- Webslave

Step by step interpretations from strokes to energy systems to nutrition to mental preparation to dryland training. He even gives sample workout inside. Very complete. -- Craig Leonard, Cincinnati Marlins

FAST Comments: Schubert's book is easier to understand than many other texts on swimming, yet includes important detail. The pictures illustrating stroke technique are very good. His philosophy and quotes on the sport are excellent. -- Webslave

Discusses psychological methods of enhancing performance in swimming, covering such aspects as the challenge of training, goal setting, pain management, and handling pressure.

FAST Comments: This book is one of Coach Ted Murphy's favorites.

Tremendous insights on time management and what should be important in your life.

Written by one of America's greatest authors, Moby Dick is a work of tremendous power and depth - one of world literature's great poetic epics.

FAST Comments: Aside from it being one of the greatest stories of all time, I find this book can teach us how easily we can allow our compulsions and obsessions to get the best of us and lead us down the road to ruin. In athletics, as with everything in life (even whaling) there is a time when you must step back from the edge and let go of your compulsion and regain focus on life. Ahab's hatred of the whale did not allow him to do that and it cost him his life (and others). (Swimming allusion here, folks!) -- Coach Ron Forrest

By expedition's end, the mountain had claimed six lives, and Krakauer had enough material for a book -- one he would have given anything not to write. A horrifying, lucid survivor's account. -- Entertainment Weekly

FAST Comments:Climbing the tallest mountain in the world is an incredible test of the human body and spirit against the harshest elements in nature. The rescue story is truly inspirational -- Webslave

One of the most amazing rescues in mountaineering history, performed single-handedly a few hours after climbing Everest without oxygen by a man some describe as the Tiger Woods of Himalayan climbing.

FAST Comments: O.K. not everything you read should have to do with swimming! I have read just about everything about the '96 Everest disaster I could just for interest. I read the original magazine articles and then read Krakauer's book "Into Thin Air" (see above). As Krakaur vilifies Boukreev in Thin Air, you begin to wonder how one of the world's best climbers (Boukreev) could be so negligent. That is, until you read this book. While Krakaur's book is a wonderfully woven tale of intrigue and drama, Boukreev's is basically a worded out version of his journal kept on the mountain during the events. By the end, I had decided that Boukreev was probably a lot closer to the truth -- Coach Ron Forrest