Tackling Life - Striving for Perfection by Wilkinson, Jonny
Tackling Life - Striving for Perfection
An Intimate, Psychological Exploration of Fear, Focus, and the Pursuit of True Happiness by a Rugby Union Icon
An Intimate, Psychological Exploration of Fear, Focus, and the Pursuit of True Happiness by a Rugby Union Icon
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Tackling Life - Striving for Perfection
- Author: Jonny Wilkinson (with Steve Black)
- Publisher: Headline Book Publishing, London
- Publication Date: 2008
- ISBN-10: 0755318439
- ISBN-13: 9780755318438
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing. Standard Hardcover Release.
- Binding: Original publisher’s premium cloth-bound hardcover casing with vibrant gilt spine stamping.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 341 pages. Interspersed with structural questionnaires, tactical diagrams, and exclusive inner photo plates mapping international tournament milestones.
- Language: English [1, 2, 3]
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Used - Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Exterior / Boards: The original cloth hardcover casing presents in very good condition, keeping exceptionally flat, square, and structurally secure panels. Shows only very limited, superficial signs of minor shelf contact along the bottom edges. The spine is completely undamaged, holding its pristine shape without linear shelf-lean, internal binding sag, or impact crushing to the head and tail bands.
- Interior: The text block is robustly bound, tight, and highly crisp. Internal leaves are clean, bright, and completely intact. They are entirely free of traditional user highlighting, underlying annotations, modern gift inscriptions, or standard dealer pencil markings. A beautifully maintained copy.
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The Dust Jacket: Used - Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Condition Detail: The original illustrated pictorial dust jacket is complete, whole, and fully intact under a protective Cellophane cover. The jacket faces remain exceptionally bright and vibrant, exhibiting only micro-friction consistent with safe, standard shelf-sheltering. Free of heavy open tears, sun-fading, or chips.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 2008, Tackling Life - Striving for Perfection is a startlingly honest, deeply vulnerable cross-disciplinary memoir by one of global sport's most legendary figures: Jonny Wilkinson. Written at a pivotal moment in his international playing career, the book bypasses traditional sports boastfulness to explore the deep psychological toll of elite performance. Wilkinson opens up for the very first time about his darkest moments, detailing how a crippling fear of failure, the punishing targets he set himself, and a brutal string of injuries forced him to entirely question his attitude to life and success. [1, 2]
Co-authored alongside acclaimed sports psychologist and mentor Steve Black, the narrative acts as both a moving biography and a practical self-help guide. Wilkinson outlines the exact techniques, mental frameworks, and behavioral steps he implemented to discover authentic personal happiness while remaining at the absolute peak of international rugby. Punctuated with revealing questionnaires sent to well-known global sports personalities, this premium first-edition hardcover collectible copy is a scarce, highly desirable volume that serves as an inspiring blueprint for excellence across sport, personal growth, and corporate leadership. [1, 2]
Author Profile: Jonny Wilkinson & Steve Black
Jonny Wilkinson, CBE, is an international rugby union legend, a former World Rugby Player of the Year, and England's ultimate tournament hero. Most famous for kicking the dramatic, last-gasp drop goal that secured the 2003 Rugby World Cup for England against Australia, his obsessive work ethic, legendary defensive tackling, and precision place-kicking redefined the fly-half position for a generation. Over an illustrious career spanning Newcastle Falcons, Toulon, and 91 international Test caps, his relentless pursuit of mastery cemented his place as a global sporting icon.
Steve Black (1950–2022) was a legendary British sports psychologist, motivational coach, and high-performance consultant. Highly revered across international sporting circles, Black coached elite athletic structures spanning international rugby, Premier League football clubs, and world-title boxing camps. His deep understanding of mental resilience and human behavior allowed him to help Wilkinson translate raw locker-room anxieties into an accessible roadmap for personal fulfillment and sustainable excellence. [1]
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