Chasing Excellence: A Story About Building the World's Fittest Athletes

By: Ben Bergeron

Narrated by: Ben Bergeron

Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

CrossFit trainer Ben Bergeron has helped build the world's fittest athletes, but he's not like other coaches. He believes that greatness is not for the elite few; that winning is a result, not a goal; and that character, not talent, is what makes a true champion. His powerful philosophy can help anyone excel at all aspects of life.

Using the dramatic competition between the top contenders at the 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games® as a background, Ben explores the step-by-step process of achieving excellence and the unique set of positive character traits necessary for leveling up to world-class. The mindset and methodology that have produced some of the greatest athletes in the world's most grueling sport can work equally well for golfers, lawyers, artists, entrepreneurs - anyone who's willing to commit totally to becoming better than the best.

By Chasing Excellence, you'll discover how extraordinary it's possible for you to be.

©2017 Ben Bergeron (P)2017 Ben Bergeron

Great if you love crossfit, good if you don't

Ben does a fantastic job writing a convicting book about excellence. He does so through the lens of the crossfit games, which if you are a fan of crossfit is fascinating. There are a lot of cool anecdotes and interesting behind the scenes stories about the games that you don't get even if you watched the documentaries about them. However, it is not a book about crossfit. It is a book about excellence told through the lens of crossfit.

Some may have a hard time applying Ben's principles to their lives. There will be a good amount of thought that will be needed and probably some sitting down to figure out how and what can carry over. But in general the book is solid. Certainly punches above its weight class in regards to its length. And to be honest the introduction chapter alone should be enough to get the mind running on how to change and improve life.

Most of the time when someone picks up a book on living better or, in this case, excellent they are looking more for motivation and a few good tips, maybe hearing something in a different way. That is what you get with this book. It is extremely motivating, and it especially helps to hear it in Ben's voice. Solid book, and anyone who is into the self improvement genre would do well to add this to their library and visit it with some regularity.

8 people found this helpful

I've been listening to this book on loop for 1 mo.

I happen to be a CrossFit athlete but I apply these concepts to just about everything. These concepts are not anything new, nor does Bergeron try to convince you that these are original ideas. If you read/study stoicism at all, much of this material will sound familiar. It's incredibly well written/read in a sense that he does not try to put on a show of how I telligwnt he can sound. He just talks sans fluff. Great, quick read/listen that I would suggest for anyone.

4 people found this helpful

Awesome book if you are into Crossfit

If you're a Crossfit athlete or you're into Crossfit anyhow you'll love this book for sure and you'll love all the Crossfit stories given as an example to illustrate Bergeron's words. He teaches you how to achieve the mindset of a true champion by focussing on the details and the process instead of on the ultimate goal . By redefining your definition of success you'll get anything you want without thinking about it.

2 people found this helpful

inspiring

This book is about the pursuit of excellence and while it doesn't give you a map or path to follow it does some great examples. The end goal is important but more importantly are the individual goals.

I am currently on a weight loss journey. Down 25 lbs and hoping to lose another 51 lbs. Those numbers don't mean anything without action. The routine I build every morning afternoon and night will dictate the result. There will be failures and setbacks but a positive realistic mindset with focus can pull you through inch by inch.

Good read to give you some motivation to get work done. Whether its working out or saving money or something to do at work this is a good read for you.

1 person found this helpful

Trust the process

I really love Bergeron’s approach to life and this book lays it out succinctly and engagingly as told through the lens of the 2016 crossfit games. I will listen to this many more times when I need a reminder to trust the process and focus on excellence. Awesome book!

1 person found this helpful

Full of Wisdom and Energy

As soon as I finished it, I was ready to listen through again. It's constructive and motivational. So glad the author read it himself.

Amazing Read

I probably listen to this book once a month. It’s a gut check for chasing excellence in my fitness journey, in my coaching journey, in my work journey, and even in my mom and wife journey. If you don’t listen to this book and fall in love with the grind all over again I’ll call you a liar! Love having this audiobook to remind me to put in the work, every single day.

Second half is worth it all

This is a really good book. The first half of the book is pretty standard for this genre but the second half is what sets it apart. The author gives the reader several key components for success and it is those that separate this book from most others on the success shelf.

“We don’t do that here....”

Solid message. Surprised as it was such a short / easy read. Easy to apply many examples from book to life, work and pursuing whatever you’re into.
Positive ; Even readers with a great life should hope to benefit from a little Coach Ben on bad days.
Enjoyed details of the Process / scalability that applies to many disciplines.

Excellent

This book was well written and easy to relate to. I’m a huge fan! Thank you.

I wasn’t expecting such a great lesson!

I took a punt on this book. I wanted to get into the mind of top performers. What I got from this book was an actionable plan to train my mind. I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone that feels that they may be lacking in any area of their life. By doing the 1% improvements you can shift the needle of change radically.

1 person found this helpful

Game Changing

Fantastic book, found myself sad when I finished it. A great read for anyone interested in mindset.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent

Only half way through, but loving it so far!

Using a wide variety of examples helps the reader relate back to their life. Taking the reader through events of the 16 games puts a nice twist on things too. But then again as an aspiring crossfit athlete I was always going to like that!

Keep up the good work!

1 person found this helpful

Really inspiring and heartfelt.

great book, couldn't get enough. great overall theme and real life events that made it digestible and understandable

Napoleon Hill for sports!!

Great, very motivational!
I was on te brink of burnout and I just admired how much more people can endure!

Excellence has been sought & found

Excellent book giving an insight to the world of excellence in Crossfit & lessons to be learnt everyday life. Ben gives us his perspective as a coach, he opens up about the athletes that he works with & every lesson he has learnt along the way. A motivational & aspirational read, I highly recommend it as both a self improvement & insightful book into the gruelling world of sport.

A Few useful Nuggetts

Left a little disappointed with the content. The Information contained in it can be narrowed down to a few very useful nuggets of information about a winners mentality, but not revolutionary information that you could not glean from any other source. However it tells you how to get from great to the greatest and assuming you will to a certain degree have a set of consistent habits that match your expectations and desires. I have no doubt that Ben is a brilliant coach, but i think he has left too much close to his chest and not revealed enough in this book to warrant a 4 or 5 star rating and help aspiring Corss fitters or chasers of excellence to start acting immediately.

I wish it was longer

Loved listening to this and getting an insight into the minds of both the coach and the athletes.

I was just disappointed it wasn’t longer as I didn’t want it to end.

Feeling very inspired.

Excellent

Well thought out, inspiring & thought provoking ideas on how to excel brilliantly. The lessons can easily be applied in life, business & sport

2016 CF Games Synopsis

A good listen. Didn’t realise it was an event by event story of Katrin in the 2016 games. A lot of good elements though that can be used in other sporting realms!