Mind Game - An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes

A deep look into how even the best athletes struggle with and persevere through mental illness.

List of contents

Foreword
Introduction: Learning From Our Idols
PART I: Eyes on the Prize: How Mental Performance Shapes Athletes
Chapter 1: Mentally Tough: The Stereotypes Athletes Fight
Chapter 2: Looking Back: A History of Sport Psychology
Chapter 3: Science and Practice: What Mental Performance Coaches Actually Do
PART II: The Megaphone: Speaking Out About Mental Illness
Chapter 4: The Firsts: Trailblazers Who Came Forward
Chapter 5: Open the Floodgates: More Athletes Join the Cause
Chapter 6: The Greats Chime In: Anxiety and Depression Amid a Pandemic
Chapter 7: On Campus: The Push for Better Care at Colleges
PART III: The Diagnosis: Coping With What You've Got
Chapter 8: Substance Use: From Alcohol and Cannabis to Psychedelics
Chapter 9: Body Image: Eating Disorders in Professional Athletes
Chapter 10: Life Out of the Game: Injury, Absence, and Retirement
Conclusion: So What's Next?
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
About the Author

About the author

Julie Kliegman has been copy chief at Sports Illustrated, copy editor at The Ringer, weekend editor at The Week, and news fellow at BuzzFeed. Their writing has appeared in Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, The Ringer, Vulture, BuzzFeed, Vox, The Verge, Bustle, Washington Monthly, The Week, and more. Kliegman is a frequent guest on radio and podcasts. They live in Queens, New York.

Product details

• Authors: Julie Kliegman
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 13.11.2025
• EAN: 9798216378051
• ISBN: 979-8-216-37805-1
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 150 mm x 228 mm x 20 mm
• Weight: 420 g
• Subjects: Guides > Sport > Motorsport, motorcycle sport, bicycle sport, aviation sport; SPORTS & RECREATION / Sports Psychology, Psychology, PSYCHOLOGY / Mental Health, Sports psychology, Sports & outdoor recreation, Sport: general, Interest age: from c 12 years, HEALTH & FITNESS / Mental Health