In this spirited debut memoir, retired NFL player Eason (Runt of the Litter) explains his intensely singled-minded approach to becoming a world-class athlete and, following a career-ending knee injury, a successful playwright and actor. Eason grew up in a family of overachievers who ran a ranch in Northern California, with supportive and encouraging parents dedicated to helping their children realize their dreams. His early experiences taught him that what determines who will "be the best in the world" is not related to talent but to "declaration," "preparation," "acceleration," and "domination." Anyone, writes Eason, with the audacity to make a declaration to be the best in the world, and the willingness to put in the 20 years he believes are a requirement to succeed, can dominate their field. He offers specific methods for achievement-such as making commitments, eliminating distractions, and redesigning one's environment-that he illustrates with varying effectiveness through his own experiences, those of his high-achieving young children, and those of his acolytes (including soccer Olympian Lauren Holiday and former Green Beret Scott Mann). Though "Action Steps" that reference the lessons of each chapter are meant to direct readers, Eason's advice tends to be aphoristic ("Just commit to it. Make the declaration and then live it out.") and can be hard to follow. Readers looking for direct principles for achieving goals will be inspired by Eason's approach. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Author Eason shares details of the process he has used to become successful in his varied careers: first as an NFL player, then as an actor and playwright, and, most recently, as a motivational speaker. He assures readers that they, too, can be the best at whatever they choose by following his plan. The first step is to make a declaration of what your long-range goal is, and plan to focus on this endeavor for 20 years. After settling on your plan, follow the subsequent steps, including making preparations (such as ridding yourself of distractions), designing your environment, gathering a like-minded team, setting 66-day goals along the way, throwing yourself into the competition (always getting back into the game after failures), and thinking of yourself as a predator that is, a winner. Chapters include stories of others who have used his method to succeed, and conclude with action steps to guide the reader. The goal requires a laser focus and unwavering dedication, which is why there is no room for Plan B .--Caren Nichter Copyright 2010 Booklist