{"title":"Books by Paul Volponi","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781637743669","title":"The 32 Principles","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal, USA Today, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003eBestseller \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOvercome any obstacle life throws at you by thinking and responding like a world-class martial artist—without ever setting foot on the mat.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJiu-jitsu is more than a martial art; it is a lifestyle that promotes health, confidence, self-determination, and balance. Famed jiu-jitsu instructor Rener Gracie, who has coached more than 350,000 students in 196 countries, presents the core teachings of jiu-jitsu and explains how they can apply to all of our daily lives, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Pyramid Principle\u003c\/b\u003e: the importance of investing in a strong foundation\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Acceptance Principle\u003c\/b\u003e: recognizing when it’s better to yield than to resist\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e The Pivot Principle\u003c\/b\u003e: the value of changing your perspective to increase your effectiveness\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Redirection Principle\u003c\/b\u003e: using unfavorable circumstances to create favorable outcomes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntended for both longtime fans and practitioners of jiu-jitsu as well as those completely unfamiliar with martial arts, \u003ci\u003eThe 32 Principles\u003c\/i\u003e—and 32 companion videos on each principle’s physical application for self-defense from Rener himself—will help you take control of your personal and professional pursuits, supercharge your entrepreneurial spirit, and balance your relationships at work and at home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlong with multi-award–winning author Paul Volponi, this book features contributions from more than 40 champion athletes, topflight coaches, and others who have benefited from the everyday life applications of these timeless jiu-jitsu principles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56304710123893,"sku":"9781637743669","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781637743669_aea87fe4-7cde-4217-a455-f6f23e914937.jpg?v=1786024199"},{"product_id":"thats-my-team","title":"That's My Team!","description":"\u003cp\u003eHow did author Edgar Allen Poe influence the naming of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens? What major historical events inspired the naming of the Philadelphia 76ers, San Francisco 49ers, and Oklahoma Sooners? And what caused the NBA’s Washington Bullets to change their name to the Wizards? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn That’s My Team! The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports Teams’ Names, Paul Volponi shares the answers to these questions and more. Leading readers on a fast-paced journey through different parts of the United States and the world, Volponi reveals fascinating pieces of information on pop culture, history, science, literature, and a slew of other subjects through the lens of sports. Both reluctant and sports-crazed readers, teens and preteens alike, will find this book an exciting way to learn about a variety of subjects through their favorite sports teams.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57484402000245,"sku":"9781538184226","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781538184226.jpg?v=1786266500"},{"product_id":"lifes-calling","title":"A Life's Calling","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe riveting autobiography of iconic American sportscaster Tom Durkin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSports have become indelibly linked to the voices that describe the action, from Al Michaels at the Olympics to baseball’s Vin Scully and basketball’s Marv Albert. In horseracing, perhaps no single voice did as much to reshape, modernize, and improve the soundtrack of the sport as Tom Durkin. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eA Life’s Calling: The Voice Behind the World’s Greatest Horse Races\u003c\/i\u003e, Tom Durkin, alongside longtime turf writers Paul Volponi and Lenny Shulman, shares his fascinating story. Readers will revel in his tales of life in the backwater stops of the Midwest learning horse racing among rickety grandstands and local hustlers, and of the day when he called the first Breeders’ Cup and ended up at an after-party surrounded by Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Cary Grant. Durkin also candidly recounts how the pressure to describe each race with flawless accuracy became too much, leading him to step away from the spotlight while still at his prime.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  Durkin’s life is as colorful as his description of a come-from-behinder weaving his way through horses toward a photo finish. \u003ci\u003eA Life’s Calling \u003c\/i\u003eis a must-read for anyone wanting to learn more about the voice behind many of horse racing’s greatest calls.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495319183733,"sku":"9798881842598","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9798881842598.jpg?v=1786618003"},{"product_id":"streetball-is-life","title":"Streetball Is Life","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“[\u003ci\u003eStreetball Is Life\u003c\/i\u003e] is filled with cinematic details and colorful characters, which bring the streetball subculture to life.”—\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom award-winning YA author Paul Volponi comes the true story of his unforgettable summer spent proving himself as a New York City streetballer, only to discover that he had gained skills that would enrich his life off the court, as well.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the sweltering summer of seventeen-year-old Paul Volponi’s life, he had only one goal—he wanted, no, needed to become a legitimate and respected New York City street basketball player. So he entered through the gates of the Proving Ground, the roughest streetball yard in the city. It was where teens and adults contested pickup games with a ferocity seemingly greater than that of the NBA Finals. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eStreetball Is Life\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of Paul’s summer-long initiation at the Proving Ground. It is a testament of a teenager who wanted more than anything else to earn his stripes in streetball society. Only what he didn’t understand at the time was that this experience would deliver to him a set of skills that would enhance his life far beyond the boundaries of a basketball court.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57513496707445,"sku":"9798216489702","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9798216489702.jpg?v=1787220258"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-paul-volponi.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}