Book Review: The Great Eight by Scott Hamilton

Years ago, when I followed the sport of ice skating, I was often impressed by Scott Hamilton. His performances were usually well executed and very much appreciated by fans of the sport. His routines were full of flair, but sometimes he was out-skated by his rivals, especially on final day appearances. Scott’s overall excellence, discipline, and determination overcame his competition. He won his medals by being professionally consistent in all sections of the sport, especially when it came to making a painstakingly perfect figure eight in the precision exercises.

It’s no wonder then that Scott Hamilton drew upon the number eight to write a book about happiness. Along with Ken Baker, he has mapped out eight ways of achieving happiness. And before anyone thinks that this is just another step by step motivational book, let me assure you that it’s not. Scott draws from his own personal experiences, setbacks, and achievements to show how adversity can be overcome by focus, determination, and careful planning.

The book is also about major events in Scott’s remarkable life. He writes about his adoption and life-threatening illnesses as a child. He relates how he got hooked on skating at an early age, and how the benefits of exercise strengthened his whole body.

He also tells the stories behind his successes, and how he overcame his setbacks. As he relates his story, he also weaves in several points about the skill of ice skating, using what he has learned as a means of helping others achieve their goals.

Scott is very candid about his disappointments and his dealings with people who sometimes blocked his path to stardom. He also writes about his battles with cancer and how he managed to overcome the worst through his relationships, experiences, and discoveries.

Overall, this is a highly entertaining book which uncovers a lot of the mysteries about the ice skating world. It’s also a very hopeful book for people who are suffering from cancer, loneliness, or depression. Scott’s healthy attitude to facing life’s problems head on is very inspiring. The book is very well written and very easy to read and assimilate.