The Perfection Point: Sport Science Uncovers the Fastest Man, the Highest Jump, and the Limits of Athletic Performance - Hardcover

John Brenkus

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061845450 ISBN 13: 9780061845451

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2010

Synopsis

Until 1954, common wisdom and scientific knowledge considered a sub-four minute mile impossible for human physiology. And then Roger Bannister broke the mark, followed quickly by a host of other athletes. Today, the world record stands at 3 minutes 43 seconds. But even that number doesn't tell the full story of how fast humans can run a mile. While world records are a mark of how well people have done, they don't explain how well people can do - or what the absolute limits of human performance are. Now, in "The Perfection Point", John Brenkus, the host, creator, and executive producer of ESPN's "Sport Science", provides an in-depth look at the outer edge of what's possible for a variety of sports. In breezy, highly readable style and easy-to-comprehend language, Brenkus applies statistics, physics, and physiology to explore such questions as: What's the highest someone can dunk a basketball? What's the most weight someone can bench press? What's the farthest we can hit a baseball or drive a golf ball? What's the fastest a human can run 100 meters? Beginning with current world records, Brenkus seeks to find the limits of human ability to pinpoint the perfection point - a speed, a height, a distance that humans can get closer and closer to but never exceed. For years coaches, pundits and fans have speculated about the extremes of human performance. "The Perfection Point" finally provides the answers.

About this title

From the Back Cover

What's the fastest a human can run the 100-meter sprint?
What's the longest a human can hold his breath?
What are the limits of human performance?
Welcome to The Perfection Point.

Until 1954, common wisdom and scientific knowledge considered a sub-four-minute mile an impossible feat for a human. But then Roger Bannister broke that mark, followed quickly by a host of other athletes. Today the world record stands at 3 minutes, 43 seconds, yet even that number doesn't tell the full story of how fast humans can run a mile records are a mark of how well people have done, not how well they can do. What's the actual limit? The answer lies in The Perfection Point.

In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, John Brenkus, the host, co-creator, and executive producer of ESPN's Sport Science, ventures across the sports world to provide an in-depth look at the absolute limits of human performance. Beginning with the current world records for a variety of sports, Brenkus finds the perfection point for each, zeroing in on the speeds, heights, distances, and times that humans will get closer to but never exceed.

Combining cutting-edge science with the fundamentals of each sport, Brenkus answers questions as old as competition itself, exploring the outer realm of what's possible in athletics. Using engrossing and accessible language, he applies statistics, physics, and physiology to uncover perfection points such as:

• the highest dunk
• the longest home run
• the fastest mile
• the longest golf drive
• the heaviest bench press

Intriguing, detailed, and controversial, the answers that Brenkus provides are essential reading for every sports fan. For years, coaches, pundits, and experts have speculated about the extremes of human ability. The Perfection Point finally provides the answers.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0061845450
• ISBN 13: 9780061845451
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288