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Editorial Reviews
This is a 264 page non-fiction book with 20 pages of color pictures. It chronicles surgeon Dr. Reid Sheftall's path to the pro golf tour at age 48. Sheftall had rediscovered golf after decades away from the game and only months later was discovered by PGA alumni Mark McCumber and Paul Azinger chipping balls at the TPC Sawgrass. A year later he was grinding out his last few putts in the final round of Qualifying School in Asia. While Sheftall was learning the ropes through Monday qualifying, he maintained a busy surgical practice repairing the scars of burned children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A truely unique book from the world of professional sports.
Related Reviews
Striking It Rich: Golf in the Kingdom with Generals, Patients and Pros
Filmmakers, movie producers and everyone out there looking for an intriguing story; you need to look no further. "Striking It Rich" by Dr. Reid Sheftall has it all.
This nonfiction tale depicts the fascinating life of an American surgeon who was compelled to relocate from his home in the United States to Phnom Penh after his visitation to a Cambodian orphanage.
As his life unfolds in his new surroundings, juggling between his career in plastic surgery and being the Medical Director for the American Medical Center where he provided mentorship and training to his fellow doctors, he never lost sight of his dream of becoming a professional golfer. In his narratives, you will be taken through an adventurous journey in a high stakes money game of golf with Cambodian military generals and be amazed by his resilience and persistence in overcoming the ever-present mental challenges and succeeding on the golf course. You will also be inspired by his personal life experiences while living amongst the people of Southeast Asia.
Like many of his readers, once I got started, I simply could not put the book down. You may be like me, curious to know the end of the story yet not wanting it to end. You will find Dr. Sheftall's stories extraordinary, captivating and an easy read. His writing is full of humor and heartfelt emotions, so human that one can sense the honesty and sincerity from his words. In fact, his expressions, thoughts and feelings described will evoke a wide range of emotions within the reader, from laughter, through heartfelt pain to utter disbelief. I found myself asking out loud, "Why did he do that?" and "I can't believe he did that!!!"
Aside from being a truly fast and fun read, what I found to be most interesting and valuable were the life lessons conveyed throughout the book. He stressed that we must not give up but to make the best of our situations and find creative ways to solve the problems at hand. He shared such extreme situations including having to perform emergency surgeries on his burn patients in an unthinkable filthy medical facility in an operating room which reeked of urine. In another scenario, he had to reshape a prosthetic eye on open concrete because the proper surgical equipment was not available. Not only was he able to complete each of these operations but in each case, the results were surprisingly favorable.
I was also impressed by his insightfulness on the mental intricacies of golfing. His discussions on course management strategies and advisement on "enjoying each and every shot" so that "you won't ever be thinking about what has already happened or what might happen" are extremely helpful. His emphasis on setting high expectations of one's self in the game in order to achieve better scores is absolutely true. Not only is this important when it comes to doing well on the golf course but it is also applicable to many aspects of everyday life. Dr. Sheftall's deep intellect, his application of physics to the putting stroke, and his mathematical analysis of golf handicap were amazing. In fact, he was so passionate in his beliefs that he took issue with the U.S.G.A. handicapping formula and petitioned to file his own due to a mathematical flaw he identified. That takes guts!
For the hopeless romantics in the audience, Dr. Sheftall reveals his innermost desires and takes you to his world of enchanting beauties. His descriptions are vivid, captivating and incredibly memorable. You will have to read the book for yourself to appreciate the full effect of his descriptions.
For those who love the luck of the draw, you will appreciate his brilliance in card counting at the blackjack table. You may even be so inspired to want to try this for yourself; just be careful not to get caught! With a little luck, who knows, maybe someday you will be writing about your own experiences. You can never tell where inspiration of this type can lead.
As for the rest of us we can certainly support Dr. Sheftall's gift of giving. In fact, just by purchasing one of his books gives you the opportunity of being part of his humanitarian endeavor since half of all proceeds go directly to fund the Operation Kids charity. It is an organization he established to treat the underprivileged children who otherwise could never afford the needed surgical interventions. As you go through the book, you will encounter many tragic cases of disfigured children who were victims of senseless acid attacks. Dr. Sheftall performed reconstructive surgeries free of charge so that these children could have a better chance at life as they regain some of their bodily functions and begin to move back toward a more normal life. He included photographs in the book so that his readers can have a better perspective on these surgical cases. Dr. Sheftall's medical contributions, acts of selflessness and his compassion for others truly make him a modern hero. He deserves to win CNN's "Hero of the Year" award.
I encourage everyone with the means to buy and read this remarkable book. Not only will your contributions go to support a great cause but your kindness will directly impact and touch the lives of those who are truly in need of a helping hand through Operation Kids.
On a personal note, I believe that you will find this book inspirational, life-affirming, and wonderfully entertaining. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have. I wish you the best and happy reading!
This nonfiction tale depicts the fascinating life of an American surgeon who was compelled to relocate from his home in the United States to Phnom Penh after his visitation to a Cambodian orphanage.
As his life unfolds in his new surroundings, juggling between his career in plastic surgery and being the Medical Director for the American Medical Center where he provided mentorship and training to his fellow doctors, he never lost sight of his dream of becoming a professional golfer. In his narratives, you will be taken through an adventurous journey in a high stakes money game of golf with Cambodian military generals and be amazed by his resilience and persistence in overcoming the ever-present mental challenges and succeeding on the golf course. You will also be inspired by his personal life experiences while living amongst the people of Southeast Asia.
Like many of his readers, once I got started, I simply could not put the book down. You may be like me, curious to know the end of the story yet not wanting it to end. You will find Dr. Sheftall's stories extraordinary, captivating and an easy read. His writing is full of humor and heartfelt emotions, so human that one can sense the honesty and sincerity from his words. In fact, his expressions, thoughts and feelings described will evoke a wide range of emotions within the reader, from laughter, through heartfelt pain to utter disbelief. I found myself asking out loud, "Why did he do that?" and "I can't believe he did that!!!"
Aside from being a truly fast and fun read, what I found to be most interesting and valuable were the life lessons conveyed throughout the book. He stressed that we must not give up but to make the best of our situations and find creative ways to solve the problems at hand. He shared such extreme situations including having to perform emergency surgeries on his burn patients in an unthinkable filthy medical facility in an operating room which reeked of urine. In another scenario, he had to reshape a prosthetic eye on open concrete because the proper surgical equipment was not available. Not only was he able to complete each of these operations but in each case, the results were surprisingly favorable.
I was also impressed by his insightfulness on the mental intricacies of golfing. His discussions on course management strategies and advisement on "enjoying each and every shot" so that "you won't ever be thinking about what has already happened or what might happen" are extremely helpful. His emphasis on setting high expectations of one's self in the game in order to achieve better scores is absolutely true. Not only is this important when it comes to doing well on the golf course but it is also applicable to many aspects of everyday life. Dr. Sheftall's deep intellect, his application of physics to the putting stroke, and his mathematical analysis of golf handicap were amazing. In fact, he was so passionate in his beliefs that he took issue with the U.S.G.A. handicapping formula and petitioned to file his own due to a mathematical flaw he identified. That takes guts!
For the hopeless romantics in the audience, Dr. Sheftall reveals his innermost desires and takes you to his world of enchanting beauties. His descriptions are vivid, captivating and incredibly memorable. You will have to read the book for yourself to appreciate the full effect of his descriptions.
For those who love the luck of the draw, you will appreciate his brilliance in card counting at the blackjack table. You may even be so inspired to want to try this for yourself; just be careful not to get caught! With a little luck, who knows, maybe someday you will be writing about your own experiences. You can never tell where inspiration of this type can lead.
As for the rest of us we can certainly support Dr. Sheftall's gift of giving. In fact, just by purchasing one of his books gives you the opportunity of being part of his humanitarian endeavor since half of all proceeds go directly to fund the Operation Kids charity. It is an organization he established to treat the underprivileged children who otherwise could never afford the needed surgical interventions. As you go through the book, you will encounter many tragic cases of disfigured children who were victims of senseless acid attacks. Dr. Sheftall performed reconstructive surgeries free of charge so that these children could have a better chance at life as they regain some of their bodily functions and begin to move back toward a more normal life. He included photographs in the book so that his readers can have a better perspective on these surgical cases. Dr. Sheftall's medical contributions, acts of selflessness and his compassion for others truly make him a modern hero. He deserves to win CNN's "Hero of the Year" award.
I encourage everyone with the means to buy and read this remarkable book. Not only will your contributions go to support a great cause but your kindness will directly impact and touch the lives of those who are truly in need of a helping hand through Operation Kids.
On a personal note, I believe that you will find this book inspirational, life-affirming, and wonderfully entertaining. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have. I wish you the best and happy reading!
Struck it rich by finding this book!
I was initially drawn to this book since Sheftall takes up the game at nearly the same time and age I did. I was intrigued that someone our age could make such incredible progress so quickly, especially while working as a surgeon and running a medical center in Phnom Penh. But I was surprised, not only by how much this story moved and inspired me, but that it contained so many useful insights with the potential to transform your game. The book definitely rekindled my desire to keep improving.
I was also taken by how similar our approaches were. Although he was more skilled from the start, we both determined that with our limited time to play and practice due to having jobs, we had a much better chance to improve quickly by focusing on the most important fundamental, "changing how we think on the course", instead of working on our swing technique and taking lessons. Sheftall believes "the only way to change the quality and direction of your life is to change the way you think. If you believe something, truly believe it, your mind will figure out a way to make it a reality."
He shared some of the following gems regarding his approach, "he kept things simple and would just swing the club the way it felt most comfortable. That way he didn't have to practice anything to keep it in tune... just think of the target and swing... Never do anything mechanical or measured. Let your natural athletic grace guide you. It's swallowing, not carburetor repair."
An aspect of the book I found very compelling is how Sheftall weaved his incredible non-golfing life experiences into his story, from counting cards at the blackjack tables of Nevada to operating on children who had suffered disfiguring scars from acid attacks. It was interesting to learn how he applied so much of what he'd learned from these experiences in improving his thinking and decision-making on the course. One thing I learned from his experiences is to never make a wager with a card-counting M.I.T. grad.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson I learned from his book concerned expectations. The books I've read suggest we let go of expectations when we play, but Sheftall suggests this is bad advice. In fact, he thinks that "the better players are beating the rest of us, because to a large degree, they expect to." Once we've put in the work and gained the necessary experience, we should expect success. Sheftall encourages expectations. The key, he shares, "is to not get too frustrated if those expectations are not met as precisely as you envisioned them."
So, at this point you might be asking, did Sheftall "strike it rich"? Well, I'll only share that he finally discovered what was missing in his game as a youth and what he suspects is missing in the games of a great many touring pros and amatuers alike, "Hitting one shot at a time isn't the answer - enjoying each and every shot is."
I was also taken by how similar our approaches were. Although he was more skilled from the start, we both determined that with our limited time to play and practice due to having jobs, we had a much better chance to improve quickly by focusing on the most important fundamental, "changing how we think on the course", instead of working on our swing technique and taking lessons. Sheftall believes "the only way to change the quality and direction of your life is to change the way you think. If you believe something, truly believe it, your mind will figure out a way to make it a reality."
He shared some of the following gems regarding his approach, "he kept things simple and would just swing the club the way it felt most comfortable. That way he didn't have to practice anything to keep it in tune... just think of the target and swing... Never do anything mechanical or measured. Let your natural athletic grace guide you. It's swallowing, not carburetor repair."
An aspect of the book I found very compelling is how Sheftall weaved his incredible non-golfing life experiences into his story, from counting cards at the blackjack tables of Nevada to operating on children who had suffered disfiguring scars from acid attacks. It was interesting to learn how he applied so much of what he'd learned from these experiences in improving his thinking and decision-making on the course. One thing I learned from his experiences is to never make a wager with a card-counting M.I.T. grad.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson I learned from his book concerned expectations. The books I've read suggest we let go of expectations when we play, but Sheftall suggests this is bad advice. In fact, he thinks that "the better players are beating the rest of us, because to a large degree, they expect to." Once we've put in the work and gained the necessary experience, we should expect success. Sheftall encourages expectations. The key, he shares, "is to not get too frustrated if those expectations are not met as precisely as you envisioned them."
So, at this point you might be asking, did Sheftall "strike it rich"? Well, I'll only share that he finally discovered what was missing in his game as a youth and what he suspects is missing in the games of a great many touring pros and amatuers alike, "Hitting one shot at a time isn't the answer - enjoying each and every shot is."
I first noticed this book while looking for something new to read about Cambodia which is the birthplace of my adopted daughter. Being the father of an avid junior golfer myself, I figured this book would be a great change of pace from the usual geopolitical issues which plague this poor nation. The fact that the photographer who took the cover photo was a college friend of my wife's and that Dr. Sheftall practices both golf and medicine at the hotel where my only Cambodian friend is employed as a bellman made the book irresistable. I was not dissappointed.
This book is about golf and much more. It is about a man who has made the most of his talents both on and off the course. It is about taking a healthy attitude toward golf and life, about being part of something bigger than yourself and recognizing both the obligation and reward of giving back to others. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sheftall shows that it is possible to have a heck of a good time along the way and this is how you'll feel as you read this book. Sure, both life and golf can be really bad at times, but if you, like this truly gifted man, really want to be a player in both, you can have a grand time.
So pick up this book and have a better time than you probably will out on the golf course. The author is one of the good guys in the world and I hope he takes the time to write a sequel. With or without golf, this is one fascinating life.
This book is about golf and much more. It is about a man who has made the most of his talents both on and off the course. It is about taking a healthy attitude toward golf and life, about being part of something bigger than yourself and recognizing both the obligation and reward of giving back to others. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sheftall shows that it is possible to have a heck of a good time along the way and this is how you'll feel as you read this book. Sure, both life and golf can be really bad at times, but if you, like this truly gifted man, really want to be a player in both, you can have a grand time.
So pick up this book and have a better time than you probably will out on the golf course. The author is one of the good guys in the world and I hope he takes the time to write a sequel. With or without golf, this is one fascinating life.
Striking it Rich is the memoir of a surgeon who plays good enough golf to make a serious run at playing on the pro tour. At the start of the book, he is discovered by PGA pros Mark McCumber and Paul Azinger chipping balls in Florida. After 18 holes, McCumber tells him he has enough talent to play pro golf if he works on his game and learns how to play under pressure. The memoir covers a year of his life in which he plays in Asia first through Monday qualifying and later goes to Q school. In between tournaments he returns to his Medical Center in Phnom Penh Cambodia and performs plastic surgery on burned children. This guy has a lot going against him in his quest to become a pro. He'd played only a handfull of rounds of golf since high school. He doesn't have adequate practice facilities where he lives. He works full time. He had a bad disk problem that left some of his fingers numb. But he won't be deterred. His intense focus on his goal is admirable if somewhat obsessive as he relates everything to golf. One chapter he's counting cards in Las Vegas ("play the odds and don't be too conservative"), the next he's hitting balls into the Mekong River ("if you want to hit it dead straight, learn to curve it both ways"), and finally he's constantly ruminating over why the tour pros are so good (its course management mostly). Well, maybe if you're a sub-scratch golfer already.
Interspersed among all of this are some interesting vignettes about life in Phnom Penh, in particular a sad and chilling story of a young "taxi girl" (prostitute?) burned with acid. But mostly, the book has a very light tone and you will laugh on more than one occasion if you like your humor as dry as a March day in Phnom Penh.
The golf instruction-some overt, some subtle- is excellent and as an avid golfer much appreciated as he freely shares everything he learns along the way. Hearing a player's as opposed to a teacher's perspective is refreshing (kind of like watching Playing Lessons with the Pros vs. Golf Academy Live). He never mentions a word about swing mechanics. He just tells you how to play. Example: On par 5's , "The second shot is the key. Don't lay up to your favorite yardage. Get it as close to the green as possible but leave it in the fairway. Short rough is ok too. Don't put it in a bunker or deep rough. If you catch a bad lie, you'll be praying for a 5."
The tone changes near the end of the book, and the writing improves (it loses the stop-go quality of the earlier chapters), when the doctor realizes its time to rise to the occasion and apply what he has learned during the year. There is palpable drama in the closing holes of his final round at Q school when his early philosophy of letting the intense pressure work to his advantage comes face to face with the reality of the "c" word. Highly entertaining.
Interspersed among all of this are some interesting vignettes about life in Phnom Penh, in particular a sad and chilling story of a young "taxi girl" (prostitute?) burned with acid. But mostly, the book has a very light tone and you will laugh on more than one occasion if you like your humor as dry as a March day in Phnom Penh.
The golf instruction-some overt, some subtle- is excellent and as an avid golfer much appreciated as he freely shares everything he learns along the way. Hearing a player's as opposed to a teacher's perspective is refreshing (kind of like watching Playing Lessons with the Pros vs. Golf Academy Live). He never mentions a word about swing mechanics. He just tells you how to play. Example: On par 5's , "The second shot is the key. Don't lay up to your favorite yardage. Get it as close to the green as possible but leave it in the fairway. Short rough is ok too. Don't put it in a bunker or deep rough. If you catch a bad lie, you'll be praying for a 5."
The tone changes near the end of the book, and the writing improves (it loses the stop-go quality of the earlier chapters), when the doctor realizes its time to rise to the occasion and apply what he has learned during the year. There is palpable drama in the closing holes of his final round at Q school when his early philosophy of letting the intense pressure work to his advantage comes face to face with the reality of the "c" word. Highly entertaining.
I loved this book. More than a golf story, there is a surprise around every corner. There are so many take home lessons in this book about golf that apply equally well to life and about life that apply equally well to golf. "You can do yourself just as much harm by being overly conservative", the doctor tells us "as you can by taking foolish risks." How true.
The thing that struck me most was the reality of the story. It wasn't just about golf but that was the main part. It was an unpredictable mixture, just like life. Discovery, tragedy, accomplishment, making a plan and executing it to reach a goal, moments of genius and naivete.
How this guy used his mind was amazing. I was familiar with the story of the experiment with the larger hole to put more emphasis on the long game and then this doctor explains how it was the opposite of what they needed to do. I never heard that before but he`s right. Its so obvious after he explained it. The other books that told the story missed it. Then he found the flaw in the handicap formula. Its amazing that the golf world never noticed these things before and then this guy comes up with it. I'm glad he put the picture section in the middle. I enjoyed looking at the condition of the courses in Cambodia. I always wondered about what it would be like in a 3rd world country living among the poverty.
My favorite parts were the part about playing with the generals in Cambodia and the parts about Q school at the end and the story about the little girl who was able to walk after surgery and about the burned prostitute. It was a very quick read and never got bogged down because it was so unpredictable. I recommend it to golfers and non-golfers because it is a study of how a gifted person goes about actually achieving something that most of us only could dream about in our fantasies.
The thing that struck me most was the reality of the story. It wasn't just about golf but that was the main part. It was an unpredictable mixture, just like life. Discovery, tragedy, accomplishment, making a plan and executing it to reach a goal, moments of genius and naivete.
How this guy used his mind was amazing. I was familiar with the story of the experiment with the larger hole to put more emphasis on the long game and then this doctor explains how it was the opposite of what they needed to do. I never heard that before but he`s right. Its so obvious after he explained it. The other books that told the story missed it. Then he found the flaw in the handicap formula. Its amazing that the golf world never noticed these things before and then this guy comes up with it. I'm glad he put the picture section in the middle. I enjoyed looking at the condition of the courses in Cambodia. I always wondered about what it would be like in a 3rd world country living among the poverty.
My favorite parts were the part about playing with the generals in Cambodia and the parts about Q school at the end and the story about the little girl who was able to walk after surgery and about the burned prostitute. It was a very quick read and never got bogged down because it was so unpredictable. I recommend it to golfers and non-golfers because it is a study of how a gifted person goes about actually achieving something that most of us only could dream about in our fantasies.
I needed a gift for a male friend who loves golf. Once I started reading the book, I could not put it down. I had to send the book to my friend and now I am going to buy another one for myself. Dr. Sheftall is a one of a kind human being. He is super intelligent, funny, witty and charming. The book fits in your briefcase, purse or workout bag. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
Makes everything you've done seem small
What an incredible book. While there are a lot of Golf stories in this book it really is about so much more and can be applied to any sport or business venture. I couldn't put it down.I learned a lot about the importance of the mental aspect of the game/sports and how you must play it one shot at a time and forget the bad ones as well as the good ( something I had never thought of). I laughed out loud and was amazed at the incredibly awkward situations the author was capable of getting himself into ( over and over and I laughed harder each time). He must be brilliant, scoring 800 on the SAT Math, Physics degree from MIT, Med School and Re-constructive Surgical training and then decides at age 46 that he wants to become a PGA
golfer ....all while doing recontructive surgery on children in Cambodia.
I am making my kids read this book ....there is so much to learn here.
You owe it to yourself to read this one...you won't regret it.
golfer ....all while doing recontructive surgery on children in Cambodia.
I am making my kids read this book ....there is so much to learn here.
You owe it to yourself to read this one...you won't regret it.
Amazing Story and Valuable golf wisdom
With the exception of a handful of casual rounds at social events, Dr. Sheftall had not played golf for almost 30 years. When he started playing again in his late 40s, he found his game was still there. While on holiday in the US, he was encouraged by a pro golfer to consider playing professionally.
What followed was an intriguing adventure as he prepared and played on poorly maintained courses in Cambodia (where he works as a surgeon) with machine gun toting military officials. It was through high stakes games with these men that he improved to the point that the generals would not allow him to play with them anymore.
His experiences at the professional golf events throughout East Asia also highlight the main differences between professional and non-professional golfers. These philosophies and strategies he revealed has already improved parts of my golf game.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story and to any golfer who dreams of playing professionally.
What followed was an intriguing adventure as he prepared and played on poorly maintained courses in Cambodia (where he works as a surgeon) with machine gun toting military officials. It was through high stakes games with these men that he improved to the point that the generals would not allow him to play with them anymore.
His experiences at the professional golf events throughout East Asia also highlight the main differences between professional and non-professional golfers. These philosophies and strategies he revealed has already improved parts of my golf game.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story and to any golfer who dreams of playing professionally.
Great story, great read, great book.
Great story, great read, great book. This was one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read relating to golf, and I've read a ton of them. It's not only about golf but is about all these interesting personal adventures that the author has in South East Asia. I read the whole thing straight through.
Anyone who has ever played golf and achieved some level of success has probably wondered what it would be like to play the pro tour and this book covers that subject very well.
A middle age doctor who is one of the good guys helping kids in Cambodia gives pro golf a shot in South East Asia, that in itself in interesting but then throw in the medical part and you have a nice read.
Humorous, instructive and insightfull follow Reid has he takes on the challenge of making the cut against some of Asia's best players.
I also found the book helpful to my own game because Reid reminds us that the swing is not all there is to playing a good round of golf. The mental side and course management is the real key to scoring well especially under pressure.
I would also highly recommend this book because all proceeds from sales goes to his clinic where he helps kids who have been hurt and otherwise would not recieve the kind of surgical care we take for granted in the west.
Anyone who has wondered about what it is like in South East Asia would also enjoy this book. A little nightlife in Bangkok mixed in with high drama monday morning qualifying in Pattaya Beach will keep the reader engaged.
A middle age doctor who is one of the good guys helping kids in Cambodia gives pro golf a shot in South East Asia, that in itself in interesting but then throw in the medical part and you have a nice read.
Humorous, instructive and insightfull follow Reid has he takes on the challenge of making the cut against some of Asia's best players.
I also found the book helpful to my own game because Reid reminds us that the swing is not all there is to playing a good round of golf. The mental side and course management is the real key to scoring well especially under pressure.
I would also highly recommend this book because all proceeds from sales goes to his clinic where he helps kids who have been hurt and otherwise would not recieve the kind of surgical care we take for granted in the west.
Anyone who has wondered about what it is like in South East Asia would also enjoy this book. A little nightlife in Bangkok mixed in with high drama monday morning qualifying in Pattaya Beach will keep the reader engaged.
I am first off, a golf fanatic. I hope to have a story one day like Dr. Sheftall where golf hasn't been a part of my life and all of a sudden I am a touring pro. The Doc is very passionate about everything that he is involved in and it will show as you read. He is a very dedicated person with a good soul. I exclaimed out loud in anger or in happiness when I would read about a missed putt or a birdie under pressure. I felt very attached and connected to the story.
As the title says, I really don't like to read at all. I'm more of a magazine or video kind of guy. I also would like to say that I work 70 hours a week and would not spend my free time reading. It took me less than two days to finish this book and I am actually reading it again as the book really motivates me to become a professional golfer.
It is not just for the golf fan as there are many thrills and stories in this book which will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next.
I highly recommend this book!
As the title says, I really don't like to read at all. I'm more of a magazine or video kind of guy. I also would like to say that I work 70 hours a week and would not spend my free time reading. It took me less than two days to finish this book and I am actually reading it again as the book really motivates me to become a professional golfer.
It is not just for the golf fan as there are many thrills and stories in this book which will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next.
I highly recommend this book!
Truly Inspirational Work By A Selfless Man!
I ordered this book and while I am a non-golfer I have done alot of research in plastic surgery! I found the plastic surgery work that Reid Sheftall has done for some of the people in Cambodia to be truly inspiring and great. This man should win awards for what he did to the little girl that was burned with acid! I purchased this book after writing Doctor Sheftall on Amazon and inquired about his card counting segment of this book, while it was very brief, I found more meaning in this book than I originally purchased it for! Dr. Sheftall has lived a eventful life with many more future stories to tell I am sure!
Unbelievable fairy tale that is TRUE! Make the movie now!
I heard about Reid's story on a golf forum I use. My first reaction was, "No way, that cannot be true!". I was intrigued enough to hunt down and buy a copy (not easy in the UK) and was blown away by how interesting Reid's life has been and by how many lessons are there to be learned in his book, not just concerning golf but also life in general.
I corresponded with Reid and found him to be humble, honest and intelligent with great love for his twin passions, golf and medicine.
You won't regret purchasing this book and you will return to it after reading. I think it would make a great movie and hopefully we'll see that happen over the next few years, I know Reid is working on an even better fairy tale ending!!!
I corresponded with Reid and found him to be humble, honest and intelligent with great love for his twin passions, golf and medicine.
You won't regret purchasing this book and you will return to it after reading. I think it would make a great movie and hopefully we'll see that happen over the next few years, I know Reid is working on an even better fairy tale ending!!!
What a Character - math and physics whiz; card counter; humanitarian whose heart and talents are best served re-constructuring burned and disfigured kids of the third world; only to end up as a card carrying PGA'er on a rutted course whose best quality fairway would put to shame the roughest rough stateside; with some of the most questionable military characters; who answers his own phone - you figure?
I went in search for a good qualified, honest, and talented surgeon as rare in Cambodia as a snow-free winter on top of Grandfather Mountain (NC). A couple of expats referred me to Dr. Reid (Sheftall) and his American Medical Center (AMC) across from the French Embassy. Dr. Reid was a puzzle waiting to be solved. Why would so talented an individual be living and working in of all places Cambodia? In the waiting room I picked up a copy of Striking It Rich; left with a copy (half of profit goes to Operation Kids) and could not put it down until I finished in the wee-hours of the next morning. You won't either. I found a new definition for "rich." And I had no interest in golf at all...until now.
I went in search for a good qualified, honest, and talented surgeon as rare in Cambodia as a snow-free winter on top of Grandfather Mountain (NC). A couple of expats referred me to Dr. Reid (Sheftall) and his American Medical Center (AMC) across from the French Embassy. Dr. Reid was a puzzle waiting to be solved. Why would so talented an individual be living and working in of all places Cambodia? In the waiting room I picked up a copy of Striking It Rich; left with a copy (half of profit goes to Operation Kids) and could not put it down until I finished in the wee-hours of the next morning. You won't either. I found a new definition for "rich." And I had no interest in golf at all...until now.
Excellent read about golf and life as a surgeon in the Far East....
I would have been interested in reading about the more technical issues with Reid's swing and changes he made over the course of his attempt to become a PGA pro.
That said, I read it in two days - it was a pleasure to read.
I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to improve their golf.
That said, I read it in two days - it was a pleasure to read.
I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to improve their golf.
String It Rich by Reid Sheftall
Striking It Rich is my bed-sided book. I used to live in Phnom Penh for a few years and understand the people as well as their culture. A society in which the power is Gun and Money. I really admire Doctor Sheftall because he dared to risk his life by playing golf with those military generals. The author is a super intelligent, talent and funny person. Through the very incredible, amazing golf stories and other ones in his life in Southeast Asia, Doctor Sheftall shared his life experiences in a very funny way but he really means it: My eyes darted between my beautiful angel, her husband, the AK-47, her nipple pressing against the front of her pajamas, the door, her husband, the AK-47, her nipples, the door... Then a strange calm came over me......
I couldn't help laughing with the way he wrote the stories. You will enjoy it. I would recommend to anyone to this book and of course to the golf players.
Rein Forest
I couldn't help laughing with the way he wrote the stories. You will enjoy it. I would recommend to anyone to this book and of course to the golf players.
Rein Forest
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Buy and read this book.
Whether you are a golf fanatic or only watch it occasionally on TV, Reid Sheftall's story is entertaining from cover to cover.
It's a book that intertwines his remarkable career in golf and medicine with personal insights into his psyche and his approach to overcoming the mental side of golf.
A great gift for anyone who enjoys golf or sport and also for doctors or other professionals to remind them that careers don't have to follow the typically trodden path.