Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons Ive Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes by Billie Jean King

Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons Ive Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes Reviews

• 
  Sharon Orlopp

  Powerful leadership and life lessons from Billie Jean King. This is a very short book compared to her autobiography (which is fabulous).
  
  King's lessons and advice on integrity, giving 110%, never underestimating your opponent, and leaving a legacy are memorable.
  
  Highly recommend!
• 
  Kayleigh Cowan

  A bit of a cheesy motivational book, but still lovely to hear her reflections on the Battle of the Sexes
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  Emily

  I really enjoyed the story of "The Battle of the Sexes," and appreciated all of the autobiographical bits... but this is ultimately a book about life lessons, so it gets a little preachy. Always be honest. Don't underestimate a challenge, etc... I would still recommend it. Billie Jean is an amazing woman and has done so much for women in sports!
• 
  Janet

  Too simplistic...I wanted something with a little more heft.
• 
  Laura Mitchell

  Motivational words (lessons) with tennis metaphors, and most specifically the tennis match billed as the "Battle of the Sexes". I definitely appreciated King's take on the situation, and I believe the lessons are important, but I was hoping for more description/definition/exploration of the "pressure is a privilege" concept. Otherwise it feels like another spin on the self-help genre.
• 
  Liz

  So many excellent things to consider in this book about Tennis and life. Perspective. Privilege. Integrity. Mentoring. Being true to ones’ self while remaining open to change and growth.
  “Pressure is a privilege.”
  “Champions adjust.”
  
  I can’t think of a single aspect of life where these two statements aren’t accurate.
• 
  Dinesh Balachandran

  Billie Jean reflects on the key aspects or learning from her life that helped her win the game against Bobby Riggs. Considered as one of the best to have played the sport. She is also known for her efforts to get equal pay for men and women in the tennis world. A very short read, and seemed too formulaic to make a memorable read.
• 
  Lotus (Yang Yu)

  I love Billie Jean King.
• 
  Laney

  Easy and fast reading. I wish Billie Jean King had explored the idea of pressure as a privilege. Instead, the book is a compilation of basic life lessons she lives by.
• 
  Angela

  Inspiring but it lacked pictures.
• 
  M. Fenn

  Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes is a combination autobiography/inspirational tome. Ms. King focuses on her historic tennis match with Bobby Riggs in 1973, the Battle of the Sexes, and shares the lessons she learned from this and other important points in her life.
  
  Ms. King writes in a straightforward down-to-earth style, sharing her feelings and experiences that made her the number one female tennis player in the world, activist, successful businesswoman and mentor that she is. The book is divided into lessons ranging from relationships to leaving a legacy. In each lesson she shares insight into her family, her coaches, and especially, preparing for her match with Bobby Riggs which opened the door for equal treatment of women in sport. Each chapter ends with an “instant replay” of the important points of the lesson.
  
  If you’re looking for an in-depth autobiography of Billie Jean King, this isn’t the book for you. While she talks about her life, tennis, her family, and her sexuality, she doesn’t delve deeply. It’s more like how Maria Sharapova describes it on the back of the book: a “personal conversation” where Ms. King shares some of what she’s learned in her groundbreaking life. A positive, enthusiastic book perfect for a light summer read. I wish my outlook on life was this good
• 
  Nandini Chaturvedi

  Pretty small book. Not the kind of book I was expecting it to be.
• 
  Lesley Looper

  Billie Jean King was one of my childhood heroes and role models, so I enjoyed this book alot. I remember watching the Battle of the Sexes on television as a 4th grader in the fall of 2003, and being so excited that she won! I liked learning more about the match in this book, as well as more women's tennis history mixed in with the advice King dispenses.
• 
  Michael

  I Love BJK but this is full of broad generalities, glib platitudes and an oddly high volume of name-dropping. I would have learned a lot more "lessons" from straight candid memoir. Hopefully she tries again.
• 
  Kt

  Never have I wanted to be a dyke more than after reading this book!
• 
  Kari

  This book is the average self-help book about thinking positive. I did appreciate her personal stories and hearing her perspective about the events that shaped her life.
• 
  Rachael

  Meh. This slim volume would have been utterly fascinating if she had told more stories about her life and spent less time on "work hard/do your best" tired "lessons."
• 
  Sari

  really enjoyed reading about BJK's preparation and outlook on her career.
• 
  Ruth

  A quick and very positive read by a woman who has learned how to live as a star, a leader and also a joyful, humble person. She is cool!