The Perfection Point
The Fastest Man, the Highest Jump, and the Search for the Limits of Athletic Performance
by John Brenkus
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The Perfection Point
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 quickly humans can run a mile. Although 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.
In The Perfection Point, John Brenkus provides an in-depth look at the outer edge of what’s possible for a variety of sports. In breezy, highly readable style, he applies statistics, physics and physiology to explore athletic potential. Beginning with current world records, Brenkus seeks to find the limits of human ability to pinpoint the “perfection point”—a speed, a height, or a distance that humans can get closer and closer to but never exceed.
Brenkus calculates, for example, that the perfection point for the 100-meter sprint is 8.99 seconds, which is 0.7 seconds faster than Usain Bolt’s current record. He calculates the physical dimensions of the ultimate weight lifter (6'6" and weighing upwards of 400 pounds, with a 62" chest), and uses such factors as a swimmer’s mass, the density of water, and the shape of the swimsuit to determine the theoretically fastest 50m free swim. What is the farthest someone can hit a golf ball? How high can basketball take the dunk? And what is the longest possible home run? You’ll find a host of well-informed estimates in these pages.
For years, coaches, pundits and fans have speculated about the extremes of human performance. The Perfection Point finally provides the answers.
Hardcover : 288 pages
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers ( September 01, 2010 )
Item #: 13-158119
ISBN: 9780061845451
Product Dimensions: 6.0 x 9.0 inches
Product Weight: 14.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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