Tim Noakes is one of the world's leading authorities on the science behind sport and a successful sportsman in his own right. Through a lifetime of research, he has developed key scientific concepts in sport that have not only redefined the way elite athletes and teams approach their professions, but challenged conventional global thinking in these areas. In this new and updated edition of Challenging Beliefs, Noakes shares his views on everything from the myths perpetuated by the sports-drink industry to the prevalence of banned substances, the need to make rugby a safer sport and the benefits of a high-protein, low-carb diet. The teams and athletes with whom Noakes has worked make fascinating backdrops to these topics, highlighting the importance of science in sport in human terms. In providing an intimate look at the golden threads running through Noakes's life and career, this remarkable book reveals the landmark theories and principles generated by one of the greatest minds in the history of sports science.

Tim Noakes is the Discovery Health Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town. He is a lifelong athlete and is rated an A1-scientist by the National Research Foundation. In 2008 he was awarded the Order of Mapungubwe by the president of South Africa for 'excellent contribution to the field of sport and the science of physical exercise'. His book, Lore of Running, is considered the global 'bible' of running. He has been married to Marilyn Anne for 39 years, and they have two children. Tim is the co-founder of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, along with rugby icon Morne du Plessis. Michael Vlismas is a Pretoria-based freelance sportswriter and broadcaster and the owner of a sports-media agency. He writes and broadcasts on sport, specifically golf, for a variety of South African and international publications and radio stations, and is a columnist for various sports and lifestyle publications, the editor of the golf publication Tee to Green and the Africa correspondent for Global Golf Post. His first book, Don't Choke - A Champion's Guide to Winning Under Pressure, was co-written with Gary Player. Michael is married to Ursula and they have two boys, Jack and Ethan.