Gordon Paterson's story is a unique one but anyone who has coached or taught young sportspeople will relate to the challenges and joy of helping students to 'discover their own spark'.

Originally from South Africa, where he came from a sporting family, and taught and coached sport, Paterson has been in New Zealand for over 20 years. While the book is a rich memoir, it is also much more than that; it explores the idea that for all of us, to discover that spark is perhaps the most important achievement.

And coaches and teachers, he contends, can play a key role in this achievement for young people.

There is Genius in Passion not only details Paterson's own learning from his teacher-coach parents in South Africa, but also the philosophy and practice developed later as a PE teacher and at University, where he would eventually achieve a doctorate exploring the power of the affective domain in sport, and the value of creating positive self-perceptions in young people.

Paterson was recently CEO of Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ) for five years, and prior to that held faculty positions in sport and exercise science and senior leadership in tertiary education. He now runs his own company (go to www.adrem.co.nz for more information).