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Review Date: 7/26/2017
Good, not great
Nice overview of the championship seasons for the Cardinals, but not super in-depth. One example is the exciting 1967 season that was given all of nine pages once you take out the box scores. Nine pages? Two pages to summarize the season, leaving roughly the reader with one page per game to recap a thrilling seven game series. I understand that this is about the Cards so going into detail on the opposition isn't part of the book's direction. That means all the excitement surrounding the Red Sox's charge is not covered at all. Still, there's more to the story but it's not found in this book.
You'll like the book if you're a Cards fan and your expectations aren't too high.
Nice overview of the championship seasons for the Cardinals, but not super in-depth. One example is the exciting 1967 season that was given all of nine pages once you take out the box scores. Nine pages? Two pages to summarize the season, leaving roughly the reader with one page per game to recap a thrilling seven game series. I understand that this is about the Cards so going into detail on the opposition isn't part of the book's direction. That means all the excitement surrounding the Red Sox's charge is not covered at all. Still, there's more to the story but it's not found in this book.
You'll like the book if you're a Cards fan and your expectations aren't too high.
Review Date: 8/9/2012
Extensively researched, this book is the definative work on the disease. Shilts goes back to the earliest days of AIDS to chronicle the the spread of this horrible disease. As Americans, we should feel the shame author Shilts intends as the signs were all pointing to something new, massive and deadly. Yes, hindsight enables perfect perception and categorization of the thousands of variables in play back in the 80's and 90's. But the slow reaction by the gay community, government and medical establishments all played critical roles in allowing AIDS to take hold. Worse yet, when the problem was in full picture, the government's response to the crisis was nothing short of embarrassing.
The story occasionally gets blogged down in details that add little to the book. There are probably 50-100 key players in the book and keeping them straight is not an easy task. The author does take liberties in re-inventing conversations, delivering a narrative flow versus thousands of quotes. If you can get past the fact that these aren't verbatim conversations, you realize it adds to the story while not detracting from the cold facts uncovered by the author.
The next new disease may be right around the corner. This should be required reading for every presidental administration and head of any major medical organization on how not to attack a new medical issue that has the potential to change millions of lives. I remember the Reagan years as good for America economically but book brings out the clear statement to me... at what cost?
The story occasionally gets blogged down in details that add little to the book. There are probably 50-100 key players in the book and keeping them straight is not an easy task. The author does take liberties in re-inventing conversations, delivering a narrative flow versus thousands of quotes. If you can get past the fact that these aren't verbatim conversations, you realize it adds to the story while not detracting from the cold facts uncovered by the author.
The next new disease may be right around the corner. This should be required reading for every presidental administration and head of any major medical organization on how not to attack a new medical issue that has the potential to change millions of lives. I remember the Reagan years as good for America economically but book brings out the clear statement to me... at what cost?
The Best Game Ever: Giants vs. Colts, 1958, and the Birth of the Modern NFL
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Review Date: 9/10/2010
Well-written and thoroughly reseached, Mark Bowden has done well to capture the true importance of this game. In my mind, the best part about the book was the fact that the author was not an ex-jock or sportswriter. His viewpoint is different, and if you have ever read his other books (i.e. Blackhawk Down), you'll appreciate this difference.
There is plently of detail in the book for the sports lover, but it's the historical perspective of the game that dew me in and led to my high rating.
There is plently of detail in the book for the sports lover, but it's the historical perspective of the game that dew me in and led to my high rating.
Big Red Dynasty: How Bob Howsam Sparky Anderson Built the Big Red Machine
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Review Date: 4/11/2010
Detailed account of the building and dismantling of the Big Red Machine. With the talent they had and hindsight, another championship would not have been a stretch. But they traded Perez, then let Gullett walk. Rose soon followed and a team with Bench, Morgan, Concepcion, plus Foster and others all were re-building too soon. The new owners pulled the rug out from under Sparky and the process came full circle.
Every team must re-tool and some can do it on the fly. But this team had 2-3 years left to make serious noise and all the smart decisions from 70-76 were replaced with a whole lot of bad ones. Still a great story from the GM perspective and interesting for baseball fans. Recommended.
Every team must re-tool and some can do it on the fly. But this team had 2-3 years left to make serious noise and all the smart decisions from 70-76 were replaced with a whole lot of bad ones. Still a great story from the GM perspective and interesting for baseball fans. Recommended.
The Biggest Game of Them All: Notre Dame, Michigan State and the Fall of 1966
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Review Date: 4/11/2010
This book is as much about history as it is about the game of the century (as it was billed). The game itself is covered in 25 pages of the 300+. Everything leading up to the game, what made it special and how it changed college football forever are really the focal points of the book and because of that, this book is recommended for anyone that enjoys college football. Fan's of college football before the game was dominated by tv and polls will find this most interesting.
Review Date: 2/22/2009
Brian Piccolo was a good running back for the Chicago Bears in the 1960's. But as you read this book, you'll see that he was a great man with a big heart. The made-for-television movies help you understand the man, but they do not match the warmth and depth of the man found in the book. The book is old but the story will never be. A must read for football fans and those that enjoy a great, but heart tugging story
The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Review Date: 11/2/2009
Having finished reading this yesterday, I would describe this initially as a good but not great book on the most famous baseball card in the world. Tracking the origins of this card proved to be difficult but some new revelations have been made and it makes for a good story. Even more so are some of the characters contained within the book... men with honorable and not so honorable intentions. For something seemingly as pure as baseball cards, that to me was the biggest revelation. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that men and their greed took away the joy of collecting in order to make it a business. It's happened time and time again with anything that the public finds interesting. Someone is always there, saying "how can I make a buck on this?"
The writing itself is good, but the information on Honus Wagner didn't really add much to the story, other than fill 30 pages. The story on The Card, the rare T-206 of Honus Wagner could have been told in 50 pages. Maybe I was more interested in the history of card collecting rather than any one card's story is why I found it to be an easy read. The book covered the hobby well although I wanted to know more when I finished. Of course, that wasn't the intent of the book - the focus and main subject was The Card, it's odyssey through the sport and the lives it touched. Along the way, we see how profiteering takes over and the purity of trading cards for fun gives way to the business of cards. Fingers can be pointed in many directions, but I know I personally never collected cards because of it's future profit potential. I got out in the mid-80's when I found it impossible to keep up with all the sets being produced and traders were being replaced by dealers and hucksters.
If you collect or ever collected baseball cards with a passion, you'll find this to be a good diversion. Don't expect a happy ending, just a realistic one.
The writing itself is good, but the information on Honus Wagner didn't really add much to the story, other than fill 30 pages. The story on The Card, the rare T-206 of Honus Wagner could have been told in 50 pages. Maybe I was more interested in the history of card collecting rather than any one card's story is why I found it to be an easy read. The book covered the hobby well although I wanted to know more when I finished. Of course, that wasn't the intent of the book - the focus and main subject was The Card, it's odyssey through the sport and the lives it touched. Along the way, we see how profiteering takes over and the purity of trading cards for fun gives way to the business of cards. Fingers can be pointed in many directions, but I know I personally never collected cards because of it's future profit potential. I got out in the mid-80's when I found it impossible to keep up with all the sets being produced and traders were being replaced by dealers and hucksters.
If you collect or ever collected baseball cards with a passion, you'll find this to be a good diversion. Don't expect a happy ending, just a realistic one.
Review Date: 8/17/2009
This is a very well written account of the life of a great ball player. Clemente didn't get the accolades of Robinson, Mays, Aaron, and other NL outfielders, but he certainly was their peer in nearly all areas (not power) and a superior outfield to all except perhaps Mays.
The struggles of being a Puerto Rican coming through into the major leagues in the mid-50's are particularly well written. Roberto was a dark skinned man, so he was often considered an African American by those around him and felt the struggles of blacks in the 50's and 60's. I thought the chapters on racial integration were truly eye opening. By 1965, black's weren't a side attraction on each team, but rather, some of the leaders on each. Minorities dominated the baseball world, including the All-Star games, yet blacks and whites could not room, eat, or hang together at spring training in Florida. Change eventually happened, but it was infuriating to see it occur at such a slow pace. The baseball commissioners during these years (Frick and Eckhart) should be ashamed of their legacy.
Maraniss covers this complex man in great detail. I wished he would have gone more in depth on the baseball side of things as I found the coverage of Roberto's career in the 1966-1971 seasons to be lacking. The author chose to focus on what made Roberto unique and spend less time on the baseball statistical feats... stuff I would have loved to read. That said, there is great and truly wonderful detail written about Clemente's two world series appearances in 1960 and 1971.
I think the book peters out after Clemente's 3000 hit is retold. There is too much written about President Nixon and his political connections in Nicaragua. There are also numerous references to Howard Hughes, which add nothing to the story. I found there to be some really excellent, well researched detail on the plane crash and the events leading up to the tragedy. But there's nothing about Clenente's widow or children after 1973. A lawsuit was mentioned in passing, (nothing noted in the book) but referenced in the Notes section. What happened? Who filed the suit? What was the outcome?
Fix the end and you have a truly first class book about one of the most revered and respected players in the history of baseball.
The struggles of being a Puerto Rican coming through into the major leagues in the mid-50's are particularly well written. Roberto was a dark skinned man, so he was often considered an African American by those around him and felt the struggles of blacks in the 50's and 60's. I thought the chapters on racial integration were truly eye opening. By 1965, black's weren't a side attraction on each team, but rather, some of the leaders on each. Minorities dominated the baseball world, including the All-Star games, yet blacks and whites could not room, eat, or hang together at spring training in Florida. Change eventually happened, but it was infuriating to see it occur at such a slow pace. The baseball commissioners during these years (Frick and Eckhart) should be ashamed of their legacy.
Maraniss covers this complex man in great detail. I wished he would have gone more in depth on the baseball side of things as I found the coverage of Roberto's career in the 1966-1971 seasons to be lacking. The author chose to focus on what made Roberto unique and spend less time on the baseball statistical feats... stuff I would have loved to read. That said, there is great and truly wonderful detail written about Clemente's two world series appearances in 1960 and 1971.
I think the book peters out after Clemente's 3000 hit is retold. There is too much written about President Nixon and his political connections in Nicaragua. There are also numerous references to Howard Hughes, which add nothing to the story. I found there to be some really excellent, well researched detail on the plane crash and the events leading up to the tragedy. But there's nothing about Clenente's widow or children after 1973. A lawsuit was mentioned in passing, (nothing noted in the book) but referenced in the Notes section. What happened? Who filed the suit? What was the outcome?
Fix the end and you have a truly first class book about one of the most revered and respected players in the history of baseball.
Review Date: 4/11/2010
Amazing detail, yet chilling at the same time. Getting into the minds of two HS kids shows the confusion and altered state they lived under. The notes left behind and pieced together by the author are frighting. This is the act of two kids, at the end of their rope and believing violence is the answer. How many more kids feel the same way right now?
Columbine was a tragedy without a doubt. But the reader learns that instead of 12-14 deaths, had the full plan worked, there's not doubt that the community would have had to bury 3-4 times that number. Distrubing story but recommended for the author's ability to bring detail and clarity to a very sad situation.
Columbine was a tragedy without a doubt. But the reader learns that instead of 12-14 deaths, had the full plan worked, there's not doubt that the community would have had to bury 3-4 times that number. Distrubing story but recommended for the author's ability to bring detail and clarity to a very sad situation.
Review Date: 4/11/2010
A breeze to read. If you need to improve your approach to public speaking and get past the fear, this book is a great place to start.
Review Date: 5/14/2010
The author draws some interesting conclusions about society and how we collectively view austim but the "a ha" monents are too far between. The topic anc comlexity in which the points were presented were lost on me. I read the first half of the book and sped through the second half, hoping for inspirational nuggets to appear to renew my interest. The author is intelligent but the subject matter and clarity of the points made were lost on this reader. I hope others have better luck with finding true value in the messages presented by the author.
Review Date: 7/26/2011
This book is a keeper. So much so that I'm not re-posting for others to snap up. Gitomer knows marketing and this book belongs on every marketer's shelf. From common sense to insightful commentary, you'll refer to this book again and again. I started underlining all the important passages in the book and found that chapter after chapter was a sea of yellow. So get the book already. Just not my copy.
Death by Meeting : A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
14
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
14
Review Date: 4/11/2010
Lencini's style is outstanding, making his point(s) within a fable. This makes the subject (business meetings), far more interesting and allows the learning to take root within the reader. The author's work here and other topics are all top notch and highly recommended.
From Worst to First!: The Improbable 1991 Seasons of the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 12/13/2009
A quick read and a nice overview of the 1991 season for the Braves and Twins. If you are looking for in-depth analysis of how each time built these rosters and the drama of the season, you will be disappointed. The detail picks up for the postseason coverage, but the 162 game season is covered in precious few details.
This book is for the fan of either team. General fans of baseball will likely not find much satisfaction in the storyline. But there is little dispute that the Twins and Braves put on one of the greatest World Series performances of all time. Re-reading these moments were great for me as a Minnesota native and will bring a smile to the casual or even serious Braves fan. Just not game seven!
This book is for the fan of either team. General fans of baseball will likely not find much satisfaction in the storyline. But there is little dispute that the Twins and Braves put on one of the greatest World Series performances of all time. Re-reading these moments were great for me as a Minnesota native and will bring a smile to the casual or even serious Braves fan. Just not game seven!
Giants Among Men: How Robustelli, Huff, Gifford, and the Giants Made New York a Football Town and Changed the NFL
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Review Date: 7/19/2009
Good book. I did, however, expect a bit more. After heavy coverage and detail in the first two championship years, the author really cuts back on the detail for the 1961-1964 years. It's almost as if the editor intentionally cut half the copy from these years. If you are a Y.A. Tittle fan, you'll feel a bit short changed.
The in-depth profiles are well done, probably the best aspect of the book.
Nothing lasts forever, but this team had enough to keep it's run going another couple of years before age would have started to show up in performance. But the trades made the team, especially in the later years of their great run make no since what so ever. All-Pro players for stiffs and players no one has ever heard of. Not even high draft choices... the possibility of landing a great player. The explanations for these trades are half baked too (from Giant management). I would have liked to known more of the thinking behind the Huff, Grier, Nolan, Modzelewski, etc. deals. The Giant's draft record in these glory years was horrible too, providing no help to the core players.
The book is a good read about a high time for this historical franchise. Their record comes off a bit like other near great dynasties (Atlanta Braves of the 1990's, Raider's of 1967-1976, the Pistons from the early 2000's, etc.). Both won one championship but could have wone more. A healthy Tittle in 1963 or better field conditions in 1962 might have added two more to the win column and elevated these teams up to their rightful place in history. But like the Kosar-led Cleveland Browns and Viking teams from 69-76, they won't get their full recognition, overshadowed by teams that managed to win the last game of the year.
The in-depth profiles are well done, probably the best aspect of the book.
Nothing lasts forever, but this team had enough to keep it's run going another couple of years before age would have started to show up in performance. But the trades made the team, especially in the later years of their great run make no since what so ever. All-Pro players for stiffs and players no one has ever heard of. Not even high draft choices... the possibility of landing a great player. The explanations for these trades are half baked too (from Giant management). I would have liked to known more of the thinking behind the Huff, Grier, Nolan, Modzelewski, etc. deals. The Giant's draft record in these glory years was horrible too, providing no help to the core players.
The book is a good read about a high time for this historical franchise. Their record comes off a bit like other near great dynasties (Atlanta Braves of the 1990's, Raider's of 1967-1976, the Pistons from the early 2000's, etc.). Both won one championship but could have wone more. A healthy Tittle in 1963 or better field conditions in 1962 might have added two more to the win column and elevated these teams up to their rightful place in history. But like the Kosar-led Cleveland Browns and Viking teams from 69-76, they won't get their full recognition, overshadowed by teams that managed to win the last game of the year.
The Glory Game: How the 1958 NFL Championship Changed Football Forever
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Review Date: 8/23/2009
A decent, first hand account of one of the greatest football games ever. Frank Gifford is no author but spins a good tale of what is what like to experience the 1958 championship game on the field.
This book was orginally intended to be written by David Halberstam, who passed away before the project got off the ground. Halberstam was truly a great writer and undoubtedly would have written a classic account of this game. Gifford picked up the mantle and carried the project forward in his own style.
Gifford does do a good job of bringing the forgotten into light; players that have been overshadowed by the "name" players from this game, upwards of 10-12 participants eventually were elected to the pro football hall of fame. At times, Gifford's bias is more than evident. He loved his offensive pals, especially Kyle Rote, Charlie Connerly, and Rosey Brown. He appreciated his teammates on the defensive side of the ball, but doesn't care too much for Sam Huff and the cornerbacks on the team. More than anything, his distain for head coach Jim Lee Howell is obvious. Gifford saw Howell as a joke and an empty suit, bringing little or nothing to the team.
If you are a fan of the Giants or Colts from this era or want to relive New York night life in the late 50's, this is the book for you. Mark Bowen's The Best Game Ever, is a better written account of the game however.
This book was orginally intended to be written by David Halberstam, who passed away before the project got off the ground. Halberstam was truly a great writer and undoubtedly would have written a classic account of this game. Gifford picked up the mantle and carried the project forward in his own style.
Gifford does do a good job of bringing the forgotten into light; players that have been overshadowed by the "name" players from this game, upwards of 10-12 participants eventually were elected to the pro football hall of fame. At times, Gifford's bias is more than evident. He loved his offensive pals, especially Kyle Rote, Charlie Connerly, and Rosey Brown. He appreciated his teammates on the defensive side of the ball, but doesn't care too much for Sam Huff and the cornerbacks on the team. More than anything, his distain for head coach Jim Lee Howell is obvious. Gifford saw Howell as a joke and an empty suit, bringing little or nothing to the team.
If you are a fan of the Giants or Colts from this era or want to relive New York night life in the late 50's, this is the book for you. Mark Bowen's The Best Game Ever, is a better written account of the game however.
Knights and Knaves of Autumn: 40 Years of Pro Football and the Minnesota Vikings
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 12/20/2008
Aside from some updates reflecting the Vikings in the 70's and 90's (minor), the author's best stories are pulled from his earlier book "True Hearts and Purple Heads," which is a far superior read. The best stories on this franchise come from the early days of the Vikings and the Van Brocklin years. Jim Klobuchar is in my opinion, an excellent writer and his intimate knowledge of the Viking organization lends tons of credibility to his efforts.
I finished the book in one sitting, breezing through chapters and paragraphs that re-told great tales, but still, represented stories written before. Yes, there is some new insight into his relationship with Fran Tarkenton and his opinions of the game today (written in 2000, covering up to the 1999 season). But it breaks no new ground for an astute fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
I finished the book in one sitting, breezing through chapters and paragraphs that re-told great tales, but still, represented stories written before. Yes, there is some new insight into his relationship with Fran Tarkenton and his opinions of the game today (written in 2000, covering up to the 1999 season). But it breaks no new ground for an astute fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
Review Date: 12/26/2008
If you are a fan of hockey and want to dive into the micro history of one season, this is a great book for you. The book focuses on the 1966-1967 season, the last NHL season before expansion and what made it so special. The author is an unabashed Leaf's fan but does not get caught up in cheerleading, which would have tarnished the book in my eyes. I suppose it wasn't necessary to hype up the Maple Leaf team; they did, after all, win the Cup that year. The writing is balanced throughout and all teams are shown warts and all.
In this last, pre-expansion season, the NHL consisted of six teams, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Boston. Four teams qualified for the playoffs and the two that missed (Detroit, Boston) are given the least amount of coverage and back story. If you are a Bruin or Red Wing fan, there's not much here for you. But the other four teams are given a thorough review, including detailed game scoring and player recollections of specific games.
As much as I enjoyed the book, it did get tedious at the end. All scoring opportunities started sounding the same. I've seen my share of professional hockey games and can remember a goal or two banking in off the post. In this book, it seems to happen every game. Since the author was re-creating events from interviews, other books, and newspaper clippings, it stands to reason that some liberties were taken with the goal scoring descriptions, which is why I think they started sounding so similar.
Given the final outcome, it would help if the reader was either a fan of hockey from this era or a Leaf's fan. That said, there's much insight to gain for fans of Montreal and Chicago as well, namely, insight into why these teams did not capture the cup in the 66-67 season.
I was only six years old when the season covered in the book concluded. I really didn't get into hockey until the early 1970's, so I wanted to get a sense of the game and the players from the era. If you're like me, you'll find this in "The Last Hurrah."
In this last, pre-expansion season, the NHL consisted of six teams, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Boston. Four teams qualified for the playoffs and the two that missed (Detroit, Boston) are given the least amount of coverage and back story. If you are a Bruin or Red Wing fan, there's not much here for you. But the other four teams are given a thorough review, including detailed game scoring and player recollections of specific games.
As much as I enjoyed the book, it did get tedious at the end. All scoring opportunities started sounding the same. I've seen my share of professional hockey games and can remember a goal or two banking in off the post. In this book, it seems to happen every game. Since the author was re-creating events from interviews, other books, and newspaper clippings, it stands to reason that some liberties were taken with the goal scoring descriptions, which is why I think they started sounding so similar.
Given the final outcome, it would help if the reader was either a fan of hockey from this era or a Leaf's fan. That said, there's much insight to gain for fans of Montreal and Chicago as well, namely, insight into why these teams did not capture the cup in the 66-67 season.
I was only six years old when the season covered in the book concluded. I really didn't get into hockey until the early 1970's, so I wanted to get a sense of the game and the players from the era. If you're like me, you'll find this in "The Last Hurrah."
Review Date: 4/11/2010
Rick Reilly is a great storyteller, from the touching to the humorous. All stories make an impression and you wish you could walk in his shoes to see and experience the world he lives in daily.
Review Date: 10/13/2012
Great book on the business of baseball and the men who run the teams. Covers the rise of baseball union and their efforts to win greater wages and benefits for the players. Once started, this effort gained tremendous momentum in the mid-70's and ballplayer salaries began to skyrocket. Yes, the book ends in November 1994, but you pretty much know the story going forward to the present.
This is not a pro-union book per se, but it definately does not paint the baseball owners and General Managers in a shining light. These are businessmen resistant to change, skinflints and worse. Their collective greed killed the golden goose, one of the few protected monopolies, which was followed by reckless spending when the cows (and good sense) left the barn. The system they created, nurtured and protected religiously changed radically and not for the better.
The book is well researched and provides an insider's vantage point to the change from sport to business. Baseball fans desiring to learn about the evolution of the game off the field will find this to be a great read.
This is not a pro-union book per se, but it definately does not paint the baseball owners and General Managers in a shining light. These are businessmen resistant to change, skinflints and worse. Their collective greed killed the golden goose, one of the few protected monopolies, which was followed by reckless spending when the cows (and good sense) left the barn. The system they created, nurtured and protected religiously changed radically and not for the better.
The book is well researched and provides an insider's vantage point to the change from sport to business. Baseball fans desiring to learn about the evolution of the game off the field will find this to be a great read.
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