1 comments about Ronaldinho: Football's Flamboyant Maestro.

1. My nephew loved this book! He's a real soccer fan and this was a great addition to his collection!

5 comments about Beckham: My World.

1. Item shipped with other items and book cover was damaged - did not care for this at all but I see it happening more and more - book wasn't even protected in any way from the boxed dvd sets (3) - so picture the damage that was done - will think twice in future.



2. I bought this book for my boyfriend when it first came out. He's obsessed with football and absolutely adores david beckham, so he loved it. All the pictures were great, especially since he's not that into reading. I would definately reccomend this book to parents who have kids who love soccer and hate reading, or just for anyone that likes soccer in general



3. i was so happy when i purchased this book. Infact, i would have paid almost anything for it...could not put it down for 1 second. the text was extremly insightful and what was even better was the added photos...Defintely would reccomend this biography to everyone!!!!!!



4. I have just recently become a daivd beckham fan so i purchased this book and to my surprise it was one of the best biographies i have ever read. David talks about not only his love for his family but his feelings about man. united and england soccer. This is a must buy for all soccer fans!



5. My mother brought me this book in England just recently. I've wanted to have the book since it was first released, but its rather expensive if you buy it in Indonesia.
   I have been an England fan, a Man United fan, and a Beckham since I was in secondary school 8 years ago. I knew Beckham since he was in the youth club. I lived in England at that time.
   I think the book is excellent. The photos are too. I already knew a lot a bout Beckham, but since I read the book, I found out new things that made me respect him even more. He really loves his family and ofcourse football. Hes a real professional! For those of you who are Beckham fans, reading this book is a must! For those who aren't or are even Beckham haters, you'd definitely change your opinion about him. Salute!!

   Alfatih Gesuan Panananjung

1 comments about Giggs: The Autobiography.

1. Gigg's biography is very readable. It's written in a conversational style, almost like you're having a beer with the guy and he's telling you his story. He's candid and good-natured and comes across as a humble, likable person. It will undoubtedly become a classic as he will eventually surpass Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record for Man Utd later this season.
   
   Every dedicated Man Utd fan would appreciate this book.

No comments about Thierry Henry: The Biography: The Amazing Life of the Greatest Footballer on Earth.

5 comments about The Man Watching: A Biography of Anson Dorrance, the Unlikely Architect of the Greatest College Sports Dynasty Ever.

1. This is one of those books that is hard to put down. It helps to unpack the man 'Anson Dorrance' and the sporting legacy that he developed.



2. This is a good book, and very interesting as a sketch of one of the most (if not the most) successful college sports coaches of all time. The details of his life history and the anecdotes are interesting, and the book goes quickly. It seems, however, that with such an apparently controversial figure that there must be another side to the story. The book glosses over the causes of the lawsuit that was brought against him and ultimately settled, and most of the rest is close to hero-worshipping. If there is another side to the story, a dark side told from the point of view of his detractors, you will not get it from this book.
   I would warn the soccer coaches who buy this book, it is not going to give you much that will help you become a better soccer coach. There are allusions to "the competitve cauldron" and some insight into the record-keeping and practice organization, but if you are buying this book to help you become a better soccer coach you will not get a lot out of it.



3. I've been a college coach my entire life working with male and female athletes at the Division One level. Over a 30 year career I've read many many books on leadership, motivation, management and relationship building. Walk into any book store- there's thousands of them.
   This book stands apart in my mind as one of the best simply because it takes you inside the UNC program that Dorrance built and shares his thoughts, observations, beliefs and practices. What is so powerful about the man and the story is the simple things he values most and how he reinforces them over and over within his teams daily regimen.
   If you coach college sports at any level, this is a valuable read. If you coach female athletes at any level, especially high school or collegiate, this is a must read.
   No two people ever think alike and Anson's style is unique to him. But the lessons that any leader can take from this book will be well worth the time spent. There are certain universal truths that all coaches have to come to grips with if they hope to be successful. It's clear from the beginning to the end of this read, that Anson's ability to grasp these truths and consistently weave them into his daily life lessons to his players is what sets him and the UNC program apart. His style may not appeal to everyone, his approach may not be your cup of tea, but it's hard to read this well written book and not come away with a sense of admiration for way he molds his athletes into champions.
   This book is well worth reading and for anyone in the coaching profession, it will force you to re-evaluate how you approach your mission.



4. As a previous review noted the first half of the book, which dwells on the coaches life, is much more of a "biography" than the second half.
   The second half is more of a description of the "feel" of the UNC program, which based on the writing, seems authentic.
   The programs description doesn't really add much to the biography unless you have an opinion about the UNC program.
   The rituals and idiosyncracies of the program are no more interesting or poignant than any other D1 successful sports program.
   I believe this book, through its many quotes and reprinted letters, gives a sense of what the emotions of college soccer are like for the athletes. As a coach of male and female soccer players, I would recommend it for female players who wonder what college soccer is like. Of course, any fan of the UNC girls program would find this an inspiring read since it holds true to the title and praises the program at length.



5. The biography of Coach Anson Dorrance of UNC should appeal to soccer fans and coaches. As a general biography, I wouldn't recommend it, because the focus is clearly on soccer and not much else outside of the game, the Tar Heels, and Dorrance's personal life and family. The bigger view of the context in the greater world is mostly limited to some general trends, such as the rise of women's sports from virtually nothing to their much stronger state today.
   
   The historical background was easily the most interesting part, and the first half of the book is much stronger than the second. Coach Dorrance's background as a child of the world and an aggressive, competitive youth was surprisingly engaging. Even better was the origin of women's varsity soccer at UNC and elsewhere as women's soccer germinated to a critical mass within American colleges. Similarly, the creation of the women's national team with early stars such as Michelle Akers and its evolution into a dominant power with and without Coach Dorrance was also very informative. Tim Crothers has added a valuable historical record by capturing these stories with factual reporting and extensive interviews.
   
   Coach Dorrance is of course famous for the exceptional success of the program at UNC, and the Heels even won the next national championship after the book was published. The author draws out Dorrance's coaching philosophy, recruiting style, motivational approaches, and other aspects of his personality and performance. The various "aha!" moments where Dorrance learned to appreciate and exploit the differences between men and women have been fodder for stories and lectures for many years, and they make for excellent material and opportunities to compare with our own observations and attitudes.
   
   What got a little tiresome was the volume of material on how competitive Dorrance is and how great Carolina is and how special Carolina is, almost as if other teams don't have their own special bonds among teammates or play with intense effort and dedication. I ended up skimming a bunch of that as too much rah-rah and of little additional value. Fortunately, Crothers added a chapter on Dorrance's "dark side", such as his arrogance. Some juicy, bitchy stories can make up for an excess on the praise side.
   
   Crothers naturally had to cover the lawsuit. Based on the tone of the book, I surmise that the author has put the whole situation in a relatively positive view. Debbie Keller isn't exactly presented as sweetness and light. However, on the contrary side, the author reviews Dorrance's admitted mistakes, his agreement to training, his change in approach, and some remarks by people who were at least neutral on the whole matter. I'm not sure what to think, and the reader can still gather a lot from the biography if the lawsuit is secondary to one's interest in the book.

2 comments about Wayne Rooney: My Story.

1. I enjoyed this quick trip thru the life of a young soccer talent. Don't expect War and Peace and you won't moan about the plight of literature.



2. I sometimes wonder (and worry) about the amount of praise works like this often attract. Lame in effort and execution, dumb and tedious in its reality, it beggars the question why we're not, as a society, a lot more critical?
   Is it because, as I suspect, and the people who produce this trash know for sure, no-one gives a monkeys?
   This convivial lack of disapproval, twinned with general social lethargy ensures we get what we deserve, and therefore, what we expect/want, with no questions asked.
   Of course this stuff will keep right on coming until we can muster up some sort of resistance to it, and at the moment I would say that's highly unlikely.
   What we need is some quality control in our own lives, and the inclination to back it up.
   It would be a start if we could curb the exposure of some of the people who are supposed to be steering us clear of this stuff. Too busy `appearing' somewhere to be of any use at the business end, too involved to see the damage they're doing, and allowing to be done.
   But far more importantly, as a civilization we must vent every way we can, our abhorrence and intolerance for the debased, the tawdry and the creatively unclean. Sneer and scorn the lame ducks and the half-talents. Bring pressure to bear on those who exist only for profit, and actively encourage, for lucrative financial gain, the deliberate and VERY real `dumbing down' of pretty much anything and everything in our culture.
   This afflicts across the board; the arts, travel, food, particularly sport, where the opportunity to guide our young people by good example is criminally wasted.
   And at it's cold black heart, its nadir, is us as people, in the land of the dead, sucking it all in without retort, without obloquy, and worst of all, without conscience or shame. Arise; Sir Vermin.
   `Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.' Future generations will need some explaining to.

5 comments about Managing My Life: My Autobiography.

1. It's hard to feel how important decisions that would lead to important successes are being made by important manager unless someone has truly made it comes out and tells the story. Not many great achievers chose to tell their story, or if they do, it's not necessary movingly. Sir Alex Ferguson happens to be the most successful football manager over his 22 years with Manchester United does exaclty just that about the success story and its insights in his "Managing My Life".



2. This is the best sports book I have read. It is a great insight into arguably the best manager ever in the history of soccer. I always respected Sir Alex Ferguson anyway, but after reading this book, I even have more respect for his tactics and especially his ethical approach to life in general. Whether you are a soccer coach yourself, just a sports fan, or a business manager looking for insight into how to manage people better you will enjoy this book.



3. Being a soccer fan of the club Manchester United for 15 years, this book is truly a revealing account inside the mind of one of the greatest soccer managers of British Football.
   
   This autobiography shows how a seemingly ordinary man was able to achieve phenomenal success in his managerial career. Alex HATES to be on the losing side and this is a major motivation for him to achieve success constantly on the pitch and on his personal life.
   
   I would love to recommend this book to all Manchester United fans as well as sports psychologists and people working in a competitive environment. To achieve success (in whatever field), one MUST have confidence in his/her own ability and take on the world like a soldier on the battlefield. People with low self-esteem should read this book to bring out their own competitive nature.
   
   Finally,the statistics which show Alex Ferguson's playing and managerial record (at the end of the book) is indeed invaluable to the true soccer fan. This provides the "icing on the cake" for this honest work of brilliance by Ferguson.



4. Sir Alex is one of the 2 greatest managers in the history of MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB and some might even day of English football all together but is it enough to make an intresting and informative book? I think not. As much as sir Alex is part of my life and my history as a United supporter, there are more intresting things than a Managers life.



5. having worked with sir alex i can say hes the best there is. players love working for him. he tells it how it is and is always fair.

2 comments about Maradona: The Autobiography of Soccer's Greatest and Most Controversial Star.

1. Much like his colorful and controversial life,this autobiography is told with flair, El Diego's unique flair. This book will entertain the soccer fan with soccer stories told in a frank and gritty style. Diego Maradona, arguably one of the best players to ever emerge to the international level, surely one of the most contentious, is honest about his soccer exploits but skirts around some of the controversy surrounding his life. I believe Maradona wanted to highlight his play on the field and leave the controversies behind. He does go into detail about his early life in Argentina,his rise from poverty, playing on the Youth National Squad and the winning of various awards thoughout his career.Included is an assortment of black and white and color photographs. You come away from reading this book knowing there is no doubt that Diego loves Diego; self depricating is nowhere to be found in this book. However, Maradona is quick to blame the powers that be for many of the problems surrounding soccer. He does talk about his infamous goal in the '86 World Cup competition. Possibly one of the most known goals, the one known as the "hand of God" against the English in World Cup 1986, is talked about by El Diego with no regrets. He admits to using his hand and justifies it by saying he would do it again(if he could getaway with it). El Diego throws around the f word freely in the book to further illustrate his devil may care attitude. You get the feeling that Diego is just being Diego. He dedicates about a chapter to each period of his carrer, beginning with his early years with Argentina clubs, most notably Argentina Juniors and the National Side, his stint with Boca Juniors, the frustration of Spain '82(he didn't make the squad), playing for Barcelona FC, his league play in Italy, the glory(depending on your view) of Mexico'86, several('87& '89) Copa America Cups, Italia'90 World Cup, the embarrassment of USA'94(he tested positive)where he was removed from the squad and his farewell tour with Boca in '95&'96. He talks about his enemies and those that he admires with complete honesty; you come away thinking Maradona is misunderstood, that he is just human and subject to making mistakes like anyone else. I only wish he would have been a little more adamant about the evil of drugs and how it ruined him. Granted he admits to his long addiction and says that people should stay away from cocaine but he could have told more about how it screwed him up physically and mentally. There had to have been a book worth of horror stories to tell about his extensive addiction. Nonetheless, this is a good book for the soccer afficionado, about one of soccer's most controversial and loved characters. It was a wild ride and Diego wants you to know that he is El Diego, one of the best players to ever wear the stripe.



2. A clearly established soccer legend, Diego Maradona also excels as a storyteller. Starting out poor in Buenos Aires, Maradona tells of his rise to fame, and all the hardships that come with it. Love him or hate him, this book is honest, and sincere and comes across in the writing.

5 comments about Good Afternoon Gentlemen, The Name's Bill Gardner.

1. A little disappointed. Gardner spent more time trying to disprove that he was a thug than providing the reader with real action. He was a true Hammer fan and I would love to share a pint with Bill and get the real story.



2. Bill Gardner was a top member of the ICF, the firm that supported (supports) West Ham United in London's East End. What that means is, he kicked butt in the many battles between firms that were huge in the 60s, 70's, and 80s. These are not minor fisticuffs, people. These are full-on wars between hundreds of experienced fighting men. He made a name for himself as a fearless leader. His telling of those battles comes across as honest and, believe it or not, humble. He doesn't want to talk himself up, he isn't looking to crown himself the baddest of the "hooligan" element. (And Gardner didn't go around trashing chippys or doing random hooligan vandalism, he was looking for the lads of the opposing firms, just for the record.) He just remembers the crazy years on the terraces and on the streets after matches, where it all kicks off and it could be a serious, dangerous battle to get back to your tube station. He gives a straight forward and entertaining tale about many, many classic battles between Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, and of course Millwall, amongst many others,
   
   Gardner is famous for not using weapons (unlike the Everton mob, for example), just his fists and cojones, and his presence was enough to put opponent firms on the retreat. His story telling is great, and there is even a great section on when he worked the door at some gnarly clubs that saw equally fierce action. The book is great and comes from a man who never was looking for the limelight, just a winning West Ham football game and a good steaming in afterwards!



3. The book is a GREAT read.
   I have many WHU friends - some of whom are top flight.
   Gardner's writting is very self-effacing.
   He brings to life the banter. Banter that can only be heard down Millwall or West Ham and maybe the Orient. A unique humour. Scousers and Mancs don't have it. The north London clubs don't possess it. The west London clubs wouldn't understand it.
   There's a sibling rivalry between WHU and MFC, whether you're from Bethnal Green or Bermondsey - maybe it's a docks thing? Hard times are always coupled with humour.
   Football violence of the late 60s. 70s and 80s can never be replicated, because of how stadiums are built now and security and the onus of bad behavier being ultimately with the club.
   This is a social history book. A good book.



4. I use to think, a five star rating was meant for things like Macbeth, War and Peace, Madame Butterfly, Vincent Van Gogh paintings; but then, folks thought I might be judging some other things too harshly even if I gave it four versus five stars; but let there be no confusion here, this one deserves every single one.
   
   It'd still deserve it if they ripped out the chapter about his career as a bouncer, erm, doorman at Busby's; it's that good; still, with the caveat that this is sort of a book of the hoolifan genre; not so much one straightup on football.
   
   I will say one thing, if the bloke thought it was too short at it's 240 pages and large print, you've got to read Congratulations, You have just met the ICF penned by Cass Pennant that basically recounts various tales by the members of the ICF including Bill; I voraciously read that one, coming in at around 400 pages; so if you combine the two; man, you've got a six hundred page turner and I definitely think, they complement each other. At some point in time, perhaps I will try to read the book "Cass" by Pennant as well; sort of part of this series of books. This one on the other hand, I almost cherish the words by Billy Gardner; and read them with delight and respect, slowly and deliberate. There are now a number of books out there, but these two, I'd attest too, as being welldone.
   
   Nevertheless, I am sure, as the years have gone by, some things have become embellished and of course, the Hammers are naturally going to be the good guys; but it still passes the litmus test at that.
   
   There is a lot here, some stuff so funny, I'd be a spoiler to repeat it, you have to get it. Actually, I think, one incident can be named, typical of the humour found here; Gardner is in the USA for a coaches/soccer seminar. Gardner and some friends are up, New York state way, driving a car, shortly after 9/11 but don't have ID and the cops, hands near their pistols, pull them over looking for it, nothing; 'cept Bill pulls his arm out and "Bill" is tattooed on him! That's there ID and the police let them go about their ways.
   
   Some of it is sad and some violent, but we do get a birdseye view of Bill being put on trial for hooligan sorts of accusations.
   
   It's a good read, Bill claims he is not so much ICF (InterCity Firm of West Ham United Football Club); but his own man.
   
   There may be some war stories here, but I look at the guy, I'd want him on my side and would like to think of myself as no coward; but I don't think, I could ever steam into the guy. He says he's not a hoollgan, but merely a fan, a West Ham fan.
   
   A widely available book in the USA is by Bill Buford called Among the thugs; another thing about this one, if you have read that one, then you need to read this one. The Thug book is not honourable or passionate and probably a bit short on some factual areas as well. Bill hits the nail on the head, that he doesn't care much for whom that Buford book is about, the Red Army of Manchester United; not that there is anything wrong with the team, but they've got a lot of fans, based largely on their success, not real grassroot supporting types like West Ham. The stories about the ICF are not even similar in the slightest to those in that other book. One needs to get a balanced view of the whole situation.
   
   Honour aside, I can't go along with bonking your wrist with a hammer to get time off from work, to go see West Ham play overseas; but these are, remind you, hard core fanatics.
   
   Hooliganism has been described as being a high from violence, but with Bill, I think his opiate is West Ham, the Irons themselves.
   
   If the book lacks anything, maybe we could have found out a bit more about Bill's playing days, okay, it wasn't in the topflight; but 5, five broken legs certainly makes one curious as to how all that played out, hence, Bill wouldn't run from a fight, because he literally couldn't. It seems there are some photos included also that are not entirely explained in the text.
   
   You might not become a West Ham fan after reading this, but I guarantee you, you'll watch how with some interest on how they perform in their games.
   
   And he seems to be a successful coach of youth soccer; now an instruction book on that, I think, would be a good read.



5. Having read several books on the topic of English football hooliganism, I had come across West Ham's Bill Gardner on a number of occasions. Finally, he is telling his full story, with the help of fellow ICF member Cass Pennant.
   
   Gardner's story is pretty simple and he doesn't dwell much on childhood, but spends most of the time getting right to the 'goods', as it is. He details a number of the encounters that he was involved in, but avoids the trap of bragging. He repeatedly mentions his honor, and from what you can gather reading the accounts, I think he really does act honorably.
   
   The book itself is a very quick read at only 240 pages or so, and with a moderate-sized print you can go through it in no time. Certainly worth a look if you've got any knowledge of the terrace wars of the 70's and 80's. Because for those that are, you have heard of Bill Gardner.

No comments about Cristiano Ronaldo: The True Story of the Greatest Footballer on Earth.