5 comments about Born to Run.

1. Super book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You'll see how easy it is to buy into marketing if nothing else! Author is a riot to read as well!



2. Once upon a workout dreary, while I trotted, weak and weary,
   over many quaint and furious heel-strike, feet now throbbing sore,
   while I stumbled, nearly bumbled, suddenly there came a stabbing,
   as of someone cruelly stabbing, stabbing at my insole's door.
   "Tis an odd pebble," I muttered, "stabbing at my insole's door-
   only this, and nothing more."
   
   Ah, distinctly t'was but likely, from the dark pits of my psyche
   as each separate worn out Nike, wrought its mark on arches sore.
   Lo, though I felt idiotic; - vainly I implored my new orthotic-
   mend my arches, end my sorrow- sorrow for my poor foot's core
   For the rare and radiant arch once named within this biped's core-
   nameless here for evermore.
   
   And with painful step uncertain, pulled aside my mental curtain
   Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
   So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
   "'Tis some pebble entreating entrance at my poor foot's core-
   Some odd pebble entreating entrance at my poor foot's core; -
   This it is, and nothing more."
   
   Presently the pain grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
   "oww," said I, "You pebble, though small have made running such a chore
   And as I run my strength sapping, and so quickly you came rapping,
   And so forcefully you came tapping, tapping at my poor foot's core,
   That I scarce was sure I felt you"- here I un-shod the poor core,
   empty there, and nothing more.
   
   Deep into that Nike peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
   Doubting, dreaming dreams no runner ever dared to dream before;
   But the silence was unbroken, and the emptiness gave no token
   The only word there spoken was to this biped's unshod core
   This I whispered, and an echo murmured back, "ouch- foot is sore"
   merely this, and nothing more.
   
   Back into the Nike turning, all my joints within me burning,
   Soon again I felt a tapping somewhat harder than before.
   "Surely," said I, "surely that is something in my orthotics:
   Let me see, then what therat is, and this mystery explore -
   Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
   'Tis a poor fit and nothing more."
   
   Now I stood and flung the shod, though not far, it landed whence I trod,
   Now stood I, bare and stately, looking on pale feet once sore
   Not the least pain in my feet; they smiled back as to entreat
   Now set freed and perched below me was my pale white core
   Perched in dust and now unshod there was my pale white core
   Perched and bare, sore no more
   
   Then this bony foot beguiling my sad frowning into smiling
   By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
   "Though thy form art shaped and true, thou," I said, "art sure no shoe,
   Ghastly grim and ancient foot wandering from the Nike shore -
   Shouldn't I shod you to protect you and your fallen core
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   Much I marveled this ungainly foot to hear discourse so plainly,
   Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
   For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
   Ever yet was blest with seeing naked foot in dust to adore -
   Foot or toe upon the dirty brown dust now below me, that I now adore,
   And now to shod "Nevermore."
   
   Now my foot, standing lonely in the dirty dust, spoke only
   That one word, as if its soul in that one word it did outpour.
   Nothing further then it uttered- no step had it stuttered-
   Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other shoes I've tried before-
   On the morrow you will pain me, same as shoes have left me sore."
   Then my foot said, "Nevermore."
   
   Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
   "Doubtless," said I, "what foot utters is its only stock and store,
   Caught from some cruel Nike master whom unmerciful Disaster
   Followed fast and followed faster till its steps turned arches sore-
   Till the dirges of its Hope when shoes turned arches sore-
   Cried' Never - nevermore'."
   
   But the bare foot still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
   Hastily found I seat next to my dear feet, looked at arches once held sore;
   Then upon the dirt road sinking, I betook my feet though stinking
   Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this fallen arch often sore
   What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and fallen arch often sore
   Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
   
   This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
   To the foot whose fiery soles now burned into my bosom's core;
   This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
   On the dirt road dusty lining that the bright sunlight gloated o'er
   But whose dusty dirty lining with the sunlight gloating o'er,
   shoes shall wear, ah, nevermore!
   
   Then me thought my stride grew lighter, like footwork of a prize fighter
   Stride like Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the dusted floor,
   "Doh!," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
   Respite - respite, delight, from thy memories of foot once sore
   Quaff, oh quaff this kind respite, but won't the foot again become sore?"
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   "Barefoot!" said I, "how very odd! - better still than shoes of devil! -
   Whether Nike sent, or over-pronation caused thee foot to sore,
   Desolate yet all undaunted, on this dusty path enchanted -
   On this sole by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
   Is there - is there relief by shoe to be had? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   "Barefoot!" said I, "how very odd! - better still than shoes of devil! -
   Whether Nike sent, or over-pronation caused thee foot to sore,
   Tell this soul with fit orthotic, makes me run as though robotic,
   Shall mine foot have pain thought chronic and remain ever sore?
   Clasp arch fallen and broken, which has been forever sore?
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   "To you oh shoe this word in parting, shoe or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
   "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
   Leave no black swoosh as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
   Leave arches to be unbroken!- quit the pain that makes me sore!
   Take thy print from out my heart, and take thy form from off my floor!"
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   And the shoe, never fitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
   In the pallid dust of the trail just where my once shod feet were sore;
   And the Nikes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming,
   And the moonlight o'er them streaming throws its shadow on the floor;
   And my sole from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
   Shall be lifted - Evermore!



3. This review pertains to the audio book. I was looking forward to this book as read some great reviews, but the narrator made listening difficult. At times overly dramatic and at times unconvincing, I couldn't even get through the first disc.



4. This book changed the way I look at running. It is a little dramatic at times but can be great if you go with it and look for deeper meaning. Anyone that has ever enjoyed running, or especially anyone that has tried and failed to enjoy running, should read this book.



5. I had read articles about the Tarahumara Indians, so I was very interested in reading this book. The author does a great job of touching on the entire running industry from ultrarunners, to the evolution of running shoes, to nutrition, to running injuries, to an anthropological discussion of our running ancestors.
   
   Initially, I had a little trouble keeping on the path, as the author followed different topics. But, after a few chapters, I understood his writing style and thoroughly enjoyed the book.
   
   Now that I've read this book, I'll never by $130 running shoes again. And, I'm eager to seek out resources for barefoot running.

5 comments about Open.

1. This review is only pertaining to the audio copy. I checked it out of the library because I thought it would be a great "read" for my commute. I gave up before getting through the first disc. Eric Davies's voice was a terrible choice for me with this book. I felt like I was listening to a horror movie trailer the whole time. It was very unsettling and kept me from getting connected to the material. I'll get it in paperback instead.



2. This book provides insight into the life of an extraordinary athlete and humanitarian. It will not disappoint.. Agassi fan or not!



3. An excellent read. Great book for anyone who watched Agassi play, or for anyone who wants to try and understand the rigors of being a champion.



4. This is the first autobiography of a world athlete that I read and I am not disappointed at all. I have to say I give a lot of credit to J.R. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who helped shape the book. Agassi gave credit to Moehringer himself in the Afterward. All that said Agassi's personality shines through the letters. He's very, very open about his personal life in all aspects. The reader get to see and 'feel' all the behind the scene of his life. In some way the reading was almost like a fiction. The book definitely helps you get to know Agassi (and like him) better. The tone is sincere and open..just like the title of the book! If you're going to read only a few autobiographies of top tennis players, I highly recommend this to be one among those few. The book got to me so much that I continued on to read Sampras's autobiography, A Champion's Mind.



5. Brilliant! I could not put this book down. Andre Agassi's memoir humanized him, and just like any other ordinary citizen, he had his ups and his downs. Who would have thought that such an extraordinary tennis player had his own insecurities, just like the rest of us. The writing style was superb, and guaranteed to keep the reader enthralled page after page.

5 comments about Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman.

1. There really is nothing exceptional about Pat Tillman. Like many other devoted and patriotic men and women who were outraged not just by the attack of 9/11, but also by the rise of a syndicate of criminals who would use any means necessary to kill innocents, to trade in the netherworld of drugs and arms smuggling, to launder money and extort bribes and infuse it all with religion and politics, taking advantage of those who either should have known better or were simply to dim and obedient to question authority. Of course, tick it just slightly and instead of the ragheads in the dessert, you're talking about Richard Cheney.
   
   In Tillman's case, he was an honourable man, a loving son and husband and someone with a bright future ahead of him, who did what he did because he felt in his heart that it was the right thing to do. Out of his sense of duty, he fought in a war he thought the workings of an Imperial Fool, and died in the war he set out to prosecute. He was the victim of gunshots from his own troops fired in a moment of extreme panic and under intense duress while carrying out an assignment that was simply stupid, given the circumstances they were in, and had to do more with enforcing obedience than in pursuing the very bad guys they were after.
   
   None of that makes Tillman exceptional. Thousands upon thousands of other men and women in these two conflicts, and hundreds of thousands in prior ones, have all suffered such an end leaving their loved ones devastated. A nation should try to be of some small comfort to these dear people left behind with a massive hole in their hearts, bleeding a slow death the rest of their lives.
   
   And that's where Pat's story becomes something else. This book is as much, if not more, about Pat's mother and wife and how they came to pursue the real villains in this story. Both women had an unnerving sense that they were being lied to from the beginning, and the beginning was Rumsfeld and Cheney deciding to make a poster boy of Pat. GI Joe. Sargeant York. You know, like those propaganda films you see at the multi-plex: Be all that you can be: dead as a doornail, exploited by your government, shattered and broken, if you're lucky to survive the idea that you've just killed people, or been blown half to bits.
   
   Marie Tillman wouldn't let it end there and in her dogged pursuit of the truth underscored the fact that the President of the United States is sworn to protect the country from enemies foreign and domestic. Problem here is, W is one of the enemies. There really is nothing exceptional about generating a myth about an individual soldier in order to inspire, and dupe, others. Speer and Goebbels did it all the time for the Third Reich. Lots of those men died in battle as well. There is also no "fog of war." There is certainly fear, absolute panic, complete loss of discipline in circumstances that are categorically frightening. But there is no fog. You shoot or get shot and sometimes both. Anything that moves. And that's what happened to Pat. Sent into a ravine to tow a humvee, of all the stupid things to save, aware that the Taliban had been tipped off, panic set in. Pat was hit at close range by someone who could clearly see that Pat was not Taliban, but the man paniced. More than likely, if he wasn't subsequently killed, he has received no counselling at all from the VA and wakes most nights in a cold sweat reliving what he did.
   
   Again, there's nothing exceptional about that. What is exceptional is the lengths that Cheney, Rumsfeld and W were willing to go to cover the tragedy up. What is also alarming is the man chosen to carry this out: Stanley MacChrystal. By the Army's own standards and criminal codes, what Cheney, Rumsfeld, W and Stan the Man did was criminal. Stan should have been court-martialed and sent to prison. He was awarded 2 more stars. When the Army's own CID investigated and determined beyond any reasonable doubt that what was done was ordered from the White House through the DOD Secretary directly to MacRollingStone, Cheney and Rumsfeld buried it. Nothing was done. Nothing.
   
   If you're Richard Nixon, you're rolling in your grave. Actively engaging in obstruction of justice is cause for impeachment. And prison. Marie Tillman got the goods on them and they told her clearly that there was nothing she could do. They owned the game.
   
   The "fog of war".... America has been in a fog for a while now. I figure since Reagan. A fog about who pulls the strings, a fog about who stands on their necks, a fog about the deadly mixture of religion and politics, a fog about who the government is beholden to. Along comes two women who simply loved their husband and son, and they blow the fog away. Hog tied by two wars it can ill afford, crippled by deals that gave the financial integrity of the country and the manufacturing heart to criminal oligarchies like China and Russia, duped into bailing out the very perpetrators of their financial collapse, America is a country that ought to be able to see, especially because it is now on its knees, what needs to be done, but like Einstein's definition of insanity, it keeps trying the same thing over and over, convinced a new dawn is just on the horizon. It isn't. And won't be until stories like this are no longer written. And it rids itself first of enemies domestic, before it tackles those on foreign shores.



2. "Where Men Win Glory" is an ambitious, nuanced book about Pat Tillman, geopolitics and the disconnect between the propaganda and leadership of the military and the events on the ground. Krakauer should be applauded for his fearless field work and his research.
   
   There is one minor and one major problem with the book.
   
   The minor problem with the book is that it's most interesting passages are in the first half of the book and claim dominion over Pat Tillman's mother's account "Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman". Although the first half of the book is a page turner, it is mostly about who and how Pat Tillman was raised and what motivated him in his youth and sports career. It is just creepy to this reader, that Krakauer, would try to explain Pat Tillman, better than his own mother.
   
   The major problem in the book comes after Pat Tillman leaves for his fateful Afghanistan mission. Krakauer does a great job of describing the idiotic ways the military uses artificial timelines by politically motivated commanders who are not in the field. He also describes the military as a frustrating system of length-in-the-corps meritocracy vs. the intelligence and skill based system in business and sports. Finally he succeeds in showing the reader the huge problems of execution using many different military corps.
   
   But once he sets all of this up, and with the reader inherently knowing the ending will be bad, but expending so much energy on why it will be bad, he leaves the reader to plow though the second half of the book on just military details.
   
   The books tries to be half biography/geopolitics/military high level analysis AND a detailed written account of warfare. Krakauer leaves his ability to be a great story teller in the first half of the book to be a great reporter in the second half of the book.
   
   If Krakauer would have blended both story telling and reporting throughout the book he would have better succeeded. Imagine "Band of Brothers" by Steven Ambrose describing the entire story of E Company and then a bland account of the great battles they participated in, without the same personalization, and you would have a book that does not totally succeed like "Where Men Win Glory".
   
   Despite that this book should be read. Besides its overarching macro context, it is a powerful and moving account of a special man who is atypical in this non-America's special generation. Pat Tillman, through his daily diaries and other peoples accounts, was a driven, emotional, home body who also was at peace with taking risks. He was also an avid reader of the classics, always was reading a book, and a driven student in college, who graduated with a G.P.A of 3.8. His writing skills in his daily diaries are more poetry than bland journaling. Especially poignant is his journaling on how he has to put up with kids five years younger with no education telling him what to do. Despite his frustration, he did not take the chance of early discharge to sign a big contract with Seattle (a place he and his wife Marie always wanted to live) after an uneventful tour in Iraq.
   
   The title of this review is five stars for Pat Tillman. But number of stars is not enough. Pat Tillman was a real American hero and his stubborn idealism was a "tragic virtue" wasted by a government and military with "tragic flaws".



3. I'll always enjoy the storytelling of Jon Krakauer-- but in this case there was too much of his liberal political agenda. To me, many of the facts were dubious or cherry picked to support his position. This is ironic given that a significant part of this book rants about using propaganda to obscure the facts and make a bogus case.
   
   Nonetheless, it is an interesting read about a fascinating person. 50% of the population (the left leaning) will love this book. The other 50% need to be prepared to wade through a cess pool of nonsense to pull out the gems in the story.



4. I finished this latest by Krakauer with a great deal of perplexity. Having read all of his previous works I have the highest regard for his demonstrated literary competence. Upon perusing the other reviews ,it was apparent that I certainly was not alone.A highly unsatisfying read,plodding between a strangely unemotional almost comic book cariacture of Tillman,flat and lifeless portrayal of the combat actions and highly partisan polemic against the Bush administration,Rumsfeld,the military,conservatives and Republicans. Vacillating between a 3 and a 1,I opted for a 1 in perhaps futile protest of authors whose previous success brings entitlement to force their political spleen upon us. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK,unless ,of course you are of the far left,antimilitary,democrat,an Obamanaut or anti conservative or Republican,in which case you will love your tired views reinforced.



5. A pretty good read. I finished it off quickly. This is the fourth Jon Krakauer book I've read and he maintains his reputation as an excellent storyteller and journalist. His descriptions of how Pat Tillman lived and died are thorough and eminently comprehensible; Krakauer excels at eliding complex matters into digestible and literary segments. Unlike his previous books, however, the story he tells here is far from original. I learned very little about the political drama of the military cover-up of Tillman's death that wasn't readily available through other sources. The tie-in to Jessica Lynch was fascinating, however, and I credit Krakauer a for contextualizing the phenomena of friendly-fire-response in an expansive manner.

5 comments about Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity.

1. I asked my wife to get this book for me as I am a die-hard Saints and Drew Brees fan. In an effort to be totally honest, I wasn't expecting a whole lot; for a couple of reasons.
   
   First reason, Drew is only 31 years old. I'll admit that I thought to myself, "heck, I've got underwear approaching that age" (well, to hear my wife you would think that). What could he possibly write about when it comes to adversity (and I've been a full-time law enforcement officer for 33 years)!
   
   Second reason, he's a jock! Most jocks (not all), when I was growing up, were not known for their articulate literary ability (in fact I'm not sure many of them could spell that much less tell you what it meant).
   
   However and whatever the reason I asked her to buy the book, I'm truly happy that I did. Yes, it's true that I've been employed in the same job for longer than Drew is old but the adversity, the unknown and the unasked question "what happens if I can't get this fixed?" that he and Brittany faced in their relatively young lives, would have kept MANY a 'better man' down for the count.
   
   As for the 'jock' notion, that never even entered the picture after I began reading (the book was truly hard to put down). It's not only well written in the sense that it's articulate but it flows well and it's easy to keep up with where he was during a given event.
   
   During the few days I spent reading the book, I kept telling my wife, "this is a good book!" She finally couldn't take anymore and she picked it up and began reading.
   
   Finally and to me personally, most importantly, it remains funny to me how one person will percieve something while the person right next to them will have seen something totally different. God knows, I've seen that event countless times in my career as a police officer but for here, I am referring to at least one of the other reviews on this same book.
   
   I read where one other reviewer was 'reminding' Drew that there is no 'I' in teamwork. And while it's true, there is no 'I' in teamwork, I remained consistently and constantly, not to mention, pleasantly surpised to whom Drew did give credit. Virtually every other page had him giving the credit to whom credit should have been given but is often overlooked, if not ignored. God.
   
   Drew Brees is a star quarterback of a team that I suspect will go down in history as making the comeback of the century, yet he did not lose sight of who blessed him with his gift, his focus and the family and team that backs and supports him. To me, that says more than any book can hold in print, about the man.
   
   Great book Drew! Well done! God bless you, your family and your team.



2. As a female Saints fanatic and season ticket holder since '72, this book definitely fulfilled my expectations! Drew Brees is a one in a million guy, and I believe it when he says God led him to N.O. We needed a hero, and Drew fulfilled that need, along with many other caring people, in helping to restore 'the city that care forgot'.
   
   The book was inspirational to me. I laughed, smiled, giggled, and cried. It was so well written that I felt I was sitting there with Drew as he told his story. In the face of so much adversity, his faith kept him going. So many of us would have thrown in the towel, but this man had the strength, determination, and faith to go on.
   
   I don't think I'll read a more heartfelt book for a long while to come. I could barely put it down until I finished it. And the photos! Oh my, they tell the story as well.
   
   A great read for anyone, whether or not a sports fan. A true story of a good man who has achieved great success is my kind of book! Who dat? Drew dat!



3. I recently had my faith tested, not in a religious fashion but faith in myself. I am working on a project that I created and am at the stage of development where others are now involved. I have been told from nearly everyone that, for one reason or the other, I have to change what I have created and do it the way everyone else does. I was close to caving to these critics when I heard and interview with Drew Brees. He talked about staying strong and using adversity as a tool to grow. He talked about having faith in yourself and your abilities. He touched me and I immediately made the call to tell my critics that this project would move forward according to my vision and no one elses. Twenty minutes later, by total coincidence, a good friend calls me from San Diego. She tells me that she is in line at a book store and has just bought me a copy of Drew Brees' new book and is in line to have it autographed. If that isn't the universe reaching out then I don't know what is.
   She sent the book, I read it immediately, and can truly say that it has changed my life. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a lift.
   I am also a 29 year San Diego Charger season ticket holder. I was at most of the Charger games that he references in the book. I was there when he hurt his shoulder. I miss him in SD. An awful lot of character walked out the door with Drew when he left.
   Hey Drew, I read your book, how about you return the favor? LOL.
   Justice Rules - 2010 Finalist Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest (A Brian Wylie Novel)



4. This is a great read for football fans (Saints fans in particular), but it is also an encouragement to all who have faced tragedy (such as the suicide of Drew's mother) or have had to overcome adversity (as Drew did following his shoulder injury and as the folks of New Orleans have done since Katrina). It is also encouraging to read of the Christian faith which I share with Drew. I highly recommend this book.



5. Helps the non-athlete drive to the goals in life and remain motivated when the oomph wains.

5 comments about Called to Coach: Reflections on Life, Faith, and Football.

1. Being a Miami fan, I can't help to envy FSU for having one of the Greatest coaches in college football. Great book. Very inspirational.



2. I received this book as a birthday present from a friend at church last week. My first thought when receiving it was: Why in the world would I want to read a book about a football coach? I'm a grandmother and have never even watched a college football game. But my good friend heard Bobby Bowden speak recently at a Christian business leaders group near our hometown and was amazed by his wonderful stories. I read this book over the weekend and she was exactly right. Even if you're not a football fan, this book teaches us some very important lessons about morals, faith and living your life to help others. Bobby Bowden is such an inspiration. His lessons about allowing God to lead each our of lives were very inspirational. I would recommend this book to anyone.



3. This is an excellent book and should do very well.
   
   As former President Jimmy Carter so eloquently wrote on the back of Called to Coach, Bobby Bowden is a true American treasure. Whether your a Florida State fan, college football fan, parent, coach, mentor or Christian, you will find a plethora of inspirational stories from the life story of Bobby Bowden. Coach Bowden was not only one of college football's greatest coaches, but he also was one of our countries greatest leaders. The most inspiring part of this book was reading the stories, testimonials and parables from the pregame speeches Bowden delivered to his teams.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about faith, values, and teaching our children to live their lives the right way.



4. Not being a Florida State fan, I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It's a moving story of not just an excellent football coach but an inspirational man. Bowden's story - well told by Schlabach - is a real Horatio Alger tale of a man who worked his way up the old fashioned way, through hard work, perseverance and his enduring faith.
   
   This book is filled with behind-the-scenes stories from from Bowden's long and illustrious coaching career, including his time at West Virginia and coaching against his sons as well as Bowden's early life in Birmingham and as a fledgling coach and husband.
   
   This is not just a book for football fans, but for anyone interested in truly inspirational leaders of our time.



5. This was so disappointing and so ... Bad.
   
   I met Bobby Bowden many times and either his age has really hit him hard in the past five years or Mark Schlabach is the worst writer I've ever read.
   
   This book just rambles through Bowden's life without giving you anything in the way of inspiration or excitement. I read it in a few hours and it's just an awful book. Save your money.

5 comments about Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference.

1. I had a horrible experience with this seller. They didn't get my book to me on time, and when I talked to them about it, they just said they'll let me know when they find it. They didn't get back to me so I filed a claim. I better get a refund. I would give this seller a -5 stars if I could.



2. It is a book worth reading to realize how one person can make a difference - as this woman did with these refugee children. There was probably more about soccer than I care for (I don't follow soccer) but this was the perfect sport for these refugee children.



3. Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference evolved from an award winning series of stories published in the New York Times. Clarkston, Georgia was a designated resettlement center for refugees. The slowly fading town had been tolerant to the many different cultures, but not exactly welcoming. One, Luma Mufleh , a woman from Jordan volunteered to coach three Youth Soccer teams of refugee players, and they called themselves the Fugees. The soccer provides an outlet for players from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa and the team began to hold their own against the better funded all white teams the played.
   
   Clarkston struggles with a continual downward slippage and the many cultures that had made the town their home. The refugees struggle with acclimation, a strange country with confusing traditions, cultures and trying to get their footing in a confusing mix of cultures, traditions and survive their new life. Luma Mufleh struggles to keep the players out of gangs, keeping them in school and keeping the teams together and providing them all they need to continue playing. Warren St. John follows the players, the team and the town facing continual change. because the book started as a newspaper series several chapters are complete within the chapter rather than leading to the next chapter. It is a heartwarming story of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds and finding acceptance, joy and a home in sports.



4. This story opens eyes to the perils of individuals from lands of extreme persecutions & bitter hardships encountered in the here & now, the 21st century. Immigrants are not always welcome in this accepting USA, especially in areas originally hard hit by economics & buried in racism. Overlooking all odds, personal & professional, winners emerge. Thought provoking & heavy, a necessary & good read. Highly recommended.



5. A group of refugees thrown into a small town in Georgia -- sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. There are the usual difficulties adjusting to a new and foreign environment -- and some succeed better than others. Each family has its own story: Liberians, Somalis, Sudanese, Kosovars, Iraqis.
   
   Enter Luma Mufleh, an American-educated woman from Jordan, who coaches the refugees' three soccer teams. Her selfless dedication to the families of these fyoug people is truly inspiring. She takes them to the doctor, buys them groceries, picks them up to go to movies. And she treats soccer as if it is the true meaning of life: playing hard and with sportsmanship gives the players the skills they need to survive in their new world.
   
   Outcasts United is not just a "feel good" story about a refugee soccer team that makes good. It is really about the refugees and about the town into which they've been relocated. It's about a woman who saw a way she could help some of the refugee boys do well in their new environment and it's about the clash of cultures.
   
   St. John does a fine job of portraying both the town and the immigrants in as positive a light as possible, without candy-coating anything, letting the facts speak for themselves. Let's face it -- Clarkston, Georgia didn't ask to be a refugee "dumping ground," and there is the expected resistance to Mufleh's attempts to organize and coach these young people, along with unexpected instances of openness. There's no spectacular big finish, but instead a quiet existence and perserverence, and a well-deserved book (and now a Universal Studios movie deal) to publicize the success.

5 comments about Into Thin Air.

1. It is a bit sad that this exceptionally good story is hampered by the bad formatting.
   
   I really looked forward to re-read this book on my Kindle - in fact I decided that this book should be the first thing I read on my new K3.
   
   The publisher has done a very bad job when converting the excellent paper editions (I have read both the paperback and the hardback) to a Kindle Edition.
   
   For one, the pictures included in the book is of much lower quality than the Kindle screen can display. Also, the table of persons is less than stellar formatted.
   
   However, the worst thing about the book is that every foot-note is just thrown in the middle of the text instead of doing the right e-book thing: Creating a hyperlink to the very foot-note. The foot-notes should also be kept together in a separate apendix at the back of the book.
   
   There are also quite a few smaller annoyances through the book which really destroy the joy of reading this superb story.
   
   As the Kindle Edition now stands - you could really just have read a text file!
   
   If you really care to read this story - which you should do - avoid the Kindle Edition as all the formatting faults is getting in the way of enjoying the story.



2. "Into Thin Air" is a book that is hard to put down and, once it is put down, will be picked up again with much anticipation. It is a thrilling, scary, and tragic adventure of rival mountain climbing teams attempting to summit the highest mountain in the world in 1996. The disaster that transpired on May 10 produced the majority of casualties in the deadliest single year in the history of Mount Everest. Author Jon Krakauer was part of the New Zealand team lead by expert Everest guide Rob Hall. Krakauer was researching the commercialization of the world's tallest mountain for Outside Magazine. Although he had substantial climbing experience, he had never been near the altitude of even the base of Mt. Everest. His apprehension as he took Thai Air flight 311 to Kathmandu, Nepal was well-founded and; no doubt, the results turned out to be worse than expected.
   
   Krakauer had a long history of mountain-climbing before joining Rob Hall's Adventure Consultants to tackle Everest. His childhood heroes were Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein who summited Everest in 1963 via the hitherto unclimbed West Ridge. In his youth, his life revolved around his next climb. He, therefore, brought much technological understanding of the art of climbing to this book. As a member of the close-knit climbing community, he also explained the esteem many climbers gave to Everest which, surprisingly, was not very high due, in large part, to the number of less experienced climbers able to scale the 29,028 feet with the help of guides and Sherpas.
   
   In addition to first and second hand accounts of the tragedy that unfolded in May 1996, Krakauer gives the reader some understanding of the Everest climbing culture and experience from the way of the life of the Sherpas to the effects suffered from high altitude. One disappointment is the lack of photos in this edition. There are only a handful at the front of the book and a color photo of the Adventure Consultants' crew on the back of the dust jacket with no names underneath. An illustrated issue of this book is available but it would have added much to this edition to have more photos included instead of the drawings that begin each chapter. Many times when reading about a climber or a section of the mountain did this reviewer wish there was a photo to which to refer. For those who do not know the story and do not wish to know what happens to the climbers beforehand, do not read the captions under the photos. Another important element missing from this book is an index.
   
   The lack of additional photos and an index will not detract from the score, however, because "Into Thin Air" is one of the most spell-binding books this reader has read in a long time. It is extremely well written and, aside from the captions to the photos at the beginning of the book, does not give anything away so those (like this reviewer) who do not know the story beforehand, will probably feel some emotions when it is revealed who survives and who does not. This reader was surprised by some of the twists in the story. Anyone interested in real-life adventure and the struggle to survive will enjoy this book. The many one-star reviews mainly focus on Krakauer's critical assessment of Mountain Madness guide Anatoli Boukreev who, before his death in another mountain disaster, wrote "The Climb" to give his side of the 1996 tragedy. Boukreev is given praise for his acts of heroism in this book; however, the points about his decision not to take oxygen and to leave the summit before his clients seem fair. Actually, Krakauer is much harder on the leader of the South African team, Ian Woodall. Krakauer also expresses much guilt for not helping certain climbers. Only with hindsight is it known how close some of these climbers in distress were or what lay ahead for other climbers on their way down the mountain. Also, one should not forget the effects high altitude has on a person's physical and mental capacity. This reviewer highly recommends "Into Thin Air" so that readers can judge for themselves.



3. This is one of the best adventure books I have ever read. Krakauer knows how to illustrate in a very effective way taking the reader along for the ride all the way to the summitt.



4. As someone who loved "Into the Wild", I equally enjoyed this deeply personal story of tragedy on Mt. Everest. Krakauer's investigative journalism is to be lauded, especially since this event was so personally painful to him. I am not an avid reader, but I tore through this book. Its vivid imagery of life and death on the mountain was amazing.



5. Any tale of the pursuit and possible success of summiting Mount Everest is a tale of human contradiction. The weeks of toil and degree of physical injury endured are all measured against some deep-rooted personal search for something more in this life. And this says nothing of the financial cost of the journey, which for most extreme-altitude climbers is a negligible issue. Historic mountaineer George Mallory is famously known for the quote "Because it's there" which was his answer to the question of why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. That Mallory ultimately died attempting the climb is perhaps telling.
   
   Jon Krakauer's account of the partially doomed 1996 expedition is haunting and unforgettable for several reasons. One is that it's a personal account - he was one of the survivors! Another is the randomness at which so much went wrong during the final days. The sporadic tales of triumph and tragedy are scattered, simultaneous and confused for those in the midst of it all. And finally, the utter pointlessness of the hardships and death hang over the whole recounted story.
   
   Pursuing a mountain like Everest is a strictly human effort. The mountain surely doesn't give a damn.

5 comments about Home Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life.

1. I could not put the book down. It arrived on a Tue Evening and I was finished by Wed afternoon. Insight on how the NFL is run, Head Coaches are responsible for things you wouldn't think about. Highly recommended.



2. Great book, gives you an inside look at what it was like for the SAINTS in N.O. after Katrina.



3. I'm from New Orleans, so the book and event had special meaning (did we REALLY win the Super Bowl?). But more objectively, the book was very easy to read, and Sean Peyton offers fun insights into various events during his tenure in New Orleans. These are not the kinds of stories you read about in the newspaper. Some of his events and experiences were good and some were bad, but they were all told honestly and sincerely, and in a very interesting manner. He talks about going out with his fellow coaches and the various motivational techniques he's used to get his teams ready to play. Sean Peyton comes across as an honest, down-to-earth guy - one I'd like to sit down and have a beer with.



4. You have to read this book. It's one of the most open and entertaining reads of it's kind. You really get to look inside what it's like to be an NFL head coach in a city like New Orleans. Highly recommended.



5. Home Team provides interesting insights into how Sean Payton thinks and coaches. He has a sense of humor and is imaginative in his motivational methods.

5 comments about Coming of Age in Mississippi.

1. This book will really suck you in. It's hard for people who aren't from the South to understand the family dynamics, the method of speak, the rural center of it all, etc. But the time period covered while (possibly) somewhat far-removed from today's standards of living is what drives the story forward. The conditions described are both deplorable an' fascinating, an' anyone who thinks slavery ended in 1865 would be greatly challenged by the childhood stories recounted by Anne Moody. One'a the most vivid to me being her description of the chicken factory she worked at in New Orleans. There's no traditional arc here either an' no false hope, possibly because it was published in 1968 at the height of social unrest, but I wouldn't call it a downer either. Its as straightforward as it gets; tumultuous, surreal at times, filled with disillusion an' ultimate uncertainty. But, you will be better for having explored it. I've passed it on to several friends and (if I ever get it back) I intend to read it again.



2. This book is so clearly written and so interesting that I wanted to read on and on. Every so often I would stop and think that the storyline is so good and then I would remember that it's a true story which would further amaze me. I would forget that I am actually reading it for history class. We've always heard of the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but this gives us the story of one female activist who was in action during that time. We learn in more detail about how some of the less mentioned people in history conducted protests and sit ins and strived towards uniting African Americans to gain equality. The life story of Anne Moody is sure to keep you interested.



3. If you want to understand truly the insanity of the prejudice in the south, this book is the truth. Written from a woman who lived it and fought for her freedom and that of her race. It is difficult to read at times. I had to put it down in disgust at the hatred and cruelty that white men have shown to Blacks in our country. It is so well written and should be used as a historical novel in English classes in our schools. Moody had so much courage at such a young age. Pass this one on. Use it in book clubs. Excellent.



4. Great Book. I had to read it for my History Class, my mom later read it and loved it.
   
   This is American History, everyone should read it.



5. What an amazing book!! To know this book was bravely published in 1968, when the Civil Rights issues were still a hot topic, is telling of how Anne (Essie Mae) Moody unabashadly tells the stories of her life in Mississippi. She didn't wait for controversies and prejudice to cool down. She let her voice be known at a time when immediate influence was necessary.
   
   She draws readers into this autobiography that reads more like a novel than a memoir, with tales of herself, a little girl exchanging work for milk for her family. She then shares her teenage years, as a beautiful girl struggling though work, school and family upheaval. Then as a young adult putting her life and that of her family at risk fighting for Civil Rights.
   
   This is a touching story of leadership, accountability, struggle and victory.
   
   Having missed this historical generationmyself by being born in the 70s, it is incredibly angering to know that there was such a distinction made between races. Even worse,that it was a LEGAL distinction.
   
   This book was really incredible. I can see why it continues to be ppular more than 40 years after it's original publication.

5 comments about Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and Off the Court.

1. In a time when winning teams tend to be a collection of criminals and prima donna's, it's refreshing to read a book about a champion both "on and off the court." In this novel Wooden shares memories from his days at UCLA as well as general thoughts on life outside of basketball. This one will stay in my library forever and be read repeatedly. Thank you John Wooden.



2. The book is set up as a series of quotes. The message gets through, but it reads like a bunch of 50-200 word excerpts from longer works that are cut and pasted together. I guess I was looking for more of the story of what Wooden did, not excerpts from after-dinner speeches.



3. I have given over 30 copies of this book as gifts over the last few years. This is sort of an abridged version of the life & teachings of John Wooden, famed UCLA basketball coach who took Bruins to 10 national titles. For quick reference, in the back of the book is a summary of his inspirational and humorous quotes, for whenever I need a quick recharge.



4. I gave this to 4 young men who graduated and have played sports most of their young lives.They loved Woodens inspiration.



5. This is one of the best books on self-help/life I have ever read. Wooden is immensely wise and shares it with the world in this book. I bought the same book for my brother and will also ask my wife to read it.