5 comments about A Sense of Where You Are: Bill Bradley at Princeton.

1. "A sense of where you" are, offers a fascinating look at a true scholar athlete. Author John McPhee`s debut is well written and gives the reader a look at how a student athlete should approach life and grasp the opportunity ahead. Bill Bradley is the consumate teamplayer who pays tribute to the small and important details of the game of basketball. A hoop junkie growing up, but also a reflective mind,perhaps too reflective to become President of the United States.
   An inspiring book that should be read by people of any age, who seek to become successfull at whetever they do.



2. This book is a must read for all aspiring young athletes and their parents. Bill Bradley always had his priorities straight. Although a gifted athlete, he knew that his education was more important. After being named the best college player in America, he eschewed the money and glory of the NBA to accept a Rhodes scholarship. Can you imagine one of today's selfish, ignorant, anti-intellectual, basketball stars doing that today?



3. Bill Bradley, a three-time basketball all-American at Princeton, Olympic gold medalist, Rhodes scholar, member of the New York Knicks and two time NBA champion definitely has a passion for basketball. This books helps show what goes into the making of a champion. Discipline, selflessness, respect, courage, imagination and passion are elements that made him a success on and off the court. I knew nothing at all about Bill Bradley before reading this book, but I have great respect for his personal code and his shining example.



4. I'm writing this review because the fact that it didn't have a 5-star rating irritated me. I first saw the McPhee/Bill Bradley piece in the New Yorker Magazine about 30 years ago. After reading it I xeroxed the entire article and sent copies of it to every member of the University of South Carolina basketball team (which for those of you who are as old as I am was coached by the legendary Frank McGuire (the assistant coach was Donnie Walsh, now President and General Manager of the Indiana Pacers) and featured a cast of great college players like John Roche, Tommy Owens, Billy Walsh, Bobby Cremins, etc. All of the players (an unusually intelligent group) loved the article. We had many conversations about Bradley's approach to the game in the months to come. This is definitely a 5-star book for any lover of the true game of basketball. It's great and can't possibly be outdated. Highest recommendation.



5. I was shocked to see that this book has received such marvelous reviews!

   I am a big fan of anybody that has deserved success on the same level as Bill Bradley. However, this simple fact does not mean that the product of his interesting life will be a good book.

   Simply, this book was very plain and details Bradley's life at Princeton, inside and outside the classroom and on the basketball court. The stories are not interesting and there is too much worship given to Senator Bill. I found many of the "facts" divulged by the author to be incredibly hard to believe.

   If you like the modern-day NBA at all you will absolutely hate this book.

   If you like the modern-day NBA, politics and the Golden Age of sports you will give this book two stars on a five-star scale!

5 comments about Race Across Alaska: First Woman to Win the Iditarod Tells Her Story.

1. Libby Riddles brings you on the Iditarod trail with her. You will feel her cold, her fatigue and the fur of her dogs whom she loves above all. This is the ultimate armchair adventure. It's incredible top believe that people actually put themselves through this. A bonus feature of this book is the informaive sidebars. I recommend it with five stars.



2. I loved this book, from beginning to end. It was engaging, exciting, informative and just a great read. Adventure stories are my favorite and I love animals so it was a great combination. Hooray for Ms. Riddles for her victory and a well written book.



3. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Libby Riddles personally on a cruise with Princess Cruise Line. Her talk was so enlightening that I bought the book. This is a must read for every Iditarod fan or interested person. The grueling schedule and trails will hold your interest until the end of the book. You'll find out what Libby cared on her sled, how she prepared for each checkpoint and what all the mushers have to endure to come out on top of the pack. You'll easily learn to respect the mushers and the love/dedication they have for the Iditarod.



4. Libby Riddles is the first woman to win the Iditarod, which is the Alaskan dog-sled race that covers over 1,000 miles.

   As I'm not very familiar with Alaska, I had never heard of Libby Riddles, or the Iditarod for that matter. However, my boss, who is from Alaska, brought me an autographed copy of the book as a souvenir from one of her trips home. I immediately started reading the book and was quickly engrossed in Libby's adventure.

   The book is written in journal style. I felt as if I were right there on the trail with Libby throughout her grueling race to the finish. Interspersed throughout the pages are interesting Iditarod facts that help the reader to better understand the life of a musher as well as the ins and outs of the race.

   Libby, as well as all the mushers, show an amazing amount of courage and strength. From start to finish, many mushers don't get to shower and exist on an hour or so of sleep every 15-24 hours! Imagine that kind of schedule, coupled with the intense physical endurance they're also experiencing. It was simply mind boggling, but very admirable.

   I found this a fascinating read; my only complaint is that I wish it were longer! I wanted the story to continue a little bit after Libby crossed the finish line in Nome!




5. After meeting Libby personally in Juneau May 2001, I had to read the book! She takes you "with her and her precious dogs" on this adventure with details about the event and how she feels,copes and thrives throughout the 1984 Iditarod.

   The best part? She won as a team (with her dogs) and as a person of strength with the knowledge that she would also be a role model from both women and men.

   I found the book inspiring!

5 comments about Gold in the Water: The True Story of Ordinary Men and Their Extraordinary Dream of Olympic Glory.

1. This will go down as the best swimming book ever written. The facts of non-fiction with the fluidity of a great novel. PH Mullen has written the aquatic masterpiece.



2. Gave a glimpse of the professional swimming world. Starting with kids beginning swimming to Olympians from the perspective of professional coach. Entertaining and more appreciative to the sport. But too late for me to join.



3. Very nice book about swimming as a sport and the people, swimmers and coaches and more, in and behind it. One of few great books about swimming.



4. Seriously inspiring, got me through a lot of long practises.



5. P.H. Mullen's Gold in the Water is a story that i first came into contact with a couple years ago. It is a fast paced true tale about average men trying to accomplish their goals. Reading the story over and over has helped me get through the hard times in and out of the pool. You don't need to be a swimmer to appreciate this story, but it does help. As I am in film school now, this is one story that can inspire more people then Remember the Titans with the Olympic power of Miracle. I encourage every athlete, Olympic fan, parent, or anyone who has a goal to accomplish to buy a copy of this book and one for their coach or mentor. It is a book to read over and over again.

5 comments about How Lance Does It.

1. I truly admire Lance and what he is done, but this book overdoes it a bit!



2. There were a couple of Lance stories I hadn't heard before, but, overall, it wasn't a good Lance book nor did it impress me as a motivational tool. Save your money: re-read It's Not About the Bike. It's better written, tells a better Lance story and is a darn sight more motivational.



3. "How Lance Does It" is a good and motivational "airplane read." Author Brad Kearns, a former high-level triathlete, explores how Lance Armstrong's approach to sport and life can function as an effective template for our own success and self development.
   
   Some may tire of the elevation of Lance Armstrong as the greatest cyclist, the greatest athlete, the greatest Dad, the greatest philanthropic fund-raiser, et cetera, et cetera. It is difficult to deny that Armstrong is an extraordinary person.
   
   The problem is, does his way work for us and for YOU? Can it? Should it? Should we find our own path?
   
   Yes, the book is motivational but for how long? Is it be motivational equivalent of Chinese food -- 30 minutes later, you're hungry again and the effect wears off?
   
   Nevertheless, there is more good than bad in this short book. Some may find it unseemly idolatry of Lance Armstrong. Others will draw inspiration from it and it is the latter group which is the target audience most likely of author Brad Kearns.



4. For normal "everyday guys" who wonder how guys like Lance Armstrong approach training and racing but will never "stand on a podium in Paris" themselves this book is a must....Ive read every book about Lance Armstrong that I know about and this is the first one to give me insight into how Lance got "through it". Its the first book about Lance that I can actually use in my own life as an average guy doing average workouts and racing in the middle of the pack at the average Triathlon or 10k race! On top of that Brad Kearns sense of witty humor and his entertaining style of writing keep you in "the game". A good book for a pro racer who really does have a shot at the podium in Paris.....But better for the average guy like me who can only dream.....



5. Brad Kearns book "How Lance Does It" is a very well written and tremendously helpful read for anyone interested in performing their best - in all areas of life. Kearns has a frank, strong and empowering way of writing. He does not back down or "soften the blow". If something needs to be said, he lay's it out there which is really refreshing!
   
   This is a great addition to the library of any person who is passionate about living well, growing or improving how they live life.

5 comments about King of the World: Muhammed Ali and the Rise of an American Hero.

1. When boxing mattered, boxers were more than pugilists trying to break each other's wills; they were symbols that attracted the attention and aspirations of the masses. Like gladiators in Rome, these courageous men allow us to project our hopes, fears, and insecurities.
   
   David Remnick tells the story of Cassius Clay's growth from a skinny, mercurial, but morally upright boy, to a hero and symbol of resistance and hope for millions of anti-establishment figures. Ali captivated the hearts and minds of fans unlike any athlete before or since. Remnick does a beautiful job of explaining why and how this happened. No matter how dominate Michael Jordan was, or Tiger Woods is, neither absorb our emotions like the sponge known as Muhammad Ali.
   
   His grace, speed, and power thrilled, while his words, political stances, and humour enthralled. Everyone in America should learn the story of this hero. There is no better place than Remnick's book to do so. Highly recommended.



2. It is, as many have said, one of the great sports biographies of all time -- but it's also one of the great history narratives of all time. It's not just Muhammmad Ali profiled here, but the trio of heavyweights who dominated headlines in the early 1960s: also Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. And in many ways, those two are more fascinating because, before I read "King of the World," they weren't accompanied by the same pre-fight hype. Here's Liston, a dangerous and sullen felon who's achingly lonely; there's Patterson, a great athlete but at the same time so thoughtful and intelligent he was plagued by a boxer's worst enemy, self-doubt.
   
   And that's not to say anything of the portrait of the time, of Black Muslims, Malcolm X, Norman Mailer, the media, John F. Kennedy... Trust me, even a non-sports fan will be mesmerized.



3. Bertz / Randall
   
   "Almighty god was with me! I want everybody to bear witness! I am the greatest! I shook up the world! I am the greatest thing that ever lived! I don't have a mark on my face, and I just upset Sonny Liston, and I just turned twenty-two years old. I must be the greatest! I showed the world! I
   talk to god every day! I am the king of the world!" shouts Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) to the sporting press, after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. This statement enraged boxing fans all over the world. Here was a twenty-two year old nobody with a big mouth, and he just defeated Sonny Liston. At the time, Liston was viewed as invincible. Liston was an experienced fighter who was known for defeating his opponents in two rounds or less. Not only did he lose the heavyweight championship to Ali, but he quit without being knocked down once. This declared Ali the king of controversy. "King of the World" by David Remnick is the story of the rise and fall of Muhammad Ali. Remnick does a fantastic job of showing us the different sides of racism. He focuses greatly on Ali's devotion to the Nation of Islam. The book showed many similarities between the Nation of Islam and the Klu Klux Klan. Remnick explained that both the Nation and the Klan were for segregation and that they both use methods of violence and terror to enforce their beliefs. After reading this book, I realized that the similarities are uncanny. Remnick's numerous references to these similarities proved to me that Remnick is a non-violent integrationist. I believe that one of the main points of the book is that segregation is wrong. The book greatly describes how the Nation of Islam had interfered with Muhammad Ali's personal life. For example, Remnick noted Ali's marriage to Sonji. He went into great detail how strong Ali's love was for Sonji, but he couldn't accept her inability to conform to his
   religion. This became a problem for them and they eventually got a divorce. Remnick also noted the emotional distance between Ali and his father being caused by his decision to join the Nation of Islam. Remnick goes even further in describing the way Ali turned his back on his best friend Malcolm X. He also wanted to let the reader know that religion should never get in the way of your personal life. The book said that the only thing in Ali's life that Ali regrets is "his cruel and hasty rejection of Malcolm." Now days, Ali looks back at Malcolm X with great respect. The main point Remnick was trying to communicate with his audience was that Ali stood up for what he believed in. Not only in the boxing ring but, also with his religious and political beliefs. In 1966, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted to fight the war in Vietnam. The government threatened to take away his heavyweight championship and throw him into a federal prison for the next five years. Ali still refused. When they asked him why he refused to fight in the Vietnam war, he replied "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." Eldridge Cleaver described Ali as a "genuine revolutionary" and the "first `free' black champion to confront white America." Writer, Jill Nelson, called Ali's refusal of the draft a "supreme act of defiance." However, not everyone supported Ali's refusal of the draft. Conservative boxing fans
   called him an unpatriotic bum. They thought he was hiding behind his religion because he was lazy. Remnick took a much more liberal stance on the situation. The author seemed to support Ali's decision. For many years, Muhammad Ali would be both loved and hated by boxing fans of all races. Some people believe that Ali should not have been allowed to be exempt from the war because of his religion. Others looked at his exemption as an amazing defeat. The only thing anyone could agree on was his amazing abilities in the ring. In 1997, during the summer Olympics, Muhammad Ali was invited to light the Olympic torch. In my opinion, this proved Ali to be a very patriotic man. It proved that the world had never forgotten about Ali, and it
   never will. Lighting the Olympic torch is one of the highest honors any athlete could be given. "King of the World" was published in 1998. Exactly one year after he lit the Olympic torch. I think that's why this book was written when it was.
   The ignition of the 1997 Olympic torch was Ali's return to the public eye. And this book was written to honor him.



4. King of the World by David Remnick was one of the best books I've ever read. It is the true story of a champion and how he got there. I recommend anyone who likes stories about winning and glory, to read this book. If you also like reading about dudes getting smoked by a champ. Read this book.



5. For me, this book should have been titled "Death of One of My Heroes," which should become self-evident if you read this entire review. I believe the book is mostly accurate, and it is a well-written book.
   
   Remnick (the author), in my opinion, devotes too much time to Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. I also wish he had given more details about Ali as Ali got older and continued to box.
   
   Without question, Muhammad Ali, in his prime, was the greatest heavyweight fighter that has ever fought.
   
   "DEATH OF ONE OF MY HEROES": I did not realize how much Ali allowed the Nation of Islam (NOI) to influence him. Because he let the NOI influence him--yes, Ali DID have a choice!!!--Muhammad Ali: (1)lied about throwing his Olympic medal over a fence, (2)divorced his first wife, (3)broke off a friendship with Malcolm X, and (4)claimed to be a "minister" to avoid the draft. If you think the above describes a "hero," your definition of "hero" differs from mine.
   
   The book is good. Unfortunately, it killed one of my heroes.
   
   Buy it and read it. It is well worth the $$$.

5 comments about Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France.

1. 
   This is Floyd Landis, exhorting his legal defense team to let it all hang out on the Internet in what became known as the Wiki defense. Trash talking Mennonite listening to Metallica while plotting to destroy his opponents, Landis comes across as a conflicted and none too sympathetic character.
   
   This isn't to say, however, that the book isn't a good read. For anybody who follows cycling it's a page turner regardless of how you feel about the author and his self righteous efforts to vindicate himself.
   
   There are three main parts to the narrative - Landis' childhood and early mountain bike racing years, his career as a professional road racer culminating with the 2006 Tour de France win, and his battle with authorities in the aftermath of being accused of doping. These parts flow together and complement one another as a convincing portrait of the champion (?) emerges.
   
   Along the way Landis provides a compelling explanation for his remarkable performance in Stage 17 of the 2006 Tour. It's about tactics, teamwork, training, and single minded focus on the readings of a PowerTap meter. Putting it all together it makes sense, and you find yourself thinking, "He just might have done it".
   
   There are also interesting perspectives on teammate Lance Armstrong, the group dynamics of the peleton, and the pageantry and flawed grandeur of the Tour de France.
   
   Cycling aficionados will want to read this book, in spite of its self serving PR perspective.



2. Before reading this book I was quite convinced that Landis was innocent.Before reading this book I was quite convinced that Landis was innocent. Having been an avid cyclist for the last 20 years and spent my childhood years in Bucks County PA I felt that the basic values imparted upon him growing up where he had would have served him better. But reading through this drivel was quote annoying and its mere publication did a great disservice not only to Landis but also cycling in general. It is written in a smug and insolent tone and countless anecdotes of Landis' attitude of "hey you schmucks, you just don't get it do you!". Just who does he think he is anyway? He thought he was someone who got get away with it; you know, just how he was spouting off lines of philosophy at fellows riders but only he "got it". His sob story of how his poor wife breaks down in tears because officials show-up unannounced (or announced) to perform a routine drug test is meaningless (not sure why he had to drag his otherwise seemingly nice wife into the mud as well). If he cannot handle such tests, which he has now aggravated through his own irresponsible actions, then get out of the sport, full stop. His endless (and expensive) efforts to try and exonerate himself have all failed miserably, who's the schmuck now?
   Don't get me wrong, I empathetically believe that it's the professional riders who have been dragged through the mud and abused in these drug scandals. As has been seen, if drugs can improve performance in a sport an ambitious athlete will make use of them. Who can blame them? With the amount of money that is on the table for grabs the temptation and likelihood of rationalizing the use of drugs is simply overwhelming. It's the teams that should be held responsible and made to keep their riders on track and bear the financial costs (maybe through posting a bond) if one of their riders tests positive.



3. This is one of those books you can't put down at night. Floyd is a
   down to earth guy who tells it like it is about many aspects as a
   professional bike racer and everything that goes all with, both
   good and bad. You learn the inside scoop on european backward
   thinking as well as the policies of the usada-a pathetic organization
   at the taxpayers expense.
   This book just might enspire you to get out on
   your bike more.



4. "Positively False: How I won the Tour de France, by Floyd Landis w/ Loren Mooney is a well written account of the Life of Floyd Landis leading up his unconventional victory at the Tour de France (TdF) in 2006. His victory was then followed immediately by his fall from grace by the accusations of drug doping from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). There is nothing sophisticated in Floyd's writing, it is conversational in tone and flows extremely well, I finished in a single travel day. His writing competence is no doubt a strong reflection of a Mennonite education with perhaps a helping hand from Loren Mooney. I felt that Floyd was on the other end of the pen talking directly to me.
   
   His story is timeless and the antidotal evidence to support the injustices athletes may suffer at the hands of those with absolute power ring true. It was a witch-hunt for sure and there were many responsible for pushing the inquisitors forward. Unfortunately, with so many athletes actually guilty of the cheating of which they have been accused, it is almost impossible to save the few who are truly innocent. Unlike an actual witch-hunt when everybody is actually innocent. A better analogy would be capital punishment, where on the whole there is sufficient evidence to have a trial, but the outcome is so final that the judicial process has got to work correctly or an innocent person may be put to death. Although in Floyd's case the evidence was so thin there should not have been a trial to begin with and as Floyd's evidence suggests, the judicial process for athletes accused of doping is unbelievable broken. Unfortunately Floyd was practically put to death.
   
   There is no doubt Floyd Landis is innocent. Anyone who followed the TdF and understood his tactics and training, along with a wide-open field, knew that what he did was spectacular, but not so miraculous as to be humanly impossible. Floyd bonked on stage 16 and the inexperienced pelaton blew it on stage 17. Period. I waited a long time to hear Floyd's side of the story, although I instinctively knew he was innocent, very few came forward to help, so I was left with the uncertainty caused by the media hype and continuous bad information. It is a shame he has had to fight so hard to defend himself and it outrageous that he has to continue to fight to clear his name.
   
   My one criticism of the book would be that I would have liked a few more technical details on doping in general, why an athlete would take steroids, EPO, testosterone, or inject fresh blood, and under what circumstances. To me, Floyd's spectacular performance in stage 17 would suggest he injected fresh blood to recover. Not being an expert I am not at all certain how the test he supposedly failed could even contribute to his performance on stage 17, since overall, his testosterone level was actually lower than normal, and it was a ratio that was arguably out of whack. I think the answer is that Floyd probably doesn't know these technical details so it never occured to him to put them in his book - which further defines that he is postively innocence. Read this book and discover why Floyd Landis truly is the 2006 TdF Champion.



5. I remember watching on TV the day Floyd Landis bonked famously on a Tour de France climb. I thought, "He's smart to give in to it. He'll have a great day tomorrow." We've all been there. A bad day very often precedes a great day, and vice versa. Thanks to his power meter data, it's clear that what appeared to be an inhuman turnaround the next day was actually a combination of smart team tactics, hard training (he was well within his normal hard load), physiologic recovery, and cagey use of water (dumped over his head to create a cool microclimate for himself). A sloppy French lab then created, purposely or inadvertently, a false positive, and an unfair process made it impossible (unclear if this is true yet) to rectify. It's sad how science is being used to advance causes these days, but it's nothing new. Even religion has dressed itself up as science in an attempt to advance its world view. Landis' book is refreshing. He's painfully blunt at times, and a tone of honesty permeates the storytelling, which is brisk by the way. This book reads clearly, you can hear Floyd's voice, and it is hard to put down. I enjoyed it thoroughly. After reading this and previously having read Arnie Baker's analyses and the ruling from the first arbitration panel (which captures enough lab flaws to leave you scratching your head at the fact that it still resulting in a guilty verdict), I believe that Floyd is innocent, and that he is being railroaded by a system out of control. A great cycling book.

5 comments about Harry Caray: Voice of the Fans (Book w/ CD).

1. I have to say that this is awsome. Thanks Pat Hughes, Harry and any other contributers. Highly recommended to anyone, even if you are not that much of a ball fan.



2. It is a great book in that it tells a side of Harry Carey's life as a broadcaster that I never knew. I learned quite a few things about him, plus one of my friend's grandson is pictured in the book. (He is the one with the big glasses and the ivy on his head. He is a big Cub's fan!) My son-in-law loved the book, too! Great reading!



3. I learned a lot I didn't know but I thought the c.d. would have more of my favorite announcer and not just him being talked about.



4. Absolutely loved this book. The CD that comes with it is great too. Loved to hear the bits with Harry again.



5. If you too think that Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes is one of the best in the business, you'll enjoy this book. I'm not a Cubs fan, but the person I bought it for is. We both agree that listening to Cubs games on the radio is a pleasure, mostly because of Pat.
   
   He tells tales about Harry Caray mostly from the broadcasting perspective. The person I got this book for is an avid reader, and finished it very quickly. It's an easy but fun read, or so I was told. The CD which comes with the book is a nice addition for those who want to hear a some soundbites of the immortal Harry Caray.

5 comments about Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward.

1. This is a biography like no other. Micky Ward makes Rocky look like Jose Cansaco. A true inspiration. If you are on the fence about this book, just youtube some of Micky's fights. Read it before it is turned into a movie.



2. Not being a huge fan of boxing I wasn't sure what to expect. This book is about so much more than boxing! Irish Thunder really shows the dedication and hard work that Micky Ward used to overcome his surroundings. Just when you thought it was his turn to succeed he had to overcome another obsticle. It really is the Rudy of the boxing world. Great read now I can't wait to read the author's other book Destiny Derailed.



3. Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward is a great biography of the blue collar boxer from Lowell, MA. Bob Halloran does an excellent job chronicling Micky's career and the trials and tribulations he faced to get there. Right from the beginning, Bob illustrates the vision of Lowell, a once proud boxing town that had become a haven for decadence and despair. Although Micky would fall not victim to the drugs that had claimed many before him, the obstacles presented to him were constant whether it was injured hands, his family, bad management, big fights falling through, or his own self confidence. The fact that Micky persevered to become a popular and well respected boxer personifies his character. Halloran gives you a rundown of his fights throughout the book and his vivid recollections of Micky's wars with Arturo Gatti, Emanuel Burton, Reggie Green, and others make you feel like you're watching the fight as it happens. However, what really keeps the reader glued to this book is the behind the scenes drama. And as it often goes with money, the more there is to be made, the more drama comes with it. Most of the fight facts and recaps are accurate with the only obvious mistake being that Pernell Whitaker won a decision over Oscar De La Hoya, when in fact it was the other way around. All told, this is a well written biography and I would recommend this to any boxing fan.



4. This would be one of the more enjoyable boxing books that I have read. The author is top-notch and writes a story that is engrossing and very readable.
   
   One can feel the pressures that Ward was put under in his life in and out of the ring and his toughness and determination to succeed shines throughout the book.



5. Great book. It kept my attention. Recognizing and knowing some of the characters and living in the Greater Lowell area made it a very interesting book.

1 comments about Horses That Buck: The Story of Champion Bronc Rider Bill Smith (Western Legacies).

1. Horses That Buck: The Story of Champion Bronc Rider Bill Smith is a carefully researched and engagingly presented biography of champion saddle bronc rider Bill Smith, who loved the wildness of horses that fought against being ridden. He broke more than a few bones following his passion, earning no less than thirteen trips to the national finals. When he was facing retirement in his thirties, he met schoolteacher and cowgirl Carole O'Rourke on the national rodeo circuit, and together they bought their own land upon which to raise horses. Gathering information from interviews, experience, and historical records, Margot Kahn gives an up close and personal look at the rodeo circuit in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and offers a captivating portrait of a man who truly embodied the spirit of the western frontier long after the west was won.

5 comments about Moving the Chains: Tom Brady and the Pursuit of Everything.

1. First, the book is easy to read, it is interesting, the author has a good humour. This is a good beginning for any newcomer to the world of NFL.
   
   The style is ok, there are some great stories of the players of Patriots, but the author handles the subject of the book as a person without any mistakes, someone on a par with Mother Theresa. Brady is a great player and a great man, but there are too many words on his greatness, his ability to play as a teammate.



2. I found this book to be very interesting and a must read for every No. 12 jersey wearing Patriots' fan! It tells about the rise of Tom Brady and how he came to become the legend that he is through his hard work and dedication. It went behind the scenes of just what he does on the playing field and went into his personal life which I thought was interesting. It's a must read for every Patriots fan. It goes quick and I'm sure it will be enjoyed.
   
   Gerard Zemek
   husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"



3. this book is not the typical football book in which details of football startegy are dissected and analyzed.Instead it deals with how Tom Brady developed as an QB thru high school,the trials and tribulations of his days at Michigan and finally his arrival to the NFL and his eventual taking over the reins of the Patriots and the rest is history.Its not an book I would recommend for anyone looking for pure football strategy its more of an comprehensive look at an young qbs development thru several different areas



4. As an aside, the other good book that talks
   a lot about Tom Brady is Charlie Wies fine
   book, "No Excuses". Brady simply is the best
   QB of his generation in the NFL and not a
   Media creation like P. Manning, who will
   never be fit to carry out Braids garbage!
   
   I rate Brady as the seventh best QB in Pro
   Football history right now, behind only:
   John Elway, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Phil
   Simms, Warren Moon and Johnny Unitas. Fol-
   lowed by; Doug Flutie, Russ Jackson, Otto
   Graham, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach
   and Bob Griese. Flutie, Moon and especially
   the Canadian Jackson did their best work
   in the equally good CFL, which predates
   the NFL by 11 years. Messy somewhat in
   the writing style of the co-author, but
   Brady in his own words is very good. Who
   wants to bet when the smoke clears that
   Brady will NOT be the best QB ever? I
   wouldn't! Probably two more Super Bowls
   coming his way in '09 and 2010!



5. One of the best sports writers ever, Charlie once again writes with precision and incredible depth using the spontaneous wit that earmarks his writng style. Whether you are a Patriots fan, a Brady wannabee, or a curious west-coaster, you will find this book difficult to put down. I bought copies for myself, my 89yo father-in-law, my 35 yo son, and my 11yo grandson...all were pleased with comments ranging from "a great sports biograpy' to "Yowzer awesome".
   In the pursuit for everything, Peirce wins.
   5 stars for sure