5 comments about A Good Man: The Pete Newell Story.

1. SITE WAS NOT CLEAR ABOUT THIS BOOK, WE ASK FOR A GOLF BOOK, THEY DID NOT TELL US IT WAS A BASKET BALL BOOK, WE WILL RETURNING IT AS SOON AS WE ARE CONTACTED, CAN NOT SAY WILL RETURN TO THIS SEL FOR FUTURE BUYS OF THIS SORT, NEED TO CLARIFY BEFORE WE PLACE ORDER THK YOU M. COLOMBO



2. As a former Pete Newell, Jr. player, I eagerly anticipated the printing of this book. I had heard plenty about his father that I knew he was not only a "Good Man," but a great man as well. Coach Newell, Jr. was my inspiration to join the coaching ranks, and still is. However, knowing your past helps you know your future. This book sheds light on, who I biasly feel is the greatest college basketball mind. In all the research and studying I've done over the years to prepare myself for coaching, I feel this book has given me so much more than what I have read to date. The book is enlightening, philosophical, saddening and amazingly funny. I recommend this for any college basketball fan or basketball coach. You won't regret it.



3. I really liked this book. I have followed some of the stuff that Pete has done with the Big Man's camps over the years, but didn't know much about Pete as a coach and his history of the game. After reading the book, I feel like I am a more knowledgeable student of the game, hoping it will make me a better coach in the long run.

   So much history is covered, I liked reading the comments of other players, coaches, Pete's players. I have been a Wooden fan, but this book makes me appreciate so much more about Pete. I also liked reading the stories, the practical jokes, and just the background. Seeing how things were done 40-50 years ago, the players/athletes Pete influenced, his connections with people like Pete Rozelle, Joe Kapp, Bobby Knight, Jerry West, Cap Lavin, etc.

   The title of the book is quite appropriate for such a great coach. I think the only thing I was looking for was the relationships he shares with his sons, especially after he retired from coaching.

   Good book, a must read for those who love the game!




4. To Anyone Interested in this Book...Let me qualify myself as totally biased; yet truthful in my perception of this man, my Father. Pete Newell is both my Father and my 'celebrity' Uncle. I've been Blessed by being his son and a part of 'my' family of brothers (3), who ALL have influenced my life in incredible ways. My Father has a saying that, in fact he has many, but this one pretty much tells the story. "The fish stinks from the head down." Vice/Versa, in this case. Point being: if it's good, it starts at the top; if it's bad....well you can follow 'it' from here. My Father is just one of the most incredible people I'll ever know and I am reinforced on this by the countless souls who I run into on a daily, weekly and monthly basis...that's why I refer to him as "The celebrity Uncle." He touches people in a way, with his amazing perceptions and thoughts that strike people as.....AMAZING; yet his totally down to earth style..... blows people away. I attribute MOST of this skill that he posesses to my Mom, Florence. Now THAT was an amazing women. I can't EVER imagine having grown up in a BETTER home, than the one I was VERY fortunate to grow up in. 3 incredible brothers, all independent, smart and loving of their little brother (me) and two of the greatest parents a child could EVER have.......read the book, you'll get the program and if you don't.......it's on YOU



5. First, I must confess I know Pete Newell and family. One normally expects an author to explore the pros and cons of a man. But this book is biased in exploring Pete Newell's life and his coaching. Anyone who explores Pete Newell could only write in this fashion. I have never found anyone who had a problem dealing with Pete and the book in my opinion is accurate and truthful. Thank you Mr. Jenkins for documenting one of the best and most popular basketball minds ever. Pete has a saying in basketball, you are either a giver or taker. Pete in life, has been a big giver. I will always cherish that part of my life which included Pete and Florence Newell. This from someone who is not easily impressed. I played at UCLA for John Wooden.

3 comments about After the Black Sox: The Swede Risberg Story.

1. After the Black Sox: The Swede Risberg StoryI HAVE READ AND RE-READ THE SWEDE RISBERG STORY. I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE AMOUNT AND THE THOROUGHNESS OF THE INFORMATION THE AUTHOR WAS ABLE TO FIND. UPON READING THE BOOK I WAS ENGULFED IN THE NOSTALGIA OF THE TIME. BASEBALL WAS INDEED A PART OF THIS NATIONS GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AMERICA. MY FAMILY WAS A PART OF THAT TIME AND INTEREST IN THE GAME STILL PERSISTS. THIS BOOK WAS JUST EXACTLY THE KIND OF INFORMATION I NEED.



2. This book surprised me, and greatly disappointed me. Having read the online provided "Book Description", which also matches the back of the book verbatim, one would never anticipate that the book itself could not deliver as promised. To call this a book would be reasonably unfair; rather it might be viewed as an essay or series of articles comprising a paper. The preface of writing a book based on partial to missing information, as was identified by the author, would lend itself to some author entitlement to fill in some of the blanks. Alan Muchlinski chose not to do so and the result is an effort that is, in my opinion, incomplete and devoid of character and substance. An interesting subject that should be Swede Risberg is often reduced to only a name in this book. Anyone that has even a passing interest in the after-life of the Black Sox Eight should look to find it elsewhere as there honestly is very little of value to be found inside the pages that represent this piece. Moreso, simply mentioning that you found boxscores with the names "Risberg" and "Felsch" on them is not reason enough to write a book, let alone an article in a magazine or journal...You need so much more than is presented here.
   
   Expect nothing and you will never be disappointed. According to the "Book Description" editorial we should have indeed expected something. To that end, nothing was and is delivered. I wanted to really like this book, but in the end I have felt cheated on two fronts; There is little to no historical value presented, and I am out the cost of the book. It does not get much more disappointing than this for me. I am at a loss as to how a publisher could even consider it?



3. This book is of interest to those true baseball fans who understand that the interest in baseball in the 20's was so much different than it is today. Men played for the love of the game, even in sand lot leagues. Towns fielded their own teams, and locals went to see the games. This is a book that will show that deep interest that towns had for these teams.
   
   It doesn't dwell on the scandal, but more on the itinerant life of a ball player of that time.My personal interest comes from living in the town where Swede passed away, although i never knew him. I did visit another town where he lived and talked to oldtimers who knew him well -- what an amazing history to be able to revisit. One of the greatest sports books ever written is " The Glory of Their Times" by Lawrence (sp.?) Ritter- I read this when I was about 12 years old - I loved the spirit of the oldtime ball players. This book is a great history of the early days of baseball !

No comments about Sporting Lives: Metaphor and Myth in American Sports (Sports and American Culture Series) (Sports and American Culture Series).

5 comments about Baseball's Natural: The Story of Eddie Waitkus.

1. Wow, a can't-stop-reading book for baseball fans who don't care about stats but love the legends.
   
   Waitkus encountered one of the worst stalkers in sports history and when the lable of stalker wasn't even there. Creepy and sad, this book is ironic, bitter and forces us to watch te decline of a player who shoulda, coulda, woulda been better if not for holes in the legal system that allowed a psycho to succeed in destroying a baseball star. Read it for the full, fleshed-out tale: you'll be creeped out more you thought possible.
   
   Mark Braun, Executive Director
   Old Timers' Baseball Association of Chicago



2. In order to fully understand the events described in this book, one needs to place oneself in the time frame in which they arose.

   1949 was a backward period in American history, in which a woman could shoot a man that she did not even know and not even be universally lionized as an empowerment-achieving heroine. It was actually a time in which she could expect to receive a measure of legal and moral reprobation for her actions. Indeed, it was a time when men weren't even universally regarded as worthless, simply for having been born male, and some regarded their lives as having purpose and value. It was a time when millions of people across the country actually found themselves praying for the speedy recovery of the male victim and even lionizing HIM as the hero.

   This was the historical setting in which deranged Baseball Annie, Ruth Steinhagen, shot Philadelphia Phillie first baseman Eddie Waitkus. John Theodore's book largely describes what happened to both the assailant and her victim after the shooting, though, of course, he also includes a pre-shooting biography of both of them.

   As a misogynist and a baseball fan, I would find it easy to simply regard this book as being the story of woman who committed the unpardonable crime of not only shooting a man - but a male baseball player yet.

   Yet - and this is to Theodore's credit - he brings home the realities of Steinhagen's obsession with Eddie Waitkus forcefully enough that even this reader could empathize with it, and I did find myself taking as much interest in Steinhagen's story as I did in Waitkus's.

   This reader himself has undergone two or three experiences in which he found himself strongly obsessed to the point of distraction with an unattainable member of the opposite sex - none of which, I hasten to add, ever had the potential of becoming harmful. But by giving his readers a glimpse into the stark and chilling world of a mind trapped in such a grip, Theodore provided this reader with a glimpse into a mind that once resembled his own - differing (however greatly) only in the strength and emphasis of the grip that seized it.

   The experience gave me a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I sensation and strengthened my resolve never again to walk that path. I actually would have liked to read more about Steinhagen - her mental health was restored and she is alive today - than Theodore actually provided, and I imagine that Theodore would have liked to have written more about her. But the book is largely about Waitkus, presumably because there is more information about him in the public record and because people close to him (this is obviously not a surprise) were more willing to talk than were people close to Steinhagen (attempts to contact Steinhagen herself were rebuffed).

   I was going to give this book 4 stars on the basis of the author's workmanlike acquisition and delineation of the facts but the Waitkus story, as Theodore weaved it, "grew" on me the more that I read into it.

   Of the World War II generation, Waitkus himself was a corking good ballplayer - though not a Hall of Famer. But he was the best defensive first baseman of his era, one who sprayed the ball around for singles and doubles - more J.T. Snow than Lou Gehrig. There was nothing remarkable about his personality - which appears to have been of a blunt, yet affable character, which philosophically took life, including the tragedies that he suffered, as it was dealt to him. Kilroy in a major-league uniform - he would not be greatly remembered today as anything but one of many names from baseball's past, were it not for the shooting.

   Yet there was really something almost Shakespearean about the story of his life. His recovery from the shooting and his efforts to restore his baseball career match nicely with the rise to glory of the fabled upstart "Whiz Kids" that were the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies of 1950.

   But while his physical recovery appears to have been complete and while there is no indication that Waitkus allowed himself to dwell on the past, Theodore tells a story of a man already suffering from the hidden trauma caused by several harrowing war experiences having his trauma heightened by the only experience (occurring, ironically in civilian life) where he was the victim of gunfire.

   After arriving at the summit of fame that was his leading role on the "Whiz Kids", Waitkus, turning too often to drink for solace, suffers slow declines in his baseball career, his marriage, and in his life after baseball that culminated in his untimely death from cancer in 1972 at the age of 53. It makes one wonder if Steinhagen's bullet didn't somehow find its target after all.

   Yet, in his final years, he finds redemption in his continuing relationship with the children that were the product of his marriage and in being an instructor in Ted Williams's baseball camp. Theodore actually misses the opportunity to embellish upon the irony inherent in the fact that Ted Williams had to deal with his own personal demons while he lived, but it was the book's bittersweet ending that moves it into an elite classification in my judgment.

   One minor baseball point that Theodore missed was another brush that Waitkus had with baseball history at the end of the 1951 season, featuring a historic Giants-Dodgers pennant race. Had Jackie Robinson not made a remarkable catch of Waitkus's low line drive in the final game between the Dodgers and the Phillies, the hit would have won the game for the Phillies and knocked the Dodgers out of the pennant race. The Giants would have won the pennant in the regulation season, and Bobby Thomson's miracle homer in the third game of the post-season never would have happened. Waitkus would have achieved the "spoiler's" fame later found by Joe Morgan and Gene Oliver.




3. Here is a first rate baseball story, albeit with a limited audience. "Baseball's Natural" is the story of Eddie Waitkus, who played first base for the Cubs, Phillies and Orioles from 1941 and 1946-1955. That 3 year WW2 break is significant. Many believe that the period after the War to 1960 was a golden age for Major League Baseball. Those were the years of the (pre-expansion) original 16 teams. The NFL was just coming out of the shadows. The NBA and NHL were minor sports by comparison. To appreciate BN, it helps to remember that period, even if one is not familiar with Waitkus. Eddie was a slick fielder and above average hitter with a bright future. He was intelligent, popular off the field, well-spoken and an inquisitive, well-dressed young man. Then, one night in June of '48, he visited a woman in a Chicago hotel room and was shot! He recovered from the physical wounds but not from the mental ones. Somehow the dual demons of the shooting and his WW2 experiences drove him slowly to drink. He was a quiet drunk, not a rowdy one. He hung out in nice bars. His downward slide was slow, almost imperceptible, but just as real. Waitkus was out of baseball by 1955. He never found a second career and was dead by the age of 53. Why is "Baseball's Natural" worthwhile? Because it is a sensitive tale that grabs the reader's interest and holds it. It is a quick reading story. It is also quite well researched, with a wide range of supporting interviews and photographs. Many baseball books deal with the established stars; it's nice to read one that features an average guy. And because we sense that many players must have their own private demons that are invisible to the even the most devoted fan. At the time of this review, Baseball is officially in "hot stove" season, a perfect time to give "Baseball's Natural" a tryout.



4. This book really tells the true story of Eddie Waitkus. If you are a true baseball history fan this book is a must for your collection. At waitkus.org you will find more information about Eddie Waitkus. Read the book, visit the website and you will get to know the man as well as the baseball player.



5. Author John Theodore has provided the reader with the most detailed account of the 1949 shooting of former Philadelphia Phillies' baseball star Eddie Waitkus by an obsessed 19 year-old female fan in a Chicago hotel. At the time of the shooting Waitkus was the leading vote getter among first basemen for the upcoming All-Star game to be played in Brooklyn, New York. Waitkus managed to overcome the attempt on his life and became an integral member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids team that went on to win the National League pennant only to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight, but hard fought, close games. Waitkus's career began to wind down a couple of years later as he was waived out of the National League, and became a member of the 1954 Baltimore Orioles who were playing their first year in Crabtown after moving from St. Louis. His playing time was very limited and in 1955 the Orioles cut him loose, and he once again returned for a brief period of time with the Phillies. The post baseball years were not kind to Waitkus who, like so many other players during this time, had no training beyond baseball. He tried a job in sales, but hated it. He fought the demons of alcohol, and the memories he had of World War II when he fought in the Pacific in addition to the memory of the evening in 1949 when he nearly lost his life in the Chicago hotel room. He did find happiness as a batting instructor in a Ted Williams baseball camp for young boys. Here he was doing something he loved among kids who shared his devotion to the game. Eddie Waitkus died in 1973 at the age of 53 from esophageal and lung cancer which was most likely brought on by his many years of heavy smoking. I did find a few spelling errors in the book along with the fact that the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game was written in 1908, not 1909, as the book mentions. If you associate the name of Eddie Waitkus only with the unfortunate shooting incident, this book will provide you with additional information about the man's career in addition to details regarding that unfortunate evening in 1949.

5 comments about Heat: My Life on and Off the Diamond.

1. wow,
   what a book!
   i love doc, growing up i coppied him,i will admit it.
   my problem was i had a 84 mile per hr fastball that in canada was not good enouph to even get a look.
   i was fortunate,in that i found fame in another sport called curling.i am a huge drinker but have never tried drugs,i do have money but the thought of drugs never interested me,thank god!0n the world curling tour i have had plenty of oppertunity to go astray and have,with booze on many occasion.i often wonder what could have became of me if a scout by the name of itchy jones (cin reds)said at 16 yrs your fastball isnt good enouph,can you backcatch. i guess what i am trying to say that doc is a study of too much too young just as i was.my curling fame came at 16 and 17,then again when i was 28-29.this story does hit home and i would reccomend it completely to young and old alike.nice job bob,look forward to reading your next. please excuse the grammar ha ha i wrote this late.



2. I PICKED UP THE BOOK ON FRIDAY AND FINISHED IT SUNDAY. THE BOOK WAS AN EASY READ. I, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, WAS IN PURE AWE OF THE POWER AN POTENTIAL DWIGHT GOODEN HAD. I WATCHED HIM IN MY LATTER TEENAGE YEARS AND WANTED TO THROW JUST LIKE HIM. I HAD NO IDEA THE YOUNG MAN FACED SO MANY DEMONS. UNFORTUANATELY, DRUG ABUSE IS PREVAILENT IN OUR SOCIETY AND THE SPORTS WE ADMIRE ARE NOT SACRED. CONGRATUATIONS TO GOODEN FOR DEALING WITH HIS ADDICTION IN SUCH AN OPEN MANNER AS HE SHARED IT WITH US IN HIS BOOK, "HEAT."
   
   "HEAT" WAS AN EYE OPENER AND HOPEFULLY WILL HELP OTHER PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR DEMONS. "HEAT" ALSO SHOWED THE EFFECTS DURG ABUSE PLACED ON GOODEN'S LOVED ONES AND HIS CAREER. MOST IMPORTANTLY, "HEAT" SHOWS THE DAMAGES AN ADDICT PLACES ON HIS OR HER SELF AS THEY ENTANGLE THEMSELVES WITH LIES AS GOODEN DID.



3. HEAT, by Dwight Gooden, has the feel of a between-seasons quickie book. It's still worth picking up, especially if you read between the lines.

   Released the winter of 1999, HEAT came out just before Gooden's baseball pitching career went downhill. The previous season at Cleveland had been Gooden's best since 1990. But injuries ruined his 1999 performance and the Indians released him.

   In 2000 Houston and Tampa Bay dismissed Doc after he struggled with each team. Later that season Gooden managed to join the Yankees and actually pitched very well, including an incredible July start against the Mets at Shea Stadium.

   But age marched ahead and Dwight Gooden did not make the 2001 Yankees. He retired just before the start of the 2001 season.

   Covering the Gooden retirement story, the New York papers barely mentioned the pitcher's alcholism, only stressing his cocaine addiction. They should have read HEAT.

   Like I said, it's overall a quickie book, not to dismiss its many interesting stories. But what makes HEAT truly worth reading is Dwight Gooden's drinking stories. Cocaine only came into play when he was drinking. The coke is what cost him close to two years' worth of playing time. But alcohol, which Major League Baseball and the newspapers gladly advertise, was the root cause of Gooden's troubles.




4. This book has it all! It made me laugh it made me cry. Dwight Gooden was honest and he showed how human he really is. Being one of Doc's biggest fans it was a very easy read, the thing that surprised me is that is wasn't really about baseball. It was about family, struggle and overcoming a horrible illness, drug abuse. He was recently released from Tampa Bay and I am hoping he signs with another team soon. He has nothing left to prove I just enjoy watching him pitch.



5. In 1995 baseball pitcher Dwight Gooden's no-hit game put himback on top of the baseball world when, just earlier that same season,he looked washed up. A biographical picture was supposed to be made but, as I write this, it has yet to materialize.

   HEAT: MY LIFE ON AND OFF THE DIAMOND, Doc's 1998 autobiography, vividly tells about his numerous highs and lows, professional and personal. He skims over the spring training and cab driver controversies that long-time fans will remember but otherwise proves admirably honest about the troubles he brought on himself. The lost opportunities depicted in HEAT saddened me. But Gooden's determination to redeem himself defines the difference between losing and quitting.

   And HEAT is not without its share of funny moments and bet-you-didn't-know-that anecdotes. Among the best stories is a prank Doc played on one of the premier sluggers of the game.

   While Gooden admits the fears that cost him so much, he is not afraid to name names in HEAT. If Doc finds himself alone in an elevator with ex-manager Dallas Green or ex-teammate Kevin Mitchell, I don't want to be there when the doors open.

   It is interesting to note that Gooden does not hold Major League Baseball and his union accountable for helping out-of-control players before they hurt either someone or themselves.

   Today (Nov. '99) Dwight Gooden's without a team, having been released after an injury-filled season with the Cleveland Indians. His will to prove himself could land him a chance elsewhere - and with the pathetic state of major league pitching, he could make it to another club and even win some games for them. He's come back from the edge before.

   Anyway, a movie of Dwight Gooden's life, should it match the drama conveyed in HEAT, would be as gripping as a no-hitter. For now, read HEAT.

5 comments about Weekend Warriors: Men of the National Lacrosse League.

1. This was a very professionally written account of the lives of 15 very diverse people who also happen to be professional lacrosse players. The book really makes you view these athletes as interested in their sport, valued members of their community, and very different from the multi-million dollar primma donnas who play other professional sports. I definitely recommend this book.



2. This book is filled with stories of professional lacrosse players. The players are atypical from other professional sports players, who are often filled with self-admiration and greed. Yet, they are not exactly everyday people either. The players do have full time jobs and families, but many of them are in noble fields such as teaching, law enforcement, the armed forces, fire fighting... Of course, it takes a noble character to be devoted to such an underpaid and under-appreciated sport. The players sacrifice their bodies, time, and some family commitments for the love of their sport. The writing is clever, and the author gives good insight about the players' individuality, achievements, reminiscences, and dedication.



3. After the Duke Lacrosse scandal, it was refreshing to see an upbeat well-written book about lacrosse. These players truly honor their sport, and make the casual observer want to learn more. The stories were interesting, and it was a good overview of the NLL, and the players who make the league work. I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more books like it.



4. This book was interesting, insightful, and sometimes even funny when explaining the lives of 15 "ordinary" people who have jobs, wives, kids, and play professional lacrosse on the weekends. It makes you realize how different pro lacrosse is from other pro sports. (And I mean that in a good way.) The writing was clear and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.



5. It was great to finally read a good book on professional lacrosse. The writing was interesting and insightful, and provided a good mix of lacrosse history combined with people who play the game. I would definitely recommend this book for the lacrosse fanatic, or even the casual observer. I enjoyed it!

1 comments about Ted Williams: Remembering the Splendid Splinter.

1. This book about Ted Williams is excellent. The articles written about Ted are from various sportwriters, not just one person. The views of many are all very favorable to Ted which confirms what an outstanding hitter he was. As it is pointed out in the book, many ballplayers have come and gone since Ted retired, and yet his .406 season long average in 1941 has stood the test of time. I would highly recommend this book to any baseball fan; but especially to Boston Red Sox fans, and fans who were fortunate to see Ted play.

No comments about The Irish Champion Peter Maher: The untold story of Ireland's only World Heavyweight Champion and the records of the men he fought..

5 comments about The Climb of My Life: Scaling Mountains with a Borrowed Heart.

1. Kelly's story is one of humor, laughter, pain, tears, and totally inspirational. Ever feel down and out? Read Kelly's story - it is uplifting knowing that one can reach death's portal, only to turn back and say "I've got mountains to climb." When you think things can't get any worse - read Kelly's story. Life gives each of us obstacles to overcome. Kelly has done so with grace, good humor, determination, with a husband encouraging her every step of the way, and with gratitude for the gift from a donor.



2. Thank you Kelly and Craig for such a wonderful, inspirational account of your lives. This has truly changed me in a very positive way. My priorities and outlook are back in the proper perspective. I do not know that I would have handled everything as positively as you two, and pray I will never have to find out.
   This book should be read by everyone. It provides a very unique perspective into personal motivation, unbelievable drive, and magnificient teamwork.
   WONDERFUL !



3. I have just finished Kelly's book The Climb of My Life and am left truly inspired... It is an amusing, poignant, and motivating read that reminds us all that each life is to be cherished and lived to the fullest capacity. Insightful and inspiring, I have mentioned this book in many discussions, as I feel any and every person can benefit from reading Kelly's story. One of the many sentiments I want to incorporate into my own life is greeting your loved one at the end day with "what was the best part of your day?" automatically creating a positive round of communication as opposed to the typical "how was your day?" which often leads to dwelling on the negative. I have taken Kelly's book to heart - I catch myself referring to Kelly and Craig's attitude "well, it could have been worse" when I encounter trivial irks, and then find myself consciously acknowledging how great life truly is. Kelly's personal narrative left me smiling, my eyes misty, and a genuine tug at my heart. Her emotional and physical strength is truly admirable, as is her adoring husband who never let her give up.



4. This is an amazing story about medical miracles, undaunted courage, steely determination, steadfast love, and ultimate triumph. While most of us won't face the sorts of challenges described here, there are many lessons to be learned. The inspiration of Kelly's story is a gift. If you want an exciting story about real adventure, this book is for you. If nothing else, this book should inspire every one to become an organ donor.



5. It's not every day...
   It's not every day you come across two people with such unconditional love and devotion for each other; it's not every day you come across someone who is able to embrace courage, hope, and determination with death staring her in the face; it's not every day you come across someone who has turned "giving back" into their main mission in life; and it's not every day you come across someone who has not only been given a second chance at life via a heart transplant but has lived a life which most can only dream to attain.
   
   "The Climb of My Life" is a well written, captivating journey that will be hard to put down. It reveals to the reader, through humor and tears, how Kelly has faced adversity and pursued her journey. I am inspired by her courage and strength to step out beyond my boundries. Thank you Kelly for this.

5 comments about REACH!: FINDING STRENGTH, SPIRIT, AND PERSONAL POWER.

1. If there are certain things that you want to know about her childhood this is the book to read. There are some surprises that may or may not shock you.



2. I bought the book to inspire my daughter and found it very interesting myself. It's simple and to the point. Very interesting without a boring moment.



3. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very insprational and modivated me to realize that my life is really not that bad and i can do whatever i put my mind to!



4. everytime i see a laila ali interview or t.v special, she always comes off as a cocky, conceited b***h (and i don't mean a good conceited like her father)who thinks she can beat the world. after i read this book though, i think of her totally different. a lot of that cockiness is misunderstood for strength. she let down her guard with this book by telling the things she told. it takes a lot of strength to talk about an abortion, an abusive relationship and a rocky relationship with your mother. she's not as tough as she comes off on t.v. she was born and raised in the suburbs and after getting her ass kicked she didn't even think about going to the ghetto school Crenshaw. she wasn't a tough chick who got locked up for being bad, she simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time and made bad (and i might add stupid) decisions. i was very shocked and surprised by this book. you really feel like you know her after reading it, b/c you know somebody just like her down the street, or next door, or at your job/school. she did keep her personal life out of the press. and she did it extremely good. i reccommend this book, b/c it was good enough for me to read in a few hours!!



5. Since I am a fan of her it is important to know about her life and how her life realtes to mine. Untill I exactly read her book, I never knew of her personal struggles she went through to being a world champion. I see she has her share of problems that normal young women experience. The book totally shocked me when I learn she really didn't live with her father and how life became harder for her after her mother and father seperated. You would never think that a strong person like Laila would go through the same emotions, thousands of other young women go through today. I learned a lot from this book and I would recommend this to anyone seeking to know more about her life and to all those girls trying to blssom into a Lady.