1 comments about In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour De France Cyclist.

1. I found this book suprisingly interesting. I had only had vague recollections of Millar from his cycling days in the 80's and 90's. Racing along side LeMond and Hinault when the TDF first came on the radar of American cyclist. The book is very well written and had me hooked from beginning to end. It can even serve as a prelude to the drug invested Peleton we see now.

5 comments about Drawn to the Rhythm: A Passionate Life Reclaimed.

1. There are two distinct components to this book. The first, and the reason I bought it, is a very interesting and inspiring story about a woman who, in her 40s, transformed herself from a sedentary housewife to a world champion sculler. The second is a heart-felt, sincere yet self-indulgent story about a woman who after many years of marriage becomes dissatisfied with the lifestyle she, by her own admission, chose and decides to make some major changes.
   
   I describe the personal growth theme of the book as "self-indulgent" not out of disrespect for the author's personal struggle, which is heart-felt and compelling, but because the narrative seems to lack balance. Some reviewers portray the author's ex-husband as a chauvinist jerk, but as the story unfolds it appears his major failing seems to be that he was upset and confused by his wife's apparently sudden dissatisfaction with the way of life they had established together for many years. By the author's own admission, she was a partner in building the lifestyle she later abandoned, but in the telling of the story her complicity is downplayed while her husband's failure to embrace her change of heart is portrayed rather unsympathetically. That's understandable, but at the same time I can't help but feel the husband may not have been treated fairly, and because that story is such a significant part of the book, it diminished my overall appreciation and enjoyment of it.
   
   I would recommend the book, with the above caveat, because it is interesting and pretty well-written. However, prospective readers should understand what the book is about.



2. I loved this book. I thought it was very well-written and I admired the courage of the author to put her truth on the page. My only frustration in reading the book was wishing that she had removed herself from the abusive husband sooner.
   
   Unlike many memoirs where I come away disappointed that the author has lived a harrowing life and has very little insight into what got them there in the first place, Sara Hall has examined her part in the drama and has come away, in my opinion, both humble and wiser.



3. I borrowed a teammate's copy of this book and was disappointed. I would agree Ms. Hall has certain gifts as a writer and I'm sure journaling this was therapeutic for her, but I think I'd like to read her husband's account as well - like the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. Fortunately most gen x women finally understand that economic self-sufficiency & having one's own career is the way to go from the beginning (i.e., to avoid dependence on another).



4. I've read Sara Hall's book a couple of times. She's a fantastic writer.
   
   Some of the recent reviews are interesting. It's my impression that Ms. Hall downplayed her absusive husband and in fact treated him with not just kindness but with necessary kid gloves in her portrayal.
   
   Her book reminded me of other women I know who have been in non physically abusive marriages. The horror of her truly sociopathic husband is evident between the lines in her book. What actually took place in her marriage is likely far worse than the reader can imagine.
   
   Curiously enough after reading Hall's book the last two reviews seem as if they could have been written by a very angry, very disturbed ex-huband.
   
   I hope that Ms. Hall has moved on. Her book demonstrates that she has the pluck to do just that. Somehow I doubt very much that her ex-huband does



5. Many reviews led me to believe this book would be inspirational... but I just found myself thinking that Sara Hall was the most histrionic writer that I have read in years... her approach to her children was deplorable, her constant perseveration and use of unnecessary language made the book difficult to finish. HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED!!!

1 comments about Dale Earnhardt Jr..

1. I think this was a good book. I liked this book alot. The only bad thing was that some of the words are big and difficult to understand. If I had to do a project on Dale Earnhardt Jr. I would use this book a one of my major sources. I gave this book a four since the words were hard to find what they mean. If you like nascar and you dont like him this book will change how you feel about him. This book also tells how he got his "thing" for the sport of stock car racing. It also tells in the back of the book how much he got for each race which I thought it was very interesting. So if you are looking for a good information about dale earnhardt jr, or just want something interesting to read so you go out and buy this book. Trust me it is well worth the cost.
   Thomas Coiner
   If you have any additional question email me at
   
   surfguy1991@netscape.net

3 comments about The Great One : The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky.

1. Wayne Gretzky obviously is the greatest Hockey
   player ever (and Mike Modano is the best we
   Amre-I-cans have produced, so far). Though
   this book is more show than tell, it still
   is a worthy tribute to Gretz. There are others
   better though.



2. I admire everything about Wayne Gretzky and everything he has done. But i also think Andrew did a poor job reflecting how much wayne gretzky has really accomplished. He is not just a great player , he is a great person. The book lacked certain detail and as the other reviewer said. It probably is only meant for a 3rd grade level =)



3. I bought this book for my 3rd grade son to write a paper with, and found myself completly engaged in it. For someone who didn't know much about "The Great One", I am now as big a fan as my son! Tells a lot about his younger years and doesn't just focus on the goals. AWESOME

1 comments about A Jockey's Life: The Biography of Lester Piggott.

1. Ok, I buy this book for my wife because she's read every other book by Dick Francis and only had a couple left to read. I didn't realize this was a biography.
   
   My wife thought it was interesting at first, but became bored less than half-way through.
   
   I imagine if you like horse racing, you'll find the story of this jockey's life interesting. But for my wife, who usually loves Mr. Francis's fictional books with murder and mystery, this was just too dull of a "real" life.

5 comments about Kobe: The Story of the NBA's Rising Young Star Kobe Bryant.

1. i don't care if you like this review or not, but kobe should realize now what he had w/ shaq: the best player in the game, and now that it's his team they are not even going to make the playoffs- and kobe cares too much what the media says about him- blaming everyone else and telling on shaq and his "hush money" and karl malone "harassing" his wife- shut up kobe and just play your selfish game



2. The book Kobe is one of my all time favorites. It talks about the life of Kobe Bryant. Kobe is my all time favorite basketball player along with Michael Jordan. I see a lot in Kobe like in mj. This book talks about the life of the young rising star Kobe Bryant and how he got to where he is now. It is a great book.



3. "The Story of the NBA's Rising Young Star Kobe Bryant" great for Lakers' fans. If you like basketball you will like this nonfiction book. Joseph Layden .I thought that the book was very easy to read and young children could read it by themselves. In my mind he is the best player ever. It the best book I ever read. I like the book, because I like to play basketball too.
   In the beginning of the book it talks about his father and mother how they met each other. The book talked a bit about his family and also where he attend at school. I like the book, because you can image in your mind what it is talking about, and you can learn a little bit of vocabulary.
   The setting of the book is in Philadelphia and also in Los Angeles. The author wrote the book very well, because it gives a lot of important information, it the best book I ever read. I like the book, because I like to play basketball too. I want to read more byJoseph Laden.
   I want to recommend to book to people that like the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant and who like to play basketball. The book makes you think that you could be a great basketball player like Kobe, if you keep on practicing. I would recommend this book to grade school and also high school students.



4. I chose the book, Kobe, because I love basketball, and I was interested in knowing more about the life of Kobe Bryant. I was surprised to learn about Kobe's upbringing and background because it was totally different than what I had expected.

   I liked this book because it tells all about Kobe Bryant's love for basketball, and his determination and drive to improve his skills. Kobe's basketball career begins when his family moves back to his hometown in America. The book also contains a lot of really cool pictures.

   Learn about how this young star athlete developed into an all star basketball player. Joe Layden does a terrific job in revealing what makes Kobe a superstar. I recommend this book to anyone interested in basketball. It is very inspirational!




5. I chose the book, Kobe, because I was interested in knowing more about the life of Kobe Bryant. I was surprised to learn about Kobe's upbringing and background because it was totally different than what I had expected.

   I liked this book because it tells all about Kobe Bryant's love for basketball, and his determination and drive to improve his skills. Kobe's basketball career begins when his family moves back to his hometown in America. The book also contains a lot of really cool pictures.

   Learn about how this young star athlete developed into an all star basketball player. Joe Layden does a terrific job in revealing what makes Kobe a superstar. I recommend this book to anyone interested in basketball. It is very inspirational!

No comments about They Call Me Super Mex.

2 comments about Dice-K: The First Season of the Red Sox $100 Million Man.

1. There are some players who produce seasons that transcend mere success or failure, and Daisuke Matsuzaka was one of them in 2007. Fortunately, Ian Browne was able to expertly chronicle what became a rivoting story within a story. The book is thorough, insightful and entertaining, more than doing justice to a year-long drama no baseball fan will soon forget.



2. Ian Browne, who so ably chronicles the Red Sox for mlb.com, has provided us with a wonderful inside look at one of the most compelling stories from the team's 2007 season. In describing the acquisition and first season of Japanese pitching star Daisuke Matsuzaka, he gives us a clear picture of the business decision making process that brought Dice-K to the team and then thoughtfully interweaves vignettes focusing on cultural diversity, team-building, and the road to a World Series championship. The book is far more than an expanded internet column. Even for those of us who follow the Red Sox all season, this book is a nail-biter. It should provide reading pleasure to both baseball lovers and others interested in the interfaces among business, sports, and intercultural challenges.

5 comments about Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches, and Baseball.

1. This is probably one of the all time top 10 baseball Bio's in my book. David does a remarkable job of giving you a complete look into his life and incredible career. I would really like to party with this dude he seems pretty cool. He is one of the smartest ballplayers out there today.Finally someone who can appreciate the Babe without putting him down. I promise you a good time if you check this book out.



2. I had the pleasure of meeting David Wells at the dealership I worked. We stored his motorcycles and he always had a smile. There's a lot of things in his past that no one would expect and some that definitely surprised me.



3. At times he comes off as a long, lost best friend and at others he is a self-inflated, self-absorbed ass. He is a colorful character providing illuminating stories from the earliest days of playing rookie ball and Venezualan winter ball with beer guzzling, tail chasing future MLB players including Pat Borders, Cecil Fielder, Rob Duecy, and Todd Stottlemyre to the later days as a member of the Yankees. Wells is a good pitcher with a booming personality who pitched for some great teams and of course will always be remembered for his May 17, 1998 perfect game. His career numbers do not support his own assessed value (4.04 ERA, 1 year with at least 20 wins) but his book will stay on the top shelf of my collection of baseball books.
   
   I found myself laughing out loud over and over again. Steroid and cortisone stories aside, Wells adds candid insight into the managerial and GM activities from every team he played for (up to the end of the 2002 season). Inside observations are made on notable managers (Cito Gaston, Sparky Ansderson, Davy Johnson, Joe Torre, and Jim Fregosi) and GMs ("stand" Pat Gillick, Gord Ash, Jim Bowden, Ken Williams, and Brian Cashman). Wells also includes colorful stories of two of the most notoriously hated and loved baseball owners of the last 50 eyars -- Marge Schott and George Steinbrenner.
   
   It was odd to read the momentum praise and glory of the '98 Yankees who won 114 games without any mention of the record-tying 116 wins by the '01 Seattle Mariners . By failing to mention this incredible milestone, he appeared to be protecting the legacy of the 114 win NY team. He should have mentioned the 116 win Seattle team and emphasized the fact that the NY team went on to finish like champions by winning the world series. Wells also slights some players by limiting praise to his favorite teamates. For example, the contribution of Alfonso Soriano and Roger Clemens in NY is clearly understated. Huge character, raging hair band air guitar junkie, and pure attitude live in the pages of this book, making it a worthy read for any baseball fan.



4. Great baseball (auto)biography. Fun to read and not just about the game but about life around the game. There are moments when you cannot help but laugh out loud. Read this book. It explains why Boomer is Boomer.
   
   Recommend: The Last Commissioner - Fay Vincent, Catcher in the Wry - Bob Uecker, Zim - Don Zimmer, anything by Yogi, Moneyball



5. I was interested in David Wells' life. This book satisfied that. To my astonishment, it is incredibly well-written, funny and insightful. The stories and revellations are great. Best baseball player's book I've read in years. Superior on all accounts to the recent David Cone book.

4 comments about Fast Lane to Victory: The Story of Jenny Thompson (Anything You Can Do... New Sports Heroes for Girls).

1. Swimming is a sport that attracks so many girls, and this book can help them get a picture of what it means to be a champion. It is an easy read. It reaveals some of the things she struggled with in her life as she grew up. We used this book to write a biography report. The appendix has a list of highlights of Jenny's career, and a history of women's swimming. I also appreciate the "Sports Talk" section that is a spring board for discussing (1) dealing with disappointment, (2)body image, (3) competitive anxiety, (4) benefits of Sports participation for girls, and (5) other general questions about competing in sports.



2. This book is a great idea. Jenny Thompson is a great choice for an inspirational story for young athletes, but the book is sub-par. The artwork is embarrassingly bad, using crude line drawings. Important obstacles are mentioned without fully being explained as to how they impacted Thompson or how she overcame them. Jenny Thompson's is an inspiring story worthy of a better book



3. I love this book! It's a great story of how sports can shape your life in a positive way. Swimmers and non-swimmers alike will be inspired by Jenny's story. This great book is now available as an e-book for those of you who can't find a copy of the original printing. You can order here from amazon.com, the isbn is B0001GDOUQ.



4. Fast Lane To Victory is the third in Wish Publishing's outstanding "Anything You Can Do...New Sports Heroes For Girls" series and the story of swim champion Jenny Thompson. Swimming was what Jenny like best, but when her friends at school started to tease her and call her "tomboy" and "Too Tall Thompson", she felt the pressures placed on a lot of young girls to conform to social norms of what was "proper" for girls. Jenny dealt with the negative peer pressure and became so successful as an athlete that she came to be called the "Fastest Swimmer in the World". Also very highly recommended for school and community library collections are the first two volumes in this superbly presented and inspiring sports oriented series for girls: A Drive To Win: The Story Of Nancy Lieberman (40-8, ...) and Sword Of A Champion: The Story Of Sharon Monplaisir (39-4, ...).