5 comments about Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life.

1. For everyone who has ever had a coach, a good one, in athletics, in a career field, or in any area of life...
   
   For everyone who has ever been a coach, in athletics, in a career fielld, in any area of life. For coaches who cared, genuinely cared...
   
   Those who know will understand and this book will bring a tear to their eye and warmth to their heart and soul...
   
   Those who don't understand should be so blessed....



2. I bought this book for my husband. It was so very impressed with the story he finished it in a day. He really enjoys Michael Lewis' style of writing and has read several of his books. I would recommend it as a Christmas stuffer for any coaches, parents or baseball fans.



3. This short read on the high school athletic student is a must for all parents of athletes. You'll find out how the attitudes of student athletes are changing the face of high school sports.



4. This is a book that I will have parents read.



5. What a wonderful book. A short read - one sitting should do it, but a must read for parents and managers alike. I've bought over a dozen copies for friends and employees. A great story to express the change in attitudes of parents towards self esteem and how it is affecting our youth.

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, ...).

5 comments about The Gracie Way: An Illustrated History of the World's Greatest Martial Arts Family (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series).

1. "The Gracie Way" is a serviceable history and tribute to the first family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Each stand-alone chapter profiles a member of the Gracie clan, starting with Helio and finishing up with Renzo. The book is lavishly illustrated with quality color photos - nearly coffee table book quality.
   
   For anyone interested in BJJ, the Gracies or the history of the UFC, this is a fun read.
   
   Other reviewers have commented on the bias in the book, and this is a valid criticism, though nit fatal. Author Kid Peligro is obviously enchanted with the Gracies and so he tends to mythologize their every move. The few defeats suffered by Gracies are dealt with in a way that suggests that "they was robbed" or that the fix was in. Peligro makes no pretense of objectivity. Still, this does not render the book useless in my view.
   
   "The Gracie Way" was perhaps written before Royce fought Matt Hughes, who rag-dolled him. It also does not address the issue of Royce testing positive for steroids after one Elite XC event. (Perhaps the BJJ success was not due solely to drinking acai juice!!).
   
   Whether you feel the Gracie legacy is tarnished or burnished, "The Gracie Way" is a worthwhile read for historians and fans of BJJ and MMA.



2. Kid Peligro nails it from an (almost) insider's perspective. As someone who started training with the Gracie family before there was even a UFC, I believe Kid is dead on with his take on the family and the martial art of Brazilian jujitsu. A lot of MMA fans today don't even realize there would be no UFC (or formerly Pride, or any other MMA organization) without the Gracies. Must read for Gracie and MMA fans.



3. I thought I knew somethings about the First Family of Mixed Martial Arts, But this book tells almost everything. Their truimphs,tragedies and hopes for the future. If your a fan, Than this book is worth reading.



4. I love the mystique surrounding the Gracie family martial arts. I was enthralled with Royce Gracie as a kid, and still revere him as a hero of sorts. So, I really enjoyed this book, mostly because it talks about something there is simply not much literature written about.
   
   That said, it is biased. It's okay to lose, and Kid P. should recognize this. All the greatest fighters in the world have lost, or certainly end up losing, eventually. Muhammed Ali lost his share of matches, but always fought to stay on top. He eventually didn't, but he revolutionized boxing and more because of his greatness.
   
   The Gracie's are the same way. Like it or not, the Gracie's changed everything, and made today's fighters what they are. They popularized vale-tudo fights, and taught the world (without reserve) their style. It constitutes half of MMA today. Without it, MMA would be Tank Abbot slugging it out with Ken Shamrock, or whatever.
   
   This celebrates the Gracie family in a non-academic approach. Get it, enjoy it.



5. Despite ranking the book 3 stars out of 5, I will go ahead and say that this book is a must have for anyone practicing brazilian jiujitsu. I have been into the sport for years, and I truly value my copy of this book. The pictures are beautiful, and I love how the chapters are broken down into each of the brothers/cousins. However, I believe the stories on each of the brothers seem a bit fabricated. They may be real, but the diction employed by the author seems to exaggerate and stretch the truth. Peligro is a great writer. With his skills, I believe he could have done a better job on this book.

2 comments about Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees' First Dynasty.

1. A great baseball book. Very well written. This is a must for baseball fans who enjoy the history of the game.



2. Many people think that by just purchasing Babe Ruth from the Red Sox that created the Yankee Dynasty. This book is a great history of the man who really created the Yankee Dynasty. The first 50 years of his life he was not involved with the Yankees but was involved with other teams as a manager and also served as the President of a minor league struggling against the odds of survival. Until Terry Francona, Ed Barrow was the last manager of the Red Sox who won a World Series with Babe Ruth as one of its stars. This is a must read of a tough man who built the first of many Yankees dynasties. The Red Sox fans curse the day the Red Sox owner sold the Babe to the Yankees, but they should be aware the most damaging blow was losing their manager, Ed Barrow to the Yankees. For the students of the game, this is a must read. Even the Red Sox Nation should read this book to understand more of their history.

5 comments about The Perfect Distance - Ovett and Coe: The Record-Breaking Rivalry.

1. This was a very enjoyable book about the great Ovett/Coe rivalry. The book delves into the roots/family influences of the two very talented middle distance runners including Ovett's very influential mother and Coe's father and coach. The author captures the excitement of breaking world records, running in the Olympic games and the expectations associated with being athletes at thier prime. Two very different personalities are contrasted both in their private and public impressions. A fascinating read.



2. Excellent book for anyone who followed track in the 70s and 80s.
   
   Lots of light shed on what may have been the most significant and consistent rivalry on the oval. The backgrounds of both runners are very revealing; Coe's training routines, while widely discussed, were revolutionary. Meanwhile, Ovett is shown as an agressive and confident runner, and nothing like the arrogant antagonist that the media portrayed. Additionally, he was immersed in the science of footwear and helping develop better products for runners. Why he never got the acclaim he deserved is a mystery.
   
   A great read for those who have been there.



3. This is a very detailed and rich biography not only of Ovett and Coe but of history of the mile particularly from the British view point. As the author notes, the emergency of Ovett and Coe strides right into British middle distance runners dominating the world scene in the late 70s and early 80s with Cram, Elliott and Moorcroft. The Ovett and Coe duo are so different in racing styles, personalities and family life as Ovett emerges from blue collar roots with a very strong guarded mother and wonderful grand parents while Coe comes from a more upper class conservative family coached by an efficient and strong willed father. Butcher captures both athlete's abilities in detail with Ovett's amazing ability to run the sprints and high jump at early age to running events aside from 800 and 1500 to the 5K ,cross country and even jumping into a half marathon. Coe develops slightly slower but run as if a greyhound taking the pace to avoid contact with his 119 pounds particularly dominating the 800 while he and Ovett trade the 1500 and mile back and forth. The differences in mental and emotional make up between the two men is captured well in an excellent photograph of the two after a surprise loss to a relative unknown in a championship 800 where Coe literally looks crushed while Ovett has dangled his arm around Coe while looking off with chin up as in "well another day". The comparison between the Hagg and Anderson (includes interviews) and Ovett and Coe are well done as Ovett and Coe dominates the English sports news. Americans may require a little more patience as the author does discuss the world's best milers that include Walker, Bayi, Wessingham along with the US's Scott and Maree but the focus is on the English with running clubs and their depth of great runners at that time. Also, unlike Coorder Nelson's great book on Jim Ryan, this book has more depth into the history of middle distance running and the athletes' personal lives. Amusing that the author identifies Kenny Moore as an excellent writer but identifies him as a fourth place marathoner at the Montreal games when it was actually at Munich and he confuses the details of the New York and Boston Marathon's of Rosy Ruiz into one race. The book also contains some interesting British humor and phrases. I wish there was a more detail on the races in Moscow particularly the 1500 as Coe steals one from Ovett to avenge his 800 upset. It is quite tragic that Ovett became so ill at the LA Olympics that he became hospitalized but continued to compete and make he finals in both the 800 and 1500. He literally looks like death going into the last lap of the 1500. And Coe comes back from devastating illness to get in world class shape after being written off to be the only man to win successive Olympic 1500 titles. This was a glorious time for Track & Field when these two men from the same country seesawed world records back and forth almost weekly.
   
   As the author notes, these two were such amazing competitors even the Falkland Islands were bumped in Britian foir the news of what Coe and Ovett did the night before.



4. Very good book, well written, not boring at all, interesting information not only about the lifes of the two runners subject of the book but also of the sport of running in general those days in Europe. I am a "serious" runner a serious reader and also a writer myself. As such, I collect all sorts of books about running. Many are forgetable, this is not the top of the line but very good and worth reading



5. Mr. Butcher has produced an outstanding book. All great books start with a great story and this a great story. This rivalry began in the mid '70's and carried through to the '84 LA Olympics. Mr. Butcher has a runner's knowledge of the sport and a writer's command of the language. This book was meticulously researched , many of the principles have participated in the telling of this tale. The "British" slang is sometimes is difficult to follow but does not detract from the telling of the story. I like the fact that Mr. Butcher does not hesitate to share his opinions. This is a GREAT READ for any track fan.

5 comments about Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride.

1. Annie Kopchovshy decided to ride around the world on a bike. So she changed her name to Annie Londonderry, conned half the planet in helping her ride around the world, mostly on trains and steamboats, and made money while doing it. An interesting story? Why, yes. An amazing woman? Yes. Smart? Yes. Amoral? Sure. A con artist? Yes. Did she lie and cheat and act self centered? Yes. Did she leave behind her husband and kids during her travels? Yes.
   Interesting, daring, and a great piece of history.



2. Instead of running to buy this book, bicycle there! I could not stop reading the story, and finished it over the weekend based upon my father's enthusiastic recommendation. What an amazing true story Peter Z. has discovered, digging from his family tree. This would make a blockbuster movie. It would secure at least an oscar nomination for the lucky actress who gets the role of Annie Londonberry, perhaps someone such as Natalie Portman?
   Mr. Zheutlin is an erudite story teller and I can't wait to read his next book.
   R. Bornstein, Ft Lauderdale, FL



3. "Around the World on Two Wheels" is the fascinating and highly amusing tale of how Annie Kopchovsky, a Jewish immigrant and mother of three living in Boston in the 1890s, singlehandedly reinvented herself as "Annie Londonderry," the subject of a high stakes wager over whether it was possible for a woman to cycle around the world. While the wager and much of Annie's recollection of her journey is apocryphal, she did succeed in circling the globe, all the time spinning fantastic travel tales to willing and gullible newspapermen.
   
   Zheutlin has done a marvelous job in researching the tale of Annie, a distant relative, and also in separating the facts from the many fictions she put forward. He also puts Annie's groundbreaking journey in the proper historical/societal context.
   
   A great read that will appeal to a large cross section of readers.



4. An extraordinary story! Peter Zheutlin, a descendant of Annie Londonderry's brother, has researched and written her incredible adventure. With all her claims, her outrageous self-promotion, her character flaws, Annie Londonderry has emerged again as one of modern women's most outstanding pioneers and role models. Her story--and this book--is inspiring, fun, and memorable. It is a stiring tale of one woman's incredible adventure, a provocative and thoughtful example of women's suffrage, and a tale of the Old West rarely investigated today. It is not only a must read, but a must have.



5. This true story of Annie (Kopchovsky)Londonderry is an exhilarating and fascinating romp through history with a companion the reader can't help but admire for her gumption, cleverness, and determination.
   
   Annie was the first woman to ride her bicycle around the world, possibly as part of a contest. It's just as likely, however, that she fabricated an excuse to travel because she felt claustrophobic, trapped within the societal constraints placed on women during the Victorian era. The author, Peter Zheutlin, writes Annie's story with tenderness (he's a descendent of Annie's, but I suspect he would do so regardless), yet also with appropriate skepticism and rich historical detail. (Read the endnotes!)
   
   While following in the wake of her fierce independence and almost reckless energy, the reader also explores the impact Annie's journey had on the advancement of women's rights, as well as uncomfortable questions it posed about traditional roles - including her own role as wife and mother.
   
   I'm recommending "Around the World on Two Wheels" for my book club selection next month. We'll have plenty of issues to discuss, and we'll get to do so in the company of one incredibly memorable character -- Annie Londonderry.

5 comments about The Yogi Book: "I Really Didn't Say Everything I Said".

1. I HAVE HEARD YOGI'S "WORDS OF WISDOM" HERE AND THERE FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER. IT'S AWESOME TO FIND THEM ALL GATHERED IN ONE PLACE AND TO LEARN THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND BACKGROUND STORY ON ALL OF THEM. FOR ANYONE THAT HAS EVER WONDERED WHY HE SAID WHAT HE SAID, THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC!



2. Yogisms are a special kind of aphorism which usually involve a certain surface absurdity , and perhaps grammatical error- a cliche mispoken- but which add up somehow to something funny and wise at the same time.
   Hearing that the mayor of Dublin Robert Briscoe was Jewish , Yogi said, "Only in America".
   When Mantle and Maris hit back- to - back home runs in their famous duel to hit sixty homers, Yogi said "It's Deja- Vu again"
   I somehow thought it was Casey Stengel another aphorist of note, but this book says it's Yogi who said ," It ain't over till it's over".
   "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
   "You should always go to other peoples' funerals , otherwise they won't go to yours."
   About Yogi himself it might be said " They broke the mold when they made him" Or with a word of apology to Leo the Lip " Nice guys are funny first."



3. It is a very short book, with classic Yogi Berra saying and descriptions of the events that surrounded these funny phrases being uttered.



4. This is a must have for Yogi Berra fans or just anybody who appreciates baseball in an older, more pure era. This book contains not only his most famous quotes, but many from his personal life at home as well. The book is short (30 minute read). It is definately well worth reading or at least scanning through.



5. This small book contains many of Yogi Berra's humorous, and sometimes thought-provoking, statements. I added over 30 to my quotes collection. He explains how many originated and that he did not say some of the sayings attributed to him (p. 9: I really didn't say everything I said). Quite a few of them have been quoted so often as to have become part of our culture:
   
   p. 30: It's dèja vu all over again!
   p. 95: You can learn a lot by watching.
   p. 118: The future ain't what it used to be.
   
   But some were new to me:
   
   p. 64: It gets late early out here.
   p. 73: Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours.
   p. 93: Never answer an anonymous letter.
   
   Finally, Yogi's family contributed some of their own:
   
   p. 125: Tim-I knew exactly where it was, I just couldn't find it.
   p. 125: Betsy-Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself.
   p. 125: Mario-I've double checked it six times.

2 comments about Savage Summit: The Life and Death of the First Women of K2.

1. Savage Summit by Jennifer Jordan is a must read for those who appreciate true-life adventure stories. As a non-climber who lives vicariously through the adventures of others as told in their books, I can't attest to what really goes on during an expedition or the ins and outs of the social-politics of the climbing community, especially high altitude climbers. I can say that Jordan's book seems to be well researched and recounts the adventures of the five subjects in the manner that made me feel a part of their lives and their climbs.
   As a collection of adventure stories the book did not disappoint me in the least. I will admit that I was expecting a book about the first five women who climbed K2 that was written by a woman would be heavily slanted with a sexiest bias against the mostly male community of mountain climbers. Instead I found the book to be about 5 people who have that special inner drive to climb who also happened to be women. In telling the stories of these special people, Jordan also describes the bias and prejudice that some were faced with as they joined expeditions led by experienced men. This is especially true in the telling of Polish climber Wanda Rutkiewicz's adventures when women were a rare sight in climbing and as Jordan tells Wanda's stories and the stories of the other women she acknowledges that each was a person in her own right with their own strengths and weaknesses. Putting gender aside, Wanda Rutkiewicz had a personality that alienated many outside of a handful of people who understood her and even those closest to Wanda admit she could be difficult on an inter-personal level.
   In telling the story of Chantal Mauduit Jordan clearly acknowledges that Mauduit, a happy-go-lucky sort who enjoy much luck climbing 8,000 meters peaks, used her feminine and sexual attributes to her advantage and thus enjoyed an advantage as she manipulated the males on her teams to carry the heavy loads and break routes that she could easily follow on her summit attempts.
   The stories of Liliane Barrard, Julie Tullis and Alison Hargreaves were all exciting recounts of their climbing careers and their ultimate climbs to the summit of K2. Each of these women were beloved by friends and family, each recognized the dangers in high altitude climbing and each of them struggled with the pull of their loved one against the pull of the mountains. Ultimately, the mountains won and each died as accomplished climbers, not women, doing what they were drawn to do.
   Bottom Line: Savage Summit is a great adventure read about 5 people who loved climbing and were eventually drawn to the attraction of solving a problem that is much greater than the well worn routes of Mt. Everest on the world's second highest peak, K2.



2. Easy read. Gives an interesting insight into the lives of these women, however it does not always paint a good picture of them. It does show how sexism plays a large part in mountaineering. Heartbreaking to read about the way they lived and died and the choices that they made.

3 comments about Won't Back Down.

1. Reading this book was enjoyable because it gave me a deeper insight into what makes Kim Mulkey tick. The background from childhood through coaching was excellent--not too detailed, but just enough info to explain things. Reading Kim's coaching philosophy and current stance at Baylor was interesting. I highly recommend this book.



2. I've heard Kim Mulkey speak in person as well as seen her in action coaching and this book sounds just like her. She is very forthright and as always, tells it like she sees it. Except for a few repeated or inserted sections that seem to interrupt the flow, the book is a very good read.



3. Kim Mulkey wrote an interesting auto biography, which helps us know how she became so succesful in her career. It is great reading for any fan of women's basketball and working mothers who in spite of the demands on their time, keep family first.

5 comments about Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain.

1. Great book about a super guy! Easy to read & very inspirational. I highly recommend this book for anyone intersted in the human struggle to be on top - it's not just about the money or the fame, it's about life & winning as a human being, not a sports super star.



2. Pick this book up over the movie, it is much better. The movie didn't cover the entire story. Mr. Papale tells his story in the way it should. He is very upfront and totally honest with his entire story. I've recommended this book to so many. It is definitely an inspiring story full of determination that will have you looking at your own life. A great hometown hero story.



3. I enjoyed reading Invincible and thought the book was great. I watched the movie when it came out and as usual the book was alot better than the movie. I would recommend this book to any football fans.



4. Vincee and I first got together at the end of my right knee. We were on opposite sides in Pee Wee football. This story is in the book. The only thing faster than this read is Vincee on the football field or on the track. If you don't come away with a tear in your eye, your not normal. I've know Vincee since we were 11 or 12. But this book reveals the inner guy I never knew. I saw the Movie in Philly and we all stood and clapped. It's been 30 years since that great summer of '76 and it feels like yesterday that I watched Vincee play his first Pre-Season game as an Eagle. To top off that great event it was right here in Canton Ohio (my new adopted town). I just about had a heart attack when I read the program and found the name Vince Papale. Now go out and get this great book. Mike Paynter



5. I certainly enjoyed reading Invincible. However, my opinion may be bias. You see, I grew up with Vince Papale in Glenolden, PA. We lived about three blocks apart and went to the same schools. I was two years ahead of Vince. My sister and Vince's sister were best friends. I knew almost everyone and everyplace mentioned in the book. Although I didn't see Vince after high school, I followed his career with the Philadelphia Bell, Philadelphia Eagles, and TV sport casting years. Interestingly enough, the owner of the Philadelphia Bell was the star halfback on our high school football team. If you are looking for an inspirational story about a local boy overcoming many obstacles to become a professional football player, this book is for you. Unlike some similar stories (Rocky), this one is true!