1 comments about Giggs: The Autobiography.

1. Gigg's biography is very readable. It's written in a conversational style, almost like you're having a beer with the guy and he's telling you his story. He's candid and good-natured and comes across as a humble, likable person. It will undoubtedly become a classic as he will eventually surpass Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record for Man Utd later this season.
   
   Every dedicated Man Utd fan would appreciate this book.

5 comments about The High Lonesome: Epic Solo Climbing Stories.

1. As a climber, you become comfortable with the uncomfortable, but that is because you have a rope between you and the great beyond. These stories become even more amazing when you think deeply and appreciatively of the mental control over fear that these individuals master, which goes beyond the obvious physical mastery to climb solo. The stories give you a glimpse into the psyche of people who are true individuals. Whatever your view on their sanity or motivation, it is gripping stuff. One note, if you are John Long fan, this book is edited by Long, not written by him. But he combines great stories and insightful prologues.



2. Another great John Long compilation!! Read while on a business trip & could hardly put it down, really saved me from the travel boredom. Any climber can relate to the drama & excitement!



3. This is an easy, quick read that will entertain if you like climbing stories. While I enjoyed reading this book as I have all of Long's climbing stories, I just can't see the thrill of tackling mountains alone. The element of danger is raised exponentially. Therefore, I didn't identify with the climbers and why they take this risk. It does detail these climbers and why so many feel the desire to climb alone in dangerous conditions. Personally, it just made me more comfortable on an indoor rock wall. Climbers will still enjoy the read however.



4. This Book was awesome. It kept me on the edge of my feet. John Long is a great climbing author and I haven't read a bad book from him yet. If you want to be on your feet and like to be excited, this is the one for you.



5. I am an avid novice rock climber and this book is a great series of short vignettes that explore the many different facets of the most extreme side of climbing: the free solo. Hard to imagine, this is true "working without a net" extreme sport, that is really not so extreme when you hear it told from the perspective of folks with lots of ability and desire, and the fortitude to constantly battle the fear that creeps into such attempts. I enjoyed this book and found the first person perspectives were fresh and insightful without getting metaphysical.

5 comments about This Game of Ghosts.

1. Joe Simpson has a talent for describing his mountaineering adventures, best captured in the fascinating Touching the Void. As Ghosts shows, however, he's perhaps even more adept at writing about adrenaline and danger in general. The book is a loosely-organized, chronological narrative of biographical events (too non-linear to be considered a true biography) and essays on the psychology of risk.
   
   The non-climbing accounts are more varied and entertaining, and less wordily technical, than tales of rope lengths and crampons (especially tough without the glossary that Void provided- I couldn't tell belaying from abseiling if it hit me over the head with a piton). They include descriptions of a fight with professional thugs at a party in his native England; getting buried in an avalanche; a car wreck with friends, in surreal and slow-motion detail; a harrowing ride to a hike along the Silk Road (Pakistan/China) from a drug-addled, sleep deprived driver; and goofy thrills sought out of boredom between mountain adventures, like stealing food and sledding ski jumps on cafeteria trays. That much adventure doesn't occur without attendant injuries and near-death experiences, reports of which are detailed in rubbernecking detail. The story of Simpson's rescue, recovery, and hospital visit after the Siula Grande events which formed Touching the Void is a fascinating companion piece to that book.
   
   Simpson strikes the right tone throughout Ghosts: objective enough to give the proper detail and perspective to his wonderful adventures, yet granting real insight into the often selfish and reckless thought processes of a thrill seeker. He recognizes the folly of his passions, and the high toll they have taken in the form of friends' lives. However, Simpson long ago learned to suppress fear and accept his risky choices, without rationalization or need to attribute any virtue to his acts other than gratitude for the amazing things he's seen and done. Readers are grateful he put pen to paper to chronicle them.



2. Its amazing what Joe has been trough and lived to tell. This book is simply great for the mountaineer as well as non-climbers. Just get the book, you will not be disappointed.



3. From Simpson's introduction to this book we realize that it is perhaps fear, and overcoming fear and the accompanying exhiliration that drives him. Or is it?
   Touching the Void was a brilliant book, detailing a horrific climb and fall in the Peruvian Andes. But at the end, you do wish you could know more about this guy. This Game of Ghosts fills in the blanks. Beginning with his upbringing as the youngest of 5 children, we get to come along as he is introduced to climbing, and adopts it more as a lifestyle than a hobby. Simpson comes of age literally and figuratively in this book. His writing is more polished than in his first book, he is older and wiser, and has gone on to experience more peaks, more true friends, more loss. He explores these things in an effort to describe the allure climbing holds for him, while admonishing us not to assume all adrenaline junkies are the same.
   Don't worry, this isn't a philosophy book. It's chock full of fantastic adventures and once again we get to accompany him to dangerous places where we feel the cold, the fear, and the companionship of like minds. This is a must read for anyone who liked Touching the Void. Highly recommended.



4. Although the story is not as dramatic as his "Touching the Void", the writing style is better and Joe gives us an inside on his life and his climbing. He is honest and and paints a colourful portrait of his life and encouters with danger. His story includes a funny cast of climbers who share the same lifestyle and sport.

   His life stories are funny and interesting. However he also deals with the dark side of climbing, the loss of his comrades. Joe is honest and shares with us his recollection of his life after the accident. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.




5. This is a delightful book. Not that the writer's more well-known TOUCHING THE VOID is badly written; it isn't, and it remians on my short list of the best mountaineering/adventure books I've read. But in THIS GAME OF GHOSTS Simpson stretches out more fully, more autobiographically (is that a wrod?) in an attempt to explain (to himself, to the reader) what it is about climbing that is so attractive, so essential to his existence. While he is honest almost to a fault, Simpson is smart enough to not fall (no pun intended) into the cliches and pseudo-mystical parrot talk that waters down an awful lot of mountaineering lit. For Simpson, there is no short, definitive answer as to why he is drawn to steep, icy mountain walls. On the other hand, the whole book is an answer to this question, which he poses, dismisses, returns to, and obliquely answers over and over.

   This is not just a good mountaineering book; it is a bood book, period. At first I thought Simpson was being a bit self-indulgent by detailing his early life. ("Who does this guy think he is?" I asked myself. "This isn't Winston Churchill or even Frank McCourt, but an unknown Brit who thinks we care about his schoolboy years.") But he won me over through his strong sense of humor and good storytelling. And the whole thing is full of good stories. Part of the book's appeal is in the stupidity of Simpson's climbing mistakes, many of which lead to life-threatening accidents. But through all his many incidents, Simpson proves to be as resilient as a rubber ball.

5 comments about Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball?: Mr Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top 50 NBA Players of All Time.

1. I read the book very eager to know from Mr Stats statements who are the best players in the NBA history, based on digits numbers and keen reasons. I am very excited he rescued Doo Doo, only MVP excluded from the official NBA 1996 list. I agree removal of some players from the list and I did not approve some positions, high or low. A couple of mistakes gave salt and pepper to the book: talking about Russell, 1956 Olympics took place at Melbourne facilities (Rome 1960) and Drexler out of the list of best since 80s, on the final pages.
   I strongly recommend this book to the hoop lovers and to who spent a lot of time to write down best ever 5 10 25 50 100 et cetera. For the book update it would be great if Mr Stats can suggest where to put Nash (2005 and 2006 Mvp and 2007 Nowitzki. so how much Duncan goes up after 2 more rings. O'Neal remains n.1 with 1 more ring, but I will be convinced of his choice only if he wins another title.



2. Too many reviews here are low because they hate Shaq or are mad that Jordan is #3.
   
   I didn't have high expectations for this book. Mark Twain said there are 3 types of lies: lies, d@mn lies, and statistics, so calling himself "Mr. Stats" was not a selling point. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I decided I wouldn't rate the book based on how the list agrees with mine. If I was that much of an egomaniac, I would write my own book and give it more than the maximum rating. What I wanted was a well-thought out list with convincing arguments for each man's place. Even if I didn't buy the argument, because I have a different method of rating the players, I wanted to see someone who could hold up his criteria with consistency and passion. He does so. To prove that I don't like the book because he confirms everything I believe, here is how far apart we are on ranking the top 8 players:
   
   Elliott Kalb's rankings: My rankings:
   Shaquille O'Neal Wilt Chamberlain
   Wilt Chamberlain Oscar Robertson
   Michael Jordan Larry Bird
   Bill Russell Magic Johnson
   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Michael Jordan
   Larry Bird Bill Russell
   Magic Johnson Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
   Oscar Robertson Shaquille O'Neal
   
   He lists his methods for ranking players in the introduction, using measuring sticks such as MVPs, Championships, All-Star appearances, first and second-team All-NBA honors, outside opinions, and to break ties, he takes big over small, new over old, and winners over losers. He also places heavy value on how well a player peaked versus how he played over the long run (which gives the nod to a guy like Bill Walton over Robert Parish).
   
   A few of the impressive qualities of the book is that he gives older players their due, such as Bob Pettit, Dolph Schayes, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, George Mikan. He doesn't overlook their accomplishments and their contributions, going so far as to rate Pettit over every forward except Bird and Tim Duncan. In addition, while respect is given to the pioneers, youth is served, as players such as Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett are also featured.
   
   The ultimate tribute to this book is that the Kalb convinced me to re-think a few of my own rankings. I still stick to my guns on Oscar Robertson being the greatest guard of all-time, but thanks to Kalb, I moved Bob Cousy ahead of Isiah Thomas and John Stockton among point guards, because he did dominate his era far more than the latter did in theirs. I have also reconsidered how I rate Rick Barry, Bill Walton, and a few other players.
   
   As a breath of fresh air from most books and articles, he mentions things the mass media intentionally overlook: such as Karl Malone's big game chokes (he cites them one by one), Dennis Rodman's contribution to the 1996-98 Chicago Bulls; Michael Jordan's 3 consecutive losing seasons and his 1-9 playoff record before Scottie Pippen, and how Scottie Pippen put up his finest seasons in Jordan's absence. His statistical research is immense and impressive, listing such obscure stats as the oldest players to average 30 ppg, as well as the youngest.
   
   Along with covering detailed statistical parts of their games, he will compare a given player to some contemporaries, asking people from a panel, so that you can get outside opinions. He also compares players to non-NBA contemporaries. Sometimes this works - Bill Russell and Joe DiMaggio was insightful - and sometimes it does not - Charles Barkley and Elvis was a bit cornball.
   
   He also remembers things like Allen Iverson's incredible run in 2001 (whereas most writers forget the guy who finishes #2), and he takes into consideration how players didn't vote for Rick Barry due to personal dislikes, rather than on-court talent.
   
   The only letdown comes with statistics. It's like jump shooting: you live by it and you die by it. They never tell the entire story. For instance, it is hard to gauge defense, before 1974, when blocks and steals were not recorded, and even when they were recorded, they never tell the entire story (Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman didn't amass great totals in either category). With that in mind, it seems like when in doubt, offensive players were given more honor than defensive players, placing some questionable offensive-minded players to fill out the list, when the argument supporting them appears to fly in the face of his standards for comparing players. Let me expound.
   
   While some defensive players got their due (Bill Russell #3, Dennis Rodman #30), there were some questionable people who got on the list who were lousy defensive players, or fair, at best, such as Pete Maravich (#47), Dominique Wilkins (#49), and Bob McAdoo (#44) while guys like Dave Debusschere and Nate Thurmond were left off. There is a chapter in the back explaining while some players were left off, but I thought the explanations were lacking. In all fairness, though, if every argument - pro and con - were carried out to the fullest detail, this would be an encyclopedia, instead of a book, and who is going to pay for a 50-volume set of books? But I will cite what I thought were a few inconsistencies:
   
   Kalb argues that Nate Thurmond never won a title and never made first or second team All-NBA, which is true. However, Reggie Miller never did, either, and the All-NBA team only selects one center, but two guards. Both players played in the finals, but didn't win. These similarities should have disqualified Miller, but Miller's playoff heroics let us know that these standards are not the end-all/ be all. Therefore, consider that Thurmond made first team all-defense twice, which Miller never came close to achieving. Furthermore, if the award would have been given back then, he probably would have won defensive player of the year in 1971 (Kalb does offer "what if arguments, such as 'What if the three-point shot had existed when Maravich and Schayes played?') The two greatest offensive centers in history, Chamberlain and Jabbar, both have said that Thurmond was the toughest defensive center they played against. This gives him a credible argument for being the greatest defensive center in history or at least #2 (behind Bill Russell), and when you combine that with the 20.5 ppg, 22.0 rpg, and 4.2 apg he posted in 1968 (remember, Kalb prefers looking at a player at his peak rather than his longevity), I think he should be an obvious choice over guys who didn't play much defense and shot a lot. To me, putting guys like Maravich, Miller, McAdoo, and Wilkins, who only played on one end of the court, makes as much sense as putting Mark Eaton on the list. Maravich couldn't defend and never played for a competitor, and McAdoo nearly destroyed the Boston Celtics, before he did destroy the Detroit Pistons and was responsible for giving the Celtics the greatest frontcourt in history and forcing Dick Vitale from the NBA into his job as the most annoying man in the world. The only time he won a title was when he became a poor man's James Edwards- type of role player who scored about 10 ppg.
   
   Another inconsistency is that only one MVP is not in the top 50: Wes Unseld. He is listed as the guy who just missed the list. However, all of the arguments that kept Thurmond off the list should have put Unseld on the list. He was MVP. He played in 3 finals, made All-NBA, and won a championship, which gave him more credentials than Wilkins and Miller.
   
   The only area for some improvement involved a small handful of outside opinions/analysis. For instance, asking Stephen A. Smith (who I hold in low regard) who is better between Oscar and Magic, he says Magic and adds "I'm only 35 years old, and I only remember seeing Magic". You can tell that he knows next to nothing about the Big O and that pretty much disqualifies him as a knowledgeable opinion. I'm slightly younger than he, but I've made it a point to research Robertson in order to make an informed opinion, as has Kalb. I think someone like Matt Guokas or Tommy Heinsoln would have better complimented the other two opinions listed in that comparison (Leonard Koppett and Nate Archibald). While I am not a Smith fan, he would be better suited to discuss Iverson versus Gary Payton. And while Boston Globe writer Bob Ryan makes many good points in the book, asking him to compare a Boston Celtic to any player is about as unbiased as asking the guys from Saturday Night Live to compare somebody to Mike Ditka ("Ditka versus Tiger Woods in a game of golf: Ditka!"). This is again nitpicking, as these instances were few and far between. I guess the book was so wonderful, that I wanted even more. I would have loved to see what everyone on the panel thought about each match-up, but again, that makes for a 50-volume set of books.
   
   There is a small section in the back talking about some of the great teams: the best Russell team, the best Jordan team, as well as the best individual season. It wets the appetite to think about Kalb listing the greatest teams ever (how does the '67 Sixers stack up against the '73 Lakers, the '86 Celtics vs. the '87 Lakers, etc), or who the greatest defensive players are by position, who the greatest sixth men were, the greatest coaches, rookie seasons, etc. He's knowledgeable and interesting enough that you care what he thinks, even if you don't agree, which is a high compliment.
   
   Overall, this book is an excellent read. If you don't know your basketball history, this is an excellent way to hop on board and learn about it. If you do know your basketball history, this is your way to compare your opinions to another educated historian and learn a few things. The book is an incredibly fast read, with each player having about 6 pages devoted to him. You get a big of career biography, some statistical analysis (but not too much, which becomes as dull as some baseball books), comparisons to other players, and commentary. It is also a unique book. I have an entire library, but none of them have the audacity to devote the entire topic to comparing and listing the players of history. The book is extremely well written and the research behind it is some of the most thorough research ever put into a basketball book.



3. Mr Kalb does have a strong point in believing that Oneal is the greatest, but if most fans disagree there may be a even stronger reason to disbelieve. To answer this question we have to be clear on the nature of the game itself, the better we understand basketball, the criteria we use will be more accurate. There is just one word to describe the game of basketball, "versatility", and thus the greatest player should be the most versatile one, i.e. he should be both a Mr Inside & Outside. And, sorry to say, Oneal just can't play the outside, not even the free-throwing line. Imagine the scenerio where the hoop is raised higher, such that dunking becomes impossible, or that a new rule is set that players can only shoot from outside the paint, Oneal is going to have great problems scoring. And in the history of nba, if the criteria of "versatility" is correct, then Bird & Magic must be the two top ballers ever to play. If jordan is taller by a few inches, then there can be no doubt that he is the greatest, but unfortunately, jordan just can't rebound well, and thus it's quite impossible to call him the greatest.



4. You can draw any of this names out of a hat and make an argument as to who should be number 1. (take your pick)
   Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kareem, Russell, Wilt, Oscar. Anyone that even considers shaq as a top ten or even top twenty doesn't know NBA basketball. All this writer saw was that every other book out there had Jordan at number 1 and he felt he needed to grabs someones attention by doing something different. Stats dont say a thing about any of the players I just mentioned, this guys were extra special because they had character, they were winners, they signified what was good about the league. I take the Admiral or Dream in their prime over Shaq anyday. Dont believe the hype, shaq is one of the best ever, but never make the mistake of putting him at number 1. This book should be banned.



5. First, let me start off by saying that I didn't read this book. I would have except for one reason: I heard him on WFAN (radio station in NY) and I heard him saying that Shaq was the greatest player ever. That alone is enough for me to discount the book as simply a publicity stunt.
   
   Everyone's giving their lists, so here's my top six:
   
   Jordan
   Russell
   Chamberlain
   Magic
   Bird
   Abdul-Jabbar
   
   First of all, I don't care how gawdy someone's stats are: if you don't deliver when it counts then it doesn't matter. Year after year, Chamberlain put up gawdy stats. And year after year, his teams got their butts whipped by Russell's Celtics. Year, after year, after year, after year, after year, after year... The point of the game is to win, and Russell was the ULTIMATE winner!
   
   Jordan is the best combination of Russell and Chamberlain and I've always thought this. A man possessed to win like Russell who could put up gawdy scoring numbers like Chamberlain. He shot 84% from the line also, so he wasn't a liability like Russell and Chamberlain were. In today's era, Chamberlain would be hacked to death and his scoring would drop considerably.
   
   Shaq the greatest ever? Maybe the STRONGEST ever, but the greatest is just silly. He played defense for three years of his career (his three championship years), is a putrid free throw shooter, relies exclusively on running people over as his move in the post. His rebouding for someone clearly larger than all of his competition is disappointing. Can you remember a playoff game where Jordan's team needed him desperately and he came through with seven points???? Again, the best ever is SILLY!
   
   Btw, Tim Duncan is not better than Karl Malone, as someone pointed out earlier. Better than Robinson, fine. However, would Duncan win anything if he was playing during the Magic-Bird-Jordan era? Many a great team came up empty simply because they played in the wrong era. The Jazz would have won two championships if not for Jordan. How many times were the Knicks denied because of Jordan? The only reason people give Duncan such high regard is because he won and he won because he never went up against as many great teams as Malone's teams did. Malone's teams had to get through Hakeem's Rockets and Barkley's Suns and the very good Seattle teams and Magic's Lakers and Jordan's Bull to get a sniff of anything. Duncan had to get through a Lakers team that had Shaq and Kobe, that's it. Spurs-Nets final? Come on!!!

5 comments about Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey.

1. Great read for any surf fan. kelly is a sharp guy from humble beginnings who is very modest and very, very talented athletically. Now if only Laird would write a book. Only Tom Curren would be more interesting.



2. I really enjoyed this book, it told us about how Kelly Slater got to where he is today and it had a lot of information on heats and different contests around the world, that Kelly won and lost. My girlfriend would have liked a bit more personal information though as she bought the book purely because she thinks he is gorgeous.



3. In all honesty, I didn't expect to enjoy this book. After all--what do I, a gal scientist, have in common with a surf legend who trumps his peers to float somewhere up there with Kwan, Woods, and Jordan?
   
   Instead, I found myself unable to put it down. Well written and wonderfully candid, it promised everything that goes into a unforgettable biography--and then some.
   
   Slater imbues his writing with gut-wrenching, broad-appeal emotion--a notable accomplishment in crafting a story around a sport and way of life not accessible to most of the world. By the end, I felt like I could play a round of golf or have a beer with Slater and relate to him on a level that surpasses lines of class and celebrity--one that is simply, human.
   
   My only complaint? I would've liked captions for the photos.
   
   I hated to say goodbye at the end. That should say it all.



4. This book is ok. It starts out really well, but it starts to die out after a while. The problem is that he goes on about each world championship title, and each one isn't that much different from the last. I would agree with Jacks that this book "Reads like a chronology of wins." If this book were 20 pages shorter, it might be better.



5. 
   When he was a little kid he surfed on a boogie board and at age 8 won his first contest in 1980(salick brothers contest) his first sponsor was Dick Carti surfboards.
   . Later winning countless contests throughout his life nothing compared to becoming the youngest world tour champ in history in 1992. He became the world tour champ every wear from 1994-1998 and beat mark Richards consecutive world title record be wining 5 in a row. Through out his life he has dated many girls and even in high school achieved the nickname minute-man to acting on the TV show Baywatch. It was there where he met palala Anderson where she was able to dumpm him 3 times.
   N October 17, 1995 a girl that he had dated earlier that summer gave him the news that she was pregnant and that she was going to keep the baby, Kelly's child was named Taylor. Although Kelly was dating somebody else he still took responsibility for his child and although he isn't around for her all the time he didn't block her out of his life completely. In his life he was been In a band with other fellow surfers, took up golf, had a child, dated Pamela Anderson after meeting her on the Baywatch show, to growing up in the spotlight of being the greatest surfer who ever lived.
   This story was interesting to me because I look up to Kelly Slater. Not only is he considered the Michael Jordan of surfing but in person he is a really down to earth guy. About 3 years ago I met and surfed with him in a select surf spot in Maui Hawaii. After meeting him and studying his surfing for quite sometime that in turn got me to read his autobiography known as Kelly Slater's pipe dreams.
   I recommend this story to anybody who is interested in surfing or a story of inspiration to an up and coming surfer, much like myself...Justin Taguiped

5 comments about Strongman: The Doug Hepburn Story.

1. One of the most depressing, sad books I have ever read. Hepburn was to be admired for his feats of strength,but saddened at his personal life. He was waiting for someone or something to either show him what to do with his life,or actually provide for him. What a waste.



2. STRONGMAN, THE DOUG HEPBURN STORY was a book I could not put down once I started reading it.
   
   I was aware of world champion strongman Doug Hepburn and was excited upon noticing his name and freight-train physique upon the attractive book cover. What was fascinating about Hepburn was that while the world was aware of his physical strength, it was his mental strength and determination that was even more paramount. What could fuel such an obsession? A deformed leg was an insecurity he fought to overcome.
   
   When Doug first traveled to New York City to display his power to the American strength community I found myself visualizing that I was riding in the train with him. In New York it was one thing to witness the poundage this massive man could lift, but even better watching the look of awe on the faces of the strength crowd watching as they realized this man had no match. This trip to New York City was a necessary confidence step in Hepburn's climb to winning the World Championship in Sweden in 1953.
   
   The insecurities to succeed to the top of the weight-lifting world continued to enigma Hepburn as his life continued. I thank Doug for his illumination as he explained how his LSD therapy in the early sixties made him aware of how negatives from childhood stay embedded in a person's conscience and it is up to each of us to attempt to eliminate these adversities as best as possible.
   
   I found STRONGMAN, THE DOUG HEPBURN STORY both entertaining and motivational, a great read.



3. You don't get to read about athletes like Doug Hepburn much these days. I'm talking about the kind of athlete who makes it to the top of his sport with no motivation other than the pure love of the sport, and the outright desire to just do it. In Strongman, Tom Thurston has captured the essence of Doug and I found the book to be a great read.
   
   This book is a 'must read' for anyone trying to uncover the secrets of success in sports, or in life itself. I knew Doug personally, and I recall a conversation I had with him regarding the mental barriers that can prevent regular gains in weightlifting. I asked him specifically what to do about that. Doug put it simply, "it depends how badly you want to lift the weight".
   
   That succinct statement eludes many athletes. They get so caught up in tactics and theory, they forget about the human spirit and the power of the mind itself. Doug wasn't advocating anything silly, like pushing through serious pain. He was referring to the little tricks the mind can play to set up a barrier to improvement. We're talking about sucking it up in order to get to the next level. Doug was a master of that and Tom Thurston captures that indominatible spirit in his book.
   
   I thought I knew a lot about Doug until I read Strongman. Through Tom Thurston's painstaking research I now realize there was a lot more to the man. Doug was a humourous, self-effacing, likeable character and the last thing you'd see in him was a man who destroyed world records and won Olympic Gold Medals. What I had not realized was the incredible struggle behind his success.
   
   That makes Doug all the more amazing in my mind and I strongly recommend this book.



4. Strongman - the Doug Hepburn Story
   by Tom Thurston
   
   Tom Thurston's aptly titled biography of Doug Hepburn, Strongman, is a telling tale of one man's aspirations to greatness, while struggling with the material world. For me, this book represents a very humanizing portrait of an inspiring boyhood hero from the fifties. Doug wrestled with the temptations of being exploited into the image of a larger than life, plastic fantastic, comic book like action figure. It is the story of one very human being. Combining insightful sensitivity with brutal reality, Tom delivers a penetrating study into Doug's indomitable spirit.
   
   This book is a must read, from those casually interested in fitness to the competing athlete. This is the story about one man who actually did live by the creed: no tricks, not gear, not drugs.
   
   Bill Owens
   Comox, BC
   Canada



5. Hello! I'm a 26 year old weightlifter, and had heard the name Doug Hepburn a few times in strength and bodybuilding magazines. However, I really didnt know much about the man until I purchased this book. I can honestly say, this man's story was inspiring and yet sad at times. It's one of the best reads I've had in a while, and those who are involved in weight training will want to pick up a copy of this book.

   I really came away feeling inspired and grateful. With all the hogwash out there written by juiced-up "athletes," it's good to know people like Mr. Hepburn were truly the strongest of the strong naturally and that it IS possible to become strong without chemicals. Had I known of him years ago before his passing, he truly would have been someone I'd want to meet in person.

   Also, many thanks to the book's author, Mr. Tom Thurston, who took the time to respond to my letter and answer my questions.

5 comments about ERIC LIDDELL: PURE GOLD.

1. 
   Outstanding book on the life of a young dedicated christian.
   Should be of great encouragement to young people who desperately need someone as an role model in this day of confusion.
   Book is well written and brings out his courage to do that which is right in the face of adversity.
   Book is written in a foremat that can be enjoyed by those of any age group.



2. Are you sure it can't be done??? well, think twice and then read this man's biography. Eric Liddell immortilized worldwide in the 1981 Hugh Hudson's motion picture Chariots of Fire in its purest form is presented in this book. A story on courage, capacity and determination. You should not miss it. You shall want to go out jogging and be a better person to say the least!
   
   From his birth on January 16, 1902 in Tientsin, China, to his unexpected death due to a brain tumor on February 21, 1945 in a japanese concentration camp in that same country, passing through his experiences at boarding school in the UK, his olympic victory, his religious commitments, his unbelievable determination, his beloved Florence ("Flo") and the beautiful love story that surrounded their relationship, the people who marked his life (his mother Mary, father James, brothers Rob and Ernest, sister Jenny, etc.). A book that brought out emotions from the beginning when I read about Florence (Eric's widow) watching Chariots of Fire and imagining her reactions, her feelings of pride... This book is a thoroughly rewarding experience!



3. I fell in love with the movie "Chariots of Fire" when I was in college over 20 years ago. I also enjoyed the paperback of the same name. Recently I became interested in this true story again and found "Pure Gold" on Amazon.
   This biography is slow-moving and tedious. I have never been to China nor do I have any interest in the Orient, so the setting of most of the book was not compelling. I was hoping that Eric's personality and dedication to Christian principles would pull me through when I was tempted to stop reading and give the book away.
   I was inspired enough to finish it but "ho hum" is my response to the writing.
   Maybe "Chariots of Fire" was a too "Hollywood-ized" version of the 1924 Olympics,(as Back Flash was to firefighting) but even if it was, I prefer it to this book.



4. Eric Liddell is an interesting & worthy subject for a biography but this one isn't it. The author did extensive research in primary documents, interviewed people who knew Liddell personally, & created an excellent bibliography. Unfortunately, the writing style is corny & some of the passages are fictionalized, particularly ones regarding Liddell's relationship with his wife Flo. The author puts thoughts in their minds that he couldn't possibly know. He so over-romanticizes his subject that he becomes almost unreal. Liddell was a great athlete & a great servant of the Lord, but the author so idolizes him that he becomes a kind of plaster saint. The main problem with this book is that it is explicitly written to be "inspirational," & so the reader is reminded over & over again what a great Christian role model Liddell was. This gets tiresome. Don't misunderstand me -- I am not knocking Liddell here at all, only the author's mode of presenting him. A less didactic book would serve Liddell better. His own words & actions speak for themselves.



5. Because of the surprise hit Chariots of Fire, the world knows the name Eric Liddell. Most people also know about the stand he made for his beliefs as he refused to run an Olympic race he was favored to win simply because the race was scheduled for Sunday. Those who have seen the movie know that it ends shortly after he wins an Olympic gold medal in an event in which he had barely trained. But in Pure Gold, a biography of Liddell weighing in at 333 pages, the race is complete by the ninety-eighth page. There is much more to Liddell than the movie portrays.
   
   Eric Liddell is a man who was sold out to God. He regarded his own desires and his own comforts as secondary to God's. Raised as the son of a missionary, he grew up away from his parents, for in those days children were left in their native country to receive their training, often seeing their parents only once every six or seven years. There was a period of over a decade in Liddell's life where he was with his parents for only 100 days. Despite the seperation, he received strong training, primarily in the Bible.
   
   While he grew both academically and spiritually, people also came to realize that Liddell had a gift for speed. He was fast. He was also uncouth, with a running style all his own. He would start like any other runner, but as he approached the finish line, he would throw his head back and his arms would begin to flail. Yet somehow, rather than slow him down, this gave him a burst of speed that often led him to victory.
   
   Some of his exploits from his early days are famous, such as the time he fell in a 400-meter race, but managed to climb to his feet and work his way back into first place, making up a deficit of over ten meters. And as we know from the movie, he earned a position on the British Olympic squad at the 1924 Olympic Games where he came away with two medals, a gold and a bronze. He returned to his native Scotland a hero - far and away the best-known athlete in the nation. It was this fame that provided the springboard for his mission work. Despite being a shy and quiet man, he criss-crossed the country, speaking before hundreds of thousands of people, telling them about the Lord and encouraging them to give their lives to Him.
   
   At the very pinnacle of his athletic success, Liddell laid it all aside to become a missionary to China, the country his father had served when Eric was a boy and the country he continued to serve to that day. Liddell counted his prestige as nothing and moved to the mission field. He served the rest of his life in China before his eventual death in a Japanese internment camp during the Second World War. It is this period of his life that so few know about, yet this is where we see Liddell at his finest. It is here that we see the power and effectiveness of a life that is sold out to God.
   
   This biography is well-written, inspiring and highly-recommended. It presents Liddell as he really was and helps the reader understand the foundation for his life. It portrays Liddell in his strength and in his weakness, through joy and sadness. It portrays the consistency of a man who lived in the same way when the eyes of the nation were upon him, or when he stood only before the eyes of the Lord.
   
   While Chariots of Fire has done much to bring Liddell to the public eye, and while it presented the man accurately, it tells less than half the story. However, the race which forms the climax to the movie can well be seen as a metaphor for Liddell's life. He finished the race of life the same way he had finished so many races long before - with his arms flailing and his head turned to the sky, enraptured purely with the joy of running.

5 comments about Inside the Lion's Den.

1. Ken Shamrock is very compelling figure who should of been anything less than a champion. He tells the story of how can make a difference to you and you are able pick yourself up from there.



2. I had two Gracie Jiu-Jitsu books, but there was always one thing that bothered me about their philosophy and approach, they always make it seem as if all you need is really good technique and nothing else matters, and I just can't agree with their idea that weight training and muscle power aren't really that important? I think having a strong body is equally important to good technique so I thought maybe Ken Shamrock's book would incorporate that more (obviously by looking at his body that must be part of his training) Sure enough this book gave me what I was looking for, some insight into how a power wrestler/fighter goes about things. If you are sick of the wimpy Gracie way then this gives you some good perspective on the power game.



3. 
   This book will not only intrigue fans of all types of fighting styles that Ken Shamrock has competed in, it will also serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for all.
   The book is creatively and effectively divided into two parts. The first half is ghost written, or at least co-authored, and chronicles Ken's life. It is a brief, yet very thorough and captivating life story.
   
   The second half is a nuts and bolts introduction to all aspects of competing in mixed martial arts - from eating to strength training to technique.
   
   "Inside The Lion's Den" is more than just a book about a tough guy who won some fighting contests and became a pro wrestler. "Inside The Lion's Den" delves deep into the trials and tribulations that chronicle Ken's awkward upbringing. His childhood was far from, "The Cosby Show" yet it is explained in a way that is quite unlike most biographies of high profile stars that claim of such horrible childhood life.
   
   Too often are we subjected to a "Where Are They Now" documentary by some celebrity telling us that they were mentally abused, or how their horribly painful past forced them into a drug plagued life. Ken Shamrock doesn't mirror this all to common pattern. He simply tells about his life - and it doesn't appear to be one that most of us would have wanted at times.
   
   The second half of the book can, and will, put any reader who isn't a professional athlete or combatant into shape. One will be surprised at the amount of inside information that Shamrock shares. I've met many mixed martial artists and several of them couldn't complete the training regimen that is covered here.
   
   Some have belittled Shamrock for having the book co-authored, but that is a very unfair criticism. Ken Shamrock is a master fighter - an athlete - a competitor. He has a great story to share with us. Does any of that make him qualified to transfer that to paper and deliver it in a manner that is entertaining and interesting? No.
   
   That is no disrespect to Ken. He is a master at what he does. And he is very smart for having a co-author. I would assume that Ken, and most of you, have an accountant prepare your taxes. We all bring in experts to handle tasks for us. There is no shame in that.
   
   Professional wrestlers have amazing stories to tell and they are finally being shared with us all.



4. This is a great book for early history points of the UFC and to give an idea of some of the training that goes into this type of fighting, but the rivalry with Dan Severn is mis-portrayed.
   
   There have been so many different accounts as to why Ken lost this fight on the internet, some from his (Ken's) own students that I don't believe any of them anymore since there have also been similar stories as to why he lost to Fujita, Franklin, Frye, etc. I acknowledge his contribution to fighting but using Severn as the foil of this book is a mistake, as is taking shots at Royce Gracie. Severn is an all American respectful man, and his main beef with Shamrock has always been steroid allegations (make your judgement there yourself keeping baseball in mind). Also, most of the derogatory quotes about Dan come from his ex-manager who he fired so keep that in mind when reading.
   
   This was an entertaining book and Shamrock is quite the dangerous fighter, as well as a champion for the sport itself, if you havent seen his televised debate with John McCain, yes that John McCain you should. I just think some spin was put in for dramatic effect that puts a negative light on some people that are undeserving. I would have been just has entertained by Ken's background and experiences without the fluff.



5. Ken Shamrock is a living legend and his book is a classic. Get it! It has submission grappling history, conditioning, nutritional advice, and holds.
   
   If I learned one thing while publishing my own book, "The Authoritative Encyclopedia of Scientific Wrestling", it was this, people should give credit where credit is due:
   
   "Inside the Lion's Den" was published one full year before any other book on Karl Gotch-style conditioning existed. It clearly and in plain language shows you how to do hindu squats, hindu push-ups, and neck bridging exercises and much much more. It is very comprehensive and talked about solid weight lifting routines too.
   
   Bottom line: if you like submission grappling Inside The Lion's Den is essential to have in your library.

5 comments about Searching for Bobby Orr.

1. Being brought up in Detroit I knew of Hockey but that was it. I went to a few games as a child with Grandpa but everyone jumped up and I couldn't see anything. Now retired and with a wife that was a hockey fan I decided a few years ago to try watching the game. Low and behold a instant fan. This book did more for me that anything else in explaining the game and the names I had heard but really did not know. The sad side is like so many sports and jobs the management or agents or lawyers use and abuse their help. I enjoyed the book and it has certainly brought my knowledge of the sport and the game up. Go Red Wings.



2. If you like Hockey and grew up during the time of the legend Bobby Orr playing against the Canadians, the Maple Leafs, the Blackhawks and others this book is well worth the read. I enjoyed the book and will pass it on to others to enjoy as well.



3. I purchased and read this book only after receiving a recommendation from a hockey buddy. I originally passed on it based on the few reviews on Amazon.com; however, I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the "up and down" reviews, I thought this book was interesting and well written. One reviewer wrote, "In the course of researching this book, author Stephen Brunt was not able to talk to Orr or any of his close knit circle of friends and family. As a result, Brunt's account is superficial and, ultimately, disappointing and unsatisfying." I disagree. Because Orr was, in the reviewer's own words, a "secretive, introverted man", I do not believe that he is inclined to reveal any more of his private life than was shared in this book. The book provides an objective account of the best and most exciting hockey player ever to lace a pair of skates. Included are Bobby's battle with knee problems that robbed him (and all hockey fans) of a lengthy career and his financial difficulties linked to his association with Alan Eagleson.



4. Just how good was Bobby Orr? Harry Howell said it best during the National Hockey League awards ceremony, where he was presented with the Norris Trophy as the League's top defenseman: "I've been around for fifteen years, and thank God I finally won the trophy. I've got the feeling that for the next twenty years it will be known as the Bobby Orr Trophy." High praise indeed, but consider this: Orr had just completed his rookie season, earning respect almost unheard of at that stage of a career, and he wasn't even the runner-up for the award.
   
   Bobby Orr was regarded as a savior for the Boston Bruins from the very moment he was first seen on the ice by members of the Bruins management, playing in a junior game with children three and four years older than him, dominating the game and controlling the puck better than anyone. He was just an average kid from an average town --- not well off financially and not the greatest of students, though he tried hard --- but on the ice he became a legend.
   
   Stephen Brunt likens Orr to the Greek hero Achilles. The National Hockey League was Troy, and Orr was the most powerful and dynamic hero of the game. And yet, like Achilles, Orr had a flaw. While he had the heart, the determination and the will, it was his knees that ultimately would cut short an exciting and record-setting career. He was the flash of light, the great fire that burned too bright for too short a time. He would win the Norris Trophy the next eight consecutive seasons and lead the League in scoring twice.
   
   As popular and as masterful as he was on the ice, Orr was savagely private about his personal life. He was quiet and reserved, and Brunt shows us that even though he would join his teammates at a party, he often was the first to quietly slip away unnoticed. In putting together this book, Brunt approached Orr about being involved, but he declined and also made a stipulation: Brunt would not be allowed to approach his family.
   
   In some ways that is a loss. Hearing about the storied career from the man who wrote it with his play would have been enlightening and lent a sense of charm and closeness, a way for those who worshiped him to get closer to their hero. Perhaps, however, it was more of a boon that Orr did not wish to be involved. It freed Brunt to seek his own answers and create his own path. The story he chose to pursue could not be shaped and molded, and things he discovered may never have come to light in speaking with the man himself.
   
   One of the fabulous aspects of this book is that Brunt seems to know that a hero, no matter how grand or powerful, is not self-made. Along the way Orr has people who shape his world-view and his life. Those figures are given definition here, particularly Wren Blair, who saw the young boy play in Canada and tried to secure a contract for Boston. "Bucko" McDonald, his junior coach, recognized that Orr was exceptional: a rushing defenseman who was small. McDonald let Orr be who he was and didn't attempt to turn him into something he wasn't. Alan Eagleson was the lawyer who worked with Orr in drafting up a healthy contract in his first season and paved the way for the creation of player agents and sports management groups. However, Eagleson, who would also be the ruin of many a good man by pilfering their retirement funds, ultimately was brought down by Orr and fellow player Carl Brewer. And then there were Orr's parents, who were both encouraging and very protective.
   
   As quickly and beautifully as he came, Orr would be gone. Brunt does an excellent job at revealing him, yet, when all is said and done, there is still so much unknown. The title, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY ORR, is very accurate. Brunt had to search, and could probably keep searching for years. What the author has done, however, is give us an exceptional biography of the greatest hockey player ever to lace up a pair of skates.
   
   --- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard



5. In the course of researching this book, author Stephen Brunt was not able to talk to Orr or any of his close knit circle of friends and family. As a result, Brunt's account is superficial and, ultimately, disappointing and unsatisfying. Orr has hinted that he might tell his story himself some day but I won't hold my breath. I suspect he will remain a secretive, introverted man, someone who plied his trade for too short a time, then bowed out with dignity. There's really nothing new in SEARCHING FOR BOBBY ORR and, as much as I like and respect Mr. Brunt, he has done little to disspell the mystery surrounding Number 4...and perhaps that's for the best.

5 comments about Hawk: Occupation: Skateboarder.

1. He went pro at the age of 12; is credited with inventing nearly 80 tricks; won 73 contests in the course of his career; started his own (now multi-million dollar) company in 1992; had a PlayStation game named after him; reportedly rakes in over $1 million a year in endorsements (from The Gap, to Mountain Dew, to the "Got Milk?" campaigns); and during the 1999 X-Games, became the first man ever to land the 900.in the book he talks about how kids at school hassled him about how he skateboard and how he was pro. and it dident get much better for him because the older guys dident like the way he did his air's and they dident like his style I liked this book because it really shows what skaters have to go through with all the people that hassle you because you skate.



2. I'm sure you have heard of this skater he is very famous he was the very first person to land the 900. Can you guess who he is that's right its Tony Hawk. You could say Tony was unexpected until he was born. He said that his parents thought that they were going through a relaxing phase until he was born. When Tony's mom told his dad that he was born he had a heart attack. When he was getting older he began Pre-K and he really didn't like school. He would do anything to get out of school like cry or when his parents came to visit he would grab on to there leg and wouldn't let go or, he would grab on to the fence when his parents dropped him and he wouldn't let go so they had t pry his fingers of the fence. He would fallow the same routine over and over again each day. When he started Kinder garden he began to skate. Tony was really smart when he was little His teachers said he had a 12 year old brain in a 8 year old body. Tony fell on his head so many times (About 5 times) I think he broke a lot of bones when he was skating. Tony Hawk was very famous because he was the very first person to land the 900!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to people that like to skate or people that just want to have a good laugh.



3. Tony Hawk Pro Skater
   
   5 star pro skater? I don't think so. When he was born his dad had a heart attack but didn't die. When he was in pre-K he never wanted to go. So his daily routine is to cry so he didn't have to go and if that didn't work he hanged on to the fence until he could hold no more. He stated skating when he was about 7 or 8 he fell on his head so much but he still continued to skate. Every day before school he would skate the curb in front of his school until the bell rang. He would watch Sesame Street and he learned most of the stuff he learned was from Sesame Street like math with count and Spanish. But after school he would get a ride from his dad or someone from his family to go to the skatepark or he would ride his skateboard there.
   
   His two front teeth were capped because he tried to do a frontside rock and role(Which is a skate trick)and fell into the ramp on his face. His first sponsor was dog town skate comp. But it didn't last that long until they ran out of business. He was called a pro amateur and there wasn't that much in the 70s. He officially turned pro in 1999.
   
   
   
   I would recommend this book
   To people who skate and who like to laugh.



4. To tell you the truth, I was suspect when I first saw this book. This probably has one of the lamer titles around. Fortunately, the book never had a dull moment. This book is well written and hilarious.



5. I received this hardback edition of Tony Hawk's autobiography at the Los Angeles Convention Center about 5 to 6 six years ago. It was the E3 convention and Tony was there to promote his new video game. I jumped at the opportunity and waited in line to have it personally signed. There is nothing but his name signed inside the cover with no (to/from) or anything like that. This book has never even been read yet. 1st edition and in mint condition. A steal for any Tony Hawk or skateboarding fan.