5 comments about Sub 4:00: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile.

1. I found the book very interesting and factual of how good prospective high school athletes can be ground up like chopped beef. The USA top division I coaches have a bad repretation for running and competing the good prospective Olympic athlete in the ground from European coaches. The book was exciting when the races were described and very dissappointing when the results of the biggest and last races of the year were not there because there were thirty-three pages missing in the book and of course at the dmost interesting part. Very dissappointing. WMW



2. at the end of the book i actually disliked Webb. it was a story about someone who was not patient enough and thougt of himself as above everyone, i actually think him running such great times as a highschooler hurt him,he did not give the coach at michigan a fair chance and found ways to make everything a drama. the part i did enjoy though was reading about the other people from michigan and the fact that chris lear is such a great writer and really connects with the reader.



3. In a space of several months in 2001, Alan Webb ran the fastest indoor mile by a U.S. high school athlete and then set a national high school record for the magical distance, breaking a mark that reigned supreme for 36 years by the legendary Jim Ryun.
   
   Author Chris Lear takes the reader on the rocky journey Webb runs while carrying his fantastic prep record to the college ranks and beyond. In particular interest is how Webb deals with coaching legend Ron Warhurst at the University of Michigan.
   
   The pressure on Webb from outside the confines of the college campus are chronicled without editorial comment from Lear. It is my feeling Webb comes across as a boorish teenage tennis player or figure skater that must have things his/her way and coaches last about as long as a pair of training shoes for an ultra-marathoner.
   
   Webb's "team" that was around him when rewrote the prep record book seemingly derailed Warhurst's efforts before his star runner went on his first workout as a Wolverine. One must wonder if they had the best interest of Webb in mind or if dollar signs were circling that track.
   
   There was the lure of professional money from shoe companies and race promoters who were certainly salivating at the chance to have the great American star wear its logo or compete on the domestic/international stage.
   
   But the blame for being swayed by so many voices clearly falls on Webb. And if this tug-of-war would have been in a bigger profile collegiate sport, it would have been as big a national story as - for example - Maurice Clarett's public battles with the Ohio State brass and coaches from a few years ago.
   
   Sometimes the biggest search for a young world-class athlete is for those who will provide good advice over what can be profitable today. For every Tiger Woods or John McEnroe - who used brief collegiate careers as a springboard to professional success - there are hundreds like Webb that want it all now, but end up with fleeting glimpses of brilliance.



4. Alan Webb in this story strikes me as more a baby than a runner who has ran under 4 minutes in the mile. He whines about being hurt and not getting trained right. Warhurst is one of the greatest american distance coaches, if you can't run under him don't run at all. Nate seemed more likeable and more of a team player than Webb did in this book. Being for Illionis I love how Webb lost to Don Sage in 1500 meter final. Towards the end of the book, you knew he was going to quit michigan, now granted Webb has become very big in the sport but for a while he struggled after leaving Michigan and going back to his old coach. Good Book, if you like Webb, you might change your view of him, Nate is awesome, so is Tim Broe



5. Chris Lear has done it again! Following an exellent debut with "Running With the Buffaloes" he comes back with "Sub 4:00" -- a great account of Alan Webb's first and only season at the University of Michigan.
   
   Lear is the only guy out there writing about the collegiate running scene as most books in the running section at your bookstore revolve around training logs or how to run your first 10K. It's about time someone took a different path and I'm glad Lear has done so.
   
   Webb's tumultuous season at UM is well-depicted. The tough workouts, the injuries, and most importantly, the hot and cold relationship Webb has with his collegiate coach. Webb is pulled in a couple of different directions, whether to turn pro and go back and train under his high school coach, where he had great success; or stay at UM where he has friends and training partners. After awhile one can tell where Webb is going to end up.
   
   What makes Lear's books so good is he gets right into the action. Just like his first book, he has intimate access to the team, it's workouts, meetings, and private moments. He's with Webb in the residence halls, on solitary and team workouts, at the meets, and even on the road in his car. Lear isn't an outside observer, he's right there. Also, the main supporting character, Brannen, gets his fair share of coverage.
   
   This isn't just a book for runners, but anyone interested in athletics, particularly college athletics and how the system works and how coaches are under pressure to win -- yes, even so-called minor sport track and field coaches.
   
   I highly recommend this excellent book and hope Lear has more coming down the road.

5 comments about Rayzor's Edge: Rob Ray's Tough Life on the Ice.

1. We all think of professional athletes as pampered stars who believe that the world revolves around them. Rayzor's Edge shows what it is really like for a kid growing up in a small town in Canada, working his way through junior hockey, dreaming to one day play in the NHL. What I liked most about this book was the honest and open way the authors described the fears and insecurities of Rob Ray, not just as he was on his way to the NHL, but once he got there, as well. From his first day at junior hockey to his last day on the ice as a Buffalo Sabre, authors Ray and Bailey expose the human side of the ups and downs of a professional athlete - what scares them and what drives them - first, as a green rookie putting on a team sweater for the first time and later, as a seasoned veteran. The book is engaging, thoughtful and very well-written and I highly recommend it to all sports fans.



2. This book is great. As far as I can tell, it's the best thing to come out of the Sabres this season. Rob Ray and Budd Bailey have given us a great real life story. This is a book for fans and players. Gene F.



3. As a former Buffalo area resident and Sabres fan who has been somewhat distant from the team for quite awhile, I found a couple of sections of Rob Ray's book particularly interesting. First, he discusses the controversy surrounding star goalie Dominik Hasek's injury during the 1996 - 1997 playoffs. Later in the book, Ray offers some new (to this reader, at least) thoughts regarding the mysterious departure of Buffalo Sabres Coach Ted Nolan. If you are a Sabres and/or Rob Ray fan, you will undoubtedly enjoy this book.



4. Sports superstars write books all the time, often after only one good season. Mostly it's the same story: How I overcame (insert minor setback here) by being blessed with incredible talent to become rich and famous.
   
   Rob Ray's story is a bit different. Ray had to struggle his whole life to make it in hockey. It is refreshing to see a sports biography written by a role player, by someone who watched many of his team's greatest moments from the bench or even in street clothes. And it is also refreshing to read the story of a player who made it by being the ultimate team player, a guy who had to struggle through the minors to make it.
   
   The book's main weakness is the Ray may be too nice a guy. While he would happily deck anyone on the ice, he seems to hesitate to say anything that might offend anyone he played with (with the notable exception of a certain Czech goalie), or even fought against.
   
   Enjoy this book for the story of a player who did his job as best he could, and still can't seem to believe he got to play in the the bigtime.



5. When I found out that Rayzor had the book coming out, I was quick to order it. I'm a life-long Sabres fan, and enjoyed watching him contribute to the team over the years. He was always fun to watch, and a smart player.. (I don't know if there ever was an enforcer better at goading his opponent into a penalty.)
   
   The book left me wanting something different. Rob tells about the history of the Sabres, from his perspective.. He tells some interesting stories, but I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about the off-the-ice antics; who were the best/worst fighters in the league, and why? How about some stories from the lockeroom? Nights on the town in Buffalo? Overzealous fans?
   
   I must also note that the copy editing in the book was not great. Similar to Keith Jones' book, there are multiple errors in text that should have been caught. (Although there were many more in the Jones book.)

5 comments about Back of the Pack: An Iditarod Rookie Musher's Alaska Pilgrimage to Nome.

1. This is an exciting, inspiring, well-written book that I couldn't put down. Written in a logbook style, it tells what happens when the author catches the Iditarod bug. A very satisfying read.



2. Don Bowers wrote it with so much heart, it's amazing! If you love sleddogs, Alaska and the Iditarod - it's a must to read it (especially if you want to run the Iditarod once)! Even if English isn't your mother tongue - you will love it! I laughed but also cried while reading the book. It really touched me very much! Don Bowers was killed by an air-crash in summer 2000 and even if I haven't known him personally - my eyes went wet when I heard about it! I wish I could have meet him once...... (sorry, about my bad english, but even with this english it is easy to read his book)!



3. As a fellow US Air Force Academy Grad, I was thrilled by Don Bowers' adventure! Spending years as an Iditarod pilot, Don finally decides to run the race. He shows the true human effort behind running the race, not as a champion, but as a man willing to give his all to prove his determination and the love for his dogs. Unfortunately, Don Bowers died this year doing one of the things he truly loved: flying airplanes. This book is a tribute to the man and the sport that took over his soul. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mushing or for anybody with an adventurous heart. It's a true uplift from the everyday drag of modern life. It will yield to the wanderlust of even the most rigid of people. It shows that some people out there still pursue their dreams, no matter how crazy they may seem. Farewell, Don Bowers! May your book be a tribute to you and the sport that you loved!



4. Subtitled, "An Iditarod Rookie Musher's Alaska Pilgrimage to
   Nome", the author, Don Bowers, shares his 1994 and 1995
   experience in running a team of sled dogs on the 1,100-mile run from
   Anchorage to Nome in the race that has been sometimes called the
   "Last Great Race on Earth." He was 48 years old, a bachelor,
   with no previous experience in dog mushing. However, he was a pilot
   who lived Alaska and had worked as a volunteer in previous races. He
   knew many people who had run the race before him and they all
   encouraged him to do it.

   Every March, since 1967, between 50 and 80
   dog sled teams set out on the trail, which can take up to three weeks
   to complete. Most are not competing for the front-runner prize.
   Merely finishing the race is a personal goal for many. The trek is
   difficult, requiring stamina, endurance and the ability to make quick
   decisions in constantly changing conditions.

   The temperature can
   vary from 40 degrees above to 65 degrees below zero and there are
   storms and flooding, drifting snow and heavy winds. In some places
   the trail plunges down 200 feet or more, twisting between trees and at
   the edges of steep drops. At other places, there are long empty
   stretches over slick icy rivers. The sled often spills, the dogs get
   tangled and sometimes they find themselves miles and miles off the
   regular trail.

   Mostly, they prefer to travel at night when the
   weather is cooler and the dogs are more comfortable. The musher wears
   a single beam headlight if the night is dark. Other times the moon
   and stars reflect off the snow. And, on rare occasions there is a
   spectacular display of flashes and colors in the northern sky.

   The
   mushers stop at about 20 checkpoints over the course of their
   travels. These are mandatory rest stops which often are no more than a
   tent or a cabin with a place to put a sleeping bag. A few of the
   checkpoints are towns with a place to purchase a meal. Mostly though,
   the musher must rely on the 50 or more large bags of supplies weighing
   2000 pounds or more which he or she personally packed and had shipped
   to these checkpoints. This includes huge amounts of food for the 16
   hungry dogs who must be tended to and rested at each of these
   stops.

   The Iditarod Trail was actually used as a mail route during
   the boom time of Alaska's gold rush. And the dog teams of that day
   did not have the advantages of modern technology. There were no
   helicopters charting their progress. Or airplanes to fly their food
   to various checkpoints. There was little if any shelter. And the
   conditions for the dogs were certainly not humane.

   I can't help
   thinking of Jack London's "The Call of the Wild" and
   "White Fang" which depicted the life of a sled dog at the
   turn of the century. In those days dogs were whipped, beaten with
   clubs, and often starved as the food they were given had to be hunted
   for as the mushers went along the trail. They lived and died in their
   harnesses and it was a constant fight for survival.

   Modern dogs are
   never beaten. The dogs are trained to respond to simple verbal
   commands and whips are never used. They are well fed and rested and
   checked by a vet at every checkpoint. If they are injured they are
   flown by helicopter to a place they can be cared for. A musher might
   start out with 16 dogs, but is allowed to finish with as little as 7
   if necessary.

   I enjoyed the book tremendously, even though Don
   Bowers is no Jack London. This is his first book and he is not a
   professional writer. He's good at descriptions of trail conditions
   and details of the race. He's also good at discussing his own
   personal challenges. I really did empathize with him when a virus
   killed some of his dog pups. And I held my breath during his most
   scary outdoor challengers. I also have a lot of admiration for his
   adaptability and sheer determination to finish, no matter what.

   By
   the end of the book I had really accepted his style of writing, which
   is probably like his personality, which tends to be introspective. And
   sometimes I felt he went on a little too long about some detail. I
   must say also that I yearned for deeper characterization of the people
   around him. There was a woman named Lisa and a man named Andy who
   were also "back-of-the-packers". They met at checkpoints
   and helped each other during the long trail. I wanted to know more
   about them and wish he would have included a few personal details and
   a little characterization.

   I did get to know his dogs though. Each
   one was a distinct and interesting personality. I'll never forget
   "Socks" one of the leaders, who was able to sense the trail
   without any markers. Or the time the team refused to move because the
   females were in heat. His love for his dogs really came through.

   I
   thank Mr. Bowers for writing the book and definitely recommend it. It
   took me to Alaska, put me right on the sled and made me feel I was
   part of it all. Quite a departure for a woman who lives in New York
   City. It was a great read and I loved being part of the adventure.




5. I love this book. I am in my 4th year of mushing. I love the sport. This book tells you what it is like to deal with these wonderful creatures that are a special breed. The author had a wonderful insight to share his thoughts, feelings, adventures,failures, and successes. Most of us dont tell of things that we did wrong. He not only tells you about what he did wrong, but what he learned from it. I am hoping to run the Iditarod sometime in the future with my daughter, and this is a book that I will for sure have her read before we set of to THE GREATEST RACE. I recommend this book for a veteran, or a beginner, or anyone that just has an interest in dogs. I have laughed outloud while reading this book and I have cried, and had every other emotion but anger. This book is the best I have read in a long time about this sport. Thank you DON.

5 comments about Jackie Robinson: A Biography.

1. After reading several excellent reviews of this book, I purchased it for
   my nepbew's birthday. I have not read the book myself since I lived through that period.



2. It was a year of Fire and also the year of Grace for Jackie Robinson!! It is an amazing book to read about a great person who changed history and loves baseball!! It is more than just baseball and it has so many things to show that shaped Jackie's life so much. It is also spiritual and emotional book that leaves you to become a stronger person to make a great difference in the world.



3. I really liked this book and normally I dont like reading. Ijust wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. I think Jackie Robinson is a vary good romodel because no matter what, you should never give up. Because Jackie never gave up he ended up being one of the best baseball players to ever play the game. But most of all he broke the color code for all professional sports.



4. This biography does an outstanding job of giving an overview of Robinson's life and times, from his early, awnry but talented years in Pasadena, through UCLA, then the military, and then the Brooklyn Dodgers and beyond. It paints a picture of a strong willed gentleman with enormous pride, dedicated to his family, and dedicated to the idea of racial integration and equality. The influences of his mother on his early, somewhat (understandably) confrontational character, that allowed him to ultimately be the individual who paired with Branch Rickey to integrate "America's Pastime" are clearly laid out.

   Some reviewers have faulted the author for not being more interpretive of Robinson's politics - specifically, that he was a Nixon supporter in 1960 and a Rockefeller supporter in 1968 (while also being a strong supporter of Civil Rights, active in almost every civil rights organization) and Humphrey supporter as well. I think the book lays out all the facts for the reader to see for themselves. Robinson's coming of age - in an era when a Dixiecrat from a Jim Crow state (LBJ) led the passage of the Civil Rights Act - was a time of a shifting political landscape that didn't settle out until near his death (he also broke badly with Nixon later in Nixon's career). The Republican party's mantra of self-reliance, and Robinson's determination to succeed in business in the same way he did in sports, made his attraction to the party not a big leap; the alienation of this country's African American establishment from big business was not a pre-ordained fact in the time Robinson lived.

   Finally, Robinson's own family struggles were also a reflection of the confusing and troubling times in which he lived.

   Robinson died too young for us all. This is a great book and I would highly recommend it..




5. i'm not particularly interested in baseball, but i am particularly interested in American history from the human perspective. i could have read a much more dry account of the turmoils that dominated American race relations throughout the middle of the 20th century, but instead i've read this fascinating account of those terrible, backward days from the perspective of a true pioneer, Mr. Jackie Robinson.

   of course he is looked back on now as a symbol, a mythological figure. i always knew peripherally of Jackie as the same thing most people do: the first black man to play major league baseball, a step forward & up in the painful struggle of the times. but this book presents him as a human being, a fallible man who lived most of his life not on the baseball field, but in a relentless pursuit of his ideals and desire for a better life for himself and everyone around him.

   the reviewer before me questions the biographer's lack of judgement of Robinson. i am curious as to why he feels Rampersad should insert his own analysis; the biography presents analyses of Robinson by many of Robinson's contemporaries, and then presents the recorded facts available to clarify incidents & statements. yes, this is an intensely personal biography, perhaps too personal in places. it is very much centered on Jackie's private correspondences. it is absolutely told from Robinson's persepctive, as best can be reconstructed from his widow Rachel & the papers he left behind, but it feels very honest, not at all like an airbrushed bit of hero-polishing. it is in places very blunt about Jackie's shortcomings as observed by his peers & contemporaries.

   before i stretch this out any longer, i'll just say that this is the most engrossing biography i can ever recall having read. it's an account of a fascinating life in an amazingly recent time, in an America that seems so long ago but is still discouragingly recent. readers will learn not just about Jackie Robinson, but about two American eras as well.

5 comments about The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography.

1. FABULOUS BOOK - ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE VINTAGE MOVIE INDUSTRY WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PUT DOWN.



2. I bought this on sale and was very pleasantly surprised. The stories are fascinating and there are even some profound insights about the mistakes people make. I highly recommend this book.



3. For more than a decade the splashy, aquatic escapist entertainment of MGM's Esther Williams' films delighted devoted fans, and kept MGM "afloat." This wonderfully gossipy autobiography proves that Williams was just as sassy, smart and independent off-screen as on. Her memoirs of romances with Jeff Chandler, Victor Mature and Fernando Lamas keep the pages turning and the night lights on! And, wait until she pulls back the loin-cloth of Johnny Weissmuller's to reveal a whole news aspect of filmdom's "Tarzan!"



4. I was looking for something to read while traveling, and remembered hearing some positive comments about this book. It was a really great to read about Hollywood back in it's golden age, with it's "larger than life" productions and actors.



5. I found this book fascinating from cover to cover. The glimpse into the world of MGM at its grandest is wonderful, and Esther herself is never dull. A page turner for movie fans. I agree with other reviews that Esther can come off badly in her "Do you know who I am?" attitude--it reads like she got really full of herself somewhere down the road. Plus, what kind of person stays married to a man who won't allow you to have a relationship with your own children? Sorry--there's no excuse. But this is a review of the book itself, not of the person, and it's a good read.

5 comments about Bode: Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun.

1. This fantastic book is suitable for any audience above the age of eleven and for anyone who is a skier. Bode wraps you up in an interesting childhood that all started with home schooling. He also adds his amazing performance as a skier at only five he could out race 5 ski patrol on the slopes of his home mountain Canyon, New Hampshire. He lets you know that he doesn't only race for the pride he also but loves the fun of it. His story sinks your thought deep into the book so you feel like you are there. You feel the panic, sorrow, thrill, and pain of all his emotions. If you want to see what it's like on the slopes for a professional skier read the enchanting story of Bode Miller and autobiography.



2. I defiantly recommend this book to young skiers and people that enjoy a good laugh. This book is filled with funny stories and basically the story of Bode Miller. This book was awesome I couldn't put it down. I connected with bode on some of the things that he wrote. I love skiing and I have the dream of being a professional skier when I grow up just like Bode Miller. I the book Bode I learned that doing something that you love makes you happy especially if it is fun. I also learned that while skiing, falling is part of the process so don't be in intimidated!



3. 2005 overall world cup champion Bode Miller was raised in New Hampshire in a rural cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing, so his roots are as unconventional as his rise to become a top sports star. GO FAST, BE GOOD, HAVE FUN is an autobiography which recounts his philosophy in life as much as his sports experience: he tells of the world of competitive skiing and how he bucked conventional wisdom to rise to the top, and his personal theories shine brightly throughout. GO FAST, BE GOOD, HAVE FUN is packed with first-person 'you are there' adventure and insights: paired with Miller's personal formula for success, it's as much a winner as he is.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. I've just finished reading Bode's book after reading the Herminator's auto biography and what struck me is the difference each of them views their life, surroundings, and the meaning of it all. Whereas both exude confidence and a common vitriol to the hounding press and media, Bode comes across as introspective, self admittedly shy, compared to the all confident, all conquering Maier.
   
   Both are obviously very special athletes - Maier crushing the race courses and his opponents on the World Cup circuit, but Bode perhaps his own demons in his quest to find meaning in life. It was rather surprising to learn that winning at all costs is not central to Bode's life.
   
   For ski racers, both are a good read. A bit plodding at times to maintain a high level of interest, but a good view of what makes each of them tick and keep at the great white circus.



5. This is a really interesting quick read. Bode is a fascinating character. The first 53 pages of the book mention little about ski racing and focus instead on Bode's family background and outdoors lifestyle. He comes from a clan of rugged outdoors maverick. The press has described his lifestyle as austere, growing up in a cabin in the woods with no electricity or running hot water. In the book, Bode describes his childhood in enchanting ways. He had a freedom to explore nature, and experience the elements. He loved every minute. Every moment was an opportunity to be challenged and have fun. He never had time to be bored or watch TV. So, it did not matter that he did not have one.
   
   Bode is just an all around world-class athlete. In high school he was the tennis state champion. He also was an excellent varsity soccer player. Later in 2002, he won the CBS Superstars competition beating out a bunch of NFL and NBA pros at various "Survivor-like" events. His ski coaches encouraged him to pursue snowboarding racing instead of ski racing. He placed 2nd in a national snowboarding race. But, his heart was set on skiing. However, his snowboarding adventure would change skiing forever.
   
   Bode was a pioneer in racing on shaped skis. He liked the side cut of snowboards better than the straight alpine skis. He pressured a K2 ski rep relentlessly for K2 to develop the first shaped racing ski. Bode succeeded in getting K2 to manufacture such customized parabolic skis for him. And, the rest is history. Bode and his shaped skis took the world by storm. Because of Bode everybody quickly shifted to shaped skis, as they carved better and faster turns. According to Ingemar Stenmark, the living legend of alpine skiing shaped skis revolutionized racing technique much more than anything else.
   
   Since his early high school days, Bode developed an all out technique that results in many falls, but also many wins. This originally drove his coaches crazy. But, now coaches support this low percentage but high success rate approach.
   
   In the opening of the 2004-05 FIS World Cup, Bode had the best start in the history of alpine racing. He won 6 of the first 10 races. He won in all four disciplines in the same season in just 16 days. Only two other skiers had duplicated this feat, and it took them nearly an entire season to do it. He describes this apex of his career near the end of the book. The book's timing is perfect as it ends on this high note.
   
   Ever since, his career has gone downhill (no pun intended). He still managed to win the 2004-05 FIS World Cup. But, that was because of his 16-day miracle. He skied poorly the rest of the season. The 2005-06 season, including the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics were disappointing. At the Olympics, he looked out of shape compared to the Austrians.
   
   Increasingly weird statements have come out of his mouth. Within the book, he indicated that he might start a pro tour with sponsored teams such as in bike racing that would compete on the FIS World Cup. That was a strange leap. He also indicated that (maybe because of his pro tour concept) he might not participate in the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics. He ultimately did; but performed poorly. Later he accused Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds to take steroids. With hindsight, nobody will blame him for mentioning Bonds. But mentioning Armstrong caused a huge devaluation in his advertising potential.
   
   Bode's ultimate fall from grace does not detract from this very original biography. The book is enjoyable whether you are into skiing or not. Heck, as Bode indicates throughout the book he is more into having fun than skiing (if the two shall meet so be it). That's at the essence of his phlegmatic charisma, his successes, and his downfall. If you enjoy this biography and also like tennis, I strongly recommend John McEnroe's "You Can't Be Serious," Boris Becker's "The Player," and Ilie Nastase's "Mr. Nastase." They are all multifaceted characters.

5 comments about I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action.

1. I Am Jackie Chan My Life in Action 1998 5/5
   Written by :Jackie Chan & Jeff Yang
   
   Easily one of the best books I have ever read. This books contains 398 pages of pure joy. Seriously I read this book In one sitting . I was already a fan of Jackie Chan now I have so much respect for him. The copy I own includes a extra chapter, I would say it's worth buying again to read that extra chapter. Jackie Chan had a very interesting upbringing filled with beating and let downs. I mean he was abandoned by his parents who essentially sold him to the Peking Opera. Where they had the power to punish him up till death.
   
   In here Jackie talks about the makings his earlier films. I really enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy his movies. Jeff Yang has said in interviews that there is works to release a second volume. Lets hope for that!



2. my wife's english is not good. but she found that it is very easy to understand this book as Jackie's movie. She has fun with it and use it to prove her english.



3. A fascinating insight into the mind and career of the world's biggest movie star. With exhaustive (and exhausting!) descriptions of Jackie's brutal Peking opera training and early days as a stuntman and actor, almost everything you want to know about Jackie is here.
   
   Not that there aren't omissions - his illegitimate son Jaycee, now trying to make a name for himself as an actor, is never mentioned. Jackie is also quick to take credit (he claims 'Half a Loaf of Kung Fu' and 'Snake in the Eagle's Shadow' were the first kung fu comedies, which they weren't) and slow to give it out (he describes his opera brothers' film 'The Prodigal Son,' arguably the best kung fu movie ever made, as "solid"). But Jackie's charisma and determination shine through on every page, and you can't help but admire the guy. A must read for Jackie fans and aficionados of Hong Kong cinema.



4. Dood tottally I'm not kidding, Jackie Chan is like a god amongst men, a god who makes flawed movies in his old age (flawed is polite considering the horrible movies he's currently putting out). Man Jackie Chan is so great it makes my balls sweat whenever I think about it, in this book he talks about how he and his crew broke into an amusement park to steal... not money but bread crumbs!!! Becuase Master wanted his students to work hard, this is not a book for weaklings, they will fret and feel weak as they learn of the heroic and disciplined exploits of my man JACKIE FING CHAN! Man in this book he talks about how some dudes wanted to fight, but he didn't cuase Master taught him only to fight for show and not fight for violence. Man the world would be a better place if we all had to read this book. Mandatory reading for High Schools this should be.



5. Jackie Chan has had a very eventful life. When he was a child he lived in on an ambassadors mansion in Hong Kong. Soon he was sent to a Cantonese Opera school, which was a boarding school where he was trained, day and night for over 10 years of his young life, in the ways of Chinese Opera. Chinese Opera is not the same Opera you and I may think of it as, but instead is a very acrobatic physically demanding show. He then went into the stuntman business, which was a very difficult road for him. For many years he struggled with finding work but he soon became a much wanted stuntman. Eventually he went into small acting parts, which led to bigger acting parts. Soon enough he was a huge success in Hong Kong, and eventually got married to a famous Chinese actress. Jackie still travels a lot and his wife is a stay at home wife who raises his son.
   I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading. It is full of constant action and keeps your attention. I Am Jackie Chan is an easy read and fast paced I was unable to put it down, except of course when class was over.

1 comments about Sir Bobby Charlton: The Autobiography: My Manchester United Years.

1. for any football fan, but especially fans of the english game and united, this book is a must read. charlton is gripping in his prose, and the thoughtful, well-versed ambassador of united does not disappoint through the book.
   
   i bought it as a united fan wanting to know more about the clubs greatest ever player. i would reccomend it to anyone who wants to know about the life of a footballer in that time period.
   
   Gripping prose, an excellent story, and an easy flow make this an easy read. Buy the book. Read it. And then sit in anticipation of Charlton's next autobiography My England Years.
   
   I for one, can't wait.

5 comments about My Life.

1. For those seeking the limelight, a must read. Be prepared for all the pitfalls that come along with the ride to fame. Inspirational autobiography of dedication and determination. May our young people keep the thought before them, that nothing comes without full commitment. Mr. Johnson has seen the highs and lows of life. There is strength in the testimony of others.



2. A good book as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far into truth. Although Johnson recalls his early years,the lessons he learned about hard work,etc. this book reads like a fluff job. It would have been a lot better if he told the full truth. Anyone who has some experience with life knows that there is another side to the story. Intrestingly, this side is seldom heard. Pro athletes and other celebrities are usually portrayed in a glowing light that hide dark truths. Johnson claims that in the cities he played in there were usually many beautiful women who waited for the athletes. In the book it is implied that this is one of the perks of being a pro. Really? You hear of other athletes who take advantage of this and are slapped with paternity suits, the women are given hush money, the athletes pay for their education and then are dropped by the groupies,or the groupies are set up for life by the athletes. With all the thousands of women Johnson supposedly slept with you hear nothing about this, and outside of AIDS he didn't get any other sexually transmitted disease sleeping with all these women? I find that incredible, since anyone else would be seeing the doctor pretty often. Most of the groupies are beautiful because its easier to trap the athletes money with. Does anyone really believe that athletes will sleep with ugly women? These groupies aren't stupid. The hard truth is that people are selfish. They don't sleep with athletes or other celebrities because of their status, but what it will get for them ie, bragging rights, paternity suits, etc. Most athletes are notoriously tight-lipped about this. But sometimes the truth comes out. One nameless athlete said "If the public knew what's going on with groupies, the payoffs etc. sports would lose a lot of money." Its all about the money. This is why opposing evidence is suppressed and why you seldom hear about the dark side. Does anyone seriously believe that vested intrests who profit from the athletes image, who make money selling sports merchandise and everthing connected with it want the truth out? Yeah, right. This book is little more than propaganda. If Johnson were serious about helping people out, he would tell the full truth. Save your money.



3. Earvin Johnson a.k.a Magic is a regular guy who is a nba legend who has aid, that' s what we all know, but at the reading of this book i found out, Earvin the man , how he felt when he found out he has aid , how much he got respect for other NBA players like Michael Jordan or Larry bird, it's a very interesting book,..., just buy it and enjoy it!



4. This book is awesome! I have been a fan of Magic Johnson forever and I still love him today. This book tells you all, from when he was a child and how life was growing up in the ghetto and his life now with his wife and son. It is very inspirational for any age. If you are an athlete this is a must read. Magic brings out his humorous side and his emotional side in this book. WELL DONE!



5. Magic shares about his life, basketball and battle w/HIV. He shares candidly and provides insights into his character, work ethic and upbringing. It's a book that's written w/a lot of enthusiasm and passion, words that would also describe Magic. I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Bobby the Brain: Wrestling's Bad Boy Tells All.

1. If you were a wrestling fan during the 70s and 80s, Bobby "The Brain" was a character you loved to hate because he was the smug jerk that helped his villains beat your favorite wrestlers.
   Reading the book, you'll find that, as in most cases, the bad guy was actually one of the nicer guys. Bobby has a great sense of humor and the majority of the tales he tells are hilarious and will leave you laughing, especially if you know the wrestlers he is talking about. The stories about Andre The Giant are interesting and eye opening when you find out who the man really was and how he felt about people.
   The book skips back and forth among timelines but with some of the names you can figure out about what time span he is talking about. Most of the tales are about his A-W-A days but he also discusses W-C-W and what a cluster mess that was thanks to people who didn't know what they were doing.
   The book is worth the purchase whether or not you were a big Bobby Heenan fan and due to only 190 or so pages is a quick read. I would have loved to have had more stories and hopefully he will do other books of nothing but behind the scene stories...



2. Bobby Heenan... here's a man that didn't finish 8th grade yet became one of the biggest names and most hated men in wrestling history. Bobby fills us in with a plethora of anecdotes about his career and has no qualms about telling you who he didn't like (Valiant Brothers, Haystacks Calhoun, Tony Schiavone to name a few). This is a very loose writing style which covers loads of stories throughout his career, often jumping back and forth in time. Stories are brief and straight to the punch, usually just a paragraph or two. Time periods are based off your wrestling knowledge as Heenan does not identify the year something happened; but if your reading this book, you're probably a fan and know it just by those involved in the story.
   
   There are some great stories involving Andre the Giant, Baron von Raschke, and even his real life appreciation of Hogan. He also really gets into his dislike of how WCW was run and all the positive career chances he received when dealing with WWF. My favorite chapter may have been the run-down of the Bobby Heenan Family which quickly covered most of the men he 'managed'. Overall, quick and fun read, wish it were longer.



3. Few people in the history of professional wrestling were as disliked as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. He was smarmy, arrogant and flat out obnoxious. Mostly due to the fact he always gave off an air of being superior to those around him, especially the fans. What I'm saying is meant as a compliment because it was obvious to me that was the full intent behind his character. Bobby was supposed to be all those things and he managed to pull it off as well as anyone I've ever seen. Even as a little kid I knew the guy was something else.
   
   If you are a fan of Pro Wrestling there's no doubt you will really enjoy this book. Fans of all ages will learn a whole lot about the biz. From the squared circle to the behind the scenes action it's all here. Bobby was in the industry for a very very long time and so he knows what he's talking about. The man let's it fly and pulls no punches. It's an enjoyable read. There's even a great foreword by the legendary Hulk Hogan. I would recommend this book to any and all fans of wrestling. You do not have to specifically be a Bobby fan to enjoy this book.



4. THIS IS ABOUT BOBBY HEENAN LEGENDARY WRESTLER AND MANAGER. BOBBY TAKES US A BIT INTO HIS LIFE BUT MOSTLY HIS EXPERIENCES IN THE WEIRD WORLD OF PRO WRESTLING. BOBBY TELLS US SOME SCARY AND HILARIOUS STORIES COVERING ANDRE THE GIANT, NICK BOCKWINKEL, VERNE GAGNE, VINCES MCMAHON AND RUSSO, AND MANY MORE. BOBBY HAS A QUICK WIT AND IN MANY CASES IS JUST PLAIN HILARIOUS. HIS BOOK IS EASY TO READ AND THE HUMOR HELPS TO EASE THE MIND. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BRAIN. VERY RECOMMENDED.



5. This book is worth buying for the Andre the Giant stories alone.

   One scene describing Andre during his afro years describes Bobby accidentally walking in whilst the big one was enjoying a local groupie in Japan. He description of the scene as appering to walk in on "a lion raping a rabbit" is perhaps the greatest line in literature since Shakespeare.