5 comments about Voelker's Pond: A Robert Traver Legacy (Michigan).

1. This book injects new life into the nationally-acclaimed stories of Voelker (aka Robert Traver) as told in "Trout Magic," "Anatomy of a Fisherman" and various periodicals.
   
   John Voelker camped & fished in the rugged basin of the East Branch of the Escanaba River, just upstream from my grandmother's house in Gwinn, Michigan.
   
   My own first big trout fishing experience was on Green Creek, up M-35 from Gwinn and in the same "neck of the woods." One of the nicest brookies I ever caught came from Warner Creek, just south of Palmer on the edge of the Empire Mine and yet closer to the mystical "Voelker's Pond."
   
   Makes you wanna grab your pole & seek out a few speckies for yourself, hey?



2. The writing and the photographs in this book are excellent. I have always wanted to visit "Frenchman's Pond" and now I feel like I have been there. The vivid photographs capture so many little details of John Voelker's life at the pond that a visitor would never see. The outstanding essays give insight into how much he loved this place. Out of respect for John Voelker and his family, I no longer feel the need to trample the bushes and snap a few tourist photos. My appetite is satisfied and I will leave Voelker's pond well enough alone. Instead I am left with a deep appreciation of John Voelker's favorite place and a desire to find one of my own.



3. Trout fishing is not for the impatient. Whether you come to trout fishing, especially fly-fishing, with the requisite patience, or it teaches it to you, I'm not certain. But I am certain that the legendary fly-fishermen have it. I am also certain that patience doesn't guarantee success. Or else I would do better.

   John Voelker must have been a patient man. He knew what it took to catch a brook trout with a fly and he was good at it. He also knew how to write about it, which he did with great skill and precision, as if casting a fly to a wary trout. In fact, he was famous for his writing, at least in fly-fishing circles, where he has achieved the status of a legend.

   Voelker is probably better known to the general population by his pen name, Robert Traver, under which he wrote the 1950s best seller, Anatomy of A Murder, which in turn was made into an award-winning movie of the same name. (But for a little movie called Ben Hur in 1959, Anatomy of A Murder might have been one of the biggest Academy Award-winning movies of all time.)
   He also was well known in Michigan as a Supreme Court Justice, but he gave it all up in his prime to fish and to write. "To paraphrase a deceased patriot," he said, "I regret that I have but one life to give to my fly-fishing."

   Voelker, a simple man with a quick wit and a love for nature and a good drink, would have turned 100 at the end of June. He died in 1991. A new book by photographer Ed Wargin and writer James McCullough, both near-Petoskey, Michigan, residents, celebrates his life by exploring his secret fishing hole somewhere in the middle of michigan's Upper Peninsula.

   Wargin's photos are crisp and clean, simple and celebrative at the same time. They seem to catch Voelker's demeanor as they show his favorite places and things, his secret pond, his fly rods, flies, and reels, his small, rustic cabin. A display of Wargin's photos at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette in June was impressive, but had nothing on the book, which seems better with each reading.

   Part of the book's charm is the writing of McCullough, who now teaches English and education at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey. As a 15-year-old, McCullough had the chance to meet and fish with Voelker at his secret camp, and he uses that event, and his own fly-fishing experience, to infuse his narrative with an understanding of Voelker's take on life and living. This is fine reading and will make any non-fishing day a better one.

   Voelker probably wouldn't have been too keen about all the hoopla surrounding his birthday. I suspect he rather would have been fishing. But he would have been patient. And he would have liked this book. And anyone who has found peace on a stream will like it, too.




4. While focusing on the legacy of Robert Traver, a famous Michigan statesman, novelist, and fisherman, this book manages to also capture the soul and unique philosophies of fly fishermen everywhere. Wonderfully photographed throughout the book, James McCullough, through his series of essays, recounts his memories as a young man meeting the famous Traver on Voelker's Pond and his experiences years later returning to the pond after Traver passed on. Simply a peaceful and entertaining book to read through, with glimpses of the secret solitude of the fly fisherman's world with lessons of life that extend beyond the rod and pond.



5. This book is an amazing delight for those who love fly fishing, as well as those who simply love Michigan, great photography, and beautiful hidden places of nature. I learned things I didn't know about John Voelker, who wrote under the pen name Robert Traver, and through the stunning images, I felt as if I were right there at his beloved pond, fishing with him, something many of us flyfisherman have dreamt about for years. This books gives that dream new meaning. Thank you Mr. Wargin and Mr. McCullough, for capturing this place so beautifully!!!!!!

5 comments about Staying The Course: A Runner's Toughest Race.

1. Yessiree, I give it 5 stars as a running book. I was finding I was docking some books and CDs; because I approached it like, is it perfect enough to get the highest rating like a Shakespeare play or a symphony?
   
   I go with the genre it belongs too; and too, I'd say those who have had substance abuse/alcohol problems would find it inspiring too; cause Dick became addicted to pain killers; and did some things; that were indeed wrong.
   
   It's a good book for athletes, cause Dick's body did start to break down some; even away from his being prone to some bad accidents. It makes me ponder, we hear about so many athletes who later end up being not in the best shape because of their sports career, say like Larry Bird. It makes you think, it's great to run that great Boston Marathon in '82; but is it worth it in the long run.
   
   I agree, the book may have minor blemishes, might be choppy in parts in the latter half of the book, but it shouldn't keep anyone from reading it, indeed, some of this could have been expanded on.
   
   It's a good book, kind of for your couples too; I mean, I admire his wife, Maureen, for staying with Dick; for her care, love and also standing up to him some.
   
   I definitely, would like to read "Duel in the Sun" to continue reading on Mr. Beardsley, really, along with his rival at the Boston Marathon, Alberto Salazar and along with "Pre" Prefontaine himself; there certainly is more to read on these famous track runners from America.
   
   As Dean Karnazes' book UltraMarathon Man is getting to be compulsory reading for Greeks (but not only them of course), I think Minnesotans and those from the surrounding areas should read this one, especially if they are interested in the sport.
   
   Beardsley reminds me a bit of the great American cyclist from the turn of the century (meaning near 1900) Major Taylor, in that his glory descended into lows.
   
   After going through this book, I am still contemplating parts of it and how we and history will see Dick, but I definitely would wish him and his family the best. Some parts of it, really are astonishing; and it is astonishing as a whole. He certainly has given a lot to the Marathon.



2. I have heard Dick Beardsley speak and he is awesome. I purchased his book to give for gifts at Christmas time. He has persevered through the toughest of obstacles and is still standing with his wife by his side!



3. My husband is a marathon runner & enjoys reading. We have met Dick Bearsley when we ran the Detroit Lakes Half marathon. My husband really enjoyed this book. He learned alot about Dick Beardsley & his marathons.



4. Very well written book! It shows the high and low of Dick Beardsley's running career and life. It is a very quick read, with no slow sections. It might be the best book about running that I have read.



5. This book is about the life of a runner named Dick Beardsley. It talks about his life goals in running and how he got into a bad habbit of using pain killers. The book takes place in the mainland, and not in a certain place because he traveled a lot to race. See i am a runner so i like the book because it gave me the motivation to go on when the going gets tough. If i compare this book to other book i would say it is not the best running book i have read but, it is better than the other types of books i have read. I think if you are a runner you will really like the book cause it teaches you to be tough in a race and some pointers on how to run marathons. If you do not run i dont think you will have a strong liking with this book. It can get kind of boring a some parts, but the parts that tell about his races really made me want to read on, so if you are a runner i think this book is better for you than if you are not a runner. So be a runner!

5 comments about Chasing the Dream: My Lifelong Journey to the World Series.

1. Unlike most of you reviewing I grew up as a southern girl and fell in love with the New York Yankees in the late fifties.
   
   I too think Torre has been one of their best managers although there have been others. The book was too much about Torre himself and not enough about my team.
   
   A little too much ego involved but would have to have it to be a Yankee manager or probably even a player.
   
   I have, over the years, read much about my team, and would not rate this as one of the best nor the worst. Just hope we win this year.



2. Great guy, great story. Read this book and see how it came about that Joe Torre is one of the classiest things that has happened to Major League Baseball-



3. This is a good book about an exemplary player, manager and overall good person from the game of baseball. The book puts forth his philosophy of working hard to achieve your goals. I was impressed even more than I already was with Joe Torre after reading this. How he got to manage the Yankees and to successfully perform with quiet restraint and insightful reason once he made it that prestigious position makes for very fine and captivating reading.



4. As an avid Yankee fan, I was looking forward to reading this book, and I was not disappointed. With the help of Tom Verducci, the book was put together very well and kept me interested the entire time.
   
   Many people see Joe Torre as only a great manager, however, he was a very good ball player as well. As you read the book and learn about his experiences while growing up in the Major Leagues you learn why he does certain things as a manager, which I found to be possibly the most interesting part of the book. It was great the way he explained how he dealt with certain situations, based on his past experiences. It was interesting to see exactly how he thinks during a game and how he bounces ideas off the great Don Zimmer. The 96 Yanks were a special team, and he definitely helped them win with this managerial techniques and philosophies. This would only be the first championship for what would soon be a dynasty.
   
   The book covers his entire life, from childhood to the time he wrote the book. You see exactly how certain aspects of his childhood stayed with him and influenced his personal life for years. Torre is a great man, with a very interesting past, and this book will teach you a lot about the game and the way things are behind the scenes of the game. You will also notice how baseball goes through changes during his time in the game. If your a Yankee fan, this is a must read. If you aren't, you will still find it to be enjoyable if you are a fan of baseball.



5. While I am a Yankee hater I admire Joe Torre.
   I enjoyed the book and learned a lot more about a great person and manager

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

1. Hurricane Bertha is kicking up swell in the middle of the Atlantic. It's already dark and I've just come back from watching about 40 surfers catch waves down at Sebastian inlet. I watched them all finish up their set and catch a final wave while they could still see the bodies of other surfers bobbing in front of them. As I walked back to the parking area along the top of the jetty I looked back into the surf and could barely make out one last guy in the water waiting for his last wave. Since there was only one guy left I fancied that it was Kelly Slater, trying to catch one more before going in. I would like to meet Kelly Slater, the man, the champion, the surfing legend. I just finished reading Pipe Dreams--a Surfer's Journey, a little late since it was published in 2003. Co-written by Slater and Jason Borte a surfer/writer/teacher from Virginia Beach, VA, it's a nice book, with quaint stories about Kelly's journey from grommet to manhood to world champion -- 6 times (the book stopped before his world title career continued). Unfortunately it does not read like the life of a world champion -- it is not a world class biography. It reads more like like it was written for his fan club -- with short anecdotal accounts of his formative years followed by even shorter accounts of the many repetitive competitions required to capture six world tour victories. Since Slater is in the upper stratosphere when it comes to his craft -- where only world class talent belongs -- his book should also have world class appeal -- sadly it does not. I lay the blame at the feet of his co-author and perhaps his editor. I don't know much about surfing, and I probably know even less about surfing after reading Pipe Dreams. This is a shame. Slater hints of a second book where he details some secrets to surfing. This would probably be a better story. That's not to say Slater's story shouldn't have world class appeal -- it has too -- the story just isn't told in this book. Kelly Slater is now an eight-time world champion -- that puts him in extremely rare company, dare I say Lance Armstrong. What you can barely glean from the narrative is that Kelly Slater is a deep introspective person -- hugely complex and sophisticated in his thoughts -- this is readily apparent in his life story yet you do not get this directly from the pages, you must read between the lines and theorize that there is way more to what we are being told -- I hope there is, otherwise Slater has lived a very shallow life. Perhaps a surfer's journey is shallow -- but I doubt it. This book is a must read for all surfers, young and old and at heart, so they can say they've read Slater's book, but it is no better than the the worst written TV shows or movies about surfers it criticizes. When a world class athlete decides to write a book, they have to go with world class help -- please Kelly -- for the sake of your fan's and for the sake of your profession, get some help with the next one. I'll be waiting for that wave. This one gets three stars because I finished it without too much trouble and the awesome cover jacket (which ironically is world class).



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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 comments about King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story.

1. The book is like the man in the ring, good but not flashy. It is a short 178 pages but Race tells a fair number of stories throughout and gives a feel for his stellar wrestling career as well as a glimpse into his personal life.
   
   I think books like these are better than some other wrestling books where the authors write a little too much and lose the readers interest.
   
   Harley Race has done a good book and it is well worth reading.



2. I just finished reading Harley's book and I found that it was a must read for me since I'm not very far from where he lives. I reside in Topeka, Kansas and have been to his WLW productions on numerous occasions. I've gotten a few autographs from him and had my picture taken with him in the ring, so I felt it was about time I learned more about him than just watching some old footage.
   
   The book is pretty cut and dry, and doesn't add a whole lot of humor or opinion. It seems to be just a recollection of past events that for some might have been researched. I often wonder as all of the citing the book does for sources if Harley himself actually recalled most of these events. The book is really almost at times like reading the back of a baseball card looking at stats. It reads well enough, and although it isn't exactly a page turner it stays clear of writing anything outlandish or otherwise B.S. stories that books like Hulk Hogan's is known for. I gave it a four on the scale because although it is sometimes dry, it gives you a good education at what wrestling once was before it was considered entertainment. The book is a little shorter than I'd like as it leaves many of his personal life details hidden and mysterious. Out of all the wrestling biographies, I'd recommend it to better understand wrestling's past and how it varies from today's "sports entertainment". I'd put this book behind Mick Foley's biographies, Dynamite Kid's: Pure Dynamite, Ric Flairs biography, and William Regals, but it still should remain in your wrestling collection. I appreciated what I took from it. I recommend.



3. I found this book to be a very worth while read. It flows well,and Harley is a good story teller. For anyone who remebers the 70's and early 80's,the glory years,will really enjoy this book.Not only is Harley the king of the ring he also comes off as a gentleman. God bless Harley Race.



4. We have seen Harley Race in person, so it was nice to read his story. This wonderful book tells of his life as he made his way to the top of Pro wrestling. Great book!



5. Description: An enthralling look into the world of oldschool wrestling by a man who doesn't get any more oldschool. Read about Harley Race's journey from working from the very bottom to the very top of the wrestling world, pulling no punches along the way. There is no point of view more unique than Harley Race's.
   
   Rating: I give this a high 9 out of 10 stars. Extremely well written, insightful, entertaining, funny and touching all at once. This book is a complete tribute to the life and career of Wrestling true "King of the Ring". I don't see how any fan of the Kayfabe wrestling era can call themselves a fan without reading this book. New fans could stand to read this as a lesson in what wrestling is all about.

5 comments about Riding with the Blue Moth.

1. This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read--in part b/c it was not written to be that. Bill Hancock's message is so simple...appreciate life. Appreciate the good times because they are good. Appreciate the bad times, because they alone can help you realize the good, and both are part of who you are. He should be commended for his tenacity to stay the course, both his journey in life and cross country biking!! I wish I could thank him in person for sharing his story.



2. I originally bought this book for friends who lost their 16 year old son in an accident. This last year I bought it for myself and read it. If you have recently suffered the loss of a loved one it is very difficult to get through the first chapter where the author details the loss of his son and the immediate reactions of the family and friends. After the first chapter the book moves into the difficult ups and downs of getting on with every day life with while being gripped by overwhelming grief. There are so many places in this book where the author is able to put incredible perspective on what most people would consider ordinary events. Whether you've suffered the loss of a loved one or not, you will read this book and look at people and things differently than you did before. I hope that I am a better friend to people who suffered a loss because of the understanding this book gives the reader. I found myself disappointed as I was nearing the end, because the book was so well written that I wanted to keep on going with Bill Hancock beyond his cross country bike ride. I "googled" the author and contacted him by e-mail to tell him why I had bought 2 copies of the book and how much it meant to me after reading it. He responded the next day with a very thoughtful e-mail. I highly recommend reading Riding With the Blue Moth by Bill Hancock.



3. Ooops; that is the title of another book out there; but it's still true and I think this is a fairly good book to accompany the book by Lance Armstrong which details Lance's fight with cancer. Both of these fellows having to deal with tragic situations.
   
   The author goes through my home town; so I was fairly bent on not giving him 5 stars just because he did that in his journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic; but I am a cyclist; and I came to think after reading it, this is rather darn good; although, just like some characters that Bill describes, I've gone through some hardship, to the point that it was not easy to concentrate and read this; but I did.
   
   March Madness; the NCAA tournament also, is underway as I write this for the year 2007; you know, it is in a tiny bit of a way a basketball book, seeing how Hancock is involved and connected with the NCAA; and it's things like that, that make this a good book to read. Now, I say this, because I believe the basketball fan could well find this entertaining too; but of course, not a basketball book like say, for example; the book "Pistol" that is currently in the stores.
   
   But I'll keep this short and to the point; I like Dean Karnazes book, The UltraMarathon Man; but I read that and think, I wish Dean gave out more info on his running, diet, etc.
   
   Bill Hancock for some reason, gives a lot of detail, the basic facts of his road trip on a daily basis; I mean saying part of his diet was on any given day, "17 Fritos or 12 Cheezits, 2 gallons of water and a gallon of gatorade" is detail I've never seen anyone relate about before; some of the chapters even has a bit of a question and answer session via email where Bill is asked questions and he gives back answers about his trip. So, it definitely has a real diary quality about it and it is the attention to detail that makes me give it the high ranking; cycling detail but of course the book is much more.
   
   A solid enough book, I like his descriptions of many geographic locales; such as Yarnell hill; I had to look up that mountain on the internet I was so curious; or the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma.
   
   Glad to see the positive reviews for this book; but most of them are rather short to gather people's impressions. I decided to make mine a bit longer. A fine contribution to cycling literature.



4. I felt like I was along for the ride with Bill Hancock in "Riding With the Blue Moth", experiencing the emotional highs and lows, chuckling at the amusing experiences he had along the way, and shedding more than a few tears. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a parent more than the prospect of losing a child. The Hancocks experienced every parent's nightmare and the healing of the cross-country bicycle ride was great both for the reader and, I suspect, for the author as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to anyone who has lost an offspring or is close to someone who has.



5. I've been reading this book at night for a week now. I shed tears nearly every night, and find myself at the bedside of one or both of my kids thanking God for the privilege I have of being their Dad. This book has almost become a devotional for me. The depth of the writing is stunning.... My prayers are with you Bill and Nicki. Thank you for letting us glimpse enough of your pain so that we can better treasure all that it means to Live.

5 comments about Night Tides: The Striper Fishing Legend of Billy the Greek.

1. This book kept me up for several nights straight. It is not a long book by any means and the average reader can go cover-to-cover in a few hours. However, one WILL find one or two things they missed upon every subsequent reading of the book.
   
   This book is not written by a "Hard-Core" fisherman. Rather, it is the story of a "Hard-Core" fisherman. Mr. Cinquemani, a former NYC English teacher employs his grasp of the English language and writes in a way that is not only understandable, but entertaining to his readers. While the book is about fishing, it is not a "How-to" book and Mr. Cinquemani's choice to not focus on the technical aspect of fishing (i.e. equipment, knots, strategy), combined with his writing skills, does not leave one feeling empty upon the first completion of the book, or all subsequent completions for that matter.
   
   Night Tides is about Billy "The Greek" Legakis, a legend in the striped bass fishing world. It is the story of this man's ongoing pursuit for the "Largest" striped bass. Stories of this man's introduction to this fish, his obsession with this fish, and his unparalleled pursuit of this fish grace the pages of this book. Several pictures are also included in the book, adding to the whole experience.
   
   Having read the book several times, I am not only astonished by the sometimes unbelievable accomplishments of this particular fisherman, but grateful that the paths of these two gentlemen crossed when it did. While the stories of "The Greek" are truly amazing, without Mr. Cinquemani's abilities, these stories may very well have been untold. My utmost gratitude to Mr. Cinquemani and Mr. Legakis for choosing to share their stories with the rest of the world.



2. The book is a very easy read. BTG is a unique man with a true obsession with the straiped bass and the sea. A great book if you are not a fisherman and an even better one if you are. I let a buddy borrow it and he is not a fisherman. He is three quarters finished on the second day of his read. Go for it!



3. A quick read for anyone who enjoys catching a few "Strippahs" from their local haunts. Billy has certainly mastered the art of catching the big ones, but it also comes at a price - Fishing is 1st - everything else, I mean everything else comes after. Catching 2,500 fish with a rod during a slow season was mind boggling to me, I had to do the math twice and was sure there was an extra zero in the numbers, but low and behold this guy is a true master of the species.
   
   It was an inspiration to read and even got me up in the middle of the nite to go for the cows under a full moon and a high tide - I got skunked and humbled.
   
   A great gift with some terrific photos.



4. If you are a striped bass fisherman, this book will not let you down. I read it in 2 days. Eccentrics like Billy make life interesting. On a sad note, I can't imagine what it must have been like to fish back in the 60's and 70's before we wiped out the majority of these monster bass.



5. Michael Cinquemani's bio of striper fishing legend Billy "The Greek" Legakis is an engrossing story. Whether they are committed fisherman or not, readers are bound to recognize in BTG the rare combination of wits, will, and sheer tenacity that marks any person at the top of his or her field. Any die hard fishing fanatic will plow through Night Tides in a single sitting. Casual observers of the sport will love it too. Cinquemani's writing mixes humor and awe to create a realistic portrait of a unique character. The fishing community is lucky to have such a literate, and readable, storyteller!

5 comments about Mi Vida Loca: The Crazy Life of Johnny Tapia.

1. Mi Vida Loca is a very chilling read. Johnny Tapia has gone through more highs and lows than most people go through in five lifetimes. It certainly is a tale of perseverance as the odds were against him from the start. He never met his father, watched as his mother was taken to her death when he was 8, and grew up poor in a house of close to 20 relatives where any resistance was met with a beating. Hard way to grow up. Many of his mistakes later on were indeed his own, especially his drug dependencies. After reading this, you wonder how he was able to keep it together in the ring. But then you go back to what he says in the book repeatedly: The ring is my only peace. This isn't a history of Johnny's biggest fights as many of them are just given a glancing look. It is the story of a good man at heart who is trying to find peace while the fear of the wheels falling off is always close by. It is indeed one crazy life. Johnny is lucky to have found his wife, Teresa. How they've stayed together through the high and low times speaks volumes of the love they have for one another. Having said all of this, the book is poorly written, filled with so many grammatical and punctuation errors (and even a blatant repeat of a paragraph in the last chapter) that it wouldn't get a passing grade in a 6th grade writing class. If you can get past the writing, Mi Vida Loca is a good biography. As a longtime fan, I hope Johnny finds peace.



2. An articulate, soulful, heartbreaking and often brutal peek into the life and times of Johnny Tapia. This book transcends boxing. Tapia's lived a "life less ordinary" and the struggles and triumphs he lived through could fill two lifetimes.



3. I LOVE READING LIFE STORYS AND JOHNNY TAPIAS STORY IS RAW AND HEARTRENDERING, THE STRUGGLES HES FACED AND OVERCOME ARE TRUELY TOUCHING, I COULDNT STOP READING FROM THE MOMENT I OPENED THE BOOK. A LIVING LEGEND AND CHAMP NOT ONLY IN THE RING BUT IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE ASWELL. PEOPLE COULDNT EVEN IMAGINE THE PAIN AND TURBULENT LIFE THIS LITTLE MAN HAS FACED. A FANTASTIC READ AND ONLY ONE WORD CAN DESCRIBE HIM. LEGEND.



4. The title of this book should be "Feel Sorry For Me, No wait! I Mean Don't Feel Sorry for Me". He truly can't make up his mind. The stories have a true ring to them but the emblishment is so far fetched that I found myself throwing the BS flag over and over. Still,it makes for a quick read and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. I am a female boxing fan from New Mexico and I used to live in Albuquerque so the details were fun. The "lingo" seemed authentic and if you have ever watched an interview with Tapia you will agree this book was written the same way he speaks.



5. As much as Johnny Tapia has led a crazy life, the grammar in this book is appalling. This book was obviously written firstly in Spanish & then translated over into English. It has been translated over very badly & reads in Pigeon English most of the way through. For what can be read, yes of course this book is good because Johnny Tapia has thrown caution to the wind in his approach to life ever since the terrible experience he went through at such an early age. I cannot help but wish him well though. To update you, he did have an overdose (approx. Feb / Mar 2006) which I understand now, 23rd April, he is hanging in there, Bless Him.

5 comments about Never: Jens Pulver And the Wednesday Group that Will Change the World.

1. This book was more than I expected. McKinnon was able to capture Jens and the Wednesday group as if you were an intimate friend of these guys. It was the perfect blend of Jens' upbringing, the context of the group that meets at the Pat Miletich gym and Tim's unique and often hilarious perspective on both. As the USA Today wrote in review, some books are a page turner, this book is a page stopper - I could not put it down. After reading this story, you are filled with hope and inspiration, that whatever you are facing in life, you can overcome those obstacles and be resilient. Jens and these guys have left an indelible mark on me, and I will strongly recommend this book to others. Thank you Jens for allowing McKinnon to capture this amazing story. Well done guys.



2. Jens Pulver is an idol of mine, but I found that his other book which talks from the first person is a better choice.
   
   "Never" is taken from the author's point of view - who is in the "Wednesday Group" with Jens - and I found that a lot of the book concentrates on Tim's life. The author talks about himself personally and other experiences that really have nothing to do with Jens Pulver. In fact in the beginning of the book I found myself flipping through pages just so I could come across some area which involved Jens Pulver.
   
   Not only that, there is a religious undertone throughout the book which is not what I expected. It is still a good read if you are a fan, but it may not be what you expect.



3. This book is about faith and what ordinary men that aren't mixed martial arts champions can do in to change the world around them. Pulver's story is more of a backdrop to the story of mutual faith in the Lord.



4. I love the way the author captured the subject in this rendition of the life of a child brought up in his own personnal hell. He showed all the facets, not just the polished, but the ruddy and cracked as well, and that is how it is for Jens today. There will always be residual from his upbringing, but the choices he makes to rise above are shown clearly in this book and it gave me a sense of hope that the message may reach more young men with similar situations. I've read it a few times and love it each time. I am, by the way, Jens' mother.



5. An inspiring story about how a talented and determined mixed martial arts fighter overcame the sort of childhood traumas that would likely turn me into an emotional trainwreck. The writing is sharply observant and pulls no punches (no pun intended). Jens' story is by turns harrowing, inspiring and compelling...I more or less read the book in one sitting.

2 comments about The Essential Vince Lombardi : Words & Wisdom to Motivate, Inspire, and Win.

1. This is not the coach, someone with the same name, followed by "Jr.". Its about him, and uses his writings, but isn't authored by him. A little disappointing.



2. The book, The Essential Lombardi is half a biography, and half quotes and speeches. The book was written by Vince Lombardi Jr. Vince Lombardi is a famous football coach, who coached the Green Bay Packers and led them to the first Super bowl. This book was a very good book, and I found it especially good, because in my eyes he is the best, ever! The book is very inspirational. Vince was all about pushing his players to go farther. He is recognized by so many. As a matter of fact, my whole football team knew who he was. This book is very good; I'd recommend it to anyone in sports. I give it 4 stars.