No comments about Moments.

4 comments about The Way of the Shark: Lessons on Golf, Business, and Life.

1. As a lifelong golfer and equally devoted reader of book about the game, I was somewhat curious about Norman's latest. After all, he's certainly out of the spotlight as a golfer so what's the purpose of this late-issue autobiography?
   
   Let's say this: if Greg Norman is your hero, if you worship the ground he walks on, then I suppose you will fine this effort...uh... awesome. For someone slightly more critical, I will say that the content is less-than-inspiring. During his years as the number one ranked golfer (and did that mean he was really the BEST, or simply one whose high finishes in run-of-the-mill events put him there) I was neutral toward Norman, and I still am. Sure, I thought he cut a dashing figure on the golf course, despite that rediculous hat, but there was always something a bit false about him. Perhaps, of course, that stems from his many failures in majors -- after all, if he was truly as bold and dynamic as he liked to portray himself, wouldn't he have won a great deal more?
   
   But I digress. The book is written in a most pedestrian style, perhaps designed to appeal to Australian teenagers who still have posters from the 1986 British Open still on their walls. Norman's version of his greatest defeat, at the hands of Nick Faldo in the 1996 Masters, tells us how he played beautifully for three days, but even before teeing off in the final round, he tells us that his "hands felt funny," telling caddie Tony Navarro, "It's going to be a long day." Well, it was a long day, as Norman blew a six shot lead to finish third. Hmmm... nerves never had a thing to do with the detonation?
   
   Greg Norman devotes a whole chapter to his befriending of young cancer victim Jamie Hutton at the Heritage and offers countless other examples of just what a splendid fellow he, Greg is. Still, if you're looking for any golf insight, it's just not here. The last two-thirds of the tome is Greg Norman tooting his own horn about his all-important "brand," his many business deals -- without his own money, of course -- and just what a little Donald Trump he's determined to be. All this is both tiresome and uninteresting. The constant crowing about his stellar character are, themselves a complete contradiction. Perhaps one of his "good friends" will one day mention the virtues of modesty. (And while it's none of my business, how does one dump his loyal wife of some 25 years to take up with Chris Evert?)
   
   I strongly suggest you pass.



2. 
   How unique, indeed refreshing it is to read a book by and about a professional athlete, unlike so many others past or current, who has achieved great success both in athletic competition and in the business world. In this volume that Greg Norman wrote with Donald T. Phillips, he shares the lessons he has learned thus far (he continues to compete on a limited basis) "in golf, business, and life." It is important to note that when writing a book as well as when preparing for a major tournament or conducting due diligence on a business opportunity, it makes sense to enlist the assistance of others who can provide the knowledge and experience needed to achieve success. I commend Norman on selecting Phillips -- who collaborated so well with Mike Krzyzewski on Leading with the Heart and also wrote Lincoln on Leadership and The Founding Fathers on Leadership - but there can be no doubt that the insights and, of equal importance, the "voice" in this book are Norman's.
   
   Others have their reasons for praising this book. Here are three of mine. First of all, Norman's candor. This was especially obvious when, in Chapter Twenty-Five, he discusses his final round at the 1996 Masters. I was in Virginia that Sunday on a business trip, playing a relaxed round of golf with a friend before a series of stressful meetings the following week. When we teed off, Norman had played the first several holes, well ahead of the field; after we completed the round, we were shocked to learn that he had not won the tournament. How could that be? Later, I saw a telecast of the news conference, one that many golfers would have avoided, responding to questions that many of them would have evaded. "I screwed up today. My thought pattern was good but my rhythm was off. My good shots weren't good enough and my bad shots were pitiful. And that's pretty much it. Just didn't have it today. I place all the blame on myself." Of course, he was grateful for the strong support he received from family members and friends as well as from Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Fred Couples, and countless other players. Norman may have failed to win the Masters that year but at the same time demonstrated qualities of character which continue to earn respect and admiration for him, both on and off the course.
   
   I was also fascinated by all that he shares about his various business activities. He is a ferocious but principled competitor. Over the years, he and his associates have build a multi-national corporation focused around golf and the golf lifestyle (e.g. clothing, real estate, sporting goods, wines, gold course design, restaurants, and event management). Norman is an active and involved chairman and CEO of Great White Enterprises which now generates hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. His approach to leadership and management in the business world seems exactly the same as when playing competitive golf: set ambitious goals, assemble the "best and brightest" people, rigorously prepare, keep ultimate objectives in mind while focusing on significant details, explore all appropriate opportunities, measure only what really matters, never confuse pride with arrogance, welcome constructive criticism, be resilient when circumstances require adjustment, and remain convinced of achieving success eventually, preferably ASAP. As Norman learned on the golf course, there are some pars that are as valuable as birdies, there are some hazards to be avoided even at the cost of a par, that there are sucker pin placements which require a "safe" shot, and that sometimes what seems to be a perfect putt simply won't go in the hole. In this book, Norman cites dozens of examples of comparable situations during his career as a corporate executive.
   
   Finally, I admire the humanity that Norman is willing to reveal so generously. For various reasons, many celebrity athletes are viewed as role models and even as icons. Over time, they become very protective of how they are perceived by the general public. (Joe DiMaggio is one example that comes immediately to mind.) In this instance, I am not referring to protection of privacy that I think is every person's right. Rather, I mean to suggest that it is rare that an athlete of Norman's stature and achievement is willing to discuss, even celebrate those in his life - over the years - whom he has most loved and most respected as well as those whose friendship he most appreciates. He recalls many fond moments, dark moments, lucky breaks, and other ingredients of his life and career thus far. Throughout the narrative, he gives full credit to those who have helped him but always assumes full responsibility for mistakes and failures of various kinds that he duly acknowledges.
   
   When concluding his book, Norman observes, "In golf, you can always shoot a lower score. In business, you can always make another buck. And in life, you can always become a better person. The next minute is the most important minute of your life. You are limited only by your imagination. Your dreams are the blueprint of reality."
   
   Really, this is not a "golf book" nor a "business book." Rather, it is a book about one man's pursuit of self-improvement and personal fulfillment while achieving success both in golf and in business. Greg Norman's journey continues, guided and informed by the lessons he has learned, lessons that can also be of substantial value to others who share his faith in what is possible and his determination to "go for it."



3. I LOVE Greg Norman and this book so far is AWESOME!!!! ANYTHING to do with him is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



4. Who is the greatest athlete Australia has ever produced? Arguably it is Greg Norman. He is certainly the most well known. He has won 91 golf tournaments around the world, including 20 PGA tournaments in the U.S. and 2 British Opens.
   
   Swimming and surfing were his original passions, but his mother's passion for golf captured young Norman as well, and after a stellar, but brief amateur career, he started as a golf professional trainee in 1975 for the magnificent sum of $38 per week--Australian!
   
   If Arnold Palmer pioneered the "go-for-broke" attitude in modern golf, then Greg Norman certainly picked up the mantle from him. That attitude on the golf course carried over into business, and even to the writing of this book. Norman is willing to share his perspectives on the good, the bad, and the ugly--when most would want to focus only on the good.
   
   You'll love his descriptions of his British Open victories (the good), his part in trying to start a World Tour which was quickly snuffed by the PGA Tour's response (the bad), and his meltdown on the final day of the Master's against Nick Faldo in 1996 when he lost a 6 shot lead and lost by 5 to finish third (the ugly). They are open and honest.
   
   Norman also does a wonderful job of describing the business side of golf. At this point only Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have done a better job of parlaying golf talent into business success. And Norman's success in helping build the Cobra Golf franchise, as well as his thriving gold course design business, clothing lines, etc., all make for fascinating reading.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Any golf aficionado will appreciate this book.

5 comments about Dusty: Reflections of an American Dream.

1. Dusty is a self-promoter. That is ok, he is a wrestler and that is the name of the game, you have to promote yourself to be larger than life or you will not get anywhere.
   
   Dusty's book is full of promise but it doesn't really make the grade when it comes to delivering on the promise. He has a wealth of knowledge and stories and we see very little of it.
   
   Readable but not a classic.



2. i'll never forgive dusty for ripping me off. his book is a total waste of money. i'm trying to get some use out of the book by using it as toilet paper. his dvd sucks too.



3. Quite discouraging. This guy is the man I grew up with on Saturday nights watching TBS. My all time favorite wrestler, and 2nd favorite interview. I even have a Dusty Rhodes doll. However, this book is terrible. Way too many expletives that just are not needed. Terrible grammar and editing. Story line is at the same time disjointed and repetitive. Way worse than Flair's "To Be the Man."



4. Keeping this short and to the point.
   Although not even half way though it ,Dustys book is doing my head in .
   His shameless self promoting /name droping/ disreguard for time lines is just to much.
   Moving onto JJ Dillions book instead.
   Read it ,If you will
   But have pain pills on hand



5. This book is not a total waste of time and money. There is some interesting material and minimal value. Overall, it is very disappointing and compares very poorly with other wrestling biographies. It is very poorly written and the style in which is it written leaves much to be desired. It is my opinion that the strongest point this work emphasizes is what a sick individual Dusty Rhodes was and is. If you are a staunch wrestling fan I do recommand reading it, but look for a copy at a thrift store or yard sale. I am sure there will be plenty of copies available soon.

5 comments about Kent Hrbek's Tales from the Minnesota Twins Dugout (Tales).

1. This autobiography reads like it was actually written by Kent Hrbek; it's fun, enjoyable, and not an in-depth introspective look back at his life. It hits the highlights of his career, briefly touches upon his upbringing, and has no tales told out of school from the dugout. If you're looking for depth, don't bother.
   
   Hrbek comes across as a rare athlete who realizes that the important things in life are not being bowed down to and worshiped because he could hit a baseball. He's honest about his love of beer, his family, and not caring that much about conditioning.
   
   Long-time Twins fans like me will relish this, but wish it had just a little more.



2. I really enjoyed this book for a couple of reasons. First, Kent Hrbek is a really likable guy who isn't out to impress anyone. He is a truly genuine individual, which is admirable and refreshing. He is also very interesting. No, this book isn't written on a graduate level, but who cares? It's about baseball, a team full of good guys, and one fun loving guy in particular. I read this book right before I read the book written by John Schuerholz. Wow, talk about opposites. The "genius" Schuerholz has no clue about things like the Hrbek charm.



3. As a Minnesota Twins fan for some forty years, this may be perceived as a somewhat biased view...but I truly don't believe it is. Most of those who follow the game closely, and appreciate its significance on the national psyche for more than a century, will respect this straight-arrow summary--of Kent Hrbek's team, in particular; but, even more importantly, for the significance and integrity of the game in general. Though an unsung hero in terms of individual awards, he was, in the eyes of many objective baseball observers, as good as any--and better than most--first basemen to play the game. And he was an excellent clutch hitter (e.g., his grand slam homerun in the sixth game of the 1987 World Series) who knew the strike zone, and rarely swung at a bad pitch. But, as he emphasizes in his book, his two World Series rings, and the undying support of true baseball fans in the upper Midwest, and throughout the country, totally overshadow the fact that he was, inexplicably, overlooked for the individual honors which, in the view of many, he so richly deserved. He and others refer to his approach to the game as that of a throwback...the type of player from the game's glory days. This is arguably as high a tribute as can be given a player. And, because these qualities are, sadly, in short supply in today's go-for-the-money atmosphere, Kent Hrbek--nearly thirteen years after his early retirement--is still missed by those who love the game... for the game. And for all of those, "Kent Hrbek's Tales from the Minnesota Twins Dugout" is highly recommended. --Ron Howe / Erskine, Minnesota



4. After reading 'Tales', I felt like I had actually been in the dugout with the Twins. The book keeps moving, doesn't well on any point too long and provides just the right amount of detail. Hrbek and Brackin have delivered a baseball classic.
   
   Hrbek's antics and honesty come through as genuine. He seems like a guy were he your neighbor you could just walk up to and have a nice, casual conversation. His views on baseball provide insight for the fan from the other side of the stadium fence. I remember watching him as a kid whenever the Twins came to Seattle, and he was always an impressive player. We ran into Hrbek on the street in downtown Seattle one day and he lived-up to his friendly guy image in person too.
   
   I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in baseball or the Minnesota Twins in particular.



5. This book was a great, quick read of antecdotes from Hrbek's career as a Twin. He reveals a lot of suprising off-the-field information that baseball players rarely reveal in career retrospectives. If you were a Twins fan in the glory year runs of 1987 and 1991, you have to check this out.

5 comments about The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To #45472.

1. LOOKED FOR THIS IN A HARDCOVER FOR YEARS. HAVEN'T READ THIS STORY IN YEARS.. VERY HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND THIS AGAIN.. GREAT SERVICE PRODUCT AS PROMISED..



2. This a great story.please "game of fools" by charles wooten the story of glenn summerford who is still in prison doing a 99 year sentence ffrom a case like hurricanes that consisted of predujuice and lies.



3. If you have seen "The Hurricane" motion picture, starring Denzel Washington (an amazing peformance), surely you'd think that you know everything there is to know about Rubin Carter. Unfortunately, that's incorrect. Furthermore, it's not even close.
   Don't get me wrong - the motion picture is fantastic and it surely includes all the important details, but regardless to what kind of movie it is - you should know, and I can tell you that for sure because I read this book, that there are A LOT of details that aren't mentioned in the movie.
   If you want to know the whole story I must implore you to take a long look at that book. But I should also tell you that there's a downside: The book can make you read even five pages in a row without any important or interesting thing coming up; it can also make your patience burst if you're expecting something to happen but it takes long pages, sometimes not even discribed so interestingly.
   Bottom line: if Rubin Carter and his amazing story interests you - I would suggest you read this book. It will make you see the big picture about this man.



4. I bought this book my sophomore year of high school and that was over 7 years ago. It has literally been my bible to life. Rubin and his book have changed my life more than anything else I have ever encountered. Too often than not we find false heroes in this world. People like Paris Hilton who some look up to as a hero or a role model, but the true heroes in this life are often over looked or never seen at all. Rubin Carter is a true hero, I have never even heard of such a troubled life an to come out on top both a champion of his sport and one in life. A wise man told me once that it is now how we live this life but what we do during it. If your looking for a uplifting book of a true hero an a book that will give you strength when all doubt you, this is the one.



5. Obviously no one can write his story better than Rubin himself. This story is both and inspiring story of a man who has never stopped fighting and a terrifying reality check into the American judicial system. This book is filled with an anger that is only kept in check by the author's own love and compassion.

   The reader whould of course keep in mind this is an autobiography and therefore is skewed to the writer's point of view and emotional state.

5 comments about Facing Ali: 15 Fighters / 15 Stories.

1. This is one of the more fascinating studies of Ali's life because the stories are told from the perspective of those who faced him. Some harbor hostility (Joe Frazier), some admire him tremendously (Norton, Foreman, Coopman, Dunn), some attempt to demythologize him and show him to be a man with flaws (Holmes).
   
   Any Ali fan is going to want to have this book! Stephen Blunt does a good job of tracking down the fighters (some, like Jurgen Blin and Karl Mildenberger, are more anonymous and are remembered primarily for facing Ali and were not as easy to locate).
   
   Highly recommended.



2. To be completely honest, it feels a little bad giving this book only a lukewarm review. It is, after all, a great idea for a book and a great find for anyone who became a fight fan in the era of Ali, Frazier, Norton, Foreman and the rest. But somehow, this manages to be a boxing book without much of anything to say about boxing. Instead of an up-close look at the characters as they rise or fall to their moment with Ali, we get a series of mini biographies about men who aren't necessarily all that interesting. Sure, Jurgen Blin and Joe Bugner may be nice enough men, but do their uninspired performances against Muhammad Ali make them worth spending any time with? Actually, considering the merciless and unforgiving nature of their chosen sport, the story of even the dullest mismatch could be interesting. But the author gives us too much back story on his subjects' lives, not enough on the euphoria, hope, sense of dread or foolish confidence that must have come with getting a crack at 'The Greatest.'
   
   This is not to say, though, that there aren't some bright spots. Foreman, Frazier and Norton are all solid components of the legend, and their storied careers pretty much ensure more interesting chapters than the career of, say, Jean-Pierre Coopman. Even chapters on a few of the second and third-tier challengers (Chuvalo, Wepner) make for some good reading. But what we never learn, really, is what it was like for a Chuck Wepner to be picked from obscurity to fight for the title. We find out that Chuck got to train full time (for the first time in his life) at a resort in the Catskills. But did his shot at the title make his life better...worse? Did sudden fame lead to the end of his marriage and involvement, for a time, with drugs? Did he understand that he was a bit player in a very big show? He certainly seems to be a good guy, but was Wepner actually closer to being a 'goodfella' in those days?
   
   This certainly isn't a bad book, and real fight fans will find it interesting, at least in places. But it feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. Tales of shady powerbrokers who control the fight game are hinted at here and there, but never mined as they might have been...we're often not given a clear picture of how most of these men are living these days, save for most of the British and European fighters who seem to have fared well. There are also a few factual errors which are a bit offputting. (in regard to Wepner, for instance, the author wonders whether the fighter will be remembered as the man who scored a questionable knockdown against the champ....or the man who was stopped by Ali in the 11th round. In truth, Wepner quite famously came within seconds of going the full 15 rounds.) Again, not a bad book, but one that feels like it could have been better.



3. I've been reading a lot of boxing books lately despite not being a big fan, mainly because it seems like the people who are involved in it are some of the most interesting people in any sport. This book is another one which strongly reiterates that. Like many of the other reviews say, you really do feel like you get to know something about these guys, about what they're like as people and nobody comes across as two dimensional.



4. Muhummad Ali is the most-photographed, most-written about, most-quoted, and most-popular athlete of all-time. So how does an author come up with a "new" angle on the Ali story that has not already been covered? Well, Author Stephan Brunt comes up with a new tact - 15 fighters who faced Ali in the squared circle tell about their experieces in their own words. This is a unique concept that has not been attempted before in the annals of boxing literature. My hat is tipped to Mr. Brunt for coming up with such a unique angle. I also applaud him for not severely editing the commentary of the opponents stories. The words are there warts and all, especially in the bitterness expressed by Joe Frazier.
   
   The book presents 15 fights, and the individual stories of the opponents are written in vivid detail. Brunt gives a brief history of the opponent, how he became a fighter, how he came to fight Ali, and what happened to him afterwards. The 15 fighters represent several of Ali's best fights, including Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Ernie Shavers. Too bad we could not have read about Ali's greatest upset fight, i.e. Sony Liston's experience in words - now that would heve been eye-popping! (Liston died of an apparent drug overdose in late 1970.)
   
   Brunt does a thorough job with each fighter. He does not so much concentrate on the blow to blow action in the fight, but rather, what the opponent was thinking and feeling before, during, and after the fight. It makes for very interesting reading for boxing fans in general, and of course Ali fans.
   
   I could not give it a 5-star ranking as it was not spell-binding, but for being unique and holding my interest throughout, it deserves a solid 4-stars.
   
   Jim "Konedog" Koenig



5. Stephen Brunt's excellent book poignantly tells the stories of fifteen men who fought Muhammad Ali. Brunt tells us in his introduction that we generally only hear one side of the story - usually the side of the star of the show. Since there have been few stars who have shone as brightly as Ali in the boxing world (or in the world in general for that matter), the stories of his opponents, even the ones who were champions in their own right, have tended to be forgotten, if not completely ignored.
   
   The stories provide a fresh perspective on Ali through the course of the book, since many of these men developed a relationship with him that transcended their battle(s) with him in the ring, but the spotlight here is directly on the lives of these fifteen men. Each of their stories is unique. Some are funny, some are tragic, some offer us lessons if we care to look. All the stories show us how these men's lives were altered by their moment in the spotlight. With the exception of Joe Frazier, who gets the longest section of the book devoted to him, every man conveys a fondness and respect for Ali even if they had differences with him.
   
   Brunt is a great writer who is able to convey something essential about each of the men he dedicates a chapter to. There isn't a trace of sentimentality and every portrait comes across as being fair to it's subject. "Facing Ali" is a masterpiece of sports writing and belongs on the shelf of every boxing fan.

5 comments about Catch This!: Going Deep with the NFL's Sharpest Weapon.

1. THis was a great book.it shows that he worked hard and acheieved his goals. IT bascially a bio on terrell. THis book is very inspirational.



2. Terrell Owens came off so well in this book. Here is a guy with spectacular football abilities, wealth and charisma, yet he comes off as down to earth and a well-grounded individual.
   
   I think it would be easy to criticise a big-time athlete and say that their books are self-serving and full of lies and half-truths but until one gets to actually be in their shoes and feel the pressures that they have to perform for us, we cannot grumble.
   
   Is TO a saint? No, I am sure he is difficult in the locker room and has (as he admits) his moods, but don't we all?
   
   A good read on an exciting athlete.



3. This book was very inspirational and gives the reader a glimpse into the life of Terrell Owens that you won't see in the media.



4. He clearly does not practice what he preaches. This book is just a facade for arrogance and self-serving attitude. He's probably looking for more money since he wasn't able to get it out of Philadelphia. Once a fan of his in his early Niners years, I have learn to not respect someone who does not respect the game, his teammates or anyone else he works with but himself. He's miles below the great players of this game in terms of character and sportsmanship.
   
   This book is a poor attempt at recovering whatever was left of his reputation, thinly veiled and clearly self-serving. Other naïve readers might buy it, but I'll believe it when I see him stopping being "all about me".



5. Living as an Eagle fan in CA can be trying. When the Eagles signed TO all of my 49er friends said that it wouldn't last. TO's true colors would show sooner or later. I then read the book and encouraged them to do the same. TO does an excellent job of portraying himelf as the victim. He claims to need the money for his family and his future. My family could easily live off his paycheck now and well into the future. After reading this book, I was sold on TO and as an Eagle fan I thought he was the answer but then his true colors came out just as my 49er friends said they would. This book should be changed to fiction.

5 comments about No Hurdle Too High: The Story of Show Jumper Margie Goldstein Engle.

1. If you have a love and passion for horses and are especially interested in the wonderful world of Show Jumping at an Olympic and Grand Prix level, this is the book for you. I loved reading about Margie's childhood and how she was so determined to work to the top and work is exactly what she did. I remember getting the opportunity to watch Margie compete many years ago and at that time I knew she was a rider I wanted to mimic and look up to, after reading this book, it is a solid confirmation that she is truly someone to pattern yourself after, both in and out of the saddle. What a great person.



2. Mom, who is rightfully proud of her daughter, is a retired schoolteacher, and boy does it show. To say the book was written on a third grade reading level, which another reviewer has claimed, is completely accurate. The corny, quoted dialogue that supposedly takes place between mother and daughter reads like an elementary school play: "How did the grand prix go?" "Very well, thank you. I got first, second and fourth." "That's wonderful. How do you feel about the Olympic outcome?" This would be a delightful read for a preteen that aspires to be a top rider, but it's merit ends there. If you want to follow Margie's career, but a subscription to the Chronicle of the Horse instead.



3. This would be interesting reading for a young rider. I expected explanations and descriptions about how Margie achieved her successes. Instead, it is more like her mother's walk down Memory Lane. It might be fine for a young fan of Margie's, but it is not for a mature, serious rider. I also do not understand why the Kelso family review was repeated and included twice in averaging the rating.



4. I have read "No Hurdle Too High" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought that the author by choosing to write it from a third person, objective point of view, as a parent, as opposed to Margie-Engle Goldstein's first person, subjective, point of view
   was the author's prerogative. And by using this approach, she made the book intriguing and heart-warming. Either approach, if used would have satisfied some people and left others unhappy.
   The book conveys a good sense of the difficulties (hurdles0 that Margie faced and conquered. The purpose of the book, I believe, was to learn not about the technicalities of Horse Jumping, but to tell Margie's story it more personal and less technical.
   I found it very inspiring and recommend it strongly.
   Herb



5. This is one of those unforgetable stories. In this world of terrorists and unrest, we found it a Delightful Diversion. We laughted and cried tears of joy at Margie's antics and accomplishments.We thought the book was well written, and easy to read. We highly recomend it.

2 comments about Jack O'Connor.

1. Jack O'Connor: The Legendary Life Of America's Greatest Gunwriter is the definitive biography of one of twentieth century North America's premier sportsmen, big-game hunters, and gun experts. Biographer Robert Anderson drew upon information provided from interviews with O'Connor's family and friends, as well as O'Connor's own papers, photos, and correspondences. The O'Connor papers from Washington State University were to prove invaluable in presenting a complete portrait of a man who had a great zest for love, despite a concurrent ability to be egotistically and occasionally mean spirited. A superb record of O'Connor's achievements as a hunter, the reader will learn about the early years of hardship in Arizona, the personal family tragedy of losing a son, the post-World War II "glory years" when O'Connor hunted tiger in India, sheep in Iran, buffalo in Tanganyika, and encounters with the ruling class of foreign land, and the corporate moguls of hunting and firearms industries. All of which gave O'Connor a special prestige to the point where his writings could spell success or failure for products and armaments marketed for the sportsman hunter. If you've ever read one of his columns or experienced the thrill of a big game hunt, you will want to read Jack O'Connor!



2. I would have given this five stars except for its "thrown together" feel. It started as a full-scale biography but the source materials simply were not available. The book that was written consists of some short character sketches and a recapitulation of JO'C's hunting trips and writing career.

   The author is a hunter so he does justice to his subject.

   In my view, this book has two serious omissions. First, the author repeatedly asserts that O'Connor was the dean of gunwriters in his time. This is true (IMHO) but the book does a poor job showing why this is true and what made JO'C's writing special.

   Second, this work does not discuss the feud between Elmer Keith and O'Connor. Ostensibly the point of contention was the effectiveness of small, fast bullets like the 270 Win. But the Keith side (since Elmer's acolytes got in on the fun) made it personal. JO'C, in contrast, showed a sense of humor and charity that reflects favorably on his character.

2 comments about Ty Cobb: Safe at Home.

1. The author takes up the defense of Ty Cobb, probably the most disliked man to ever play major league baseball. What motivates this defense is hard to tell - only a few minor references to Cobb's bad reputation sneak into the book. If you're looking for stories about baseball in the golden age, this isn't going to please you. If you want minute details about Ty Cobb's life at home and his activities outside baseball, this is what you want. I doubt that very many people actually want that.



2. Great book. I cannot put it down. Has a lot of facts of Cobb's life which I never read in any other book on the great baseball player.