No comments about Call Me Coach: A Life in College Football.

5 comments about No Ordinary Joe: The Biography of Joe Paterno.

1. For most sports fans, the name Joe Paterno is a familiar one. The images conjured up by the name may vary...some see a living god while others see a need for change. Regardless of your views, this book is informative and well balanced. As a loyal Penn State fan, I found this book to be well written and objective. The writing style is not too stuffy or "textbook" like, yet the author is able to remain insightful as well as entertaining. This book focuses on the work of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno during the 2004 season; the bulk of the story is a tale of the ups and downs that took place during that season. However, there is also a great deal of exposition when it comes to the privilige, politics, and power of Division I college football. In some sections of the story, Penn State University and the town of State College, PA become a unique world where attitudes can change like the seasons. What I found to be the most informative was the description of Paterno's interactions with the media.
   
   Joe Paterno's life serves as an interesting character study. Mostly because of his actions and the way that he has oriented his life around the university and the athletic program. This book does not force its hand by telling you how to feel about Joe, instead it describes the situation and leaves you to draw your own conclusions. There is some obvious admiration for Paterno, but it does not reach the point of being one-sided.
   
   I would recommend this book for all college football fans. If nothing else, this story serves as an informative piece about the "hidden" side of commercialization and college sports.



2. I have always said that if I had a son worthy of playing big-time college football, I'd send him to Penn State to play for Joe Paterno. My thoughts haven't changed a whip since reading this book. Michael O'Brien does a wonderful job in detailing the life and philosophy of one of the most colorful and downright good people to ever live.

   O'Brien pulls no punches. Paterno is brash, at times mean and expects a lot out of his players, but he is also a loving father figure to players and the student body. Paterno is no saint though. If you don't produce, you are in trouble... but isn't that the way of the world. His philosophy, richly detailed in a chapter on Patero's coaching style, should be copied by the Spurriers and the Sabans of the world.

   I haven't read any other O'Brien books, but I definitely will be looking for them on my next trip to the book store. This book is a quick read, but it makes you feel good about the world again when you realize that there are still people like Paterno out there that don't compromise themselves for money and fame.

   Now I just wish O'Brien would write a book on Coach K because if I had a son that was good at hoops I'd send him to Duke.




3. If I had bought this book first, I probably would have been happy with the book. But as an owner of four other books relating to Coach Paterno I found this one to be a repeat of the other writings. I really learned nothing new from this book at all. Maybe I expected too much or maybe Paterno's story has already been told.



4. There are a lot of biographies out there written by people who assume that simple fame warrants public interest. This is not one of them, because Joe Paterno is a truly fascinating man. Success and prestige don't often go hand in hand, but somehow Joe has made it work, and is the reason that Penn State isn't just another big-money school trying to win football games on the backs of exploited kids. If how he does that in this day and age isn't intriguing, I don't know what is. For anyone who has ever turned on a Saturday football game and wondered what possesses the guy in the nerdy rolled-up pants and coke-bottle glasses to keep going, then you have a valid question which this book can answer in a way that will captivate you, page after page. For once, we have a book about football that isn't about football at all--it's about what an extraordinary person can do to a little agricultural school to put a tiny college town on the map in the greatest way possible.

   Put a thermometer to the JoePa sentiments in State College and you may be surprised that a fervent admiration that pervades the town, and for good reason. Hey, there has to be some reason we would like a guy enough to make a bean bag doll out of him...give him his own ice cream flavor (Peachy Paterno)...and put his face on mugs...and golf balls. ("Guaranteed to go up the middle three out of four times.") And there has to be something about a guy who would give up a $1.4 million coaching contract with the Boston Patriots to keep a $35,000 job in Happy Valley. The fact is, the guy has integrity that borders on insanity, and that makes him interesting as heck.

   On a final note, this is a dangerous book in that it will feed an obsession born of fandom. Be careful with this book. I have a friend, the daughter of Penn State's president, and every year she obliges me by hand-delivering a batch of Santa Joe cookies to the Paternos at the bowl games. Make sure you don't go as far over the edge as I did.




5. There are a lot of biographies out there written by people who assume that simple fame warrants public interest. This is not one of them, because Joe Paterno is a truly fascinating man. Success and prestige don't often go hand in hand, but somehow Joe has made it work, and is the reason that Penn State isn't just another big-money school trying to win football games on the backs of exploited kids. If how he does that in this day and age isn't intriguing, I don't know what is. For anyone who has ever turned on a Saturday football game and wondered what possesses the guy in the nerdy rolled-up pants and coke-bottle glasses to keep going, then you have a valid question which this book can answer in a way that will captivate you, page after page. For once, we have a book about football that isn't about football at all--it's about what an extraordinary person can do to a little agricultural school to put a tiny college town on the map in the greatest way possible.

   Put a thermometer to the JoePa sentiments in State College and you may be surprised that a fervent admiration that pervades the town, and for good reason. Hey, there has to be some reason we would like a guy enough to make a bean bag doll out of him...give him his own ice cream flavor (Peachy Paterno)...and put his face on mugs...and golf balls. ("Guaranteed to go up the middle three out of four times.") ...The fact is, the guy has integrity that borders on insanity, and that makes him interesting as heck.

   On a final note, this is a dangerous book in that it will feed an obsession born of fandom. Be careful with this book. I have a friend, the daughter of Penn State's president, and every year she obliges me by hand-delivering a batch of Santa Joe cookies to the Paternos at the bowl games. Make sure you don't go as far over the edge as I did.

5 comments about The Captain: Steve Yzerman: 22 Seasons, 3 Cups, 1 Team.

1. A wonderful keepsake for anyone who was--and still is--a Steve Yzerman fan. A man with incredible accomplishments and integrity, he was a dedicated captain and dedicated to his teammates and his fans. His fans, in turn, were just as dedicated to him. And I think I probably speak for every one of them when I say it was a really sad day when he retired. It was almost like the lights went out in Michigan. We would have been happy to see him in a Red Wings jersey for many years to come. We would have been happy just to see him out there skating around. He is a shining example of what every hockey player should strive to be but he was pretty unique and he'll be hard to beat.



2. The tagline to this book says it all..."22 seasons, 3 cups, one team" and that one team may be more important than the three Stanley Cups. In this era of free agency and mega-million dollar salaries, Steve Yzerman was a rarity...a superstar athlete who played his entire career with just one team. You need only mention "The Captain" to any Detroiter and they will know who you are talking about.
   
   This marvelous book from the Detroit Free Press and Triumph books traces the career of one of the greatest professional athletes in Detroit sports history. The word legend is thrown about quite freely these days but it certainly applies to Yzerman. Here was perhaps the most modest superstar you could ever hope to meet. A fierce competitor on the ice, who over came numerous injuries, and a pure gentleman off the ice, Yzerman retired after the 2005 - 2006 season to take a much deserved spot in the Red Wings front office. More than any other player, coach, or owner, Yzerman was responsible for resurrecting a once great hockey team that had fallen on lean times in the 1970's and early 1980's.
   
   We get to see a young Yzerman, just 18 years old as he shakes hands with team owner Mike Illitch after being selected in the first round...only after the Wings first choice, Pat LaFontaine, was drafted one spot earlier. We can all thank the NY Islanders for that! Yzerman was named team captain in 1986, at just 21 years of age, making him the youngest captain in team history.
   
   The book tracks Yzerman's career, season-by-season, reprinting articles by Free Press writers such as Mitch Albom, Keith Gave, and Nick Cotsonika. Re-live those early playoff disappointments including the Stanley Cup finals loss to New Jersey in 1995. Then relive the glory of 1997 as the Red Wings took revenge on the hated Colorado Avs, first in the regular season, and then in the playoffs, on their way to their first Stanley cup since 1955. Yzerman's visit to the David Letterman Show and the tragic accident of Vladimir Konstantinov is also covered as well as Stevie's career achievements and milestones and his laundry list of injuries suffered throughout his career.
   
   This is a must have for any Red Wings fan!
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. Outstanding book! It really captured the whole history of Yzerman and his legacy plus legend... This is an outstanding book for both Red Wing and alll hockey fans



4. Purchased this as a Christmas gift for a BIG fan of Stevie's and she LOVED IT! Worth the money and "cheaper" than the bookstores!



5. This book reminds me a lot of my all-time favorite Yzerman book, "The Making of a Champion," which came out about 10 years ago. It's pretty much the same format - reprints of news articles and photos that appeared in the paper, along with some original features.
   
   Whereas "Champion" covered the first 10 or so years of Stevie's career, "The Captain" covers all of it. The articles, written by Detroit Free Press writers Bill McGraw, Mitch Albom, Nicholas Cotsonika and others, follow Steve from his early days as a teenage Red Wing, referring to Steve as "baby-cheeked" and telling us "if he shaves, it's only for practice" (and that he used to order white milk in bars!); as he becomes The Captain; blossoms into one of the NHL's most prolific goal scorers under Jacques Demers and then a three-time Stanley Cup champion under Scotty Bowman. All while playing for only one team - the Detroit Red Wings.
   
   "The Captain" is a great tribute to a man who personifies the words "class" and "perseverance" and the ice is a colder place without him. This book is a must-have for Yzerman fans everywhere, regardless of which team you cheer for.

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.

No comments about How Triathlon Ruined My Life.

5 comments about Every Man Has His Price: The True Story of Wrestling's Million-Dollar Man.

1. Back in the day, Ted DiBiase was the ultimate pro wrestling heel - as the Million-Dollar Man - who could get the fans worked up during one of his classic monologues on why, "Every man has his price."
   
   But - in wrestling parlance - it was truly all a "work."
   
   Published a decade ago, the autobiography traces his life as a child who grew up around the business of pro wrestling - he is the stepson of legendary grappler, Iron Mile DiBiase, who passed away in the ring - to how he climbed the ladder to stardom and the pop culture trappings of success that nearly ruined more than his career inside the squared-circle.
   
   There is space devoted to his wrestling career - taking tentative steps while still a student at West Texas State University, the refining of his character in the old NWA territories and attaining main event status - but the book is not only about the industry; it is a testimony on how Christ showed him the direction that ultimately saved his life and his marriage.
   
   DiBiase was blessed with a vision to found Heart of David Ministries and that is a major reason why the book needs to be reissued, with additional information concerning the events in churches, schools and - yes - in the ring throughout the world.
   
   This is not the typical pro wrestling autobiography that focuses solely on the action inside the arena and the drama in the locker room & corporate offices. DiBiase gives the reader his true story and the tragic price he nearly paid without the ultimate tag-team partner in life.



2. For most people, Ted DiBiase is not one of the most well-known wrestlers. In the world of pro wrestling, DiBiase is one of the best heels ever. He perfectly played the part of the millionaire wrestler with arrogance and charisma.
   This book is far more than just a wrestling autobiography, although you will read about his fine wrestling career. DiBiase delivers enough wrestling stories and details to interest any wrestling fan.
   This book also relates the story of a man very devoted to his family and his God. In telling stories of his early family life, DiBiase clearly shows his love of family life. This sets the foundation for his total salvation later in life.
   DiBiase also discusses his life on the road as a wrestler and how that life style almost ruined his life. Fortunately, DiBiase's deep commitment to his God and his family saved him. He is very open and honest in discussing all of this. He is a devout Christian and he encourages all to follow his path, but he never comes across as phony or preachy. He just wants all to share in the same love as he does.
   This is a very good book for wrestling fans and all others, as well!



3. Ted Dibiase, a.k.a The Million Dollar Man, has added to the growing pantheon of professional wrestling autobiographies / biographies with this self-authored tome. Dibiase, a second-generation professional wrestler, has lived the life and walked the walk that so many wrestling fans desire to read about. The autobiography is a quick read but nonetheless full of candor and detail. Most interesting to me was the circuitous professional history of Iron Mike Dibiase, the father of the Million Dollar Man. These tales of the old days in professional wrestling totally ground the reader in hard work habits and touring road life, moving families about to stay fresh in the public eye. Dibiase's story is one of trial and error. He endured the deaths of both of his parents (both professional wrestlers) and survived the consolidation of the pro wrestling "territories" into just a few dinosaurs, eventually ending where we are at today with one professional organization, the WWE. Dibiase attended college in Texas on a football scholarship, and met several other future pro wrestlers there. The book also chronicles the religious development of Dibiase, presenting a unique Christian point-of-view within the professional wrestling circles that Dibiase was forced to retire from due to injuries suffered in the ring. If you are planning on buying this book for lurid detail and scandal, save your money for the tabloids. Dibiase is a straight-shooter who does without cussing. His biggest shortcoming is that he dropped out of college to earn money as a wrestler to support his family. With his deep bass voice and loaded black glove (his original trademark before becoming the Million Dollar Man) Dibiase could make a good political candidate. I came away from reading this book with more respect for Dibiase and his way of living life. He is a real person with a real voice. He also could have made the book longer with more anecdotes about his accomplishments inside the ring, with more name-dropping and historical recollection. If anything, Dibiase is too modest about his long career. This book is still well worth the cost of admission to glimpse behind the curtain and see the wrestlers as human instead of performers.



4. dibiase was in the business for over 20 years. for a man with that much experience he sure wrote a terrible book. he rarely talks about the other wrestlers he met in all those years.too much information about his pre-wrestling years. i'm a wrestling fan for 25 years, i want to read about wrestling and the wrestlers. dibiase wastes chapter after chapter talking about playgrounds, grammer school, how many times he had to move, his grandmother. he talks about his wcw days for approximately 3 pages - what a rip-off.he's a fake and a coward when he refuses to talk about his preChristian partying days. don't waste your time, read dynamite kid's book(british bulldogs)- much more entertaining



5. This book was not the wrestling bio I was looking for. Dibiase doesn't go into detail about the "unholy" things that he has participated in during his lifetime. He instead likes to focus on the positive aspects of having God in his life. Thats all well and good but I thought the book was a wrestling bio not a 200 page infomercial for the church. Bottom line..........if you want wrestling stories and detail this is not the book for you. However, if your looking for a great story about a man's love for Jesus Christ this book is great

No comments about Force of Nature: Mind, Body, Soul (And, of Course, Surfing).

5 comments about Playing With the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, a World at War, and a Field of Broken Dreams.

1. This is a terrific book about small town family life after the Depression, baseball in the "Golden Age", and friendships. Also there is a great history of World War II and special military troops to entertain our troops. The friendships that evolve in this biography are endearing to all.



2. What an excellent book. So well written you will not want to put it down!
   Read this book it is a classic, especially if you are interested in WWII era history and baseball of course!
   Gary Moore is a real gentleman he responded right away to an email, with a humble and heartfelt response. D. Bradshaw



3. This book is a fun one to read to "meet" some real people in America's heartland. The history lesson is interesting too. I had no idea our country set up Army and Navy baseball teams for entertaining the troops. The sad story of his alcoholic decline rings true in so many lives, but the redemption through an unexpected friendship warms your heart. We all need to remember that our accomplishments do not define us.



4. I'm not a reader or a writer. I read this book word for word, cover to cover. My love, Sandy, bought it and hoped it would interest me. I have a passion for baseball and enjoy history. I also enjoy hearing about those who go after their dreams and fight off adversity.
   
   Playing with the Enemy...Wow! I couldn't put the book down. I finished at 12 midnight and had to email the author, Gary Moore. This book is not just for those who love baseball or enjoy history. It is a human interest story that teaches so much about life. It's also about a son who needed to know more about his fathers past.
   
   I volunteer at a high school and coach baseball. I will use much of what I read about Gene Moore when motivating players. It's the morning after reading the book. I've spent all morning emailing friends about Gene Moore. This includes baseball players, family and friends and anyone I know who enjoys reading a good book.
   
   You'll enjoy this book. I've always liked the slogan "baseball is life". For those who never had a passion for the game...read the book...you'll see what I mean.
   
   Earl Altshuler
   San Diego



5. This book is a wonderful read. You won't want to put it down until you have finished it. All of us can be inspired by Gene Moore's story. Even when dreams are dashed we can look around to see God's blessings in our lives. Sometimes it takes an "enemy" to point out our most precious gift - our family and their love for us. Don't delay. Read or listen to this book now.

2 comments about One Man's Mountains: Essays and Verses.

1. Tom is both a gifted climber and writer. If you like arm chair mountaineering books, and have read "the White spider" or any of the other North face of the Eiger climbing books you'll really love his take on that climb. Plus his climbers dictionary is just great. I second this opinion, buy this book!



2. Tom Patey not only climbed some wicked routes, but was an incredibly gifted and humorous writer, often in a self effacing manner. This is one of the best climbing books I have ever read. Three words: Buy this book!

5 comments about Fearless on Everest: The Quest for Sandy Irvine.

1. Frequently overshadowed by his mentor and climbing partner, George Mallory, Sandy Irvine is long overdue a biography worthy of his accomplishments. I can understand the frustration that people have with encountering someone not driven by ego or the incessant need to belittle others. In that respect perhaps Sandy is a bit too normal by modern standards and can be accused of being a little too nice. Nonetheless in his short life he still managed to accomplish some very great things and this book does a wonderful job of highlighting those moments. It is not perhaps all one could hope for in a study of the 1924 Everest Expedition but then no other book has set a suitably high standard to be considered authoritative. As a collection of data which many overlook this has to be considered a must read for the Everest fanatic.



2. I'm afraid I have to disagree with other reviewers of this book. The writing is often awkward and grammatically challenged (to use a current euphemism). And Sandy Irvine comes across as a rather ordinary young man, self centered, good at sports, and good with his hands, but lacking in any sort of intellectual sophistication. It was this very sophisitcation and intellectualism that made Mallory the interesting figure he remains. Had Mallory been a mere hearty, he would have far less interesting. In contrast to Mallory, Irvine strikes one as eactly what this biography tries to convince one he was not, i.e., a follower who had little idea of what Mallory was leading him into.

   Because of Irvine's commoness and the bad writing (Where oh where was an editor!?), this is hardly worth the time, and certainly not worth the money.




3. This is a very well-written and researched book. It provides an introspective and analytical look into the man of mystery on the expedition...Sandy Irvine. The photos, family anecdotes, and treasure trove of memorabilia recently discovered provided a full and satisfying read. You can't know all about the 1924 expedition until you know about what made Sandy Irvine tick.



4. Fearless On Everest: The Quest For Sandy Irvine is an intensely personal, candid, and informative account of the life of a young man who died at the age of 22 while on an expedition to climb Mt. Everest. Written with a narrative smoothness that completely engages the reader's attention, biographer and Irvine family member Julie Summers includes newly discovered letters and photographs and specifically addresses a long-debated question in mountaineering circles: Why did George Leigh Mallory choose the young, less-experienced Andrew Irvine as his partner on so hazardous an enterprise? Also very highly recommended for mountaineering enthusiasts are three related titles from Mountaineers Books addresses the doomed Mallory-Irvine expedition: Ghosts Of Everest: The Search For Mallory & Irvine (699-5, $.....); The Mystery Of Mallory & Irvine: Fully Revised Edition (726-6, $.....); The Wildest Dream: The Biography Of George Mallory (741-X, $......).



5. Julie Summers sensitive telling of the story of Sandy Irvine is not only a great read, but is written with intelligence, grace and wit. Irvine's personality looms large in the book, and the reader is easily captivated by his infectious personality. Explorer, lover, adventurer, journalist -- one can easily imagine Summer's Irvine on the silver sceen, portrayed by Harrison Ford or Mel Gibson. This wonderful book will be enjoyed by climbers, mountaineers, armchair explorers and laypeople alike. A real tour de force, the only question that arises after reading is: who is going to option it, and when is the movie coming out?