1 comments about Venezuelan Bust, Baseball Boom: Andres Reiner and Scouting on the New Frontier.

1. An amazing look inside the new frontier of baseball. Super scout Andres Reiner was ahead of his time.

1 comments about Richard Petty: Images of the King.

1. I bought this book for my husband and I don't think there is a night that goes by that he isn't flipping through it. If you are a true Petty fan, this is the book for you! The commentary is wonderful and the pictures are great.

5 comments about Hogan.

1. I found this incredible interview regarding how the game of Golf has changed over the years. You wouldn't believe the evolution! If you have any interest in the history of Golf, this is a must read. If you want to become even more knowledgeable on the subject, scroll to the bottom of the interview and get in touch with the author. After reading, I guarantee you will be able to lead the most interesting discussions and impress your friends!
   
   http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewroden.html



2. Curt Sampson has done a really fine job with this book ! I really like his idea to interview Valerie Hogan. Hogan wrote Power Golf NOT 5 fundementals, he brings this out in the book.



3. Few people, even non-golfers, can escape ever having heard of Ben Hogan. Maybe you don't know exactly who he was, but the name is oddly familiar.
   
   To golfers, Ben Hogan is as close to legend as anything. Other players, even Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods, lack the mystique which has encompassed Hogan, even many years after his death.
   
   What few of us know is just who he was. This information may not be so pertinant to people who play the game, since they are mostly interested in his swing. However, anyone who has touched even in a small way on part of his career realizes the great mysteries that lie in his life and being.
   
   "Hogan" may not answer everything satisfactorily, but it comes as close as any are likely to get. This covers his life in as much informative detail as could be needed, and presents Hogan not so much in a less-than-glamorous light, as is common to biographies, but rather in a "judge for yourself" presentation of evidence for what made the man what he became.
   
   Anyone curious about this modern legend will get more than he bargains for. Where perhaps the book does not go into his game to the extent golfers may want, the story of Hogan's life is engaging enough without it.



4. In my very large golf library this is clearly the best book on golf
   I have read period. For the first time you get an insight into the "wie ice mon" in what reads like a novel.



5. When I was growing up the names of Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, Player, and their generation were the top competitors. Ben Hogan was a revered name, but one of past glory. His great year of 1953 was in the past. I had heard about his auto accident and his amazing comeback, but this book helped me see the man who "dug it out of the dirt" through hard work, discipline, and ferocious tenacity.

   Mr. Hogan started out with less than most. His father's suicide and the family's subsequent poverty didn't leave him with many open paths to success. He found golf and found that it not only matched his physical skills, but was an even better match for his nearly obsessive temperament.

   The swing he developed has become the pattern millions of us try to emulate, although he would find our haphazard approach to the game less than useless. Why we love being duffers would be beyond him. He knew how to work and to practice. I still cannot fathom the kind of internal strength it would take to come back from that terrible leg shattering accident when his Cadillac was struck by a bus. He played in great pain for the rest of his life and had four surgeries on his left shoulder. When I realize that his greatest achievements and most of his wins at major tournaments were after the accident I am simply dumbstruck.

   Mr. Hogan was a very private and enigmatic figure. Mr. Sampson does a good job in teasing what facts we know into a good story. We get interesting stories from the golf side of his life (mostly stories told about Hogan by others) and those are very enjoyable. However, I like the way Mr. Sampson puts all that in the context of a real person - a real man. Ben Hogan wasn't a fictional character even though the media version of him was a distortion of the actual hard working man who practiced, practiced, and then practiced some more, who loved his wife, Valerie, and built a successful golf equipment business.

   Ben Hogan made a long journey through life and I think this book tells the story well.

5 comments about Growing Up Hockey: The Life and Times of Everyone Who Ever Loved the Game.

1. The book reads fast--each story pulls you into the next one. Take it to the arena and read it while you wait for your kid's practice to start. You'll find you have to read on when you get home. You get to really like the kid/person portrayed in the book.



2. Brian Kennedy's Growing Up Hockey will take you back to the playground, reminding you of the politics of childhood. For Brian, this meant having the right hockey stick and having the rare hockey cards. But do not be fooled. This book is not just for hockey fans. Anyone can relate. As kids, we all wanted to be able to brag to our friends about our possessions or our accomplishments. And those things we loved as children we often take with us as adults. This is what this book is all about.
   
   And the writing style? Brian writes in a way that makes it hard to put the book down. He does not waste words, but he gives all the detail needed. I read the book in three days, even after having to steal it back from my wife.



3. "Growing Up Hockey" is about a little boy, this one a real-life hockey player named Brian Kennedy. If you enjoyed "A Christmas Story" and love hockey, you'll be glad to know that reading Kennedy's account of his love affair with hockey is like listening to Ralphie Parker talk about his obsession for a Red Ryder BB gun. The major difference is that Kennedy schemes for not a rifle to fend off Black Bart but rather a hockey stick with a banana curve and then a Ken Dryden hockey card so that he can boast to his playground pals. You read this story, and you'll boast to your hockey friends that you've read the funniest hockey book you've read in years.



4. Brian Kennedy's story of the average hockey lover/player growing up in Canada is one I think everyone who loves hockey will enjoy. Growing Up Hockey chronicles Mr. Kennedy's life as he grew up in Canada and later went to the US and England for school or work. Although I grew up in the US, where hockey was not the main sport, I enjoyed reading about what life is like for those who grow up with hockey as an integral part of their lives.
   
   It's great that the US has so many options, but I found myself wishing I knew what it was like to be able to discuss hockey with almost anyone around. Since I've been a fan of hockey, I've always had a couple friends who enjoy the game about as much as I do, but it would be something else to experience an environment where those who did not follow hockey were the exception.
   
   Mr. Kennedy's detailed account of his life growing up with hockey as a central influence is very interesting. He tells stories about playing hockey, watching hockey, hockey cards, living without being able to see much hockey, the differences between the NHL and ENL (in England), and life in Canada. I couldn't recommend this book more for anyone in your life who loves hockey!



5. My husband bought this book and I was curious about it when I read the title. I started reading and just couldn't stop. This is a book full of memories and moments that stayed in the mind of the narrator, and they take us (as readers) back to our own memories. These stories made me think about friends in the playground, about that one fleeting moment of athletic success and how it feels to be so close to my dreams of glory. Reading story after story reminded me about that past that we very often take for granted and easily forget, but that will always be a series of defining moments that make us who we are. It's also gratifying to read where the narrator ended up, since he reflects also on his own present life. I am not a hockey fan, but I enjoy good stories, especially when they're written in a way that grabs you.

3 comments about Steve Scott the Miler: America's Legendary Runner Talks About His Triumphs and Trials.

1. I can understand why the general public didn't buy this book. It's appeal is to those of us who have undergone the "Trial of Miles." Like Once a Runner's Cassidy, Scott gave it everything and sacrificed much, as did his family. Yet, like Cassidy, he didn't win the Gold, so the ignorant have forgotten him. Even so, he should be remembered for his dedication to the sport and his willingness to give everything, to be the front runner, to not hide until the final lap, so, like Prefontaine, he is an inspiration to runners. A very good book. I wish him and his family well.
   John Matney
   Oregon, 81



2. Near the end of his autobiography, Steve Scott talks about running in the National Cross Country Championships in Montana (there are pictures of the race in the book). It was 4 degreees and snowy. Scott was past his prime as one of the greatest milers in the world. He didn't need to run the race; few World Class milers run serious 10K cross country at any time, let alone in their declining years. But Steve Scott loves to run. He loves to train very hard and run very fast. He finished 10th that day, not far behind distance greats like Pat Porter and Todd Williams, and just a few seconds away from qualifying as a member of the U.S. team for the World Cross Counttry Championships. Afterwards he overheard a couple of young runners talking. One said, in obvious surprise, "Did you see Steve Scott finished 10th? I thought he'd retired." His friend responded, "I thought he was dead."
   Well Steve Scott ain't dead folks, and I'll bet wherever he is right now he's still running far and fast. Scott's autobiography is hard to find now. It never caught on the way some of the books for joggers did - or those about another Steve: Prefontaine. But read Scott's book if you can find it. Serious runners will love it and even joggers will be fascinated by its honesty and by the character - in both senses of the word - that Scott reveals. Jim Ryun remains the legendary American miler, but he would have been 30 meters behind Scott in their best races. Ryun gave up the sport in his early 20s because he couldn't handle the pressure; Scott raced at the highest levels for 20 years.
   With the help of Marc Bloom, the longtime dedicated chronicler of Cross Country and Track, Scott helps us understand his love for running and for being really fit. He was "Pre" without the sharp edges. He deserves to be better known and more honored. But even if that never happens, no one can ever take away what he accomplsihed. The numbers - 3:47.69, and 136 sub-4:00s - will stand for as long as runners circle the track for four laps.



3. The sport of track and field has only a limited audience in the U.S. American athletes typically receive recognition only after setting a world record or winning an Olympic gold medal. Steve Scott, America's top miler throughout the 1980s, did neither. In his book, The Miler, Scott writes of a running career in which he unquestionably was America's best miler (his U.S. record of 3:47.69, set in 1982, still stands), and certainly one of the world's best (10 consecutive years ranked among the world's top 10 milers by Track & Field News). Yet without a world record or Olympic gold medal to his credit, Scott remained virtually unknown outside the small U.S. track and field community. The Miler traces Scott's reluctant beginnings as a high school runner, his development into a national-class competitor in college, and his emergence as a world-class racer. Along the way we're treated to profiles of Scott's leading international competitors, all icons in the history of the mile: John Walker, Eamonn Coghlan, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Said Aouita. Scott beat them all, but not in either of the two races -- the '84 or '88 Olympics -- which would have brought him the recognition and financial rewards that accompany a gold medal. The Miler is not simply a book about running. Scott details the struggles he faced to support his wife and kids early in his career, when track and field was still regarded as an "amateur" sport. Scott also writes frankly of the toll the nomadic career of a track and field athlete exacted upon his marriage. Although it probably was cathartic for Scott to write these passages, it is uncomfortable for even a dedicated track & field fan to read. Despite this, I admire Scott for his willingness to write something other than the puff pieces that frequently pass for the biographies of famous athletes. He deals frankly with some of track and fields' unsavory elements -- unscrupulous meet promoters, under-the-table payments, agents, drugs, stars avoiding races with potential rivals, and track's governing bodies -- and isn't afraid of putting himself in the middle of situations that don't frame him in the best light. In fact, perhaps in an effort to balance his career's many triumphs, he frequently seems to come down too hard on himself. He writes extensively of his failures at the Olympics, but covers the race in which he set the American record for the mile in a few paragraphs. He takes great pride in having run more sub-4 minute miles (136) than any miler in history, but dwells more on how another runner, John Walker, beat him to the "media friendly" 100th sub-4 mile goal. I would have liked to have read more of his numerous triumphs, and less of his real or perceived shortcomings. Scott also write of the challenge of, and eventual triumph over, his most formidable opponent: cancer. The story of his recovery from testicular cancer and return to competition demonstrates that sheer force of will, more than physical ability, is the true mark of a champion. The Miler certainly will appeal to fans of track & field. But it should also find a wider audience among those who are curious as to the challenges, costs and rewards that come to those who strive for world class status in any field. For in The Miler Scott shows himself to be a winner not only on the track, but also in the ongoing race called life.

5 comments about Before the Glory: 20 Baseball Heroes Talk About Growing Up and Turning Hard Times into Home Runs.

1. Great book. Meet the author at a Nationals basebaal game. He has been great e-mailing my son to talk about the book and baseball.



2. this is delightful reading. There are stories told by the subjects -- and some of them are great story-tellers -- then narratives by the authors summing up each subject's life and career.
   
   This is certainly inspirational in the sense of overcoming obstacles, but it isn't icky. The obstacles include racial prejudice, poverty, health, etc and the subjects range from long-retired players (Mudcat Grant retired after the 1971 season) to current ones (Juan Pierre). The lessons are really aimed at the young adult audience, but as an adult I am enjoying it also.
   
   A fun read!



3. This book was great fun and appeals to baseball fans of all ages.
   
   It comprises 20 true life stories of baseball players (and one executive) from various eras, allowing the reader to jump around if he chooses selecting to read first the stories of players he remembers best. You really get a sense of each player's personality, making it a quick and fascinating read!



4. This book is one of the greatest books I have read in a while. I could not put it down once I started to read it. I recommend this for all people, especially baseball fans! Each Chapter is exciting and worded just perfect. All in all, this is a fabulous read and an all-around good book!!!



5. Amazing what the authors coaxed out of their interview subjects. Baseball greats like Whitey Ford share childhood memories likely never before committed to print. In the case of some, like Ron LeFlore, they're not just memories, but admissions.
   
   Since the players covered range from Hall of Fame greats to today's stars, there's something for fans of all ages. My son is consuming this book as fast as I am.
   
   In fact, "Before the Glory" walks in the Sasquatch-sized footsteps of one of baseball's first great classic books: "The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It" by Lawrence Ritter (published in 1966). It was an oral history of the likes of Rube Marquard and Smoky Joe Wood.
   
   I wouldn't be surprised if "Before the Glory" comes to occupy the same cherished place in readers' minds as "The Glory of Their Times" did in mine. A great gift for any young baseball player -- as well as yourself.

5 comments about Gorilla Suit: My Adventures In Bodybuilding.

1. I have been into bodybuilding for a few years now, and own a small library of bodybuilding books. Other than Samuel Fussell, however, Bob Paris' book is the only one that REALLY gives insight into the world of bodybuilding. He lays it all bare, and pulls no punches. Everything is here; the training, the drugs, the lifestyle. And all the famous faces are here too: Arnold, Joe Weider, etc, and Mr. Paris has no quips about writing the reality of how he was treated (gay or not) under the empire of the IFBB. For a raw view into the bodybuilding lifestyle, you can't do any better than this book. As Fussell himself said, "Paris is the only bodybuilder with biceps and balls." And he nailed it.



2. Back in the late 80's I was seriously into weight training/bodybuilding on the average of 5 or more days per week. I did it for the sheer love of doing it, not as someone with competitive aspirations (or the right genetics for bodybuilding even if I had aspirations:))
   
   I bought many books on bodybuilding, starting w/ Arnold's (no last name necessary) encyclopedia. I also spent a small fortune buying up muscle mags each month like crazy. While certainly Arnold was one of my favorites of all time (I still think no one can touch him regarding the combination of size and symmetry he had), the guys I could relate to the most back then were primarily the symmetry guys like Zane, Nubret, LaBrada, Benfatto and Bob Paris. If I could have picked a body to have for myself, those would have been the types of models I'd have chosen rather than the Lee Haney's or Dorian Yates type of physique.
   
   I remember all those years ago, reading Bob's "coming out of the closet" story in Ironman. I was probably as surprised as everyone else was. It didn't change my positive opinion of him as a bodybuilder or person (from what I had read about him) in any way. In fact after the surprise wore off I had to commend him for having the sheer guts to do what he did (for the record I am a heterosexual male but not a homophobic one). He had to know it was going to upset the powers that be (ie. the Weider empire).
   
   I recently took Bob's book, "Gorilla Suit", out from my library and I was really impressed, once more, with his candor. I also found his life story to be very interesting. The story of a lost soul searching to find his path in the world. His innocence regarding the nature of the field of bodybuilding and his desire to achieve his dreams was compelling to me.
   
   I didn't find this book to be a sour grapes thing at all. In fact in the end of the book he says that the best feeling he ever had in his life was when he was announced the winner of his major titles. Still, the fact is that he revealed a lot of what IS wrong w/ bodybuilding. All one has to do is look at the physiques in the current magazines to see how obviously "juiced up" these guys are.
   
   They've taken a sport that could be so inspirational and motivational to so many people and have turned it into a freak show of sorts, taking it into very unhealthy realm. The extreme use of drugs in most professional bodybuilding shows (w/rare natural shows being a tiny minority) has given these athletes physiques that are not human looking. I commend Bob for always remaining true to his vision of what a body could look like. Even when he used drugs to stay competitive he looked more like a statue of a Greek God rather than a cartoon super hero.
   
   One point I'd like to end with. I read the book "muscle" many years ago by that fellow Fussel. While that was certainly an interesting take on the bodybuilding scene, there is one factor that I can't ignore when looking at that compared w/ the Paris book. Bob Paris was a world class bodybuilder, he had been pretty high up on the mountain and speaks from inside the bodybuilding world from that perspective whereas Fussel was a non-entity in the bodybuilding world.
   
   While that doesn't invalidate Fussel's book, I just find that Paris' book just has that extra credibility factor by being written by a guy who was a major player in the field regardless of whether he won the Olympia or not. Let's face it, in a field as subjective as bodybuilding it's hard to say that someone is the best because best isn't etched in stone. Franco Columbu certainly could have possibly beaten Arnold at least one time if they were both the same height, and Lee Labrada (in my opinion) could have done the same to Lee Haney at least a couple of time if he were Lee's height.
   
   Anyway, I think that Bob Paris tells a riveting story of his life in the world of bodybuilding. It's only his personal perspective, but I came away from it feeling that he was completely honest in how things unfolded for him.
   
   Also, while he criticizes Joe Weider (he's not the only one, even Arnold in "Education Of A Bodybuilder" speaks of the fact that Joe Weider had no problem buying a steak dinner for a competitor one day and then screwing him in a business deal the next), he also credits Joe as well with the success he had as a bodybuilder. Some reviews tried to make it as if Bob does nothing but rag on Weider and that's not the case at all. From all accounts, Weider and his brother Ben have a monopoly in the bodybuilding world and that is not healthy for ANY profession.
   
   Highly recommended!



3. "Gorilla Suit" is the name Bob Paris gives his set of fabulous muscles.
   
   I really, REALLY enjoyed this book! We get the run down from Bob starting off as an awkward teenager finding the weights room in his high school gym, unused and dusty when he goes looking for a fan for a teacher. He lifts a few weights, likes the way he feels then starts training. From there we read about his trip to LA, to the 'big gyms' like World Gym and Gold's, where Arnie et al are working out. It is really is a rags to riches story, as when he first goes to LA he is sleeping in the back of his car.
   
   Bob Paris takes on the titles of Mr LA, Mr California right up to his dream title, Mr Universe, the same spot Arnold Schwartzenegger occupied.
   
   Most interesting in this book is Bob's struggle with Joe Weider -apparently the man, his companies and IFBB (international Federation of Body Building) were all inter-related and competitions quite political. Bodybuilders survived on endorsement contracts from supplement companies, and at the time Weider's companies had a monopoly on the industry and bodybuilders. Amazingly too, most bodybuilders took copious amounts of drugs and steroids, until I read this book I naively had no idea.
   
   And Bob's story is personal too, his struggle with the discipline of maintaining his 'gorilla suit', relationships and being true to himself in an industry that isn't -is fascinating.
   
   Definitely a keeper.



4. Bob Paris takes the chance to tell us his personal story as well as the evolution of the bodybuilding world in the last twenty years. "Gorilla suit" is a very well written autobiography, with an unusual sensitivity. Paris takes a boldly stance against some of the worst sides of bodybuilding, and he doesn't mince words against some of the people involved as well. The author tells us his life very candidly: his struggle against the odds to win his way in the competitions, the use of steroids, the people who tried to cheat him and the ones that helped him. I found in this book many thought-provoking passages, but in the same time the style is clean and easy to read. Bob Paris has been successful in life AND in bodybuilding with his own personal style.



5. This is the story of Bob Paris and his rise in the bodybuilding world. The book starts from his earliest days as a child in Indiana coming across muscle magazines and tinkering with weights. The book then takes us later to California where Bob struggles and hits upon some VERY difficult times. Right when you think he can't go anymore he manages to start winning some bodybuilding shows and enjoying a certain level of success. Unfortunately, things are never as pretty as they seem. The Weiders (Joe and Ben) have controlled bodybuilding for years and did so at the writing of this book. Since they owned most of the major magazines in the sport that offered any kind of publicity and also ran the IFBB federation it was best to stay on their good side. There are many stories of them keeping an athlete's money, taking back certain promises, and basically running a monopoly of the sport. Bob had difficulties with Joe Weider from the start, which probably were only worsened by the fact that Bob was gay. At the time most publications (whether they admitted it or not) did not want an openly gay man in their magazines. Nevertheless Bob grew disillusioned with the sport partly because of the Weider's and also partly because of ethical issues such as drug use within the sport. It's a shame because even though he did manage to win some big amateur contests he never really fully achieved his potential as a pro.
   Therefore, he eventually decided to walk away but did leave us with details of his career in the form of this book.
   The one problem I had with the book is that I would have liked for it to be a little more developed. I also didn't really care for the style that bounces back and forth from the present to the past but I still thought it was a good read.
   It's a very eye-opening book about the bodybuilding world that is sure to touch your emotions in one way or another.

5 comments about The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports.

1. Suprisingly good. Love well-researched books, and Brian obviously invested a good deal of time and effort putting this one together. As a sports fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.



2. Brian Kilmeade intrigues me on TV. He is witty, fast thinking, well informed, and personable.
   
   In my judgment, his book covered a worthwhile topic--the impact of athletics on the lives of participants, even those who don't become star performers.
   
   As an avid sports fan, I welcomed several wise observations like this statement from George Will, one of the celebrities profiled: "Baseball--it's a cliche, but like a lot of cliches, it's true--is a game of failure. The best hitter in baseball in a given year fails more than 60 percent of the time. If you bat .350, you've failed 65 percent of the time. Ted Williams batted .406 in 1941, which means he failed to get a hit roughly 60 percent of the time. In any given year, the best team in baseball walks off the field beaten about sixty times. It's a very difficult game and a game of failure. That doesn't mean that some people aren't a whole lot better than others. And everyone was a whole lot better than I was most of the time."
   
   However, because so many of the people Brian Kilmeade featured say practically the same thing, I suggest that he would have produced a more appealing book if he had eliminated the duplications. Through careful editing, he could have given us half as much material that would have carried twice as much impact.
   
   The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!



3. The author's high profile job got me to buy his book, as I watch his morning news program everyday. I was happy to find that the book stands alone as an inspiring weaving of interesting true stories from celebrities on how sports impacted their lives.
   
   Kilmeade did a great job of getting the biggest names of our time to share their victories and defeats, and how those experiences shaped their paths toward success.
   
   This is an upbeat book that will touch your soul. A great gift for teenagers.



4. I originally purchased this book for my husband. After reading it myself, I decided that it would also make the perfect Christmas gift for every guy on my list. I gave 11 of these books that Christmas. I have never received such heartfelt and enthusiastic thank you's for my gifts as I did from gifting "The Games Do Count". My son and nephews in college especially appreciated this book, as it (1) consists of many great, individual short stories and (2) with their busy college schedules, this book was the perfect choice for some quick, enjoyable down-time reading.



5. THIS MAY A GOOD BOOK BUT THE AUTHOR IS STILL A POMPOUS ARROGANT JERK. AND HE IS NOT AT ALL FUNNY.

5 comments about The Naked Mountain.

1. Reinhold Messner is of course a legend in mountaineering. This book recounts his climb of Nanga Parbat in 1970 with his brother Gunther and a team formed by Dr. Karl Maria Herligkoffer. It is really Messner's explanation of the events that led to Gunther's death on the mountain, illumintated by his grief over the loss of his beloved brother. Of course the disputes over these events will never be resolved, many of the participants are now dead, but Naked Mountain is an act of contrition and catharsis for Messner more that a readable tale of adventure. The language seems somewhat dated and artificial, but I suspect this is due to translation issues. Overall I would rate this book a moderate plus for readers of mountaineering literature.



2. I read this book in one setting, it was so mesmerizing and engaging. The pictures are exquisite. The historical perspective laid a wonderful foundation for the tale of Reinhold and his brother Gunther. The sheer will to live is astonishing.



3. This is a much awaited book as Messner tells his side of what happened on the Nanga Parbut expedition that killed his brother in 1970. The book mentioned that as a condition for the tour, climbers were required to sign Confidentiality Documents that they would not discuss the climb keeping the expedition organizer from being subject to criticism. This gentleman was mountain obsessed as his half brother had died on the mountain years earlier. He also was not a climber which set him up for criticism as the real climbers downgraded the organization work necessary to mount this expedition. He has since passed on which I suspect is one reason the book has now been written.
   
   One must remember that this is a biased report by Messner but I don't think unbelievable. He gives him and his brother credit for the massive hauling and camp building only to be told at summit strategy that he is on the assault team but his beloved brother is not.
   
   What happens next as he attempts to summit and surprisingly is followed by a late attempt by his brother is controversial, dangerous and makes for exceptional reading. From Messner's standpoint without a rescue crew coming they descend down the backside of the mountain as it is their only option with limited equipment but creates another set of problems. An interesting section of the book is after Messner descends but must communicate with villagers as he is near death.
   
   Overall, I would encourage anyone to read this book that likes mountaineering stories. It's written by a controversial, master climber. The book also is littered with pictures of the mountain which are quite striking.



4. I've been impatiently waiting for this book to be written for decades and have a million thanks to offer Reinhold, for finally seeing this project through to completion. In order to understand my perspective, you should realize that once upon a time, I was an armchair mountaineer, raised on classics such as Annapurna and Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage. The latter was my introduction to the bizarre and confusing Dr. Herlingkoffer, organizer of many Himalayan expeditions, some of them among the most controversial in the history of high altitude mountaineering. Reinhold Messner became a force to be reckoned with in the world of climbing in the '60s. When I read of the disaster on Nanga Parbat, it was like deja vu all over again, with claims and counter-claims, lawsuits and feeling spoonfed with the official expedition account that obviously left out key facts.

   As time passed, I didn't feel that the press treated Reinhold fairly. I wanted to know all the facts and to hear his side of the story. One could find snippets here and there, but his economical writing style has always been a bit cold and detached to say the least. But I recognized the man for what he was, followed his career and read everything he wrote. As those years passed, I kept wondering if he'd ever back up and write about the expedition that changed his life forever - with the kind of detail and insight it deserved.

   Karl Herlingkoffer passed on a few years ago and maybe this book's appearance is linked to his death. Regardless, it's long overdue but in a way, it was worth the wait. Time is often required to gain insightful perspective, to dull the rough edges and to heal wounds. The loss of his brother and the resulting lies that condemned Reinhold to a life of controversy also gave him an incredible focus. Clearly, he had something to prove to the mountaineering community and he proved his points well. It's easy to point out climbers that have upped the ante after Reinhold passed his prime, but any realistic overview of the history of big, bold climbs would point to Reinhold as being a prime force in shaping the standards of today in the Himalaya and the other major ranges. It's great to now be able to read the facts, the feelings and the aftermath as he sees it. Absolute classic.




5. A superior book. I know it's a bit a stretch to hear "Messner" and "Classic book" in the same sentence but this one could be destined to rank among the all-time great mountaineering books. Over the years, Messner has written many books on some not-so-interesting topics but until now had shyed away from recounting the most fascinating and tragic event of his legendary mountaineering career - namely the 1970 first (and still only) ascent of the massive Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat and the subsequent death of his brother Gunther during the descent of the Diamar Face. This book is at times reminiscent of Maurice Herzog's "Annapurna" and Joe Simpson's "Touching the Void" at others. The writing style is pure Messner so if you've found his work difficult to digest in the past, you may find yourself disappointed. But if you appreciate a great mountain tale that has triumph, tragedy, anger, controversy and an outstanding historical perspective, you could find yourself spellbound by this one.

   The first part of the book is dedicated to the early attempts on Nanga Parbat and Hermann Buhl's solo first ascent of "The Naked Mountain" in 1953. This all ties in nicely with Messner's expedition chronicle as the Buhl and Messner expeditions were both led by Dr. Karl Herrligkoffer, who just so happens to have been the half brother of Willy Merkl after whom many of the features of Nanga Parbat are named. Unlike say "The Second Death of George Mallory," there is nothing contrived about this book. The recollection of events in June 1970 is interlaced with quotes from Felix Kuhn and Karl Herrligkoffer as well as letters and journal entries from Gunther Messner. Mountaineering writing at its best.

5 comments about I Ain't Got Time to Bleed: Reworking the Body Politic from the Bottom Up.

1. Jesse Ventura has had an interesting life, and he wants to tell you about it. He has been a US Navy SEAL, a professional wrestler, and surprisingly, a Governor of Minnesota.
   
   Ventura is a six feet four inches tall and has been an athlete for a long time. He seems to be physically imposing. However his autobiography makes him seem like an intellectual light weight. He became Governor as part of the Reform party. Ross Perot had caused a surge of interest in an alternative to the Democrats and Republicans.
   
   Despite having served as a Governor he offers us few political insights. We learn that there are too many laws, and that people need to be responsible for themselves. I don't think we needed Jesse for that. You would think a political outsider might be able to offer some fresh perspective. The only thing I found surprising about the book is that Ventura seems astonished by gotcha journalism. What did he expect?
   
   I was hoping for more. In the end there is nothing much to the book.



2. Jesse the Body had an unconventional career before being a politician, so he's able to take risks in disclosing his background and ideas in a manner very refreshing in today's political arena. Jesse starts with his background in the Navy, moves on to his life as a wrestler, and lastly the motivation behind his entrance into politics. The pop-autobiography shows a few more warts than most in the genre, perhaps due to Ventura's security with his persona and life. All in all it's a very fun ride!



3. The Jesse Ventura story is an example of the American Dream where an average man can push himself into places that he never would have thought that he would go.
   
   Ventura was a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, then became a professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, radio host, Mayor and then Governor of Minneapolis.
   
   Ventura writes pretty well and tells it the way he thinks it is (which is ok, everyone should have an opinion).
   
   Perhaps the only point that I would like to make is that it appears a very political book - not as in discussing politics (from which he makes some good points) but the rhetoric about not running for President. He mentions it a few times throughout the book, almost as if he wants us to think about him in the role and to start to generate support for the White House bid. It just seemed to me to be a little self-serving. That is a minor point though and could be just my imagination.
   
   All in all, a readable book and worth the time.



4. This work is written in a simple and uncomplicated conversational
   style. The author discusses the desirability of raising money
   modestly and the judicious use of television time in campaigning.
   Governor Ventura is in favor of term limits, legal reform,
   low taxes and the consumption tax. The beauty of the consumption
   tax is that it penalizes excess consumption and frivolous
   purchases. The author would have the government refund budget
   surpluses. In addition, people should not be driven off their
   land due to increasing tax valuations. New York's Harlem is
   becoming unaffordable to people who've lived there for generations.
   
   The author urges us to improve public education and basic
   literacy. He asks that we make math/science relevant and
   involve parents in the schooling process. Reduced class size
   and student work-study programs provide additional enhancements to the learning environment. The internet is a tremendous
   tool for learners according to the author.
   
   Ultimately, Americans are pioneers and visionaries. This is our
   basic strength as a country. To continue prospering, we should
   build upon these strengths.



5. The title of Jesse Ventura's memoir is taken from his famous line he delivered in the movie Predator. It is a great mantra for a former Navy SEAL, pro-wrestler, and man-of-the-people elected official. Once you get through the first chapter that explains Ventura's views on the issues of the day, the rest is an absorbing, humorous, truthful, and motivating memoir of a true tough guy who can put his money where his mouth is.
   
   Jesse tells all in this memoir. When he was a young man, he worked hard, and played hard. Drinking and sex are included here. My eyebrows went up a few times. It is clear he is not covering anything up in order to look squeaky clean.
   
   Anyone who reads this book will wish there were a million more Jesses holding political office, instead of the Democrat/Republican factory of career politicians who are addicted to power. I never seriously considered the validity or need for a third political party until I read this book.