Sports Books

It can be a little bittersweet for a big harness racing fan to read this book. Realizing that the sport was, for a while, the most popular sport in America is sort of jarring to your psyche as you look at the empty grandstands and the same aging faces you have seen for years.

The book does a splendid job of capturing the lost history of Dan Patch, a pacer who set the world on fire during that time and is now all but forgotten by the public, as is the sport he dominated. I am a college history instructor, and as a test I asked my class to raise their hand if they knew who Dan Patch was...nobody did. One of the strengths of the book is that it is in the end a story about people more than about horses. Not an uplifting story though, as Dan Patch's owners and trainers were a sordid and greedy bunch. Supposedly there is a movie in development starring Emilio Estevez...if they try to make this a happy story like Seabiscuit, they will be missing the point entirely.

Best of the many Dan Patch biographies. Charles Leerhsen brings out the real story, warts and all. He uses his experience as a sports writer and author to tell the story in such a way that it can be understood by everyone, harness racing fan or not. It also tells a history of an America almost no history classes touch on. America was on the edge of going from a rural to urban nation. Horse ownership was far greater than automobile ownership and everyone knew who Dan Patch was.

THIS BOOK TAKES YOU BACK TO A TIME IN AMERICA WHEN HORSE WAS KING,THE AUTHOR REALLY DID HIS HOMEWORK AND THE RE-CREATIONS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE THERE.EVEN A BIG DAN PATCH FAN LIKE MYSELF,LEARNED A FEW NEW THINGS ABOUT THE HORSE,HIS OWNER AND THAT TIME IN AMERICA.ITS A VERY GOOD READ AND COULD EASILY BE SCRIPTED INTO A MOVIE.DAN PATCH WAS REALLY THE FIRST ATHLETE MARKETED TO SELL PRODUCTS AND SELL HE DID,YOU WILL WANT TO READ HIS AMAZING STORY.

Crazy Good is a wonderful insight into life that is very different than today, but also in many ways, still the same. I am an avid harness racing owner and hands on participant in the sport, therefore I found the story fascinating. There are many parallels in today's world with the same types and personalities of owners, drivers, and trainers and I found this very entertaining. Any fan of horse racing will especially love this book. If you're looking for a Disney ending, beware, this one doesn't end quite the way you would like.

The story of Dan Patch is a terrific one, and deserves to be told for many reasons, but this book unfortunately reads like an SI article on steroids (no surprise, really). Leerhsen's "pop" bend simply doesn't serve the subject well. (As homework, I'd suggest that he re-read Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" for a master class in how it can be done.)

Also, it's too bad that Leerhsen isn't more able to downplay his apparent distain for Midwesterners throughout the narrative or control his snarky "insider" asides. It just doesn't add to the tale.

My biggest fear is that this is a simply story that waited too long to be fully told...eyewitnesses are dead, earlier attempts to chronicle the life and legend of Dan Patch are woefully underwhelming, records (and memories) are sketchy.

Dan Patch deserves better.

"Make your blood boil?...Well, I should say."

It contains anything you need to improve your game if you are beginner to intermidate.

I have been playing golf for 2 months (took lessons,pored over videos on internet,read many books including Hogan's,Hank Haney's,Leadbetter's, read golf magazines such as Golf Digest and Golf Tips) and I would say this book is one I take to the practice range. At the end of each practice session,I write down a list of what went right and what went wrong. I then flip through the section that covers my problem (the book is well organized for that),learn the drill,fixes and comments on that. Next session,I implement it. It almost always helps.
2 points:Since still pictures and wording can leave a few things unclear, you might have to look up additional sources such as another book/video/professional once in a while. Secondly, as another reviewer noted, in one or two places in the book (of nearly 150 pages),there is what seems to be contradictory advice (one instructor says start high, another says low). In a few other places where you think the same thing's happening,upon careful reading,the shots are slightly different.
Overall, an excellent bargain. You can buy the book alone without DVD for less than 12 bucks. Even better deal as the DVD is limited.

This book has definitely helped me focus on my grip, swing, and other areas that I need to improve my game. Would have like to have seen a better dvd associated with it. The dvd lessons are quite short, otherwise the instructions in the book are great and the pictures they use are quite clear. Good book for those looking to improve their game!

I don't know if it is "The Best Instruction Book Ever" as I have only read a few but it is most certainly informative and well set out. The many pictures are very helpful and clarify the instructions. The way the book is set out makes it very quick and easy to look up . I think it would be helpful to most levels of golfers.I think value for money, it is excellent.

Ive just started dabbling in golf- I've picked up an inexpensive set of clubs and wanted to get the basics down before I started to retain any bad habits- and this book has helped my practices become more productive. Each page is filled with large pictures and easy to understand descriptions. The only downside is that the book is filled with tips from multiple golf pros- and some of the tips seem to contradict those from other golf pros within the book.

If you have not yet discovered Don Winslow, this is a great way to start. I first stumbled upon "The Winter of Frankie Machine" and was hooked. Winslow creates great characters who are so fully developed with back stories that you are helpless not to care about what happens to them. His pacing is crisp and fast and his staccato-like chapters ultimately suck you into his characters' lives and into his clever plotting.

The Dawn Patrol consists of 5 guys and a gal in San Diego who, despite their real world jobs, still meet at dawn to ride the surf and keep life as simple as possible while interweaving their past with their futures. Each of the six is fleshed out by Winslow as the narrative progresses and each contributes in some way to furthering the plot and/or developing the characterizations of the others.

Boone Daniels, a former member of the SDPD who carries some heavy baggage, is now a PI who works just enough to survive in the lifstyle he has chosen. Petra, an aggressive aspiring attorney, approaches him about helping to find a key witness. While not sure he even likes Petra's character and while concerned he may miss the biggest set of waves to hit Southern California in years, Boone reluctantly accepts the assignment mainly because he needs the money but ultimately because he seeks redemption for an incident in his past.

A dead body thrown off a hotel balcony, the appearance of a powerful "friend" (Red Eddie) who bears veiled threats, a strip club bad ass intent on finding the missing witness first, and the emergence of a number of shady and interesting characters all begin to intertwine as the plot picks up speed.

A second, much more despicable "Dawn Patrol" emerges as the plot thickens and the mystery and suspense ratchets up several notches. Just past the halfway point, the narrative picks up speed and the book becomes difficult to put down. While the ending and denouement may be somewhat expected, it is nevertheless exciting to ride it out.

Also of considerable interest to me was the history and backgrouond Winslow paints for the reader. The whole surfing phenomena from its earliest roots and stars in California up to the present day surfing legends is presented in an interesting manner as is the whole subculture that developed with the sport including the music, the stylings, and the drugs etc. Equally, Winslow depicts the historical growth of San Diego along with other areas of interest including the PCH, La Jolla, Del Mar, and the ever present strip clubs.

Lastly, do not overlook the deeper psychological conflicts between and among the Dawn Patrol as they interact based on their past together yet are confronted with current issues that may pull each of them apart from the whole in very different ways. Will "The Dawn Patrol" survive the challenges thrown at them in this well written, must-read novel?

This is a writer coming into his own. Two great books by Winslow in a row: Frankie Machine and this one. More beautiful writing, interesting characters, great history of surfing ... Loved every word; can't wait for the next one.

This is the first book that I've read by Don Winslow, and it will not be my last. This was one great wave! His descriptive style and short chapters are perfect for this type of fast paced story. Winslow has the ability to jump around to different characters within the novel without creating confusion. Very smooth reading. The action and quirky characters do remind one of Elmore Leonard's novels and that's a good thing. The main character, full-time surfer and part-time P.I. Boone Daniels is one that many men wish they could be and one that women would love to be with. You will find yourself thinking "Man, I would love to surf and hang with The Dawn Patrol". This is one of those rare books that you hate to see end.

Break out your Surfbonics-to-English Dictionary and chill with Don Winslow in "Dawn Patrol", a slick novel of SoCal's surf culture cleverly wrapped in an engaging mystery.

Boone Daniels is the ultimate California surfer stereotype: lean and athletic, laid back, unflappable, and not ready to let trivial "civilian" interests like job, family, or typical responsibilities associated with adulthood interfere with mother ocean and the perfect wave. With his colorful "dawn patrol" posse of Dave "the God to Women", kid "Hang Twelve", the massive Samoan "High Tide", San Diego cop Johnny Banzai, and his female alter ego and sometimes sex partner Sunny Day, Boone and the crew are in the surf each morning at daybreak passing time - like compiling lists of the best things in life - while waiting for the next big ride. Boone is a former SDPD cop himself with some demons of his own lurking beneath his chill exterior - now a private investigator of sorts, content with working enough to only keep him in adequately stocked in fish tacos and board wax. When the foxy but uptight aspiring lawyer Petra shows up with an insurance company gig, Boone is conflicted: he could use the "jangle", but an underwater disturbance in the Aleutians is sending a freight train of monster waves to the Southern Cal coast unlike anything that's been seen in decades, and certainly not an event that a hardcore surfer like Boone would even consider missing. But Petra is persistent, not to mention alluring in an annoyingly buttoned down way, and Boone agrees to find the stripper pivotal in catching San Diego's sex sleaze king in an insurance scam.

Nobody can capture Southern California's beaches and bimbos better than the talented Don Winslow, and "Dawn Patrol" is a terrific example of the artist at his most righteous. Winslow's seemingly mismatched cast of characters is brilliant - he captures a credible cast in staccato chapters shredding across the pages in dialog that is authentic, witty and cynically funny - all of Carl Hiaasen's black humor, but where Hiaasen has a tendency to dis his denizens of south Florida, Winslow's playful barbs reflects a deep and sincere passion for those still carrying the torch of the original California surfing subculture. Indeed, the Boone/Winslow chapter which detours down Route 101, the famous Pacific Coast Highway, is a short, poignant, and illuminating slice of American culture too often capsulized only in the 60's music of the Beach Boys.

But aside from surfing and surfer culture, "Dawn Patrol" is a serious and thoughtful crime novel, and at a deeper level, an insightful coming of age story - albeit an atypically late passage from adolescence to adulthood. As a second "dawn patrol" emerges, the story takes a despicably sinister turn, and while the climax is mostly predictable, it takes nothing away from a engaging storyline. But make no mistake: the plot is secondarly here, as Winslow's real stars are his characters and their banter, set against a vivid and authoritative SoCal backdrop. Winslow is the real deal, and if you haven't got to know him yet, this is a great place to start. If you do, I'm sure you'll be back for "California Fire and Life", "The Winter of Franky Machine", "The Death and Life of Bobby Z", and Winslow's epic masterpiece, "The Power of the Dog."

So great stuff, Mr. Winslow - keep 'em coming. And for those of you - like me - bummed with Lee Child's disappointing "Nothing to Lose", you'll find some instant redemption right here.

In a jacket blurb, Lee Child says that no one does this kind of thing better than Don Winslow. He's right. Winslow's skills are, to say the least, very impressive. The Power of the Dog was epic in its scope; The Winter of Frankie Machine was smaller and more focused but absolutely pitch-perfect, a tale of an aging mobster that may well turn into a DeNiro movie. The Dawn Patrol is very different, but equally successful and equally impressive.

Here, Winslow recreates a world--the world of the surfer, the San Diego variety, complete with its names, language, food, attitudes, dress and culture. The almost-lost world of the idealized past has, however, been altered by the strip clubs and other sleazoid operations that follow the navy. When these worlds collide (a former SDPD officer-turned-surfer investigates the murder of a supposed witness in a major civil case) the results (in Don Winslow's hands) are stunning. As we move toward the solution of the crime(s) we move toward the arrival of a massive oceanic event and in the final chapters Winslow quick-cuts between the hunt for the bad guys, the saving of the innocent and the search for the perfect Pacific wave.

I particularly like the historical reflections on San Diego, on the world of surfing and on such important cultural elements as the PCH--how it began and what it's become. It is a truism in novel writing that the effective novelist 'creates a world'; Don Winslow certainly has here, though 'recreates' is the more appropriate term. I only have one regret. Winslow has been writing standalones. I love the members of the 'dawn patrol' and would very much like to see them become part of a series. Winslow began as a series writer and here he has created an exceptional ensemble cast.

This is a near-perfect novel. Plot, pacing, characters, setting, texture, themes--all are here and all are handled expertly. It's early in the summer of 2008 and there are many books by master writers on the horizon, but so far this is the one to beat. Don't miss it. And if you haven't discovered Don Winslow yet, you have a lot to look forward to.

My 9 yr old son who struggles academically LOVED this book.
When he was done he came to me and asked if I would get him more books like this one because he, "liked it better than his other books".
I haven't read it so I don't know exactly what he meant.
For him to enjoy reading is huge!
He is a Red Sox fan and plays baseball. Maybe that had something to do with it?

I got a vivid picture of the action in the Little League championship game. It brought back great memories of when my kids played.

Nice job.

Six Innings by James Preller is just that, the play by play description of six innings of a Little League baseball game. All of our nation's obsession with the sanctity of the game is concentrated in this afternoon of play by two teams of boys. The book opens in Sam Reiser's bedroom, where he is lying in bed, a young amputee now only able to announce his team's play, to speak the words for actions he can no longer perform. We think we are in for a problem novel, a book about adjusting to a handicap. Then the innings begin, and we realize that Preller has found the perfect dramatic structure in which he can write about twenty-four different boys in depth, each member of the team. Using the inexorable action of the six innings, he delineates the interplay of personalities, abilities, the age of the players and their temperaments. The hopelessness of young Patrick Wong in outfield, praying the ball won't go to him, vowing never to play again after his last humiliating strike out, is compared to the hard throwing pitcher, who already shows signs of a moustache. Although everyone cares deeply and intensely, the action is balanced by the humor of the identical twins, the serious one, Eamon Sweeney, and the leftie, Colin Sweeney, referred to by their coach as the Right Sweeney and the Wrong Sweeney and the attitude of the coaches themselves. In a tense moment, a coach takes his team aside and urges them to "Have fun." Six Innings has a lingering effect, the way baseball does, its pace subtle, leaving the lingering promise of summer.

Sure, the easy title for a baseball book, but in this case so true.

"Six Innings" is the rarity, the book that hooks both teenagers and adults. A baseball book, but not just for baseball fans. A sports book with real human interest, and (hey, more importantly, let's not forget what this is) real compelling baseball.

A book about kids that reminds us what kids are really like.

Prellers gift is twofold: he knows the game of baseball and how to communicate it and he still remembers vividly what it is like to be young and how kids feel and behave.

Recommended to everyone who is Little League age, or ever has been.

It's the kind of book that. when I got to the end of it, I didn't even know was meant for kids. I went on vacation and brought this book, not ecven glancing at the jacket copy that suggests it was meant for 11 to 13 year olds. I did think that the language of its rambunctious Little Leaguers was a bit on the sanitized side. The boys love to stage impromptu contests involving dialogue from their favorite baseball movies, everything from THE BAD NEWS BEARS to FIELD OF DREAMS, and evcen the mildest of these has dialogue racier than anything you'll find in James Preller's novel. So that might have tipped me off, but what do I know! I would definitely recommend it to adults.

The emotionally involving parts of the story take place during rhw championship game between Earl Grubb's Pool Supplies and NE Gas & Electric. The boy who does the scorekeeping for EGPS has a rare disease which has resulted in benching his once promising career at bat, but does he cry or whimper? Well, you'll have to see for yourself. At the other end of the spectrum is the boy who, while enjoying himself at baseball, has now found himself interested in other things, and today might be his very last day playing in organized sport. What a range of players, some with comic subplots, some with underdeveloped storylines, but most of them genuine individuals. The only defect in the story is Preller's working up the actual game pictured in "Six Innings," which is made up of one classic play after another, each one more spectacular than the last, and each reminiscent of a famous major league moment, so it's a bit unbelievable these ordinary kids would wind up in a game this exciting, but hear that whistle? It's time to -- play ball.

Excellent book. Not a how to of golf but rather a how Tiger plays. Helped my game immensely. Espcially my putting. I would recommend this book golfers of all levels.

An exceptional book with good illustrations & bought at a very good price. Postage time was VERY DISAPPOINTING - expected to receive within 3-4 weeks (standard Air Freight) but took 6 weeks!!! This was our 1st purchase on Amazon & we were concerned and had almost given up on it! Expect DELAYS on overseas purchases.

If you enjoy golf and spend enough time to beat balls at the driving range, this book will give you a lot of tips how to improve your skills.

great book that help us to improve our golf...
and also give us a little taste of what is like been tiger

much bigger and better than i realised. he is gonna LOVE this one (It's being kept for christmas)

This book is fantastic - I couldn't put it down! I have been a big fan of Tony since he was the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because of his presence on the football field. This book is an honest and inspiring account of Tony's life and the trials and successes he has encountered. Thank you Tony for a great read.

Loved the book, many lessons to be learned, a little too much football at times but if you can look by that it is a quick and enjoyable read

Quiet Strength was a very enlightening story of Tony Dungy's career. Even through very harsh times, he seemed to discover the positive aspects of the situation. He always believed that god always had a reason for everything, and that every downward slump always meant that certain things would get better in the future.
Tony Dungy started his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. He was originally drafted as a defensive back (he played quarterback in college). After realizing that the NFL did not give as much opportunities as he expected, the head coach of the Steelers (Coach Noll) gave him the opportunity to be the defensive backs coach. This was the turning point of his career.
From this point on Tony Dungy went to coach for the multiple other teams, until landing his head-coaching job at Tampa. When he took this position, he took in all the information from all of his former colleagues and coaches to help mold his team into a winning organization. He also realized that god played a major role in his success. He also took his fathers knowledge into consideration when he was creating a game plan for his team.
Tony Dungy believes that his second season with the Buccaneers was his most successful season as a head coach for the National Football League. He believes this because that season, he felt the greatest bond between everybody on the team. He thought that because they started the season with tremendous success. They were winning games as a "team", not just as players.
Once Tony Dungy moved on from the Buccaneers he continued to have great success with the Indianapolis Colts. They were even able to win Tony Dungy his first Super Bowl. But throughout Tony Dungy's life he will continue to live life with god in consideration.

This book was well written and a good read. I love reading good books on leadership and success. Sports and Life always a good parallel.

The autobiography, "Quiet Strength," of Tony Dungy is appropriately subtitled "The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life." Dungy recounts his life from its beginnings to the present as the Coach of the world champion Indianapolis Colts. A man of proactive faith, Dungy has been able to climb many mountains, from being one of the first black quarterbacks in NCAA college football to one of the first black head coaches in the National Football League.

"Quiet Strength" details key formative relationships, those that helped him to become what he is today. They include his mother, The Most Athletic Dungy, who supported in him in a number of sports; his father who taught him what was most important - not the accolades and memories of success, but the way you respond when opportunities are denied; his high school assistant principal, Mr. Rockquemore, who took a great interest in him and Dungy claims things would have been different if he had not; and his first pro coach, Chuck Noll, who taught him how to win in the NFL and how to maintain family-career balance.

Dungy always viewed his work in football as a means to do something more as a servant of God. When he was fired as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the firing itself was not the cause of shock, but rather, the thought that God was allowing this great experiment of using him as a head coach in the NFL to end. He wondered, what's next? How will God use him, whether in the NFL or not.

I am grateful that Dungy went on from Tampa to win the Super Bowl as coach of Indianapolis. More than becoming the first African-American to win a Super Bowl, this extraordinary achievement provided an excellent platform from which to tell this great story.

Dungy's story is inspirational, challenging, and encouraging - reminding us about what really is important in a world driven by the love of material success. He shows that one can live their Christian faith in the workplace and succeed - even in the demanding fish bowl atmosphere of the NFL. He is a living testimony of one man's faith in God.

"Do you your best and let God do the rest."

It's simple: If you are a fan of baseball-meaning you go to more than 2-3 games a year, or watch a lot of games on TV-then you need to read Moneyball.

Moneyball tells the story of how the Oakland A's, with a limited budget, manage to out smart almost every other team in baseball. Basically, in a nutshell-they use science instead of old baseball adages, and apply statistics to better analyze a players ability to get on base and avoid making an out-the key to winning games in the long-run.

Great book, well written. Highly recommended to all baseball fans.

Michael Lewis made his name writing books describing the people behind our financial system -- books that were inevitably described, for some reason, as "funny" or "hilarious." Perhaps these same reviewers were in stitches while reading Javascript technical manuals or the Kyoto Accords. Truly, I saw neither any humor nor any attempts to be funny in these books, which were, sadly, just dull.

How refreshing, then, to have him find a topic better suited to his tone. Yes, money plays a role, but what's described here is the pursuit of excellence, and the courage to flout conventional wisdom in the pursuit of a competitive edge.

A fascinating subject about dedicated professionals. True, these people may come off as a little singleminded, but they have to be (as this book demonstrates) in order to compete against people equally dedicated to finding an edge.

I so love the work of Michael Lewis because this story, and another favorite, Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street, are essentially about stepping back to consider groupthink. Groupthink is a topic that fascinates me. I haven't read The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story, but it's about startups and silicon valley? Hmmmm... it might be about groupthink too. I'll check it out this weekend.

In Moneyball, Lewis examines the effects an outsider can have on the group, in this case, Major League Baseball. That's an extremely high level but, if you're like me, that's about all you need to know. Even if you don't care for baseball, I think you'll enjoy Moneyball. You might even be angry that Congress and the media give so much time to baseball. Since baseball is hard to avoid in America, I think people should try to understand it better. And even the most die hard, stat-loving baseball geek I know learned things from reading Moneyball. So whether you're a total insider to baseball, or a complete outsider to baseball, I think you should read, and that you'll enjoy, Moneyball.

This book has become the cliche for the transformation of the way that baseball is approached over the last decade or so. This book explains in a detailed but highly readable manner how baseball went from simply a business to a quantitatively analyzed (and analyzable) science. Given the large amounts of money in baseball over the past 20 years or so, it isn't surprising that baseball has undergone a transformation so that the computer nerds have taken over. I'm a fairly big baseball fan, and was turned off from reading this book for so long because it has become a `cliche' and I believed that it would be shallow and trite. It is anything but. This book is an absolute must read for anyone who wants to understand how `professionals` view the game today. It is easy to read, but packed with details about the new way of looking at baseball. There are also detailed character studies of some of the players (like Scott Hatteberg and Chad Bradford) and front office people (primarily Billy Beane and John DePodesta of the As).

The central theme of this book is why the As were able to remain competitive year after year even though they had a total team salary that was 1/3 or 1/4 of the big players like the Yankees and Red Sox. Judging from the reviews I've read on the Amazon sights, many of the reviewers still don't fully appreciate the arguments in this book. The goal of Beane and his cohorts was to bring a mathematical approach to the game and find out which aspects of the game were overvalued (from a mathematical and financial perspective) and which were undervalued. Beane wanted to quantitatively determine which traits were most important (and not rely simply on scouts judgment), but also determine how these traits were compensated in the market. Many have said that Beane and company look at OBP, slugging, OPS, etc., and disregard batting average and defense. This is true, but the key point here is that these traits were also undervalued by the market (at least when Beane got started). It is this point that allowed the As to remain competitive. They could trade players who were overvalued (like closers) and pick up inexpensive, undervalued, but highly productive, players in return.

The first part of the this book details the development of Bill James and his mathematical approach to baseball. There was apparently a small community of baseball fanatics who had, in the 70s and 80s, analyzed the mathematical details of baseball and determined that things like OBP were key factors, and not BA or defense. It took the major league clubs another decade or more to realize (or accept) this. Subsequent chapters deal with Beane's maneuvering to get players that fit into his philosophy, detailed accounts of some of the players Beane acquired (like Scott Hatteberg and Chad Bradford), and lots of inside details about the messy business of the day to day workings of a baseball front office.

One of the thing that is stress over and over again in this book is that Beane and his cohorts stress process over outcome. They don't care if, in any individual case, their decision works out. They are confident however that over the long haul they will be right. They are playing the averages, and this is what is keeping them competitive with the big-payroll clubs (it is also why they really can't compete in the playoffs with the big payroll clubs - they are beating the `league average' in the long run, but the teams in the playoffs are far from `league average'). Beane and his cohorts have often been wrong (one obvious example taken from the book is Scott Kazmir - they wanted nothing to do with him in the draft as he was a high school pitcher and their process said that the risk on high school pitchers was too high - I wonder if they would like to have a do-over on that pick?), but because they are playing the averages, their system keeps them in contention year after year.

This is a MUST READ for any baseball fan, whether you agree with the conclusions or not. It is well written, contains lots of detail (and will keep the nerdiest computer geek happy), but is also highly readable and doesn't get bogged down in minutiae. There is so much fascinating info in this book, I couldn't put it down (read through it in a day).

Michael Lewis' Moneyball, is a great introduction to the increasing role statistics play creating a winning baseball team. Lewis profiles the A's owner, Billy Beane, and shows how Beane has managed to create a winning team despite a small budget. It begins to put to rest the use of worthless stats, such as RBI, which is really only a measure of how good the batters are in front of you.

As a former baseball coach, I was interested in the chapter on how Beane selects players from the amateur draft. He creates a strong case for players attending college before entering the draft, especially if one's life long dream is to play for the A's.

If you enjoy Moneyball, I would suggest reading other similar books such as Baseball Between the Numbers, The Fielding Bible, Mind Games, and The Baseball Economist. In general, anything by the Baseball Prospectus people is a great choice.

LaVerne Moore was one of the more colorful figures in the world of golf in the 1930's and Leigh Montville tells his tale in all its boisterous glory in The Mysterious Montague, A True Tale of Hollywood, Golf, and Armed Robbery.

John Montague, as Moore was better known, was a trick shot artist who could chip a ball into a highball glass or under the sash of a partially-opened window across the room. He reputedly knocked a bird off a power line from 170 yards and consistently drove the ball over 300 yards with a specially-made oversized driver the weighed twice as much as the standard club of its time. Most famously, he once beat Bing Crosby while playing only with a rake, a shovel, and a baseball bat.

Montague had a secret, though. It was why he never allowed himself to be photographed and reputedly why he never entered any professional events. When that secret was revealed, it led to a sensational trial in upstate New York that turned into a celebrity-laden media fest. The secret is told in the first chapter of the book: Montague was wanted under his real name, LaVerne Moore, for the armed robbery of a roadside restaurant in the Adirondacks in 1930. The trial and its aftermath is an interesting window into the media world of the time.

Montville entertains the reader with tales of Montague's prowess, although it's obvious many of them grew to legendary status mainly through the re-telling such feats engender. He also gives us a good look at the celebrities who flocked to Montague's cause. Babe Ruth, Bing Crosby, Oliver Hardy, W.C. Fields, Howard Hughes, Babe Didrickson Zaharias, and many more were tied to Montague one way or another. Sportswriter Grantland Rice was his biggest fan.

The end of the book, which chronicles Montague's late-in-life attempt to break into the ranks of professional tournament golf, may be of the greatest interest to players of the game. Weakened by too many years of Hollywood parties and lack of practice, Montague was a miserable failure in his attempts to compete with PGA stars, who had disdained him from the start.

Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love and Death in the Congo

This is the fascinating, intriguing tale of a man who changed identities to start a new life in Hollywood and leave a criminal past behind - or so he hoped. It's one of those "only in America" stories - featuring golf and Hollywood celebrities such as Bing Crosby - with a surprise ending that actually seems fitting although justice isn't done, strictly speaaking.

This is a good read, with an entertaining view of a time gone by that we have only read and heard about. John Montague is larger than life but stuck with the human flaws that the rest of us have. You don't have to know golf to enjoy this as Montville makes it a story for every one.

The book brings to life of an man, whom I was unfamiliar with, and brought to live America before World War II. The story is a fascinating journey that causes the reader to wonder what is true and what is legend. The stories will amaze you and the people who surrounds the man are legendary.

Before there was Tin Cup.. there was Montague. (after reading, I realize that Tin Cup was a rip off of this great story!)

The title of Leigh Montville's new book tells you a lot about the story without ever having to read a page. John Montague played golf and schmoozed with some of the most famous of the 1930's Hollywood celebrities. However, something in his personal life would eventually turn his world totally around. This book will probably not win any literary awards, but it is entertaining, amusing, and at times quite unbelievable. Golfers will love it, non-golfers will enjoy it.

After reading this book, I am confident that my short game will improve. However, time will tell with practice and repetition, I should see a significant improvement.

This is a different approach to the short game which seems to really work. I've tried it for just two weeks and the improvement is already evident.

I have struggled with my short game for years. This book is easy to follow and provides a reliable,simple method for chips, pitches and bunker shots. At first it seems different, but once you give it a try it feels right, and it also flows from the long game. Buy this book.

I have been playing for years, and I know that my short game is an area that I need to improve. I have read several different books on the short game and this one is easily the best.

Stan explains his principles in a clear format. The photos are instructive and illustrate his ideas. He changed my style and, although it took some time to get used to it, I can see the improvement.

After reading Stan Utley's "The Art of Putting," I spent four months retooling my putting approach to great effect. I was really anxious to read his ideas about short game shot-making in this book.

After four weeks of absorbing and practicing his ideas in this great little book, I'm a bigger Utley fan than ever. He explains his short game ideas very clearly and concisely here. As in his first book, he gives some entertaining professional examples of tour players he works with.

Stan Utley emphasizes a natural, mini-swing approach to the short game, and he clearly shows how to make a simple, pivot-based swing for chipping and pitching. His sand shot technique is very interesting as well and will help to make more consistent and feel-based shots in bunkers.

Almanac is updated and published annually, sort of a stone age wikipedia that doesn't require web access to use. Lots good stuff.

I get a new one of these every year, it is loaded with so much information that I refer to it all the time. one of the main things I look up is famous people for birth dates and such. very good book

This is one of the few books in my library which gets weekly (sometimes daily) use, and which I feel obligated to replace every few years, in order to have the most updated information. Granted, the historical data does not change, but the usefulness of the book is in finding important *recent* facts or statistics. Highly recommend it!

I buy three or more every year for my husband. One for each room in which he spends any amount of time.

Beware! This book will be addictive once you pick it up. Just when you have lost yourself in an interesting subject,another comes up and there you go again. Great book. Buy it!!!!