Review of "Battles at Annapolis"

A fascinating blend of military history and college football, Battles at Annapolis revisits the two Army–Navy games played on Naval Academy grounds. The focus on the 1893 and 1942 matchups highlights how tradition, leadership, and wartime realities shaped this legendary rivalry.

Title/Author:

“Battles at Annapolis: Two Remarkable Football Games in the Army-Navy Rivalry” by David Gendell

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review: 

David Gendell’s Battles at Annapolis explores two rare moments when the storied Army–Navy football rivalry shifted from neutral sites to the grounds of the Naval Academy itself. Blending military history with college football, Gendell focuses on the 1893 and 1942 matchups—games shaped as much by national circumstance as by the players on the field.

The 1893 contest is anchored by the compelling rise of Worth Bagley, who became captain of the Navy squad that edged Army 6–4 in a tight, defense‑heavy battle. Gendell’s attention to Bagley’s development and leadership gives this section its strongest emotional pull. The 1942 game, played in Annapolis due to wartime travel restrictions, offers a different tone. While Navy again prevailed, 14–0, the richer material comes from Gendell’s writing on World War II and its impact on the Cadets and Midshipmen—young men preparing for a game while also preparing for war.

The book doesn’t dive deeply into either military history or football strategy, but its blend of the two makes for an engaging look at a rivalry shaped by tradition, circumstance, and service. Recommended for readers who enjoy both military narratives and the history of college football.

I wish to thank Lyons Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Battles at Annapolis: Two Remarkable Football Games in the Army–Navy Rivalry: Gendell, David, Lynch USN (Ret.), Rear Admiral Thomas C.: 9781493088386: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "The Ghosts of K2"

 A deeply researched history of K2’s early expeditions, Ghosts of K2 spends most of its time on the failed climbs that preceded the Italians’ 1954 triumph. The payoff is worth the wait, but readers should be ready for a long approach before reaching the summit. Those who follow this blog know I'm big on books on Himalayan climbing.  This one is okay. 

Title/Author:

“The Ghosts of K2:  The Epic Saga of the First Ascent” by Mick Conefrey, narrated by Barnaby Edwards

Rating: 

3 ½ of 5 stars (good)

Review: 

K2 may stand just behind Everest in height, but its reputation as the world’s deadliest mountain gives it a mythic pull—and Ghosts of K2 leans heavily into that history. Conefrey devotes most of the book to the long trail of failed expeditions before the Italians finally reached the summit in 1954, and while that backstory is thorough, it often overshadows the climb that ultimately made history.

Across a 12½‑hour listen, nearly eight hours focus on unsuccessful attempts, from Charles Houston’s 1938 and 1952 expeditions to Fritz Wiessner’s ill‑fated 1939 push. These chapters are detailed and occasionally gripping, but they left me wishing for more time with the Italian team whose perseverance, frostbite, and perilous descent form the emotional core of the story. When Conefrey finally arrives at the successful summit bid, the narrative tightens and the payoff is real—helped along by strong narration from Edwards.

Mountaineering fans will find plenty to appreciate, especially in the historical context, but they should be prepared for a long approach before the main story arrives. I’m glad I stayed with it, and while it didn’t fully meet my hopes, it earns its 3½ stars for the depth of research and the satisfying final act.

Link: Ghosts of K2 Audiobook by Mick Conefrey

Review of "The W"

Tamryn Spruill’s The W: A History of the WNBA offers a rich, narrative-driven account of how the league survived early challenges, evolved through franchise upheaval, and emerged as a powerful cultural force. Her reporting balances celebration, critique, and social context, making the book both informative and engaging. For anyone interested in the WNBA’s history and impact, this is essential reading.

Title/Author:

“The W: A History of the WNBA: How the WNBA Survived, Evolved and Changed Professional Sports: by Tamryn Spruill

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Women’s basketball has never been more popular, and the WNBA is currently enjoying some of the strongest attendance and viewership numbers in its history. In The W: A History of the WNBA, Tamryn Spruill guides readers through a comprehensive and engaging chronicle of the league’s evolution.

Spruill begins with the league’s launch in 1997, noting that the WNBA entered the landscape alongside the rival American Basketball League (ABL), and that the NBA’s financial support was crucial in the W’s early years. Each chapter follows a consistent and effective pattern: off‑season developments, franchise movement, draft selections, season highlights, playoff results, and award winners. Presented in a narrative rather than statistical format, this structure makes the history accessible and enjoyable.

A standout element of the book is Spruill’s reporting on franchises that folded, relocated, or emerged. She praises owners and league leadership when warranted and does not shy away from criticism when she believes poor decisions or injustices occurred. Her discussion of the Houston Comets—winners of the league’s first four championships—ceasing operations due to ownership issues is particularly compelling, as is her later coverage of the league’s handling of the Connecticut Sun sale and the planned return of the Comets in 2027.

Spruill also addresses the WNBA’s role in social justice movements, from Black Lives Matter to women’s rights, while examining moments when league leadership appeared out of step with its players. Although most of her arguments are grounded in factual reporting, there are a few instances where her conclusions feel less certain. One example is her framing of the Sacramento Monarchs’ demise as evidence of sexism in sports; given the long history of owners leveraging taxpayer-funded arenas across all professional leagues, that situation felt more like a familiar sports-business standoff than a gendered injustice.

These moments are rare, and Spruill’s overall approach to difficult subjects is thoughtful, well-supported, and illuminating. For anyone interested in the WNBA—its past, present, and future—this book is highly recommended.

I wish to thank Abrams Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: The W: A History of the WNBA: How the WNBA Survived, Evolved, and Changed Professional Sports: 9781419758812: Spruill, Tamryn: Books

Review of "Football"

Every so often, a book shows up on the new‑release shelf that feels like it was placed there specifically for me. That was the case with Chuck Klosterman’s Football. I’d read his music writing before and always appreciated the way he blends cultural insight with humor, so seeing his name attached to America’s most popular sport was an easy invitation. What I found was a book that approaches football from angles I didn’t expect — and that’s exactly why it works.

Title/Author:

“Football” by Chuck Klosterman

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Not knowing Chuck Klosterman had written a book on football, I was genuinely surprised to find Football sitting in the new‑release section of my local library. Having enjoyed his books on music — especially his ability to blend cultural insight with humor — I picked this one up immediately. I wasn’t disappointed. Klosterman writes about the most popular sport in the United States with the same mix of knowledge, wit, and offbeat perspective that makes his rock‑music criticism so memorable.

The topics he covers are wide‑ranging, touching on the NFL, college football, and even a full chapter on the Canadian Football League. That CFL chapter, “The Cottage Life,” is a perfect example of how Klosterman approaches the sport. He walks readers through the quirks that differentiate the Canadian game from the American one — the 110‑yard field, the one‑point “rouge,” twelve men on the field, and the three‑down rule instead of four.

It’s that last rule that sparks one of the book’s most entertaining digressions. Klosterman uses the three‑down system to compare football to the Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water,” to argue that four is the “perfect number” (with Walter Camp conveniently supporting his case), and even to riff on colonialism. This leads to my favorite line in the entire book: “It’s not as if Bud Grant attacked the CFL with a cavalry and the Canadian players lost their minds when they saw horses for the first time.” It’s a perfect example of what Klosterman does so well — blending humor, cultural commentary, and football’s place in modern society.

This is just one of many topics Klosterman tackles with the same mix of curiosity and sharp observation. He writes about the racial makeup of various positions — not just the number of Black quarterbacks, but also how few white running backs have led the league in rushing, with Christian McCaffrey as a notable exception. He discusses Colin Kaepernick, debates who should be considered the greatest player of all time, and explores Friday Night Lights across its book, movie, and television versions. These are only a handful of the subjects he pulls into the larger conversation about what football means and why it matters.

A reader doesn’t need to be a football fan or possess deep knowledge of the game to enjoy this book. Klosterman’s ability to make the sport feel culturally expansive — and often very funny — is what makes Football such an engaging read.

Link:  Amazon.com: Football: 9780593490648: Klosterman, Chuck: Books

Review of "Moses and the Doctor"

Luke Epplin’s Moses and the Doctor is a smart, lively, and deeply researched look at Julius Erving and Moses Malone—two Hall of Fame greats who helped shape the NBA’s rise but rarely get their due. Epplin blends history, personality, and humor as he traces their ABA roots, their contrasting paths to stardom, and their unforgettable partnership on the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers. Basketball fans of any era will find new insights and plenty of joy in these pages.

Title/Author:

“Moses and the Doctor: Two Men, One Championship and the Birth of Modern Basketball” by Luke Epplin

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Luke Epplin’s Moses and the Doctor is a rich, deeply researched, and thoroughly entertaining reconsideration of two Hall of Fame giants who helped shape professional basketball’s rise in the 1980s: Julius Erving and Moses Malone. While Bird, Magic, and Jordan usually dominate the conversation about the NBA’s boom years, Epplin makes a compelling case that Erving and Malone deserve far more credit—both for their brilliance and for the ways their careers bridged the ABA’s renegade creativity with the NBA’s emerging mainstream appeal.

Epplin traces their early paths through the ABA, where Erving became a cultural phenomenon with his soaring, improvisational style, even if few fans actually saw him play on television. Malone, meanwhile, broke barriers as the first player to sign professionally straight out of high school, grinding through unstable franchises while quietly developing into one of the most intelligent and relentless centers the sport has ever seen. Epplin’s portrayal of Malone is especially strong, dismantling long‑standing misconceptions about his personality and intellect.

Once the ABA folded into the NBA, their trajectories diverged—Erving becoming the polished superstar of the Philadelphia 76ers, Malone bouncing from Portland to Buffalo before blossoming into a two‑time MVP in Houston. All of this background sets the stage for the book’s most compelling section: the unlikely pairing of these two contrasting stars when Malone signed with Philadelphia in 1982 for a then‑record contract.

Epplin shines here, capturing the humor, tension, and surprising evolution of their relationship. The book is filled with laugh‑out‑loud quotes, sharp reporting, and memorable anecdotes, including Malone’s famous “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’” prediction (accurately rendered as “Four, Four, Four”) that nearly came true during the 76ers’ dominant 1983 championship run. Epplin also illustrates how both men subtly swapped public personas—Erving becoming quieter and more introspective, Malone stepping into a more vocal leadership role.

For fans of that era, this is a wonderfully nostalgic trip, but even die‑hard basketball junkies will learn something new. I certainly did—I had no idea Malone nearly backed out of the deal to join Philadelphia because Caldwell Jones was no longer on the roster. Details like that make this book a standout.

I wish to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link:  Moses and the Doctor: Two Men, One Championship, and the Birth of Modern Basketball: Epplin, Luke: 9780306833496: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Rising Tide"

Randy Roberts and Ed Krzemienski’s Rising Tide traces how Joe Namath and Paul “Bear” Bryant helped transform Alabama football into a national force during the 1960s. Their intertwined stories unfold against a backdrop of resistance to integration and the shifting cultural landscape of the Deep South. It’s a compelling blend of biography, football history, and social context.

Title/Author:

“Rising Tide: Bear Bryant, Joe Namath & Dixie’s Last Quarter” by Randy Roberts & Ed Krzemienski

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  Two legendary figures—Joe Namath and Paul “Bear” Bryant—stand at the center of Rising Tide, Randy Roberts and Ed Krzemienski’s absorbing look at how Alabama became a college football powerhouse in the 1960s. Their parallel stories, set against the state’s fierce resistance to integration, give the book both its narrative drive and historical weight.

The authors write with depth and clarity about both men, offering rich background on Namath and Bryant before their paths converge in 1961, when Namath arrived on campus. Although freshmen were ineligible for varsity play, Namath immediately impressed on the freshman team and soon became the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback. His tenure—marked by standout performances, a suspension late in the 1963 season, and ultimately an All‑American year capped by a national title in 1964—is covered with nuance. Roberts and Krzemienski also give welcome attention to Namath’s high school career and the intense recruiting battle that brought him to Tuscaloosa.

Bryant’s portrayal is equally strong. While the book offers little on his Texas A&M years or the famed Junction Boys, it delivers vivid stories from his Alabama tenure—most memorably his habit of watching practice from a tower and his rare invitation for Namath to join him there. The authors capture Bryant’s near‑mythic status in Alabama, where his authority and popularity seemed unshakeable as long as the team kept winning.

The book’s most compelling section, in my view, is the detailed account of the lawsuit Bryant and Georgia coach Wally Butts filed against The Saturday Evening Post. After the magazine accused Butts of giving Bryant confidential game information before their 1962 matchup, both men fought back, ultimately winning their cases and damages. The courtroom drama is expertly rendered, and the episode underscores just how deeply Bryant was revered throughout the state.

While the chapters on Alabama’s resistance to integration and the broader Dixie landscape are informative, they lack the depth and freshness of the football‑centered material. Readers new to this history will find value, but those familiar with the era may not encounter much that feels new.

For college football fans, Crimson Tide loyalists, or anyone interested in two of the sport’s defining figures, Rising Tide is an engaging and worthwhile read.

 

Link:  Rising Tide: Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, and Dixie's Last Quarter: Roberts, Randy, Krzemienski, Ed: 9781455526321: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "NASCAR Champions"

If you’ve ever wanted a single book that captures the full lineage of NASCAR greatness, NASCAR Champions delivers. Packed with photos, stories, and smartly organized profiles, it’s a tribute to the drivers who shaped the sport. Fans of any era will find something to enjoy.

Title/Author:

“NASCAR Champions: Every Cup Series Champion from 1949 to Today” by H. A. Branham and Holly Cain

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

From its start to today, the NASCAR Cup Series championship has been the pinnacle achievement of every season—and the defining honor for the driver who earns it. NASCAR Champions, a coffee‑table book by H.A. Branham and Holly Cain, offers a complete, visually rich chronicle of every driver who has claimed that coveted title.

Each champion is presented in a consistent, clean format. Readers get a mix of photos—drivers in the car, celebrating wins, in action on the track, or in portrait—and even in the electronic edition, the layout is crisp enough to show how strong the print version will look. Every driver also receives a concise narrative focused on his Cup Series career and accomplishments. Occasional nods to success in ASA, the Craftsman Truck Series, or the Xfinity Series (now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) add helpful context. These profiles strike a “Goldilocks” balance: not too long, not too short, just right.

The book also includes well‑paced side features on how the championship format, points systems, and playoff structures have evolved over the decades. Like the driver stories, these sections are informative without dragging and give readers exactly what they need to understand the sport’s shifting landscape.

NASCAR fans will find plenty to love here—whether for the photography, the accessible storytelling, or the chance to learn more about the sport’s greatest champions. Highly recommended for fans at any level of NASCAR knowledge or enthusiasm.

I wish to thank Motorbooks for providing a review copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link:  NASCAR Champions: Every Cup Series Champion from 1949 to Today: Branham, H.A., Cain, Holly, White, Rex, Martin, Mark: 9780760399651: Amazon.com: Books