Review of "Everybody Loses"

Danny Funt’s Everybody Loses is a sharp, deeply reported examination of how America’s sports‑betting boom took hold — and who pays the price. Through policy history, industry insight, and wrenching personal stories, Funt shows just how risky the nation’s wager on legalized gambling truly is. 

Title/Author:

“Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling” by Danny Funt

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

As any sports fan can tell you, it’s now impossible to watch a game — in person or on television — without being bombarded by ads for betting apps and sportsbooks. Why this explosion happened, who pushed it forward, and how it’s reshaping lives across the country are the central questions of Danny Funt’s excellent, deeply researched book Everybody Loses.

Right from the start, Funt makes clear that this moment didn’t arrive by accident. It came from what he calls “an extraordinarily risky gamble: that a nation of sports fans would be better off as a nation of sports gamblers.” The rest of the book is a meticulous, often unsettling exploration of that gamble’s consequences. Funt weaves together stories of addicted bettors, interviews with current and former sportsbook employees, and a close look at how FanDuel and DraftKings have effectively become a duopoly controlling the vast majority of the industry. Every thread reinforces the central idea: this is a wager with enormous human and societal stakes.

One of the most compelling sections examines how sportsbooks treat their two most valuable customer groups — the consistent losers and the rare big winners. The former are courted relentlessly, especially those who lose heavily and often. The latter, labeled “VIPs,” are showered with perks that border on fantasy fulfillment. If you’re a baseball fan whose team just reached the World Series and you’ve wagered at least $5,000 a week, you might find yourself whisked to the Fall Classic on the company’s dime. But if you start winning too much, the tone shifts quickly: frozen accounts, revoked bonuses, vanished VIP privileges. Funt makes clear that the system is designed so that bettors, no matter how savvy, rarely come out ahead.

Importantly, Funt doesn’t place all the blame on the sportsbooks themselves. He traces how professional leagues — once staunch opponents of gambling — reversed course when they realized how much money was being left on the table and how widespread betting already was. He also details the political and legal forces that accelerated the industry’s rise, most notably the Supreme Court’s 2018 Murphy v. NCAA decision, which opened the door for states to legalize sports betting at a rapid pace.

These examples represent only a fraction of the ground Funt covers. Everybody Loses is comprehensive without ever feeling dense, and accessible without sacrificing nuance. Whether you’re interested in the human toll of gambling addiction, the political machinery behind legalization, or the inner workings of the industry itself, this book delivers an informative, balanced, and highly readable account of how sports gambling became a defining feature of modern American fandom.

An excellent read — and an important one.

Link:  Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling - Kindle edition by Funt, Danny. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

 

Review of "Never Lift:

Mark Martin built a Hall of Fame career through preparation, discipline, and a deep love of racing. His memoir traces that journey from Batesville to the Cup Series with honesty and detail. Fans who appreciate consistency and character will find plenty to enjoy.

Title/Author:

“Never Lift” by Mark Martin

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Mark Martin is the definition of a racing “lifer.” A NASCAR Hall of Fame driver known for his discipline, fitness, and devotion to both the sport and his family, Martin uses this memoir to trace how he built a career defined by consistency, preparation, and an unshakeable work ethic. It's a memoir told with a steady, reflective voice - not flashy, not sensations but hones in a way the way Martin approached his career. 

From his early days in Batesville, Arkansas through his final race in 2013, Martin approached racing with total commitment. Whether competing in the American Speed Association (ASA), the NASCAR Busch (now O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series, or the Cup Series, he made sure he and his team were ready for whatever the weekend demanded. Bad days were inevitable—inspection issues, mechanical failures, team politics, or simple misfortune—but Martin’s response was always the same: do the work. In his ASA years, that meant literally working on the cars himself as often as he drove them.

These technical passages are the one area where some readers may stumble. Without at least a basic understanding of engines, chassis setups, or undercarriage components, the details can feel dense. Still, they’re not overwhelming, and they’re balanced by strong storytelling around the races that shaped his career. His years with Roush Racing, the long‑running Ford partnership, and the eventual move to Hendrick Motorsports—and to Chevrolet—are described with honesty and pride. As with most challenges in his life, Martin frames the transition as difficult but ultimately rewarding.

The memoir is equally engaging when Martin turns to family and personal life. The chapter about his wife of 42 years, Arlene, is unexpectedly tender, and his reflections on his parents, his four stepdaughters, and his son Matt add welcome depth. Martin’s discussion of Matt’s decision to leave racing at age 33 to pursue education is especially thoughtful; he understood the desire to build a life not defined by comparison to a famous father.

NASCAR fans will find plenty to appreciate in this portrait of a driver who reached the Hall of Fame through sustained excellence rather than championships. Martin covers racing, family, and life away from the track with sincerity and detail, offering a memoir full of stories that keep readers engaged from start to finish.

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

Link:  Mark Martin: Never Lift: Mark Martin, Bones Bourcier: 9781642342000: Amazon.com: Books

 

Review of "The Climb:

After reading Into Thin Air, I wanted to hear another viewpoint on the 1996 Everest tragedy, and The Climb delivered exactly that. Boukreev’s detailed, unembellished account of the storm and his rescue efforts felt more accurate and more compelling. It’s a different lens on the same event, and one that ultimately spoke louder to me.

Title/Author:

“The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest” by G. Weston DeWalt and Anatoli Boukreev, narrated by Nelson Runger and Richard M. Davidson

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

This is the second book I’ve read about the May 1996 disaster on Mount Everest, the storm that killed eight climbers, including the well‑respected Scott Fischer. Like many readers drawn to this event or to mountaineering literature in general, I first read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Now I’ve experienced another perspective on the tragedy — or more accurately, listened to it, through the audio version of The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt.

While Boukerr is often regarded as a hero of that night, Krakauer’s account was far less generous, assigning Boukreev a share of blame for the deaths. Fischer was a guide on Boukreev’s Mountain Madness commercial team, while the Adventure Consultants expedition led by Rob Hall suffered four fatalities — Hall, Andy Harris, Doug Hansen, and Yasuko Namba. Three members of the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police also died on the mountain. With so much loss, it’s understandable that Krakauer sought explanations and accountability.

Listening to The Climb gave me a very different sense of the events leading up to that storm. Boukreev’s account felt more descriptive and more objective. He questioned decisions made by both Hall and Fischer, and he didn’t shy away from criticizing the business of commercial guiding — even though he was part of it. But in this book, he comes across primarily as someone trying to provide an accurate, unembellished description of the conditions on the mountain: the weather, the physical state of the climbers, and the chaos of the storm itself. For me, it offered a clearer, more grounded picture of what happened than Krakauer’s version.

That difference may simply reflect the different objectives each author had. But as a reader and listener, I felt Boukreev delivered a more precise account of what he endured while rescuing Charlotte Fox, Sandy Pittman, and Tim Madsen from certain death — without supplemental oxygen, at over 27,000 feet, in hurricane‑force winds. This review isn’t meant to discredit Krakauer; Into Thin Air is a bestselling and influential book. I just preferred this version, where the details of that rescue come directly from the climber who carried it out.

I also want to highlight the excellent narration. The two narrators brought the story vividly to life. At times it felt as though I were on the mountain myself — resting at Base Camp, fighting the brutal cold, or struggling through the thin air with limited gear and limited strength. Their performance added another layer to the experience and was a major reason I preferred this version as someone who enjoys reading about adventures in the Himalayas.

Link:  The Climb Audiobook by G. Weston DeWalt, Anatoli Boukreev

 

Review of "Touching All the Bases"

Dave Winfield’s Touching All the Bases offers a thoughtful, surprisingly even‑tempered look back at his decade with the New York Yankees and his complicated relationship with George Steinbrenner. Fans of 1980s baseball will appreciate the mix of on‑field history, personal reflection, and behind‑the‑scenes intrigue.

Title/Author:

“Touching All the Bases: A Story of Power, Purpose and Surviving the Bronx” by Dave Winfield with Alan Maimon

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Dave Winfield was one of the most gifted multi‑sport athletes of his era, drafted by professional teams in baseball, basketball, and football after his standout career at the University of Minnesota. Choosing baseball proved the right call—he built a Hall of Fame résumé that stretched across two decades and several franchises. While Touching All the Bases covers his full life and career, the heart of the memoir is his ten seasons with the New York Yankees and the complicated, often contentious relationship he had with owner George Steinbrenner.

Winfield began his major league career in San Diego, starring on some difficult Padres teams and establishing himself as one of the sport’s premier players. His performance earned him what was then the largest contract in baseball history when he signed with the Yankees in December 1980. But after New York lost the 1981 World Series, the relationship between Winfield and Steinbrenner deteriorated. Winfield accused Steinbrenner of failing to meet a contractual obligation to support the Winfield Foundation, the charitable organization he had launched in San Diego and expanded in New York.

Steinbrenner responded not only with public criticism of Winfield’s play but with a disastrous decision: he paid Howard Spira, a known gambler, $150,000 to dig up damaging information about the foundation. The scandal ultimately led to Steinbrenner’s suspension from baseball in 1990—initially a lifetime ban, later reduced to two years.

Given all this history, one might expect Winfield’s memoir to be fueled by anger or score‑settling. It isn’t. Winfield writes with restraint, perspective, and even generosity; at one point he states plainly that he didn’t believe Steinbrenner was a bad person. While he acknowledges moments of frustration—his on‑field slumps, the prolonged legal dispute with a former girlfriend who falsely claimed a common‑law marriage—the overall tone is reflective rather than bitter. More than anything, Winfield emphasizes gratitude: for his career, for the people who supported him, and for the life he built in and beyond baseball.

With its blend of baseball history, personal insight, and the kind of behind‑the‑scenes drama that defined the Yankees of the 1980s, Touching All the Bases is a memoir I thoroughly enjoyed. Fans of that era—and of Winfield himself—will find plenty to appreciate in this thoughtful look back from one of the decade’s defining players.

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

Link:  Amazon.com: Touching All the Bases: A Story of Power, Purpose, and Surviving the Bronx eBook : Winfield, Dave, Maimon, Alan: Kindle Store

 

Review of "Fallen"

 Mick Conefrey’s account of George Mallory’s life and final Everest expedition blends strong research with gripping storytelling. Even with the outcome known, the 1924 climb and the discoveries that followed make for compelling, memorable reading.

Title/Author:

“Fallen: George Mallory and the Tragic 1924 Everest Expedition” by Mick Conefrey

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

The first recorded and acknowledged successful climb of Mt. Everest came in 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit. Yet for more than a century, questions have lingered about whether George Mallory and Sandy Irvine may have stood on top of the world nearly three decades earlier. Mick Conefrey’s book offers an excellent account of Mallory’s life, ambitions, the fateful 1924 expedition, and the discoveries that continue to fuel debate over whether he and Irvine were truly the first to reach the summit.

Through research and interviews, Conefrey paints a vivid portrait of Mallory—adventurous, determined, and wholly committed to the mountain. The 1924 expedition was his third attempt, and while his long absences strained family life, he is portrayed as a devoted husband to Ruth and father to Clare and George. Conefrey also captures Mallory’s unconventional livelihood, earning money through lectures to support both his household and his expeditions. These sections are detailed, engaging, and easy to follow.

The book’s strongest writing comes in its account of the 1924 climb. The descriptions of the camps, the weather, and the daily dangers Mallory and Irvine faced are compelling even when the outcome is already known. Conefrey’s narrative holds the reader’s attention with the urgency of a story unfolding in real time. The later chapters—covering the discovery of the climbers’ bodies and the theories sparked by those findings—are equally absorbing. While the all‑important camera Mallory carried was never found, what was discovered has led many to believe he may have reached the summit long before Hillary and Norgay.

Link: Fallen: George Mallory and the Tragic 1924 Everest Expedition: Conefrey, Mick: 9781639366354: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "It's All About the Players"

Peter Gammons’ It’s All About the Players is a rich, heartfelt tour through the people who shaped the game, from Cape Cod hopefuls to Hall of Fame legends. His reporting, storytelling, and lifelong devotion to baseball make this book a gift for anyone who has ever cared about the players behind the box scores.

Title/Author:

“It’s All About the Players: What I’ve Learned from Baseball’s Best” by Peter Gammons

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

For many years, Peter Gammons was the most trusted voice in baseball journalism. Whether through his Boston newspaper columns, his groundbreaking work on ESPN that helped launch Baseball Tonight, or his reporting from countless World Series, he built a career on knowing players—really knowing them—and his new book fully embraces the belief in its title: the game is all about the players.

The writing here is as sharp, warm, and observant as it was during his newspaper days. Gammons gives equal care to every level of the sport: college kids grinding through summer ball on Cape Cod, a former Marlins first‑rounder whose career was derailed by addiction but who rebuilt his life into sobriety and business success, and icons like Tony Gwynn—whose wife Alicia essentially became MLB’s first video coordinator by filming his swing long before video study was commonplace. Gammons’ ability to move seamlessly between these worlds is what makes his storytelling so enduring.

He does write a little—emphasis on little—about himself. There’s the aneurysm that nearly killed him, mentioned without melodrama. There’s Joe DiMaggio finally speaking to him only because Ted Williams insisted. And there’s the moment he watched the Red Sox, his childhood team, win the 2004 World Series and immediately thought of his father. These personal stories are few, but they’re as thoughtful and grounded as the player profiles that surround them.

Other chapters on Ichiro Suzuki, Barry Bonds, and Cal Ripken blend familiar history with fresh angles only a baseball lifer could uncover. Think you know the full story of the famous Bonds–Jim Leyland argument? Think again. Think Ichiro couldn’t hit home runs? Gammons has a chapter that will make you reconsider. His reporting adds nuance to players whose legacies often get flattened by highlight reels or public narratives.

Any baseball fan who has enjoyed Gammons’ voice—on the page, on television, or simply as part of the game’s fabric—will find something to savor here. With so many players, seasons, and personalities represented, every reader should encounter at least one moment that sparks the memory: yeah, I remember that.

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: Amazon.com: It's All About the Players: What I've Learned from Baseball's Best: 9781538777206: Gammons, Peter: Books

 

Review of "How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius"

Nick Greene’s How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius isn’t a tactics manual—it’s a lively, interdisciplinary tour through the hidden history and mechanics of the world’s game. Packed with humor, sharp research, and wonderfully odd perspectives, it makes soccer feel fresh even to longtime fans.

Title/Author:

“How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius:  What Architects, Stuntwomen, Paleoanthropologists, and Computer Scientists Reveal About the World’s Game” by Nick Greene

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

I must start this review with a disclaimer: I read Nick Greene’s previous book on basketball with the same title—just swap “soccer” for “basketball.” In both cases, the titles undersell what Greene is actually doing. These aren’t manuals on how to watch a sport; they’re wide‑ranging explorations that leave the reader with a deeper understanding of how each game evolved and why it looks the way it does today.

In How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius, Greene approaches the world’s game from every imaginable angle. He begins, delightfully, with turf—an unexpected but oddly perfect entry point. His main source is the groundskeeper tasked with keeping a natural grass field alive inside the Pontiac Silverdome so it could host matches during the 1994 World Cup. It’s a wonderfully strange challenge, and Greene uses it to show how much science, labor, and ingenuity sit beneath the surface of a sport we often take for granted.

That becomes the book’s throughline. Whether Greene is interviewing a stuntwoman to illuminate the art of flopping, a mathematician to explain point systems and tie‑reduction, or various experts to trace how ninety minutes plus stoppage time became the standard, the writing is factual, sharply sourced, and frequently hilarious. His humor is never forced—it’s woven into the fabric of the storytelling, the kind that sneaks up on you and lingers long after you’ve closed the book.

One moment in particular still makes me laugh. In a chapter on penalty kicks, Greene explains how the traditional ABAB format briefly gave way to a test version known as ABBA—Team A kicks once, Team B kicks twice, then back to Team A. After describing this short‑lived experiment, Greene ends the section with the line: “The winner takes it all.” It’s a perfect joke, and exactly the kind of cleverness that runs throughout the book.

If you’re expecting a tactical guide to formations, pressing schemes, or how to spot subtle strategic nuances, this isn’t that book. But if you want to learn about soccer through dozens of different lenses—historical, scientific, cultural, architectural, even evolutionary—then this is absolutely the one to pick up.

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

Link: Amazon.com: How to Watch Soccer Like a Genius: What Architects, Stuntwomen, Paleoanthropologists, and Computer Scientists Reveal About the World’s Game: 9781419777172: Greene, Nick: Books