Review of "The Old Ball Game"

Frank Deford’s portrait of John McGraw and Christy Mathewson goes beyond box scores to explore one of baseball’s most enduring partnerships. Across sixteen seasons with the New York Giants, the fiery manager and the clean‑cut ace forged a friendship that defined the franchise’s rise. Readers who appreciate the human side of the game will find this an engaging and revealing look at two Hall of Famers whose contrasts made them unforgettable.

Title/Author:

“The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball” by Frank Deford

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Two of the most legendary figures of early 20th‑century baseball, John McGraw and Christy Mathewson, spent sixteen seasons together with the New York Giants. Both arrived in New York through the loose, often chaotic player‑assignment rules of the era, yet by the time Mathewson left to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1916, the two men had become inseparable. They lived in the same apartment with their wives, traveled together, and built a partnership that helped turn the Giants into one of the dominant teams of their time. In this book, veteran sportswriter Frank Deford tells their story with the sensitivity and human insight that marked his best work.

Deford’s strength has always been his ability to illuminate the people behind the sport, and this book is a prime example. I’m not usually drawn to baseball books that focus heavily on personalities and off‑field relationships, but this one succeeds because Deford understands how those relationships shaped the Giants’ success. His portrayal of Mathewson aligns with the familiar image: the clean‑cut, All‑American star whose grace, good looks, and unmatched pitching talent made him one of the era’s defining figures. Readers who have spent time with other Mathewson biographies—like I have—won’t find new revelations, but they will come away with a renewed appreciation for both the player and the man.

McGraw, meanwhile, emerges as the fierce, uncompromising manager history remembers. Despite his small stature, he was a force—combative with umpires, demanding of players, and unafraid to challenge owners. Yet Deford also shows McGraw’s softer side, especially toward players whose talent he believed could help him win. Mathewson was one of those. Hal Chase was another, and Chase’s presence becomes one of the book’s most revealing contrasts. Chase, a gifted first baseman but notorious gambler and womanizer, was released by Mathewson during his tenure with the Reds. McGraw, desperate to revive a Giants team slipping into the second division after three straight World Series appearances, chose to overlook Chase’s flaws and sign him. The contrast between their reactions to Chase highlights the complexity of both men and the depth of their differences.

These human moments are where Deford’s writing shines brightest. The on‑field action—especially Mathewson’s World Series performances—is covered, but those sections lack the emotional pull of the personal stories. Fortunately, the book leans far more toward the relationships, tensions, and shared experiences that defined McGraw and Mathewson’s partnership. For readers interested in the dynamic between two Hall of Famers who helped shape the early Giants, this is a rewarding and insightful read.

Link: Amazon.com: The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball eBook : Deford, Frank: Sports & Outdoors

 

Review of "The Everest Mystery"

 Julie Summers and Jochen Hemmleb offer a clear, well‑researched account of Sandy Irvine’s life, the 1924 Everest expedition, and the evidence uncovered in the decades since. While the mystery remains unsolved, the book provides a compelling look at why the question of Mallory and Irvine’s fate still fascinates climbers and readers alike.

Title/Author:

“The Everest Mystery: Sandy Irvine, George Mallory and the Truth Still Buried on Mt. Everest” by Julie Summers and Jochen Hemmleb

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

One of the greatest mysteries in mountaineering is now more than a century old: did George Mallory and Sandy Irvine reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1924, twenty‑nine years before the first recorded ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? The Everest Mystery doesn’t claim to answer that question, but it offers an excellent account of Sandy Irvine’s life and the subsequent expeditions that uncovered Mallory’s body, Irvine’s shoe and foot, and other equipment belonging to both men. Julie Summers, Irvine’s great‑niece, and Jochen Hemmleb combine their research and expertise to create a clear, engaging narrative.

Despite what the title might suggest, the authors don’t present a definitive view on whether Mallory and Irvine reached the top. Instead, they draw from Irvine’s letters and diaries, historical records, and Hemmleb’s mountaineering knowledge to craft a book that is part biography, part chronicle of the 1924 expedition, and part investigation into the evidence found since the climbers disappeared.

Irvine was unusually young for the typical English explorer of the era, but he was chosen for his engineering skill, his ability to fix nearly anything, and his willingness to take on whatever tasks were needed — including cooking and porter work. Because Mallory was considering the use of supplemental oxygen for the summit push, Irvine’s technical abilities were especially valuable. Sadly, the pair never returned.

The book’s strongest sections describe the later expeditions that uncovered Mallory’s remains and Irvine’s shoe and foot, along with other clues that have only deepened the mystery. A 1960 Chinese expedition allegedly removed Irvine’s body, according to some accounts, to protect their claim of being the first to reach the summit via the North Col — the same route Mallory and Irvine climbed. To their credit, Summers and Hemmleb avoid sensational accusations and instead present the factual information available about that expedition and others. They also note that the 2024 discovery of Irvine’s boot and foot doesn’t resolve the question of whether the pair reached the summit, though it adds another intriguing piece to the puzzle.

More than a century later, the fate of Mallory and Irvine remains one of mountaineering’s most compelling mysteries. This book offers a thoughtful, well‑researched look at why the question endures.

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

Link: Amazon.com: The Everest Mystery: Sandy Irvine, George Mallory, and the Truth Still Buried on Everest eBook : Summers, Julie, Hemmleb, Jochen: Kindle Store

 

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

 

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

Review of "Out at the Plate:

Dot Wilkinson’s life was far bigger than the record books that put her in two different Halls of Fame. Lynn Ames captures not just the softball legend and championship bowler, but the trailblazing woman who built a business, lived authentically, and shaped generations around her. It’s a remarkable story of talent, courage, and a life fully lived.

Title/Author:

“Out at the Plate: The Dot Wilkinson Story” by Lynn Ames

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Not many athletes, no matter their sport, can claim they’ve made the Hall of Fame in two different sports. The first female athlete to do so, Dot Wilkinson, has her story told here by author — and longtime friend of Wilkinson — Lynn Ames.

The two sports in which Dot achieved her fame were softball and bowling. Softball is where Dot truly made her name and became a legend not only as a catcher and later a manager, but also throughout her native Arizona. She started playing at age 10, and by 16 she was starring for the Ramblers, an amateur team that went on to win multiple championships thanks to the play of Dot and her teammates.

She was also an accomplished bowler, and after her softball career slowed down, she devoted more time to the sport. Her talent quickly drew the attention of the WIBC (Women’s International Bowling Congress). After winning the WIBC Queens tournament, she eventually earned induction into their Hall of Fame as well.

However, what makes this book stand out goes far beyond her accomplishments on the diamond or the lanes. Dot was a woman ahead of her time in countless ways. She became the owner of a real estate company after her mentor left the business to her when he could no longer run it. When repairs or renovations were needed, she handled the contracting work herself, often alongside her longtime life partner of 48 years.

That partnership is significant, because Dot lived in an era when gay men and lesbians were not accepted as they are today. She knew early on that she was attracted to women. She lost her first true love to breast cancer, then spent nearly five decades with her next partner. Yet she did not come out publicly until that woman’s funeral.

All of these parts of Dot’s story may not have been told if not for the immediate friendship she and Ames developed when Ames first felt inspired to write this book. Because of that bond, Dot opened up about her remarkable life, and Ames captured those stories in a way that would make Dot proud. It’s a book anyone can enjoy, whether they know Dot Wilkinson’s name or not. An extraordinary woman like Dot deserves to have her story read by everyone.

Link:  Amazon.com: Out at the Plate: The Dot Wilkinson Story eBook : Ames, Lynn: Kindle Store

Review of "Smart Baseball"

For my American readers, happy Independence Day, celebrating 250 years.  On a special day like this, what better review to post than one on the great American pastime, baseball?  Baseball fans have spent the last decade learning a whole new language of numbers, and Keith Law’s Smart Baseball was one of the first books to explain why that shift mattered. His look at the limits of traditional stats and the rise of better ones still feels sharp years later. It’s a clear, balanced guide to how modern evaluation really works.

Title/Author:

“Smart Baseball: The Story behind the Old Stats That Are Ruining the Game, the New Ones That Are Running It, and the Right Way to Think about Baseball” by Keith Law

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Fans who have followed baseball statistics over the last 10 to 15 years have watched both the volume of numbers and the types of metrics evolve. Keith Law’s Smart Baseball, published in 2017, offers a clear, timely accounting of why traditional statistics often fail to tell the full story of a player’s hitting, pitching, or fielding ability, which newer metrics were gaining traction, and what the future might hold.

Much of what Law predicted has come to pass, most notably the rise of Statcast and its now‑familiar measurements like launch angle and exit velocity. Drawing on his experience in scouting, analytics, and front‑office work, Law presents a balanced view of how modern evaluation works. Unlike Moneyball—which he still considers the gold standard for introducing analytics—Law doesn’t demean scouting. Instead, he shows scouting and analytics as complementary departments working toward the same goal: finding the best players. He acknowledges the old scouting tropes of “gut feelings” and a player’s “look,” but focuses on how scouting has advanced rather than criticizing its past.

Law’s sharpest critiques come early, where he explains why certain traditional statistics—batting average, RBIs, pitcher wins, and saves—are poor indicators of actual skill. He ranges from “still useful, but less important” (batting average) to “essentially useless” (wins and saves). Reading this years after publication, I found myself nodding along; I’ve grown accustomed to the “better” stats he champions. Had I read it in 2017, I probably would have been yelling at the pages defending some of those old standbys. Except wins—I agreed with Law on that one long ago.

When he turns to advanced metrics, Law is equally fair. From straightforward ones like OPS (on‑base percentage plus slugging) to more complex measures like FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching, similar to ERA but based only on events a pitcher can control), he explains why each offers a more accurate picture of performance while also noting where they fall short.

Despite the title, Smart Baseball isn’t a lecture demanding agreement. It’s an accessible, often humorous guide to how modern baseball analysis works. I laughed every time Law used “Joey Bagodonuts” to illustrate a point. Details like that—and the clarity of Law’s explanations—make this a worthwhile read for any baseball fan, no matter how long ago it was published.

Link:  Amazon.com: Smart Baseball: The Story Behind the Old Stats That Are Ruining the Game, the New Ones That Are Running It, and the Right Way to Think About Baseball eBook : Law, Keith: Kindle Store

 

Review of "So Young, So Great"

Bob Feller’s early career remains one of baseball’s most astonishing stories, and Jim Ingraham’s new book focuses squarely on how it unfolded. It’s a sharp look at the rise of a pitcher who became a star almost overnight.

Title/Author:

“So Young, So Great: Bob Feller Electrifies Baseball and America” by Jim Ingraham

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review: 

Very few, if any, other baseball players have taken Major League Baseball by storm as a teenager the way Bob Feller did when he first appeared in a game for the Cleveland Indians in 1936 at the tender age of 17.  That is the premise of this book by Jim Ingraham about the first six years of the Hall of Fame pitcher’s career.

This cannot really be labeled as a biography as Ingraham does not write very much about Feller’s youth or his family.  At least not in the way many sports biographies are written in which there are several pages about the subject’s parents, grandparents and siblings.  Instead, after a brief description of his baseball success in rural Iowa, it jumps straight into the day when Indians scout (and later Vice President) Cy Slapnicka approached Feller and his father and told them he would be in Des Moines watching Bobby pitch his game that day.  Afterward, Feller was under contract (signed by his father since he was still a minor) and property of the Fargo-Moorhead Twins, a farm club of the Indians.

From there, it was a whirlwind of moves, protests by other clubs and some fancy paperwork by Slapnicka that resulted in Feller making his debut in 1936.  And what a debut that was, as Feller struck out 15 St. Louis Browns on his way to a 4-1 victory. Ingraham does a good job of recapping this game and showering praise on Feller.

This was a good preview of what the rest of the book would be like as in each chapter, each successive season, Feller became the best pitcher in baseball as shown by either the traditional statistics used at the time or the advanced metrics favored by baseball analysts today.  The writing about his pitching was good, the coverage of what other players thought about his was better and Ingraham’s musings about the use of Feller in those first six years so that attendance would be better for both the Indians and other American League teams was great.  On that latter part, Feller was often called a “cash cow” in the book since average attendance at games he would pitch would be nearly triple that of all the other games at all American League cities, including Cleveland.

Other aspects of Feller’s life away from baseball during this time frame, even if they are only mentioned briefly, make the book feel like a more complete description of his life during this time frame.  Of course, his decision to enlist in the Navy instead of waiting to be drafted soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor is a major decision in his life.  As was the death of his father and the resignation of Slapnicka from the Indians, all around the same time. 

It was notable that other major parts of his life, such as his wedding to his wife Virginia, didn’t get as much notice in the book as did other events that were covered by the press – events that would otherwise not even be mentioned. These are events that many young men would have, but because this was Bob Feller, the best pitcher in baseball, the press covered them. These included his high school graduation and when he had his wisdom teeth removed.

There is quite a bit of repetition in the book, of which the most noteworthy is the frequent mention of the title – so young, so great.  That is understandable, especially when one considers how much Feller accomplished before the age of 23.  But for other aspects, such as the recollections of how Slapnicka found Feller, they don’t feel like they are part of the story.  However, this does not detract from the excellent writing about the accomplishments of a pitcher at such a young age. 

Looking at this part of Bob Feller’s career is a very good choice to give a reader an excellent look into his baseball life. If you want to understand why Bob Feller became a Hall of Famer before he became an adult, this focused look at his early career makes the case as well as anyone ever has.

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

Link:  So Young, So Great - Nebraska Press