5 comments about Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance.

1. This is one of the most inspirational books I've had the privelage to read. I find that it has applications in my daily life and plan to re-read on a continuing basis. Spectacular!! We have given away 12 copies to friends and family and all of their appreciation and gratitude speaks highly for the book.



2. Excellent. Guide for achieving personal goals. Should be on students "books to read" list. Thought provoking!



3. I really loved this book! Wonderful stories, and perfectly written wisdom. I felt as if I was sitting there with Jeremy and Grandfather. I will definitely read Marshall's other books now. This is a book I will share with many, but keep my own copy for a yearly re-read. Genuine what life is all about, and why it's worth living. Simple, yet profound. Value yourself and make time to read it.



4. Excellent book, espcially for one who has lost a loved one, or one who realy wants to think about life. easy to read. Lots to think about.



5. Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance This peaceful reading on a CD is inspirational. The stories and lessons are worth listening to whether you are in the midst of life's problems or not. One step at a time. We can all do that.

2 comments about Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series).

1. Wonderful book for kids who love to learn. Great info and facts even for adults. Highly recommend.



2. We are homeschoolers using this book in part of a unit on Inventors. My eight year old is able to read and enjoy the history behind the different inventions. I thought it would just be a "how to" book, but we are both really enjoying the well written historical information in this book. It really makes Leonardo and the world he lived in come alive. I like to just browse through the book and look at all of Leonardo's sketches as well.
   
   The pictures and instructions are fairly easy to follow. The inventions do use common items, but we don't always have the right "common" items at the right times. We have modified most of the directions to use what we actually have in our house. Today we wanted to make the camera obscura, but we just threw out our last empty Pringles can... guess we'll be eating lots of chips in the next week :)

2 comments about Peace: The Biography of a Symbol.

1. A readable history of the peace sign, well-illustrated. Baby Boomers will enjoy this look at the origin and uses of that thing they used to draw on their notebook covers during health class.



2. This is a great book that shows the history of the peace symbol. Nice photos and is well written. I bought a few copies to hand out to teachers for their classtrooms. A good history lesson.

5 comments about Tennis Confidential II: More of Today's Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies.

1. Paul Fein's books are always fun reading. Besides that they're instructive about many aspects of the tennis world. I read the original Tennis Confidential a few years ago and learned about the greatest players, matches and controversies, past and present. I've reread it because it was that good. Tennis Confidential II is even better because of the features. I loved "When Tennis Players Rocked" about the brash boys Connors, McEnroe and Nastase and other colorful rogues. "You've Come A Long Way, Ladies" is like taking a college course about the history of women's tennis. Famous feuds captures the intensity and fury of pro tennis from an unusual angle. Other features about Roddick, Sharapova, Sampras and Agassi are also superb. In the essays section, Fein digs into all kinds of controversies about who the greatest players are, player challenges (which he debunks), on-court coaching, and how American can produce champions again. If you play both tennis and golf, you're going to zero in on the essay about which of those two sports is tougher. There are 12 interviews, all of which are unpredictable and interesting. My only complaint is that I wish it had interviews with Federer and Nadal who appear on the book cover. The trivia has some unbelievable stuff, including amusing tidbits about both President Bushes, Federer, Hingis, Sharapova, Serena Williams, etc. This is a book that will double or triple your knowledge of tennis while you have a fun time doing it.



2. Paul Fein has done it again. Tennis Confidential II is the most informative and entertaining book I've read in years.
   
   Clearly the game's foremost deep thinker, Fein's latest collection of essays thoroughly explore some of the games most captivating issues. His take on the greatest men and women players of all time and the tennis vs. golf debate are must reads for all sports fans. Buy this book immediately!



3. Paul Fein is one of the best and intellectually sound tennis writers today. As in his previous two books, he has proven this again in his latest, Tennis Confidential II. The player profiles are both intimate and informative, his analyses of the great players' records and achievements are based on thorough research, his discussion of the hottest topics of the day is provocative, and the player interviews are revealing. By frequently quoting leading players, journalists, and officials, Fein makes the various articles much more interesting and buttresses their objectivity . The sidebars "Fascinating Facts" offer numerous, previously little known tennis tidbits. While many of the articles appeared in tennis publications several years ago, they are not only timeless, but actually rekindle wonderful memories.
   
   Fein does not shy away from expressing firm opinions. However, rather than simply imposing his views in a dogmatic fashion, he challenges the reader to at least reexamine preconceived positions. Have you been wondering how to improve line calling? Read this book. Are you opposed to no-ad scoring? Fein will tell you why you are right. Do you need to convince your golfing buddy that his hobby is less of a sport than yours? You will find help in this book.
   
   As far as the numerous profiles of people who have made their important mark on the tennis landscape, it would be difficult to point to any one as being superior. Having always been impressed by Andre Agassi, - the man, my admiration was strengthened after reading Fein's wonderful piece. And what about the stories of the great bunch of Aussies, their sportsmanship and camaraderie during those simpler amateur days. Also, Fein's descriptions of the sports most enduring characters - Nastase, Tiriac, Connors, McEnroe, Gerulitis, and others - invoke a nostalgia for the "good old days".
   
   As an interviewer, Fein has few equals. The questions he poses reflect his sound judgement and great knowledge of the game. He obviously makes his subjects comfortable so that their responses are both honest and revealing, thus enabling the reader to gain a new perspective on these stars. I enjoyed these interviews so much that singling any one out would not be fair. However, having said that, I did find the Noah and Wilander interviews particularly insightful.
   
   To the tennis nut, the book offers an enjoyable trip down memory lane, to the casual fan it illuminates previously unseen vistas. I truly believe that anyone even remotely interested in the game of tennis will enjoy reading this book.
   
   Harry R. Kirsch



4. Paul Fein is nothing short of a master. His latest book, Tennis Confidential II, will make you chuckle at times (don't miss the Fascinating Facts at the end of most chapters), it'll make you cry at others (What! Get rid of player challenges? Let's talk about that!), but most of all it will fire you up and make you consider--and re-consider-- the great tennis issues.
   
   I especially enjoyed the chapter on Famous Feuds in Tennis History. Who knew that Renaissance painters even played tennis, let alone that one murdered his tennis opponent over a disputed score? I loved re-living those nasty McEnroe/Connors days. And, by the way, Anna Kournikova fairly drips acid. Oh, it's delicious!
   
   Mostly, I learned a lot. Fein is as instructive as he is entertaining. I didn't know about the 13 factors that make line calling difficult. Even when I thought I understood an issue, Fein gave me more to think about. In my opinion, this book is one that will be enjoyed both by novices and seasoned players. You can check out stories about people who have changed the sport, Fein's list of top players of all time, and some intriguing ideas about how to fire up the game.
   
   Fein says tennis players love to argue. Well . . . we agree on that!



5. In his inimitable style, Paul Fein analyzes the issues, arms himself with the facts, and then lets his opponents have it. Whether it's taking a sledgehammer to the misguided advocates of on-court coaching or exposing the flawed thinking that's given rise to the absurdity of player challenges, Fein made me feel like standing up and applauding.
   
   As a coach, I found myself actually cheering when I read his enlightening chapter entitled "How America Can Produce Champions Again." I was fascinated to learn why "the best two-handed backhands are much superior to the best one-handed backhands," and why we should "ditch the flawed, open-stance, two handed backhand that Venus and Serena use regularly." This chapter alone should make the book required reading for any tennis coach with an interest in US junior tennis development.
   
   However, what I liked most of all about the book is that Fein clarified my thinking on many of tennis' controversies. He takes seemingly grey issues, quickly separates the black from the white, and then presents well-reasoned arguments with a certainty that must leave some of tennis' "dogmatists for change" looking for the nearest sewer to slither back into.
   
   On the other hand, if you're an advocate of introducing no-ad scoring, replacing deciding sets with tie-breakers, or sacrificing the integrity of the game to the mindless masses in the name of television and entertainment, whatever you do, don't buy this book. It'll be much too dangerous for your health.

5 comments about The Education of a Speculator.

1. There are some weak chapters (checkers and music for me) but overall Niederhoffer gives an honest voice to what being a "trader" is really like, and especially from the buy-side perspective. The most refreshing aspect is that he disabuses folks of how glamorous the life is. I resisted reading this book for years, and now regret it. While wordy and at times brutally personal, it is quite real in a way that no other book on hedge fund and trading life has ever really captured. Strongly reccomended.



2. As many already know, Niederhoffer has had quite a volatile, and highly publicized career as a speculator. But it is pure naivety and ignorance for people to brush his work off merely because of the two blow ups he had in his fund. In fact, if anything, these two events have, in my opinion, made Niederhoffer's perspective exponentially more valuable than most modern financial literature on the subject.
   
   With that said, I must disagree with his view on statistical inference and its role in market speculation. Although statistical inference is valid as a data point, when one uses it as their primary and sole validation of any trade premise, the risk they expose themselves to is far too high. The foundation of his theories are based on using prior statistical probabilities to validate a trade. In other words, if the odds of a trade blowing up in your face are 1 in 1000, then it's a good trade. But if you don't consider what is going on in the macro environment, the overall sentiment of market participants, and other "subjective" data sets, then you risk exposing yourself to a situation where you make a massive long bet on the S&P futures at a time when the market is in a freefall because of some geo-political and/or financial event such as a Russian debt default, or Asian financial meltdown. This is the scenario that blew Niederhoffer up, but the interesting thing to note is that the "trade" itself had already caused significant loss in a prior event. So what does that tell you about statistical inference?
   
   The value in this book is what you gain from his anectdotes and insights. Although he has a tendancy to go off on a tangent and lose you, if you can keep your focus, this book will provide you with invaluable insight into the mind of one of this generations most experienced market operators.
   
   And his comparison of a classical symphony with the Japanese Yen is priceless, and can be worth the price of this book in itself.
   
   I have personally read this book over 5 times by now, and I'm sure I'll read it again.



3. I've worked in physics and am heading for a career in finance. In these fields you occasionally run into that guy. The guy who is either so smart nobody can understand him, or he's a manic-depressive frothing in a mania stage. Either way, "that guy's" nervous system is obviously wired to a higher pitch than mine ever will be; at least without chemical additives or surgury. Reading the book is like talking to that scary smart manic guy. It's always humbling running into "that guy." Niederhoffer is that guy. He ranges wildly from stories of his colorful youth in a working class neighborhood in NYC (which actually did remind me of Feynman's stories) to horse racing, to squash, to trading FOREX. He goes so fast, you can barely keep up with him, even in a leisurely read. Why is he talking about handball? I thought he was just talking about liquidity? Checkers? And how does Jesse Livermore fit in? Read it and see.
   
   Niederhoffer is the type of man I admire the most; he has physical courage, he's brilliant, he loves his family and friends, he beats the system with wit and street smarts and he comes from humble means. He managed to get a system for gaming the GPA named after him. He was a world champion at Squash. He was an early pioneer of direct marketing private equity funds. He was an early skeptic of the efficient market hypothesis (what would traders get paid for if the markets were efficient?). He was a professor at U.C. Berkeley. He built (and lost, in a story I hope the next edition of his book documents, and, stunningly, built again) a great fortune. His story is completely mind boggling; the world is a better place for his having lived his story in it, and you'll be a better person for absorbing his insights about the world.
   
   Beyond my gushing over his yarn spinning, if you're a careful reader, and you know something about markets, you can pick up some pretty serious insight from his descriptions of his day to day work. The only other book I got a feel for the markets like this was Larry Harris' book on Trading and Exchanges, and that was nowhere near as much fun to read.



4. Meandering nonsense that tells the reader nothing about how to speculate in anything. The author claims it is in there but between the lines as he cannot give away his secrets. Well, he does not. A waste of money for someone wanting to learn how to trade.



5. What a disappointment. The book barely qualifies as a book on speculation. Instead, it is a long winded, rambling account of the author's (non-investing) life; after page upon page devoted to a topic other than speculating/investing (e.g. sports) he attempts to draw some parallel between the subject in question (e.g. sports) and speculating/investing. All too often, the analogies/parallels are weak to non-existent. For a book supposedly dedicated to speculating, remarkably little of it actually deals with this topic. There can be no doubt the author has tremendous knowledge; he simply choses not to share it with his readers in this offering. Don't waste your money.

5 comments about Basher Five-two: The True Story Of F-16 Fighter Pilot Captain Scott O'grady.

1. This book is very suspenseful. Its packed with action; it was an enjoyable book to read. it can be dull at some parts but all in all it was a great book. when he is hidding from the enemy you pretty much can feel his fear. i was impressed by his show of bravery and resoursefulness. i would suggest that if you like action and bravery read this book.



2. very good book! exciting and full of action. once i started ready it i didn't want to stop. i think everyone should read it.



3. I thought this book was very well written for a number of reasons. First of all, the author puts together all the events in logical order so that the reader is not confused. The author also puts cliffhangers at the right time (personally, I didn't like it, but it didn't matter). That keeps the reader on edge to hurry and get through the cliffhanger chapters to get back to the action. At least that's what I did. Also, it doesn't bore the reader. Even though the author is talking about how he had to lie in a hole for most of the day, he always writes something new that keeps readers reading, like him eating his first meals on the run, or him hurrying to find a new hole-up spot. Lastly, I love the fact that he didn't glorify himself for escaping capture and call himself a hero. He gives credit to the real heroes; the men that rescued him.



4. Captian Scott O'Grady , a F-16 pilot, gets shot down over enenmy tertory. This book tells his epic story of ecape form the whole ordeal. The author tells it so well he makes you feel like you are there! I was amazed at the amount of flash backs to his family and friends back in the U.S. that worryed so much about him. As he tries to ecape, he encounters many chalnges like wind, rain and eating ants. Most of all he tries to evade the Bosnian Surbes. Capt. Scott O'Grady was right, NATO is awesome!



5. A great childrens book, for grades 5-8. Well written naritive about survival, without any political or religious undertones found in the other story by Scott O'Grady. As a high school teacher I recomend this story for those younger children that seem more interested in playing cops & robbers than reading a book.

5 comments about A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation.

1. There have been many books about slavery and the brutality of the life that so many people had to endure. Much of this has been documented by authors and historians, and told about in history books and fiction alike. Part of this record includes the slave narratives, first person accounts, written by slaves themselves, that detail their hardships and trials, and most of them, recounting their path to freedom. David Blight has two such narratives in his new, and frankly, phenomenal new book: A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation. This is a book for your shelf.
   
   Blight starts the book with a brief review of the history of slave narratives, the distinct differences between pre and post-emancipation narratives, and how these two remarkable narratives fell into his possession, both within six months of each other. He then retells their own lives, giving background and general information (including some from other slave narratives) to make the two men's accounts more whole.
   
   The rest of the book is the actual narratives of both John Washington and Wallace Turnage. And what a powerhouse of writing both of these narratives are. Both men, finding their path to freedom during the Civil War, both with help from the Union army. But each man found his path to freedom in his own unique way, and both accounts are riveting memoirs of using wits, guts, and determination to ensure their survival.
   
   It's so personal to read these. You get a sense of the men behind the words, it's almost like you are eavesdropping on a grandfather recounting his younger days to a granddaughter. The narratives are edited by Blight, but he largely seems to keep a hands-off attitude with both of them, leaving the reader the chance to experience the author first hand. You leave the narratives painfully wanting more ... even though Blight has provided more.
   
   These narratives paint a picture of true American heroes. Men who lasted, despite incredible odds against them, to live and thrive beyond the situations they found themselves in. When Washington gets to live, as a freed man, in the same house in which he served as a slave, the sense of triumph is palpable, even though Washington is not gloating one bit. Much has been said about the brave soliders that lived and died for the American cause. These two men exemplify that to the fullest.
   
   I finished this book with a sense of awe and wonder with these two men, and a desire to want more. This book is a true piece of scholarship, adding to the growing richness of slave narratives. Hopefully, as time progresses, we will unearth more views of this time long past, to remember and appreciate once again.
   
   A true five star book!



2. History buffs in general will find "A Slave No More" a highly valuable read. For students of American history, and particularly for those who are interested in the Civil War and Reconstruction period, this book is must reading. There are not many first-person accounts by former slaves available to us. This volume contains two such narratives, hitherto unpublished: one is by Wallace Turnage and the other is by John Washington, both former slaves who found their way to freedom during the Civil War. David Blight presents them here in their original form "with virtually no changes to the grammar and spelling," although he has done some minor editing in their structure (primarily providing paragraph breaks) to assist in reading.
   
   The reader is not, however, immediately thrust into the narratives themselves. Blight spends the first 162 pages introducing us to the two writers, using genealogical data, and to the context in which the narratives were written. Turnage's and Washington's escape to freedom occurred during the chaos of this nation's most bloody war (over 600,000 casualties) and amidst a political and cultural conflict (state's rights and slavery) which had been ripping the country apart for many decades. It is, I think, essential to understand the plight of the Black slave on a personal level, to understand what it means to be someone else's "property," completely and totally subject to someone else's will, to recognize and accept that slaves were not thought to be fully "human." Blight does an outstanding job of providing the necessary background for the narratives.
   
   I recommend this book to all readers who love the study of history. It is a valuable contribution to the genre.



3. The book provides an in depth look at the lives of two black men who were determined to escape slavery. The book also reveals the hopelessness experienced by slaves in their daily lives. It also exposed the cruelty of slave owners, who were considered in all other respects to be genteel and upstanding citizens in their community.



4. This book makes the Civil War period and slavery come alive, partly through the real voices of 2 emancipated slaves, and partly through the consumate writing skill of the author. The level is just right: carefully documented sources (endnotes) that authenticate the story, plus a wonderfully accessible writing style that is clear, never boring, and quietly compassionate. This is an engaging book I recommend even to those having only a casual interest in history.



5. Recently two new important African-American slave narratives have come to light, published here along with scholarly commentary for the first time. They are considered significant by historians because they support a theory that slaves played a role in bringing about their own freedom. Traditionally slavery is thought to have ended with Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation - Lincoln freed the slaves, we are taught in school. However, is it possible that the slaves themselves played a role in their own freedom, that their own actions, conscious or not, helped bring about Emancipation? This is what today many historians contend, and these two narratives support that view. "For most slaves", Blight says, "freedom did not come on a particular day; it evolved by process." It was the process of waves of slaves escaping into Union lines as the war moved south, often forming shanty towns of "contrabands" (as the Union called escaped slaves, they were initially classified by the north as property). Eventually something had to be done about the"contraband" and Lincoln signed some limited laws that gave them freedom, which eventually morphed into the Emancipation Proclamation. But it was the slaves desire for freedom, willing to risk life by escaping, that forced the issue of Emancipation. Further, many of these freed slaves then took up arms and joined the Union army. It is estimated over 700,000 of the nearly 4 million slaves found freedom through this "process", the remaining 3.3 million achieving freedom with the 13th Amendment.
   
   Whatever the historical debates, these narratives are interesting and even thrilling. Although not as well written as Frederick Douglass, in many ways the adventures of these young men are more real and tangible - as private documents they were not written to be published, not filtered through an editor. They were meant for friends and family and thus have a rough, raw real edge to them.
   
   David Blight has done a great service to historians and the public by both publishing the original sources and summarizing and expanding on them. Each of the two narratives has a corresponding chapter that re-creates the narrative in more detail and clarity for the modern reader. In addition there are two chapters that examine what happened to the men after the war including some fascinating pictures. No two slave narratives are alike and these will surely not disappoint as important historical case examples and thrilling stories. America has two new unsung heroes representative of 100s of thousands who sought and found their own freedom.

5 comments about End of the Spear.

1. A wonderful story that jumps from tragic to comic throughout - this is the autobiographical tale of the son of a missionary who came to love the very man who ended the life of his father (at the end of the spear).
   
   Life affirming and filled with views on social consequences and responsibilities to indigenous peoples.



2. A fascinating account of true sacrifice for the benefit of others. Your thinking about what is important in life will forever be changed. This is the stuff of life transformation. Only read this book if you are serious about having your lifestyle challenged and your worldview reshaped.



3. All of my life I've heard this story. Visited a church where Steve and Mincaye were speaking. Then saw the movie. WOW! Yet, the book was all that and more. Captivating. Inspiring.
   The portions that speak of clashing cultures and languages were especially great for me. It helps me to see others as the same as me. To realize that no matter where we live, or how we are taught, there IS a universal human condition, variably expressed in our individual lives and societies.



4. Fascinating. Makes you think about things like subconscious cultural superiority, the way we educate, the thinly veiled brutality of our own culture. Things like, how do we preserve the beauty of different people's cultures while still providing them with medicine and similar things they desire and deserve to have?



5. In order to get the most out of this very well written and captivating book you need to read "Through Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot first. It is the beginning of a very inspiring story about 5 missionaries in Ecuador who got killed by the Waodani (Aucas). In "The Savage, my Kinsman" also by
   Elisabeth Elliot the story continues.It is the story of forgiveness and love. You get to know and love the Waodani people. And then you still want to know more. This is where this book comes in. Steve Saint is the son of one of the killed missionaries and with him the story continues. He does a great job describing his journey back to the jungle to live with the Waodani. We learn more about them and their way of life. We wish them all the best for their future.

5 comments about The Life of Milarepa: A New Translation from the Tibetan.

1. As Milarepa tells his story, one of his disciples interrupts him and says that compared to Milarepa's effort, all of our spiritual practice and effort seems like a banal pretension.
   
   I tend to agree. The story will rekindle your dedication. A great book to get if you are feeling down or if it seems like your spiritual quest is too hard or going nowhere.
   
   It will rekindle your Inner Fire if you give it a chance.



2. I think Milarepa was one of the highest levels of enlightened beings ever existed on the planet. Considering the Miracles he did. He is one of the recent enlighten masters, and all this happened a few hundred years ago. He has received little Attention compared to Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and Khrishna. There is defenately a lot to learn from this book, and what he did is worth reading about.



3. The book quality - new, but not excellent material. Prompt delivery. Thought as a gift, so I had hoped for more. If bought for personal usage, would have been OK.



4. This is a treasure of a book and is very sacred in nature. There are two editions of this book, the first in 1977. The introduction reveals the history of the text and its translations, and the fascinating history that surrounds the text. See "The Life of Marpa the Translator: Seeing Accomplishes All", by Chogyam Trungpa, for further information regarding its history (both texts were written by the same man). Anyway, the first English translation became available early in the 20th century by W. Y. Evans-Wentz.
   
   I am recalling most of this from memory, so my apologies go out to those who find my data incorrect. I highly recommend the new english translation of "The Life of Milarepa" for anyone seeking the life of saints.



5. This book is a very great book that one can not read it fast. One needs to digest the information. I am very happy to have been told by my teachers to read this book. I am so surprised that libraries don't carry such a great book. After I finish my book I donate it to the library so other people can benefit from it. If you are an spritual person and you are interested in growing your soul read this book.

5 comments about The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth.

1. If you like historical accounts of baseball, this is a must read for you. There are accounts in this book about the most famous player to ever hit, Babe Ruth, that will make you wonder how he even survived to become the legend he did. Babe Ruth did not get a "cookie cutter" road to becoming the great hitter he became. IN His first years of professional baseball he was taunted, harassed, and insulted by virtually every possible means available to the other players. His nickname cannot even be mentioned in this review because it was so terrible. He was set up and fell for every trick in the book, and was the [...] of every joke because he was so innocent (in those ways of the world). In this book, you learn about the "young man" who becomes a legend, dispite the mean and cruel way he is treated. This young man, from St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys was freed by a Jack Dunn, a baseball guy from Baltimore. Ruth could hit as well as he could pitch. No one really explains where these talents ever develop, but the book mentions this legend (Ruth) as being extremely crude and racially motivated by anything that moved. Far from a gentleman, and never caring about it anyway, gradually he becomes recognized as one of the greatest hitters of all time. This initiation, into a most popular sport in the world's biggest city, turns out to be exactly what he needs to be molded into the world's greatest player. Babe Ruth knew how to live life in and out of baseball. He took everything everyone threw at him, and somehow became the greatest of the greats. This is an amazing tale of how a great one is made through saw dust and blade cutting, unlike say that of Joe D or Mickey. Ruth took all the pot shots, and learned to fire them right back. Nothing got to him, nothing. You have got to read this book, it is fantastic!!!! 10 stars. guyairey



2. This is a nicely revealing look at the Sultan of Swat, one that informs about George Herman Ruth (1895-1948) both on and off the field. The narrative begins by examininig the Babe's turbulent childhood and upbringing in a Baltimore orphanage. Readers see how this young man's incredible pitching arm and all-around skill led to a professional contract. Reaching the majors in 1914 at just 19, Ruth helped pitch the Red Sox to three World Seriers titles from 1915-1918. After switching to the outfield, Boston foolishly sold him to the Yankees, where New York media, radio, newsreels, plus the Babe's tape-measure clouts turned him into a national icon. As the author shows, the Babe was an equally-enthused drinker and skirt-chaser (particularly prior to 1926). We also learn about his 60-homer season in 1927, his relations with Lou Gherig, teammates, and management, barnstorming, calling his shot in his last (1932) World Series, and his inevitable slide. The author concludes with a briefer look at Ruth's post-baseball days, frustrated desire to manage, and untimely death from cancer.
   
   Author Leigh Montville provides much information about the Babe, his emotions, genuine sympathy for kids and orphans, and his troubled family life. Sadly, Montville didn't uncover every relevant fact - in such instances he pleads ¨fog.¨ Still, this is a very good biography, nearly matching THE LEGEND COMES TO LIFE by Robert Creamer.



3. If you only read one biography of the Babe, then the Big Bam would be an excellent choice. It's a solid, well researched look at the biggest name in baseball history. One of the strong points - the author's decision not to speculate - results in a lack of titillating vignettes from both the Babe's earliest years and some of his escapades. However, the reader gains that back in his confidence in the reliability of the book. Besides, the Sultan of Swat generated more than enough stories that are reported.
   
   A number of photographs are included and they add a great deal to the biography. The excellent bibliography also allows one to reasearch further.
   
   Overall, I was wishing it was a longer book by the time I was done.



4. "The Big Bam" tells the fascinating story of the man behind the legend. Author Leigh Montville does an excellent job of intertwining the man into the baseball hero, without neglecting either.
   
   Babe Ruth was a character "from the wrong side of the tracks" whose make-up was often "lost in the fog." Was he really part Negro? Who were the parents of his daughter? We may never know for sure.
   
   Raised in St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, he first learned to play ball from the Xavierian Brothers who ran the school. Growing up with nothing, he exercised no restraint when he had everything. The tales of his undisciplined drinking (including during prohibition) and philandering leave the reader aghast at the life style led by the Babe. The failure of his first marriage and strange relationship with his daughter baffle the mind. Yet, through it all, Ruth emerges as worthy of hero worship and, in the end, a sympathetic character, a big kid who never grew up.
   
   The Sultan of Swat is never ignored in the book. For the baseball fan, this book highlights a legendary career and brings out some facts that may have gone unnoticed. For example, I have seen pictures of the window he broke across the street from Sportsman's Park, but I never knew that he was pitching for the Red Sox that day. I had not realized that he was the one who wanted to quit pitching in order to hit more. His sparing with the owners and his managers make for interesting reading. His performance is even more astonishing when compared to his contemporaries, such as the year that he hit more home runs than six teams in the American League. Ultimately, it was his undisciplined character which defeated his last dream, that of managing in the major leagues.
   
   This is a good read for any fan of the Golden Age of Baseball. It makes you admire the athlete and understand the man. Play Ball!



5. Leigh Montville's The Big Bam is an exhaustively researched book on the life and times of Babe Ruth. Even for the non-sports fan, this book reads like the best of fiction, with a huge personality at its center and a fascinating exploration of how that personality influenced a generation of post war Americans. Entertaining and informative, Montville never shirks from probing into the faults and flaws of this iconic athlete. The book's triumph is in its evocation of supreme glory fading away with time, age, and illness. A milestone biography of a fascinating and elusive personality.
   
   Donald Gallinger is the author of The Master Planets