No comments about Manchester United: The Complete Record: The Most Comprehensive Book of Facts, Figures and Statistics About Manchester United Ever Published.

5 comments about Pele, My Life and the Beautiful Game.

1. Few athletes have captured the world's collective admiration and respect as Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Known affectionately to his family as Dico, but to the rest of us as Pele', his influence far exceeded his tremendous exploits on the soccer field. He is one of the most recognized people in the world.
   
   This well-written, extremely detailed, and intriguing autobiography takes us deeply into Pele's world. He describes in great detail his impoverished youth in Bauru, his rapid ascent into the Brazilian National Team, his stellar years at Santos Football Club, and finally, his desire to bring soccer to the skeptical masses in North America. But throughout it all, we see his humility. "I only wanted to be as good as my father, Dodinho."
   
   I had the opportunity to play soccer with a Brazilian who played with Pele' at Santos. My friend was very young at the time, and told me that Pele' treated him very well. "He was well-liked by everyone, and always helpful to his teammates. You never knew he was the best player in the world. He acted just like a regular guy."
   
   Out of his many feats (playing in the World Cup final at the age of 17, the only three time winner of the World Cup, scoring almost 1300 goals), one stands out. Pele' is perhaps the only athlete to ever stop a war. During the Biafran Civil War in Nigeria, a three day truce was called to watch him play two exhibition games.
   
   Pele' was declared a national treasure by his native Brazil. But for the millions of us who had the privilege to see him play, he was our treasure as well.
   
   Thank you for the opportunity to review this excellent book.



2. 
   I was too young to see Pele while he still was an active footballer, but growing up in a football loving home I've been fed with the legend of this fantastic athlete. My Dad always told me about the greatness of Pele, and I always felt that I lost our "arguments" about whether "my generations" superstar Maradona or "his generations" star Pele actually was the Greatest One.
   
   I bought this book to find out more about the legendary Pele. Wow, wasn't this a great book? When understanding what impact this man had on the beautiful game it's easy to see how he can be recognized as the Greatest. He wasn't only an extremely talented athlete; he was also a man with a wonderful heart and who had his morals in order. I'm sure you find a picture of Pele in the dictionary if you look up the word "sportsmanship".
   
   I think this well written book is a worthy tribute to this great athlete. It tells us the this to-good-to-be-true motivational story about a man with an extreme talent that goes all the way from poverty thru a triumphant career all the way to the top of the beautiful game...and he do so with style!
   
   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED



3. It's fortunate for the soccer-fan readers that the author focuses his writing on what happens on soccer field. I don't really care that much about his company, although it helps to understand the author's personalities as a whole.
   
   It would be even better if the author describe how he thought of scoring those famous goals (even just say subcouciously I scored).
   Some diagrams would help too.



4. This is an exceptionally detailed biography. The statistical chart at the back of all the games he played in was a very pleasant surprise. The only things missing was some tactical diagrams and a map of Brazil. Every chapter added colorful insight into his life-Ch's-2,6,8-facts of life, 9-Pele in love and 17. He also gave the reader the fine nuances of the "beautiful game." Chapters-1,3-5,10,12,14-1,000 goal,15-16,18,19-20-Cosmos years. I found chapters 7-race relations in Brazil,11-the trainor, and 13-Santos years to be the most interesting. Lastly, I could not agree more with Pele's distaste for defensive Football on 310-11.



5. I read this book as a kid in Nigeria...Pele's legend cannot be imitated or duplicated...his feats are simply majestic...very humble, classy superstar who never let the accolades get to him..97 goals for Brazil and 1283 club goals is ridiculous! People dont even score 300 goals anymore..You would think that by playing 1300 games, he'd break down at some point...the book was a great read...get his new one "PELE" (autobio)!

No comments about Tottenham Massive.

5 comments about Captain for Life: And Other Temporary Assignments.

1. This is a good book. Altough at times it is misleading when John is speaking of his trials and tribulations of his soccer career. I'm not a person that reads a lot of books but this one I enjoyed. But this book is not for everyone. To really enjoy and understand this book you will have had to played soccer at a high level, not at the National Team level but for a club team or and ODP team. If you are the captain of your team you should read this book.This book is good for all ages of kids and i would reccomend this book to young players with dreams of making it in the MLS or for a club team in Europe. This is a good book.



2. John Harkes - a great player, a great guy and now a great author. John made a great impact upon the british game, and is remembered with great affection among Sheffield Wednesday fans for he reminds us of the great times we had whilst John was with us. The book is a great insight into John's career, from his teenage days in Kearny to his time in England and as a founder player of the relatively recent MLS league. I found it an enthralling read and was loathed to put it down!! I particularly enjoyed reading John's explanation for his leaving the Owls, as we all felt John Had been unfairly treated. If you enjoy soccer, you'll love this book. It highlights the highs and low's of John's career, and provides personal insights into John Harkes the man. John you're gone (from England) but not forgotten.



3. "Captain for Life" is the greatest book ever to be publisheds. It gives the most interesting, deep insight of one of the greatest Americans÷ to ever play the game of soccert. Everywhere John Harkes goes, the most fanatics from the best soccer countries adores and loves the Harskey. "Captain for Life" is definitely the top autiobiography out right now. Once you start reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. Take my advice. This is coming from a person that doesn't read often.



4. "Captain for Life" is the greatest book ever to be publisheds. It gives the most interesting, deep insight of one of the greatest Americans to ever play the game of soccer. Everywhere John Harkes goes, the most fanatics from the best soccer countries adores and loves the Harskey. "Captain for Life" is definitely the top autiobiography out right now. Once you start reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. Take my advice. This is coming from a person that doesn't read often.



5. A fresh look into the purposeful misleading and lies of Steve Sampson and his mishandling of the US Men's National Team at France '98. For me, the background was good, but the reading on the France '98 team is essential to anybody who cares about US Soccer. John Harkes is owed an apology by Steve Sampson and the powers that be at US Soccer for the way he was treated after giving it all up for the glory of the game in the USA. Sampson may dispute the facts put down by Harkes, but the book got published, Harkes never got sued, Harkes is still playing and Sampson is coaching kids soccer (right where he belongs.) Attitude? Dang right. Too many people, like John Harkes, Marcelo Balboa, Alexi Lalas et.al. poured their lives in elevating the game to an unheard of level in the states, only to be lied to, whispered about, and then ultimately begged by the boss, himself, Judas Sampson, to "take it easy on him, he's only a human being." Calling himself a human being is a slap in the face to the genus as a whole.

No comments about Soccer Stars (High Interest Books).

No comments about Abby Wambach (Robbie Readers) (Robbie Readers).

1 comments about Pele: The King of Soccer (Social Studies Emergent Readers).

1. I wanted a biography of Pele for my 7 year old. This is really for pre-school kids. The pictures are good.

3 comments about Blessed: The Autobiography.

1. George Best's auotbiography reads like any other footballer's biography for about the first third of the book. It's only after that it starts to get insightful and the reader begins to get an idea of the extent of what alcoholism can do to a person.

   George's life is a series of highs; winning the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968 and being considered one of the best footballers in the world, and lows; planning his suicide. It's a sad story in many ways.

   Much of the time George is his own worst enemy, but he doesn't shy away from admitting as much. There are some revelations new to me: Like when Ron Atkinson asked George to return to Manchester United in the 80's - thanks goodness that didn't happen, an image of boyhood hero would've been shattered.

   Although you're not left with the feeling that George is cured from alcoholism by any means, and may go off the rails at any time, you're at least given the comfort that he's happier living back close to his roots.

   More than just another footballer talking football.




2. I was never a huge fan of Bestie-his behavior always seemed immature and impulsive. This book has changed my mind. The author fully acknowledges his shortcomings, and the insight into the extent of his battle with alcohol truly reveals someone battling a monster rather than just acting foolishly. The book is a great read and I would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in Best and British football.



3. Very interesting especially for someone that wasn't familiar with football in the 60's and 70's. Mr. Best seemed like a larger than life character and it of course makes for a great read both the good and the bad.

No comments about Forza Italia: The Fall and Rise of Italian Football.

5 comments about Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona, Soccer's Fallen Star.

1. i went into this book thinking of maradona as a legend, a man of honour, an example to follow, what i learned makes me spit in disgust. diego was no more than a drug addict, a cheat, and had no honour at all. of all the club teams he graced i.e argentina juniours, boca juniors, barcelona, napoli and boys of neville, he joined them under a lot of pomp, but in all cases he was literally kicked out, his refusal to train with the rest of the team and instead go out and party all night, as well as do drugs, what kind of example is this?
   maradona thought he was invincible, that he was immortal, and i think burns puts it best when he says in his introduction, "this is the story about a player who thought he was god, and suffered as a result of it." that about sums it up.
   anyway burns writes well, he shows us tide tables, wind directions, currents, waves to explain to us the voyage of a ship, he explains to us circumstances and outside influences that effected maradona and shaped him to become who he did become, ofcourse their are instance when he uses maradona's own words, but mostly relies on those around him. this is honestly a terrific book. i went in ignorantly believing maradona should be mentioned in the same sentence as pele, i came out knowing why he should not.



2. Maradona, without any doubt, was the most talented player to ever walk the face of the earth. Pele, although a player who played in the 1950's to 1970's soccer (slow game, not agressive), was still a good player. Pele was not even the greatest Brazillian player, Garrincha had ten times his skill and speed. In the final for 1970 world cup, the "king" of soccer did not play, oh no! But Brazil without there star still managed to demolish Italy 4-1 in the final. Pele looked so good because he was surrounded by stars. Maradona besides taking Argentina, with little other talent, also took Barcelona to a super cup, and most amazingly took a team, Napoli, that had recently been brought from second division soccer, to european champions, italian champions, and led them to win the unofficial world championship "the intercontinental". Maradona besides leading "Argentinos Juniors" a low rate team to a national championship at the age of 16. also led the Under 23 NAtional team to a world championship. Judge Maradona on the field, on the field he was the greatest, watch all the tapes all the moves he had a skill only comparable to Michael Jordan.
   Pele MAY be King, But Maradona IS GOD



3. David Luis, is there a Fox News in Argentina? Pele most certainly played in the 1970 World Cup final. He scored the game's first goal on a dazzling header and later closed out the match by assisting to Carlos Alberto. That's two goals out of Brazil's four, and highlights of those goals are replayed endlessly on television in any football-loving country.
   As for the book, it's not pretty to learn what Maradona became. Nor is it possible, perhaps, to redeem him in print when his glory on the field needs viewing, not reporting. (See, David Luis, most people are not afraid to watch a player's highlights. Go ahead, look at those Brazil goals. I saw Maradona's pass to Burruchaga. You can do it.) Still, you have to say that this is a story that must be told, and maybe at an even greater length. Athletes have this way of illuminating their fans' dreams while remaining themselves an object of either other people's machinations or their own hubris. Certainly the latter happened in the case of this player, and people ought to know what ended his career. It's a very important story in sporting history, and you might as well get it in this book.



4. I really enjoyed this book, it was very insightful in a historical sense as to Maradona's life. I felt it was a little too hard on Maradona. While I don't doubt the excess and lunacy that surrounded Maradona, I feel that he was an unfortunate guniea pig for what global soccer has become. I only wish that more could have been said about Maradona's fantastic play and his human side. Good book overall but temper it with one that paints Maradona in a better light.



5. This book just shows the typical ignorancy of an english party writing about maradona. i read it to try to equal my opinion after reading maradona's own autobiography and i ended up disgusted not at maradona but at the shameles author who is ignorant( little word!) to whatever is argentine. I dare to say that Maradona's own book provides better introspect and is better written. Burns at one point says that in Argentina houses are built with manure.That's outrageous.Jimmy Burns is vary partial towards Maradona's opponents. Im Argentine yes and know the faults and shames of my society but Burns has invented and blown out of proportion in his interest a lot of details. This book is racism in disguise.