Sports Books

Terry Pluto has written an excellent book and as an Indians fan for 70 years I can easily relate to his personal story and to the history given of the Cleveland Indians. It is an excellent history for the most part, written as only a sports writer can, though he contradicts a couple other writers a few times. I espeically like the emphasis on the heroes of my childhood, Lou Boudreau, Bob Feller, Larry Doby and others on the famous 1948 team. I disagree with his contention that the l948 championship team was not one of the greatest championship teams ever and this is disproved in the detailed book An Epic Season by David Kaiser. Also for a really complete history of the Indians before and leading to 1948, Franklin Lewis wrote a book titled Clevland Indians published in 1949. Sadly, I don't know if that one can still be found or not, even through Amazon. It is more a history. Nonetheless, Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir is a very good read and brings back the agony of the countless opportunities that former owners of the Indians let get by them. And the new owners may be doing that again today. :( As a personal story it is superb.

Absolutely wonderful weaving of an at times diffcult father-son relationship (congrats for telling it like it was!) and the history of the Cleveland Indians. Never gets bogged down in year-to-year stats and his way of comparing Shoeless Joe and Manny Ramirez's careers was brilliant. The stories about Manny are priceless.

Like all his other sports books, Terry Pluto is easily the best sportswriter on the planet.

This is a superb book because it goes beyond being a great sports book. Terry Pluto's weaving of his relationship with his father into his lifetime love of the Cleveland Indians makes it a book that readers will think about long after they've finished reading it. It's not necessary to be a Tribe fan to enjoy this book. I'd even go as far to say that a reader need not be a baseball fan to feel empathy and self-reflection on his or her parent-child relationship, regardless of whether the person is the parent or the child. I've also read the author's "Loose Balls", a wonderful look back at the American Basketball Association, and recommend that to those who remember the ABA (go Oakland Oaks!) and to those who weren't around to enjoy those years.

This is a fantastic book for any Indians fan who grew up watching games at the old Stadium. It's for all of us who grew up rooting for a sad team who had never won anything before and was never likely to do so in the future. It helps us to remember those days when the important thing wasn't how good the team was or if they had a chance at the Series, but rather spending time with our fathers watching the game. Maybe, just maybe, this book will help us to remember what is really important once again.

This book is as much a story about a son and his relationship with his father as it is about baseball, and tells each of those stories wonderfully. For basball fans it is an entertaining history of the Cleveland Indians and is full of colorful players, managers, and even owners. From the perspective of this one baseball team, the reader has a ring side seat on how much our country, society, and professional sports have changed and grown over the last 75 plus years. Just from the standpoint of the baseball Terry Puto is as good as Ken Burns or George Will.

But the story within the story is really about the author and his father. That relationship is one that is full of joy and sadness, wonderful memories and yet regrets. The author comes to better understand and appreciate his father after a stroke makes it impossible to talk to his father. In a cruel irony, when the time came that the author was ready and wanted to share stories and talk to his father, he was not able to.
All fathers and sons should read this book.

A final comment on Terry Pluto's writing style. I have read three of Mr Pluto's books and appreciate the way he writes in a clean, no non-sense style and yet fills his books with so much detail and color.

TO ANYONE WHO HAS EVER LISTENED TO THE DAN PATRICK SHOW ON ESPN RADIO, THIS IS A TERRIFIC COMPANION BOOK. DAN'S WIT AND AMAZING INTERVIEW STYLE JUMPS RIGHT OFF THE PAGE AT YOU. IT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ANY OF YOUR AVERAGE SPORTS INTERVIEWS. HE COMBINES WIT AND WISDOM TO MAKE THIS AN AMAZING READ

i don't really care much for ESPN the Magazine but i dig Dan Patrick's outtakes.that is always cool.this is so cool finding out what folks really dig off the field or court or track.very interesting.that was the most Creative thing that ESPN The Magazine did at the back.i enjoy reading this.

Fun, Enjoyable and Fast..... You could read whenever you feel like with no pressure of forgetting what happened... Different People with different Things... Big Names....... FUN FOR LOVERS OF THE GAME Patrick is great as usual...fun and Loving]

This is one of the best sports related books I have ever read. I am a subscriber to ESPN the magazine and enjoy reading the outtakes column in every issue. This is a must for sports lovers!

Dan Patrick exemplifies outstanding sports reporting. In Outtakes, he engages his dry sense of humor and mixes it together with his extraordinary knowledge of the sports world. Outtakes is a candid collection of interviews with sports' celebrities of past and present. He is not afraid to ask the questions that everyone truly wants to ask, and the word associations are outright hysterical. Patrick is one of the wittiest people on the face of the earth. Outtakes just shines with this. The book is an easy read, and has a good, steady flow to it. It is one entertaining ride into the insightful mind of Dan Patrick, sports' guru. Just hold on, because the laughs come hard and fast.

The one thing I dread about traveling is dragging my heavy luggage around. I appreciated the author's solid tips on packing lighter. I'm going to try her bundle packing method in 2 weeks and believe it will work just great. I appreciated her lists and pointing out the things I probably could leave behind. She also listed many websites where I could review and buy luggage and packing accessory items. If I follow her advice I think my next vacation will be a little more pleasant than previous ones. Thanks!

First, decide you're ready to travel hassle-free (or as close to it as possible). Next, visualize your perfect carry-on travel wardrobe. Author and packing expert Judith Gilford makes it all a breeze in this readable, oddly interesting handbook. She includes specific lists to jumpstart your thinking about packing for business, vacation and special itineraries - adventure, business or cruise travel, for instance. She offers great tips, from how to pack a layered bundle to keep your clothes wrinkle-free to the best practices for stain removal. getAbstract recommends her guidelines if you want to be able to travel light and still have everything you need upon arrival.

I got this book used, so for me it was a good value. I read it in a day, at least the parts that pertained to me. I did get some useful info. and have dog eared at least 20 pages for my upcoming travel, she mostly talkes about carry on, but it would be helpful to read if you check your bag too. I travel usually 3-4 times a year and each time have slight packing anxiety, what am i forgetting ect. and end up bringing way too much. A helpful guide book.

Provided excellent help to my wife as she prepared for a trip to the Holy Land

All my life I have yearned for some unknown knowledge. Feeling incomplete, I began at an early age to selfishly take in as much information as possible. I read everything I could get my hands on, encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, but nothing could quench this thirst. That is until I found this book. I still remember the day fate brought it to me. Opening its crisp pages I began to take in its glorious advice. Immediately captivated, I read the book uninterrupted from cover to cover, twice. Hours later, as I reluctantly closed the book, I breathed a sigh of relief. My soul at rest, I put down "The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-on Traveler".

Must admit that I am probably biased since my daughter,Dina Dembicki, was involved in the "making" of this beautiful tribute to the drivers and their "kids". Having seen what it takes to put it together makes me appreciate it all the more. Dina spent 12 to 18 hours a day doing the layout and putting the book together. As the Design and Print Production, Graphic Arts person, she spent every moment loving this book. Ryan and Krissie Newman are not only wonderful human beings and loving "pet parents" they are generous with their time and aid for all living animals. The Ryan Newman Foundation is responsible for the Catawba County Humane Society's new housing facility for which this book donated all net proceeds to the new building construction. These are the kind of folks who can be assured to make it to Heaven!! This book is now in it's 2nd printing thanks to all animal and NASCAR lovers who bought one. My thanks to them and everyone else responsible for making this book such an astounding success. By the way, Krissie is even prettier than her photo!

I love this book!! I love the Nascar drivers and how they show their love for their pets!!

This is a BEAUTIFUL book that provides funds for a GREAT CAUSE. NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, have made humane treatment of animals their personal mission. It is encouraging to see a young couple consciously chooses to "GIVE BACK." Buy this book for the cause as much as for the enjoyment!

This is a WONDERFUL book for anyone who loves pets and NASCAR. The photos are wonderful. The stories show these NASCAR people just like families everywhere who love their pets. Great read. Easy book to read "a little at a time".

This book was alot of fun to read and had great pictures. I am a dog lover and a Nascar fan so this book was perfect. It helps you get to know your favorite driver by the type of pet he has and the stories about them. You will not be disappointed by this one.

EXCELLENT book. A Coach or parent must read . Easy to understand with a vast amount of effective baseball knowledge with great illustrations . I especially like section that covers understanding kids emotions and psychological effects of ups and downs on players . Most parents and coaches do not realize how they can have a long term negative effect on a player. This book brings a whole new light on to the subject.

Very well written, very informative down to earth explanations and philosophy.

Gives insight that can be used for any age player. Breaks down to a fundamental level. Recommend for any youth coach.

This book isn't bad. I have not finished reading it, but it does give quite a bit of useful information. However, Cal seems to repeat himself several times in the book. There are many books out there that offer adequate, if not better, knowledge of how to play the game. Louisville Slugger's book is good as well as Coaching Pitchers. I would suggest only buying this book if you are a die hard baseball fan and plan on collecting many books. One good thing about the book is that Cal does give that sense of how to be a good teammate and maybe even a great family member.

I picked up this book at the local sporting goods store while I was buying gloves, bats, socks, pants, and etc. for my two sons who were starting little league baseball.

Just a few weeks earlier, I had declined a spot as an assistant coach due to not being "athletic", and I saw Ripken's book as an opportunity to learn some of the things that other dads had learned as kids.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have not read it cover-to-cover, but have browsed and spot-read it throughout the season.

As a result, I now understand more of the things other dads are yelling out. For example, for those in the field, "keep your eye on the ball" means watch the ball from the beginning of the pitch, all the way to the bat, as it connects with and leaves the bat, then all the way to the glove.

Chapters are given for each of the aspects of the game, pitching, fielding, hitting, catching, running, and so forth. Text narratives are easily understood, avoiding or explaining the sports "jargon" that confuses many beginning players (e.g. "choke up on the bat", "take two"). Pictures explicitly illustrate concepts such as batting and fielding stances.

Ripken's narrative also provides fun training excercises used by coaches (both major and little leagues) to develop baseball skills.

I have kept this book within an arm's reach in my office all summer long. Ripken's baseball insights have enabled me to help my sons develop their own throwing and batting skills.

Maybe next year, I might take that assistant coach position!

I have been following automobile racing since 1961 and followed sports car and formula 1 closely in the 60's and 70's with great interest. This is the finest book on sports car racing I have ever read. It's both filled with incredible data as well as anecdotes. If you have any interested in racing buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

This is truly an excellent book. I have an extensive collection of books devoted to motor racing (300+) and I would easily rank this in the top 10. I couldn't put it down. John Horsman was lucky enough to be intimately involved in the development and racing of the two most significant endurance race cars of the 60s and 70s: the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 917. He obviously kept copious and detailed notes during that period and he makes excellent use of them in writing this book. The story is packed with hundreds of tiny details and anecdotes that only a person who was there and lived it can provide. He creates an atmosphere where you feel you are actually there, looking over his shoulder and watching all that is going on. This is exactly what I'm looking for in each racing book I buy; unlike the majority of them, this one actually delivers.
There is another plus associated with this book: it almost free of any errors. It clearly had both an editor and a proof-reader. So many other recent books about motorsports appear to have had neither, and thus end up laced with errors: factual, grammar and typos. This book is refreshingly free of them.
If you only buy one motor racing book this year, this should be the one.

This book highlights the technicalities of racing sportscars at the highest level. Whilst the book focuses on the development of the various cars the author worked with (GT40/Mirage/Porsche 917), it also touches on the various drivers employed by his teams during his career (Rodriguez, Vern Shupan, Derek Bell).

This book provides some fascinating insights into the author's perspective of the Porsche 917 era, particulalry in regards to the rivalry between the Gulf team and Porsche Salzburg/Martini.

A great read, particularly if read in conjunction with Vic Elford's book, which details the Porsche Salzburg side of things.

Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the epic sportscar era.

This is a great book for anyone who grew up on the movie Le Mans (still the best racing movie ever made) and dreamed of racing at night down the Mulsanne straight! The author not only was a part of history, but is a surprisingly engaging writer as well.

Far too many "Three Star" or "Four Star" books are given a "Five Star" rating, but John Horsman's, Racing in the Rain, truly deserves five stars because it is one of less than a handful of automotive racing books that is absolutely first class in informing the reader, and doing it elegantly, of both how and why some racing cars win and others just compete. I put it along side Laurence Pomeroy's, The Grand Prix Car, and Karl Ludvigson's, Mercedes-Benz Racing Cars, as the best of the genre.
Horsman has the direct personal experience and engineering expertise to know and understand what went on in the sportscar racing world from the late 1950s through the early 1980s, a period that coincides with the golden age of prototype sportscar racing. In this era, Aston-Martin, Ford, Porsche, and Mirage battled with Ferrari, Matra, Alfa Romeo, Renault-Alpine, and other marques in endurance competitions that tested designers, teams, drivers and cars. Rule fixing or "performance balancing" was not part of the racing scene then: it was a tough, honest, win-or-lose world, and John Horsman had an insider's view of it all, and, happily for us, provides a clear, well-written, and, most importantly, an informative account of what went on and why.
One learns, for example, exactly how much bhp and at what rpm a Ford engine produced and what its design weaknesses were and what measures were taken to turn an essentially production-car engine into a race-winning proposition, or what the drag and frontal areas of Mirage racing cars were and, thus, what speeds down the Mulsanne straight might expected, etc., and consequently why some cars won, others came close, or still others failed entirely. In particular, he writes with an unusually clear-sighted eye when discussing Porsche, recognizing the firm's real engineering and production strengths, but not in an awe-struck way (as so many do) for he is able to see how, occasionally, blindness and arrogance on the part of Porsche people led to potential victories slipping away. I also appreciated the hard information Horsman provides on myth-shrouded or obscure topics such as the reason why the Weslake-Ford V-12 failed to be used in Mirage cars.
From an engineer, like Horsman, one expects accurate and detailed information on the cars he worked on or of those against which he competed, but he is also good in capturing the essence of the personalities he encountered during a quarter century's involvement in racing at the highest level. Compassion and feeling are shown where deserved, good drivers are respected and the risks that all assumed are not overlooked, while the occasional fools and knaves of the racing car world are given what they deserve.
If you have even the slightest interest in sportscar racing, you should get this book immediately, but even if your motoring interests lie outside this area of the automotive performance world, you will still enjoy reading it -though be warned, it will make other car books seem thin, pale and dull.

On July 4, 2008, I had the unusual pleasure of a quiet afternoon with no plan. My shaggy dog and I piled into the car and drove down to a place that has often brought pleasure, Middleburg. We watched a polo match, had lunch (well, I had lunch -- Annie sat in the car, parked under a shady tree) at the Red Fox Inn, and then wandered around town that has lots of nice memories for me.

One memory was meeting Dick Francis in Middleburg, at the end of a long day of book signing. He's a favorite author, dating back to my first overseas trip, to go to school in England for the summer, discovering Dick Francis novels at the local public library. That introduced me to the world of men who thrill to chase, to the race.

This 4th of July, I discovered a new pleasure, Patrick Smithwick's memoir, Racing My Father. I started reading while sitting in the car with my dog, and I was hooked -- I'm writing this short recommendation the same weekend, having read almost non-stop, with a few tears still clinging to my lashes as I type.

A lovely book of people who are real. Filled with good moments, Moments to laugh, to shake your head ruefully, to wince, to put the book down because you are afraid of what the next paragraph might reveal, only to return within ten minutes with a renewed sense of fortitude and wonder.

A very worthwhile read. My highest compliment.

I have never ridden a horse or seen a steeplechase race. But, I thoroughly enjoyed Patrick Smithwick's Racing My Father. It is several poignant stories well told. It is about a boy coming of age, a father-son relationship, the world of steeplechase racing and character as well as characters.

The book is written with a subtle beauty. Smithwick shares his memories with readers in a vivid, vibrant and engaging style. A couple times early in the book I had to stop and check to make sure I was reading about something that happened more than 40 years ago. It seemed as if it was yesterday. I assume Smithwick relied on journals and some of his earlier creative writings. And, of course, he's a masterful writer.

I felt like I was right in the saddle with Smithwick. It was exhilarating, scary, dramatic and euphoric. He, however, writes as skillfully about his relationships, particularly with his famous father Paddy, and the other parts of his life as he does the races. Racing My Father is an impressive winner.

"Racing My Father" so very elegantly captures the blood bond between the steeplechase titan and his son. Not incidentally, it's the poignant coming-of-age story of a gifted young man who struggles, often recklessly, to find his way. The story is so gripping that I blew through it as I would a thriller novel, eagerly turning page after page. Patrick Smithwick has done a wonderful job bringing to life the steeplechase world of 40 years ago. Since Patrick's uncle Mikey Smithwick died just last spring, after the book was published, it's a timely tribute to him as well. There were so many delightful sub-stories. For instance, I laughed aloud at the description of riding Limbo, the monstrous 18.1-hand Thoroughbred. I hadn't heard that name in decades. My only regret is that my late dad, who chronicled and celebrated the Maryland breeding/racing scene for 40 years, was not here to read this gem. I can hear him right now summing up Paddy Smithwick: "Helluva good guy, and dead game." No higher compliment possible.

One of the rare books that I savored so I could read one enthralling chapter a night before bed. In anecdote after incident Paddy Smithwick emerges as such an extraordinary person that one is left convinced that what made him a sporting legend with the unique stature he is still accorded was a character as exceptional as his riding skills. The text is carefully crafted so that almost every aspect of riding, and specifically, steeplechase riding, is touched upon, and what was interesting to this dressage-oriented reader was how many of the truths, objectives, and techniques are commonly shared by the two branches of the sport. Also thought-provoking to those familiar with the contemporary horse show world's emphasis on winning, often even over riding well and sportsmanship, was the era the author evokes when a competitive drive could still accommodate true horsemanship and sportsmanship. And in the generosity of spirit with which the author relates tales of events and people that probably, in actuality, had less flattering aspects, it is clear that the legacy of Paddy Smithwick lives on.

Knowing some of the real-life characters peripherally, living in the area, and having been an avid Dick Francis reader, I thought I knew what to expect- a testosterone heavy, adrenaline rush, winning at all costs type of sports-hero book, set in a familiar location. I found, instead, an honest, open, gentle, yet exciting and riveting story of a boy's relationship with his famous father, and how his father's career, successes, injury, and death affected his son and the extended family. The writing was understated and unaffected, and the subject completely compelling and spellbinding. I look forward to more from Mr. Smithwick in the future- fiction or nonfiction.

Hey, this book is the closest thing to actually seeing Riverdance live or on video...but I definitely prefer to see it live!

I first saw an advertisement when "Riverdance" was showing on PBS, and I wanted a better inside look at this amazing show. I then looked it up in the library. I discovered a real look at how it really began, and how it spread to Canada, the United States, much of Europe, and most recently Japan, among many other places. If you want to discover exactly how much work is involved in putting together a dance show, I recommend this book to you.

It gives wonderful insight of the influences and origins of traditional Irish music and dance. It also tells the story of how Riverdance developed and became a theatrical phenomenon. It is filled with pictures from the the stage and behind the scenes. I enjoyed this immensely it helped provide me with inspiration and insight of the works. I would recommend this to any fan.

"Riverdance," the exuberant Irish dance phenomenon that's sweeping both sides of the Atlantic, has swung its way in a scant few years from a seven-minute interval sequence in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest to a record-breaking stage spectacular. It's an audio, a much-in-demand video, and now a glossy richly illustrated book. Riverdance: The Story opens with a comprehensive history, an account "of an ancient Irish tradition in which dance and music are celebrated as a metaphor for life," then segues into the creation of Riverdance: The Show. Virtuoso Bill Whelan, who has written original music for 15 W.B. Yeats plays, ideated the piece - selecting a river's life as his overall theme, with the male lead dancer representing the land, and the female star embodying the river flowing through the land. He then composed the score for the original sequence and came up with the name "Riverdance." Neither John McColgan, director, or Moya Doherty, producer of the segment, dreamed of the reception it would receive: "It was seven minutes that shattered the hermetically sealed world of television, seizing the attention and igniting the imaginations of 300 million viewers." As the last note rang out the 3,000 member audience (made up of delegates from 25 countries) leapt to its feet, led by the usually staid Irish President, Mary Robinson. Tumultuous cries of "Riverdance! Riverdance!" filled the theater. The rest, to use a fatigued phrase, is entertainment history. The abruptly dissonant departure of audience-pleasing star Michael Flatley is not euphemistically described by the author . When Flatley did not renew his one-year contract, mediation was unsuccessful. A final volley from the multi-talented first generation Irish American is described as demanding control of the show. "I would like complete control over all that I do and all that I am involved with in this show," he wrote. "This includes what I wear, when I dance, and which dancers I choose to dance with." Finding his conditions unacceptable, the decision was made to replace him. Twenty-seven year old Colin Dunne learned only 1 day before curtain time that he would be taking over the starring role. That night the show received a standing ovation. Flatley went on to form "Lord of the Dance," an extravaganza enjoying enormous success. Nothing is overlooked in this meticulously conceived volume - themes, music, cast, production, and predictions for the future all receive studied attention. Author Sam Smyth, a columnist with the Irish Independent newspaper in Dublin, has filled his book with stunning full-page photographs of the phenomenon that has won millions of hearts and imaginations. "Riverdance" fans will love it. - Gail Cooke

This terrific book begins with a history of Irish music and dance, which are "celebrated as a metaphor for life." Included in this background was information about the 17th century cake dance (the dancers ate the prize) and the 18th century emergence of the solo or step dance. This was the most important development in Irish dance history. In the late 1700s dance masters traveled around Ireland teaching complex steps. The Gaelic League was formed in 1893 to promote Irish culture. The first ceili (dance event) was held in London in 1897.

The second part of the book was about Riverdance (the show)-- the original story is based on the life of a river: small and quiet at its source, then feeding and nourishing the lands it passes, and finally rushing out to sea at the estuary. The show was planned to have a soft choral opening and a big finale. It was designed as a seven-minute interval during a Eurovision song contest and got a standing ovation from a roaring audience. Thus, Riverdance "the phenomenon" was born in a Dublin theater in 1994.

From there on, it was expanded and developed into the stage show as we know it today, complete with a premier Spanish flamenco dancer, a six-person troupe from the Moscow Folk Ballet, African American tap dancers, and a choir from Atlanta, Georgia. It also made stars of its first two principal dancers, Michael Flatly and the beautiful Jean Butler, both Americans. Flatly, in fact, was the first American to win the World Irish Dancing Championships.

A "great swell" of national pride resulted from Riverdance's exploration of the internal and outward journeys of the Irish people. Riverdance rescued Irish dancing, reinforcing its sensitivity with simple costumes while utilizing generations of skills and traditions.

A lovely and beautiful book.

A very interesting book with very clear explanations and a full comprehensible vocabulary. I am not an english speaking man, but I can understand almost the whole of the text withouth effort. And this although it is a technical mate. I recommend it to everybody with interest in rugby.

This review refers to the 2nd edition (2007).

If you have seen a few games and are lost, this is the book you want to get. It explains everything from the smallest detail to the history of the world cup. If you don't know the difference between a ruck and a maul or you have no idea what a pitch or a try is then buy this book. Everything is explained in a simple and easy to understand manner.

But then isn't that how all "for dummies" books are written? Well this one is written by people who play and know the game and have an idea how hard it can be for an American on the outside looking in to grasp the game.

I highly recommend this book for both those new to the game and those that have been just using Rugby as an excuse to pop down to the pub for a few pints.

The very first time I saw a game rugby I thought "what a cool looking game". I was absolutly though clueless as to what on earth was goin on and why certain things happened, all I knew it was a lot of fun to watch. This was how it was for years until I got a copy of "Rugby for Dummies", I was very lucky to get my copy as I won it on the Fox Sports World short segment on the "Rugby Report" hosted by one of the authors; Brownie himself. Every Thursday he would read and answer a question concerning rugby that one of the viewers had sent in; if he read that persons question you'd get a free copy of the book; which is how I got mine.

This book is very well writen and easy to understand. After years in the fog knowing about this mystery sport, my eyes and understanding of this game have finally been opened and I now understand the hows and whys of this game I have come to love, thanks to this fantastic book! So a big thank you to Brownie, Guthrie and Growden for helping this dummy understand the great sport of Rugby!!!!

I am new to the world of Rugby. This book was great. It really breaks down a sport that, to me, looked like a bunch of men running in to each other. I have a much better idea of the game and it's history because of this book.

The book was very informative. The book is great for all people, from those who don't know anything about rugby to those just looking for spare bits of information. The authors did a great job with their style as well, making the reader feel as if they were having a discussion with the authors, and giving the reader confidence in his/her rugby ability. It covers all areas of the game, from the rules, to techniques, to training, to the public world of rugby. I recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn anything about the sport

The true story of Dr. Sammy Lee and his journey to become the first Asian American Olympic gold medal champion while overcoming incredible obstacles, discrimination, and hardships is both inspiring and fascinating to read. Paula Yoo did a great job telling the story in a way that makes it easy for the reader to connect with the character, and Dom Lee's beautiful illustrations remind us of old photographs and are an integral part of the book. The book touches on many important themes such as pursuing your dreams and believing in yourself, even if the odds are stacked against you, and I will highly recommend it to all of my friends and family.

My kids were amazed that Dr. Lee accomplished so much after dealing with so much discrimination. He is an inspiration to everyone and is a proud citizen of this country. The illustrations are wonderful. Just a note - the book implies that his father only wanted him to be a doctor - he says his father supported both of his dreams - to become a doctor and to be a diver. He became successful at both, and more.

Before reading "Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds", I'd never heard of Dr. Lee. After reading this incredible book, I was moved and inspired by this courageous, fascinating human being. Though classified as a children's book, "Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds" can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids. With its beautiful illustration, thoughtful prose and universal themes of perseverance and beating the odds, Sammy Lee's story will continue to be enjoyed by generations of readers to come.

When my husband first picked this up, he was surprised to discover that Korean-Americans- in California- were subject to the same Jim Crow laws that African-Americans were in other parts of the country. Unfortunately, many people forget that although Asian-Americans have been a substantial presence on the West Coast for over a century, it has only been in the last few decades that we- as well as African-Americans and other ethnic minorities- have (mostly) attained equality.

As a Korean-American on the East Coast, I was moved by the story of Sammy Lee as he struggled with both his personal ambitions in a racist country and his father's desires to secure his future. Although the Korean-American father-son relationship is fraught with tension (at least in popular American literature), this story resolves it nicely, as Sam understands that his father does not endure insults and racism because he is weak and unable to change things, but because he is trying to face an unfair world with honor and dignity. This was the most important lesson of the book, I thought, and it enabled Sam to bridge both his father's desires for his future and his own desires.

The story of Sam's relationship with his coach moved me as well. While, at first glance, we can't guarantee that we will meet the mentor of our dreams, this part of the story does jibe with the saying that "luck is when opportunity meets readiness." Maybe we won't all find what we need when we want it, but we can be responsive to what we need when it arrives.

This is a short book with nostalgic illustrations that will be a pleasure for anyone ages 8 and up to read.

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds documents the story of Sammy Lee. Lee was the first Asian American to win Olympic gold. This truly inspiring tale captures the American dream as a young person who overcame discrimination to bring Olympic recognition for a country that rejected him. Lee is the son of Korean immigrants who faced challenges just because of his skin color. Unable to practice in a whites only pool, Lee perfected his abilities in spite of discrimination. Yoo acknowleges the moment in an Olymipan's experience in which life-long training culminates in just a brief sliver of time. Paula Yoo really connects the reader to the subject. Dom Lee's sepia toned illustrations carry a nostalgic feel. This is a strong work and should be a good addition to the library collection.