"Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever" by Jack McCallum

352 pages

The basics of the story are well known. It was 1992, the first year that professional basketball players were allowed to play in the Olympics. NBA superstars including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley made up the US team that took the world by storm. What's not as well known, however, is what went on behind the scenes. The team bonding and the power struggles and the fighting. The drama surrounding the selection process. The way that all of the players learned to join with their rivals and take on the rest of the world. Drawing on records from 1992 as well as fresh interviews with the players, McCallum provides an insider's account of the Dream Team phenomenon. 

I was only seven years old when the first Dream Team took to the court, but I remember being totally in awe. At the time I just liked watching all their exciting, flashy plays, but as an adult I've enjoyed hearing more of the inside scoop on what was really going on. McCallum was in the thick of it back then and still has access to the players today, so he provides a very well-rounded account. I also think he's quite fair to all the players without glossing over their flaws. He throws quite a bit of humor into the mix, making the book even more fun. I say it's a solid must-read for NBA fans.  

"The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach

528 pages

At tiny Westish College, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for major league greatness. He’s not the biggest or most athletic, but he has something special…a gift that is hard to put into words but is evident whenever he steps on the field. But then, as Henry is closing in on the record for consecutive games without an error, a routine throw goes disastrously off course. In that one moment, the fates of five people are changed forever.

I loved this book. The Art of Fielding is something special—a literary sports novel that captures the beauty of baseball and has a lot more to it as well. The characters feel so real that as I was reading I often forgot that they aren’t. I liked the way that their lives intertwine and how all of their choices and actions affect each other. The writing style fits the story perfectly, creating an almost nostalgic feel even though it takes place in the present. The baseball scenes are captivating and portray the mystical atmosphere of the sport. There are some surprises at the end and things are wrapped up rather nicely.  This is one that I recommend for all baseball fans…and everyone else.

"Calico Joe" by John Grisham

198 pages


There's a reason why John Grisham is so popular--he's really good at telling a story without too many words or extraneous details to get in the way. "Calico Joe" isn't my favorite of his books, but it's a fun, quick read that also has heart. The baseball scenes really jump off the page and are fun to read. I like the way the narrative goes back and forth from the 70s to today so it takes a while to figure out exactly what happened. The ending felt a bit too easy and cheesy as well, but overall I enjoyed the story.

"21: The Story of Roberto Clemente" by Wilfred Santiago

200 pages


This graphic novel begins with Clemente's childhood in rural Puerto Rico and follows him through his rise in Major League baseball. It depicts his awe-inspiring career as a right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the prejudice he faced, and his humanitarian mission. 


It took me a while to get into this story because it doesn't introduce new characters very well; it just jumps in and it's hard to keep up. However, I did get really interested about a third of the way in. The illustrations are fun and creative, and the book does a great job of covering all aspects of this incredible man's life. 

"Quiet Strength" by Tony Dungy

256 pages

In 2007, Tony Dungy became a household name after he became the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl. In a league of angry, hotheaded coaches, Dungy's quiet demeanor stood out almost as much as his skin color. Though he had often been accused of being too soft, in winning the Super Bowl he showed that his calmer approach could get the job done. In this memoir, Dungy shares the story of his rise to the top, including the Christian faith that defines his life, the winning philosophy and strategies he has developed, and the people who helped him make his way.

I've always been a casual fan of Dungy's because to me he seems humble and sincere in his faith (unlike some other NFL stars..*cough* Tebow *cough*). The Dungy presented in Quiet Strength is consistent with my previous impression. I like Dungy even more after learning more about him. He is proud of his accomplishments, but he gives all the credit for them to God, his parents, and his wife. On the other hand, I thought he could be a bit preachy at times--it got kind of repetitive. He talks a lot about following God's will but doesn't offer much in the way of practical ways to do that. However, I will say that humble preachy is about 100 times better than self-righteous preachy, and Dungy comes across as sincerely humble. Also, from a simple biographical standpoint, I was interested in his story and the inner workings of the NFL so I enjoyed the story itself. In sum, I don't think I got as much personal inspiration out of it as I expected to, but I did enjoy reading the book and learning more about Dungy's interesting life.

P.S. I'm mostly joking with the Tebow comment and don't mean to offend any of his fans. I am certainly in no place to judge his sincerity, and I'm sure he's a good Christian. I have nothing against him, but I'm not his biggest fan because something about him rubs me the wrong way...

"Stupid Fast" by Geoff Herbach

311 pages

Felton has always been sort of a nerd. He's scrawny, he's uncoordinated, and his nickname is "Squirrel Nut." But that all changes when he's fifteen and suddenly grows seven inches and gains forty pounds and gets stupid fast. Suddenly, the jocks are talking to him. The football coach is recruiting him for the team, and he meets Aleah, the girl of his dreams. As well as things are going at school and with his peers, his home life leaves much to be desired. In fact, things are getting pretty bad. His dad killed himself when he was little, and although his mom's always kept it together until now, something has suddenly made her slide into a deep depression. Felton and his younger brother, Andrew, are left to fend for themselves, which drives sensitive Andrew even further into his own little world. As fast as he is, he learns that he can't run from his problems (feel free to groan at that cheesy line--I couldn't resist).

I really liked this book! The plot and major issues are pretty standard for young adult fiction, but the tone is unique and that's what made the book stand out to me. I loved Felton's goofy but insightful way of looking at things. His growing-up struggles are totally relatable. The story cracked me up over and over, but it's got a lot of heart, too. In conclusion, I'll just share a few of my favorite lines:

"It was perfect and great to be with these honkies."

"This summer I saw no fewer than ten thousand old ladies in their underwear."

"No peace, no justice. I'm gonna make you barf."

"I'm writing a book about spies who eat tacos and hide in large houseplants."

"The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron" by Howard Bryant

600 pages

Almost everyone's heard of baseball legend Hank Aaron, but few really know much about Henry Aaron--the real man behind the icon. This biography, however, digs below the surface. Based on interviews with former teammates, family, and Aaron himself, it chronicles Aaron's journey from his childhood in segregated Alabama to his brief stardom in the Negro leagues all the way to his demolition of Babe Ruth's home run record, plus everything in between. The story isn't limited to baseball, though. Howard portrays Aaron as a complicated person who loved his sport but also wanted to leave behind a legacy off the field, particularly in the area of civil rights and equality for African Americans.

I picked this book up because I like Howard Bryant's column in ESPN: The Magazine, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It's one of the best biographies I've read in a while. Bryant got some great interviews with Aaron and people close to him. He did his historical research as well, which allowed him to put Aaron's life in context. The storytelling really brings the exciting baseball stories to life, and the issues of racism and segregation are covered well also. It's hard to believe that such blatant discrimination took place just decades ago, and even superstars were not immune to it. After reading this, I feel like I not only know a lot more about Henry Aaron but also understand his impact on the world, on the field and off. And it was just plain interesting and enjoyable.

"Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness" by Josh Sundquist

322 pages

When Josh Sundquist was nine years old, he found out he had a very serious cancer in his leg. His chance of survival was fifty percent. After chemotherapy was ineffective, Josh's doctors were forced to amputate his left leg at the hip. Then he still had to go through chemotherapy for another year to make sure that the cancer didn't crop up somewhere else. At the end of it all, when Josh finally had time to let it all sink in, he found himself looking at a future without soccer, running, or any of the other activities he'd lived for as an active young boy. There was one thing he could still do, though--ski. He discovered the sport shortly after losing his leg, and when he realized that he had a knack for it, he made an incredible goal: to reach the 2006 Paralympic Games in Turino, Italy. With years of training, his family's support, and unbelievable perseverance, Josh made it to the Games, but not without a lot of ups and downs along the way.

This memoir is super-inspiring. Josh writes about his experience with so much humor and wisdom that I not only laughed along with him but also got a new perspective on my own troubles. I felt like a big dork because none of my problems are close to what he faced when he had cancer and lost his leg, and yet I still find myself complaining about trivial stuff every day. In addition to giving me a reality check, Josh's story totally motivated me because, hey, if he can learn to ski with one leg, I can do a lot of the things I think I can't. On top of all the inspirational value, I just had fun reading this book. The pace is just right; there's enough detail to give readers a clear understanding of the story, but not so much that it gets dull. The tone works well, too. There's no glossing over of the tough parts, but it has an optimistic feeling overall. If you like memoirs, I suggest you read this book.