This is a book for professional football fans who love the history and evolution of the game, and the X's and O's that keep coaches up until the wee hours of the morning.
Author Tim Layden, Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated, has laid out a reasonably well organized set of chapters that goes into the innovations in football strategy that have made the game what it is today.
He starts out back in days of Pop Warner and the Single Wing formation. Back in the rough and tumble days when football was about big men smashing into each other and running the ball, Pop Warner came up with a formation that maximized deception and utilized the full talents of three running backs (with the quarterback essentially handling ball and either handing off or running). He then walks through all the variations of this basic attack in both college and professional football that defined the game for decades.
As we get into the modern era there is an excellent chapter on the late Don "Air" Coryell and his passing attack that really is the progenitor of many of the pass happy offenses in today's NFL. Of course Coryell's strategy was attacking deep with his platoon of great receivers and Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Fouts. Coryell's offense was the origin of some utterly failed and passé schemes like the run and shoot offense. But it's also the foundation for very successful offenses such as Sam Wyche's no huddle offense that took the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, the K-Gun Offense with Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills riding their pass oriented offense to four consecutive trips to the big dance, and The Greatest Show on Turf highlighting the offense of Mike Martz and quarterback Kurt Warner, culminating in a Super Bowl win.
Bill Walsh's "West Coast Offense" featuring the short passing game and receivers that can run after the catch is, of course, the other great offensive scheme that dominates the NFL's passing schemes today. Layden has a very nice chapter on how Walsh's scheme evolved and its importance in today's NFL.
Thankfully, Layden doesn't forget the defense. From the zone blitz, the cover two (made famous by Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin in Tampa Bay), and Buddy Ryan's 46 defense that focuses on attacking the quarterback, to the late Jim Johnson's Double A Gap blitz, he lays it all out with clear prose. He tells how and why the schemes came about, and gives us a glimpse into the personalities of the coaches who created them.
There are several excellent aspects to this book. First the author describes the X's and O's and why various formations or schemes evolved the way they did in a prose that is easily understandable to the avid football fan. He also places each scheme within the context of the history and rules of the game that made the formations or schemes more than passing fads but foundations that can be seen in today's game. And finally, he allows the personalities of some of the great football minds to come forth in the book, so it's not just dry chalk talk.
The only drawback to the book is it does not fully explain how changes in the rules are really what have made offensive football today more about the pass than the run by limiting what defenses are allowed to do to stop it. While rule changes are mentioned, and certainly rule changes often spur innovation in the game, these changes are not given enough "credit" for how the game has evolved.
Despite these drawbacks this is a great football book for football fans. It is not a book for the very casual fan, but it clearly is not intended to be. It's impossible to go into all the chapters in one review, suffice it to say there is much more here for the football fan to absorb.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A Book about the US Senate Devoid of Substance
This is an embarrassingly bad book on the U.S. Senate. It is devoid of real substance, lacks depth, and is utterly uninformative. I'm not even sure why any publisher would waste the paper and ink to print it.
Here the author follows several newly elected Senate members after the 2006 midterm elections where the voters repudiated the policies of George Bush and the Iraq War and the Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans. The book does a rather poor job of really delving into his subjects and their personalities, with the exception of Jim Webb (D-VA) and Jon Tester (D-Montana). But even there the author interjects himself into the stories too much, to the detriment of the book and the reader.
The basic premise of the book is that nothing much gets done in the Senate, at least not quickly. Progress is measured over several years. And he shows the frustration of the high powered freshman entering the Senate and their inability to impact policy quickly. While the book gives a nod to the nation's Founding Fathers and the Constitution of the United States of America, where the Senate is supposed to be an august body that cools the passion of the people, he paints the Senate as dysfunctional because of its arcane rules and the power of the minority to block legislation. Of course, he also notes that extreme partisanship is also part of the problem. Nothing gets done. The problem is the author goes into no depth about the history of the Senate and why it really works the way it does. Nor does the book discuss the pros and cons of how the Senate is supposed to work, how it really works, and any diagnosis of what might make it work better.
Even more annoying is the author is extremely political and much of the writing is a not so subtle attack on George Bush, the Iraq War, and the Republicans. Which is all fine, but it detracts from telling the reader anything new about the Senate that isn't in the newspaper and news programs on a daily basis.
For anyone wanting to learn anything new about the Senate, look elsewhere.
Here the author follows several newly elected Senate members after the 2006 midterm elections where the voters repudiated the policies of George Bush and the Iraq War and the Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans. The book does a rather poor job of really delving into his subjects and their personalities, with the exception of Jim Webb (D-VA) and Jon Tester (D-Montana). But even there the author interjects himself into the stories too much, to the detriment of the book and the reader.
The basic premise of the book is that nothing much gets done in the Senate, at least not quickly. Progress is measured over several years. And he shows the frustration of the high powered freshman entering the Senate and their inability to impact policy quickly. While the book gives a nod to the nation's Founding Fathers and the Constitution of the United States of America, where the Senate is supposed to be an august body that cools the passion of the people, he paints the Senate as dysfunctional because of its arcane rules and the power of the minority to block legislation. Of course, he also notes that extreme partisanship is also part of the problem. Nothing gets done. The problem is the author goes into no depth about the history of the Senate and why it really works the way it does. Nor does the book discuss the pros and cons of how the Senate is supposed to work, how it really works, and any diagnosis of what might make it work better.
Even more annoying is the author is extremely political and much of the writing is a not so subtle attack on George Bush, the Iraq War, and the Republicans. Which is all fine, but it detracts from telling the reader anything new about the Senate that isn't in the newspaper and news programs on a daily basis.
For anyone wanting to learn anything new about the Senate, look elsewhere.
Ironweed by William Kennedy: A Worthy Pulitzer Winner
Ironweed is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel focusing on the down and out Francis Phelan, a homeless bum living day to day on booze and whatever cash he can make on odd jobs. The novel is set in Albany, New York during the depression, from which Francis hails, and he spends part of his time trying to avoid his family and old haunts. Francis was once a professional baseball player with talent, but is now simply a homeless wreck. He lives is deep guilt over accidently dropping and killing his infant son, Gerald, as well has other violent and deadly acts he perpetrated. Eventually Francis makes contact with his family which provides some balm for his fractured conscience. The opening scene, where Phelan is working a day job as a gravedigger where he visits his dead child's grave sets the tone and emotion of the entire novel and all his actions, good and bad, have a deep meaning in understanding Phelan and his plight.
This is a fairly short novel at just over 200 pages but it is a very deep and intricate portrait of man who has thrown his life away through bad choices and a violent temper. Given the brevity of the novel and the way all events hang together in one kaleidoscope of a somewhat fractured psyche, it's really best to read the book in on sitting.
This is a fairly short novel at just over 200 pages but it is a very deep and intricate portrait of man who has thrown his life away through bad choices and a violent temper. Given the brevity of the novel and the way all events hang together in one kaleidoscope of a somewhat fractured psyche, it's really best to read the book in on sitting.
Bret Hart's Biography of His Career in Professional Wrestling
Bret Hart's account of his career in professional wrestling is not only an outstanding autobiography of an icon in the sport, but also of the history of pro wrestling period.
Bret Hart grew up in a wrestling family. His father, Stu Hart, was a pioneer in the sport, promoting wrestling matches in Canada through the late 1940's through most of the rest of his life. Up to the 1990's wrestling was largely controlled by regional promoters who respected each other's territories and shared wrestling talent for main events. As Bret tells of his growing up and early years in the sport wrestling for his father, you learn it really was a complete carnival like atmosphere. From regular size true tough men and wrestling pioneers like Lou Thesz, to behemoths like Andre the Giant, to midgets and women wrestling, it was all quite a circus.
He tells of those early days in Canada and his friendships with Davey Boy Smith, Tom Billington known as the Dynamite Kid, and Jim the Anvil Neidhart, while traveling around in cars or vans full of wrestlers from one small town to another performing matches. As will be detailed throughout the book, drugs and steroids destroyed the lives of Billington and Davey Boy Smith, and nearly did the same for Neidhart.
The regional system, by many accounts, worked out well for both wrestlers and promoters in an industry where many could make money. But then came Vince McMahon, Jr. and his drive to monopolize the sport and destroy the regional system built up over the years by the sport's icons. McMahon was basically successful in his effort.
Hart went on to star in McMahon's World Wresting Federation (WWF), now called World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) and held its championship belt on multiple occasions.
What is utterly fascinating about the entire industry is the rampant personalities and politics that go on behind the scenes to determine how matches will be promoted and how they will end, which is critical to build up a clash and audience, and to build up a career. And it is that desire to stay strong and be a viable superstar that leads to be biggest challenge in determining how matches are going end. No star wants to be beaten and pinned unless it's to build up for a big clash. And that desire not to be placed on the losing end of matches causes the most conflict in the sport.
Hart is brutally honest about the rampant use of steroids and illicit drugs in the sport. Most attribute the early deaths of many wrestlers like the tragic Von Erich brothers, Chris Benoit, and Davey Boy Smith, to name only a few, to abuse of steroids and drugs. Further, while the matches might be decided ahead of time, the physical toll constantly wresting takes on the body is also evident in the debilitating injuries or deterioration many wrestler's suffer late in their career or after they retire. It is clear from Hart's account of the wresting business that promoter's like McMahon see their wrestler as disposable commodities and treat them as such. There's always another young buck to come along and replace today's stars. The life of a wrestler is both glamorous but physically and mentally debilitating.
Vince McMahon comes off looking like a total cretin in Hart's account of all the lies and false promises and dirty machinations behind the scenes. Late in Hart's career when he decided to leave the WWF for a rival promotion he was set to fight Shawn Michaels for Hart's championship belt. He and McMahon agreed that in a match with Shawn Michaels in Montreal that the fight would end in interference from outside the ring and huge brawl with no real outcome to the match and then Hart would lose later to Michaels for the championship belt before he left. Instead, a secret plot concocted by McMahon lead to chaos and the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Hart let Michaels put him in a submission hold during the match, which he was supposed to reverse, but McMahon came out and had the bell rung to end the match and declared Michaels the winner, even though Hart did not submit. Hart did not want to lose in front of his fans in Montreal and McMahon betrayed him. Leading up to all this was what can only be described as hatred and even jealously between Shawn Michaels and Hart. Their animosity toward each other stirred the cauldron even more.
Bret Hart went on to Ted Turner's promotion the World Championship Wresting but was not very successful there. Other accounts, including Hart's, talks about what a disjointed soap opera the promotion was with internal politics among legends of the sport like Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan calling most of the shots.
Along the way in Hart's journey through life we meet many personalities of the wresting world and what it was like to be star wrestler traveling the world. Part of this memoir also includes memories of Bret Hart's younger brother, Owen Hart, who died in a tragic ring accident in May 1999.
In 2002, Hart suffered a stroke that kept him out of action and rehabilitating for quite some time. Sadly, Hart, at nearly 53, is even wrestling again. As he said in his book, it's hard to give up the sport.
Overall this is a surprisingly well-written and organized autobiography and history of the sport and highly recommended.
Bret Hart grew up in a wrestling family. His father, Stu Hart, was a pioneer in the sport, promoting wrestling matches in Canada through the late 1940's through most of the rest of his life. Up to the 1990's wrestling was largely controlled by regional promoters who respected each other's territories and shared wrestling talent for main events. As Bret tells of his growing up and early years in the sport wrestling for his father, you learn it really was a complete carnival like atmosphere. From regular size true tough men and wrestling pioneers like Lou Thesz, to behemoths like Andre the Giant, to midgets and women wrestling, it was all quite a circus.
He tells of those early days in Canada and his friendships with Davey Boy Smith, Tom Billington known as the Dynamite Kid, and Jim the Anvil Neidhart, while traveling around in cars or vans full of wrestlers from one small town to another performing matches. As will be detailed throughout the book, drugs and steroids destroyed the lives of Billington and Davey Boy Smith, and nearly did the same for Neidhart.
The regional system, by many accounts, worked out well for both wrestlers and promoters in an industry where many could make money. But then came Vince McMahon, Jr. and his drive to monopolize the sport and destroy the regional system built up over the years by the sport's icons. McMahon was basically successful in his effort.
Hart went on to star in McMahon's World Wresting Federation (WWF), now called World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) and held its championship belt on multiple occasions.
What is utterly fascinating about the entire industry is the rampant personalities and politics that go on behind the scenes to determine how matches will be promoted and how they will end, which is critical to build up a clash and audience, and to build up a career. And it is that desire to stay strong and be a viable superstar that leads to be biggest challenge in determining how matches are going end. No star wants to be beaten and pinned unless it's to build up for a big clash. And that desire not to be placed on the losing end of matches causes the most conflict in the sport.
Hart is brutally honest about the rampant use of steroids and illicit drugs in the sport. Most attribute the early deaths of many wrestlers like the tragic Von Erich brothers, Chris Benoit, and Davey Boy Smith, to name only a few, to abuse of steroids and drugs. Further, while the matches might be decided ahead of time, the physical toll constantly wresting takes on the body is also evident in the debilitating injuries or deterioration many wrestler's suffer late in their career or after they retire. It is clear from Hart's account of the wresting business that promoter's like McMahon see their wrestler as disposable commodities and treat them as such. There's always another young buck to come along and replace today's stars. The life of a wrestler is both glamorous but physically and mentally debilitating.
Vince McMahon comes off looking like a total cretin in Hart's account of all the lies and false promises and dirty machinations behind the scenes. Late in Hart's career when he decided to leave the WWF for a rival promotion he was set to fight Shawn Michaels for Hart's championship belt. He and McMahon agreed that in a match with Shawn Michaels in Montreal that the fight would end in interference from outside the ring and huge brawl with no real outcome to the match and then Hart would lose later to Michaels for the championship belt before he left. Instead, a secret plot concocted by McMahon lead to chaos and the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Hart let Michaels put him in a submission hold during the match, which he was supposed to reverse, but McMahon came out and had the bell rung to end the match and declared Michaels the winner, even though Hart did not submit. Hart did not want to lose in front of his fans in Montreal and McMahon betrayed him. Leading up to all this was what can only be described as hatred and even jealously between Shawn Michaels and Hart. Their animosity toward each other stirred the cauldron even more.
Bret Hart went on to Ted Turner's promotion the World Championship Wresting but was not very successful there. Other accounts, including Hart's, talks about what a disjointed soap opera the promotion was with internal politics among legends of the sport like Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan calling most of the shots.
Along the way in Hart's journey through life we meet many personalities of the wresting world and what it was like to be star wrestler traveling the world. Part of this memoir also includes memories of Bret Hart's younger brother, Owen Hart, who died in a tragic ring accident in May 1999.
In 2002, Hart suffered a stroke that kept him out of action and rehabilitating for quite some time. Sadly, Hart, at nearly 53, is even wrestling again. As he said in his book, it's hard to give up the sport.
Overall this is a surprisingly well-written and organized autobiography and history of the sport and highly recommended.
Jaywalker Rocks!
Joseph Teller has created one of the most unique and entertaining characters in fiction with defense attorney, rule bender, and decorum stretcher, Harrison J. Walker, know to all as just Jaywalker. For Jaywalker, a case is not just a case but a life and death struggle for his client and he pulls out all the stops to get his clients found "not guilty."
In Overkill Jaywalker is defending a young kid, Jeremy Estrada, who had been terrorized by a punk gang of kids throughout the summer. After getting up enough nerve to ask a beautiful girl out, and whom he falls in love with, the taunting and threats from the gang go over the top. Eventually, after taking his girlfriend out to a carnival, Jeremy gets into a fistfight with one of the gang members. The way Jeremy tells it, the punk pulls a gun on him as he is winning the fight. In the ensuing struggle the gun goes off and grazes the guy. But there's a catch. Jeremy has wrested the gun away from the young tough and by all accounts chased him down and put a bullet between his eyes at point blank range while he is laying on the ground, beaten. Jeremy says it is self-defense. The State of New York says its murder. And Jaywalk sets out for that all important "not guilty" verdict as Jeremy refuses to plea bargain.
This is one of Teller's best novels to date as Jaywalker, using his unique and unconventional methods, walks us through the trial and his strategies to sway the jury to the case his way. It is a legal thriller that is entertaining from the opening page to the last page and one that Jaywalker fans and fans of legal thrillers should thoroughly enjoy.
In Overkill Jaywalker is defending a young kid, Jeremy Estrada, who had been terrorized by a punk gang of kids throughout the summer. After getting up enough nerve to ask a beautiful girl out, and whom he falls in love with, the taunting and threats from the gang go over the top. Eventually, after taking his girlfriend out to a carnival, Jeremy gets into a fistfight with one of the gang members. The way Jeremy tells it, the punk pulls a gun on him as he is winning the fight. In the ensuing struggle the gun goes off and grazes the guy. But there's a catch. Jeremy has wrested the gun away from the young tough and by all accounts chased him down and put a bullet between his eyes at point blank range while he is laying on the ground, beaten. Jeremy says it is self-defense. The State of New York says its murder. And Jaywalk sets out for that all important "not guilty" verdict as Jeremy refuses to plea bargain.
This is one of Teller's best novels to date as Jaywalker, using his unique and unconventional methods, walks us through the trial and his strategies to sway the jury to the case his way. It is a legal thriller that is entertaining from the opening page to the last page and one that Jaywalker fans and fans of legal thrillers should thoroughly enjoy.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Excellent Family Saga
Bill Warrington is an aging curmudgeon who has estranged his three children over the years, especially after losing his beloved wife to cancer when the kids were young. She was the ballast that kept the darker sides of Bill’s personality in check, and without that he drifted into alcoholism and as his children became adults they mostly abandoned him, with the exception of his daughter Marcy. The children also mostly abandoned each other and have very emotionally distant relationships with each other.
Marcy has her own foibles to deal with as she struggles to raise her headstrong 15 year old daughter April as a single mother. April feels oppressed by her mother’s overbearing control over her life and the two are in constant battle. April finds a kind of solace in her aging grandfather who is losing his memory and is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s that appears to quickly progress during the novel.
Nick, the middle child, recently lost his wife as well. While of the three children he is the most emotionally steady, he is also a bit naïve as he struggles to overcome his grief and move on with this life. Mike, the oldest, is the most despicable character of the three. He is a serial philanderer and user of women, despite having a successful career and a beautiful wife and children.
In an attempt to bring his three children together, Bill sets off with April on a road trip from Ohio to California. As April and her grandfather travel across the west we see April confronted with very adult, and sometimes dangerous situations that she must cope with on her own because of the declining mentally abilities of her grandfather. As the strange bond between the two grows, we see April literally growing up as Bill slips further into mental fogginess and she essentially becomes his caretaker on the road. This relationship is a fascinating juxtaposition of the aging and dying Bill with his coming of age granddaughter.
Meanwhile, Bill has set a plan in place to reunite his children in their search from him and April.
This is a well written and entertaining novel. Throughout the author lets us into the fractured lives of this unusual family. The author does and excellent job with characterization, showing the good and the bad of each family member in ways that builds some empathy from the reader (with the possible exception of Mike). And the story does an excellent job of portraying the single mother and teenage daughter relationship in a way that neither is entirely right or wrong in their grievances against the other.
Overall, this is an excellent novel about a fractured family that Bill has one last chance to make whole.
Marcy has her own foibles to deal with as she struggles to raise her headstrong 15 year old daughter April as a single mother. April feels oppressed by her mother’s overbearing control over her life and the two are in constant battle. April finds a kind of solace in her aging grandfather who is losing his memory and is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s that appears to quickly progress during the novel.
Nick, the middle child, recently lost his wife as well. While of the three children he is the most emotionally steady, he is also a bit naïve as he struggles to overcome his grief and move on with this life. Mike, the oldest, is the most despicable character of the three. He is a serial philanderer and user of women, despite having a successful career and a beautiful wife and children.
In an attempt to bring his three children together, Bill sets off with April on a road trip from Ohio to California. As April and her grandfather travel across the west we see April confronted with very adult, and sometimes dangerous situations that she must cope with on her own because of the declining mentally abilities of her grandfather. As the strange bond between the two grows, we see April literally growing up as Bill slips further into mental fogginess and she essentially becomes his caretaker on the road. This relationship is a fascinating juxtaposition of the aging and dying Bill with his coming of age granddaughter.
Meanwhile, Bill has set a plan in place to reunite his children in their search from him and April.
This is a well written and entertaining novel. Throughout the author lets us into the fractured lives of this unusual family. The author does and excellent job with characterization, showing the good and the bad of each family member in ways that builds some empathy from the reader (with the possible exception of Mike). And the story does an excellent job of portraying the single mother and teenage daughter relationship in a way that neither is entirely right or wrong in their grievances against the other.
Overall, this is an excellent novel about a fractured family that Bill has one last chance to make whole.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
A Good Treatise on Today’s National Football League
Brian Billick was the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens for nine years and his team won Super Bowl XXXV thanks mostly to its great defense. Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, at the time one of the most prolific offenses in league history.
Having stepped away from the game for a while Billick has written a nice little monograph on today’s game. This is not a biography of Billick or the inside scoop of what it’s like to be a head coach in the National Football League, although a little bit of that is in here. Instead is a topical “conversation” about issues facing the National Football League today.
Billick does a nice job explaining some of the modern day offensive and defensive schemes proliferating around the NFL and gives a nice synopsis of the progression of the now pass oriented game of professional football and how that has changed the modern game. He also briefly discusses the “wildcat” offense where the running back takes the snap directly and can either pass or throw the ball. Billick does not think the “wildcat” offense will be around too long as defenses are likely to catch up with it.
The most concerning part of the book is where Billick discusses the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the player’s union. If an agreement is not reached there could be a lock out and no football in the near future. Hopefully it will not come to that as professional football has been able to avoid the damaging play stoppage that has plagued other leagues, most notably the National Hockey League, which has yet to recover from its lost season.
There are many other tidbits of football knowledge in this book and it is well worth a read by fans of the National Football League.
Having stepped away from the game for a while Billick has written a nice little monograph on today’s game. This is not a biography of Billick or the inside scoop of what it’s like to be a head coach in the National Football League, although a little bit of that is in here. Instead is a topical “conversation” about issues facing the National Football League today.
Billick does a nice job explaining some of the modern day offensive and defensive schemes proliferating around the NFL and gives a nice synopsis of the progression of the now pass oriented game of professional football and how that has changed the modern game. He also briefly discusses the “wildcat” offense where the running back takes the snap directly and can either pass or throw the ball. Billick does not think the “wildcat” offense will be around too long as defenses are likely to catch up with it.
The most concerning part of the book is where Billick discusses the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the player’s union. If an agreement is not reached there could be a lock out and no football in the near future. Hopefully it will not come to that as professional football has been able to avoid the damaging play stoppage that has plagued other leagues, most notably the National Hockey League, which has yet to recover from its lost season.
There are many other tidbits of football knowledge in this book and it is well worth a read by fans of the National Football League.
A Look Back at How Vince Lombardi Launched a Dynasty
Much as been written about Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers dynasty of the 1960’s, but John Eisenberg’s book is the first to provide details about Vince Lombardi’s first season with the Green Bay Packers.
When Lombardi took over as head coach Green Bay was a losing team with a culture of losing, and even quitting, in games. He was starting at ground zero with a group of players who were used to and even accepted losing. Once a team establishes a culture of losing it is extremely difficult to break it out of that cycle. Losing becomes a habit and it becomes acceptable.
But it was not acceptable to Vince Lombardi. After taking over the head coaching duties prior to the 1959 season Lombardi wondered what he had gotten into after watching game film of this woeful team.
Through punishing practices and motivational tactics more akin to an Army drill sergeant than a professional football coach, Lombardi made it clear to his players that losing was not acceptable and he was gong to work them out of it, literally. His practices were brutal affairs and his drive for perfection a tangible force.
While that first season ended with a mediocre 7-5 record, Lombardi accomplished one amazing feat. The Green Bay Packers were no longer losers and quitters. Instead Lombardi established the mental and physical groundwork for the dynasty yet to come.
The most amazing thing about Lombardi’s feat is he turned the team around with essentially the same players who were so woeful before. Normally a team breaking out of losing streak essentially has to clean house and build from scratch. Not Lombardi. He worked, cajoled, intimidated, and rebuilt this team from the inside out turning a can’t do mentality into a can do winning one. And that is why Lombardi is praised as possibly being one of the greatest coaches of all time in any sport.
Lombardi also made some key decisions that propelled the team forward. He finally settled on future Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr as his starter for the future. He created an offensive attack that utilized the unique talents of Paul Hornung instead of trying to turn him into a power running back, letting Jim Taylor handle those duties. And he helped players like offensive linemen Jerry Kramer, Forrest Gregg, and Fuzzy Thurston advance from good to great. And by practicing the bread and butter plays, especially the sweep, until it was second nature, he made the game more simple for his offensive players, and difficult to stop for opponents.
This is a well written book where you get the inside story of that first year from many of the players of that era, like Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, and Jerry Kramer. Fans of professional football should enjoy this look back at how Vince Lombardi launched a dynasty.
Friday, July 2, 2010
My Story Outside the Ring by Hulk Hogan with Mark Dagostino
When I was growing up Hulk Hogan was THE star in professional wrestling. Being younger I was hooked on the soap opera like storylines and larger than life characters in professional wrestling, and Hulk Hogan was the man!
In this autobiography Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan lays it all on the line in an honest, sometimes searing account of his life, including the more recent tragedies that have befallen him and his family.
The Hulkster talks about his life growing up in a lower middle class neighborhood in Tampa with his prospects in life mostly being laboring on the docks or a similar profession. He became enamored of the local pro wrestling scene and did everything he could, well almost, to become part of the action. He started in the lowly local circuits and through his personality and character driven storylines, he made the climb to the top of the wrestling world.
His retelling of the early days of his pro wrestling career, literally sleeping in his car, and later traveling non-stop from one locale to another, were quite an interesting insight into the early days of pro wrestling at the lower end of the totem pole. And he not only admits to steroid use but talks about how steroids were part of the entire package of being a pro wrestler. As Hogan aged and injuries from the constant pounding in the ring took their toll he began the slow descent into an occasional wrestler and main attraction.
More recent events in Hogan's tabloid life are what most people today will be familiar with. In his hit reality TV show Hogan Knows Best, we don't see the utter turmoil his marriage and life had become. He tells his side of the story in the ugly divorce from his wife Linda and his struggles to keep up the lavish lifestyle that his riches had bestowed upon him. And more tragic yet, his son Nick was driving when he had a car accident that put a family friend into a coma with head injuries that he will make him an invalid for life. Nick was allegedly both intoxicated and racing another car at the time. Eventually he was convicted of a felony in the matter and was jailed for about six months. Somehow the tabloid media got a hold of a recording of a phone conversation Hogan had with his son while in jail that sounds like he is being callous and uncaring about the injuries to the passenger. Hogan gives a believable explanation of the conversion as being taken completely out of context.
The final chapters talk about how Hogan sank into a deep, deep depression with all the turmoil in his life - a son in jail, an ugly divorce, a falling out with this daughter over the divorce, financial problems from his lavish lifestyle, and a lawsuit for an enormous sum of money filed by the family of the injured passenger, all took their toll. He finally turned around his life and is telling his side of the story in this hard to put down autobiography.
Hogan's ghostwriter, Mark Dagostino does an outstanding job of organizing the material into a coherent, well written account of the life and travails of Hulk Hogan. The only real drawback to the book is the first half keeps using the phrase "you know," just like I am sure Hogan does in real life. It certainly gave an authentic tone to the book, but it sure got extremely annoying after a while. Thankfully he knocked off this colloquialism about half way through the book. Otherwise the writing and organization of the book are superb.
Finally, the reader must ask, how honest or true is the book? I am sure Hogan believes it is honest and true. The tone and unveiling of the good and the bad in Hogan's life makes what Hogan says ring true. I, frankly, believe what he has to say, although I am sure there are other sides to the story as well.
In this autobiography Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan lays it all on the line in an honest, sometimes searing account of his life, including the more recent tragedies that have befallen him and his family.
The Hulkster talks about his life growing up in a lower middle class neighborhood in Tampa with his prospects in life mostly being laboring on the docks or a similar profession. He became enamored of the local pro wrestling scene and did everything he could, well almost, to become part of the action. He started in the lowly local circuits and through his personality and character driven storylines, he made the climb to the top of the wrestling world.
His retelling of the early days of his pro wrestling career, literally sleeping in his car, and later traveling non-stop from one locale to another, were quite an interesting insight into the early days of pro wrestling at the lower end of the totem pole. And he not only admits to steroid use but talks about how steroids were part of the entire package of being a pro wrestler. As Hogan aged and injuries from the constant pounding in the ring took their toll he began the slow descent into an occasional wrestler and main attraction.
More recent events in Hogan's tabloid life are what most people today will be familiar with. In his hit reality TV show Hogan Knows Best, we don't see the utter turmoil his marriage and life had become. He tells his side of the story in the ugly divorce from his wife Linda and his struggles to keep up the lavish lifestyle that his riches had bestowed upon him. And more tragic yet, his son Nick was driving when he had a car accident that put a family friend into a coma with head injuries that he will make him an invalid for life. Nick was allegedly both intoxicated and racing another car at the time. Eventually he was convicted of a felony in the matter and was jailed for about six months. Somehow the tabloid media got a hold of a recording of a phone conversation Hogan had with his son while in jail that sounds like he is being callous and uncaring about the injuries to the passenger. Hogan gives a believable explanation of the conversion as being taken completely out of context.
The final chapters talk about how Hogan sank into a deep, deep depression with all the turmoil in his life - a son in jail, an ugly divorce, a falling out with this daughter over the divorce, financial problems from his lavish lifestyle, and a lawsuit for an enormous sum of money filed by the family of the injured passenger, all took their toll. He finally turned around his life and is telling his side of the story in this hard to put down autobiography.
Hogan's ghostwriter, Mark Dagostino does an outstanding job of organizing the material into a coherent, well written account of the life and travails of Hulk Hogan. The only real drawback to the book is the first half keeps using the phrase "you know," just like I am sure Hogan does in real life. It certainly gave an authentic tone to the book, but it sure got extremely annoying after a while. Thankfully he knocked off this colloquialism about half way through the book. Otherwise the writing and organization of the book are superb.
Finally, the reader must ask, how honest or true is the book? I am sure Hogan believes it is honest and true. The tone and unveiling of the good and the bad in Hogan's life makes what Hogan says ring true. I, frankly, believe what he has to say, although I am sure there are other sides to the story as well.
Faces in Time by Lewis E. Aleman
Faces in Time is a mildly entertaining time travel romp with some rather interesting new twists on the concept.
Chester Fuze, our rather odd and introverted protagonist, is madly in love with the unattainable actress Rhonda Romero. In his first go around in life, he is essentially a loser that wastes away his time on earth pining over Rhonda, at times sinking into insanity. He watches as Rhonda lives a tragic life with an abusive husband and once Rhonda faces what he considers a grave tragedy, he is determined to go back in time and save her from herself.
Once he makes the leap back Fuze becomes an entirely different person as he seeks out Rhonda to change her future, and his.
This is a solid and well-written story and worth a read. The only drawback to the novel is there is a thread in the story about an escaped convict and you never really know how he fits into the novel until the very end. That thread is way too long and an unnecessary break in the main storyline. It really adds nothing to the novel and could have been shortened a great a deal. Otherwise, for a quick lark, this is a fun read.
Chester Fuze, our rather odd and introverted protagonist, is madly in love with the unattainable actress Rhonda Romero. In his first go around in life, he is essentially a loser that wastes away his time on earth pining over Rhonda, at times sinking into insanity. He watches as Rhonda lives a tragic life with an abusive husband and once Rhonda faces what he considers a grave tragedy, he is determined to go back in time and save her from herself.
Once he makes the leap back Fuze becomes an entirely different person as he seeks out Rhonda to change her future, and his.
This is a solid and well-written story and worth a read. The only drawback to the novel is there is a thread in the story about an escaped convict and you never really know how he fits into the novel until the very end. That thread is way too long and an unnecessary break in the main storyline. It really adds nothing to the novel and could have been shortened a great a deal. Otherwise, for a quick lark, this is a fun read.
Kraken by China Mieville
I really like China Mieville and have read most (but not all) of his books. But, he is a bit hit or miss for me. Kraken is a bit of a miss.
The basic plotline is a giant squid pickled in a jar is stolen from a museum. Billy Harrow, known for his expertise on these odd sea creatures, becomes deeply involved in a netherworld inhabiting London that includes all sorts of fantasia, such as a man who is only a tattoo on someone's back, a female cop who also happens to be a mage, and an assortment of cultists, the primary one being a group that worships the giant squid. The race is on to figure out who stole the squid and Billy is caught in the middle.
The primary problem with this novel is it is just a bit too clever and pretentious for its own good. I don't mind, and in fact usually enjoy, the showy wordplay, alliterations, and non-linear story line. But Mieville does not do enough to move the plot along as he jumps from one storyline or character to another. While the writing style and weird world he creates is interesting enough, I like a story well told, regardless of the style, but this not a story well told. The story is there, but it is buried somewhere in the mix of storylines, some that do not really advance the plot, in this bloated novel.
The basic plotline is a giant squid pickled in a jar is stolen from a museum. Billy Harrow, known for his expertise on these odd sea creatures, becomes deeply involved in a netherworld inhabiting London that includes all sorts of fantasia, such as a man who is only a tattoo on someone's back, a female cop who also happens to be a mage, and an assortment of cultists, the primary one being a group that worships the giant squid. The race is on to figure out who stole the squid and Billy is caught in the middle.
The primary problem with this novel is it is just a bit too clever and pretentious for its own good. I don't mind, and in fact usually enjoy, the showy wordplay, alliterations, and non-linear story line. But Mieville does not do enough to move the plot along as he jumps from one storyline or character to another. While the writing style and weird world he creates is interesting enough, I like a story well told, regardless of the style, but this not a story well told. The story is there, but it is buried somewhere in the mix of storylines, some that do not really advance the plot, in this bloated novel.
Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
The Little Stranger is a creepy atmospheric novel that was a finalist for The Booker Prize in 2009. This is one of the best novels I have read in some time, and even though I figured out the “mystery” before I got to the end of the book, the closing pages were still chilling.
This novel introduces us to Dr. Faraday, who grew up in the quaint English countryside and as an adult returns to reside as a somewhat successful doctor. As a young boy his mother was a nurse maid at Hundred’s Hall, a mansion of the rich Ayres family. As a young teenager he became enamored of the mansion but eventually left for school.
Years later he is suddenly called to the house to treat the family’s young maid and is immediately taken aback by the decline of the house and the family’s fortunes. The Ayres family has fallen on extremely hard times financially and emotionally after World War II and are struggling to keep the huge house afloat, mostly without success. The decline of the family’s fortunes mirrors that of Hundred’s Hall.
The remnants of the family include Mrs. Ayres who is an aging woman clinging desperately to the past and her daughter Caroline who is a capable but somewhat plain, unmarried 27 year old who seems resigned to her fate as an old maid in the declining house. Then you have Mrs. Ayres’ son Roderick, who has a severe leg injury from the war but is trying to keep the family estates and fortune afloat, but appears to be in way over his head. The decline of the house and this insular, eccentric family are stark and inexorable.
Dr. Faraday quickly ingratiates himself with the family and finds himself a frequent visitor to the mansion. And he finds himself again enamored of it, despite it’s failing and decrepit shape. Then strange things begin to happen. Roderick starts having visions and begins to sink into what appears to be insanity as he starts having severe headaches and sees a malevolent spirit. The docile family dog Gyp attacks a small child visiting with her family, ripping her face up. Strange markings are found in Roderick’s room and other parts of the house. Mrs. Ayres sees visions of her other, more beloved daughter who died at a young age. Strange fires break out. Is there really something haunting the house? Dr. Faraday, who has fallen in love with Caroline and wants to marry her, doesn’t think so. But strange things continue to happen, until the very end.
This novel is extremely well written and has great depth and well explored characters. While the novel starts out slowly as it builds up the atmosphere the reader will inhabit, the payoff is a very intricate and somewhat oppressive story about the decline and fall of what is left of the Ayres family, their homestead, Hundred’s Hall, and a mysterious haunting. I highly recommend it.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Laura by Larry Watson
I ave enjoyed Larry Watson's novels and find he does an excellent job at telling a story about flawed people with flawed lives (aren't we all?). Paul, at the tender age of 11, falls hopelessly in LOVE with the much older Laura, an unconventionally pretty, and soemwhat well known poet, who has plenty of hangups of her own. Paul spends his entire life longing for Laura -- so much so that he really just goes through the motions of living without much feeling or direction. The only thing he ever seems pationate about is his intermittent meetings with his obsession -- Laura.
The novel almost reminded me of Forest Gump at times, with vignettes of his meetings with Laura and how he continues to long for her after their departures. I could hardly put the book down once I started to see where Paul's lack of direction led him and where he'd meet Laura next.
The stength of the book is in the characterization of Paul AND the characters he didn't build. We get a glimpse of what his father, mother, and sister are like -- but only through Paul's eyes. They seem peripheral to the novel, and to Paul for that matter. And we build our picture of Laura through Paul's eyes, sometimes just from news clips and articles he reads. But we can understand these characters simply from their behavior and Paul's descriptions of them.
If you have read Laura and like it, as I did, I would also recommend Larry's Party by Carol Shields.
The novel almost reminded me of Forest Gump at times, with vignettes of his meetings with Laura and how he continues to long for her after their departures. I could hardly put the book down once I started to see where Paul's lack of direction led him and where he'd meet Laura next.
The stength of the book is in the characterization of Paul AND the characters he didn't build. We get a glimpse of what his father, mother, and sister are like -- but only through Paul's eyes. They seem peripheral to the novel, and to Paul for that matter. And we build our picture of Laura through Paul's eyes, sometimes just from news clips and articles he reads. But we can understand these characters simply from their behavior and Paul's descriptions of them.
If you have read Laura and like it, as I did, I would also recommend Larry's Party by Carol Shields.
Kindred by Octavia E. Bulter
KINDRED is one of those rare novels that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let you go until the very end. From the first sentence, Butler's simple, straightforward prose moves the story quickly making it nearly impossible for the reader to put down.
Dana, a black woman living in Los Angeles in 1976, is inexplicably transported to 1815 to save the life of a small, red-haired boy on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It turns out this small boy, Rufus, is one of her white slave owning ancestors, who she knows very little about. Dana continues to be called into the past to save Rufus, and frequently stays long periods of time in the slave owning South. The only way she can get back to 1976 is to be in a life threatening situation. During her stays in the past she is forced to assume the role of a slave to survive. She is whipped. She is beaten. She is nearly raped, twice. She is forced to watch whippings and families being broken up. She learns to enjoy hard work as an escape from the other horrors of slave life. And she watches as a fairly unassuming small son of a plantation owner grows up to be a cruel, capricious, hot-tempered slave owner in his own right. And to be her great-grandfather many generations removed.
KINDRED is about slavery and the scars it has inflicted on American society. There are really three key factors Butler focuses on that reveal the ability of the South to institutionalize slavery. First there is the physical abuse. The constant work, especially the physically exhausting work of a field hand, kept slaves too tired to run or become insolent. Being ever on the verge of a lash or two for minor offenses kept slaves working to avoid punishment. Being beaten nearly to death after escape attempts made a slave reluctant to try again; especially if this is coupled with the abuse of the slave's family. Then there is the psychological abuse. The continual threat of being beaten or watching others be beaten broke the spirits of those in bondage. The worst punishment was sometimes having to watch a family member abused for your transgression. Encouraging slaves to marry and have children also deadened their desire to escape. Families made the slave settle down, gave him or her something to protect and care for. The selling off of a few family members had a damping effect on a slave's spirit. A most poignant example is the slave Sarah, the primary house slave; "Weylin had sold only three of her children, left her one to live for and protect". She rarely questioned slavery, thought little of freedom, because "she had lost all she could stand to lose". The risk of losing the one daughter she had left was too great. Slaves that escaped had to be willing to risk not only their own life but possibly the lives of their family.
The physical and psychological abuse imposed on the slave made it so much easier to accept one's lot in life and avoid the unpleasantries that recalcitrance entailed. The ease with which Dana falls into the routines of everyday life as a slave shocks her. Work is a refuge from the other toils of slave life and the patterns become the norm. There is even an ambiguous feeling toward the slave owner. The slave owner is hated for the physical and psychological abuse imposed on the slave. But at the same time the slave loved the owner in a familial sense, even though the slave owner was seldom worthy of this. Thus slavery became for many the accepted norm of life, even if this acceptance was a tenuous and unhappy one at best. This acceptance was generational. Dana at one point espies children playing at selling each other on the auction block and haggling over price.
Many times throughout history sheer terror has been used to subdue a population and sap it of its strength. One only has to look at the Tsar's of Russia like Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Stalin to realize the extent to which terror can be used to subjugate a people. The Southern aristocracy of the United States practiced a similar terror till 1864 and beyond.
There is much historical evidence for the Butler's depiction of slavery and its effects. KINDRED is patterned after the slave narratives becoming more widely read today. These include Frederick Douglass' NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE and Harriet A. Jacobs INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL. Butler could have depicted the beatings and physical abuse in more graphic detail to have a greater impact on the reader.
Slavery even has its effects in 1976. The scars Dana brings back to 1976 are symbolic of the scars slavery has left on contemporary society. Some will heal with time. Some can never heal. Others will scab over and be just below the surface. But they are all there. But in another sense healing has taken place. Dana is married to a white man, Kevin, who is transported to 1815 with her once. While there they both fall easily into the pattern or act of slave owner and slave concubine, roles they must assume to survive. The ease with which they fall into these roles brings about a greater consciousness of their ethnicity. But through this relationship Butler leaves the reader with hope. Dana's love for Kevin is what really pulls her through the most harrowing terrors she faces and in the end gives her the strength to survive this horrible test.
KINDRED is written at the young adult level and moves along at a brisk pace. I highly recommend it for teenagers and adults.
Dana, a black woman living in Los Angeles in 1976, is inexplicably transported to 1815 to save the life of a small, red-haired boy on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It turns out this small boy, Rufus, is one of her white slave owning ancestors, who she knows very little about. Dana continues to be called into the past to save Rufus, and frequently stays long periods of time in the slave owning South. The only way she can get back to 1976 is to be in a life threatening situation. During her stays in the past she is forced to assume the role of a slave to survive. She is whipped. She is beaten. She is nearly raped, twice. She is forced to watch whippings and families being broken up. She learns to enjoy hard work as an escape from the other horrors of slave life. And she watches as a fairly unassuming small son of a plantation owner grows up to be a cruel, capricious, hot-tempered slave owner in his own right. And to be her great-grandfather many generations removed.
KINDRED is about slavery and the scars it has inflicted on American society. There are really three key factors Butler focuses on that reveal the ability of the South to institutionalize slavery. First there is the physical abuse. The constant work, especially the physically exhausting work of a field hand, kept slaves too tired to run or become insolent. Being ever on the verge of a lash or two for minor offenses kept slaves working to avoid punishment. Being beaten nearly to death after escape attempts made a slave reluctant to try again; especially if this is coupled with the abuse of the slave's family. Then there is the psychological abuse. The continual threat of being beaten or watching others be beaten broke the spirits of those in bondage. The worst punishment was sometimes having to watch a family member abused for your transgression. Encouraging slaves to marry and have children also deadened their desire to escape. Families made the slave settle down, gave him or her something to protect and care for. The selling off of a few family members had a damping effect on a slave's spirit. A most poignant example is the slave Sarah, the primary house slave; "Weylin had sold only three of her children, left her one to live for and protect". She rarely questioned slavery, thought little of freedom, because "she had lost all she could stand to lose". The risk of losing the one daughter she had left was too great. Slaves that escaped had to be willing to risk not only their own life but possibly the lives of their family.
The physical and psychological abuse imposed on the slave made it so much easier to accept one's lot in life and avoid the unpleasantries that recalcitrance entailed. The ease with which Dana falls into the routines of everyday life as a slave shocks her. Work is a refuge from the other toils of slave life and the patterns become the norm. There is even an ambiguous feeling toward the slave owner. The slave owner is hated for the physical and psychological abuse imposed on the slave. But at the same time the slave loved the owner in a familial sense, even though the slave owner was seldom worthy of this. Thus slavery became for many the accepted norm of life, even if this acceptance was a tenuous and unhappy one at best. This acceptance was generational. Dana at one point espies children playing at selling each other on the auction block and haggling over price.
Many times throughout history sheer terror has been used to subdue a population and sap it of its strength. One only has to look at the Tsar's of Russia like Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Stalin to realize the extent to which terror can be used to subjugate a people. The Southern aristocracy of the United States practiced a similar terror till 1864 and beyond.
There is much historical evidence for the Butler's depiction of slavery and its effects. KINDRED is patterned after the slave narratives becoming more widely read today. These include Frederick Douglass' NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE and Harriet A. Jacobs INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL. Butler could have depicted the beatings and physical abuse in more graphic detail to have a greater impact on the reader.
Slavery even has its effects in 1976. The scars Dana brings back to 1976 are symbolic of the scars slavery has left on contemporary society. Some will heal with time. Some can never heal. Others will scab over and be just below the surface. But they are all there. But in another sense healing has taken place. Dana is married to a white man, Kevin, who is transported to 1815 with her once. While there they both fall easily into the pattern or act of slave owner and slave concubine, roles they must assume to survive. The ease with which they fall into these roles brings about a greater consciousness of their ethnicity. But through this relationship Butler leaves the reader with hope. Dana's love for Kevin is what really pulls her through the most harrowing terrors she faces and in the end gives her the strength to survive this horrible test.
KINDRED is written at the young adult level and moves along at a brisk pace. I highly recommend it for teenagers and adults.
One of the Better Post-9/11 Histories
Coll provides a highly detailed, well written account of the history of the CIA and United States in Afghanistan from the Soviet invasion to 9/11. I highly recommend this work for anyone who is interested in how we came to the point we are in Afghanistan post-9/11, and how we inadvertently provided Bin Laden fertile ground for a successful terrorist operation.
Frankly, after reading this account, I became empathetic toward the CIA, Clinton and those in his administration, and the Pakistani and Saudi governments. Clearly their positions and actions lead to the rise of the Taliban. While lots of mistakes and maybe some shortsightedness existed among these players, they were all dealing with intricate and sensitive internal political issues that drove their decisions, or in the case of the United States, lack of action, in post-Soviet Afghanistan.
While Bin Laden would likely have existed without the safe haven he found in Afghanistan, his ability to train and draw followers so freely and with impunity is partially "blowback" from actions taken by the CIA, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia during the Soviet-Afghan war as money and weapons poured into the country.
There is also quite a bit of information about Ahmed Massoud, leader of the Northern Alliance. It's interesting to speculate how more assistance to Massoud might have thwarted or overthrown the Taliban and as a result push Bin Laden into less favorable circumstances. But given Massoud's failure as a political leader in his first opportunity, the brutality of his troops, and being an ethnic minority in his country, again one can empathize with why the United States was reluctant to pin their hopes on him.
If you are trying to decide which of the very large number of books about Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Bin Laden are worth reading, this is one of them.
Frankly, after reading this account, I became empathetic toward the CIA, Clinton and those in his administration, and the Pakistani and Saudi governments. Clearly their positions and actions lead to the rise of the Taliban. While lots of mistakes and maybe some shortsightedness existed among these players, they were all dealing with intricate and sensitive internal political issues that drove their decisions, or in the case of the United States, lack of action, in post-Soviet Afghanistan.
While Bin Laden would likely have existed without the safe haven he found in Afghanistan, his ability to train and draw followers so freely and with impunity is partially "blowback" from actions taken by the CIA, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia during the Soviet-Afghan war as money and weapons poured into the country.
There is also quite a bit of information about Ahmed Massoud, leader of the Northern Alliance. It's interesting to speculate how more assistance to Massoud might have thwarted or overthrown the Taliban and as a result push Bin Laden into less favorable circumstances. But given Massoud's failure as a political leader in his first opportunity, the brutality of his troops, and being an ethnic minority in his country, again one can empathize with why the United States was reluctant to pin their hopes on him.
If you are trying to decide which of the very large number of books about Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Bin Laden are worth reading, this is one of them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)