The blurb on the back cover of this study of major league baseball and money touts the author's "usual narrative flair." What delights the listener, however, is the reader's narrative flair. Granted, the writing is sprightly. Lewis asserts that conventional wisdom holds that the bigger the payroll, the better the ball club. Not so, says Lewis. To prove it, he gives a lively anecdotal account, including locker room humor, of the eccentrics of the Oakland Athletics, a team able to excel with a small budget. Scott Brick makes the most of these assets, less like a gifted narrator and more like a sports fan regaling pals with fascinating inside scoops. Further, the melody of his narration is one of Brick's most expressive and tuneful. In all his work, Brick almost sings in a youthful, manly voice brimming with personality and gusto. It sounds here as if "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is one of his favorite ditties.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An enjoyable dive into a frigid world filled with warm hearts.
Ballard’s fascination with cold water swimming is contagious. Even if climbing into an ice bath, swimming in the ocean in the winter, or alternating a steaming sauna with freezing water doesn’t really appeal, the stories of the participants, including the author himself, are joyful and life-affirming. Ballard cites studies about the positive impacts of a brief cold dip on mood, inflammation, and resiliency (although he recommends undergoing an in-depth medical checkup before jumping in). He meets Lynne Cox, a giant in the worlds of both distance and polar swimming; Olympians; and regular people who just want to feel both alert and calm. Ballard becomes an enthusiastic member of this tight club, and his performance clearly exudes his affection for the others and their serious purpose.
An enjoyable dive into a frigid world filled with warm hearts.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668106754
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
A close examination that will resonate with baseball fans.
Sports aficionados, and baseball fans in particular, are well-versed in superstitions. Baird’s book analyzes those superstitions, lucky wins, and mysterious losses from both anecdotal and academic perspectives. Erin Moon narrates with an interested tone, occasionally changing her pitch for various portrayals. She’s an able guide to players who hold to a code of do’s and don’ts—Wade Boggs in particular adhered to a plethora of rituals both on and off the field. The question remains: Do the rituals and superstitions actually help? Moon keeps pace as the author, a New York Mets fan, crunches numbers and statistics as she delves into the topic.
A close examination that will resonate with baseball fans.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 44 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318252822
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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