Customer Reviews

Ben Hogan's Secret: A Fictionalized Biography

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Author Bob Thomas has a real winner in Ben Hogan's Secret. This great fictionalized biography of Ben Hogan is more truth than fiction and portrays Hogan as the man he really was, a shy, caring individual who tried to avoid the limelight. Once I started reading this book I found it very difficult to put it down.

Author Bob Thomas has written the first book about Ben Hogan that truly depicts "the man behind the mask". Stories abound about Hogan's coldness but nothing could be further from the truth. Naysayers should talk to the people who had direct contact with Hogan thru the various stages of his life as golfer, businessman, private citizen and devoted husband. They should read the numerous articles that were written following his death on July 28, 1997, especially "The Hogan I Knew" by Dan Jenkins, and other articles in the October 1997 issue of Golf Digest. Talk to members of Shady Oaks Country Club and citizens in the surrounding business community. Talk to Palmer, Nicklaus, Venturi, Kite, Harvey Ward and Byron Nelson. If you were able to do so, a picture of the real Ben Hogan would emerge and that man is the one depicted by Bob Thomas in Ben Hogan's secret.

I read and enjoyed "Ben Hogan's Secret." I too read the first chapter on the website and decided to purchase the book. I enjoyed reading about the camaraderie between Hogan and Bobby Jones. It was interesting how Jones helped Hogan believe in himself as a golfer. I recommend adding this book to any golfer's library.

A friend of mine received a copy of this book at a golf tournament and passed it along to me. Bob Thomas gives us a very real look at the life of Hogan that is both inspiring and emotional. For those few negative reivewers, this book is not meant to be a biography -- it is a literary portrait. If you are not inspired by the overall message of the book, then you are truly missing something. I was amazed at the presentation of Hogan's life in the way that makes my own seem not so bad. I'd recommend this work to any golf enthusiast looking for some motivation.

The first reviewer gets it right. This book is a double bogie, lacking both depth and scope. I became frustrated and irritated with its oversimplication of Hogan and his character. If you want an excellent read concerning Ben Hogan pickup Curt Sampson's 'Hogan." Its an ace!

As a huge Hogan fan, I was very disappointed in this book. I found this work lacking on several fronts. First, the writing and fictionalized conversations are stilted and often trite. This is the author's first book and it shows. Secondly, the Ben Hogan this book tries to reveal is overly simplistic and one-dimensional. Ben Hogan was an incredibly complex man and this book tries to explain away much of that complexity with overly simplistic explanation. This book would have us believe that Hogan was really a terribly nice, but misunderstood, character who truly tried to play for his fans and work with the press. His legendary ability to focus while playing is rationalized as both fear of crowds and a desperate ability to block out distractions. From everything I've read, this is all hogwash. Hogan played for Hogan. He loathed the press and viewed them as lazy and ill-informed. He had a magical ability to go into 'the zone' virtually at will. Bob Thomas simpl! y gets too much wrong. Moreover, he glosses over or ignores pivotal periods of Hogan's life, again with trite and abbreviated discourse. Hogan's rehab from his car accident, the formation of his company, these and many other important events are either trivialized or omitted altogether. Perhaps my problem is I read Curt Sampson's "Hogan" first, a vastly superior work that truly reveals the man behind the myth. This book strikes me as nothing more than an averagely talented writer's fawning tribute.

Hogan's demeanor has longed perplexed all the golfing faithful who see Ben's consistency something elusive in our own games. This biographical fiction attempts to look inside this golfing giant to see what drove this man to the achievements without all the media posturing the modern athlete performs. Innovative and pertinent to all Hogan fans.

Ben Hogan was an incredible golfer and a fine human being. There should be no debate as to who was the greatest golfer of all time. It is Ben Hogan, hands-down. As author Thomas so aptly quotes in his book, "Hogan's legs were simply not strong enough to carry his heart around." This book not only reveals Ben Hogan's "secret", but it shows what *really* made Hogan great ... and what it means to be a champion. An excellent, inspiring read

Bob Thomas did a masterful job with this book on Ben Hogan. I could not put this book down I was consumed in it. A great work and I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to every Ben Hogan fan. Thanks Bob for such a great book!Ben Hogan's Secret

Leary of "fictional" accounts of historical figures and events (i.e. "The Titantic") I, in a sheer act of boredome read the first chapter on- line. I ordered the book instantly. As a member of the growing golfing public in awe of Hogan's mystique, I have read and studied everything about the man and his swing I could get my hands on. This refreshing account reminds me that sheer will, refusal to fail, and love for the life God has given us can drive us to achieve incredible goals. Historical? Who really knows! As an inspiration though, Thomas's presentation ranks with Hogan's one-iron, at Merion, in the 1950 Open!