Dead Solid Perfect [Paperback]

C. L. Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 1986

The legendary golf novel, rereleased in a special edition with a new foreword by the author.

Don Imus said it best: "Dan Jenkins is a comic genius." And nowhere is that genius more evident than in Dead Solid Perfect, his uproarious 1974 novel about life on the PGA Tour. To some, Kenny Lee Puckett, the star of Jenkins's ribald saga, is a more important figure in the history of golf than Bobby Jones himself.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dan Jenkins is a comic genius."
--Don Imus

Praise for Dead Solid Perfect:

"This is vintage Jenkins--profane, outrageous, and sharp-eyed in its parody of the overblown world of big-time golf. It is also distinguished by a climactic golf match that may be the funniest scene he's ever written."
--Newsweek

"Dan Jenkins is the nearest thing to Ring Lardner this generation has ever seen. No one has captured the essential lunacy of the twentieth-century sports (and TV) scene as accurately and hilariously as this."
--Los Angeles Times

"Jenkins is hilarious, providing more laughs per page than any other writer in the 'bidness.'"
--People --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

"Dan Jenkins is a comic genius."
--Don Imus

Praise for Dead Solid Perfect:

"This is vintage Jenkins--profane, outrageous, and sharp-eyed in its parody of the overblown world of big-time golf. It is also distinguished by a climactic golf match that may be the funniest scene he's ever written."
--Newsweek

"Dan Jenkins is the nearest thing to Ring Lardner this generation has ever seen. No one has captured the essential lunacy of the twentieth-century sports (and TV) scene as accurately and hilariously as this."
--Los Angeles Times

"Jenkins is hilarious, providing more laughs per page than any other writer in the 'bidness.'"
--People
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: PSS Adult; Rev Sub edition (September 9, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843115688
• ISBN-13: 978-0843115680
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 4.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,993,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind, October 30, 2001

By 

Brian M. Ayres (Valrico, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Solid Perfect (Paperback)

Although this book did not surpass "You've Gotta Play Hurt" in my estimation, Jenkins is no less racy and raunchy and hilarious in Dead Solid Perfect.

I have no doubt that this book could have been written this year and still rings true, although maybe not all the dope smoking.

Like many of Jenkins' books, the story revolves around the Texas mystique and a man who can ace his avocation but fail miserably in his personal life. This book mixes enough politics, gambling, golf and sex to become one of the funniest books out there.

Jenkins' style is love-him-or-hate-him, but you if like this one, you'll be searching more used bookstores for other books that are out-of-print.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the funniest book I have ever read., August 23, 2001

By 

J. Daily (Fort Worth, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Solid Perfect (Paperback)

An incredibly funny account of golf, shapely adorables, gambling hustles and general all around characters. I laughed out loud so hard I cried a couple of times. The bit about Kenny Lee Puckett and Spec Reynolds creating a fictional West Texas town in order to bet on the football team and try and pull one over on their bookie is pure genius(dont worry, I gave nothing away). In todays smoothed over, politically correct world this throwback is actually quite unlike anything you will read. I have read this book twice I liked it so much. Order one used if you cant get it new.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a keeper - you either love or loathe Jenkins, October 23, 2000

By 

T. Adshead - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Solid Perfect (Paperback)

It's clear from the reviews on this page that not everyone likes Dan Jenkins. However, those who like him are hardcore fans, jealously guarding their out-of-print copies, even though they would love to share the joy with their friends.

Jenkins is no liberal - his politics are straight out of the south. Having said that, the most sympathetic character in this book is a liberal woman, so I wouldn't call Dan Jenkins prejudiced.

What really comes through in this book is Jenkins' love of sport, and golf in particular, and for people who live life to the full without preaching, or listening to preachers. It's also a gripping story which will appeal to sports fans who must always stay to bitter end, just in case the sport offers up a million-to-one surprise ending, so that they can tell their grandchildren: "I was there".

The most important thing about Jenkins is that you feel that he cares - about his characters, and about sport. It's nice to have a bit of passion in a book, and maybe passion is by definition politically incorrect.