Customer Reviews

Fanatic: Ten Things All Sports Fans Should Do Before They Die

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

 

 

Jim has a great way of showing how people share their love of sport. Fantastic story-teller, very humorous and laugh-out-loud.
-"Ian"

A good, laudable effort to chronicle, experience and describe some of America and the world's greatest sporting events. (And who among us hasn't had that dream, that a bucket list?) Easy to relate to the idea, but in the end the stories become more about the author than about the event and the aura that surrounds them.

Basically, the events and people around them are described but not the passion, heart and soul of the event itself. It's talked about and described, yes, but not felt and experienced vicariously as it should be in a book of this type.

Even in the chapter on the Masters, he can't help but drift (or slide) back into the world of critical journalists, critiquing verything and everybody in, at least partially, a negative light. But he does save the best for the last. The chapter on Opening Day at Fenway Park is the best chapter in the book (and I'm a Yankee Fan). In it he captures the passion, the commitment, the living and dying loyalty of fans and the events themselves, all of which are iconic in their statue. And all of which are part of what is past, part of what is, and part of what is to come. In this chapter, Mr. Gorant finallys it right.

It's a shame the whole book isn't written in this tone and light. If it would have been an exceptional, exceptional, work. Sadly, it's not.

I bought this book being told it would be great even if I wasn't a sports fan. I am told Jim is very funny. After reading this book I realize both are true.
I am not much of a sports fan, but his writing is very engaging and entertaing in the same way Anthony Bourdaine(Kitchen Confidential) and David Searis(Me Talk Pretty One Day) are. He is also the same type of as humor as they are more akin to Bourdaine than Sedaris. I must admit to laughing out loud through every section of the book.
As for not being a sports fan he does a great job at bring you to the experience with his observatioons and gives the reader enough backgroud to get a good sense of the "experience". He keeps himself relatable to both sports fans and non sports fans alike with a great balance of passion and knowledge.
From his time with the people he meets in Daytona to the craziness of the Superbowl it seems he finds somthing that goes beyond just sports. He manages to find and look for a sort of good quality and in fans that is more human and less alienating than I would expect. He is introspective enough really breath in the experience. It's the perfect summer read and just in time for Fathers Day
(My dad is a sports fan)....I could recomend this to just about anyone!

Jim Gorant really knows his stuff. If you love sports and could use a good laugh, don't hesitate to pick up this book and devour it from cover to cover. Bravo to Mr. Gorant for getting out there and giving us the real feelings behind these events.