A.J. Liebling: The Sweet Science and Other Writings: The Earl of Louisiana / The Jollity Building / Between Meals / The Press (Library of America No. 191) [Hardcover]

A.J. Liebling (Author), Pete Hamill (Editor)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1050 pages
• Publisher: Library of America (March 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598530402
• ISBN-13: 978-1598530407
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Journalism
  • #62 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Essays

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Liebling, bad Hamill, April 18, 2009

By 

James H. Mann (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A.J. Liebling: The Sweet Science and Other Writings: The Earl of Louisiana / The Jollity Building / Between Meals / The Press (Library of America No. 191) (Hardcover)

These are classic Liebling books, of course (although one might have hoped for the inclusion of The Second City and The Honest Rainmaker too -perhaps they'll be the backbone of a third volume). The problem is the editing. Pete Hamill has used The Jollity Building rather than The Telephone Booth Indian, and, worse, the 1964 version of the The Press rather than the augmented version edited by Liebling's widow. No Mickey Jelke, no O.O. McIntyre, no Mortimer N. Buckner. Reprinting the books as Liebling oversaw them during his life is a fine editorial theory, but readers would be better served by having "Of Yesteryear" etc. preserved between hard covers. It's not as if the omitted material had been written by somebody else! Cherish your North Point Press paperbacks and save your money; the Library of America blew it with this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true knockout, June 2, 2009

By 

Bill Twain - See all my reviews

This review is from: A.J. Liebling: The Sweet Science and Other Writings: The Earl of Louisiana / The Jollity Building / Between Meals / The Press (Library of America No. 191) (Hardcover)

An excellent collection from a true master. Thoroughly enjoyable whether the subject is the sweet science or skewering the press for its "on-the- one-hand this, on-the-other-hand that," expert analysis. Too bad Liebling isn't around now to comment on the cable-TV gasbags. And although another reviewer knocked editor Pete Hamill, I have no qualms with the selections offered here.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great writer, great collection, October 23, 2010

By 

D. Culp "diarci" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A.J. Liebling: The Sweet Science and Other Writings: The Earl of Louisiana / The Jollity Building / Between Meals / The Press (Library of America No. 191) (Hardcover)

I got this as a gift to introduce a friend to Liebling. Couldn't have made a better choice. I gave it to someone who has no interet in (and even a slight dislike for)boxing and she started reading "Sweet Science." Now she appreciates the sport enough to want to know more. I await her report on "The Earl of Louisiana," one of my other favorites.