Jack Nicklaus [Hardcover]

Jack Nicklaus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 1997

Jack Nicklaus: My Story is Jack Nicklaus's complete and compelling inside, in-depth account of those legendary majors triumphs, along with many other competition highlights - and some lowlights, too - of one of the greatest sports careers of all time. But, because this fascinating man has always been so much more than a professional athlete, his long-awaited autobiography is vastly more than a book about winning and losing. Revealed with the unfailing candor and intensity that are his most distinctive personality traits, here are all of the Jack Nicklauses his legions of admirers, and even some of those close to him, have never known the son, whose eyes still well up at the mention of his father; the husband, deeply aware of how much the strength, resilience, charm, and love of a woman content to remain in the shadows have meant to both his public image and private happiness; the famous father who, every day of his life, really has put his children first; the artist, tirelessly creating highly acclaimed courses so that others can enjoy his beloved game; the businessman, staggeringly successful at times, staggeringly unsuccessful at others; the analyst of the methods and makeups of the golfers who pushed him hardest and, most candidly of his own strengths and weaknesses; the commentator offering deep insights and strong opinions on the whys and wherefores of an occupation that has been extremely rewarding for him, yet one that he still regards as purely a game; and the multimillionaire, jet-plane-owning, world-traveling celebrity who is happiest hanging around home in a pair of shorts, then taking the kids to a family restaurant for dinner.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As "The Golfer of the Century," Jack Nicklaus is a recognized authority on the game's history and direction, and in his 13th book, My Story, he shares the details of his most impressive victories. With 20 major championships under his belt, he has plenty of highlights to share, including shot-by-shot analyses of his classic battles with fellow legends Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Indeed, Nicklaus seems to recall every shot of his illustrious career, and he is able to infuse his discussions of final round action with suspense, even though we've known the outcomes all these years. To this erudite study of golf the Golden Bear adds personal elements that reveal the man behind the one-iron. Nicklaus describes his business dealings--both successes and failures--his love of golf course design, the effects of celebrity status, and his childhood. Written with his longtime collaborator Ken Bowden, My Story is another eagle for the man whose name fills the record books.

From Library Journal

Nicklaus, winner of the Professional Golfer's Association's Golfer of the Century award in 1988, covers some of the same ground with longtime associate Bowden that he did with renowned golf historian Herbert Warren Wind in The Greatest Game of All (1969). Here, Nicklaus focuses on his Hall of Fame career, beginning with his victory in the 1959 U.S. Amateur Championship and concluding with his dramatic win in The Masters in 1986 at the age of 46. Shot-by-shot, hole-by-hole descriptions of many of his record championships are included along with his notions on the present condition of professional golf. With a graciousness and humility rarely found in sports biographies today, the Golden Bear relates his feelings about rivals (Arnold Palmer and more), heroes (Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan), and family. But it's when he describes what he considers the key mental requirements for winning consistently and his own approach to getting ready for a tournament that Nicklaus reveals the temperament of a tenacious competitor driven by the absolute need to win. Recommended for all sports collections.?Peter Ward, Lindenhurst Memorial Lib., West Islip, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (April 16, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684836289
• ISBN-13: 978-0684836287
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,549,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( N ) > Nicklaus, Jack

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Jack, this ones for you, June 15, 2000

By 

William H. Gallagher (Brooksville FL.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jack Nicklaus: My Story (Paperback)

Having been a golfer for 26 years and taught by my Dad, I can relate well to this book. Jack is one of my top 2 favorite players, the other being Tiger Woods. This book tracks Jacks career from kid to Senior Tour. To look back at it, he was a tremendous player. Tiger has his work cut out to surpass Jacks career achievements. Good stuff about his family, mentors and fellow players. A must for Jack fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOOD SOLID WORK - ENJOYABLE AND INFORMATIVE, April 30, 2005

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jack Nicklaus: My Story (Paperback)

Certainly one of the leading sports figures of our times and beyond a doubt one of the best golfers of all times, this autobiography of Jack Nicklaus is both interesting and informative. Nicklaus, like Palmer, Jones, Player, et al, are a passing breed. Not only are they great atheletes, but they are gentlemen in every sense of the word. Mr. Nicklaus' approach to the game and to life reflects this at every turn. This is a work that can be enjoyed by both golfers and non-golfers equally. I have probably ran into better writers that Ken Bowden, but hey, he did an adequate job and certainly got Jack's story across. Enjoyed this one a lot and very much recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest tells his story, January 19, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Jack Nicklaus: My Story (Paperback)

Insights into this champion and our time in golf will be read by the future generations through the Bear's eyes. Humble yet intense, this guy never quits. Especially enjoyed his sharing of what was going on inside with his famous finish at Turnberry in 1977. He's a guy you respect for his game and his person.