Sports in America [Paperback]

James A. Michener (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 1987

"A comprehensive, controversial examination of sports as a major force in American life." Los Angeles Times
There is a crisis in American sports, and it's getting worse. Drugs, violence, and the corrupting effects of money and fame. Even before these problems made national headlines, master writer James A. Michener was growing concerned about the state of sports in America. Only Michener could tackle a subject so big and leave us amazed and apalled by what we've learned, yet still loving the games we grew up on.


From the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"A comprehensive, controversial examination of sports as a major force in American life." Los Angeles Times
There is a crisis in American sports, and it's getting worse. Drugs, violence, and the corrupting effects of money and fame. Even before these problems made national headlines, master writer James A. Michener was growing concerned about the state of sports in America. Only Michener could tackle a subject so big and leave us amazed and apalled by what we've learned, yet still loving the games we grew up on. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (July 12, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345483065
• ISBN-13: 978-0345483065
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #577,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent insight to the sports scene at all levels, September 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sports in America (Mass Market Paperback)

This book came on the scene in the middle seventies and Michener covers the gamut of the problems and excitement of sports dealing with beginners to the pros. Most of what is written can still be adhered to today as the ideas and concerns seem to occur now just as they did a few years ago. This book should be must reading for all sports minded people and applying the suggestions to today's market. A great book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Overview on Sports You Won't Find in the Media, June 8, 2001

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sports in America (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is well worth reading by everyone: players, viewers, or to know more about the subject. James Michener loved sports: they made the difference between life and death. As a youth he drifted into a bad crowd, but was saved by athletics. His skill in basketball led to a scholarship to college, rather than prison. Later in life he suffered a heart attack, and was delayed in getting to a hospital. He survived because his robust exercise helped his heart to develop alternate feed lines (p.8).

Chapter IX discusses "The Inescapable Problem" of aging and the decline in physical ability. Walking, swimming, and tennis are doable from ages 5 to 85 (pp.274-5). Most other sports peak at ages 24 to 32; forty is the usual limit. The author notes that athletes are provably in better shape than the general public; but their life expectancy is worse. Could this be a side effect from the fame and glory?

He discusses the case of those who get a sports scholarship. They spend their college time in sports, play professionally for a few years, then disappear. He shows that those who study in college (like accounting) can earn far more onver a lifetime than those who quickly burn out.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, July 28, 2009

By 

jon grife (maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sports in America (Paperback)

michener was a very intelligent man and a great writer. this book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the dark side of america's obsession with professional sports. it is well-researched and chock-full of useful and fascinating ideas and information. michener was a visionary and so much of what he wrote in 1976 is still very relevant today. it took me a couple of weeks to read the book but i thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to read more of his work.