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Semi-Tough: A Novel Paperback – August 1, 2006

4.2 out of 5 stars 269

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Made into a hilarious and timeless film starring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, and Jill Clayburgh, and recently named number seven on Sports Illustrated's Top 100 Sports Books of All Time, Semi-Tough is Dan Jenkins's masterpiece and considered by many to be the funniest sports book ever written. The novel follows the outsize adventures of Billy Clyde Puckett, star halfback for the New York Giants, whose team has come to Los Angeles for an epic duel with the despised "dog-ass" Jets in the Super Bowl. But Billy Clyde is faced with a dual challenge: not only must he try to run over a bunch of malevolencies incarnate, but he has also been commissioned by a New York book publisher to keep a journal of the events leading up to, including, and following the game. Infused with Dan Jenkins's characteristic joie de vivre and replete with cigarettes, whiskey, and wild women, Semi-Tough is an uproarious romp through a lost era of professional sports that will have any armchair quarterback falling out of his or her recliner in hysterics on a semi-regular basis.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very funny book...It is outrageous; it mocks contemporary American mores; it mocks Madison Avenue; it mocks racial attitudes; it mocks writers like me; and it even mocks sportswriters for Sports Illustrated like Dan Jenkins...[Jenkins's] writing and his ear recall--there is no higher compliment-Ring Lardner, though in different times and different Americas."

About the Author

Dan Jenkins is the author of ten novels, including Semi-Tough, Dead Solid Perfect, The Money-Whipped Steer-Job Three-Jack Give-Up Artist, and Slim and None. He has also published seven books of nonfiction, most notably Fairways and Greens and The Dogged Victims of Inexorable Fate and writes an enduringly popular monthly column for Golf Digest. Jenkins is the recipient of the William D. Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association of America, which recognizes those who have consistently made outstanding contributions to golf. He divides his time between his native Fort Worth, Texas, and New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Press; Reprint edition (August 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1560258594
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1560258599
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 269

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
269 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2013
I'm still pissed that they used Jill Clayburgh in the movie, and Kris Kristoferson was ok. The book is 20 times better than the movie and this beauty started an amazing run of fast read, entertaining, bawdy and insightful books from Dan Jenkins. Not for the prudish, under 16 or the faint of heart - Dan's books talk the way people talk and you get the characters in every way. A must read for anyone who enjoys a sports story that will have you laughing outloud. Just ask my cat, TJ. He was 27 pounds, and stretched nose to tail the full width of a love seat. TJ Lambert had to be the inspiration for my monster cat! Grab this, then Limo, then Baja Oklahoma and you won't need any prodding to keep grabbing Dan's work from the sellers on Amazon.
6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2015
I've read most of Dan Jenkins's books and manage to re-read Semi-Tough every couple of years or so. Its not classic literature but it is fun. I noticed this time through within the current vibes of the 20-teens that I was put-off by the constant use of the n-word and the bigotry displayed. Not sure a publisher would touch it today. Still its a good look at professional football and the legend of chicken fried steak with cream gravy.
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2015
I am an English teacher and I love "great books." I also like to read books just for fun. I first experienced Semi-Tough when it came out in 1970 and thought it was one of the funniest books I had ever read. Over the years I lost my copy, and recently I got to missing Billy Clyde, Barbara Jane, Shake Tiller, Puddin Patterson -- hell, even Bubba Littleton -- so I ordered a new copy. It was just as entertaining this time and it was like running into an old friend and finding out you love them just as much now as you did back in the day. Warning: parts of Semi-Tough are, shall we say, crude. But it is all in fun and no one should be offended. The point - besides sheer entertainment -- is not to take football, ourselves, or even life its ownself too seriously.

Now excuse me while I go chase some wool.
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2019
Having lived in Dallas for 52 years, I was aware of Dan Jenkins and his outstanding articles. Semi-tough was rated the 7th best sports book by Sports Illustrated. Based on my knowledge of Jenkins' work and the SI rating, I was disappointed in the book. I was expecting much more. The book had an air of crudeness about it given its use of racist and ethnic slurs constantly throughout the book. Jenkins made the statement early on basically saying this is the way people talked then. He isn't a racist. I believe that. It just got tiring. I expected the book to be funnier (and it was at times), but this review is simply a matter of expectations (very high) and satisfaction (moderate to low).
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2020
Bought the hardback in 1972 as a Christmas gift for my father. Read it while living in a fraternity house at Carolina (North...there's only one) before I gave it to him and tried not to bend the pages. My guys would come into my room at night and I'd read passages to them...they'd be howling. Try to read Semi-Tough once a year and it always amazes me how much of my thought processes, how much of my attitude about life, comes from this book. Y'all come back now...ya heah!
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2014
This book is well written, clever, and uproariously funny. Leave your censor at the door and just read it for the fun. It rolls from page to page effortlessly and you won't want to put it down.
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2008
How can it be that nobody's reviewed this semi-classic? I wouldn't want to see the movie; Dan Jenkins' pithy one-liner wisdom needs to be visualized, not seen. And Shake Tiller's comment about football at the end stands for all of sport (paraphrase - Jenkins is well-worth paraphrasing): "Tell you something I learned about football a long time ago, Baby: what could have happened, did." Say no more!

But, if you like one liners, obscure books by Robert Heinlein are great too!
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2010
i own hundreds of books and this is the best. it is not for the faint hearted. jenkins combines language, sex and football to make this book an absolute classic. on the other hand, the movie was a cinematic turd. dont watch the movie, but the book is a must have for a good read.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jack Tinsley
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!
Reviewed in Canada on April 19, 2023
One of the funniest books ever!! Highly recommend..
Robin
5.0 out of 5 stars Il libro è un classico
Reviewed in Italy on February 9, 2020
Il libro è una romanzo sportivo ed è stato inserito nell'elenco dei dieci libri sportivi di tutti i tempi. Non è un libro per puritani in quanto il linguaggio utilizzato è molto scurrile ma esso viene utilizzato in un modo molto divertente
Victor J
5.0 out of 5 stars funny as
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2017
Irreverent, outlandish, funny as all-get-out