130 replies to this topic

[Left Wing Loner]

I have purchased and read numerous hockey biographies and books over the last few years. Some were outstanding and others were second rate at best.
I'd like to share what I thought was good and what I could have done without. I encourage others to do the same. Help me and the rest of the Arena chose wisely at the bookstore.

1. Hockey Chronicle (Publications International, Ltd.) This book is awesome. I commonly refer to it as "The Book"! It has a capsulated look at hockey from 1893 or so all the way up to the present (a new edition is released each year). With having some fantastic pictures and some great stories about the league, it's players, coaches, and fans. I think I paid $6 on the discount shelf. Man I ripped them off. I give it a thumbs up for any new fan or fan that has minimal knowledge of the game's early years. Great reference book. ($24.95)

2. Phil Esposito: Thunder and Lightning by Phil Esposito with Peter Golenbock This book is so down and dirty, so honest and so riveting I've read it at least 3 times in the last 2 years. It's a serious no BS uncensored look at Phil Esposito's life and career as a hockey player, coach, and GM. I can't say enough good stuff about this book. ($14.95)

3. Zamboni Rodeo by Jason Cohen. This book is a glimpse into the life of minor league hockey players' lives. To be more specific the CHL or Central Hockey League. It's pretty interesting. Jason Cohen does a good job of painting charictures of the players and coaches in this book. It's a decent read. ($14.95)

4. The Game by Ken Dryden. This book is decent but not being a fan of Les Habs it falls a little flat on me. It's pretty much the anithesis of Espo's book. Don't get me wrong it's still a good book it just seems kind of pretentious and glossed over. ($16.95)

5. Yzerman: Making of a Champion by Douglas Hunter. It's okay, but Doug didn't talk to Stevie Y or anyone in his family. It's an un-authorizd biography. It doesn't totally suck, but I recommend checking it out at the library rather than buying it.($24.95)

6. Searching for Bobby Orr by Stephen Brunt. Like Douglas Hunter, Stephen didn't talk to Bobby or any Orr for the book for that matter. It's a good introduction to the legend of Bobby Orr, but I think Steve should have kept looking for Bobby Orr. ($14.95)

7. Messier by Jeff Z. Klein. Like Stephen Brunt and Douglas Hunter, Jeff didn't talk to Mark or any Messier for that matter. This book gets wordy, it gets pretentious and in the end leaves you kind of loathing Mark Messier, the Oilers, and the Rangers. But mostly Mark Messier. I wish I could have my money back. ($14.95)


Alright class. Gimme book reports. Or hell disagree with my not-so-professional opinions of these books.

[GWTLAH]

The Game - I don't think you have to be a Habs fan to love it. I'm not, and I did.

The others I'm not too familiar with.

Good job though, it looks like a great list.

[pantsboyusa]

First of all i can't believe LWL hasn't read Stan Mikita's "I Play to Win" that's a great book.

also, being a northstars fans you can't beat "Minnesota North Stars: History & Memories with Lou Nanne" by Bob Showers. It's a lot of fun to read. Great anecdotes and tons of pictures. It was fun for me. Maybe not so much for people who aren't fans.

[Money]

Future Greats and Heartbreaks by Gare Joyce is a pretty good book. Its not a biography or anything, but the author spent a season following scouts around and got some really incredible access to NHL teams to discuss more on what exactly goes on behind the scenes of an NHL team.

Also one of the main "characters" in the book is my good friend Don Boyd, now the Director of Player Personnel for the Blue Jackets, the team that is most featured.

[Money]

I'm horrid when I pick up a book though, I can't put it down till I've reached the back cover. I have been known to sit up all night long. lol these are my eye's the following day.

I do the same thing. I got Future Greats and Heartbreaks for Christmas, and finished it that day.

[Left Wing Loner]

First of all i can't believe LWL hasn't read Stan Mikita's "I Play to Win" that's a great book.

I was not aware of this books existance, but I'm on a mission to track it down now.

[Left Wing Loner]

In the Bin: Reckless and Rude Stories from the Penalty Boxes of the Nhl

By Lloyd Freeberg



Hillarious-*spelling?

Hilarious.

But this sounds like a book I should be tracking down.