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Summary: George from Florissant is a hick from North County
Review: "Men At Work" is a great, great baseball book. Is it as good as "The Summer Game", "Five Seasons", "A False Spring"? Interestingly, it is and it isn't. Technically it is. It contains superb reportage and loving writing about a game George Will adores. But the there is a technology to Will's writing, a one-two-three, a but-for premise that borders on lawyering, advocacy. I love it, yes, but I have to rate this just below the pure romance of Roger Angell or the raunchy, man's-man baseball-as-life stories that infuses Pat Jordan's work. Will has written here a book that precursors "Moneyball". It describes the new age of baseball, an age of computers and preparation that replaces the Joe Schultz "Let's beat 'em, then pound some Budweiser" era described by Jim Bouton's "Ball Four".STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM
Rating: 
Summary: Typical George Will - For Better and Worse
Review: As a long time fan of the game, I appreciate insights new to me, especially in the La Russa section. However, in typical George Will fashion, he completely ignores the big issues in order to make his point on minor ones. For example, on hitting, he totally misses the importance of power. It's not that 50 HR w/ 150 SO and 50 BB is ideal, it's that 40 HR + 120 BB and a mediocre batting average leave Gwynn on the second team. On the other hand, what can you expect from a man who thinks that the First Amendment guarantees that the the paid speech of corporate lobbyists displaces the free speech of citizen constituents?
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Summary: Had I only known. . .
Review: As a rule, I find most of Mr. Will's writings to be interesting; even insightful. . . Unfortunately to all rules, there must be an exception. I picked up the book thinking that Will would be able to answer questions about the game and it's inner workings. How very disappointing. I was unaware that baseball could be made less interesting than it already is.
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Summary: The conservative journalist who would be Commissioner of MLB
Review: As the feeling of pain and disagreement comes across me, I sit to read the baseball book by the ultra left-winger and bad bow-tie wearer, George Will. This book focuses on managing(Tony LaRussa), pitching(Orel Hershiser) hitting(Tony Gwynn), and fielding/cosistency(Cal Ripken). The book has a technical feel, but it does not bombard the reader with statistics. It has a preaching attitude, but that Will has pinpoint focus and awesome personal insight into the tasks of baseball. If you are looking at looking inside these aspects...this book is totally for you. If not, the writing of one of our great conservative journalist will impress. One of my favorite reads.
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Summary: Just a fine book about a fine game
Review: As Woody Allen's dalliance with Soon Yi ruined his films for many film buffs (especially New York reviewers), George Will's penetrating and often disturbing political commentary seems to have colored Men At Work for some reviewers below. Pay them no mind. Men At Work is a brilliant distillation of the insights of several brilliant Baseball Men who Work very well indeed. Men At Work is faintly scholarly in tone - use a dictionary if you must (I didn't need one). For us non-scholars, though, if the mechanics of baseball is of interest, this book is for you. An Example: Tony La Russa outlines nine basic ways to run the double steal - and the defense's proper response to them all. I had no idea! We didn't get this in Little League (on the other hand they don't call it the Big Leagues for nuthin')! Here's another: An explicit split second analysis of stealing second base - it demonstrates almost beyond doubt that you steal on the pitcher - not the catcher (which perhaps shows that Will is biased against pitchers or in favor of catchers - a form of Baseball Politics?) Will shows that when Gywnn is (no, WAS) pulling the ball, his timing was off, and why this was true. Men At Work is not sentimental - if you want the Boys of Summer you won't find it here. What you will find is uncommon insight from some of baseball's best presented by a clearly devoted and talented writer.
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Summary: Will breaks down a complex game into four manageable pieces.
Review: Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors as the coaches meet before a game, or how much sign stealing really ocurrs? The answers to these questions and much more about the behind-the-scenes goings on of the great game of baseball are in this magnificent book by the conservative political columnist George F. Will. Will takes you behind closed doors with Tony LaRussa, the best manager in the game. He also takes you to the pither's mound with Orel Hershiser, to the batter's box with Tony Gwynn, and to the shortstop's position with Cal Ripken, Jr. And when he gets you there, he explains every thing that is going on in everyone's head and he does it with stunning detail, and first-hand knowledge that will keep you begging for more after you finish. Will's book is a must have for even the casual baseball fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Fantastic job by George Will. If you want to learn more about the game, this is a must read. Jam packed with everything about baseball, from managerial strategy to hitting. You will know more than you did before about the national pastime. I guarantee it.
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Summary: THE book on watching and enjoying baseball
Review: Forget McArver's book, this book is the definitive look inside a baseball game. It is dated by the persons Will uses as subject matter (Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Orel Hershiser) but the reader will soon forget that all of these players should have moved on by now. Probably the most interesting section is the inside look on Tony Larussa. His game-prep is phenomenal! I loved this book, and if you enjoy baseball, you will love this book as well. One of the few baseball books to read with a highlighter!!
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Summary: An Intelligent Man's Guide to Baseball
Review: Full of anecdote, analysis, and opinion, George Will offers an insightful guide to what baseball is really about. I find myself watching a sport I once disliked with renewed interest and enthusiasm thanks in large part to this book.
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Summary: Flowery Prose Masks Fundamental Flaw
Review: George F. Will is better than just about any other author I know in using flowery prose to mask what I consider to be his biggest problem; namely, his failure to communicate with readers and hold their interest. Instead of being the insightful and introspective look into the game of baseball its author hoped for, it comes across as pretentious and muddled. While I love baseball, I found this book to be inane and boring. As far as I'm concerned, "Men at Work" represents Will's swing at a 3-2 outside pitch. I hope he never writes a book about golf. Pass on this one.
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