Rating: 
Summary: "Legend" is a Legend
Review: This mystical tale by Pressfield not only captures the finer points of golf but also allows us to contemplate the lost art of sportmanship. If you enjoyed the movie, you'll be glad you took the time on this short, easy to read novel. The Legend of Bagger Vance intertwines both the history of golf and wonderful fictional lore; a must for any golfer young or old.
Rating: 
Summary: Legend Of Bagger Vance
Review: This was an awesome book, a very clever fusion of everyday life mysticism and spirituality. If you are a golfer you will love this book. If you are not a golfer, I'm sure you will enjoy learning about some of the finer points of golf. In addition the book exposes raw elements of the human mind. If you ever read or saw the movie "The Green Mile" I am sure you will enjoy this, on a much gentler theme.I was however disappointed that the movie did not remain completely true to the book. Obviously when making a movie certain parts need to be edited, but to change some of the story from the original book leads to disappointment and unfulfilled expectations. I would recommend going to see the movie first, before reading this book, to avoid such disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: A Mystical Journey
Review: I wanted to read this book before seeing the movie. And I am so glad I did. The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steve Pressfield is an odyssey which transcends golf. We are taken on a foggy journey back in the 1930's. A mystical caddy is there, or is he, to help a golfer find that magical mind place--the zone--when everything is perfect, when you can do no wrong. As Will Smith recently likened it to the first three months of a passionate relationship, walking on air and nothing bothers you. The author draws us into this realm with smooth dialouge and vivid setting descriptions. A terrific read of much more than golf.
Rating:
Summary: Authentic Legend
Review: I was browsing the shelves of my local library and was surprised to see that "The Legend of Bagger Vance" was sitting next to "Gates of Fire", both written by Steven Pressfield. Since I was thoroughly captivated by "Gates..." I thought I'd give "...Bagger" a chance. Even though I'm not an active golfer, having golfed twice, several years ago, this story is relevant to anyone who is interested in learning and remembering life's lessons. Initially, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but as the characters were brought to life and the basic storyline was established, I began to realize I was reading something special. For example, Pressfield gives a great description of being in the "Zone", that rare and special time when ability is maximized with fluid and natural effort resulting in optimal performance. Winning becomes a by-product; the act itself or the Authentic Swing as Bagger Vance identifies it is what's important. Life's lesson seems to be for us not to worry about the results of our behavior. Instead, each of us strives for being our Authentic Self, and the results will take care of itself. If, in our striving, we feel isolated, we also need to remember we are never alone but are accompanied by a Higher Power, however we choose to define it. Obviously,"The Legend of Bagger Vance" has so much more to offer than can be explained in this short review. However, I'm here to tell you that by just reading it the lessons learned will take care of themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment
Review: I expected much more from this golf meets "Field of Dreams" book. A week story with sappy, over-the-top writing. The only lesson I learned was to not waste more time on books by the Author. To make matters worse, the movie has been completely miscast. Robert Redford should be the golfer with Morgan Freeman as Bagger Vance. I don't get it.
Rating:
Summary: The Golfing Gods vs. the God
Review: Steven Pressfield has blended the historically unmixable- Eastern religions (the obvious Buddhism and Hinduism, mixed with the implicit Taoism), a Southern Baptist tragic WWI hero, and an African-American in the 1930's South with power - to create a wonderful tale of inter-generational friendship wrapped around the perfect swing, an item that we golfers will chase to the ends of the universe to find. Pressfield delivers this in a wonderful manner, using the story inside the story, to create this magical tale where if the listeners (the characters Junah and Michael)are not careful, history will repeat itself. As I read this I was reminded of two things - the television show "Quantum Leap" and the Michael Murphy novel "Golf in the Kingdom." Bagger Vance may be the closest parallel to Murphy's wonderful caddie, Shivas Irons. If Vance isn't, then young Hardy Greaves is, without the wisdom of knowing it. The match between the golfing gods Hagen and Jones, and the local hero Randolph Junah is great reading, reading that will capture the non-golfer. The golfer will read it because it is golf. I speak from experience. The God referred to in the title is probably who you think it is, but there's a twist. I'll let you discover it. It is a book that I devoured in the midst of my summer reading lists. It was a risk, but I have come to realize that sometimes you need to go for the par-5 in two, rather than play the safe shots. To rephrase, The Legend of Bagger Vance is the double eagle novel golfers have been seeking, but the non-golfer will realize this is a keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretentious and Boring
Review: I bought this book with great anticipation, based on customer reviews and the fact that a major film was being made of it. While part of the novel was entertaining (bringing Hagen and Jones to life in a fictionalized way) the main premise was absurd and not entertaining. This book tries to portray golf as a metaphysical/religious activity instead of the wonderful game that it is. I revere "Golf in the Kingdom", with which this novel has been compared, as a classic study of why golf is an intellectually stimulating game. I threw "Legend of Bagger Vance" away when I finished it. It's not even worth passing on to a friend.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Idea, Bad Writing
Review: Steven Pressfield had everything he needed to write a great story except...the writing. The premise -- which you've probably figured out by now -- is captivating, and the modern, parallel storyline adds an interesting twist. Golfers will certainly appreciate the search for the perfect golf state of mind, which, like discipline, carries over well into real life. Unfortunately, the writing is terribly amateur. It was painfully obvious Pressfield was trying to create depth in his characters, but they come across woefully shallow. I couldn't have cared less about their fates. A telling example of this is how quickly and easily certain characters exhibited a change of heart; an "about-face" in attitude. There was no sign of an internal struggle in these cartoon men, no real evidence of a complex personality in any of them. Thus, the novel suffered from what Hollywood has suffered for decades -- a lack of genuine character development. (Is it any wonder Pressfield is a screenwriter by trade?) Heck, even the young med student, to whom the story was supposedly told as a parable, comes across as immature and schizophrenically thoughful or dense. The narrator nearly relegates him to demi-god status, and yet this accomplished young man never really comes across as a real person either. I was a bit confused by Pressfield's inclusion of an anti-war message through the protagonist's WWII experiences and the allusion to an "ancient battle" of 20,000 years ago. Though I'm sympathetic to the message, it seemed like he was forcing it in a way that didn't work. Ultimately, I got the feeling I was reading an interesting story in a college creative writing magazine, but certainly not a world-class novel. For a truly remarkable feat of fictional narrative, try Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha." It uses the same approach -- a seemingly true narrative, transcribed for posterity -- but is a thousand times more genuine. (I wonder how many other reviewers made this association?)
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Summary: The Legend of Bagger Vance and the Game of Golf
Review: I have just finished reading the book, and I cannot truly describe what I think to be one of the greatest books ever written. There is so much sage advice and lessons to be learned about life until it makes you wonder if you have to play golf in order to learn these lessons. However, one thing golf does is teach you the art of discipline. When Bagger Vance describes the "Authentic Swing" in Chapter 11, I, who have played the game of golf for 37 years, realized that in all this time, I never realized all that he was describing, but that was all so true. When my wife read the book, she called me on the phone at work and said, "You have always known the path. You just didn't know it was the path." Maybe we all know the path, but if you don't read this book, if you don't grasp the subtle meaning of life translated through a simple sport, then you are missing out on so much. This is truly a classic and the lessons learned from this book will last long after the book does become a classic. It is not just for those of us who hack it up out there on the course. It is also for those who watch us.
Rating:
Summary: Would God Help Your Golf Game
Review: The story tees off with a golf caddy named Bagger Vance, a local hero and golfer named, Jonas and two world reknown golfers at a local country club in the deep humid south of the 1930's. The event of a fictional golf game is watched and recorded by a young boy who years later retells the story of the game to another young man. After the author takes us on a stroll through a southern golf course we come to the realization, God is every where, even on the links. The story is a metaphoric tale that puts the work of God into a human perspective. We also realize that we all possess inate abilities that often are lost by our earthly desire to conform with our environment. After reading the Legend of Bagger Vance you will want to begin working on "your" game and never again will you look at inane activities without considering the past. Great book should be read by anyone who loves the south, golf, history, and God.
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