<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A strange filter, this one.
Review: I submit Feinstein would be better served to consider Woods' family dynamics, rather than skewer them. And no, you can not consider them by skewering them.
Rating: 
Summary: A blatant self-serving scribe.
Review: If Mr. Feinstein thought this deliberately self-serving effort to drag Tiger's name (and his family's) through the mud would gain favor throughout the sporting world, and throw Tiger off his game, he thought dead-wrong. Tiger's string of top-10 finishes in 1998 (his worst year, when this book was released), his $7-million 1999 season, and now the biggest blowout in majors history (winning by 15 strokes at the 2000 U.S. Open, the only one under par), is an absolutely fitting response, by Tiger, to Feinstein's effort to manufacture scandal from almost nothing. One guy said it best when he said that there are other golfers on tour who are no different, if not worse. Amazing, it seems, that we haven't heard from Feinstein since Tiger's 1999 PGA Championship win. His crow is getting cold.
Rating:
Summary: Typical hatchet job by Feinstein
Review: Like one of the other reviewers (although for different reasons), I hope John Feinstein reads these reviews. Why? Because I thought the book was a superb and (finally) reality-based examination of the over-hyped phenomenon that is Tiger Woods.Feinstein is an excellent writer, and I have enjoyed all of his previous books. Unlike the ridiculous adulatory press that is usually given Tiger (for an example of this phenomenon, one need look no further than Jim Nantz of CBS and his breathless and embarrassing descriptions of Woods), Feinstein simply chose to expose some of his subject's very human foibles; he only wrote about things that actually happened but which most people have never gotten to hear about. By so doing, Feinstein provides some much-needed balance to the volumes that have already been written about this talented, but at times immature, player. My only complaint is that the book is so short. What Feinstein needs to do now is write a full-length treatment, along the exact same lines as this one. I'd buy it in a heartbeat. P.S. By the way, as I write this in the Fall of 1998, Feinstein looks even smarter than when he originally wrote the book, given that the "can't miss kid" hasn't won a major since the 1997 Masters. Maybe the hype's gotten a little out of hand? Just check out what Jack Nicklaus had accomplished by this stage of his career and you'll see what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: AN AXE TO GRIND
Review: Of all of the Tiger Woods books that have been written this one is the worst I have encountered. Why? Instead of giving a thought provoking analysis of Tiger Woods as a player and his personal impact upon the sporting world, you end up reading a personal vendetta that the author has against Team Tiger. John Feinstein starts out with the question of who is Tiger Woods and then proceeds to break the myths surrounding the personality. There isn't anything wrong with breaking myths except Feinstein has nothing good to say about Tiger (except for his game). He accuses Earl Woods of exploiting his famous son, he castigates IMG for being Tiger's management agency, and shows his hatred for Tiger's agent, Hughes Norton. He paints a portrait of Tiger being immature, greedy and totally insensitive to his fans. If that is the case, why bother slapping together a work dealing with the greatest player in the golf world? In all fairness to the author, he does expose Tiger for what he was at the time; a young immature player who makes mistakes. He also shows the myths that the media have perpetuated about the young man. He also points out how greedy sponsors and management agencies can ruin the careers of young players. That is good information in understanding Tiger Woods the icon but says little about him as a person. What is lacking in the book is Feinstein not really knowing Tiger personally. His diatribes against the player and his cohorts have prevented him from getting to know the other side of the young man who will make a great contribution to golf. Feinstein is caught up in an axe to grind against Tiger's handlers and misses the champion. You don't gain any insight from his musings. If you are a Tiger fan and want to collect books about him regardless of what is said about Tiger by all means pick up a copy. Otherwise leave it on the shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: QUCK READ AT GREAT EXPENSE
Review: The Library of Contemporary Thought Series is a great idea, but at nearly 9.oo a book it is steep. Feinstein's book provokes the reader with his opinions that are clearly stated and well supported. If you love Tiger, you'll hate Feinstein for bringing up the Woods' slips of fame. I found the book a quick read that provided insight in what I don't hear or read about in traditional sources.
<< 1 >>
| 
