Scan barcode
jl27's review
Not going to rate a book I DNF'd at 20 pages.
To Mark Titus's credit: I liked listening to him tell some of these stories on a podcast he used to share with a female sports writer I love, and I like his sports knowledge. I don't think this book is particularly well written, but it has been around a while, so now-Titus probably (hopefully?) has matured a bit in his writing. My high school students write better stories in the self-critiques of their artwork than what this 20 pages contained, and their nonsense is better, in large part, because they don't try hard to be funny. If they know they can write and entertain, they just go for it and don't overcompensate. This book is not like that. Before I got through 20 pages, I hit a homophobic joke, a racist comment, and enough discussion of poop to tell me that I need to move on to the next book in my TBR. I'm obviously not the target demographic for this one, but I bet the Barstool bros out there would love this.
As for me, I'll stick to listening to Titus, and maybe if now-Titus writes another book, I'd pick it up.
Note: my dog must have known I was going to DNF this autographed copy I picked up at our literacy association book sale, because the corner was chewed off when I plucked it from the shelf. Oopsie.
To Mark Titus's credit: I liked listening to him tell some of these stories on a podcast he used to share with a female sports writer I love, and I like his sports knowledge. I don't think this book is particularly well written, but it has been around a while, so now-Titus probably (hopefully?) has matured a bit in his writing. My high school students write better stories in the self-critiques of their artwork than what this 20 pages contained, and their nonsense is better, in large part, because they don't try hard to be funny. If they know they can write and entertain, they just go for it and don't overcompensate. This book is not like that. Before I got through 20 pages, I hit a homophobic joke, a racist comment, and enough discussion of poop to tell me that I need to move on to the next book in my TBR. I'm obviously not the target demographic for this one, but I bet the Barstool bros out there would love this.
As for me, I'll stick to listening to Titus, and maybe if now-Titus writes another book, I'd pick it up.
Note: my dog must have known I was going to DNF this autographed copy I picked up at our literacy association book sale, because the corner was chewed off when I plucked it from the shelf. Oopsie.
kintha's review against another edition
4.0
Looks like most of these reviews start off with an explanation of where the reviewer fits on a scale of predisposition to interest in this book. I never read Titus' blog, but I love college basketball and have read and enjoyed his articles on Grantland. I think that's like a 7.5.
This book is an entertaining read thanks to Titus' engaging style and sense of humor. My main complaint is that he zips through four years at warp speed. I put the book down convinced there was more that should have been in it. Now, I've complained that a book was too short and fast paced approximately zero times before now, so Mr. Titus, you can take this as whatever the opposite of a backhanded compliment is (front handed insult?). Maybe you felt like a lot of the material that could of been in here was already up on your blog and you didn't want to rehash it. But I would have loved a little more heft here.
This book is an entertaining read thanks to Titus' engaging style and sense of humor. My main complaint is that he zips through four years at warp speed. I put the book down convinced there was more that should have been in it. Now, I've complained that a book was too short and fast paced approximately zero times before now, so Mr. Titus, you can take this as whatever the opposite of a backhanded compliment is (front handed insult?). Maybe you felt like a lot of the material that could of been in here was already up on your blog and you didn't want to rehash it. But I would have loved a little more heft here.
briannethebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Mark Titus is HILARIOUS. Essentially he tells the story of his career at Ohio State as a walk on for the basketball team. He presents many anecdotes about the pranks he would play and about his relationships with various teammates.
I like basketball a lot, but am by no means knowledgeable about the sport. I say this because while Mark's book is hilarious due to the way he tells his stories, I think he reaches a large audience because the humor can appeal to so many different types of people, even NON-READERS. This is a book that could convince a non-reader to buy into reading in general, and I think that's huge, especially as a teacher.
Great read. I've already recommended this to many of my basketball loving friends! (Some of which who have already read it!)
I like basketball a lot, but am by no means knowledgeable about the sport. I say this because while Mark's book is hilarious due to the way he tells his stories, I think he reaches a large audience because the humor can appeal to so many different types of people, even NON-READERS. This is a book that could convince a non-reader to buy into reading in general, and I think that's huge, especially as a teacher.
Great read. I've already recommended this to many of my basketball loving friends! (Some of which who have already read it!)
cpt_tusktooth's review
2.0
Quick read that was laugh out loud funny in a couple of places and mildly entertaining throughout. In the end, there really wasn't here enough to merit an entire book, which explains the length (257 pgs), the filler (endless descriptions of basketball games that the author, admittedly, had no role in), and the abrupt conclusion (player's college career ends, the book ends). In the end, this author comes off as a homeless man's Jay Johnstone due to the brevity of his playing career. I'm sure he's an entertaining blogger and the stories of his antics are probably better suited to that short form medium as well.