No Ordinary Joe: The Biography of Joe Paterno
by Michael O'Brien
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael O'BrienEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1999-08-01
ISBN: 1558537155
Number of pages: 354
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Book Reviews of No Ordinary Joe: The Biography of Joe Paterno
Book Review: A well balanced look at Joe Paterno and the politics of college football.
Summary: 4 Stars
For most sports fans, the name Joe Paterno is a familiar one. The images conjured up by the name may vary...some see a living god while others see a need for change. Regardless of your views, this book is informative and well balanced. As a loyal Penn State fan, I found this book to be well written and objective. The writing style is not too stuffy or "textbook" like, yet the author is able to remain insightful as well as entertaining. This book focuses on the work of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno during the 2004 season; the bulk of the story is a tale of the ups and downs that took place during that season. However, there is also a great deal of exposition when it comes to the privilige, politics, and power of Division I college football. In some sections of the story, Penn State University and the town of State College, PA become a unique world where attitudes can change like the seasons. What I found to be the most informative was the description of Paterno's interactions with the media.
Joe Paterno's life serves as an interesting character study. Mostly because of his actions and the way that he has oriented his life around the university and the athletic program. This book does not force its hand by telling you how to feel about Joe, instead it describes the situation and leaves you to draw your own conclusions. There is some obvious admiration for Paterno, but it does not reach the point of being one-sided.
I would recommend this book for all college football fans. If nothing else, this story serves as an informative piece about the "hidden" side of commercialization and college sports.
Summary of No Ordinary Joe: The Biography of Joe Paterno
Author Michael O'Brien authoritatively paints the consummate Paterno portrait, the result of more than ten years of work that included 137 interviews and study of 150 previously published works. Paperback includes an epilogue that reviews the 1998 season in which Paterno won his landmark 300th career victory.General Books
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