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Jewish Jocks: An Unorthodox Hall of Fame
by
Franklin Foer ,
Marc Tracy
JEWISH JOCKS: AN UNORTHODOX HALL OF FAME is a timeless collection of biographical musings, sociological riffs about assimilation, first-person reflections, and, above all, great writing on some of the most influential and unexpected pioneers in the world of sports. Featuring work by today’s preeminent writers, these essays explore significant Jewish athletes, coaches, broa...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
October 30th 2012
by Twelve
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A reading of the 50 essays in the recent book, Jewish Jocks, edited by Franklin Foer (brother of novelist Jonathan Safran Foer) and Marc Tracy, leads me to a few conclusions. One, that most Jewish sports figures are short. Really short. Like 5’7” and shorter, with a few exceptions that prove the rule. Second, that the kind of Jewishness that binds them all together is a kind of Jewishness of character: more often brainy than brawny; more strategic than strapping; more thoughtful than thuggish. I...more
I learned a lot reading this book. Stories I'd never heard, angles I didn't know. (Mark Cuban is Jewish?)
Many stories left me wanting more, which is good and bad. Good because that meant they were interesting, bad because so many seemed more like ideas for profiles than actual profiles. (And, let's face it, many talked about the exact same stereotypes in very similar language.) A bit disappoint in Dahlia Lithwick's piece; very standard piece for someone who writes so brilliantly about the Suprem...more
Many stories left me wanting more, which is good and bad. Good because that meant they were interesting, bad because so many seemed more like ideas for profiles than actual profiles. (And, let's face it, many talked about the exact same stereotypes in very similar language.) A bit disappoint in Dahlia Lithwick's piece; very standard piece for someone who writes so brilliantly about the Suprem...more
Jewish Jocks tells the life stories of many famous Jewish athletes. Some of them have revolutionized their respective sports while other are just stand out athletes. Some of the people in the book are predictable, like Hank Greenberg or Mark Spitz, while others, like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, are not always easily identifiable as Jewish. It is surprising how many seemingly unknown Jews play such huge roles in developing modern sports. All in all, I learned many things and was very enter...more
RECEIVED BOOK FREE THROUGH GOODREADS FIRST READS. Not really a sports fan, but, found stories to be insight and some humorous. It delves into the lives of some famous sports figures. If you are a fan, you'll enjoy this read.
Interesting information, but it feels like a rush job. They picked too many people to write about whom I would have left out. Plus, I'd have liked to know more about some whose stories only got a page or two. Too many like Bud Selig are not jocks. It demonstrates the problem of putting a label on a group of people based on their race, religion or ethnic background. It tries to make a connection where in many cases none exists.
(3.5 /5)
Review published in Cleveland Plain Dealer:
http://www.cleveland.com/books/index....
Review published in Cleveland Plain Dealer:
http://www.cleveland.com/books/index....
Review forthcoming.
Eh. Could have been so much better.
My full take on this book over at http://2bitmonkey.wordpress.com/2013/...
My full take on this book over at http://2bitmonkey.wordpress.com/2013/...
Fun selection of essays, great reading that both my son and I enjoyed reading together.
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Franklin Foer is the editor of The New Republic and has written for Slate and New York magazine. Foer, who lives in Washington, D.C., is older brother of novelist Jonathan Safran Foer and freelance journalist Joshua Foer.
More about Franklin Foer...
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Apr 20, 2013 04:47pm