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39th out of 427 books
—
350 voters
Next Man Up: A Year Behind the Lines in Today's NFL
An up-close look inside an NFL powerhouse, from the onlywriter in America who players and coaches would trust with theirsecrets.
Paperback, 544 pages
Published
October 12th 2006
by Back Bay Books
(first published 2005)
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John Feinstein is a very good writer who spends his time exploring the world of sport. If you care about the NFL this is an interesting book. If you care about the Baltimore Ravens this is a very interesting book. This book is kind of like a tour of sausage factory. You may end up knowing more than you did before but you may not like sausage as much. I liked Feinstein's book about the Patriot League basketball teams much more. Somehow the people seemed more closely related to the world in which...more
Another behind-the-scenes look at the NFL (see also A Few Seconds of Panic by Stefan Fatsis). This time it’s the Baltimore Ravens, followed through their mediocre 2004/5 season. On the Ravens roster that season were a couple of the all-time great players, Ray Lewis and Deion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders (Lewis is still there) but this is a denser, more detailed narrative account than the Fatsis book and, to be honest, I found the last couple of hundred pages a bit of a slog. Nevertheless, interesting to...more
A thrilling, yet informative read, Next Man Up tells the story of John Feinstein's year spent in the Baltimore Raven's professional football organization. Unlike most books over football (and sports in general) this book takes a more personal approach to revealing the inner workings of the National Football League. My personal favorite section was the introduction of the book, where he tells the reader the struggles he underwent to be allowed to shadow the team for a year and gives a background...more
I had the privilege of meeting John Feinstein at the first National Book Festival held in Washington D.C. two days before Sept. 11, 2001. He has always been, and continues to be, in my opinion, the fairest sportswriter I have read. This book, "Next Man Up" give the reader an inside look at how a team drafts players, trains players, and prepares players who must take the place of injured players. I learned that it is not unusual for a team whose "long snapper" is injured, call a player who had be...more
Jul 04, 2010
Hubert
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
sports enthusiasts.
Shelves:
sports
I've read this one & a half times (all the way through once, and then halfway through the second time). I appreciate the detail with which Feinstein was able to come away with. I also appreciate that the book details how difficult each NFL season is for each team, and that the team ended with a .500 record added a sense that the Ravens' season is perpetually difficult. Often times these sports books portray an individual or team as a heroic figure, a protagonist who summons superpowers to ov...more
Had this book been just a chronologically ordered account of an NFL season with enough additional detail to fill in the blank spots - which it is -- I would have called it very good. But unfortunately, it is rife with pettiness and minor factual and grammatical mistakes, enough so that, just when you're really starting to enjoy the read, it all comes crashing down.
For example, take these offenses, from Chapter 16 alone:
-- Feinstein first says "The arrival of the Monday Night football crew in tow...more
For example, take these offenses, from Chapter 16 alone:
-- Feinstein first says "The arrival of the Monday Night football crew in tow...more
interesting, the telling involved more little vignettes about individuals in the ravens organization than i anticipated. junior's style is easy and approachable for those who pay way too much attention to football, and those who don't pay any attention. he also takes some shots at daniel snyder (redskins owner), which to a fan of his could seem cheap and gratutous, but to the real world seem appropriate.
i'm not a ravens fan, so from that standpoint it wasn't as engrossing as it would be if it we...more
i'm not a ravens fan, so from that standpoint it wasn't as engrossing as it would be if it we...more
I should have read this last year when I was first trying to like football. Feinstein does a good job of impressing upon the reader what a phenomenon football is and selling the drama...
...at first. Unfortunately he can't sustain the excitement over a whole season's worth of events. I don't think this is a fault of the author but rather a limitation of the "cover one year of NFL games" format - as a person who documented a season's worth of NFL games I can tell you that it is difficult to keep i...more
...at first. Unfortunately he can't sustain the excitement over a whole season's worth of events. I don't think this is a fault of the author but rather a limitation of the "cover one year of NFL games" format - as a person who documented a season's worth of NFL games I can tell you that it is difficult to keep i...more
This is an average football book. John Feinstein really dropped the ball compared to his basketball and golf books. This book was stated to be about the next man up in football when injuries occur. However, he makes it more about each game and the personalities. This book is about the Baltimore Ravens. I'm not a Baltimore Ravens fan at all so I was more interested in what most NFL teams do during the week or summer and how decisions are made. If you have ever read a John Feinstein book then you...more
2 1/2 stars. Pretty entertaining and readable if you are into football. I enjoyed how he spent the entire year with the team and shared all the highs and lows of the Baltimore Ravens disappointing 2004 season. There were many times I felt like the book could have been shorter and tighter and more enjoyable if Feinstein would have gotten off that soapbox he likes to climb up on. There were a few moments in the book that felt like they were added just so that Feinstein could take the opportunity t...more
Over all worth reading, but sluggish and plodding at times. The author does a competent job of capturing the historical narrative of events, but the book severely lacks the sense of drama, inspiration, devastation, or desperation that comes weekly in the NFL. The story of this unremarkable season that began with high expectations is told too matter of factly and fails to really capture the souls of the players, coaches, managers and owners involved.
Oct 29, 2009
Alex
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants to peek behind the curtain of an NFL franchise
I'm a sucker for team-history books. Not just sports, but politics and military history too. I love seeing how teams encounter problems and if they can overcome them. John Feinstein gets a backstage pass to the Balitimore Ravens as they deal with drafting, internal team strife, high expectations and injuries.
If this had been the story of a successful season this book would have been much less compelling and would probably have bordered on hagiography. As it is, the season described in the book...more
If this had been the story of a successful season this book would have been much less compelling and would probably have bordered on hagiography. As it is, the season described in the book...more
I quite enjoyed this book. It was long, and a detailed read, but for a football fan bored of sports in the off-season, it was entertaining and educational. I am not a Ravens' fan, but I found myself caring more than I normally would about how their season progressed, and the personal struggles of the players and the coaches. Watching their games next season will most likely mean more to me after reading this book.
I enjoy reading sports books. I enjoy reading about the trials and obsticals teams overcome during the season.
Like any good American I love the NFL. This books goes inside the Baltimore Raven as the author follows the team for a year. As a reader you get an inside look at the decisions made everyday that impact what happens on the field. If you are a true football fan you should read this book.
Like any good American I love the NFL. This books goes inside the Baltimore Raven as the author follows the team for a year. As a reader you get an inside look at the decisions made everyday that impact what happens on the field. If you are a true football fan you should read this book.
Feinstein was allowed full access to the 2004 – 2005 Baltimore Ravens locker rooms, scouting team, front office management, coaches, players, pr dept. – the whole deal.
Interesting anecdotes from Head Coach Brian Billick, “I feel a little like the guy who jumps off the thirty story building and as he passes each floor on the way down, says, ‘So far so good.’ P. 436.
Interesting behind the scenes, close up and personal stuff w/ Mike Nolan before he was hired by the 49ers, Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden,...more
Interesting anecdotes from Head Coach Brian Billick, “I feel a little like the guy who jumps off the thirty story building and as he passes each floor on the way down, says, ‘So far so good.’ P. 436.
Interesting behind the scenes, close up and personal stuff w/ Mike Nolan before he was hired by the 49ers, Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden,...more
Re-read again for the second time, I cannot bear to part with it. An amazing amount of detail, sprinkled with humour and vitality. If you love this type of sport, I can only recommend picking up a copy and consuming as soon as you are able. I always believe a book must be truly special to be enjoyed for a second time.
This is a very interesting book. Unlike other sports books this book brings you closer into the lives of not only the players but the management as well. There are some snippets of the games but its more personal. This book brings you away from the field and into the minds and hearts of the players, and coaches
I really enjoy Feinstein. I am not a Raven's fan but I have always liked their organization. I thought Feinstein really took you behind the scenes and gave the reader a good look at a well run team. I do not normally read much non-fiction but I have never gone wrong reading a Feinstein book. If you are a fan of the NFL you will enjoy this book, even if you are not a fan of the Ravens.
I enjoyed reading the book. While it took a long time to set the stage for the parameters of the book, as you read it, you felt like you were in the locker room or sidelines during the games, and in the coaches or GM offices between games. He was in the room for many tough situations or decisions and was able to describe the situation though conversations or verse that let you draw your own thoughts. You learn the good and bad about people. Many teams probably operate the same way. If you are a...more
Long, in depth analysis of the 2005 NFL season through the eyes of an embedded reporter - with the Baltimore Ravens.
Does what it set sout to do - chronicles the purchase of the team by a new owner and then goes through an entire year from draft to end of season.
Interesting, detailed, gives you a real sense of the players and coaches and what goes on behind the scenes. Ulitmately vaguely unsatidfactory at the end - makes you think "so what?"
The point that it is a huge business but essentially me...more
Does what it set sout to do - chronicles the purchase of the team by a new owner and then goes through an entire year from draft to end of season.
Interesting, detailed, gives you a real sense of the players and coaches and what goes on behind the scenes. Ulitmately vaguely unsatidfactory at the end - makes you think "so what?"
The point that it is a huge business but essentially me...more
Argh, this book made me like the Ravens! I don't like the Ravens! (But now I kind of do.)
Maybe a bit repetitive in parts (how many times did I need certain terms explained, or told how many players can be active on game day?) but an interesting look inside a season with an NFL team that probably could have been better than they were.
Maybe a bit repetitive in parts (how many times did I need certain terms explained, or told how many players can be active on game day?) but an interesting look inside a season with an NFL team that probably could have been better than they were.
This was quite interesting, even to someone who knows next to nothing about football (but I'm trying to learn!). Great behind-the-scenes details that are rather rare to glean from the NFL (which seems to be an organization as publicly popular and secretive as the CIA). There are A LOT of names, and that gets very confusing for the NFL novice, but I still enjoyed it.
Very interesting book that describes the NFL, specifically the Ravens. You definitely learn more about how teams work, and I have to say that I know understand more about the behind-the-scenes of an NFL team.
As an avid NFL, this was an excellent chance to go behind the scenes of a successful NFL franchise. Extremely well researched, Feinstein proves yet again he is a master of the sports book.
Another Feinstein great one. I am not a big Baltomore Ravens fan but reading how roster cuts are made. Practice squad money. Watching the waiver wire, just gave me a greater apprication for the sport. I think I will stay with my fantasy football league.
Excellent inside look at the trials and tribulations of an NFL team throughout a long season. Good insight into the business aspect of pro football. Interesting and fast-paced.
Interesting book with usual insider Feinstein access and usual Feinstein repetition in sections and editing mistakes. Worth reading, especially if you are a Baltimore Ravens fan.
The problem with this book is that Feinstein gets great access, but he doesn't ever write anything that that might be even vaguely derogatory about the club. When a player is confronted by a teammate about showing up to practice with booze on his breath, that's it -- no indication of more problems under the surface. When a star player quits on the team? A quick afterthought of how he hangs his head on the bench. While I wasn't looking for a tell-all of the season, I got the clear indication that...more
Great book that tells the unknown stories of what goes on in the NFL. Even if you are not a Ravens fan, you can enjoy this book if you are a fan of the NFL.
I love the NFL, but I thought this was a slow read. I could put it down and not feel the urge to pick it back up anytime soon.
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John Feinstein is one of the nation’s most successful and prolific sports authors who has written 24 books to date. His most recent work Are You Kidding Me? , written with Rocco Mediate, was released on May 18, 2009, and is presently on the shelf at bookstores everywhere. In addition, he is an award-winning columnist and regular contributor in both radio and television.
His works include the two t...more
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Jun 06, 2011 12:41am