Juiced : Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big

by José Canseco

Touted as a Ball Four for the new millennium, Jose Canseco's Juiced promises to expose not only the rampant use of performance-enhancing substances in baseball (with steroids replacing the amphetamines of Bouton's day), but the painfully human flaws of its heroes as well. A steroid devotee since the age of 20, Canseco goes beyond admitting his own usage to claim that with the tacit approval of the league's powers-that-be he acted as baseball's ambassador of steroids and is therefore indirectly responsible for "saving" the game.

Chief among his claims is that he introduced Mark McGwire to steroids in 1988 and that he often injected McGwire while they were teammates. According to Canseco, steroids and human growth hormones gave McGwire and Sammy Sosa (whose own usage was "so obvious, it was a joke") the strength, stamina, regenerative ability, and confidence they needed for a record-setting home run duel often credited with restoring baseball's popularity after the 1994 strike. Although he devotes a lot of ink to McGwire, Canseco envisions himself as a kind of Johnny Steroidseed, spreading the gospel of performance enhancement, naming a number of players that he either personally introduced to steroids or is relatively certain he can identify as fellow users. Because Canseco plays fast and loose with some of the facts of his own career he provides fodder for those looking to damage his credibility, but in many ways questions of public and personal perception are what raise the book beyond mere vitriolic tell-all. Those willing to heed his request and truly listen to what he has to say will find Juiced to be an occasionally insightful meditation on the workings of public perception and a consistently interesting character study. --Shane Farmer

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Autobiography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

José Canseco y Capas, Jr. is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball, and is the twin brother of former major league player Ozzie Canseco.

In 2005, Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids in a tell-all book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big. Canseco also claimed that up to 85% of major league players took steroids, a figure disputed by many in the game. In the book, Canseco specifically identified former teammates Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmeiro, Iván Rodríguez, and Juan González as fellow steroid users, and claimed that he injected them. Most of the players named in the book have denied steroid use. Giambi has admitted to steroid use in testimony before a grand jury investigating the BALCO case.

At a Congressional hearing on the subject of steroids in sports, Palmeiro categorically denied using performance-enhancing drugs, while McGwire repeatedly and somewhat conspicuously refused to answer questions on his own suspected use. Canseco's book became a New York Times bestseller. On August 1, 2005, Palmeiro was suspended for 10 days by Major League Baseball after testing positive for steroids.

On December 30, 2007, it was announced that Canseco has reached a deal for his sequel to Juiced. The new book is Vindicated, which Canseco's lawyer, Robert Saunooke, says will hit bookstores by Opening Day 2008. This book is said to have "stuff" on Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Belle as suggested by Canseco. The book will be a "clarification" of names that should've been mentioned in the Mitchell Report. On January 5, 2008, a potential editor for his upcoming book, Don Yaeger, a former Sports Illustrated associate editor, said he would not edit the book. He told the New York Daily News that he thought Canseco didn't have a book in the material he gave him.

Reviews

[Carol Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many cheap thrillers claim to take you "inside the mind of a psychopath" but I've never read a book that lives up to that promise like JUICED. Jose Canseco tells his own story, and boy does he ever come across as a stone-cold psychopath in total denial about just about everything. Not only does he have an addictive personality, but he says things in this book with a straight face that I'd previously heard only in really bad B-Movies from the Fifties! Mad scientist much?

"Sure I tampered with my body chemistry -- and I emerged more than human! It's only a matter of time before an entire race of people are raised on steroids, and who knows what they'll be able to accomplish? Live to 150 years old, remain sexually potent into your nineties, interbreed with dolphins and whales, there's literally no limit to what steroids can do for a person. Do you know what it means to feel like God?"

Really, I'm not exaggerating. I thought I was going to be reading another BALL FOUR by Jim Bouton, but what I really got was THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU -- on steroids!

None of this is to say that Canseco is stupid or intentionally dishonest about his years in the game. Within the limits of his madness he's actually very perceptive. It's not hard to see why the all-white fraternity of sports writers would crucify a loud-mouthed Latino like Canseco while a redneck good ol' boy like Mark McGuire could dope up openly for years. Latino players are supposed to be soft-spoken and humble, like Freddy Prinze in Chico and the Man, not grandiose mad scientists like Bela Lugosi in BRIDE OF THE ATOM.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who hates watching baseball with their husband but really loves intense, chilling sci-fi thrillers about mad scientists who want to take over the world by injecting everyone with dangerous performance enhancing drugs. Jose Canseco doesn't belong on ESPN -- he belongs on the Sci-Fi channel!

[Moira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning: I'm going to use a bad word in this review. Sorry, it's unavoidable, and if you want to stop reading here that's fine. Just know, if you go forward, a bad word will be said. A bunch of times.

So at first when this book came out I was like, no way am I reading that!? except that yes, of course I was going to read it, obviously. It's not like me to ignore high profile baseball books. I forced myself to read Moneyball despite my bitter, painful, deep-seated hatred of the A's, specifically the height of the moneyball era A's, and I love that book, so I had to do this. And guess what? I kind of liked it? I kind of liked it. I feel weird saying that.

Here's the bad word part. Jose Canseco is an incredible asshole. If you were reading this book hoping to find some hidden heart of gold, or some deeply buried sense of humility and gratitude, you would be supremely disappointed. Because Canseco is just a super asshole. But the thing is, there are a lot of assholes in baseball, and Canseco at least has the good sense to know what an asshole he is. And he's a really honest asshole. When this book came out no one would have guessed that a few years later we would all have been like, man, Canseco was RIGHT! but here we are. He was right. About A-Rod and everything.

Plus it's a kick to read. It's totally fun gossipy beach reading, in fact I read it on a beach in Puerto Rico, which may have improved my disposition toward it. But it never bored me, and while Canseco's never going to win a Pulitzer, he (or his ghost writer) isn't embarrassing to read either.

That said, I'm only going to give it two stars, because I have to give this asshole's book at least two stars less than I gave Dirk Hayhurst's book The Bullpen Gospels. Hayhurst is a total sweetheart, and Canseco- well, you know. Interesting thing though, Hayhurst really struggled in the majors while Canseco was a star. Maybe assholes make better athletes.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I never got around to writing a review for this back when I actually read it, because now I get to do it with the benefit of hindsight.

And the only reason I'm even doing it now is because it popped up toward the top of my list today, and I happened to notice it. And that led me to have the following thoughts:
"Hey, I never wrote a review for that."
"This book was so controversial at the time. Everyone wrote Jose off as a lying tattletale, but the elephant in the room now is that HE WAS 100% RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING."
And that means I had to write something. It's only fair.

For those who don't know the back story, Jose Canseco played major league baseball from 1985 - 2001. When the wave of stories about steroid use in baseball finally started to break in the early-mid 2000's, he was labeled the poster boy for the era. He was the perfect target, because he fit all of the stereotypes (power hitter, unnaturally fast/strong, kept getting bigger, etc.) and he wasn't very well-liked. In response to this, Jose promised to write a tell-all book. This book is the product of that promise.

At the time, people came out of the woodwork to call him a liar, but in the wave of congressional hearings and positive steroid tests that followed, Canseco turned out to be right on just about every single count. Many think that writing this book was a tacky move, especially since he outed so many fellow steroid users, but he definitely had his motives. Canseco believes he was:

A. Black-balled out of baseball due to steroid use (debatable, since he was 36 years old during his last major league season);

B. Singled out as the scapegoat for the steroid movement despite being no more guilty of steroid use than countless others (true);

C. Picked as the fall guy largely because he is, by his own admission, a brash, outspoken, and sort-of sketchy guy who also happens to be Hispanic - all things that don't sit too well with the dominant white culture (absolutely true. As he correctly points out in the book, Mark McGwire exhibited all of the same tell-tale signs of steroid use during the same period, but yet Mark was somehow untouchable while Jose was always fair game. In 2011 McGwire finally admitted to having used steroids during his playing career.)

We have a tendency in our society to expect scapegoats - especially those in situations where they are guilty, but no more guilty that many others - to accept their fate with good grace and shut up about it. It taps a very primal anger in some people when the scapegoat tries to deflect blame or drag others down with them. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to feel that way, but we all know the feeling of being punished for something that many others have indulged in. Magnify that by 1000 and you have Jose Canseco. And it's not fair to say you know how you'd react, because you don't. None of us do. Beware of the scapegoat with nothing left to lose. When you push someone to a point where they feel they are out of options, you might not like what you get.

Other than that, the book is surprisingly well-written by "athlete-writes-a-book" standards (I'm sure he had help, but still) and very easy to read. Surprisingly entertaining and fun, especially considering the subject matter.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what's more disturbing, Canseco's description of his Baby Mama's former employer, Hooter's: "the food isn't bad, actually, and if you don't like those tight orange shorts the waitresses wear, then something's wrong with you", or the fact that he just doesn't get why jacking oneself up with chemicals in order to boost numbers and salary in baseball is wrong.

Canseco, the pioneer and Godfather of steriod use in the MLB does a good job enumerating the benefits of steroids and growth hormone for the person who knows how to use them in a controlled, responsible way. He makes a case for their use in injury recovery, slowing of the aging process and increased strength and stamina for not only athletes, but the average joe as well. Fine. But his knowledge and gusto for the juice would be better unleashed in a medical research lab.

If you cut through the offensive cheesiness of the narrative, Canseco's inflated ego and his constant bitching that he has been scapegoated, you will see what he just simply cannot: Canseco, like hundreds of other steakheads in the game today, is a big fucking cheater.

[Tony Hightower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even when this book came out, and the howls of derision from sports journalists on the back pages and ESPN talking head shows about its existence and veracity were loudest, there was always the hunch that Jose Canseco, the one person probably more responsible than any other for making steroids popular among the players of his era, knew where an awful lot of the bodies were buried. Juiced lets on about a lot of that, and serves up a slew of juicy tidbits along the way (his bathroom-stall exploits with Mark McGwire and his personal joy at tracking the spread of steroid use across the leagues as he jumped from team to team, with the owners and the league offices looking the other way the whole time, have all entered public knowledge by now). In fact, it's still surprising how much of what he's mentioned about performance enhancers in this book has actually turned out to be the truth.



Like him or hate him, take him seriously or write this stuff off as the ramblings of a junkie, it turned out his voice is the most consistently honest and accurate one in the steroid debate. That speaks less to his credibility than it does to the lack of credibility on the part of anyone else (including, or especially, Bud Selig, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez).



The whole thing is written in a breezy, conversational style which is surprisingly easy to read. I wouldn't pay full price for it, but if you need something dishy, funny, a little sexy and full of good anecdotes about sports and the notorious bunch who follow athletes around, I can easily recommend this.

[Christian Lipski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, Jose. I liked hearing the real truth about steroid use in major league baseball. What made it less enjoyable was all the spin - Jose's dad never thought what he did was good enough, his mom died and Jose promised to be the best ball player ever, the organization never protected non-white players, etc etc. There may be truth to some of that, but it all gets waved around like an indulgence from the pope.

There's no co-writer listed, which implies that Canseco wrote this by himself, but I have some doubts. I don't think I ever heard him use the term "lassez faire" in a press conference, but that may just be me not paying attention.

In all, it's an entertaining read, and dishes some good dirt about the supposed all-American boys of baseball, and the Cuban who poked them with needles.

[Nick Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. All he does is brag about himself the whole time.
What a loser.

[Richard Canale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Jose Canseco as an entertainer and athlete. But this book is a continued pat on the back for himself. Like a true narcissist, Canseco never finds any fault in his actions.
Pass on this one and enjoy Canseco's tweets and remember his prowess on the field.

[Landon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Landon Popovic
Mr.Schleifer
Period 4
18 September 2019

From a young boy in Cuba to the godfather of steroids Jose Canseco’s story is truly remarkable. Many top players in the sport of baseball tampered with the chemistry of their body by using steroids such as Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Ivan Rodgriguez and most importantly Jose Canseco. This is what is discussed in “Juiced”, by Jose Canseco. Jose Canseco revolutionized the game of baseball forever by introducing steroids to a quickly dying game.

In a controversial book Jose Canseco dives into his experiences using steroids and how he acted as a beacon to steroids in the baseball world. This book has been acclaimed by many writers such as Bryan Hoch. He explains growing up as a young boy in Cuba and later Miami and later as a young star in the MLB. But it was not always a smooth ride for Canseco who was often criticized for his use of steroids and discriminated because of his Latino background. Things that other players that would not get criticized for, were blown out of proportion and all Canseco wanted to do was be the best to play the game.

I felt Jose many times in the novel when he explains how he grew up as the underdog from high school and always competing with his brother Ozzie and later in the MLB always competing with Mark McGwire. This is similar to the novel “The Captain” by Ian O’Connor when Derek Jeter was always downplayed by the media and fellow shortstops for not having enough power or sub-average fielding. But both characters never took the media’s words to heart and continued to make their mark on the record books.

The book often talks about how Canseco’s experience with steroids often impacted his personal life. His wife Jessica often criticised Jose’s use of steroids and often times wanted to leave, and eventually she did. Later in life Canseco was arrested for his illegal use of PEDs which affected his relationship with his child Josie,and to the game of baseball.

Throughout the book Jose tells the truth about his personal life,experience with steroids, and rough patches with the media and MLB officials, but at times Jose can glorify his self image by comparing himself to other ballplayers. This is not how life works as we all know, you did something wrong, admit it and move on, which is often times what Canseco does, but other times he does make himself out to be the Peter Pan to Captain Hook.

Overall, “Juiced" is an inspirational book that tells the community the truth of the “Steroid Era” and how it made an effect that will last forever on America’s past time.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I put off reading this so long that it's actually relevant again. Some observations:

1. Anyone who didn't realize that McGwire was roiding during the home run derby was blind, willfully or not. The man looked like a ham on toothpicks.

2. I've made similar points to the ones made in this book about racism in the baseball press, particularly with regards to the steroids (non)issue. FREE BARRY! FREE A-ROD!

3. Relatedly, I was saddened but not surprised to find out that Will Clark was cold and awkward to minority players in the 80s. I hope for his sake, as a former batting coach and now a front office man (and maybe Giants batting coach someday? I know a lot of people would pay to see that), that he's gotten less racist as he's aged.

4. Every time Canseco says he was the only Latin or Cuban big league ballplayer in the 80s, Rafael Palmiero dies a little bit.

5. I think most of what he says about his career and steroids is probably true, although I think he has a persecution complex bigger than his biceps. That being said, if he told me my mother loved me, I'd have to check with her.

6. His description of puffy Jason Giambi hitting the club reminded me of nothing so much as the cast of Jersey Shore.

7. His ghostwriter deserves a medal for making this a coherent, quick read.

Still the most amusing famous person on twitter except maybe Kanye West.

[TK421 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most fans of baseball, I got caught up in the hype surrounding this tell-all rant by Jose Canseco. I wanted to hear the juicy insights he had about some of my favorite players. As it turns out, all he had was what anyone could read in the sport section of almost any newspaper. Instead, Jose just whines about steroids and the state of the game (all the while bragging that he was the one that brought baseball into the Steroid Era); most the times it seems that he forgets what the purpose of the book is supposed to be and just focuses on what players cheated on their wives or what players are alcoholics and drug users.

I guess my summation of this book is this: If you're a baseball fan this might interest you, if not, you're more than likely going to find a better story (and writing) watching a day-time soap.

RECOMMENDED (for baseball fans only)

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this in about two hours flying home from a softball tournament in Las Vegas. (Jose and Ozzie reportedly participated, but I never saw them, so my copy remains un-autographed.) It's written at about a fifth-grade reading level, which is appropriate, as Jose has the ethical sense of a ten-year-old. He boasts about introducing the carefully modulated use of steroids and HGH to Major League Baseball, but whines that Tom Boswell cost him a $1 million endorsement deal with Pepsi by writing that he was a steroid user, which he was. Can't really have it both ways, dude. Pretty much every problem he ever encountered was not his fault, he's misunderstood, the media gave McGwire a free pass because he's a white guy, and also Jose was the first guy ever to fall in love with his newborn daughter. All that said, he still somehow manages to be a pretty likable goofball.

[Paul McGowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

He’s a little nuts but in hindsight, a lot of what he said in this book, turned out to be true. Baseball did in fact protect certain players and baseball did blackball him. I’m definitely late to the party reading this but I do remember when it came out so many journalists and players came out saying that he is lying about everything. Fast forward some time and all the secret drug testing done in the MLB to determine the scope of the problem was leaked, showing a lot of the players mentioned in this book were, in fact, juicing. I could have done without all the promotion of steroids such as how humans will live to 120 years old if we all embrace steroids like he did. I hope this book doesn’t push impressionable people into potentially risky drug use. All in all, I think this book is a must read for baseball fans. It also is an easy, quick read that is pretty entertaining.

[Javier Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine (if rudimentary) writing. I think the most fascinating insight is into the politics and mindsets of the time. Canseco is 100% a white Latino, yet he calls himself "dark" multiple times on account of his tan; still, it is 100% true that the media utilized his Latino roots to marginalize him in a way that he wouldn't have been would he have been born in, say, Italy.

It's also obvious he's full of himself, like when he claims there were no other big Latino players when he broke into the league (Eod Carew was wrapping up his Hall-of-Fame career).

All in all, an entertaining read, and a fascinating window into Canseco's times and his mind.

[Jake Remus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book you need to read knowing it’s probably only 90% accurate.

This being said, a guy like Jose Canseco has no reason not to air out the truth, and in time a lot of what he writes about in this book has proven true. As a die hard baseball fan reading this in 2024, no heroes were tarnished, no stories about the state of baseball ring untrue.

Was it a bit silly to read about his escapades with Madonna and claims that he ran a 3.9 second 40? Sure. But that’s José Canseco, and that’s why you’re reading this book. If you expected a Pulitzer Prize, you were doomed from the start.

[Lisa K · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOL

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. Talk about a terrible human being who thinks he is wonderful. He wants you to know he's not conceited, though. Just in case you were wondering.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

took me 4 years but I finally finished

[Bobby Smieszny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a little more baseball throughout this book, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised based on the title. For the most part this is about Jose’s escapades off the field, teaching others about steroids, and extramarital affairs. He was right, many people were using steroids. But he incorrectly predicts that it’s the way of the future, and the MLB does have strict testing now. Having just read another book about athletes struggles with steroids, Jose’s flippant attitude certainly rubbed me the wrong way.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The book that changed baseball forever” Is written on the back cover and I would have to agree. Juiced by Jose Conseco is one of the best books I have ever read. It gave me important insight as to what was going on in the 1980-00 era of baseball. I used to not like any player who had ever done steroids, but after reading this book I got a new respect for Jose. Not only that but I never knew what type of he went through weather it be his personal life or how the media damaged his career.

This book was told with great honesty. Jose was born and lived the first year of his life in Cuba right before Castro came into Power. He lived with his Mom, Dad, and twin Ozzie. Once they successfully got out of Cuba they lived in Miami Florida where Jose and his Brother went to high school. He was always not that bulky but could hit fairly well. Though he didn’t really hit for power despite being tall. He had a good last year at the high school and scouts for the MLB noticed him, especially this one Oakland Athletics scout. He was then drafted from High School straight to the pros from high school by the A’s in 1982. This is when he really started to change as a ball player because he started to take a mix between growth hormone and annobolic steroids a little bit after his professional career started. All this combined with lifting turned him into the hitting beast he was in the pros. Minor leauge was a hard time for him though and it made him grow up and mature as a ball player. He spent a few years working in the minor league system and hitting amazing until he finally made his Major league debut in 1985.

He was almost an instant star, he was hitting balls out left and right. Then just 3 years later he was named the MVP. In 1996 Mark McGuire made his debut with the A’s and Jose was quick to get him on steroids although McGuire was already an amazing hitter. McGuire and him came to be known as the bash bros due to their abilities to hit the long ball. But it wasn’t all fun and games in the pros. Jose was dealing with a lot of personal issues like him breaking up with his wife. Conseco also talks about how media can destroy someones career. There was one instance where he had a gun under his seat that he wasn’t going to use unless attacked slide out from under his seat. Someone reported it and the media came up with headlines making Jose look like he was gonna Kill someone. There were many other instances with media making him look bad. He also had his first Kid Josie then which was his only hope at times and reason to do what he does. Conseco believes that the he was sometimes targeted and was not considered to be the best player because people at the time wernt ready to accept a cuban as the best, he did learn to deal with it though. Conseco was the “Godfather of Steroids” and introduced them to the MLB. Soon enough he was getting players from all over on supplement plans. Especially when he went to the rangers he introduced them to pretty much the whole team. For the rest of his career he wandered throughout teams and had some scattered good seasons but then retired in 2001 when he felt that his time in the game was done. It is made clear in the book that he does not think that steroids were the problem in the MLB, it was how the MLB handled it because before they started cracking down big time all the sudden when Jose stated people were just accepting it and not doing anything about it for years before. Now a days he lives a quiet life and spends a lot of his time with his daughter.


This book kept me focused from the first page to the last, I felt like I was living Jose consecos life. I never knew what was really happening in the steroid era of baseball back. I never knew about what a famous athlete had to go through on a daily basis, all of the media making harmful headlines just to sell more copies. I feel like he was targeted by the MLB in a way that other athletes would never be targeted just because he was Cuban and I think that gives you a feel for what society was like back then. No, I do not like the fact that in a way a lot of baseball players back then weer cheating but again I do have a new respect for players like Jose.

I definitely recommend this boom to other people especially if they don't know much about the steroid era of baseball or don't like players like Jose. If you read this book I guarantee that you will never look at those players the same and in such a negative eye. I guarantee that if you read this book you will be surprised about what happened to Jose Conseco and how to media pretty much ruined his career this book is one of the most well written books I have ever read.

[Luke Koran · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the very opinionated though straight-forward and truth-spilling autobiography of the “godfather of steroids in baseball”, Jose Canseco reveals all of the notable aspects of his personal and professional life with no hint of lies, shame, or secrecy. All he asks of the reader is to set aside most of their previous judgements of steroids, which were often formed by years of public scrutiny, often on behalf of the media and those in power. If you are able to do just that, you may be able to respect and learn from this man’s perspective, which is a very interesting one that has witnessed the birth and evolution of modern performance-enhancing drugs in America’s National Pastime.

My eyes were opened throughout my reading of Canseco’s book. I have waited a long time to hear the side of the most noted steroid user in baseball - I had often seen references to his two autobiographies when previously clean players were accused of steroid use, through direct identification by Canseco himself. However, his own level of detail in self-steroid use and high opinion in how they can maximize an athlete’s body natural potential surprised me the most. It was curious how he was constantly adamant that steroids would be best for baseball, and how they would be an accepted practice by the present day and age. Though the complete opposite has occurred, it is fascinating to see Canseco’s numerous observations and opinions, especially his view on how baseball needs numerous entertainers and various marketable characters in order to continue its public and financial relevance. (I would argue, baseball is in desperate need for a single or a few star entertainers that can best represent all aspects of what baseball is - thus, Canseco was absolutely correct to how the next decade would shape up!)

Overall, Canseco and his opinions have merit, though it is up to the level of open-mindedness of the reader - who probably has grown up with the unrelenting nature of the American media to convince anybody and everybody of what and how to think on a daily basis - in order to appreciate this book for what it is.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember the steroid scandals of the 2000s, and how everyone worried that the game of baseball was being fundamentally destroyed, that it couldn't survive Bonds, BALCO, Giambi, Rodriguez and the rest? Jose Canseco released "Juiced" right in the middle of that firestorm. It's a memoir that unapologetically advocates for steroids, courts controversy, and names names. Canseco seems to relish upsetting the applecart here, and the writing often feels vindictive as he goes after an organization that he believes blackballed him. MLB owners, umpires, and "good guy" players like Cal Ripken Jr. and McGwire all receive a torching as Canseco rails against the greed, racism, and hypocrisy rampant in the major leagues. He makes many sensational claims, some shocking, others less so, but because of Canseco's larger than life persona and enormous victim complex, it's hard to know what exactly to take at face value.

It's hard to trust Canseco's accounts because his writing often makes the man seem insane or disconnected from reality at the least. His narcissism is often unintentionally hilarious: Canseco is his own biggest fan, and he spends a lot of time boasting about his ability and marvelling at his own body. He tends to blame everyone else for all of his problems, and he sees conspiracies against him everywhere. He remembers all the negative press he ever received, and he holds grudges. And then there's the casual misogyny: in the twin chapters of "Imports, Road Beef, and Extra Cell Phones," and "Madonna's Bat Boy," he gives the reader a deep dive into his perspectives on the opposite sex and the details on his most high-profile celebrity fling, and it is...not flattering. The way he writes about women is almost pathological, and you almost have to laugh at his seeming cluelessness to how offensive his takes are. Moments of true introspection in the book are rare, but when they do arrive they feel powerful and real, like when he writes about the loss of his mother or his own near brush with suicide. These sections humanize Canseco quite a bit, and the book could use more of them.

Despite the craziness, Canseco does know his stuff when it comes to the science of steroids, how they work, the benefits they provide players, and their prevalence in the game. He provides numbers, and makes a clear link between the performance boost from steroid usage and big pay days. All told, he presents the most convincing and clearest case I've read for understanding WHY so many players choose to juice. At the same time, he seems incapable of reconciling the fact that the unnatural advantage provided by juicing equates to cheating, and that by violating the rules of the league he is subject--fairly--to the league's punishment. Canseco wants to have it both ways, presenting himself as "The Chemist," the unrepentant Godfather of steroids in baseball, but also the Pariah, the black sheep who got railroaded from the game.

It's interesting to see what time has done to vindicate Canseco's claims about the steroid era. In the end, people's worst fears about steroids were unfounded: they haven't ruined the game. Analytics, the infield shift, instant replay, challenges, minimum number of batters faced per pitching change, the DH moving to both leagues, spotting a runner on second in extra innings, and a host of additional rule changes in recent years have done more to "ruin" the game of baseball than steroids ever did. I remember the home run race of 1998 and seeing Mark McGwire hit one out of County Stadium, and it was awesome. It was memorable. It was entertainment. That's maybe the truest insight Canseco has in the entire book: the realization that his job is not just to be an athlete, but an entertainer. Despite the craziness and the often distasteful elements of Canseco's writing, I can't deny that Juiced is an entertaining read.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jose. What can one say? I didn't choose to read this book because I was a fan of Jose. I am not. I was interested in what he had to say about using steroids in baseball. I was opened minded starting it because, heck, maybe he has a heart of gold and is not a jerk like he appeared to be when he played the game.

I was disappointed in Jose's character and it turned out to be worse than I thought. I was not disappointed in his openness about using steroids. He claims in the introduction he is the god father and sole person who introduced steroids to the game of baseball and they are perfectly safe. So we have him to thank for steroid drug use and the bad example it sets to young children who love the game. Thanks for sharing.

There's a lot I could say about his use of steroids but I don't want to waste my time. I think anyone who has to hide in a bathroom and shoot up with other players and keep it secret from their friends, wives and family are pretty much drug addicts. He makes it pretty clear he has no morals. Has no problem cheating on his two wives who he is now divorced from.

Sadly, he has a very negative outlook on life. His family came here from communistic Cuba and his father worked to create a better life for his family and while he benefited from that, he seems pretty bitter about being an immigrant and has a negative view of other people.

Well.....if anyone wants a really good book on the problems of steroid use in sports, I suggest any book on Lance Armstrong. That same selfish and self destructive mentality permeates his life as well. I'm sure it has a lot to do with using steroids.

[Allie Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

In short: this was horrible writing. The author is an absolute maniac asshole. And I hated it. He opens the book asking for an open mind, and ya know, I respect baseball as a game and American history so much, but sure. I *did* go into it with an open mind. I was what? 4-8ish years old during the major steroid era in baseball so I wasn’t knowledgeable about Canseco. I went in open minded. But now, after reading this, I passionately dislike this man. (It didn’t take more than 3-4 chapters either.) He was honest, sure. I believe what he shared. It made me ridiculously happy to read this in 2023 knowing his opening remarks were wildly wrong. (SO happy.) It was also fun reading how embarrassingly jealous of McGwire he was. The icing on the cake of hatred and disgust for me? On page 91 he said, “Clemens was one of the few baseball players I know who never cheated on his wife. I was amazed by him. HIS WIFE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF HIM.” hahahahahah um. WUT? This guy was for real. A real mediocre athlete that cheated to get better, still never succeeded, and is now a nobody. Karma is my boyfriend, Canseco!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read the book, Juiced by Jose Canseco, because I felt that I needed to understand the steroid controversary in more detail. I have heard about the book because it was written by the pioneer of steroid use, Jose Canseco.
The book is about the life of Jose Canseco, it describes what Jose does and what he thinks about key issues and ideas in baseball. While Jose was a steroid user, Jose shows the benefits of steroid use and that he is just a normal guy like anyone else. The book opened me to steroids in a way I never knew before. According to Canseco, many people used steroids for the sole reason that it was a way to improve. The benefits to using these enhancement tools are overwhelming, it can turn an average player to a good one.
I think that steroid use should not be allowed because it makes the game unpure. I think the game should be played the same way by everyone and the little advantage should be gained through talent and hard work.

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly 20 years after its initial publication, I ended up enjoying this book far more than I had anticipated. Granted, I'm a huge baseball nerd, but also someone who may be considered a "purist" fan of the sport. In my humble opinion, steroids don't belong in baseball or the Hall of Fame, so going into this read I definitely had a lot of prejudices towards Canseco and steroids as a whole.

I found the book to be entertaining to read, and surprisingly insightful, particularly when Jose discusses his upbringing and family life. Canseco (or his ghost writer...) also managed to make some compelling arguments for steroids and the players that used them, however he even states himself that all he wanted was the reader to hear him out.

This isn't "Ball Four" or George Will's book on baseball and I think if you go into it open minded there's a good chance you'll be entertained at a minimum.

[Ed Nemo · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some interesting things in this book. Of course to get to them you have to read through what is basically a non-stop barrage of Canseco explaining how great he is, followed by him saying how he is not egotistical and it was all made up by the media.

Here is what I learned from this book:
1. Everyone should take steroids, as they will make you better and live 50 years longer. (Yes, this is actually in the book.)
2. Jose Canseco was targeted for everything unlike Mark McGuire, becuause McGuire was white and Canseco was Cuban.
3. With the exception of one ballplayer, every baseball player cheats on their wife.
4. Steroids do not make you write better.

[Taylor Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book juiced was totally a great book!! I was jumping in my seat when things good happened and when things bad happened! It's mostly about Jose Canseco and how he used steroids to be able to be the top baseball player, doesn't that sound so suspicious !! Well since it sounds like a great book, PLEASE READ IT. Well you should know some knowledge about baseball to be able to understand the book. I would recommend this book to boys mostly because I really think you guys will like this book because it's totally awesome. Girls, I don't know because not a lot of girls like baseball so it's up to your interest. So lastly, EVEYONE READ IT ITS TOTALLY TOATS AWESOMEEE!!!!!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out, and I got more out of it this time around, since I knew more about baseball. Mr Canseco has quite an ego. He calls himself the godfather of steroids. He says if he was caucasian he wouldn't have been made an example and would have been protected and not black balled out of baseball. He said that the owners of baseball looked the other way for a long time, but finally had to do something, because the players were getting paid too much.

[Jay Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 8

Does not come across as a vindictive player who is trying to get revenge on the owners but rather is a fairly thougtful expose on the rampant use of steroids in baseball and why owners covered it up

Appreciate that Canseco names names and actually speaks to other taboo subjects in baseball as well; Have to agree that the All-American image is given liberties by the media that minorities do not