Ruanaidh: The Story of Art Rooney and His Clan

by Arthur J. Rooney Jr., Roy McHugh

Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

483 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Gunsmoke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art Rooney Jr. has written a great book. It is both entertaining and enlightening. He is the son of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney. His insights into his father's business and family life paint an interesting portrait of the man. From his many unheralded good deeds to his less than loving interactions with his sons, Rooney Jr. succeeds in creating a real human composite of the man. From his beginnings as a rough and tumble athlete to gambler to his eventual rise to mythic beloved figure, his son takes you on the journey with an insider's perspective. Art Rooney Jr. was also an important character in the story as he was VP of Personnel for 15 years during the franchise's rise from losers to champions.

This book is not for everyone. It is fairly long and dense. I, myself am a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and so I am interested in learning about the history of the team, coaches, players and ownership of the team. Many will enjoy learning the history of the NFL as the Rooneys played a big role in the league. It also reads like historical fiction set in Pittsburgh, especially in the first third. There are many interesting characters that float in and out of the long historical narative. If those subjects interest you, then I highly recommend it.

It is the story of an immigrant American family with humble beginnings, becoming powerful and influential over the course of years with some luck, passion, and persistence. All led by the strong patriarch, Art Rooney.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot about Art.
I gave up reading this.

[Jeff Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Loved the short topics and depth of character. Anyone who is a Steelers fan would enjoy reading this book on the Rooney’s.