Review

"Sport biographies and autobiographies dominate the sport sections of bookstores, and those who read enough notice common themes: struggle, of family support or nonsupport, and finally of triumph. Overman (a journalist) has performed a kind of a meta-analysis of a large number of biographies and autobiographies of male, predominantly US, athletes. Using the athletes' and their biographers' descriptions of the lives of male athletes, he describes the common themes and bonds these athletes share. He examines topics like early family life and how many athletes view sport as both a sanctuary and a place that allows them to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult. He describes their daily activities, their struggles to maintain their health, and their response to retirement."

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Choice

Book Description

This volume offers a comprehensive and penetrating account of the male athlete's life, both inside and outside the spotlight-as it so rarely appears to the average reader.