Lynn

I have read the full book at least three times. This was a good abridgment but not perfect. The personalities never really got developed completely and the stories that really demonstrated Ross Johnson's extravagance (the dog at the golf tournament) didn't make the cut. If you have read the book you will enjoy this version.

After all of the uproar over quotes that were erroneously attributed to Joe Torre I thought that I would listen to this book myself and decide.

This is not a book that is written by Joe Torre. Rather, he is a major contributor. It is a story ABOUT the 12 years that he managed the Yankees. There are plenty of stories about the players and other Yankees. The sole source is not Torre. Many of the quotes are directly from the people involved.

There are many fascinating sub-stories in this book. For example, the concept of the economics that drove the Moneyball craze are discussed. The teams that did well, and those that did not do well, are analyzed.

There are some great lessons in the book about life taught by Torre. His principles on leadership, trust and honesty shine through in all that he did. The way that he uses his principles in dealing with players, owners, the press etc should be a pattern for all people in business and other phases of life.

It is true that Alex Rodriguez does not come across in a favorable light. But the light is cast by Alex's actions and his own words. It is not done in a malicious manner.

This story should be required reading for anyone who has more than a casual interest in history. In fact, even if your interest is only casual it should be read (or listened to).

The author does an amazing job of researching the events leading up to and following Lincoln's assassination. He describes the details of the entire episode in such detail that it is hard to believe he was not there as an eyewitness.

This is a book that I will listen to more than once.

In many books you can get lost in the complexity of spurious details, but not this one. The level of detail and the narration are superb and compelling.