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The World Is a Ball
- The Joy, Madness, and Meaning of Soccer
- Narrated by: Chris Kayser
- Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins
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The World Is a Ball
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It is late summer 2013. Ben Ryan, a red-haired, 40-something, spectacle-wearing Englishman, is given 20 minutes to decide whether he wants to coach Fiji's rugby sevens team, with the aim of taking them to the nation's first-ever Olympic medal. He has never been to Fiji. There has been no discussion of contracts or salary. But he knows that no one plays rugby like the men from these isolated Pacific islands, just as no one plays football like the kids from the Brazilian favelas, or no one runs as fast as the boys and girls from Jamaica's boondocks.
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Publisher's Summary
For the past 10 years, leading Canadian journalist and cultural critic John Doyle has been traveling the globe to observe World Cup and other soccer matches played at the highest level. The result is a Bill Bryson-esque narrative full of wit and insight, concluding with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In between his encounters with the delirious fans, the crazed taxi drivers, the leprechauns and the lederhosen, Doyle examines the evolution of soccer as a global phenomenon. More importantly, he explores in highly entertaining fashion how national character is revealed in both how the teams play the games and how their fans choose to celebrate.
This is a book that will excite and entertain both soccer enthusiasts and the legions of listeners who simply love great storytelling.
Featured Article: The Best Soccer Audiobooks for Avid and Prospective Fans
Soccer definitely has game. It’s played by more than 200 million people around the world, and it's the world's most-viewed sporting event. If you're in America, Canada, Ireland, or Australia, you probably call it soccer, and if you live in most other parts of the world, you call it football. Whether you're a casual player, a serious fan, or just interested in learning more about the game and its staying power, these audiobooks capture what makes soccer such a sensation.
What listeners say about The World Is a Ball
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- KLam
- 05-21-14
Mostly very enjoyable BUT....
How did the narrator detract from the book?
SOOOO many poor pronunciations...UEFA, Ajax, Scholes, Ibrahimovic, Feyenoord, Arjen Robben...all it takes is a little research. I suspect the author would be disappointed.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jonathan
- 05-26-16
A must read for north American soccer fans!
The emotional aspect of the game becomes clear as the narrator delivers a strong performance to capture those aspects of the Beautiful Game that are blaringly absent from traditional North American sports. We'll written and a joy to listen to! RCTID!
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- bbchompski
- 04-20-20
Really enjoyable
Great quarantine book. I attended many of the same World Cups and Euros as discussed and was fun to hear his take on them.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sean Downey
- 01-15-19
A fantastic story
A must listen, of a unique and passionate persective on the world's most important sport.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 08-20-17
Fantastic story, solid but flawed narration.
The story was magnificent, the narration solid, but too many mispronounced/overpronounced names that occasionally broke the immersion of the book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Danny
- 07-13-16
Enjoyable
Listening to the journey of various World Cups, various Euro competitions, it's a great listen. Lots of history and lots of fun
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Hooked on AMZN
- 03-02-16
solid story, good humor
great insight and perspective from a journalist and fan! good anecdotes from soccer maniacs across the globe.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jason Lewis
- 05-21-15
Some great stories but best for a true soccer fan
This is a fascinating chronology of major events in soccer from a unique perspective. However, although the writer attempts to simplify certain terms and examples, it takes a certain amount of preexisting knowledge to understand it all.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Insider look masterclass
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Rome 1960
- The Olympics that Changed the World
- By: David Maraniss
- Narrated by: David Maraniss
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 75
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 41
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
The athletes competing in the 1960 Rome Olympics included some of the most honored in Olympic history: decathlete Rafer Johnson, sprinter Wilma Rudolph, Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila, and Louisville boxer Cassius Clay, who at 18 seized the world stage for the first time, four years before he became Muhammad Ali.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Very Good Book
- By Jay on 07-30-08
By: David Maraniss
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Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica
- A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America's "Sport of the Future" Since 1972
- By: Michael Davies, Roger Bennett
- Narrated by: Roger Bennett, Michael Davies
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 151
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 135
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 135
Soccer has been America's Sport of the Future since 1972. The Men in Blazers are two English-born, soccer-obsessed broadcasters who have savored the dizzying growth of the game along with millions of Americans, as if it was a rollicking, sporting telenovela playing out in real life. Written in such a way that fully immerses Americans in the history and culture of the world's game, their Encyclopedia Blazertannica relives the careers of such greats such as George Best, Maradona, Beckham...and Alexi Lalas.
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1 out of 5 stars
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complete horsecrap
- By Jordan on 06-07-18
By: Michael Davies, and others
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The Great Nowitzki
- Basketball and the Meaning of Life
- By: Thomas Pletzinger, Shane Anderson - translator
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 27
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 24
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 24
The seven-foot Dirk Nowitzki is one of the great players in basketball history. With a devastating fadeaway and unexpected agility, the Dallas Mavericks superstar helped to pioneer the modern three-shooting game and became a global ambassador for the sport. Award-winning novelist and sportswriter Thomas Pletzinger traveled with Nowitzki for more than seven years, seeking the secret of his success and longevity. In novelistic detail, Pletzinger tells the dramatic story of how a lanky kid from the German suburbs became a top-five all-time scorer and NBA champion.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Swish
- By Raquel on 04-20-23
By: Thomas Pletzinger, and others
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Bloody Confused!
- A Clueless American Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccer
- By: Chuck Culpepper
- Narrated by: Alex Hyde-White
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 43
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 41
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Story4 out of 5 stars 41
After covering the American sports scene for 15 years, Chuck Culpepper suffered from a profound case of Common Sportswriter Malaise. He was fed up with self-righteous proclamations, steroid scandals, and the deluge of in-your-face PR that saturated the NFL, the NBA, and MLB. Then in 2006, he moved to London and discovered a new and baffling world - the renowned Premiership soccer league. Culpepper pledged his loyalty to Portsmouth, a gutsy, small-market team at the bottom of the standings. As he puts it, “It was like childhood, with beer.”
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2 out of 5 stars
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Not for americans
- By Bernie Sepponan on 09-12-14
By: Chuck Culpepper
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Why Soccer Matters
- By: Pele, Brian Winter
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 138
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 126
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 128
Soccer. Football. The beautiful game. The world’s most popular sport goes by many names, but for decades, fans have agreed on one thing: the greatest player of all time was Pelé. Now the legendary star, ambassador, and humanitarian shares a global vision for what soccer can accomplish. Now he shares his story, his experience, and his insights on the game for the very first time. Before Messi, before Ronaldo, before Beckham, there was Edson Arantes do Nascimento - known simply as Pelé.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Pele that will win your heart.
- By Montholon on 12-24-20
By: Pele, and others
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Spain
- The Inside Story of La Roja's Historic Treble
- By: Graham Hunter
- Narrated by: Graham Hunter
- Length: 16 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 21
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Story5 out of 5 stars 21
This is the story of the greatest achievement in the history of international football. After decades of failure, Spain won the European Championship in 2008 and then the World Cup in 2010. At Euro 2012 they became the first team to win three consecutive tournament titles. Graham Hunter was inside the dressing room as the players celebrated after the finals of the World Cup and Euro 2012.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Insider look masterclass
- By Peter on 08-07-15
By: Graham Hunter
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Rome 1960
- The Olympics that Changed the World
- By: David Maraniss
- Narrated by: David Maraniss
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 75
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
The athletes competing in the 1960 Rome Olympics included some of the most honored in Olympic history: decathlete Rafer Johnson, sprinter Wilma Rudolph, Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila, and Louisville boxer Cassius Clay, who at 18 seized the world stage for the first time, four years before he became Muhammad Ali.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Very Good Book
- By Jay on 07-30-08
By: David Maraniss
-
Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica
- A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America's "Sport of the Future" Since 1972
- By: Michael Davies, Roger Bennett
- Narrated by: Roger Bennett, Michael Davies
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 151
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 135
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 135
Soccer has been America's Sport of the Future since 1972. The Men in Blazers are two English-born, soccer-obsessed broadcasters who have savored the dizzying growth of the game along with millions of Americans, as if it was a rollicking, sporting telenovela playing out in real life. Written in such a way that fully immerses Americans in the history and culture of the world's game, their Encyclopedia Blazertannica relives the careers of such greats such as George Best, Maradona, Beckham...and Alexi Lalas.
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1 out of 5 stars
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complete horsecrap
- By Jordan on 06-07-18
By: Michael Davies, and others
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Gunning for Greatness: My Life
- With an Introduction by Jose Mourinho
- By: Mesut Özil
- Narrated by: Rich Keeble
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 46
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 42
Mesut Ozil is a midfield magician, casting an elegant spell over opponents and conjuring passes through gaps lesser mortals can't even see. After an eventful sojourn among the Galacticos of Real Madrid, he has savoured silverware at Arsenal, while in 2014 he lifted the World Cup with Germany. But his life and career have been a test of resilience. Growing up in Germany's Turkish community, he faced prejudice from those who claimed his dual identity would prevent him giving his all for the national team.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing
- By Dylan Tucker on 05-25-17
By: Mesut Özil
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My Story
- By: Steven Gerrard
- Narrated by: Michael Ryan
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 234
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 214
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 212
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of My Story by Steven Gerrard, read Michael Ryan. Steven Gerrard is the former captain of Liverpool football team and of the England national football team and is the only player ever to have scored in a FA cup final, a league cup final, a UEFA cup final and a champion's league final. His entire career, since 1998, has been spent at Anfield with Liverpool.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Ohhhh, ya beautyyy!!
- By Gabriel on 09-29-15
By: Steven Gerrard
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Me and the Table
- By: Stephen Hendry
- Narrated by: Stephen Hendry
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 34
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
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Story5 out of 5 stars 29
Widely regarded by fans and pundits alike as one of the greatest players of all time in the sport, over a 27-year career, Hendry went on to win the World Championship seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive seasons between 1990 and 1998. Hendry retired in 2012 with a record-breaking seven World Champion titles under his belt, a record that remains to this day.
By: Stephen Hendry
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Among the Thugs
- By: Bill Buford
- Narrated by: Bill Buford
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 187
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 168
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 167
They have names like Barmy Bernie, Daft Donald, and Steamin' Sammy. They like lager (in huge quantities), the queen, football clubs (especially Manchester United), and themselves. Their dislike encompasses the rest of the known universe, and England's soccer thugs express it in ways that range from mere vandalism to riots that terrorize entire cities. Now, Bill Buford, editor of the prestigious journal Granta, enters this alternate society and records both its savageries and its sinister allure.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Riveting
- By Matthew & Nina iles on 10-22-19
By: Bill Buford
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Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
- A Journey Into the Heart of Fan Mania
- By: Warren St. John
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 128
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 92
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 92
Warren St. John decided to find out why people care so much about the outcomes of games they're not playing in by joining a group where the particulars of the fan psyche would show themselves in sharp relief: the caravan of hundreds of RVs that follow the Alabama Crimson Tide across the South, taking over college towns with a moveable feast of Weber grills, karaoke machines, Igloo coolers, and fast-draining liquor bottles.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Well done
- By James Younger on 10-07-04
By: Warren St. John
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The Keeper
- A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them
- By: Ali Benjamin, Tim Howard
- Narrated by: J.D. Jackson
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 131
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 119
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 118
In the summer of 2014, Tim Howard became an overnight sensation after more than 10 years as one of America's leading professional soccer players. His record-breaking 15 saves for the United States national team against Belgium in the World Cup electrified a nation that had only recently woken up to the Beautiful Game after decades of hibernation. In this inspiring and candid memoir, the beloved US and Everton goalkeeper finally allows himself to do something that he would never do on the field: He drops his guard.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Tim Howard Saves more then Goals!
- By Ron on 12-16-14
By: Ali Benjamin, and others
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Searching for Bobby Fischer
- By: Fred Waitzkin
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 145
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 142
Searching for Bobby Fischer is the story of Fred Waitzkin and his son, from the moment six-year-old Josh first sits down at a chessboard until he competes for the national championship. Drawn into the insular, international network of chess, they must also navigate the difficult waters of their own relationship. All the while, Waitzkin searches for the elusive Bobby Fischer, whose myth still dominates the chess world and profoundly affects Waitzkin’s dreams for his son.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Good book, I just wish I could hear it all.
- By Phil on 06-29-11
By: Fred Waitzkin
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A Life Too Short
- The Tragedy of Robert Enke
- By: Ronald Reng
- Narrated by: John Telfer
- Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 35
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 35
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Story5 out of 5 stars 35
Why does an international footballer with the World at his feet decide to take his own life? On November 10, 2009, the German national goalkeeper Robert Enke stepped in front of a passing train. He was 32 years old. Viewed from the outside, Enke had it all. Here was a professional goalkeeper who had played for a string of Europe's top clubs, including Jose Mourinho's Benfica and Louis Van Gaal's Barcelona. Enke was destined to be his country's first choice for years. But beneath the veneer of success lay a darker story.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Depression is real, this story brings it home.
- By Bob Seavers on 12-13-19