Everest and other Worthy Reads
Sports Book Review

by Harvey Frommer

For browsing, for information searching, for entertainment,  for a terrific way to while away those  hazy, hot and humid summer afternoons - - -there is "Everest: Summit of Achievement" by Stephen Venables (Simon and Schuster, $50.00, 252 glorious pages).

"Everest" is an important statement about and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the climbing of the mighty mountain. It is also a  book that commemorates, chronicles and carefully compartmentalizes all aspects of the history of the Everest exploration  for the 20th century's early years through today.

One does not have to even be interested in the subject to want to own this book! It is at once a work of art, a resource tool, a moving and instructive photographic collection - and a tribute to the human spirit.

"On The Ball" by David M. Carter and Darren Rovell (Financial Times Prentice Hall, $24.95, 291 pages) is in interesting kind of book  focused on what you can learn about business from America's sports leaders. Carter founded the Sports Business Group and Rovell has been reporting on the business of sports for several years. Together they blend a book together telling stories, citing negatives turned into positives. It is a very satisfying read for all those interested in this slice of sports and culture.

"The Unlevel Playing Field" by David K. Wiggins and Patrick B. Miller (University of Illinois Press, $39.95, 493 pages) is billed as a documentary history of the African American experience in sport - 

`and that it is.  The book ranges far and wide from Antebellum Ordeals to Striving for Success (1865-1915) all the way through the decades to black cultural commentary: race relations and sport at the turn of the twenty-first century. This is a book for browsing, for learning, for keeping.

With "Seabiscuit-mania" not too far off - - two horse-related books are worth a look see if you are interested in the sports of kings.

"Citation" by Phil Georgeff (Taylor, $24.95, 224 pages) is billed as the full story of the greatest thoroughbred in modern history. The great horse lived from 11945 to 1971. At retirement in 1951, Citation was the only millionaire racehorse. Legendary announcer Phil Georgeff presents a fascinating tale.

Jim Squires, a breeder and raiser of horses in Kentucky since 1990 and his "Horse of a Different Color" (Public Affairs, $14.00, 300 pages, paper) combine to make for a fabulous read. In 2001, Squires beat the 35,000 to 1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby and wound up at the Winner's Circle. How he did it, why he did it, with whom he did it - - all make for a ride-in-the-park-read. This is a notable book!

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