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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2005
Major League Baseball has proven to be a resilient national pastime. It has weathered Senate investigations, anti-trust violations and scandals of various sorts. In this steroid tainted season, Eig revives Baseball's dignity once again through the stirring specter of Lou Gehrig.
Eig revisits Gehrig's illustrious career with the determination and dedication of the "Iron Horse" himself. The author's passion for detail reveals new insights into the Gehrig persona, his family, and his relationships. The author addresses topics that biographers feared were taboo. Eig exposes all facets of Gehrig's life and debunks several myths. We see his character flaws and strengths, and his desperate struggle against ALS. Rather than tarnishing Gehrig's image, Eig is able to humanize the legend. In this manner Gehrig's accomplishments become grander and his personal battles become more poignant.
This book is a well-researched, gritty biography of a remarkable and courageous man. The reading can get dry and tedious at times though. The author assumes the role of a stoic "play-by-play commentator" rather than the role of a fluffy "color commentator." The true testament to Eig's work is that the reader comes to understand Gehrig's motivations and share a real tear with him as he emotes, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth."
Eig revisits Gehrig's illustrious career with the determination and dedication of the "Iron Horse" himself. The author's passion for detail reveals new insights into the Gehrig persona, his family, and his relationships. The author addresses topics that biographers feared were taboo. Eig exposes all facets of Gehrig's life and debunks several myths. We see his character flaws and strengths, and his desperate struggle against ALS. Rather than tarnishing Gehrig's image, Eig is able to humanize the legend. In this manner Gehrig's accomplishments become grander and his personal battles become more poignant.
This book is a well-researched, gritty biography of a remarkable and courageous man. The reading can get dry and tedious at times though. The author assumes the role of a stoic "play-by-play commentator" rather than the role of a fluffy "color commentator." The true testament to Eig's work is that the reader comes to understand Gehrig's motivations and share a real tear with him as he emotes, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth."
