I like basketball, but I don't love basketball. In a normal year, I might catch 6-8 hours total of basketball on TV. I rarely will watch a game beginning to end, with the possible exception of a Morton High School game.
That said, I was surprised that I absolutely loved The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Bill Simmons is a basketball fan, seemingly from birth. He has lived and loved professional basketball for decades, and his love of the game comes out in writing that is personal, lively and funny. And, extremely well informed. He has attended thousands of games and watched more, and his memory and experience bring a dry subject to life
This book includes segments on the greatest pro teams of all time, the greatest pro players of all time, and many other items big and small, all delivered in an easy to read format. Best of all, Simmons brings his particular sense of irreverent humor to the subject. The book is littered with footnotes, most of them snarky and hilarious asides or stories related to the subject at hand.
When my daughter was quite young, we used to sit and watch Michael Jordan as he led the Bulls to their second threepeat. Reading this book was the most fun I have had with basketball since then. JSH
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