Maravich: The Short Life and Thriving Legacy of Pistol Pete by Wayne Federman, Marshall Terrill Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Maravich: The Short Life and Thriving Legacy of Pistol Pete
Book Review: An Amazing Look Into Pete Maravich's Life
Summary: 5 Stars
My boyfriend bought me this book for Christmas and I loved it! I love my biographies chock full of details, and MARAVICH doesn't disappoint. For serious fans, it even has game stats. I especially loved that Pistol Pete's widow and sons collaborated with the authors, which gives the writing a personal touch. Better yet, the book has personal letters and diary entries from Pete. What more could you want?
The guy had an amazing life and died way too tragically, and I really enjoyed reading everything and more in MARAVICH.
Book Review: Best Sports Biography I've Ever Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't say enough about this book... the authors claim that MARAVICH is the definitive biography of Pistol Pete Maravich and they deliver and then some. The quotes alone are worth the price. I am a basketball junkie and it was great to read what Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Red Auerbach, Ralph Wiley, Jason Kidd, Larry Bird, Julius Erving. Bob Cousy, Al McGuire, Bill Walton, Kobe Bryant, Bob Costas, Adolph Rupp, Rafer Alston, John Wooden, Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, Elgin Baylor, KC Jones, Chancey Billups, Jerry West, and hundreds of others had to say about The Pistol.
Warning - this book is loaded. It look an entire weekend to read and I loved every minute of it. It was like eating the most satisfying meal. The cooperation of Pete's widow, Jackie, adds a personal dimension that was both revealing and heartbreaking.
If you want to learn the real story of Pete Maravich, where he came from, his relationship with his father, why he was unhappy, and how he helped changed basketball, read MARAVICH.
One problem: It was very hard to get my hands on a copy.
Book Review: Best book on Pistol Pete, by far!
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me first preface this review by saying I have never taken the time to write a review for any book or product prior to reading "Maravich". The instant I was finished reading it, I was compelled to do so. Simply put, along with Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad and Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds, Pete Maravich was one of my boyhood idols as I grew up in Downey, California. Pete was larger than life to me. Still is.
Ever since I first laid eyes on him on television in 1968, I tried my best to read, listen or watch anything that pertained to Pete. This passion for Pete has continued to this day. I still have the sports page of the Los Angles Times of the day Pete died. I have read every book about him including Pete's own, but always came away with either knowing there was some erroneous reporting, things were left out or that some how it always could have been better. I had known the book "Maravich" had been in the works for some time and the little that I know of Mr. Federman, I was anxiously waiting for it to be published. I truly thought I had read every quote, article and intricate story regarding Pete, but after reading "Maravich" I was happily mistaken.
I bought the book this past Sunday evening, Nov. 26th, 2006 and planned to begin reading it the following day. Now, I swear to you that this is the absolute truth, I began reading it at approximately 11:15 am the very next day and didn't stop until I had finished the 398th and very last page at 11:45 pm! I got up twice and put some left over turkey between two slices of bread and then went back into my office and continued reading AS I ate!
The book is the most insightful, honest, thorough and well written book on Pete Maravich that has ever been published and was a joy to read. There were literally hundreds of quotes and or stories that I had never read about Pete before. It is as if the two authors interviewed every player, coach, friend and relative that Pete ever played with or knew.
Finally a book has been written about Pete that told the entire story, and then some. Just unbelievable! If you are a Pete Maravich fan it is a must read. If you have read the other books about Pete and think you know all about him, it's a must read. If you simply enjoy a very insightful and well written book about a once in a lifetime athlete, it is a must read. I may not read it again in twelve straight hours but rest assured people, I will read it again! Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill, I salute you!
Jim Webster
Book Review: Captivating Biography
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not much into reading biographies, but I saw a TV interview with one of the authors on ESPN, and I was hooked. The most impressive aspect of the book is that they pull no punches, and they don't try to be politically correct. They talk about Pete Maravich as a real human being, warts and all. And they talk about his conversion to Christianity in a non-condescending way (it was real for Pete, as it is for others of us, and it was refreshing to see Pete's relationship with Jesus reported on in an objective way). He was an amazing basketball player (over 44 points per game AVERAGE in college at LSU) and it sounds like he ended his life as a very good father and husband (this book is the first to have the cooperation of Pete's wife, Jackie). Well worth your reading time!Book Review: Everything you ever wanted to know about Pistol Pete and more....
Summary: 5 Stars
I just got finished reading MARAVICH and was truly amazed. The sheer depth of research is staggering (they seemed to have interviewed every basketball great) yet the book never seems to lose the narrative thread. This is a thrilling story of a tortured athlete who's really an artist. The authors begin in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and bring to life each step in Pistol Pete's development. From Biddy basketball games, to Pete's solitary practice marathons in Clemson, his All-American high school career, a year at Southwood College (it's true), then the staggering circus at LSU.
But for me, what sets this book apart, is the examination of Pete's pro career. A chapter is a dedicated to each season and I now completely understand how and why, despite never winning a championship, he is considered one of the NBA's All-Time Top 50 players. The games Pete and Dr. J played together as members of the Atlanta Hawks are revelatory.
MARAVICH is a meshing of incredible Bill Jamesian detail (almost every game has Pete's stat line) with personal insight using not just interviews, but Pete's own diaries and personal letters.
It has a great photo and statistics sections, plus a list of Maravich's 25 Greatest Games. This is what a sports biography should be.