Paper Lion: Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback
by George Plimpton

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Book Reviews of Paper Lion: Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback

Book Review: A masterpiece of sports journalism
Summary: 5 Stars

It's as much a book about (American!) football and footballers as it is about Plimpton's own achievements. The descriptions of tactics and training are less important than Plimpton's relationship with the established professionals and the other rookies, almost 15 years his junior. We learn much about the sociology and dynamics of the football team, the coaches, the fans, the team owners; about what motivates men to play such a visceral and often brutal sport. It's also a book full of immortal characters; Alex Karras, "Night Train" Lane, Gail Cogdill and many others come alive in the pages of this book.

This is participatory journalism at its best. We feel every sack Plimpton is the victim of; we share his joy every time he learns a new play and carries it off in training; we share his despair when a demonstration game turns out to be a disaster.

The landscape in American football has changed dramatically - there are many more professional teams in one league structure; the players are paid orders of magnitude more, the plays infinitely more complex - but that's irrelevant. This is a boook about sportsmen and sport, about teamwork and rivalry, about effort and attainment. Some things are eternal and transcend the time and place.

A wonderfully insightful book about an intelligent outsider taking part in professional sport.

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