What is your favourite book?

[Jack Spider]

What is your favourite book?

I'm inspired to make this thread because I'm looking for a book I lost. It was a bookie about goalies. It was a short book, maybe a quarter centimeter thick. It had maybe two dozen goalies. It talked about the Hasek mask, the way Barrasso(or Fuhr) shot as a left handed goalie.

My contribution: 30 years of hockey photos - Denis Brodeur

 

[Summer Rose]

While I admit I haven't read a lot of books about hockey (my consumption of written media for hockey is almost exclusively in the form of news articles, and discussion boards such as this one), I will always have a soft spot for one.

When I was first getting into hockey, some relative (don't remember which one) heard I was getting into hockey and bought me a book called Hockey for Dummies. It was part of those "X for Dummies" series of books. Since this was before the widespread adoption of the internet (well I did have dialup at the time) and I was young, I ate it up. It touched the origins of the sport, as well as a brief history of various things, such as the origin of the Stanley Cup and its challenge cup era, the formation of the NHL, defunct leagues such as the PCHL and WHA, the Eddie Shore-Ace Bailey incident and the ensuing charity game for Bailey's benefit, and the Conn Smythe trophy occasionally going to a player whose team lost in the finals.

I obviously lost track of where that book went a long time ago, but now I'm having such fond memories of reading it that I may very well see if it's still in print and buy another copy of it, just so I can read it again.

 

[frisco]

It is not "a" book per se, but the yearly Bill James Baseball Abstracts and annuals were just terrific. Not only changed and improved my view on baseball but life, too.

For hockey, I used to read the NHL Official Guide And Record Book Annually every year. Not just using as a reference but read the stat pages and things like a regular book. It is just not the same not having the hard copy although obviously most things are accessible on the internet--but not all in one place.

My Best-Carey

 

[WarriorofTime]

One about the WHA

Amazon.com

very enjoyable read

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Le Chandail

 

[The Pale King]

I want someone out there to write a hockey book like "El fútbol a sol y sombra" (Soccer in Sun and Shadow) by the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galleano.

It's politcal, tactical, soulful, a little spooky at times. Galleano has a soft-spot for the underdogs but he's also more than willing to recognize and give due credit to the greats. He examines the sport from just about every possible angle, giving one or two page blurbs about significant players, teams and developments in the sport in roughly chronological order. Conceptually, it's pretty simple. But it's exceptional because of the prose and profound value he assigns to outcomes. He has a knack for recognizing things that transcend the sporting world and laying those connections bare on the page.

Maybe the hockey version already exists? It's what I imagine a Gord Downie hockey book would have felt like.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

I have and cherish every Bill James Baseball Abstract from 1981 through 1988, and probably read each one cover-to-cover twice per year.

Favorite hockey book is Ken Baker's "They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven". Here's a good review:

Book Review: They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven - Puck Junk

“I know what you’re thinking,” my friend told me when he loaned me this book, “the title is depressing. But the book isn’t.” Well, that’s mostly true. “They Don’t Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, a Team, and My Comeback Season” is the story of Ken Baker, a former NCAA goalie and NHL prospect...

puckjunk.com

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Tropic Of Hockey by Dave Bidini. He’s a great storyteller, so much so that I can even tolerate his endless Maple Leafs references. Highly recommend.

A more recent recommendation would be Save of My Life (Corey Hirsch’s autobiography). Very much a page turner, horrifying but also life-affirming tale of his career and battle with OCD.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

A more recent recommendation would be Save of My Life (Corey Hirsch’s autobiography). Very much a page turner, horrifying but also life-affirming tale of his career and battle with OCD.

I read Corey's book and Clint Malarchuk's book back-to-back. Heavy stuff.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Empire of Ice by Craig Bowlsby is the best hockey book I've ever read. It's the definite history of the PCHA and does a great job talking about how the Patricks helped bring hockey west. It's well written and a tremendous resource.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

It is not "a" book per se, but the yearly Bill James Baseball Abstracts and annuals were just terrific. Not only changed and improved my view on baseball but life, too.

For hockey, I used to read the NHL Official Guide And Record Book Annually every year. Not just using as a reference but read the stat pages and things like a regular book. It is just not the same not having the hard copy although obviously most things are accessible on the internet--but not all in one place.

My Best-Carey

Out of curiosity, in what way?

 

[JMCx4]

I read Corey's book and Clint Malarchuk's book back-to-back. Heavy stuff.

Still in therapy, I see ...

 

[frisco]

Out of curiosity, in what way?

New ways to view problems. Thinking critically. Focusing on data vs. subjectivity. Not trusting in "experts" or at least questioning them.

James has an economics background and a lot of the Gladwell-type writers in behavorial economics were James readers when younger.

James also is a great writer which allows him to convey his thoughts well and entertain.

Moneyball is obviously the movie that captures Bill James the best, IMO.

My Best-Carey

 

[stephenlaroche]

It's hard to pick, but my go-to answers as Thin Ice by Larry Sloman (honestly. it's the Ball Four of hockey), Eric Whitehead's books on The Patricks and Cyclone Taylor, and Dave Bidini's Keon and Me.

Extra points for Stephen Smith's Puckstruck, Gare Joyce's The Devil and Bobby Hull, and Trent Frayne's Mad Men of Hockey.