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Paterno
By America’s premier sportswriter, written with full cooperation of Joe Paterno and his family, Paterno is the definitive account of the epic life of America’s winningest college football coach. Published to coincide with Penn State football’s first season without their legendary leader.
Joe Posnanski’s biography of the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno follows in the tradition of works by Richard Ben Cramer on Joe DiMaggio and David Maraniss on Vince Lombardi. Having gained unprecedented access to Paterno, as well as the coach’s personal notes and files, Posnanski spent the last two years of Paterno’s life covering the coach, on (and off) the field and through the scandal that ended Paterno’s legendary career.
Joe Posnanski, who in 2012 was named the Best Sportswriter in America by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, was with Paterno and his family as a horrific national scandal unfolded and Paterno was fired. Within three months, Paterno died of lung cancer, a tragic end to a life that was epic, influential, and operatic.
Paterno is the fullest description we will ever have of the man’s character and career. In this honest and surprising portrait, Joe Posnanski brings new insight and understanding to one of the most controversial figures in America.
Joe Posnanski’s biography of the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno follows in the tradition of works by Richard Ben Cramer on Joe DiMaggio and David Maraniss on Vince Lombardi. Having gained unprecedented access to Paterno, as well as the coach’s personal notes and files, Posnanski spent the last two years of Paterno’s life covering the coach, on (and off) the field and through the scandal that ended Paterno’s legendary career.
Joe Posnanski, who in 2012 was named the Best Sportswriter in America by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, was with Paterno and his family as a horrific national scandal unfolded and Paterno was fired. Within three months, Paterno died of lung cancer, a tragic end to a life that was epic, influential, and operatic.
Paterno is the fullest description we will ever have of the man’s character and career. In this honest and surprising portrait, Joe Posnanski brings new insight and understanding to one of the most controversial figures in America.
402 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2012
72 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Joe Posnanski
21 books547 followersJoe Posnanski is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of eight books, a Writer at Large at Esquire, and the co-host of The PosCast with Michael Schur. He writes a newsletter called JoeBlogs. He has been named national sportswriter of the year by five different organizations including the Associated Press Sports Editors and the National Sports Media Association. He also won two sports Emmys as part of NBC's digital Olympic coverage.
His newest book is Why We Love Baseball, which will be published by Dutton on Sept. 5, 2023. His last book, The Baseball 100, won the Casey Award as the best baseball book of 2020.
His newest book is Why We Love Baseball, which will be published by Dutton on Sept. 5, 2023. His last book, The Baseball 100, won the Casey Award as the best baseball book of 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
December 8, 2014
I'm going to start this review with some stories.
1. When I was learning how to drive, we drove out to an area of the Penn State campus that is far away from everything, but in walking distance to Beaver Stadium. It was a Sunday in late spring and no one was around. I went around a corner and slammed on the brakes. I almost hit Joe Paterno, who was out for a walk. He shook his fist at me angrily. My husband rolled down his window and apologized, telling Joe I was just learning to drive, and Joe laughed, saying, "Good luck with that." He shook his fist at me again, but this time he was laughing.
2. My family was at a Lady Lions game, and Joe was there. We often saw him at women's sporting events in the 90s. It was half time; he went to the concession stands, and he got mobbed with people wanting autographs. My son wanted one in the worst way, but my husband said no, you respect his right to go to a game and out in public. Joe finally tore himself away from the crowds and stopped at my son. "Give me your program," Joe said, and signed it.
3.In the summer of 2011, my husband was riding his bike home from work and came across Joe walking along the golf course bike path. My husband hopped off his bike and walked a bit with Joe, telling him that he looked good. The two of them had a good chat about being grandfathers. My husband saw Joe frequently at that time of the day, until the hip accident, and Joe always waved.
These are just a few Joe stories out of many we have. I read a lot of biographies. A LOT of biographies, but this is the first time I've ever had a personal connection to the subject. I knew the story of the author spending a year in State College; I read an essay Posnanski wrote as the whole Sandusky affair blew out of control. Let's just say this, I gave this book 5 stars. I rarely give books 5 stars. This is one of the best written biographies I have ever read. More importantly, Posnanski got it right. He got Joe right. He got Penn State right. He got State College right. (What he got wrong was his assessment that all Penn State fans were calling for Joe's head and thought he'd never turn things around in 2004. He wasn't with me, my son, and some friends watching that Indiana game in 2004. We knew we had a great defense, and the people in that room were not fans of Fran Ganter and were calling for his head, not Joe's. When we had that goal line stand, I turned to my son and our friends and said, "This is the turning point. We are going to be an amazing team. This is the break they needed." We whomped Michigan State the following week, and then came the 2005 season. And that damn cheat Lloyd Carr.)
I think the only thing that surprised me about this book was that Joe realized going to the Big Ten was a mistake. Most of the fans thought that in the early 1990s and virtually every Penn Stater I've spoken with since 2011 would be more than happy to bag out now. The Board of Trustees turning on Joe in favor of Graham surprised me, yet didn't surprise me because those people had a perverted love affair with Spanier. Reading this book made the night of November 9, 2011 make sense.
There were a few things that I think Posnanski skimmed over, for instance. I think he should have gone deeper into the Adam Taliafaro story. What was left out was how Joe kept Adam on scholarship. He made Sue Paterno a little too saintly -- and trust me, no one around here thinks of her that way. She is a generous lady, but she is the one with the iron fist and the "I am Queen of State College attitude."
I read a few reviews of this book where people were angry that Posnanski didn't get more details on the Sandusky story. I think this is the one point where the book failed because he focused too much on it. One review said that Posnanski didn't pry enough to get the answers she wanted. I made a comment to her, and I'll make it here -- can we accept that what we know is all there is to know? And Posnsnaski missed a key point from his own book as he talked about the emails that mention Coach. Posnanski wrote that Paterno insisted that his players and people around him call him Joe, not Coach. Sandusky was always called Coach. Tim Curley probably never called Paterno Coach in his life.
I'll say this again, this was one of the most honest biographies I've ever read. I nodded a lot while I read it. It refreshed my memory on some points. There were a couple of times, when I was getting to a certain point in the book, I paused to consider my own experiences, opinions, and reflections on a certain situation, and then read on to find that Posnanski confirmed my thoughts.
I will say the book wasn't perfect. The ending was rushed and weaker than the first half of the book, largely because Posnanski was rushed to finish it months before the original deadline. It felt that way. I suspect his editors insisted on the heavy-on-Sandusky ending, despite the fact that there is no way in hell that should dictate Paterno's legacy (although there are many who will only ever see that and think the man was a phony). The one time when Posnanski messed up, I thought, was at the very end of the book, when he said said that Joe should have done more because he was Joe Paterno. Posnanski got sucked into the Saint Joe media vortex. By that point, I would have thought he would have been past that, because he was the first writer to show Joe as a man, as a resident of State College, as a guy who made his career as a football coach.
1. When I was learning how to drive, we drove out to an area of the Penn State campus that is far away from everything, but in walking distance to Beaver Stadium. It was a Sunday in late spring and no one was around. I went around a corner and slammed on the brakes. I almost hit Joe Paterno, who was out for a walk. He shook his fist at me angrily. My husband rolled down his window and apologized, telling Joe I was just learning to drive, and Joe laughed, saying, "Good luck with that." He shook his fist at me again, but this time he was laughing.
2. My family was at a Lady Lions game, and Joe was there. We often saw him at women's sporting events in the 90s. It was half time; he went to the concession stands, and he got mobbed with people wanting autographs. My son wanted one in the worst way, but my husband said no, you respect his right to go to a game and out in public. Joe finally tore himself away from the crowds and stopped at my son. "Give me your program," Joe said, and signed it.
3.In the summer of 2011, my husband was riding his bike home from work and came across Joe walking along the golf course bike path. My husband hopped off his bike and walked a bit with Joe, telling him that he looked good. The two of them had a good chat about being grandfathers. My husband saw Joe frequently at that time of the day, until the hip accident, and Joe always waved.
These are just a few Joe stories out of many we have. I read a lot of biographies. A LOT of biographies, but this is the first time I've ever had a personal connection to the subject. I knew the story of the author spending a year in State College; I read an essay Posnanski wrote as the whole Sandusky affair blew out of control. Let's just say this, I gave this book 5 stars. I rarely give books 5 stars. This is one of the best written biographies I have ever read. More importantly, Posnanski got it right. He got Joe right. He got Penn State right. He got State College right. (What he got wrong was his assessment that all Penn State fans were calling for Joe's head and thought he'd never turn things around in 2004. He wasn't with me, my son, and some friends watching that Indiana game in 2004. We knew we had a great defense, and the people in that room were not fans of Fran Ganter and were calling for his head, not Joe's. When we had that goal line stand, I turned to my son and our friends and said, "This is the turning point. We are going to be an amazing team. This is the break they needed." We whomped Michigan State the following week, and then came the 2005 season. And that damn cheat Lloyd Carr.)
I think the only thing that surprised me about this book was that Joe realized going to the Big Ten was a mistake. Most of the fans thought that in the early 1990s and virtually every Penn Stater I've spoken with since 2011 would be more than happy to bag out now. The Board of Trustees turning on Joe in favor of Graham surprised me, yet didn't surprise me because those people had a perverted love affair with Spanier. Reading this book made the night of November 9, 2011 make sense.
There were a few things that I think Posnanski skimmed over, for instance. I think he should have gone deeper into the Adam Taliafaro story. What was left out was how Joe kept Adam on scholarship. He made Sue Paterno a little too saintly -- and trust me, no one around here thinks of her that way. She is a generous lady, but she is the one with the iron fist and the "I am Queen of State College attitude."
I read a few reviews of this book where people were angry that Posnanski didn't get more details on the Sandusky story. I think this is the one point where the book failed because he focused too much on it. One review said that Posnanski didn't pry enough to get the answers she wanted. I made a comment to her, and I'll make it here -- can we accept that what we know is all there is to know? And Posnsnaski missed a key point from his own book as he talked about the emails that mention Coach. Posnanski wrote that Paterno insisted that his players and people around him call him Joe, not Coach. Sandusky was always called Coach. Tim Curley probably never called Paterno Coach in his life.
I'll say this again, this was one of the most honest biographies I've ever read. I nodded a lot while I read it. It refreshed my memory on some points. There were a couple of times, when I was getting to a certain point in the book, I paused to consider my own experiences, opinions, and reflections on a certain situation, and then read on to find that Posnanski confirmed my thoughts.
I will say the book wasn't perfect. The ending was rushed and weaker than the first half of the book, largely because Posnanski was rushed to finish it months before the original deadline. It felt that way. I suspect his editors insisted on the heavy-on-Sandusky ending, despite the fact that there is no way in hell that should dictate Paterno's legacy (although there are many who will only ever see that and think the man was a phony). The one time when Posnanski messed up, I thought, was at the very end of the book, when he said said that Joe should have done more because he was Joe Paterno. Posnanski got sucked into the Saint Joe media vortex. By that point, I would have thought he would have been past that, because he was the first writer to show Joe as a man, as a resident of State College, as a guy who made his career as a football coach.
January 31, 2025
Joe Posnanski started work on this book before the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke. I believe he planned to write a book that was very positive about Paterno – emphasizing his rigid moral code, his focus on education (Penn State athletes were typically the most successful of any program, and had very little racial discrepancies), his honesty and directness, his work ethic, and of course his incredible run of success for an extraordinarily long time. There would have been some things on the other side of the ledger that made him “complicated”. Perhaps he drove his athletes and coaches too hard. He stayed on too long as Head Coach, being too stubborn to retire. And there might have been times where he compromised on his moral code to win games. But I think the story would have mainly been very positive, with lots of testimonials from his former players and coaches that can describe lifelong lessons they took away from Paterno.
But the Sandusky story threw a big wrench in the project. Paterno’s legacy was destroyed by it, as there is a common belief that either “Joe knew” or at the very least “Joe knew enough that he should have asked more questions”. Posnanski himself ends up taking the latter view. He believes that even though he reported Mike McQueary’s story in 2001 to his supervisor and another Vice President that oversees the Campus Police, he should have followed up. Note that Jerry Sandusky wasn’t his coach anymore or even working for the university. But still, Posnanski argues, the “Paterno Way” should have been to follow up to make sure this is being investigated properly.
Even with this criticism, the book still has positive vibes overall on Paterno. Just that it’s a lot more mixed than I think he planned it to be.
I’ve been convinced by the book The Most Hated Man in America - Jerry Sandusky and the Rush to Judgment by Mark Pendergrast, and the podcast “With the Benefit of Hindsight” by John Ziegler that even the milder critique of Paterno is unfair, and in fact the entire case against Sandusky is suspect. Read my review here of Pendergrast’s book for more detail. Since I read Posnanski’s book shortly after reading Pendergrast’s book and Ziegler’s podcast, I can’t help but be unimpressed with Posnanski’s discussion of the Sandusky case. It is very superficial, not getting into any of the mounds of evidence and background Ziegler and Pendergrast bring up that make the case much more complicated than you would think from reading mainstream media accounts.
Aside from the treatment of the Sandusky scandal, the book was good. Paterno is a fascinating man. I loved the football stories of his coaching methods and his teams’ successes and failures through the years.
But the Sandusky story threw a big wrench in the project. Paterno’s legacy was destroyed by it, as there is a common belief that either “Joe knew” or at the very least “Joe knew enough that he should have asked more questions”. Posnanski himself ends up taking the latter view. He believes that even though he reported Mike McQueary’s story in 2001 to his supervisor and another Vice President that oversees the Campus Police, he should have followed up. Note that Jerry Sandusky wasn’t his coach anymore or even working for the university. But still, Posnanski argues, the “Paterno Way” should have been to follow up to make sure this is being investigated properly.
Even with this criticism, the book still has positive vibes overall on Paterno. Just that it’s a lot more mixed than I think he planned it to be.
I’ve been convinced by the book The Most Hated Man in America - Jerry Sandusky and the Rush to Judgment by Mark Pendergrast, and the podcast “With the Benefit of Hindsight” by John Ziegler that even the milder critique of Paterno is unfair, and in fact the entire case against Sandusky is suspect. Read my review here of Pendergrast’s book for more detail. Since I read Posnanski’s book shortly after reading Pendergrast’s book and Ziegler’s podcast, I can’t help but be unimpressed with Posnanski’s discussion of the Sandusky case. It is very superficial, not getting into any of the mounds of evidence and background Ziegler and Pendergrast bring up that make the case much more complicated than you would think from reading mainstream media accounts.
Aside from the treatment of the Sandusky scandal, the book was good. Paterno is a fascinating man. I loved the football stories of his coaching methods and his teams’ successes and failures through the years.
September 10, 2012
So, this book, about Paterno's life, had some difficulties. It was mostly written before the Sandusky scandal broke and i could tell that the writer had to go back over the narrative and give it a belated treatment in consideration of the scandal. as such, the first half of the book felt a little awkward. the biography went in chronological order, as expected, but the author would cut into the story with asides that referred to the recent scandal. the back and forth felt a little uncomfortable, probably reflecting how the author felt about it. obviously, he wanted to make sure to address the scandal, but didn't necessarily know how best to go about it. the second half of the book took the sandusky scandal head-on. once the narrative caught up to the modern timeline, it went smoother. it still felt troubled, but was more appropriate. the treatment of paterno's last days and last thoughts had me bawling my eyes out.
the greatest strengths of this book were the reminders of paterno as a man with a full life. he was neither as perfect as the media portrayed him at his peak, nor as villainous as they would portray him in the end. just a man, flaws and all. it was good to be reminded of all the positive things paterno had done throughout his life. it was good to see that, toward the end, the media already had a bias against him because he had been pulling away from them for years. it's hard to remember that at the base of every newsstory is a person with their own prejudices, no matter how much they try to stay objective. joepa was never quite the man that the media said he was, for good or ill. it's important to understand that, especially now. he had good intentions and for the most part, he lived up to those intentions. i don't know the truth behind the scandal and joepa's role in it, but this book helped me to reconcile some of my feelings. what penn state needs is to remember the good, live up to the good, and begin to heal. for me, this book was a helpful reminder of what was good and that paterno's grand experiment wasn't a fraud, it wasn't a failure, and we can still hold its ideals in our hearts and minds. paterno, the grand experiment's engineer may have been flawed, but his idea wasn't and we can still hold it up as our standard. We are Penn State.
the greatest strengths of this book were the reminders of paterno as a man with a full life. he was neither as perfect as the media portrayed him at his peak, nor as villainous as they would portray him in the end. just a man, flaws and all. it was good to be reminded of all the positive things paterno had done throughout his life. it was good to see that, toward the end, the media already had a bias against him because he had been pulling away from them for years. it's hard to remember that at the base of every newsstory is a person with their own prejudices, no matter how much they try to stay objective. joepa was never quite the man that the media said he was, for good or ill. it's important to understand that, especially now. he had good intentions and for the most part, he lived up to those intentions. i don't know the truth behind the scandal and joepa's role in it, but this book helped me to reconcile some of my feelings. what penn state needs is to remember the good, live up to the good, and begin to heal. for me, this book was a helpful reminder of what was good and that paterno's grand experiment wasn't a fraud, it wasn't a failure, and we can still hold its ideals in our hearts and minds. paterno, the grand experiment's engineer may have been flawed, but his idea wasn't and we can still hold it up as our standard. We are Penn State.
November 4, 2012
All too often we are drawn in by mob mentality. We believe everything the national media tells us, and in today's viral society one media member's thoughts become the thoughts of ten media members, a situation that feeds and fuels itself until it grows into an uncontrollable and unfathomable monster greater than any one individual or group. We are infiltrated and consumed so deeply by the saturation of Twitter and television news that we entirely lose sight of the once clear line between our own original thoughts and beliefs and the beliefs planted in us by outside influence.
Paterno's story illustrates this worldwide epidemic like no other. In 2011 we were so quickly carried away by the wave of disdain for Joe-Pa that we failed in the moment to see the great coach and man that he was before this scandal took him down. But finally a voice of reason calls out. Posnanski is able to accurately and grippingly depict the story from the other side, the side unaffected by the hordes of media who so disgracefully camped out in Paterno's front yard. This story fulfills its mission, the mission put forth by Paterno when he first agreed to have Posnanski write the book--"Write the truth."
Everyone can learn a great deal from this book, even those who have no appreciation for football or athletics. This is a must-read for all, end of story.
Paterno's story illustrates this worldwide epidemic like no other. In 2011 we were so quickly carried away by the wave of disdain for Joe-Pa that we failed in the moment to see the great coach and man that he was before this scandal took him down. But finally a voice of reason calls out. Posnanski is able to accurately and grippingly depict the story from the other side, the side unaffected by the hordes of media who so disgracefully camped out in Paterno's front yard. This story fulfills its mission, the mission put forth by Paterno when he first agreed to have Posnanski write the book--"Write the truth."
Everyone can learn a great deal from this book, even those who have no appreciation for football or athletics. This is a must-read for all, end of story.
August 22, 2012
Paterno by Joe Posnanski
“Paterno” is the fascinating story of Joe Paterno’s life. It’s the truth of his life. “The only thing he ever asked of me was to write the truth as I found it.” Mission accomplished, talented author and sports journalist Joe Posnanski, takes the reader on a life’s journey, the life of Joe Paterno. With unlimited access to Joe Paterno’s personal files, family, friends and former players, Posnanski weaves a captivating life that impacted many: his childhood, war, college life at Brown University and his sixty-one years of coaching at Penn State. It includes the very sad ending and the scandal that galvanized the country. This mesmerizing 416-page book is composed of the following five acts: Act I: Before, Act II: Excellence, Act III: Success, Act IV: What Comes After and the Final Act.
Positives:
1. Posnanski captures the essence of Joe Paterno’s life. It is well-written, well-researched and the topic was treated with the utmost care and respect. Most importantly, it was truthful.
2. Having access to Joe Paterno and all the people that interacted with him was instrumental in being able to provide the public with a truthful account. The author makes it clear that he is not out to defend Joe Paterno but to provide a truthful account of his life and succeeds.
3. The book covers Paterno’s life: from his childhood, his many years as a coach to the sad end.
4. One of the joys of reading is discovering hidden gems and surprises. The author provides many interesting tidbits about Paterno.
5. As a football fan, I enjoyed the insight into coaching. The philosophy, the inner workings, the interaction with people, the impact to a community and ultimately a nation. How coaching changed over the years, the evolution of coaching.
6. Paterno’s philosophy in life. His passion for education.
7. This book is also about the people that Paterno influenced: his family, the players, students, his staff and his community. Many amusing stories.
8. Once again, if you are a college football fan and you are going to enjoy the inside scoop of big-time college sports. Many great anecdotes.
9. The rise of a college coach star. Sainthood. The arrival of Penn State. to prominence.
10. The issue of race and college football, fascinating.
11. Paterno and his relationship not just with his players and family but rival coaches.
12. The things Paterno enjoyed the most.
13. The cherished traditions of Penn State. Paterno’s idiosyncrasies.
14. Penn State College football…time to name drop, the football stars. The players, the games, the successes, the championship teams.
15. Paterno’s family and their relationship to football.
16. Paterno’s speeches. His motivational and inspirational tactics.
17. His relationship with Sandusky, as a coach and as a man. The author is very candid and forthright. Interesting.
18. The aging coach and dealing with adversities (bad seasons). Interesting.
19. The scandal. A very touchy and disturbing issue. The author handles it with an even-handed approach.
20. The sad end. The investigation, the illness and the end. The author does this section justice.
21. An excellent notes section that covers how the majority of the material for the book was obtained.
Negatives:
1. The biggest downfall of biographies is that many of the highlights of the book have been revealed to the public. That being said, the author includes so much more to Paterno’s life story.
2. If you are not a college football fan you will struggle through those sections that emphasize the game that I particularly enjoyed.
3. Those looking for a book about just the scandal will be disappointed, this book is about the life of Joe Paterno and all that it entailed including the scandal.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book. First of all, let me state for the record that I have no affiliation with Penn State. The purpose of my review is to provide a personal assessment of the quality of the book, not to defend Joe Paterno. The most important thing about a biography is how it corresponds to reality and to convey it in an entertaining and accessible manner to the public. It’s also about treating the subject with fairness and to handle sensitive issues with the proper tone and care. Posnanski succeeds on all fronts. It’s a book that covers the life of Joe Paterno accurately. I highly recommend this book!
Further recommendations: “Paterno: By the Book” by Joe Paterno, “Playing for Paterno: One Coach, Two Eras: a Father and Son's Personal Recollections of Playing for JoePa” by Charles and Tony Pittman.
“Paterno” is the fascinating story of Joe Paterno’s life. It’s the truth of his life. “The only thing he ever asked of me was to write the truth as I found it.” Mission accomplished, talented author and sports journalist Joe Posnanski, takes the reader on a life’s journey, the life of Joe Paterno. With unlimited access to Joe Paterno’s personal files, family, friends and former players, Posnanski weaves a captivating life that impacted many: his childhood, war, college life at Brown University and his sixty-one years of coaching at Penn State. It includes the very sad ending and the scandal that galvanized the country. This mesmerizing 416-page book is composed of the following five acts: Act I: Before, Act II: Excellence, Act III: Success, Act IV: What Comes After and the Final Act.
Positives:
1. Posnanski captures the essence of Joe Paterno’s life. It is well-written, well-researched and the topic was treated with the utmost care and respect. Most importantly, it was truthful.
2. Having access to Joe Paterno and all the people that interacted with him was instrumental in being able to provide the public with a truthful account. The author makes it clear that he is not out to defend Joe Paterno but to provide a truthful account of his life and succeeds.
3. The book covers Paterno’s life: from his childhood, his many years as a coach to the sad end.
4. One of the joys of reading is discovering hidden gems and surprises. The author provides many interesting tidbits about Paterno.
5. As a football fan, I enjoyed the insight into coaching. The philosophy, the inner workings, the interaction with people, the impact to a community and ultimately a nation. How coaching changed over the years, the evolution of coaching.
6. Paterno’s philosophy in life. His passion for education.
7. This book is also about the people that Paterno influenced: his family, the players, students, his staff and his community. Many amusing stories.
8. Once again, if you are a college football fan and you are going to enjoy the inside scoop of big-time college sports. Many great anecdotes.
9. The rise of a college coach star. Sainthood. The arrival of Penn State. to prominence.
10. The issue of race and college football, fascinating.
11. Paterno and his relationship not just with his players and family but rival coaches.
12. The things Paterno enjoyed the most.
13. The cherished traditions of Penn State. Paterno’s idiosyncrasies.
14. Penn State College football…time to name drop, the football stars. The players, the games, the successes, the championship teams.
15. Paterno’s family and their relationship to football.
16. Paterno’s speeches. His motivational and inspirational tactics.
17. His relationship with Sandusky, as a coach and as a man. The author is very candid and forthright. Interesting.
18. The aging coach and dealing with adversities (bad seasons). Interesting.
19. The scandal. A very touchy and disturbing issue. The author handles it with an even-handed approach.
20. The sad end. The investigation, the illness and the end. The author does this section justice.
21. An excellent notes section that covers how the majority of the material for the book was obtained.
Negatives:
1. The biggest downfall of biographies is that many of the highlights of the book have been revealed to the public. That being said, the author includes so much more to Paterno’s life story.
2. If you are not a college football fan you will struggle through those sections that emphasize the game that I particularly enjoyed.
3. Those looking for a book about just the scandal will be disappointed, this book is about the life of Joe Paterno and all that it entailed including the scandal.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book. First of all, let me state for the record that I have no affiliation with Penn State. The purpose of my review is to provide a personal assessment of the quality of the book, not to defend Joe Paterno. The most important thing about a biography is how it corresponds to reality and to convey it in an entertaining and accessible manner to the public. It’s also about treating the subject with fairness and to handle sensitive issues with the proper tone and care. Posnanski succeeds on all fronts. It’s a book that covers the life of Joe Paterno accurately. I highly recommend this book!
Further recommendations: “Paterno: By the Book” by Joe Paterno, “Playing for Paterno: One Coach, Two Eras: a Father and Son's Personal Recollections of Playing for JoePa” by Charles and Tony Pittman.
September 15, 2023
Honestly I put this as dnf , but I might try to get back to it someday I feel asleep multiple times trying to read it , but I really wanna read it … so maybe I’ll try back at another time might but the physical book , I was reading it on audio
September 3, 2012
A great book. Starting with Joe in his early days in school, working up through the many years as coach at Penn State. It was great to re-live some of those years - I attended Penn State from 1979 to 1983, where the team was national champion - and to hear from those that knew him and that he coached. He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others, with no hint of self recognition for his actions. He and his family gave millions to the University they loved in order to enhance their lives through eduction and opportunity. Joe had a significant positive impact on the lives of many of his players and the Penn State community and will be missed. Over the many years he clashed with the media and the board of trustees, so much so, that in the end, it was them that threw Joe under the bus without proper due process. Very sad.
As for the Sandusky matter, interesting to learn that Joe and Sandusky never liked each other. Sandusky for Joe as he believed that he should have succeeded Joe, and Joe for Sandusky because he believed that Sandusky was lazy and unorganized. Some believe that the reason the Penn State team's of the early 2000's did not do well is because Sandusky was no longer defensive coordinator.
The 1998 incident with Sandusky was properly handled by law enforcement. Joe should not be in the cross hairs for this.
The 2001 incident with Sandusky was reported by Joe to his superiors at the University. The book & Joe states in retrospect, "I should have done more." With 20-20 hind sight, we can all see this - it is as clear as the blue sky. Morally, Joe should have done more. During that time, however, I would argue that it was not so clear. Sandusky was a master mind at covering up his obsession. I am still of the view that we need to see the cases of Schultz and Curley litigated and the facts presented to better understand what happened during 2001 before judgement can be rendered. That includes (i) taking games way, (ii) fining the University; and (iii) punishing the existing students and players under the recent NCAA sanctions.
As for the Sandusky matter, interesting to learn that Joe and Sandusky never liked each other. Sandusky for Joe as he believed that he should have succeeded Joe, and Joe for Sandusky because he believed that Sandusky was lazy and unorganized. Some believe that the reason the Penn State team's of the early 2000's did not do well is because Sandusky was no longer defensive coordinator.
The 1998 incident with Sandusky was properly handled by law enforcement. Joe should not be in the cross hairs for this.
The 2001 incident with Sandusky was reported by Joe to his superiors at the University. The book & Joe states in retrospect, "I should have done more." With 20-20 hind sight, we can all see this - it is as clear as the blue sky. Morally, Joe should have done more. During that time, however, I would argue that it was not so clear. Sandusky was a master mind at covering up his obsession. I am still of the view that we need to see the cases of Schultz and Curley litigated and the facts presented to better understand what happened during 2001 before judgement can be rendered. That includes (i) taking games way, (ii) fining the University; and (iii) punishing the existing students and players under the recent NCAA sanctions.
September 17, 2012
I thought is was a very good book by someone who had amazing access to Joe and those who knew him best. I do believe firmly that this man who stood for integrity and academic scholarship coming before football did not know anymore than he said. I believe if the creep had been working for Joe, at the time of the incidents, he would have followed up more and I believe he regretted leaving that up to others. This man made millions at the end of his life but he walked away from countless more millions in the NFL on several occasions so that he could have a positive impact on young men. It is amazing that as a culture, we enjoy tearing down and destroying reputations,rather than believe in the actions that someone demonstrated over a lifetime. I am afraid that says a lot about who we have become as an American society.
March 17, 2024
One of the toughest spots ever for a biographer. Posnanski was just about finished with this book when the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke. He couldn’t ignore it, tried to change the direction of the book while leaving some sort of positive impression of Paterno — and the whole thing failed. He would have had to completely start over again, and would have lost the cooperation of the family in the process. The result is a fascinating misfire.
September 1, 2023
Fantastic read for anyone who loves college football. Joe Paterno will always go down in history as one of the best college football coaches of all time. This book goes over the scandal that occurred later in his life and other key moments of his historical career. 5/5
April 10, 2023
Best Joe Paterno biography.
September 12, 2012
I have no idea what this book's purpose is - particularly because I know that before the Sandusky scandal rocked Penn State, Posnanski was writing the book anyway. The author suggests that he was writing the book because he had reason to believe Paterno was going to retire at the end of the season, even before disaster struck. If he was writing a swan song book, he abandoned that mission, maybe because the scandal rendered it moot, and maybe because the last season of Joe Paterno's life just wasn't that interesting, sexual predators aside.
It's not difficult to believe the final season was less than compelling because the picture I got from reading this book was of an extraordinarily ordinary man who did the same thing day after day, year after year, decade after decade. I couldn't imagine reading a biography of a more boring person than the Joe Paterno described in this book. For all the inside access supposedly provided to Posnanski, the quotes from Paterno, most unforgivingly when they pertain to Sandusky, are superficial and wholly unenlightening. Paterno asks Posnanski how he feels about the whole scandal. Posnanski reveals that he told Paterno he should have done more. Yeah, I shoulda, Paterno said. That is the extent of his interior monologue revealed.
Few biographies, even those whose authors aim to be comprehensive, actually are comprehensive. A biographer has no mandate to be impartial and of course most are unapologetically biased. Let the next writer tackle the dark side, the one with that agenda. Strangely then, Posnanski dwells extensively on just how over the hill Paterno was in the late 90s and early 2000s - and when Paterno rallies - apparently only because Spanier threatened to force him to retire - there is no explanation of what Paterno actually did to turn things around. It's curiously inside out. I'm happy to see that the author could see both sides, but it's actually on the positive side that he lets us down.
The turnaround of the late 2000s is summarized in a few paragraphs - he modernized! He revitalized! He allowed offensive players to - do what, exactly? What did Joe Paterno do? Why did he do it? Why did he change? Why didn't he change sooner?
Unfortunately, really the whole book is like that. Important moments are glossed over, while seemingly minor anecdotes are given whole chapters. David Paterno has a life-threatening trampoline accident and, if it's mentioned, it's so brief that I missed it entirely. George Paterno dies - of what, exactly? It's hinted that it was drink related (it was a heart attack), but never stated. This kind of lack of detail is surprising, coming from a working journalist, and even knowing that the book was hurried onto shelves.
Not that George Paterno's cause of death is important in the overall scheme of a Joe Paterno biography, but it's just one of many examples of how the book fails to reveal the details that, for me, make a biography worth reading. Several times, Posnanski writes that something is not for him to say - such as what the board of trustees was thinking when it decided to fire Paterno. Well, nobody made him write the book, so it's up to him to say whatever the heck he wants to say. He didn't not delve more deeply into the board's actions because it was out of his jurisdiction. He didn't delve into the board's actions because he decided not to. End of story.
Posnanski writes that Paterno didn't like Sandusky, and later restates it with emphasis, implying that the poor relationship between the men somehow provides Paterno some cover. It's weak, desperate, and in any case, the case is poorly made. If Paterno wanted Sandusky gone so bad, he had the perfect opportunity to get rid of him.
Given that Paterno throughout the book is portrayed throughout the book as confrontational, egotistical and single minded, his failure to report Sandusky actually becomes more sinister: it becomes almost impossible to believe that Paterno did not decide that reporting Sandusky would be worse than not reporting him. For all that Posnanski does to suggest that Paterno's personal notes contained no mention of Sandusky, and therefore indicate that he did not really know what was going on, they ignore the equally likely possibility that the coach who had his hand in everything simply got rid of any references he had made to Sandusky, or never made them in the first place knowing they would be incriminating. Paterno did, after all, go to Brown.
If you don't know much about Joe Paterno, this book will introduce you to him at least. It will be up to you after that to go out and find other sources that hopefully can give you a fuller picture. If you're here to know how Joe Paterno felt about the scandal that ruined his life - or heck, even how Sue Paterno felt - keep looking.
It's not difficult to believe the final season was less than compelling because the picture I got from reading this book was of an extraordinarily ordinary man who did the same thing day after day, year after year, decade after decade. I couldn't imagine reading a biography of a more boring person than the Joe Paterno described in this book. For all the inside access supposedly provided to Posnanski, the quotes from Paterno, most unforgivingly when they pertain to Sandusky, are superficial and wholly unenlightening. Paterno asks Posnanski how he feels about the whole scandal. Posnanski reveals that he told Paterno he should have done more. Yeah, I shoulda, Paterno said. That is the extent of his interior monologue revealed.
Few biographies, even those whose authors aim to be comprehensive, actually are comprehensive. A biographer has no mandate to be impartial and of course most are unapologetically biased. Let the next writer tackle the dark side, the one with that agenda. Strangely then, Posnanski dwells extensively on just how over the hill Paterno was in the late 90s and early 2000s - and when Paterno rallies - apparently only because Spanier threatened to force him to retire - there is no explanation of what Paterno actually did to turn things around. It's curiously inside out. I'm happy to see that the author could see both sides, but it's actually on the positive side that he lets us down.
The turnaround of the late 2000s is summarized in a few paragraphs - he modernized! He revitalized! He allowed offensive players to - do what, exactly? What did Joe Paterno do? Why did he do it? Why did he change? Why didn't he change sooner?
Unfortunately, really the whole book is like that. Important moments are glossed over, while seemingly minor anecdotes are given whole chapters. David Paterno has a life-threatening trampoline accident and, if it's mentioned, it's so brief that I missed it entirely. George Paterno dies - of what, exactly? It's hinted that it was drink related (it was a heart attack), but never stated. This kind of lack of detail is surprising, coming from a working journalist, and even knowing that the book was hurried onto shelves.
Not that George Paterno's cause of death is important in the overall scheme of a Joe Paterno biography, but it's just one of many examples of how the book fails to reveal the details that, for me, make a biography worth reading. Several times, Posnanski writes that something is not for him to say - such as what the board of trustees was thinking when it decided to fire Paterno. Well, nobody made him write the book, so it's up to him to say whatever the heck he wants to say. He didn't not delve more deeply into the board's actions because it was out of his jurisdiction. He didn't delve into the board's actions because he decided not to. End of story.
Posnanski writes that Paterno didn't like Sandusky, and later restates it with emphasis, implying that the poor relationship between the men somehow provides Paterno some cover. It's weak, desperate, and in any case, the case is poorly made. If Paterno wanted Sandusky gone so bad, he had the perfect opportunity to get rid of him.
Given that Paterno throughout the book is portrayed throughout the book as confrontational, egotistical and single minded, his failure to report Sandusky actually becomes more sinister: it becomes almost impossible to believe that Paterno did not decide that reporting Sandusky would be worse than not reporting him. For all that Posnanski does to suggest that Paterno's personal notes contained no mention of Sandusky, and therefore indicate that he did not really know what was going on, they ignore the equally likely possibility that the coach who had his hand in everything simply got rid of any references he had made to Sandusky, or never made them in the first place knowing they would be incriminating. Paterno did, after all, go to Brown.
If you don't know much about Joe Paterno, this book will introduce you to him at least. It will be up to you after that to go out and find other sources that hopefully can give you a fuller picture. If you're here to know how Joe Paterno felt about the scandal that ruined his life - or heck, even how Sue Paterno felt - keep looking.
October 31, 2023
I read this book because I wanted to read something by Posnanski, and this was the only one of his works available in my library. I'll have to read more of his columns because I don't feel I have a good sense of his writing style. His subject in this book is a very controversial man. Some say Posnanski shouldn't have written this book, but he was already so deep into the project that I'm sure it was difficult to think about stopping it. The timing was unreal. I think Paterno, either consciously or subconsciously, wanted to protect his program much to the detriment of the victims. Unfortunately, every sentence of this book drips with irony.
February 3, 2017
I'm a Penn State graduate and as most Penn Staters will attest to, Joe Paterno was a rock god. I'll never forget when he walked past me one day and cheerily said hello. I almost fell over--the legendary JoePa acknowledging me...a lowly student? We were proud of Joe. Unlike many, if not most college football coaches, he took education seriously. His players filled the library, studying and meeting with their tutors (one of my friends was a tutor--Joe wasn't just putting on a show). He was a character, with his Brooklyn accent, "Coke-bottle" glasses, floods, and white socks. Before I attended Penn State, I couldn't have cared less about football. I never lived anywhere long enough to develop an allegiance to any pro or college team. I was completely ignorant of Penn State's football team--"They have a football team? Oh." But Joe made a believer out of me, especially after experiencing the excitement of a National Championship in 1982. So you can imagine what it felt like when the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke. As more and more details emerged, we became more and more horrified. And when it was discovered that Joe was told about Sandusky's despicable behavior, and told the appropriate authorities, but never followed up any further, it was like a blow to the stomach. How could our Joe have done that? It couldn't be true. Sadly, it was. It became very difficult to be a Penn Stater for a while--just by virtue of being a student or an alum, you were somehow guilty too. On the top of a mountain in Slovenia, yes, Slovenia, I ran into a couple in their 70s who were Penn State alums. We had a sad conversation about the unimaginable situation there. Joe Posnanski had already started writing a biography of Joe Paterno, with his and his family's blessing, before this scandal broke. Posnanski must have been alternately delighted and petrified by this unexpected situation. But, I think he did an admirable job depicting JoePa as neither a saint nor a monster. Joe's history is covered, from childhood to college to football player to coach. Once he was bitten by the football bug, Joe was obsessed. He lived and breathed football to a fault--neglecting his family and reaching a point where he should have passed the reigns of Penn State's football program to someone else (thankfully, he never had any intention of passing it to Jerry Sandusky--in fact, long before the scandal broke, it was clear Joe did NOT like Sandusky), but didn't. This book helped you understand why. Yes, it may have been selfish, but like many men on the verge of retirement, he was terrified by the thought of "what next?" Football had been his entire life. What else would he do? Another thing Posnanski helped you to understand was why Joe did not follow up on the allegations against Sandusky. Let me make it clear that I'm not excusing Joe's behavior, but Sandusky's horrible crimes were so alien and abhorrent to him, he just couldn't cope with it. He did what he had to do and then, swept it under the rug. I can imagine many men his age doing the same thing. Haven't we all been guilty of not engaging with something or someone that made us uncomfortable (though certainly not to this degree)? Still, unquestionably, he didn't do enough. He'd had such a storied life, it was devastating to see him fall so terribly far. It killed him. His cancer was diagnosed in November, he was dead by February. We all just felt such sadness. He said, shortly before he died, that he hoped eventually people would put all the pieces together and give him credit for the good he did accomplish in his life. I feel like we're getting to that point. Joe was not perfect. WE put him up on that pedestal and I'm not sure he wanted to be there. But thanks to this book, we get a more rounded portrait of a very complex man.
January 26, 2013
Disclaimer: I've followed Penn State football and Joe Pa since I was a young boy...grew up listening to the games on the radio. Had read a few other books on Paterno, but wanted to read this book because 1) I think Posnanski is one of the best sports writers in the country, and 2) he was living at State College researching this book when Paterno was fired; he shared conversations with Paterno in those few months between his firing and death. For those looking for a research project which definitively answers questions about Paterno's knowledge and involvement with the Sandusky affair, you'll be disappointed. This is a book about a man with a complex personality, a fiery disposition, and an insatiable desire to succeed. I credit Posnanski for not "boiler plating" Paterno; he appreciates the complexities and doesn't write to make our mind up. He instead provides history, facts, stories, etc. and allows the reader to come up with his own conclusions. That will be uncomfortable for some; interestingly enough, many of Posnanski's peers slammed him over this book for just that reason. A lot of new information in this book, at least for me. Great stories and reflections from many of Paterno's former players, although I expected more from coaches that had served with Joe. The book also provides an appreciation of how the media painted Paterno as "larger than life," which Joe was uncomfortable with but still used as a pulpit of sorts to share his vision of college sports; it also became an albatross and resulted in a fractured relationship with the media later in his career. Let's just say the media was more than willing to knock Paterno from the pulpit when he was fired. I give this book five stars; Posnanski did a great job providing a window into Joe Paterno's life. The most powerful moment in the book for me was the conversation between the author and Joe at his kitchen table after Paterno was fired. I think Posnanski spoke for many of us. I'll let you decide for yourselves.
August 26, 2012
I've been a fan of Penn State football since my birth in 1963. A pretty good time to follow a program and it's legendary coach. My parents both graduated from Penn State as did my grandmother, my aunt and uncle and other relatives. I never attended PSU, but have always felt like State College was a second home. Until now I'd never read a book about Paterno. I'd always had my own feelings about him based on his coaching techniques and his desire to focus on the larger parts of a student-athletes life.
This book confirmed what I always felt in my heart was true about Paterno. A stubborn idealistic man who never stopped coaching. Even long after players graduated. He must have been tough to live with, but I think any person who is so mission driven is hard to live with.
No one can question his heartfelt desire to actually want to change the lives of young men - to have them be successes in life, not on the football team. The media's recent portrayal of Paterno and the football team as being too powerful is just wrong. Paterno was one of the rare coaches who saw that he could use football to teach young men about life. He never did it for the money or the fame. Maybe this book will put a little bit of the recent attacks into perspective. The man was not perfect, but he he did great good and in one instance didn't do enough. But I disagree with all the blame falling on Paterno and the football program.
The book was clearly a rushed publication and I think another year would have created a fuller picture of the details good and bad of the scandal which ended Paterno's career. I look forward to Corley and Schulz's day in court as well as further facts being released.
September 7, 2012
Simply an amazing book. This is a must read that allows the reader to further understand how Joe Paterno worked, thought, and lived. His mind was always active, always thinking two steps ahead - "think about getting up on your way down". A concise view of a genuine human who was only ever really afraid of one thing. A human who never got along with someone that the general public had always thought were best friends. A human who put the lives, education, and futures of the players first -- he didn't view them as players, but as students! He cared more for them as students than for how they would improve the football team. A human who when asked (about that big "elephant in the room") if he would have done more said that of course he would have if he would have had different information, but we have the benefit of hindsight. I think a lot of people have said or thought that very thing about this and other things in life. A human who was just that - human. Like we all are.
No one can understand what another is thinking. But this is a story of the type of individual that they just don't make anymore. He reminds me of my grandfather - genuine, caring, and always looking out for your success first --- and rather than telling you, he show's you the way. A person where criticism didn't get him down, because he knew in his big heart the truth behind his own actions(on everything throughout his life).
I recommend everyone; supporters, critics, and skeptics alike, to read this with an open mind to learn. It's the closest thing to learning about Joe Paterno as we are ever going to get.
No one can understand what another is thinking. But this is a story of the type of individual that they just don't make anymore. He reminds me of my grandfather - genuine, caring, and always looking out for your success first --- and rather than telling you, he show's you the way. A person where criticism didn't get him down, because he knew in his big heart the truth behind his own actions(on everything throughout his life).
I recommend everyone; supporters, critics, and skeptics alike, to read this with an open mind to learn. It's the closest thing to learning about Joe Paterno as we are ever going to get.
September 21, 2012
This book will not change your opinion on Paterno, so don't read it if you want to be swayed in either direction. The author pretty much states that: in one chapter, Joe goes to recruit a future Heisman trophy winner when he realizes the kid brother has leukemia. He abandons the football player and his parents; leaving his colleagues to do the recruiting. Instead, he spends the rest of the evening sitting with the brother. As the author states, "you can see the beauty or you can see the self-interest". Why did Joe do this - did he truly care about the boy or did he know it would get the papers signed?
I wanted to read this when I found out it was being published, well before the scandal as I am an alumni and PSU fan. It was an interesting read and if you're a fan of college football, you'll enjoy the strategies and the name-dropping. What disappointed me was that it seems like the Paternos were very open with the author yet he didn't pry for more information about the Sandusky scandal. Perhaps it's because JoePa was ill at the time, perhaps he didn't want to come across as another tabloid reporter, perhaps he was afraid of hearing something he wouldn't want to. Whatever the reason, I think he dropped the ball there.
While the book might not change your view of Joe Paterno (I'm keeping silent about mine), it will give you some insider knowledge of the Penn State football program. And it also gives a candid perspective of Sue Paterno, and I'll gladly give you my opinion of her - she's a stand by your man bad-ass and I puffy heart her!
I wanted to read this when I found out it was being published, well before the scandal as I am an alumni and PSU fan. It was an interesting read and if you're a fan of college football, you'll enjoy the strategies and the name-dropping. What disappointed me was that it seems like the Paternos were very open with the author yet he didn't pry for more information about the Sandusky scandal. Perhaps it's because JoePa was ill at the time, perhaps he didn't want to come across as another tabloid reporter, perhaps he was afraid of hearing something he wouldn't want to. Whatever the reason, I think he dropped the ball there.
While the book might not change your view of Joe Paterno (I'm keeping silent about mine), it will give you some insider knowledge of the Penn State football program. And it also gives a candid perspective of Sue Paterno, and I'll gladly give you my opinion of her - she's a stand by your man bad-ass and I puffy heart her!
August 25, 2012
I love Joe Posnanski's work, but this is the wrong book at the wrong time. He's a storyteller, not a biographer--he reflects his subjects rather than investigate them. Posnanski spends the last 1/4 of the book on the Sandusky scandal, mostly trying to minimize Paterno's role. He even claims that the story of Paterno's firing is "beyond the scope of the book," and he goes into zero detail about the scandal itself, except in how Paterno saw it. This isn't biography, it's a gracefully-written "as-told-to." If Posnanski didn't think that Paterno bore responsibility, he should've just left the scandal out, or gave it a small mention, or ended the book in 2010. Which I think he could've done if he'd sat on the material and wrote the book in 5 years.
Instead he gives the book a disastrous weakness because he clearly hasn't investigated the scandal, nor did he ask Paterno any tough questions about his role in it. The first 3/4ths of the book, about Paterno's career leading up to the scandal, are a compelling and fascinating read. If you are interested in Paterno, I'd read that and then put the book down.
Instead he gives the book a disastrous weakness because he clearly hasn't investigated the scandal, nor did he ask Paterno any tough questions about his role in it. The first 3/4ths of the book, about Paterno's career leading up to the scandal, are a compelling and fascinating read. If you are interested in Paterno, I'd read that and then put the book down.
September 9, 2012
I read this book in an effort to understand how Joe Paterno could be such a polarizng figure. He was seen as a great coach and person by some and evil by others.
This book offered some insights into the man. But my questions weren't fully answered. The author paints the picture of Paterno's relationship with Sandusky as strained from the beginning. But some things didn't make sense. If he really disliked Sandusky, why did Paterno allow him on his staff for so many years? Why did he allow him such access to Penn State's facilities?
I really ended up with more questions than I had before I read the book.
I felt the author tried to be impartial but that was almost impossible for someone to do.
The most important line from the book was from page 342-344:
"As I was writing this book, the line between the Time Before and the Time After became clear: Before November 5, 2011, it was very difficult to find anyone willing to say a truly bad word about Joe Paterno. After NOvember 5, iti was far more difficult to find anyone willing to say a good word."
This book offered some insights into the man. But my questions weren't fully answered. The author paints the picture of Paterno's relationship with Sandusky as strained from the beginning. But some things didn't make sense. If he really disliked Sandusky, why did Paterno allow him on his staff for so many years? Why did he allow him such access to Penn State's facilities?
I really ended up with more questions than I had before I read the book.
I felt the author tried to be impartial but that was almost impossible for someone to do.
The most important line from the book was from page 342-344:
"As I was writing this book, the line between the Time Before and the Time After became clear: Before November 5, 2011, it was very difficult to find anyone willing to say a truly bad word about Joe Paterno. After NOvember 5, iti was far more difficult to find anyone willing to say a good word."
August 30, 2012
I don't read a lot of biographies, but this one was close to me. It may not be as compelling if you are just wanting to accept the current media interpretations (and I am including the Freeh report here because it is just a very skewed interpretation). This helped me to understand Joe Paterno much better than I had before. He was not a god, but a man that wanted to do his best for his university, his kids, and his family. He was not perfect and not a demon either. This book made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. Excellent.
September 2, 2012
Read it and tell me Joe Paterno systematically contributed to help cover up a sexual predator's crimes. I dare you.
Vindication, when it comes, will come too late for Joe, but it will be all the sweeter because the media and the PSU BOT who railroaded him, Freeh and the NCAA will all get their due.
Excellent book, well written, well researched. I especially loved the players' vignettes of Joe, and what they've all taken away from their experiences with him.
Vindication, when it comes, will come too late for Joe, but it will be all the sweeter because the media and the PSU BOT who railroaded him, Freeh and the NCAA will all get their due.
Excellent book, well written, well researched. I especially loved the players' vignettes of Joe, and what they've all taken away from their experiences with him.
June 17, 2023
(4.0 Stars) (Audiobook) I held off reading this book for a long, long time. Grew up a Penn State fan (not shocking when you realize that most of my family lived in State College at one point). Always felt that Paterno was a leader worth emulating…well, at least until the Sandusky scandal came to light. Threw everything into flux. The mythology of JoPa quickly fell apart, and any attempt to resurrect it seemed to run into a new revelation that shot it back down. I had seen reviews and criticisms about this work when it came out a decade ago. However, the book came up in one of my digital library feeds, so figured I could take a listen.
In one respect, this book seemed to be going down the road of the standard JoPa hagiography that you found in all the other Paterno books published before 2011. The author followed Paterno in the twilight of his career, and at first, the narrative was the backstory of one of the greatest coaches in college football history. The kid from Brooklyn, who ended up in State College, PA on Rip Engle’s staff in 1949 and would not leave the field until his firing in 2011. Posnanski got a lot of insider access, but much of what he revealed was hardly new…at least in the pre-2011 saga of Paterno.
Then came Novemeber 5, 2011. The day that the indictment against Sandusky went public, Sandusky was arrested, and the whole saga changed. Paterno tried to maintain his usual attitude, and maybe figured that his 61 years of service to Penn State built up enough credit to get him through this one. Clearly it did not. As one commentator noted: “Words I never thought I would write, Joe Paterno was fired”. Since then, the good of Paterno was buried in the stories of cover-up and looking out for #1. Posnanski holds that Paterno probably did the right thing legally, but his ending story about trying to confront Paterno at the end of the book, before his death in early 2012, about why Paterno didn’t do the moral thing seems a little self-justifying and doesn’t fit in the tenor of the rest of the book.
Overall, the book shows that Paterno did make such an impact on the lives of the men he coached. They may not have liked him, but later in life, they so respected him. Yet, all of these accounts and stories came before more information about Paterno came out, in the form of the Freeh Report and the subsequent civil revelations about Penn State. I recall that Posnanski felt that he wrote the definitive account and had not desire to revisit the tale after all the new revelations.
Unfortunately, the final, true story about Paterno will likely never be written. Paterno died before the Freeh Report and never came to testify under oath about what he really knew. Penn State has somewhat moved on, in the sense that the football program, initially devastated by NCAA sanctions, later rescinded, has moved on and at the time of this writing, is seen as a program that might get a national title (first since Paterno’s greatest win in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl). Paterno’s coaching acumen, especially in his prime, is worth remembering. Yet, the mythology that everyone built around him never should have happened, and that got hammered home with the Sandusky scandal. This work has its moments, and the audiobook with Joe Mantegna, is worth the listen, but it does not completely answer all the questions. A good listen, but for the content…take it or leave it.
In one respect, this book seemed to be going down the road of the standard JoPa hagiography that you found in all the other Paterno books published before 2011. The author followed Paterno in the twilight of his career, and at first, the narrative was the backstory of one of the greatest coaches in college football history. The kid from Brooklyn, who ended up in State College, PA on Rip Engle’s staff in 1949 and would not leave the field until his firing in 2011. Posnanski got a lot of insider access, but much of what he revealed was hardly new…at least in the pre-2011 saga of Paterno.
Then came Novemeber 5, 2011. The day that the indictment against Sandusky went public, Sandusky was arrested, and the whole saga changed. Paterno tried to maintain his usual attitude, and maybe figured that his 61 years of service to Penn State built up enough credit to get him through this one. Clearly it did not. As one commentator noted: “Words I never thought I would write, Joe Paterno was fired”. Since then, the good of Paterno was buried in the stories of cover-up and looking out for #1. Posnanski holds that Paterno probably did the right thing legally, but his ending story about trying to confront Paterno at the end of the book, before his death in early 2012, about why Paterno didn’t do the moral thing seems a little self-justifying and doesn’t fit in the tenor of the rest of the book.
Overall, the book shows that Paterno did make such an impact on the lives of the men he coached. They may not have liked him, but later in life, they so respected him. Yet, all of these accounts and stories came before more information about Paterno came out, in the form of the Freeh Report and the subsequent civil revelations about Penn State. I recall that Posnanski felt that he wrote the definitive account and had not desire to revisit the tale after all the new revelations.
Unfortunately, the final, true story about Paterno will likely never be written. Paterno died before the Freeh Report and never came to testify under oath about what he really knew. Penn State has somewhat moved on, in the sense that the football program, initially devastated by NCAA sanctions, later rescinded, has moved on and at the time of this writing, is seen as a program that might get a national title (first since Paterno’s greatest win in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl). Paterno’s coaching acumen, especially in his prime, is worth remembering. Yet, the mythology that everyone built around him never should have happened, and that got hammered home with the Sandusky scandal. This work has its moments, and the audiobook with Joe Mantegna, is worth the listen, but it does not completely answer all the questions. A good listen, but for the content…take it or leave it.
June 9, 2020
As a lifelong Penn State fan, I was interested to read this book since it seems like a good source since the author is not a Penn State person and yet he had very open access to the Paterno family, to Penn State football, and to Joe's personal files and correspondence. I felt like he had a very balanced view of Joe, showing him as a human with real flaws but also with great ideals and accomplishments. That is the Joe that I knew and loved while he was alive. Joe could be frustrating and set in his ways and too egotistical at times but also charming and challenging and a person to truly admire. I am glad that Posnascki went back into Joe's past to show him as a flesh and blood person who raised the profile of not only Penn State football but also the university. Of course, with the Sandusky issue, I think we got a sense of just how haywire that entire mess was, how Penn State's administration was out of the loop and not attentive to what was happening. I believe Joe did what he thought was right but, strangely enough, his years-long contentious relationship with Sandusky made him pull his punches I think, and he did not follow up as aggressively as he would have normally since it would appear that he was rehashing old grudges, though later evidence has shown that Joe did in fact follow up to find out how the Sandusky situation was handled. Of course, there was little he could do in reality, and I feel that he met the burden placed on him by any fair-minded person if they considered what they would have done in a similar situation. Overall, I think it's clear that Joe stayed in coaching too long. He was too oblivious and past his time to handle something like this heinous situation and that fact played into the fog that covered Sandusky's trail. I will be forever grateful to Joe and what he has mean to me as a person, though the tragic ending of his life is a source of sorrow for me. Overall, the Posnanski book is very fair, I think, at times taking Joe to task, but I think at all times trying to be fair and honest with the real legacy that he left. I recommend it.
July 28, 2022
I read this book as soon as it was released, less than a year after the Sandusky scandal broke, and several months after the death of Joe Paterno.
Joe Posnanski was (and still is) my favorite writer. Before the Sandusky scandal became public, and there was knowledge of this book being written, I was thrilled. As a Penn Stater, Posnanski was a terrific writer to tell the Paterno story.
After reading the book, I feel strongly that this book holds up as one of Posnanski's bests.
Yes, of course, he writes about the scandal. And he was there at the Paterno household as the fallout happened. So you get a very raw and real-time analysis of that. Maybe Posnanski feels differently now regarding his conculsion than he did then, but I'll leave that to him to write a column on his Substack.
Anyway, the book does a great job covering Paterno's entire life. I am still particularly struck by how much he sacrificed family time for his career. Those of you who have chosen career aspirations over family life can relate, but it was unexpected to read about.
It was cool to read about when Paterno actually had a relationship with the media (something that may have helped him in the final months of his life). It's interesting to see the hardening (almost jaded) of Paterno the person and coach over the years, as the pressure of big-time college football grows.
So those were some of the surprises. We know the good stuff. The way he positively impacted student-athletes over the course of 409 wins. The endless donations he and his family made to Penn State. The way he built a community that embodied "Success with Honor."
The story of Joe Paterno is like that of many of us: imperfect but interesting. Thrilling and frustrating. Happy and sad.
Overall, I feel Posnanski tells an accurate story. Tells a fair story. And tells an engaging story.
Joe Posnanski was (and still is) my favorite writer. Before the Sandusky scandal became public, and there was knowledge of this book being written, I was thrilled. As a Penn Stater, Posnanski was a terrific writer to tell the Paterno story.
After reading the book, I feel strongly that this book holds up as one of Posnanski's bests.
Yes, of course, he writes about the scandal. And he was there at the Paterno household as the fallout happened. So you get a very raw and real-time analysis of that. Maybe Posnanski feels differently now regarding his conculsion than he did then, but I'll leave that to him to write a column on his Substack.
Anyway, the book does a great job covering Paterno's entire life. I am still particularly struck by how much he sacrificed family time for his career. Those of you who have chosen career aspirations over family life can relate, but it was unexpected to read about.
It was cool to read about when Paterno actually had a relationship with the media (something that may have helped him in the final months of his life). It's interesting to see the hardening (almost jaded) of Paterno the person and coach over the years, as the pressure of big-time college football grows.
So those were some of the surprises. We know the good stuff. The way he positively impacted student-athletes over the course of 409 wins. The endless donations he and his family made to Penn State. The way he built a community that embodied "Success with Honor."
The story of Joe Paterno is like that of many of us: imperfect but interesting. Thrilling and frustrating. Happy and sad.
Overall, I feel Posnanski tells an accurate story. Tells a fair story. And tells an engaging story.
September 9, 2024
Joe Paterno was the head football coach at Penn State for 45 years. He built a legacy of success, integrity, and honor, but it all came crashing down when it was revealed that he did virtually nothing , according to the press and others, after learning a former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was a probable child molested. He did, however, what was set forth in the university handbook and required by law. Confused by the situation he trusted his superiors to handle it appropriately. In today's world that was not sufficient.
But Joe did live in today's world. He lived in a world of the past. What fascinated me about this book was the glimpse of his personality and his absolute tunnel vision to football and molding men for life. Not on wins, although they were counted, not on fund raising, although it had to be done, not on accolades or even on money. Joe was all about football, constantly thinking on it, analyzing his plays, revising, tweaking. And he felt that young men presenting themselves appropriately, working hard in academics and with proper discipline to the program and loyalty to the unit and coach, would be molded for success in life.
I found the book interesting and the last chapter of stories by successful men on the impact Paterno ha on them was very insightful. The section on Sandusky was brief and seemed an after thought,perhaps because of either timing of the incident or the depth of potential information. In any case this is not a book about Sandusky but about Paterno, his thought process, his life, his family interactions and his tunnel vision for 45 years. I found it interesting.
But Joe did live in today's world. He lived in a world of the past. What fascinated me about this book was the glimpse of his personality and his absolute tunnel vision to football and molding men for life. Not on wins, although they were counted, not on fund raising, although it had to be done, not on accolades or even on money. Joe was all about football, constantly thinking on it, analyzing his plays, revising, tweaking. And he felt that young men presenting themselves appropriately, working hard in academics and with proper discipline to the program and loyalty to the unit and coach, would be molded for success in life.
I found the book interesting and the last chapter of stories by successful men on the impact Paterno ha on them was very insightful. The section on Sandusky was brief and seemed an after thought,perhaps because of either timing of the incident or the depth of potential information. In any case this is not a book about Sandusky but about Paterno, his thought process, his life, his family interactions and his tunnel vision for 45 years. I found it interesting.
September 20, 2021
A telling point in Joe Posnanski's book is near the end when Joe Paterno asks his family about some of the descriptions of sexual assault that defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with. Paterno didn't even understand them, perhaps an indication of his totally sheltered life in football and a reason why he didn't react more when he heard of the offenses.
It's a moving scene and one only Posnanski could have gotten with his access to Paterno in the days of his firing and subsequent death.
The book was written before the scandal broke and Posnanski scrambled to include it in his manuscript. There are some obvious inclusions and transitions throughout the book, almost in foreshadowing of Paterno's termination. Still, because Posnanski is so good, the book works well.
Much of it is Paterno's career and how he got into football. Posnanski dispels some rumors that Paterno "fell into" coaching and instead would have been a lawyer. I wasn't aware that Paterno was also a candidate for pro coaching jobs early on as well.
This is an unbiased and fair look at Paterno's career and how it all fell apart, whether to Paterno's need to cover it up or his ignorance of the act.
It's a moving scene and one only Posnanski could have gotten with his access to Paterno in the days of his firing and subsequent death.
The book was written before the scandal broke and Posnanski scrambled to include it in his manuscript. There are some obvious inclusions and transitions throughout the book, almost in foreshadowing of Paterno's termination. Still, because Posnanski is so good, the book works well.
Much of it is Paterno's career and how he got into football. Posnanski dispels some rumors that Paterno "fell into" coaching and instead would have been a lawyer. I wasn't aware that Paterno was also a candidate for pro coaching jobs early on as well.
This is an unbiased and fair look at Paterno's career and how it all fell apart, whether to Paterno's need to cover it up or his ignorance of the act.
October 8, 2019
This is a hard book to write about. Posnanski, who is a superb writer and one of my favorites, was doing the career-encapsulating biography of Paterno... when the whole Jerry Sandusky thing broke and the subject promptly went off and died. This would be every writer's nightmare, and Posnanski soldiers on, delivering a book which is by turns typical of his thoughtful, careful approach to his subjects and uncomfortable hero worship. Yes, Posnanski goes too far in his dancing around Paterno's failure to do more to stop Sandusky from molesting young children. Yes, Paterno was still a unique and interesting coach and man.
A different writer could have cranked out a smear biography of Paterno. This one, on the other hand, sits a bit too deeply in his corner to provide the balanced view that a complicated life demands. In its best moments, the book is fascinating and worthy of its author. In its more cloying moments, it's almost stomach-turning. It's worth reading, but I'd start with Joe's Buck O'Neill book, which is one of my all-time favorites. That book won't require anywhere near as much of a critical eye.
A different writer could have cranked out a smear biography of Paterno. This one, on the other hand, sits a bit too deeply in his corner to provide the balanced view that a complicated life demands. In its best moments, the book is fascinating and worthy of its author. In its more cloying moments, it's almost stomach-turning. It's worth reading, but I'd start with Joe's Buck O'Neill book, which is one of my all-time favorites. That book won't require anywhere near as much of a critical eye.
March 18, 2025
5.0, this is one of the best biographies I have ever read. If you are at all interested in Penn State, Joe Paterno, College Football, The Sandusky Scandal, definitely read this. I laughed out loud in some chapters and cried silently in others. Joe Paterno was a fascinating and wonderful person, a true leader and mentor. I liked that the author wasn't biased and was truthful about JoePa's flaws. The author did judge JoePa for some of his mistakes but was absolutely fair.
This was outstanding. Can't recommend enough. Well-written, easy to get into. Hard to put down.
P.S. JoePa reminded me of my father in some ways, as far as having a wonderful long successful career and fading rapidly after retirement, in being proud of his achievements as he looked back at his life. Unfortunately for me and my siblings, my father wasn't nearly as nice a person as JoePa, but still, I appreciate all the good things.
This was outstanding. Can't recommend enough. Well-written, easy to get into. Hard to put down.
P.S. JoePa reminded me of my father in some ways, as far as having a wonderful long successful career and fading rapidly after retirement, in being proud of his achievements as he looked back at his life. Unfortunately for me and my siblings, my father wasn't nearly as nice a person as JoePa, but still, I appreciate all the good things.
August 27, 2017
Joe Posnanski was working on this book with the full cooperation of his subject when the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke in 2011. That investigation (and the massive damage it did to Joe Paterno's reputation) threw off the bio Posnanski was writing and it shows. The story of a coach who once stood for academic excellence was lost and the attempts to tie in the end of JoePa's career and life feel another story was grafted onto the original. At his best Posnanski is one of the best sportswriters alive. I finished the book feeling sorry for him. I also wish he had dealt a little more with the problems with an octogenarian football coach who won't retire but that was lightly brushed over. Maybe after a few more years to reflect and digest the whole of the Paterno story Posnanski can circle back and write a better book.
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