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My Prison Without Bars
Pete Rose holds more major league baseball records than any other player in history. His old-fashioned work ethic turned his great talent into legendary accomplishments. Rose is also a lifelong gambler. For the past 13 years, he has been banned from baseball & barred from his rightful place in the Hall of Fame -- accused of violating MLB s one taboo. Rule 21 states that no one associated with baseball shall ever gamble on the game. The punishment is a permanent barring from baseball & exclusion from the Hall of Fame. Rose has denied betting on the game that he loves. Here, Rose gives a vivid picture of his life in prison, his early life & baseball career. Also confronts his demons, tackling the ugly truths about his gambling & his behavior. Photos.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2000
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About the author
Pete Rose
32 books12 followersPeter Edward Rose Sr., nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds lineup known as the Big Red Machine for their dominance of the National League in the 1970s. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won his third World Series championship in 1980, and had a brief stint with the Montreal Expos. He managed the Reds from 1984 to 1989.
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May 6, 2022
Am I supposed to feel sorry for Pete Rose after reading this book? I don't think so. I do feel badly that he isn't in the Baseball Hall of Fame though. But that is his own fault.
Rose spills his guts in this tell-all story of his life, so far. He tells of his childhood, his career in baseball and his afflictions that caused him to be addicted to gambling and causing his permanent ban from baseball.
Rose spills his guts in this tell-all story of his life, so far. He tells of his childhood, his career in baseball and his afflictions that caused him to be addicted to gambling and causing his permanent ban from baseball.
July 25, 2024
I spent time with my good friend Julio this summer. Not only did he welcome my family into his beautiful home, he sent me home with a book! He’s a former player and coach, and I rely on him for insight into the state of baseball. Although I check him back for his scouting expertise. (Trent Grisham? Seriously?)
I love biographies, and I love baseball. But this about as nontraditional as it gets, perhaps leaning even harder into the vernacular than Britney Spears. He does warn you in the preface, and he mentions his issues with an attention disorder. So, don’t be surprised if this is reminiscent of a guy sitting on a bar stool talking smack. But they’re awesome stories about really cool stuff told by a baseball legend!
Pete is an old school guy, and it shows. Get ready for a few off-color remarks. Political correctness? Not his thing. I got turned off once or twice, but it didn’t make me put down the book. (See my review of Gone with the Wind: just because I read it doesn’t mean I agree with all of it.)
I liked reading about his hardscrabble, gray-collar life in Cincinnati. He was an undersized kid with outsized dreams, fueled and supported by his tough-love parents. He was “Charlie Hustle” for that reason: he fought and scraped for every base since it was the only way to get ahead. (And I didn’t know the nickname was a derogatory one, bestowed by Yankee great Whitey Ford!) And every now and then, in the middle of some thought or reflection or memory, he pops out with some random story about Johnny Bench or Joe DiMaggio. All of this makes the chronology wild and woolly.
I also thought a few big events got glossed over. Marriage, kids, relationships don’t get much detail. I was looking forward to learning about playing in his first World Series, but nothing was there. There was, however, quite a bit of detail about his time in prison, and there he spares very little.
But I think the purpose of the book was not a detailed account of his life from start to finish (or the state of it in 2004). Rather, it pointed toward the title: why he felt like he was unfairly banned.
That’s one area where this book stands out: reasons for reinstatement. Listing it all would be a spoiler, so instead I’ll just say that in the later third, Rose gives a common-man explanation with common sense. Barack Obama he’s not, but he speaks with facts and with heart. And there’s the other good attribute: honesty and forthrightness. Sure, as other readers have said, sometimes he sounds like he’s making excuses. But mostly it’s Pete sharing as much as he can about his life, and he owns up to quite a bit.
However, one big drawback: too many errors. Oh, boy: more than a few typos. Too many misplaced dates and names (it was Chad Curtis, not Shane Spencer, who told off Jim Gray in the 1999 World Series). I’d give the editors and fact-checkers a D-minus: they knew Pete’s not a writer, so they should’ve helped him out.
But let’s respond to the title: Pete Rose should be reinstated.
For one thing, Giamatti did promise him a review, but he died before that could happen. For another, while he admits to betting on baseball, there’s no proof he fixed any games. Such a thing would be near-impossible to prove.
I got more:
• Ty Cobb was WAY worse of a person, and he’s a pillar in the HOF.
• The Commissioner’s office has asked him to improve his life. Sure, he’s involved with casinos, but so what? He’s making money and doing it all legally. What’s the problem?
• The damage he did through gambling was almost all self-inflicted. You could argue it affected his marriage and parenthood. But what business is that of baseball? See above (Ty Cobb).
• I can’t watch ten minutes of a baseball game without some ad for legalized sports gambling. It seems to be encouraged, even celebrated. To knock Pete for the same thing seems hypocritical.
So, despite my opinion about the messy writing style, the book does its job. It’s not his personality that made him a legend. It was his skill, determination, and love of the game. He was one of the best hitters the world has ever seen.
Put him in the Hall. BEFORE he goes to the big dugout in the sky.
I love biographies, and I love baseball. But this about as nontraditional as it gets, perhaps leaning even harder into the vernacular than Britney Spears. He does warn you in the preface, and he mentions his issues with an attention disorder. So, don’t be surprised if this is reminiscent of a guy sitting on a bar stool talking smack. But they’re awesome stories about really cool stuff told by a baseball legend!
Pete is an old school guy, and it shows. Get ready for a few off-color remarks. Political correctness? Not his thing. I got turned off once or twice, but it didn’t make me put down the book. (See my review of Gone with the Wind: just because I read it doesn’t mean I agree with all of it.)
I liked reading about his hardscrabble, gray-collar life in Cincinnati. He was an undersized kid with outsized dreams, fueled and supported by his tough-love parents. He was “Charlie Hustle” for that reason: he fought and scraped for every base since it was the only way to get ahead. (And I didn’t know the nickname was a derogatory one, bestowed by Yankee great Whitey Ford!) And every now and then, in the middle of some thought or reflection or memory, he pops out with some random story about Johnny Bench or Joe DiMaggio. All of this makes the chronology wild and woolly.
I also thought a few big events got glossed over. Marriage, kids, relationships don’t get much detail. I was looking forward to learning about playing in his first World Series, but nothing was there. There was, however, quite a bit of detail about his time in prison, and there he spares very little.
But I think the purpose of the book was not a detailed account of his life from start to finish (or the state of it in 2004). Rather, it pointed toward the title: why he felt like he was unfairly banned.
That’s one area where this book stands out: reasons for reinstatement. Listing it all would be a spoiler, so instead I’ll just say that in the later third, Rose gives a common-man explanation with common sense. Barack Obama he’s not, but he speaks with facts and with heart. And there’s the other good attribute: honesty and forthrightness. Sure, as other readers have said, sometimes he sounds like he’s making excuses. But mostly it’s Pete sharing as much as he can about his life, and he owns up to quite a bit.
However, one big drawback: too many errors. Oh, boy: more than a few typos. Too many misplaced dates and names (it was Chad Curtis, not Shane Spencer, who told off Jim Gray in the 1999 World Series). I’d give the editors and fact-checkers a D-minus: they knew Pete’s not a writer, so they should’ve helped him out.
But let’s respond to the title: Pete Rose should be reinstated.
For one thing, Giamatti did promise him a review, but he died before that could happen. For another, while he admits to betting on baseball, there’s no proof he fixed any games. Such a thing would be near-impossible to prove.
I got more:
• Ty Cobb was WAY worse of a person, and he’s a pillar in the HOF.
• The Commissioner’s office has asked him to improve his life. Sure, he’s involved with casinos, but so what? He’s making money and doing it all legally. What’s the problem?
• The damage he did through gambling was almost all self-inflicted. You could argue it affected his marriage and parenthood. But what business is that of baseball? See above (Ty Cobb).
• I can’t watch ten minutes of a baseball game without some ad for legalized sports gambling. It seems to be encouraged, even celebrated. To knock Pete for the same thing seems hypocritical.
So, despite my opinion about the messy writing style, the book does its job. It’s not his personality that made him a legend. It was his skill, determination, and love of the game. He was one of the best hitters the world has ever seen.
Put him in the Hall. BEFORE he goes to the big dugout in the sky.
September 28, 2021
Hard book to rate. It has some interesting autobiographical details, his perspective on betting and what transpired (according to this account), and interesting information on the Reds during the period, including contract negotiations. I came away with the impression the book was compiled from lengthy interviews with Rose and Rich Hill did his best to put the information together in a way that made sense. There are odd asides included in the book and I’m curious whether those were included at the insistence of Rose (did he read the finished product?) or included by the author to show Rose’s mental functioning (unable to focus, unreliable narrator, lack of introspection).
Rose was a fantastic player - defensively and offensively. Among left fielders, everyone formally retired with his defensive statistics is in the hall of fame (except Barry Bonds, of course). Offensively, it goes without saying - lengthy career with relatively consistent results. Barry Bonds is currently eligible to be included within the ballot for hall of fame purposes. Take away PEDs (and stats that go with it), Bonds is still HOF worthy but his actions contributed to an ugly period in baseball history. It’s hard for me to come up with why this wouldn’t necessarily apply to Rose unless his contrition is viewed as insincere.
Bud Selig’s sympathetic portrayal in the book, someone whose legacy is tarnished by the strike and steroid era, is curious. Genuine or carefully curated to get Rose a better hearing?
The book is full of players who believe Rose should be in the HOF, but lack most mention of players who believe he doesn’t deserve to be honored (among them, Johnny Bench). The one-sidedness of the book is not surprising, but hardly gins up sympathy.
There are a few inaccuracies or inconsistencies throughout the book:
1) book claims Babe Ruth’s daughter referenced his death as happening in 1939 when she met Pete Rose in Cooperstown (walked a whole three blocks to meet him, she said). That would surprise a lot of the people who interacted with him from 1940 - to his death in 1947.
2) Rose claims Mike Schmidt was inducted (1995) as the same time as Nolan Ryan and George Brett. Ryan and Brett were good, but not good enough to circumvent normal eligibility requirements to be inducted two years after retiring. They were inducted in 1999.
Others that seemed questionable at the time but didn’t mark.
The central character defect that led Rose to bet on baseball when involved with baseball (arrogance) shows itself throughout the pages and one wonders whether Pete Rose can be saved.
Rose was a fantastic player - defensively and offensively. Among left fielders, everyone formally retired with his defensive statistics is in the hall of fame (except Barry Bonds, of course). Offensively, it goes without saying - lengthy career with relatively consistent results. Barry Bonds is currently eligible to be included within the ballot for hall of fame purposes. Take away PEDs (and stats that go with it), Bonds is still HOF worthy but his actions contributed to an ugly period in baseball history. It’s hard for me to come up with why this wouldn’t necessarily apply to Rose unless his contrition is viewed as insincere.
Bud Selig’s sympathetic portrayal in the book, someone whose legacy is tarnished by the strike and steroid era, is curious. Genuine or carefully curated to get Rose a better hearing?
The book is full of players who believe Rose should be in the HOF, but lack most mention of players who believe he doesn’t deserve to be honored (among them, Johnny Bench). The one-sidedness of the book is not surprising, but hardly gins up sympathy.
There are a few inaccuracies or inconsistencies throughout the book:
1) book claims Babe Ruth’s daughter referenced his death as happening in 1939 when she met Pete Rose in Cooperstown (walked a whole three blocks to meet him, she said). That would surprise a lot of the people who interacted with him from 1940 - to his death in 1947.
2) Rose claims Mike Schmidt was inducted (1995) as the same time as Nolan Ryan and George Brett. Ryan and Brett were good, but not good enough to circumvent normal eligibility requirements to be inducted two years after retiring. They were inducted in 1999.
Others that seemed questionable at the time but didn’t mark.
The central character defect that led Rose to bet on baseball when involved with baseball (arrogance) shows itself throughout the pages and one wonders whether Pete Rose can be saved.
March 31, 2022
This book about Pete Rose was better than I thought. Pete Rose did some great things for baseball. He also made some bad decisions with gambling. I think he has paid his dues. Let Pete Rose back in baseball.
May 25, 2009
This book is pretty bad. It actually reduced my sympathy for him. He talks about his psychological ailments that seem phony for the most part. Mostly it is one long awful excuse for the ways he has made a hash of his own life. Sad but true. On the other hand, understanding what happened to Rose definitely casts some light on the current mess in baseball. It looks to me like people like Bonds, McGwire, and Clemens have learned from Rose's mistakes. They will deny wrongdoing all the way to the wall because they know the Hall of Fame is on the line and that if they give an inch it will be over for them.
February 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It definitely showed what kind of person Pete Rose was. Both personally and professionally. I wouldn’t put Rose in the same category as Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. For one thing, he was never suspected of cheating in order to achieve the records he set. Records that will probably never be broken. He had his issues off the field. No doubt about it. But who wouldn’t want someone like Pete Rose on their team? I don’t condone his excessive and uncontrollable gambling. He tainted professional baseball with it. But he still deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Hopefully one day they will induct him.
May 7, 2015
Pete Rose's voice came through loud and clear in this autobiography, despite the use of a ghostwriter. I was hopeful that this book would give me some clarity regarding Pete Rose and his permanent suspension. Sadly, I am no closer to any resolution on this moral dilemma. He offered explanations that sometimes sounded like excuses, but sometimes didn't. And of course, he lied before. He's lied for years. How can I believe anything he says now? I am still in a quandary. But I am still glad I read this book. It was well done, and a good read.
March 31, 2022
Pete Rose is someone you either like or you don't. I didn't like how he gambled on games that he managed and lied about it, though he said he always bet on his team to win and did everything he could to win games at all times. Still, he didn't set a good example for kids, though he continued throughout his life to help young players. But in this book, you come to better understand why he did what he did.
I picked up the book for $1 at a library book sale, thinking I would quickly read through it to get Rose's side. But the more I read his story, the more intrigued I became and the longer I poured over his words. I thought I knew a lot about his case, but I didn't know as much as I thought. For instance, in 1989, he thought he had an agreement with the baseball commissioner to be suspended for a year and then apply for reinstatement. But he was astonished when the commissioner publicly betrayed him a few days later by telling a reporter that Rose should be banned permanently. He makes good points about the punishment not fitting the crime in his case. He deserved to be suspended, but after he paid his debt, baseball should have reinstated Rose.
The book displays Rose's numerous admirable traits, including being fiercely loyal to family and true friends, and having a positive attitude in the face of adversity. He had positive comments about almost everyone he knew, including polarizing figures such as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. He even had a few good comments about bookies until they betrayed him. He admitted that he got in over his head and had a gambling addiction. As he said, he didn't smoke or drink, as many do. Most everyone is addicted to something. It's how you deal with it that matters.
This book is not going to help those who are closed off to him. But the fact is, he gambled on games, he finally admitted to it, and he paid a debt by his longtime ban from baseball and even going to prison for five months for tax evasion. It wasn't a country club prison, either. He was strip-searched several times a day. As he said, our prison system doesn't seek to rehabilitate offenders; it just seeks to punish and humiliate them unnecessarily. For example, guards would even strip-search inmates in front of their families who came to visit them. That's just wrong.
Rose tries to explain his side and sometimes comes off as arrogant and clueless. But that's who he is at times. Overall, this is an interesting work, one that you should read if you are going to have an opinion on him.
The writing is not lyrically. It's done in plain-spoken terms, as if Rose is talking to you. I noticed some grammatical errors, but many books have those these days since apparently they are rushed to print and copy editors have been cut from publishing company budgets. The information is also unorganized at times, as the voice suddenly changes without warning from Rose to a more balanced voice that I presume was the co-author.
After reading it, I agree with those who say Rose should be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is in there already at certain places since he has several records, but he deserves to be enshrined. Athletes in other sports, including NFL stars Paul Hornung and Alex Karras, have bet on their own games and been reinstated, making the Hall of Fame. Baseball, for some reason, likes to hold on to this hypocritical purity standard. In many instances, those pointing the finger at Rose fall short of the standards they set for athletes.
I picked up the book for $1 at a library book sale, thinking I would quickly read through it to get Rose's side. But the more I read his story, the more intrigued I became and the longer I poured over his words. I thought I knew a lot about his case, but I didn't know as much as I thought. For instance, in 1989, he thought he had an agreement with the baseball commissioner to be suspended for a year and then apply for reinstatement. But he was astonished when the commissioner publicly betrayed him a few days later by telling a reporter that Rose should be banned permanently. He makes good points about the punishment not fitting the crime in his case. He deserved to be suspended, but after he paid his debt, baseball should have reinstated Rose.
The book displays Rose's numerous admirable traits, including being fiercely loyal to family and true friends, and having a positive attitude in the face of adversity. He had positive comments about almost everyone he knew, including polarizing figures such as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. He even had a few good comments about bookies until they betrayed him. He admitted that he got in over his head and had a gambling addiction. As he said, he didn't smoke or drink, as many do. Most everyone is addicted to something. It's how you deal with it that matters.
This book is not going to help those who are closed off to him. But the fact is, he gambled on games, he finally admitted to it, and he paid a debt by his longtime ban from baseball and even going to prison for five months for tax evasion. It wasn't a country club prison, either. He was strip-searched several times a day. As he said, our prison system doesn't seek to rehabilitate offenders; it just seeks to punish and humiliate them unnecessarily. For example, guards would even strip-search inmates in front of their families who came to visit them. That's just wrong.
Rose tries to explain his side and sometimes comes off as arrogant and clueless. But that's who he is at times. Overall, this is an interesting work, one that you should read if you are going to have an opinion on him.
The writing is not lyrically. It's done in plain-spoken terms, as if Rose is talking to you. I noticed some grammatical errors, but many books have those these days since apparently they are rushed to print and copy editors have been cut from publishing company budgets. The information is also unorganized at times, as the voice suddenly changes without warning from Rose to a more balanced voice that I presume was the co-author.
After reading it, I agree with those who say Rose should be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is in there already at certain places since he has several records, but he deserves to be enshrined. Athletes in other sports, including NFL stars Paul Hornung and Alex Karras, have bet on their own games and been reinstated, making the Hall of Fame. Baseball, for some reason, likes to hold on to this hypocritical purity standard. In many instances, those pointing the finger at Rose fall short of the standards they set for athletes.
May 12, 2010
Pete Rose's My Prison Without Bars is written for a purpose: to make Pete Rose's case for the Hall of Fame. On paper, Rose's credentials seem unassailable. The all-time career hits leader, Rose owns seven Major League and twelve National League records from his 24 years in baseball.
The controversy comes down to Major League Baseball's Rule 21: "Any... employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible." In 1989 Rose was suspended from baseball after allegations that he gambled on the sport, allegations Rose denied. Thereafter, fans and sportswriters have speculated that baseball officials would re-instate Rose if only he admitted his guilt. In the book, Rose confesses--for the first time--that he did in fact bet on Reds games while he managed the team, though he claims that he never bet against the Reds. This would seem to be the "coming clean" that baseball was looking for.
Rose, however, doesn't seem ready to give up his fight. The book attacks John Dowd and Commissioner Bart Giamatti for the 1989 report which ultimately led to Rose's suspension. Rose picks apart the report showing that the evidence was either falsified or from unreliable sources. Yet, he admits that the document's conclusion--that he bet on baseball--was accurate. Rose declares guilt but still seems to believe, as he says, that gambling is a "victimless crime" and that his punishment does not fit the crime. He won't "act sorry or sad or guilty" because he is "just not built that way."
Admirers of Rose the athelete will likely be disappointed by the book. After a too-short recollection of his life in baseball, Rose dwells heavily on the gamblers, bookmakers, runners, and memorabilia dealers who made up his world when he could no longer compete as a player. In the end, My Prison Without Bars is an interesting historical document in one of the greatest baseball scandals of all time,
The controversy comes down to Major League Baseball's Rule 21: "Any... employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible." In 1989 Rose was suspended from baseball after allegations that he gambled on the sport, allegations Rose denied. Thereafter, fans and sportswriters have speculated that baseball officials would re-instate Rose if only he admitted his guilt. In the book, Rose confesses--for the first time--that he did in fact bet on Reds games while he managed the team, though he claims that he never bet against the Reds. This would seem to be the "coming clean" that baseball was looking for.
Rose, however, doesn't seem ready to give up his fight. The book attacks John Dowd and Commissioner Bart Giamatti for the 1989 report which ultimately led to Rose's suspension. Rose picks apart the report showing that the evidence was either falsified or from unreliable sources. Yet, he admits that the document's conclusion--that he bet on baseball--was accurate. Rose declares guilt but still seems to believe, as he says, that gambling is a "victimless crime" and that his punishment does not fit the crime. He won't "act sorry or sad or guilty" because he is "just not built that way."
Admirers of Rose the athelete will likely be disappointed by the book. After a too-short recollection of his life in baseball, Rose dwells heavily on the gamblers, bookmakers, runners, and memorabilia dealers who made up his world when he could no longer compete as a player. In the end, My Prison Without Bars is an interesting historical document in one of the greatest baseball scandals of all time,
September 15, 2017
In this autobiography, My Prison Without Bars by Pete Rose, Pete picks his own mind trying to tell his life story. The book picks up when he is about six years old, and he tries (yes, tries) to keep the book in chronological order leading up to present day when he makes his case to be reinstated into baseball. Most of the book takes place in Cincinnati, whether he is just a young child or an older man.
As a whole, I thought the book was great. Rose does a wonderful job of telling these intriguing little stories about his childhood, and those stories shined bright. As an example, there is one story when he is six and his dad is playing in the minor league football state championship game. By the end of that two page glimpse into Pete's life, he has learned a lesson he will never forget. My issue with this book, however, is the way in which the book is structured. I initially thought it would be a book in chronological order, and I still believe it was intended to be that way, but the book is very choppy at times. After completing a story, he will bounce from being 12 to being a 26 year old ballplayer, and then go back to being 13 again for another story.
When reading this book, I felt like I was being walked through the life of Pete Rose, and it was refreshing for someone who has been reading "classics" all the time at high school. I would recommend this book for any sports fans out there looking to learn more about baseball, and I would especially recommend this book for any high school or college players out there who would like to get inside the mind of the man with the most MLB hits ever.
As a whole, I thought the book was great. Rose does a wonderful job of telling these intriguing little stories about his childhood, and those stories shined bright. As an example, there is one story when he is six and his dad is playing in the minor league football state championship game. By the end of that two page glimpse into Pete's life, he has learned a lesson he will never forget. My issue with this book, however, is the way in which the book is structured. I initially thought it would be a book in chronological order, and I still believe it was intended to be that way, but the book is very choppy at times. After completing a story, he will bounce from being 12 to being a 26 year old ballplayer, and then go back to being 13 again for another story.
When reading this book, I felt like I was being walked through the life of Pete Rose, and it was refreshing for someone who has been reading "classics" all the time at high school. I would recommend this book for any sports fans out there looking to learn more about baseball, and I would especially recommend this book for any high school or college players out there who would like to get inside the mind of the man with the most MLB hits ever.
July 30, 2019
In one of the most long-awaited tell-all autobiographies of all time, Baseball's All-Time Hit King came clean in the 2004 book "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars" with a clear sense of hope in imminent reinstatement, but more so a refreshing outlook on life following his banishment from the sport he loves. Rose opted to focus most of his commentary on the moments that humanize his troubled life rather than just on the 4,256 hits that made him an immortal. From the investigation into his gambling on professional baseball games while he was a manager to his unrelated federal prison experience, Pete invites the book-reading public into the parts of his life that truly brought out his genuine character. I really felt like I received a near-complete picture of the man named Pete Rose and discovered how his unique bodily chemistry made him into the legend he became. At the time of this publishing, the vast majority of the American public believed that the time was right to reinstate Pete, and thus, finally make him eligible for the Hall of Fame. Fifteen years later, the time remains ripe for his rightful enshrinement.
April 12, 2020
The first half of the book is terrible. At one time, I put the book down and swore I wouldn't touch it again. However, I hate quitting books. The 2nd half was much better. It's what I was looking for - more info on the situation and what really happened. By the end, I was almost on his side to be reinstated. I still have mixed emotions, but would be for him being on the ballot for the Hall of Fame. Overall this book is okay. I probably wouldn't recommend it, but if you can make it through the 1st half, the 2nd isn't half bad.
April 30, 2017
Rating - 8
A good mindless read that tells enough of the Big Red Machine and admissions of error that make it worthwhile; Positive though that connections to the family are not revealed/downplayed
Has gotten the short end of the stick and is deserving of Hall of Fame status - actually a good read for those that are determined to succeed and the benefits of good parenting
A good mindless read that tells enough of the Big Red Machine and admissions of error that make it worthwhile; Positive though that connections to the family are not revealed/downplayed
Has gotten the short end of the stick and is deserving of Hall of Fame status - actually a good read for those that are determined to succeed and the benefits of good parenting
June 22, 2012
Pete Rose attempts to come clean on gambling on MLB. I enjoyed some of the backstory and insight into Pete's past but felt the excuses rang a bit hollow. Props to him for writing the book, but I'm not sure if we still got the whole story. Maybe there will be a sequel.
October 13, 2024
After reading this rather laborious book written by Pete Rose, I’m reminded by something I read stated by one of Johnny Bench’s five ex-wives when describing Johnny. She said something like “Johnny Bench was a great baseball player, but he was lousy at everything else”. Sadly, the same thing can be said about Johnny’s teammate, Pete Rose. After reading this book, it’s also sadly clear that as great as a baseball player Pete Rose was, he sure as heck can’t write a book.
To be fair, Rose says so on the very first page. He tells us very early that he ain’t no literary genius. You have to then wonder, why did he even do this? Why write a book if you can’t even….well….write a book? Some would say for a quick cash grab. If so, it wouldn’t surprise me. Even though this thing is not written well, that isn’t necessarily the main problem, the problem is that this book is too unfocused. While reading this, you get the feeling that you’re sitting at a bar with Pete and he’s had a few too many, and he’s just rambling about everything in his life. We hear the good, the bad, and plenty of ugly. Listening to an inebriated stranger bore you for a few minutes is tolerable, but when you have to endure it for 300 pages or so, it just isn’t a very pleasurable experience.
He also tends to repeat himself a lot. We read time and time again about how Pete tells us that he is basically a selfish jerk. He argues, though (and I would honestly concur), that his demeanor off the field shouldn’t affect his accomplishments on the field. Most ballplayers, Rose tells us, are selfish jerks. They need to be. That’s what turns good ballplayers into great ballplayers. And, yes, Rose probably could have gotten away with being a jerk had not the gambling problem surfaced when he was still managing the Cincinnati Reds in 1989. Once Rose was pushed into the spotlight because of his questionable activities, he continued to be a jerk with the public and that contributed to his eventual banishment from the Hall of Fame and from the game of baseball itself.
Whether or not I agree with the judgement that came down on Pete Rose is really irrelevant to my opinions of the book. And as I’ve stated, it’s just not very good. To be fair, most books by jocks and ex-jocks aren’t really that good either (notice they always have a co-author), but none of these guys were great at their sport because they excelled in English class. This particular book is particularly loathsome as we’re constantly exposed to such vapid observations as:
“I can’t begin to tell y’all how painful it was to get kicked outta baseball…..”.
He seems to begin 90% of his recollections with the word “Hell”.
“Hell what do I care if a player wants to fool around on the road…..”
“Hell most ballplayers would go to the racetrack after games…”
“Hell every other celebrity was eventually forgiven….”
“Hell none of my teammates really liked me…”
“Hell, why would I wanta play ball on the prison baseball team?....”
And on and on and on. It’s way too much. It really does want to make you shout “bartender! No more drinks for this guy. He’s had enough.”
Pete Rose had such a stellar career that had he mainly focused on his playing (and managing) career in this book, this thing would have been somewhat redeemable. He spends very little time, though, devoted to this, the main part, of his career. In fact, it’s almost as if he purposely tries to quickly get through it early in the book so he can talk about his life once his problems began. The few anecdotes he does manage to tell are the highlights of the book by far, such as the on-the-field scuffle during the 1973 World Series with New York Mets’ shortstop Bud Harrelson. Sadly, though, those episodes are only lightly peppered throughout the book. We read more about Rose’s 5-month stay in prison than we do his 25-year brilliant baseball career.
What should have happened here, is Rose should have contracted a respectable author and delegated the writing of Rose’s story to said particular individual. With proper care, and a more linear story, this thing could have been much more bearable. As mentioned, though, this thing seemed to be nothing more than a quick cash grab. The irony is that I couldn’t help wonder if the powers that be that could have put Rose in the Hall of Fame maybe looked at this book, read a few chapters, and then shook their heads in disgust as they felt the guy was once again grasping at straws. In other words, I can’t help wonder if this book actually hindered Rose’s chances at being reinstated as opposed to helping him.
Ironically, as I began reading this book, two coincidental events happened. First, HBO released a brilliant four-part documentary on Pete Rose and his ongoing struggles. Second, Rose himself passed away. For many, it was sad to see Rose die without being forgiven by the game that he contributed so much, and I’m sure the debate will persevere for a long time to come. I also would highly recommend the HBO documentary as it was quite good, much more so than this book, sadly.
To be fair, Rose says so on the very first page. He tells us very early that he ain’t no literary genius. You have to then wonder, why did he even do this? Why write a book if you can’t even….well….write a book? Some would say for a quick cash grab. If so, it wouldn’t surprise me. Even though this thing is not written well, that isn’t necessarily the main problem, the problem is that this book is too unfocused. While reading this, you get the feeling that you’re sitting at a bar with Pete and he’s had a few too many, and he’s just rambling about everything in his life. We hear the good, the bad, and plenty of ugly. Listening to an inebriated stranger bore you for a few minutes is tolerable, but when you have to endure it for 300 pages or so, it just isn’t a very pleasurable experience.
He also tends to repeat himself a lot. We read time and time again about how Pete tells us that he is basically a selfish jerk. He argues, though (and I would honestly concur), that his demeanor off the field shouldn’t affect his accomplishments on the field. Most ballplayers, Rose tells us, are selfish jerks. They need to be. That’s what turns good ballplayers into great ballplayers. And, yes, Rose probably could have gotten away with being a jerk had not the gambling problem surfaced when he was still managing the Cincinnati Reds in 1989. Once Rose was pushed into the spotlight because of his questionable activities, he continued to be a jerk with the public and that contributed to his eventual banishment from the Hall of Fame and from the game of baseball itself.
Whether or not I agree with the judgement that came down on Pete Rose is really irrelevant to my opinions of the book. And as I’ve stated, it’s just not very good. To be fair, most books by jocks and ex-jocks aren’t really that good either (notice they always have a co-author), but none of these guys were great at their sport because they excelled in English class. This particular book is particularly loathsome as we’re constantly exposed to such vapid observations as:
“I can’t begin to tell y’all how painful it was to get kicked outta baseball…..”.
He seems to begin 90% of his recollections with the word “Hell”.
“Hell what do I care if a player wants to fool around on the road…..”
“Hell most ballplayers would go to the racetrack after games…”
“Hell every other celebrity was eventually forgiven….”
“Hell none of my teammates really liked me…”
“Hell, why would I wanta play ball on the prison baseball team?....”
And on and on and on. It’s way too much. It really does want to make you shout “bartender! No more drinks for this guy. He’s had enough.”
Pete Rose had such a stellar career that had he mainly focused on his playing (and managing) career in this book, this thing would have been somewhat redeemable. He spends very little time, though, devoted to this, the main part, of his career. In fact, it’s almost as if he purposely tries to quickly get through it early in the book so he can talk about his life once his problems began. The few anecdotes he does manage to tell are the highlights of the book by far, such as the on-the-field scuffle during the 1973 World Series with New York Mets’ shortstop Bud Harrelson. Sadly, though, those episodes are only lightly peppered throughout the book. We read more about Rose’s 5-month stay in prison than we do his 25-year brilliant baseball career.
What should have happened here, is Rose should have contracted a respectable author and delegated the writing of Rose’s story to said particular individual. With proper care, and a more linear story, this thing could have been much more bearable. As mentioned, though, this thing seemed to be nothing more than a quick cash grab. The irony is that I couldn’t help wonder if the powers that be that could have put Rose in the Hall of Fame maybe looked at this book, read a few chapters, and then shook their heads in disgust as they felt the guy was once again grasping at straws. In other words, I can’t help wonder if this book actually hindered Rose’s chances at being reinstated as opposed to helping him.
Ironically, as I began reading this book, two coincidental events happened. First, HBO released a brilliant four-part documentary on Pete Rose and his ongoing struggles. Second, Rose himself passed away. For many, it was sad to see Rose die without being forgiven by the game that he contributed so much, and I’m sure the debate will persevere for a long time to come. I also would highly recommend the HBO documentary as it was quite good, much more so than this book, sadly.
Read
May 18, 2024My Prison Without Bars Review
My prison without bars is a memoir written by Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader in major league baseball. Rose is arguably more famous for the betting scandal surrounding him while being the manager of the Cincinnati Reds and the subsequent investigation which led to his termination and banning from the MLBl. Rose wrote his memoir in the mid 2000’s during a time at which he was continually petitioning and fighting the commissioner to be allowed back into the sport of baseball. This is all to say that his intentions behind writing the book, that of trying to sway the public support in his favor to hopefully get a more favorable outcome in his meeting with the commissioner Bud Selig, are evident through his tone and diction throughout the book.
The beginning of the book follows Rose through childhood and into the beginning of his playing career with the Cincinnati Reds, a team who he would later manage. The most important parts of this section of the book are when he talks about how he was introduced to gambling through his father as a young child and later how he started placing bets during his career. This is vastly overshadowed by the majority of the book being focused on the subsequent investigation, the results, and the news attention surrounding the scandal.Through out this part of the book, Pete is willing to easily admit to all types of gambling from football to horses, and even admits to placing bets on baseball. During his discussions of the investigation he heavily criticizes the investigation with reasons ranging from unreliable sources to even falsified evidence, yet he then also admits that its conclusion, that he bet on baseball, was accurate. Rose then caps off the book with what can be considered an apology in which he admits his guilt but is unwilling to face the consequences given, by saying the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, and describing betting as a “Victimless crime”.
This book only slightly achieved the purpose for which it was written, as it did not help Rose out in his case with the commissioner of baseball, but what it did do was it was able to reinvigorate the debate over his actions within the baseball community itself. Throughout the book Rose tries to use both diction and tone to make the reader feel as if he is truly remorseful, and relatable; however, this especially later on comes off as him distancing himself from his actions and insincere. This is seen through Rose talking about having ODD, where in the beginning he talks about it how many people talk about medical issue saying, “Since I don’t use or even understand most of these words, I’ll have to rely on some help from the experts”, which is in stark contrast to his quote from later in the book stating, “The same dopamine that caused the young basketball player to ignore the rules caused me to do the same. But just because the doctors had a fancy name for it didn’t mean I could change it!’, this starkly contrasts with him earlier saying that he doesn’t understand these words, which he is now using to argue that the gambling wasn’t his fault.
I think this book is a good book for those who are into the human aspect of the game of baseball and in the history of it as well, it gives you a glimpse into the mind of one of the greatest of all time and how he was affected by one of the biggest scandals in baseball history. With my favorite part being him talking about However, towards the end he really starts to make excuses for his gambling which makes the book much less enjoyable and for these reasons, I would give it a 6/10 for those interested in the topic, and I would recommend it to those who consider themselves fans of baseball, as it gives a glimpse into a large part of MLB history. My favorite part of this book would have to be the choice to end on a few lines from amazing grace,
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…That saved a wretch like me..I once was lost but now am found…Was blind but now I see…”, because I feel that this if Pete is truly remorseful for his actions this is a quote which would truly capture Petes true feelings, and captures the beauty of the moment.
My prison without bars is a memoir written by Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader in major league baseball. Rose is arguably more famous for the betting scandal surrounding him while being the manager of the Cincinnati Reds and the subsequent investigation which led to his termination and banning from the MLBl. Rose wrote his memoir in the mid 2000’s during a time at which he was continually petitioning and fighting the commissioner to be allowed back into the sport of baseball. This is all to say that his intentions behind writing the book, that of trying to sway the public support in his favor to hopefully get a more favorable outcome in his meeting with the commissioner Bud Selig, are evident through his tone and diction throughout the book.
The beginning of the book follows Rose through childhood and into the beginning of his playing career with the Cincinnati Reds, a team who he would later manage. The most important parts of this section of the book are when he talks about how he was introduced to gambling through his father as a young child and later how he started placing bets during his career. This is vastly overshadowed by the majority of the book being focused on the subsequent investigation, the results, and the news attention surrounding the scandal.Through out this part of the book, Pete is willing to easily admit to all types of gambling from football to horses, and even admits to placing bets on baseball. During his discussions of the investigation he heavily criticizes the investigation with reasons ranging from unreliable sources to even falsified evidence, yet he then also admits that its conclusion, that he bet on baseball, was accurate. Rose then caps off the book with what can be considered an apology in which he admits his guilt but is unwilling to face the consequences given, by saying the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, and describing betting as a “Victimless crime”.
This book only slightly achieved the purpose for which it was written, as it did not help Rose out in his case with the commissioner of baseball, but what it did do was it was able to reinvigorate the debate over his actions within the baseball community itself. Throughout the book Rose tries to use both diction and tone to make the reader feel as if he is truly remorseful, and relatable; however, this especially later on comes off as him distancing himself from his actions and insincere. This is seen through Rose talking about having ODD, where in the beginning he talks about it how many people talk about medical issue saying, “Since I don’t use or even understand most of these words, I’ll have to rely on some help from the experts”, which is in stark contrast to his quote from later in the book stating, “The same dopamine that caused the young basketball player to ignore the rules caused me to do the same. But just because the doctors had a fancy name for it didn’t mean I could change it!’, this starkly contrasts with him earlier saying that he doesn’t understand these words, which he is now using to argue that the gambling wasn’t his fault.
I think this book is a good book for those who are into the human aspect of the game of baseball and in the history of it as well, it gives you a glimpse into the mind of one of the greatest of all time and how he was affected by one of the biggest scandals in baseball history. With my favorite part being him talking about However, towards the end he really starts to make excuses for his gambling which makes the book much less enjoyable and for these reasons, I would give it a 6/10 for those interested in the topic, and I would recommend it to those who consider themselves fans of baseball, as it gives a glimpse into a large part of MLB history. My favorite part of this book would have to be the choice to end on a few lines from amazing grace,
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…That saved a wretch like me..I once was lost but now am found…Was blind but now I see…”, because I feel that this if Pete is truly remorseful for his actions this is a quote which would truly capture Petes true feelings, and captures the beauty of the moment.
Read
May 18, 2023My Prison Without Bars is an autobiography about the troubling times Pete Rose had when he got his lifetime ban from the MLB. Pete Rose is a former professional baseball player and manager. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, and managed for the Reds from 1984 to 1989. Growing up Pete Rose wanted to play professional baseball. He worked very hard at it. Rose struggled in school because he also wanted to play baseball. When he got to the big leagues, he got the nickname Charlie Hustle because he always gave it his all. Rose won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. He was also a three-time National League batting champion, 17-time All-Star, and three-time gold glove winner. Pete Rose then got banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on the sport while he was a manager.
This book talks about Pete Rose’s life from memories as a kid then to experiences he had around Major League Baseball. It discusses the gambling addiction that Rose struggled with throughout his professional career. He mentions how it affected not only himself but also his family and others around him.
The purpose of this book is to inform the readers of Rose’s perspective on him getting banned from baseball. He talks about his experience of hearing from the MLB that he was banned. Rose’s claim was that although he did make a mistake, the punishment of being banned from baseball is too extreme. A lifetime ban from the MLB was almost unheard of. This started a lot of controversy around baseball at the time. This book is written in chronological order. It starts with his earliest memories as a kid. As the book goes on he shares his experiences playing baseball. All the way up to the point where he surpasses Ty Cobb’s hit record. After that, he talks about his gambling addiction and how he tried to appeal the decision the MLB made to ban him. This stopped him from being elected into the Hall of Fame.
My Prison Without Bars is very straightforward. Rose doesn’t sugarcoat anything that he talks about. He gets his point across. It is also an engaging book. When Rose talks about his experiences playing baseball, it is very easy to picture what it would have been like to be there. This book is significant because it allows the reader to get the real story of why and how Pete Rose got banned from baseball for gambling on the sport. Rose does an excellent job not trying to persuade the reader to think he did nothing wrong, but informing them on the things he did, so they can use their own judgment on if the ban from the MLB was justified.
This book talks about Pete Rose’s life from memories as a kid then to experiences he had around Major League Baseball. It discusses the gambling addiction that Rose struggled with throughout his professional career. He mentions how it affected not only himself but also his family and others around him.
The purpose of this book is to inform the readers of Rose’s perspective on him getting banned from baseball. He talks about his experience of hearing from the MLB that he was banned. Rose’s claim was that although he did make a mistake, the punishment of being banned from baseball is too extreme. A lifetime ban from the MLB was almost unheard of. This started a lot of controversy around baseball at the time. This book is written in chronological order. It starts with his earliest memories as a kid. As the book goes on he shares his experiences playing baseball. All the way up to the point where he surpasses Ty Cobb’s hit record. After that, he talks about his gambling addiction and how he tried to appeal the decision the MLB made to ban him. This stopped him from being elected into the Hall of Fame.
My Prison Without Bars is very straightforward. Rose doesn’t sugarcoat anything that he talks about. He gets his point across. It is also an engaging book. When Rose talks about his experiences playing baseball, it is very easy to picture what it would have been like to be there. This book is significant because it allows the reader to get the real story of why and how Pete Rose got banned from baseball for gambling on the sport. Rose does an excellent job not trying to persuade the reader to think he did nothing wrong, but informing them on the things he did, so they can use their own judgment on if the ban from the MLB was justified.
May 22, 2023
In 1984, Pete Rose got traded to the Montreal Expos who held their Spring Training every March (along with the Atlanta Braves) at Municipal Stadium here in my hometown of West Palm Beach, FL.
As a young man who ate, slept, and breathed baseball, this was a dream come true. Pete was the Man for a lot of us youngsters. I practically LIVED at the stadium shagging foul balls, cracked bats, autographs, you name it.
Early one March day whilst I was walking around the perimeter of the stadium, I saw #14 himself taking batting practice in one of the cages behind the main field. Wow! Seeing The Hit King taking b.p. certainly was a thrill… and a tad surreal. There were maybe one or two other young fans there watching him.
After he finished, he came out of the cage and we young fans held out our Topps baseball cards to be signed (I always schlepped a bag filled with cards of Braves and Expos players with me to the stadium… plus a few Sharpies). I was the first fan he encountered. The card was a 1977 Topps “Reds Sweep Phillies 3 in a Row” featuring Pete rounding second (card #277).
Pete comes out, I offer the card and Sharpie (cap off, of course). Pete says, “I ain’t gonna sign that.” Taken aback, I say, “Why not?” Pete says, “’cuz when you’re 18, you’re gonna turn around and sell that for big money.” So I reply, “So.”
I figure I ain’t gettin’ an autographed card from Mr. Tight Ass at this point so I dig in my trusty bag and find my March ’83 Sports Illustrated with him, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez on the cover. THAT he signs (and, surprisingly, didn't charge me for the autograph). But I was still a little pissed about WHY he wouldn’t sign the card.
AUTHOR’S EMBELLISHMENT:
As I started to walk away, I muttered under my breath, “Prick.” But, then I stopped and slowly turned back to Charlie Hustle. “Peter Edward Rose…” I said. He looked up at me. His eyes widened. “May you NEVER get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.” I gave him the evil eye, forked my fingers at him then spat on the ground twice invoking the ancient gypsy curse my great-grandfather had taught me back in the old country (Queens, N.Y.). Then, I slowly turned back and walked over to Andre Dawson. At least THAT guy signed cards.
The rest, as they say, is history.
As a young man who ate, slept, and breathed baseball, this was a dream come true. Pete was the Man for a lot of us youngsters. I practically LIVED at the stadium shagging foul balls, cracked bats, autographs, you name it.
Early one March day whilst I was walking around the perimeter of the stadium, I saw #14 himself taking batting practice in one of the cages behind the main field. Wow! Seeing The Hit King taking b.p. certainly was a thrill… and a tad surreal. There were maybe one or two other young fans there watching him.
After he finished, he came out of the cage and we young fans held out our Topps baseball cards to be signed (I always schlepped a bag filled with cards of Braves and Expos players with me to the stadium… plus a few Sharpies). I was the first fan he encountered. The card was a 1977 Topps “Reds Sweep Phillies 3 in a Row” featuring Pete rounding second (card #277).
Pete comes out, I offer the card and Sharpie (cap off, of course). Pete says, “I ain’t gonna sign that.” Taken aback, I say, “Why not?” Pete says, “’cuz when you’re 18, you’re gonna turn around and sell that for big money.” So I reply, “So.”
I figure I ain’t gettin’ an autographed card from Mr. Tight Ass at this point so I dig in my trusty bag and find my March ’83 Sports Illustrated with him, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez on the cover. THAT he signs (and, surprisingly, didn't charge me for the autograph). But I was still a little pissed about WHY he wouldn’t sign the card.
AUTHOR’S EMBELLISHMENT:
As I started to walk away, I muttered under my breath, “Prick.” But, then I stopped and slowly turned back to Charlie Hustle. “Peter Edward Rose…” I said. He looked up at me. His eyes widened. “May you NEVER get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.” I gave him the evil eye, forked my fingers at him then spat on the ground twice invoking the ancient gypsy curse my great-grandfather had taught me back in the old country (Queens, N.Y.). Then, I slowly turned back and walked over to Andre Dawson. At least THAT guy signed cards.
The rest, as they say, is history.
October 17, 2024
Pete Rose tells his story as only he can and it is...a complicated mess. But that's okay because he is a very conflicted character. That Pete Rose logic can be baffling and infuriating at times, but you have to respect his choice to be honest (way too late). His voice is so iconic; his storytelling is not as the narrative, especially during his jail time, struggles to stay on target without countless interruptions. Still, the interrupting stories themselves are marvelous when baseball related. He makes some good points about why Baseball has done him wrong by taking away his livelihood with no real trial. Still, you don't feel too sorry for him, even with all the experts coming in to explain away his many faults with behavioral science. He made his choices, as he admits, and he would apologize to no one (except Bud Selig when he absolutely couldn't hold out anymore).
October 29, 2019
I think the book did a good job showing who Pete Rose really was/is, but I don't much care for him. Pete Rose came across as a spoiled child who always got what he wanted until the point when he got caught gambling. There are a few good, short baseball stories, but Rose comes across as almost unbearable. His shortcomings get explained away as either positives or as neurological shortcomings that aren't his fault. Frequently he compares himself to other celebrities who had public scandals and comments about how they are allowed to continue on in their lives.
He mentioned once or twice how he knows baseball history, yet he doesn't understand how gambling is different in baseball than drinking or doing drugs.
He mentioned once or twice how he knows baseball history, yet he doesn't understand how gambling is different in baseball than drinking or doing drugs.
November 23, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book because of the humor throughout the book and the writing style was great and easy to read. I like how they discussed different people in the book and said they were different from everyone else and had certain talents or abilities but struggled in different areas. I like the honesty of how Pete Rose talked about what he liked to do in life and what he didn't like to do. he was straight forward and very funny throughout the book. You don't have to be interested in baseball or gambling to consider this book one of your favorites.
May 18, 2022
I think it was a very well-written book. From start to finish the book stayed interesting. I learned many things I had absolutely no idea about. It gives his whole back story and personally made me feel a little sorry for him. Yeah, he made his betting mistake but he should not be held out of the hall of fame for that. His stats are unmatchable and other hall of fame athletes have done these things without punishment. I would rate this 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who likes sports and likes books with swear words.
April 8, 2019
Rose spends the majority of his autobiography telling you how great he was. He forces stat after stat down your throat, as if he’s trying to shove everything else that wasn’t related to his time on the field into a garbage can. Rose spends an inordinate amount of time on lauding his accomplishments while simultaneously wafting away the other parts of his life.
The only reason it took so long for me to read this book was because I was so bored after 25 pages.
The only reason it took so long for me to read this book was because I was so bored after 25 pages.
August 6, 2017
What a god awful book. 'My Prison Without Bars' could've described my feelings while reading it. Rose dropped out of school in the 10th grade...judging by his writing, I'm not sure he got that far. Some cool baseball stories, but otherwise tiresome tales of gambling and other sorry tales in what he may have thought to be his mea culpa.
June 26, 2021
Quite possibly the worst book I've ever finished reading.
Lots of offenses, including but not limited to:
1. Making himself into a victim all the time (see the title)
2. having lots of "jokes," and...
3. Being terribly written. Just awful. You can tell Rose told his writer "I want it to sound like how I talk!" And maybe it does, but that doesn't make it fun to read.
Lots of offenses, including but not limited to:
1. Making himself into a victim all the time (see the title)
2. having lots of "jokes," and...
3. Being terribly written. Just awful. You can tell Rose told his writer "I want it to sound like how I talk!" And maybe it does, but that doesn't make it fun to read.
December 31, 2017
Much ballyhooed autobiography that caused controversy upon his release, it was just meh. Nothing reveleatory other than his admission, which was already on Good Morning America before it's release. Read the Koysta Kennedy book instead should you have a choice.
August 14, 2023
The information in the book is good and exciting to read. I think it was written in Pete's voice well - but makes it difficult to read at times with anecdotes from left field and stories that stray from the point. But...a great character to learn more about.
July 28, 2017
I was young and wanted to believe Pete. Then we all found out, and I wanted to understand Pete's decisions. I felt like this biography did that.
September 5, 2017
Perhaps one of the best autobiographies I have read of redemption. Pete Rose finally admits and unpacks his life and baseball. A true treasure to read from any baseball fan.
February 19, 2018
Reinstate Pete Rose!
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