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Between the Lines: Nine Things Baseball Taught Me About Life
One of baseball's preeminent pitchers, Orel Hershiser shares stories from his remarkable career to illustrate the nine values that have guided his personal and professional life.
- GenresSportsBaseballNonfiction
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2023
Hershiser is one of those amazing, inspirational people I look up to, so when I started reading this book I knew I'd find a lot of useful things. The format of this book makes it easy to pick it up and read a little and come back later. But mostly I found myself reading large chunks of it at a time because it just sucked me in! I enjoyed Hershisher's wisdom and stories because he knows what he's talking about and this book is his genuine wish to share his wisdom and experiences with others because we can benefit from that. I'm gonna keep this book handy and reread parts of it when I need a pick-me-up.
September 11, 2022
This was probably the 4th or 5th time I’ve read this since my parents gave it to me for Christmas in 2001. Hershiser is my all-time favorite professional athlete, and reading this unique memoir is like having a conversation with him.
It’s an easy, fun read, tying his experience as an MLB pitcher to everyday life for “normal” people.
It’s an easy, fun read, tying his experience as an MLB pitcher to everyday life for “normal” people.
March 6, 2019
This is a book about nine principles by which Orel Hershiser credits the success of his career and life. The book is written in a conversational tone and reads easily and quickly. He does a good job of illustrating these principles with stories from his baseball career as well as his personal life.
I believe it is important to judge the principles of the book on their merit rather than how well the person has stuck to them. I have not tried to research Hershiser to see if he continues to demonstrate these principles in his life.
What I liked:
I liked the conversational tone of the book. Because the premise of the principles is based mainly on his own experience, it is important not to consider this a researched conclusion, one size fits all solution. That being said, I thought the principles were well thought out. The presentation got me thinking about what they would look like in my life. Books that get me thinking get a star just for that. Hershiser also acknowledged that following these principles is challenging and takes practice. I like that honesty.
What I didn't like:
The last two or three chapters felt a bit rushed and didn't have the meat the previous chapters did. That being said, they were the principles that are more difficult to write about--especially using stories about one's self. It can easily turn into self-praise.
For the most part, this book kept my attention and I didn't struggle to come back and pick it up. This can be a real challenge for nonfiction for me.
I believe it is important to judge the principles of the book on their merit rather than how well the person has stuck to them. I have not tried to research Hershiser to see if he continues to demonstrate these principles in his life.
What I liked:
I liked the conversational tone of the book. Because the premise of the principles is based mainly on his own experience, it is important not to consider this a researched conclusion, one size fits all solution. That being said, I thought the principles were well thought out. The presentation got me thinking about what they would look like in my life. Books that get me thinking get a star just for that. Hershiser also acknowledged that following these principles is challenging and takes practice. I like that honesty.
What I didn't like:
The last two or three chapters felt a bit rushed and didn't have the meat the previous chapters did. That being said, they were the principles that are more difficult to write about--especially using stories about one's self. It can easily turn into self-praise.
For the most part, this book kept my attention and I didn't struggle to come back and pick it up. This can be a real challenge for nonfiction for me.
April 9, 2016
The nine principles that Orel learned over his lifetime can be applied to any occupation or field. Some of the principles include: Excellence matters; Balance is the key; Love your family; Ability to laugh; Live with gratitude and more.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews