Live Albom: The Best of Detroit Free Press Sports Columnist Mitch Albom

by Mitch Albom

For years, sports fans across the country have run to their morning newspapers to read Mitch Albom. Here, in his fourth superb collection, the nation's No. 1 sports columnist tackles everything from Tonya and Nancy to O.J., from the Lions foibles to the Red Wings' Stanley Cup final. In Live Albom IV, Albom --- also an ESPN analyst, WJR radio talk showhost, and author of the national best-sellers "Bo" and "Fab five" --- gives a full plate of his lyrical column style, which has been hailed by his peers as the best in the business.

Touching, insightful, hard-hitting and often hilarious, Live Albom IV also features, in tis entirety, the award-winning Secret World Series, Albom's fictional account about the greatest Fall Classic never played. And, of course, there is a full helping of Albom's non-sports columns from the Comment section of the Detroit Free Press.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Essays

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Author, screenwriter, philanthropist, journalist, and broadcaster Mitch Albom is an inspiration around the world. His fiction and non-fiction books — which include 8 #1 New York Times bestsellers — have collectively sold 42 million copies worldwide in 48 languages. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the bestselling memoir of all time, topped the list for four straight years and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. He has also written Emmy Award-winning TV films, stage plays, screenplays, a nationally syndicated newspaper column, and a musical. Through his work at the Detroit Free Press, he was inducted into both the National Sports Media Association and Michigan Sports halls of fame and was the recipient of the Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement.

Following his bestselling memoir FINDING CHIKA and HUMAN TOUCH, a web and audio weekly serial that raised funds for pandemic relief, he returned to fiction with the bestselling novels THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT and THE LITTLE LIAR. His much-anticipated new novel is a stunning love story about magical second chances called TWICE, which dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.

Albom spends the majority of his time in philanthropic work. In 2006, he founded the nonprofit SAY Detroit, which provides pathways to success for Detroiters in need through major health, housing and education initiatives. All profits from an original dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line also help fund the nonprofit. He operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children and orphans, in Port-au-Prince, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of columns from the Detroit Free Press. They cover the Pistons, Red Wings, Lions and Tigers and also the U. of Michigan Wolverines. I am trying to read all of Mitch Albom's books, and this is my first non-fiction book of his that I read. It was basically a sports book about baseball, football, basketball, and golf. This book was his earlier work, so it is not nearly as good as his fiction writing. He's still such a great writer though!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise sounds familiar, especialy for Albom: an elderly mentor invites a younger protege into a series of conversations about deep issues. But this isn't Tuesdays With Morrie, II. Instead, this is an honest exploration of how the faith of our childhood remains with us, even as it is invites reflection and change.

[Jim Dykstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albom is an amazing mix of sports reporter and author. This book shows some of his evolution as a writer. There are times you just have to stop mid-article and let a sentence sink in, read it a second time, commit it to memory. If you like good writing you can't go wrong with Mitch Albom. If you like well-written sports stories he is one of the best.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Mitch's columns in the Free Press and really wanted to read this book. Mitch's writing style is very appealing to me. Paper Losses was very entertaing and informative to me.

[Jesse Jaeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to remember all of the good old days of sports here in Michigan!