Life its Ownself

by Dan Jenkins

From the author of Semi-Tough, the hilarious continuing adventures of Billy Clyde Puckett—injured football player and TV sports commentator—featuring his wife, the former Barbara Jane Bookman, and his old friend, Shake Tiller.

Genres: Fiction, Sports, Humor, Football

1 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Dan Jenkins was an American author and sportswriter, most notably for Sports Illustrated.

Jenkins was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School and Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played on the varsity golf team. Jenkins worked for many publications including the Fort Worth Press, Dallas Times Herald, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated. In 1985 he retired from Sports Illustrated and began writing books full-time and maintained a monthly column in Golf Digest magazine.

Larry King called Jenkins "the quintessential Sports Illustrated writer" and "the best sportswriter in America." Jenkins authored numerous works and over 500 articles for Sports Illustrated. In 1972, Jenkins wrote his first novel, Semi-Tough.

His daughter, Sally Jenkins, is a sports columnist for the Washington Post.

Reviews

[John Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Jenkins and I share two things in common: the same alma mater, and an abiding dedication to humor. Dan was a few years ahead of me, and we had very different views of the TCU gridiron, he from x's and o's, me from marching band. Dan became a marquee writer for Sports Illustrated in its heyday. His book yellowed on my shelf for 40 years before I plucked it down like an interception in the end zone. Dan's style--hyperbole on steroids--fit the 70's sports scene like a sweaty jockstrap. The absurd swagger and machismo, racism and misogyny of his '70s characters were true reflections of many of the Texans I tolerated (apologies to the good Texans--both of them). Shakespeare's review of this book said it best: "Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Sometimes that's perfect for a summer beach read.

[melydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a member of the target audience for this book: I didn't read Semi Tough, I'm not male, and I don't like football. All the same, it was a mildly entertaining read and a fun look back at America in the early 1980s. Hopefully the next person to read it will be more appreciative of the subject matter.

[Jessica W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just revisited this book, and was surprised how well I still love it! Dan Jenkins is a writer that has a sharp wit and is totally politically incorrect. Love him! Billy Clyde, you get down off that roof!

[Allie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dated, but still hilarious. And at the root it's a pretty cool love story. Life its ownself, indeed.

[bruce smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never thought I'd say this....

For the first time in recorded history, Dan Jenkins is not funny. Oh I laughed now and again, the Texas characters are too close to true not to elicit a giggle but the attempt at seeing how they all turned out was flat and uninteresting. Read one of Jenkins books on any character, and skip the sequel. (Maybe Bobby Joe Grooves in SLIM AND NONE is the exception but I'm not taking the chance and am skipping The........give up artist so I don't ruin that theory) stick to Dan on Golf , you can't go wrong. LIFE ITS OWN SELF just isn't.

[James Bretz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless…

I read Semi-Tough when it was first released back in the 70’s. I still have my copy of the first addition. It’s kinda like watching MASH for the umpteenth time…every time I read parts of it, I pick up something I missed earlier. Dan Jenkins is not for everybody, thank god/whomever. The dialogue is simply priceless and the characters are some of the people I’ve known my entire life. A sense of humor demands reading any of Dan Jenkin’s books. I always feel better for making the effort.

[Tupelodan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow-up to Semi Tough....equally funny. Of all Jenkins novels -- and I've read them all -- this one contains my favorite quote. It's a TJ Lambert quote -- I'll let you figure it out.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Jenkins is one heck of a sportswriter, and this is a hilarious follow to “Semi-Tough.” But it’s a bit dated and more politically incorrect than when I first read it years ago!

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1985. The hilarious further adventures of Billy Clyde Puckett first seen in the novel Semi Tough.

[dude · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life Its Ownself: The Semi-Tougher Adventures of Billy Clyde Puckett and Them by Dan Jenkins (Signet 1984) (Fiction – General). This is the sequel to Jenkins' hilarious and irreverent novel about professional football, Semi Tough. When I was fourteen, I thought that Semi Tough was the funniest and most clever book I had ever read in my life. Sadly, Jenkins doesn't manage to catch lightning in a bottle again. Life has gone on after football, and B.C. and his sidekicks from TCU try to find their place in the grand scheme of things. My rating: 7/10, finished 1986.

[Mindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was assigned reading many years ago in my University of Texas Modern Lit course. I recall enjoying much of the witty dialogue sprinkled throughout the book, which is why I re-read it. This time around, however, the racial remarks jumped out at me even more, and it was just too much.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a joke book than a novel, but what a joke book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this. Laugh out loud funny, and a lot of truth too.

[Sharon Beers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, but politically incorrect.