Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back

Best Baseball I've Ever read

I've read upwards of thirty to forty Baseball books, this one is the best. I could not put it down, i finished it in a little over a day. Very gripping, inspirational, powerful, and emotional. I wish more big leaugers were like Josh! A huge breath of fresh air in a sport searching desperately for some!

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Inspiring

This book was great and truely one of the best books I have ever read. The top prodegy in the game of baseball gets selected number one overall and is on the shortpath to the major leagues. God has a different plan for Josh though and a few years into the minor leagues, Josh is introduced to drugs and alcohol and they take over his life. Josh is in a spiritual warfare between God and the devil before he realizes the light and turns to God for help. Josh is now one of the best players in the game and is completely sober. Everything about this was great. I could not put the book down once I started reading it. Josh's story is one of the saddest and most joyful things to hear about. At times I felt so bad for his struggling addiction and problems that it made me very sad. The overall story from begining to end, was the most inspirational thing I have ever read. I would suggest this book to just about everyone, from people struggeling with drug addiction to athletes around the world. People need to hear Josh's story and how the power of God can overcome anything!

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A tremendous story, not only of how our temptations and weaknesses can destroy us, but how we can overcome and find victory through Christ. Also the story of an incredible baseball talent.

I could not put this book down. It is a very entertaining story of an incredible baseball talent and I enjoyed the stories of Josh's baseball successes as a boy growing up in N.C. Very few players have possessed this type of God-given talent. But then, the book so vividly displays how Satan seeks to use temptations and our weaknesses to destroy us, but more importantly how Christ helped Josh overcome and find victory. What a roller coaster - from an incredible talent, to the depths of despair, to a man that is now using his skills and story to glorify God and give people hope. I bought five more books and gave them to the seniors on my son's high school baseball team. They all read the book in less than a week and loved it.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

When you absolutely, positively need to read a baseball book and stay away from drugs...

The story of Josh Hamilton takes two parts: You need to talk about the amazing athletic talen he posesses, and how that translated into him becoming the hottest prospect in baseball, eventually becoming an American League All-Star outfielder for the Texas Rangers. Then you need the other half of Josh Hamilton: The drug addict, tattoo-wearing, dark side that he confronts for much of the content of this book. It's well written, with Hamilton and co-author Tim Kweon masterfully capturing the frightening and secret life of a man who gives over fully to his darkest urges, then pulls his life together thanks to family and faith to achieve his greatest dreams. It's a scary book. There are parts definitely not for the faint of heart. But that's the adventure Josh takes us on, and it's not your daddy's baseball book. If you know someone who likes baseball and James Frey books, this is for them.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great Story

I totally enjoyed this book. I live in Texas where Josh plays for the Rangers; maybe that made it a little more interesting for me. However, his story has a very powerful message for everyone to hear. I highly recommend this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back

The Book "Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back" by Josh Hamilton and Tim Keown is an amazing book about the success and comeback of Josh Hamilton. Josh Hamilton went from being the number one draft pick to being hooked on illegal drugs. This book tells the whole story from Josh's point of view and how hard it was to see his parents suffer knowing that he was on drugs and struggling to get clean. This book is one of the greatest success stories of our time and should be read by all.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

FANTASTIC BOOK!!

This is one of the very few books i've read. i'm 16 years old and hate reading but love sports books. this book is very, very inspiring, and touching. Great book for encouragement and people who love sports books. I recommened this book for all ages and anybody else who likes inspiring books. All i can say is this book is INCREDIBLY FANTASTIC!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Humanness

In his search for friends he finds some folks that are not very friendly. So goes the tale of physically gifted Josh Hamilton who loses about four years of his life to drugs. His dad says the saddest thing is so many people missed out on what he could have accomplished. He did go out and do some amazing things. Could have done a lot more. Could possibly have been the best.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Josh Hamilton is one of my all time favorite athletes, so decided to read his inspiring biography, "Beyond Belief" by himself with Tim Keown.

This amazing book has showed me the deepest depths of extreme drug addictions and how Josh Hamilton dealt with his life threatening flaw. It is hard to believe that anybody associated with drugs could have ever been drafted straight out of high school as the first overall pick for the MLB. Josh Hamilton grew up in North Carolina, and began playing baseball at a young age. By age 13, Josh was already being peered by scouts from the MLB and colleges all around the country. The day after graduation, Josh was on his way to Florida to sign with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but this vast change in his life triggered an unborn side of his personality. Josh Hamilton found him self tangled up with drugs and alcoholism that took him out of the sport of baseball for four long years, until he found the strength to come back with the love and support of his family. The variety of messages in the book were very influential, and that is big reason why I enjoyed this biography, it opened my eyes to more ways I can believe in myself to accomplish anything. Unlike the last book I have read "Room Full of Mirrors" by Charles R. Cross, the biography of Jimi Hendrix taking a stupid and immoral approach to living life; But don't get me wrong, Jimi was a great musician and it was an interesting book (highly recommended), but his life was cut short because his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He didn't find the strength like Josh Hamilton did, to perform at what he was good at, with out poisoning himself. I would highly recommend "Beyond Belief" to any body that's ready to enlighten their lives and their way of thinking. If its finding the hope to become sober from alcohol or drug abuse, or believing in yourself to accomplish bigger, better things, or even a motivation to keep your head on straight, to avoid the dangers that can completely destroy your life in a heartbeat. This writing could never be the same with out having Josh Hamilton and Tim Keown writing it together. Josh's amazing story was put into such specific detail, that the imagery made it feel like you were in his shoes, feeling his pain, his disappointment, and most of all, the embarrassment of being addicted to drugs.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Truly Inspirational

This book is a must read for anyone that considers themself a baseball fan, and anyone who knows or loves someone that is addicted to drugs. Josh Hamilton is a walking miracle, and it would be a shame for anyone to not hear his story. It will inspire anyone. Also it is an easy read - very relaxing.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Interesting

This gives you the basic information about Josh Hamilton. However, it doesn't give you anything indepth.

Love it!!!

Way to go josh.

Excellent book. Josh Hamilton is an inspiration.

I became a fan after watching something on ESPN about Josh Hamilton about his story. Just last night I was able to read his book. I am an even bigger fan after reading his story and have so much respect for him.

The book is very well written. I couldn't put it down; I read it in 4 hours! I think that with Hamilton telling his story, he becomes more of a role model for kids who look up to major league baseball players. In my opinion, ALL professional sports players should remember that they have so many young people that look up to them and want to be like them. Unfortunately that's not always the case. For Josh Hamilton to own up and share his story with so many, he shows that you CAN overcome drug abuse and make yourself successful!

Way to go, Josh! Keep doing what you're doing!

Grear read

Inspiring book

Very popular book.

Many people have recommended this book, so I wanted to get the hardcover and give as a gift to my son for Christmas and keepsake. This is a VERY HARD BOOK TO FIND!! I know it will be well received.

A must read!

Everyone should read this awesome story of faith and strength. It gives such an insight into the world of an addict...the power of drug addiction and what a day by day process recovery is. A must read for everyone...especially those whose lifes are affected by addiction.

More than what I expected!

Josh Hamilton carries you through this emotional roller coaster ride all the way to the end of the book. I can't help but feel compassion and great respect for his ability to climb out of his addiction.

Excellent

Highly recommended. One of the best books I've read. There are many lessons you can take for your own life, about God, about pressures on young athletes, and about baseball "behind the scenes." Most of all, this is a story about fallen humanity and unconditional love, it is a story about redemption and Divine providence, all told through Josh Hamilton's personal experience.

Great read whether a baseball fan or not!

Stunning read to realize how deep into drugs he was and the most incredible comeback story I've ever read. Can't imagine how he managed to do it other than having a Higher Power to believe in!

AWESOME STORY

Josh Hamilton is The Natural and he will be one of your all time favs when you read his stoy