A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez

Tabloid Journalism

This book is fit for the National Inquirer. Clearly, this author is looking to trash A-Rod in every way possible. Wasn't this the same writer who went after the Duke Lacrosse players (wrongly so)? She never apologized to the families involved or admitted she was wrong. I would never buy anything again from this author. This is not journalism. Why was the release date pushed back? because, A-Rod was hurt. Of course, this is a sensational story written to make a fast buck. Don't waste your time or money.

9 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

Head Honcho

I love how people avoid this problem and treat it like the plague. Only in New York (Yankees fans much less) would they accept this problem as long as the Yankees win. A-Rod a poster-boy? I say "YES, he is (if NOT thee best) one of the best players in the game (thanks to those steroids) and NEEDS to be made an example of. This of course wont happen because the head honcho who's in charge of baseball would love (and wishes) for this situation go away. It's all fun and games till someone goes "BENOIT" to there family. I'll NEVER understand what goes through one's mind when they do steroids. Since, it ONLY effects your physical stature does one feel that insecure about who they are, that they would risk there own health? I would love to read Mrs. Roberts book and hope it comes through in the clutch (unlike A-Rod does).

7 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

WHAT A JOKE!

Just another person jumping on the bandwagon trying to make a quick buck. Are there no other baseball players, both past and present, who have used performance enhancing drugs? Are there no other baseball players, both past and present, that have committed adultery? Stop making A-Rod the "poster child" for bad boys. People in the spotlight are human and have private lives that should remain that way! If you have any common sense you will not contribute to this author's bank account by purchasing this trash!

6 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Surprisingly good read.

Alex Rodriguez has been a significant source for tabloid fodder but in my opinion, this media gadfly had it all coming. Roberts encompasses his pathological need for attention, his self-obsession, and all his lies into one extremely well-written book. A baseball geek like myself will relish in in this book.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

solid, well written book

This is truly a great read. I am not particularly into baseball (sorry fans) but certainly realize the historical importance of A-Rod and his story. I love to read biographies, and Ms. Roberts certainly did a fine job on this one. It is a well written book that most would enjoy; I certainly did.

5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Selena Roberts is a Champion among Sports Reporters!!!

Cleverly written, thought provoking. I commend her for going where few have the courage to go. Those who give poor reviews are jealous they didnt think of writing a book about A-Rod first.

5 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Worth a full read

From what I've seen so far, and based on the reporting that preceded it, the story of A-Rod is fascinating and well worth the deeper examination the book promises. Here is the best player in baseball, an admitted steroid user and unabashed consumer of celebrity, scrutinized like never before. Until this year A-Rod had been able to cruise under the radar as the purported "clean" hero of Major League Baseball, the heir apparent to every major record in a sport whose very existence relies on statistical comparisons. Given that history has shown icons of yesteryear -- Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio -- also had their flaws and idiosyncrasies, it seems only fair to get a more complete picture of Rodriguez, the player and the man. I look forward to reading the rest of the book.

5 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

For more than sports enthusiasts

This book is for more than sports fans. It touches a chord in all of us. Yes, it is about perhaps the greatest baseball player ever. However, the historical and cultural perspectives add dimension to the life and decisions of Alex Rodriguez. They reach back to the birth of his father in the Dominican Republic in 1929 to the America of today. No matter what we think of Alex Rodriguez, he becomes more than a super athlete or a fallen hero. He is human. After all, none of us lives or makes decisions in a vacuum. And we can recall the events and culture of the last two decades in America and remember what we were doing at the time. The author's wonderful analogies help us visualize the points made (e.g., comparing his communications skills to pulling the string on a see 'n say or his baseball skills to flicking his wrist like a lion tamer). The author's skill draws us in and we become part of the story, too. I recommend this book to everyone.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

INSIGHTFUL AND ENJOYABLE READ FOR ALL AUDIENCES

Contrary to the opinion of those who have not read a word of this book and imply that it is full of negativity, I found this book a very enjoyable, colorful portrayal of an iconic ball player. Though Ms. Roberts does describe the tragic side of Alex Rodriguez, she puts his decisions in perspective with events in his childhood as well as the history and culture surrounding the times. Her descriptive language and ingenious analogies bring the events and people in this book to life. Ms. Roberts is a talented writer and I recommend this biography to anyone, whether or not they are a fan of baseball, Alex Rodriguez, or previous opinions Ms. Roberts has justifiably held and expressed during her long-standing career as a talented and respected sports writer.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Good Stuff

Boo-hoo! A-rod was hurt. The "poor" little Duke college boys who slapped strippers around and wrote about it on the internet were hurt too. They all had it coming. And after all - who would want to read or write a book about someone who had no tragedy in his or her life? Ms. Roberts explores A-Rod's life and decisions in an entirely professional yet entertaining manner. I could not put the book down. It is well worth the purchase!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

the many lives indeed

First off, I am not a big sports fan (much less a Yankees fan) but my dad has taken me to Cooperstown twice and makes it a point to discuss the merits of potential inductees. So I was surprised, moved and entertained by this well-written exploration in to the life and motivations of the greatest baseball player on the field today. He is real - uncovered and unashamed - and I personally like his candidness portrayed by this author during her interactions with A-Rod, no matter how much I might disagree with some of his choices.

I am looking forward to disscussing Alex Rodriguez with my dad. I only wish that some of the other baseball bios I have read in the past had been penned by this author. I thoroughly recoomend this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The life of the greatest baseball of our time

In her writing, Roberts covers all aspects in the life of A-Rod's legendary past. From learning about his families history, to what fellow athletes think about playing with one of the best baseball players of all time. His relationships off of the diamond have been just as intriguing as his career in the MLB. This book did a great job of bringing the facts together and expressing the opinions of coaches, players, and others in the sports world that have played with and against the Michel Jordan of baseball (minus Jordan's attempt at baseball). While A-Rod's struggle against the media and steroids has catapulted this book into the spotlight, it is about much more than just Rodriguez's poor choice that may keep him out of Cooperstown.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow...what happened to journalism?

I cant believe that people actually wasted money on this. Everyone who wrote a positive review on this book should stick to watching the view and oprah where this kind of immature gossip is warranted. This book has absolutely no hard facts, sources, or names in it. Sure steroids have been prevalent in MLB for the past 20 years...for everyone. Would there even be a market for this book if the other names on the "anonymous" steroid list were released? I think not. Who cares what he does in his personal time? Who cares about Madonna? Who cares what he did in high school? As long as he hits 30+ homeruns and drives in more than most of major league baseball...hes here to stay. Like it or hate it.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Better read than the critics suggest

Not a great book but worth a read. Bottom line: Arod IS a fraud.

An interesting but twisted view on the life of AROD

If you're an AROD fan, I suggest not reading this book. Although, Selena Roberts does shed some insight on the life of AROD,she does give it a negative spin. Although I have been a Yankee fan for many years, I thought it would be interesting to read a book to get to know AROD a bit more. Maybe why he doesn't do well in the clutch, or reason why he got divorced. With in every story that Selena tells, she gives it a negative twist. I chose not to believe many of the stories that she wrote about in this book however, there are some that I believe may be true to a certain extent. For all those AROD fans out there, I don't recommend reading this book unless you can differentiate the difference between fact and fiction.

This story of "A-Rod" captures the life of an enormously talented, but troubled and needy young man who would do almost anything to be accepted and loved. Selena Roberts, the author, reveals his world and its complexities masterfully.

This story reflects an enormous amount of research. The author skillfully grips and holds the attention of the reader until the end. The information presented is not speculation, but rather, reflects information from the emerging data and accounts of events gleamed as the research process evolved.

Upon finishing this book one is left with several impressions: (a) A-Rod is a very talented baseball player who will, someday, most likely be in the Hall of Fame, (b) He is too talented to have needed to become involved in some of the activities he apparently found himself sinking into, (c) Although his actions over the last several years may have been driven by events occuring early in his childhood and subsequently "poor choices," one just hopes this pattern will not continue to the point of serious problems later--problems that could tarnish or perhaps end the career of one of our finest athletes in the baseball world, and (d) There is a kind of completeness to this story, as though it brings closure to a lot of loose ends in the life of this complex individual--even though he is still playing and will most likely expect many more good years.

In conclusion, we can only hope that A-Rod will not view this book as a contrived effort to cast him in a negative light, but will rather see it as an honest look at what is happening to his life and use it as a model to begin anew and start making "beneficial choices (1 Corinthians 6:12)" that will be good for him and good for baseball.

Why did she even bother to write the book?

Sorry I bought the book. Glad the book sales aren't doing so well and Selena Roberts is not making alot of money on this book.

Worthless

I can't stand A-Rod or the Yankees but this book is a piece of sensationalist and often speculative trash. Roberts uses her resume as a NY Times reporter & Sports Illustrated writer as a cover for writing gossip. Disgisting all around.

The Truth Hurts!!

It is about time someone lets the truth come out. For everyone out there that thinks their favorite player is steriod free, think again. This is the first of many baseball players who will have books written about them and their "hidden" lives.

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