Each week, when Sports Illustrated's 21 million readers open up their magazine, many turn right to the last page because that's where to find SI's most popular feature: the Life of Reilly column written by bestselling author Rick Reilly. A twenty-one-year veteran of the magazine and ten-time Sportswriter of the Year, Reilly took over SI's back page in 1998, and his column immediately attracted a devoted audience who helped make his 1990 book, The Life of Reilly, a New York Times bestseller.
This new collection includes 100 of Reilly's favorite columns from the last six years, along with an introduction by Lance Armstrong. The title of the book signifies the strong reader response his columns typically generate (he wrote a column saying that cheerleading isn't a sport, and there was a light-hearted backlash). Alternately side-splitting and heart-warming, but always opinionated and provocative, this book brings together the best work by the best columnist in the business.
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"It's too bad he's left Sports Illustrated for ESPN. Rick Reilly is one entertaining and thought-provoking columnist. My daughters (college juniors now) would grab my weekly SI just to turn to the back page and read his column. A wonderful read and a book that only took a weekend to finish...I couldn't put it down."
— Steve (4 out of 5 stars)
Superb…. Reilly's columns are short but pack a punch; a collection best savored.
— Publishers Weekly Starred Review" A collection of columns, some of which are inspiring some of which are funny and/or amusing. Otherwise, I'm not the biggest Reilly fan, so...I was surprised how much I got out of it. We'll just leave it there. "
— Randall, 2/14/2014" This book is probably intended for sports fans. I think it is a compulation of some of his articles. You don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy it--each "article" is only a few pages. Easy to start and stop. "
— Kristen, 2/6/2014" Rick Reilly makes sports fun to read about. "
— Leslie, 2/4/2014" Rick Reilly has a clue about life and where sports fits in - and he's not afraid to share his opinions (re article on Barry Bonds). "
— spenca, 1/26/2014" Though this book is starting to feel a bit outdated, most of the stories are pretty timeless. It was an enjoyable read -- especially since I have never been a SI subscriber and did not have access to this before. "
— Will, 1/22/2014" I love Rick Reilly's columns in SI. This is a compilation of some of his best. Its from 2007, which makes some of them funny because they are dated (like the one about how Tiger always has a great image for the media), but some are timeless, like the Sports Fans Bill of Rights. Another great vacation read. "
— Amy, 1/5/2014" I laughed, I cried...great book. "
— Melissa, 12/23/2013" Great collection of short stories; most are appropriate for use in my 8th grade classroom for the non-fiction unit "
— Kelly, 12/20/2013" Quite funny. At its best it'll make you laugh. And the combined columns give one the impression that he's a pretty tough journalist, too. Sometimes, though, the columns are a bit manipulative and treacly--but not too often. "
— Tim, 12/18/2013" Enjoyed the book and definitely worth the dollar I spent for it. Live great "sport" stories "
— Andrew, 11/20/2013" The smartest sports columnist around. This is 100 of his essays that appeared in Sports Illustrated from 2001-2005. Sadly, he's left SI and gone on to ESPN, but his fiction is hilarious and his essays range from funny to satirical to schmalty to really very touching. Great collection. "
— Steph, 11/20/2013" He is a great sports writer. Many parts were heart-wrenching, many were funny. "
— Kyle, 10/25/2013" I am not a sports follower, but do love a good sports human interest story. If you like that, this was an enjoyable read "
— Cathy, 9/22/2013" only listening to it b/c i'm at work with nothing else to listen to. thought it was going to be funny. not at all. when i'm done work, i'm done with this book. "
— Barbara, 6/8/2013" I love this book- it makes you laugh and cry- the whole hate mail from cheerleaders chapter is hilarious. Some of the chapters make you cry - I love that in a book, laughing and crying ! "
— Sandy, 3/9/2013" This guy is one of the most talented writers I've ever had the pleasure of reading. And his analysis is spot on, in most cases. Do yourself a favor, if you like sports, and read his columns in Sports Illustrated, or a compilation of those columns (like this book). "
— Brian, 4/19/2012" Funny and occasionally personable collection of short stories in the life of a sportswriter. "
— Tim, 12/23/2011" This is a great collection of Rick Reilly's columns from Sports Illustrated. Rick is not your typical sports writer. He looks at the athlete as a whole person and shares the triumphs of some very unlikely athletes. "
— Amy, 10/12/2011" Funny, entertaining and moving. I enjoy Rick's writing style. Easy read. "
— Dennis, 9/2/2011" This is one of those rare books that my husband snagged from me the minute I finished informing me that, "This guy is HILARIOUS!" Don't I know it. I am now a huge fan and would almost subscribe to SI just to read his column every week. (I said almost.) "
— Kristin, 6/9/2011" He is a great sports writer. Many parts were heart-wrenching, many were funny. "
— Kyle, 5/26/2011" Short stories from his days at SI. Very cool "
— Jason, 1/11/2011" This is a great collection of Rick Reilly's columns from Sports Illustrated. Rick is not your typical sports writer. He looks at the athlete as a whole person and shares the triumphs of some very unlikely athletes. "
— Amy, 10/6/2010" I suppose Reilly must crack himself up a lot. In general, though, I really liked his SI column and miss it. As this was a collection of 100 of his favorite columns, it was a good read. "
— Megan, 9/22/2010" Rick Reilly makes sports fun to read about. "
— Leslie, 8/4/2010" A collection of columns, some of which are inspiring some of which are funny and/or amusing. Otherwise, I'm not the biggest Reilly fan, so...I was surprised how much I got out of it. We'll just leave it there. "
— Randall, 5/10/2010" Funny. Old columns but still enjoyable and good for the soul. "
— Sharon, 4/28/2010" You'll laugh. You'll cry. This was entertaining and gave some insight into the lives of some sports figures (and a sports writer). "
— Dil7worth, 9/7/2009" Eight cds of disconnected anecdotes is probably too much, but I enjoyed it anyway. You won't always agree with what Reilly says, but you can't fault him for failing to take a stand. <br/> <br/>Narration is very enthusiastic. And quite effective at conveying the humor. "
— Thomas, 7/15/2009" Pretty good: some columns made me cry, one was too boring to get through (re: hunting gear), many made references that I did not get at all. <br/> <br/>Overall it was not bad. <br/> <br/>Challenge category: Picked by spouse "
— Andrea, 5/23/2009" I love this book- it makes you laugh and cry- the whole hate mail from cheerleaders chapter is hilarious. Some of the chapters make you cry - I love that in a book, laughing and crying ! "
— Sandy, 4/29/2009" Oh so funny. Rick Reilly is very creative. I remember reading some in the actual past magazine issues and do miss his column in the SI issues these days. "
— Christine, 4/21/2009Rick Reilly, screenwriter and author, worked for years for Sports Illustrated and ESPN. In addition to being voted the NSMA National Sportswriter of the Year eleven times, he has also been recognized with the Damon Runyon Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. USA Today called him, “the closest thing sportswriting ever had to a rock star.”
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.