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The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron Audiobook
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(3.05) - 399 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In the thirty-four years since his retirement, Henry Aaron’s reputation has only grown in magnitude: he broke existing records (rbis, total bases, extra-base hits) and set new ones (hitting at least thirty home runs per season fifteen times, becoming the first player in history to hammer five hundred home runs and three thousand hits). But his influence extends beyond statistics, and at long last here is the first definitive biography of one of baseball’s immortal figures. Based on meticulous research and interviews with former teammates, family, two former presidents, and Aaron himself, The Last Hero chronicles Aaron’s childhood in segregated Alabama, his brief stardom in the Negro Leagues, his complicated relationship with celebrity, and his historic rivalry with Willie Mays—all culminating in the defining event of his life: his shattering of Babe Ruth’s all-time home-run record. Bryant also examines Aaron’s more complex second act: his quest to become an important voice beyond the ball field when his playing days had ended, his rediscovery by a public disillusioned with today’s tainted heroes, and his disappointment that his career home-run record was finally broken by Barry Bonds during the steroid era, baseball’s greatest scandal. Bryant reveals how Aaron navigated the upheavals of his time—fighting against racism while at the same time benefiting from racial progress—and how he achieved his goal of continuing Jackie Robinson’s mission to obtain full equality for African-Americans, both in baseball and society, while he lived uncomfortably in the public spotlight. Eloquently written, detailed and penetrating, this is a revelatory portrait of a complicated, private man who through sports became an enduring American icon.
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"I picked this book up because I like Howard Bryant's column in ESPN: The Magazine, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It's one of the best biographies I've read in a while. Bryant got some great interviews with Aaron and people close to him. He did his historical research as well, which allowed him to put Aaron's life in context. The storytelling really brings the exciting baseball stories to life, and the issues of racism and segregation are covered well also. It's hard to believe that such blatant discrimination took place just decades ago, and even superstars were not immune to it. After reading this, I feel like I not only know a lot more about Henry Aaron but also understand his impact on the world, on the field and off. And it was just plain interesting and enjoyable."
— Heather (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Best Book for Nonfiction
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One of the 2010 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Nonfiction
The Last Hero Listener Reviews
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" This book is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Baseball AND/OR history. "
— David, 2/1/2014 -
" Another great book by Howard Bryant! "
— Jcrane1095, 1/27/2014 -
" Aaron's characteristic aloofness cripples this book from the outset. He's so carefully guarded his persona and image that Bryant is forced to dwell on his statistics and his contributions to African-American baseball, but these aspects have been covered elsewhere, and so feel pedantic and one-sided here. Bryant does his best with a difficult subject, and has certainly compiled a workable body of research, even if his vanilla writing doesn't really carry all of it efficiently. But again, the subject remains distant, so far out of reach on a pedestal that we never engage with his story. One almost feels Aaron's resentment at being scrutinized, even at this distance. The detachment of the text is thus a major tradeoff: we sense the reserve of Aaron himself, but we never get to know him beyond the usual hard-knock life story, the flash of his wrists and the home-run record. A letdown, not all (or even mostly) Bryant's fault, but a letdown nonetheless. "
— Nathan, 1/4/2014 -
" Not only an excellent overview of Henry Aaron, but also the times in which he lived, including the racial prejudices he faced when early in his career and as he approached Babe Ruth's all-time home run record. "
— Tim, 1/2/2014 -
" A fair, balanced biography of Henry Aaron. The author has obvious affection for his subject, but does not let that shy him away from the pricklier side, as well as the softer side, of Aaron's nature. Long-time AJC Sports writer and editor Furman Bisher is revealed to be a product of his times, a statement not meant as a compliment. "
— Phyllis, 12/8/2013 -
" Wonderfully complex, this book does an excellent job of situating Henry Aaron in the cultural context of mid-20th century civil rights struggle. Bryant is to be congratulated on illuminating this complex and truly heroic figure. "
— Dennis, 12/3/2013 -
" Henry Aaron has always been one of my favorites. This is a strong bio on Henry ... don't call him Hank! "
— Jim, 11/28/2013 -
" The author focuses too much on Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. It could have been a more concise book without those two chapters. "
— Brian, 11/10/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It is nice to see a book dedicated to a man who was underrated for his entire life and career. There were points where Bryant left me hanging a little never to finish a certain thought or story. However, I would recommend this book to all baseball fans out there. "
— Aaron, 10/30/2013 -
" Fantastic. Just fantastic. Will be THE Henry Aaron biography for years to come. "
— Jeff, 10/29/2013 -
" It's a book on how you deal with Pressure. Very good book. Baseball is a great backdrop for a powerful man to shine. "
— Andre, 6/22/2013 -
" Incredibly informative and well researched. "
— Katy, 4/17/2011 -
" I was always a big fan of Henry Aaron so I had to check out this audiobook about him. Unfortunately it didn't grab me the way I had hoped. Maybe I'll find another book about him that I can enjoy. "
— Tony, 3/23/2011 -
" It's a home run! "
— Robert, 9/14/2010 -
" Wonderfully complex, this book does an excellent job of situating Henry Aaron in the cultural context of mid-20th century civil rights struggle. Bryant is to be congratulated on illuminating this complex and truly heroic figure. "
— Dennis, 9/4/2010 -
" Henry did not respond to people who called him "Hank" and he made mega-bucks selling BMW's in Atlanta. <br/> <br/>4.5 rating "
— Rod, 8/11/2010 -
" OK Book about a real record holder and Baseball's historic integration "
— Mark, 7/6/2010 -
" A very involved long book that took me an unusually long time to read. The first part I found boring with little insight into Hank Aaron, but once I got through it, I enjoyed his later life and was glad I continued reading. It also touched on Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson. "
— Kay, 6/27/2010 -
" Very good book about the Atlanta Braves icon. Warts and all biography. As a long time Atlanta Braves fan, I now understand why the fans and the city never really warmed to Henry Aaron. In spite of his refusal to play to the fans or the press, I now better appreciate his awesome baseball skills. "
— Alan, 6/16/2010 -
" This book is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Baseball AND/OR history. "
— David, 6/14/2010
About Howard Bryant
Howard Bryant is a senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine and has served as the sports correspondent for NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday since 2006. In addition to The Heritage, he is the author of The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron; Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball; Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston; and the three-book Legends sports series for middle-grade readers. He has twice won the Casey Award for best baseball book of the year and was a 2003 finalist for the Society for American Baseball Research Seymour Medal. In 2016, he was a finalist for the National Magazine Award and received the 2016 Salute to Excellence Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.
About Dominic Hoffman
Dominic Hoffman, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration, has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice. He is a Los Angeles–based actor of stage, screen, and television. He has appeared in such television shows as The Shield, NYPD Blue, and The Jamie Foxx Show. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art as well as the American Conservatory Theater.