Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Book Review: Albert Pujols, More than the Game by Scott Lamb.

Albert Pujols has never been shy about his faith. In fact, he's one of the most vocal Christians in Major League Baseball. So when I picked up Pujols: More than the Game I knew that it would heavily emphasize the slugger's spiritual life. What I didn't realize is that it would also be a pretty good baseball story as well.

From Pujols’ upbringing in the Dominican Republic, to his conversion to Christianity, his baseball talent was obvious. For Pujols it was a process to learn that God gave that talent to him, and to find out what he was supposed to do with it. There were mistakes along the way – a fractured relationship with a scout was one of the learning experiences along the way. Consistently, though, Pujols’ hard work and determination kept him striving to improve, both on the field and off. Pujols depicts a man who remains a team player even while consistently striving for his personal best in every area of life.

Part biography, part inspirational, part sports drama, Pujols doesn't ignore the tough questions. Performance enhancing drugs, contract negotiations - authors Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth address them all. Pujols doesn't come across looking like a saint, but he definitely looks like a hero - someone you can be proud to have your kids admire, stand in line for autographs, and emulate. That’s okay, because he’s not claiming perfection and ultimately he is deflecting that attention to the One that gave him the talent in the first place.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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