RobKirkpatrick.com

I wanted to post a quick review of a new book called Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History of the New York Mets, by Greg Prince (Skyhorse Publishing, 2009).  With a cover that includes images from the 1986 World Series and Yadier Molina’s home run off Aaron Heilman in the 2006 NLCS, Prince’s memoir chronicles both the triumphs and heartbreaks of the Mets team – not from the jaded lens of a reporter but from the unique perspective of a fan who grew up at the same time the Mets franchise did. There are many books out there covering the Mets championship seasons, but Prince is the type of fan who remembers 1970s team favorite Steve Henderson just as clearly as he does the Amazin’s’ overcoming Dave Henderson’s home run in Game 6.  (He might have titled his book Praying for Ron Hodges.)  In this day of naming rights, luxury-suite ballparks, and alternate batting-practice jerseys, Prince reminds us of the true charms of being a baseball fan.

- Rob

1969: The Year Everything Changed (Skyhorse, 2009) 

“The subtitle of his new book, 1969: The Year Everything Changed, may sound hyperbolic, but Kirkpatrick makes a good case that it was a year of ‘landmark achievements, cataclysmic episodes and generation-defining events.’”–USA Today

“A riveting look at a pivotal year.”–Booklist

“In this compelling account, Kirkpatrick treats the tumultuous events of 1969 with the skills of a journalist, a historian, a sociologist, and a sportswriter and manages to insert moments of lightness and triviality into his grand tour. He writes as easily about jazz-pop as about the rise of the American Indian Movement. He follows a harrowing chapter about the Manson family and the Zodiac Killer with a breathless report on the Amazin’ Mets.…Nostalgic for some, revelatory for others, this is a worthy addition to the literature of the 1960s.”–Library Journal

“A compelling account of the historic year.” – History Channel Magazine Club

“Kirkpatrick is a gifted writer who takes all of the events of this remarkable year and shapes them into a single, cohesive story….Each of these moments is fascinating, but taken together, Kirkpatrick weaves an astonishing tale. Whether you lived through that tumultuous time or not, you’ll love immersing yourself into this book.” – Sean Lahman,  author of The Pro Football Historical Abstract

Magic in the Night: The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009)

“Offers a fresh, compelling look at the Boss’s art, his life, even his country.” – Library Media Connection

“Other books have covered the life and works of popular musician Bruce Springsteen, but few offer [this] depth of analysis and critical assessment.” – Midwest Book Review

“Beautifully written.” – David Barker, editor, Continuum’s “33 1/3″ series

“Rob Kirkpatrick’s rich narrative sheds news light on the songs that have become a soundtrack for the American experience.” – Mark K. Updegrove, former publisher of Newsweek and MTV Magazine and author of Baptism by Fire: Eight Presidents Inaugurated During Times of Crisis

Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators: The War-Torn Career of an All-Star Shortstop (Bison, 2009)

“Rob Kirkpatrick has written a warm and compelling biography of one of the best but least appreciated ballplayers in the history of our national pastime. Rob’s book is a beautiful celebration of a beautiful life.” – Timothy M. Gay, author of Tris Speaker: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Baseball Legend

“Cecil Travis is one of the best hitters I ever faced. Rob Kirkpatrick’s well-researched biography pays tribute to a player who belongs in the Hall of Fame.” – Bob Feller