Comments on: Looking For Something To Read? What About Joining The Merrill Dubrow Blog Book Club?

By: Lynn Stalone

Lynn Stalone — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:15:34 +0000

I really enjoyed the book. It was a positive message from beginning to end - a rarity these days. Not to mention that I got some great baseball history. As for recommending, the best I can give is to put it in someone’s hand. I passed it on to my 15-year old daughter who is almost done with it, then it goes to my nephew of the same age. I think this book sends a great message to a teenager about responsibility, self-respect, perseverance and respect for others. But, in a different way than they might usually hear or see. Then, it will make the rounds through my extended family until it either falls apart or comes back around to my library. I’m certain everyone who reads this book can take something useful away.

Looking forward to the next one!

By: Magda Cooling

Magda Cooling — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:10:00 +0000

Thanks for letting me join your Book Club, Merrill! I enjoyed reading who, how and why the people influenced Steve along the way. Definitely makes me think who, how and why I am who I am. Thanks for posing the questions that made everyone think, not just about the Book they were reading but about our lives in general. Great comments from everyone. I learned more about my Buds, Lynn & Paul! OK, so when you all come to Sacramento, let’s go to a River Cats Game!

By: JM

JM — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:20:06 +0000

My favorite chapter was the one about Mickey Mantle (what did you expect from a Yankee fan?). Many fans have idolized him for his greatness. At the same time, many have wondered what he could have been if he had taken better care of himself. I never liked that focus on the “missing” elements or what could have been. My theory is that if he took a different approach, he would not be the Mickey Mantle that we have come to love. His approach to baseball and life is what made him successful - always going for the big home-run and not worry too much about the strikeouts or injuries.

Translation: If you always worry about the strike-outs, you’re not going to make it big. You have to be willing to take chances and learn from your mistakes if you ever want to be successful. Also, you want to have fun along the way as well.

By: Bonnie Howard

Bonnie Howard — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:47:48 +0000

I loved the book! I have to admit I don’t know much about baseball but still enjoyed each chapter. I was able to relate the book to real life in many different aspects. The players in the book were amazing in their accomplishments which was very inspiring.

I have recommended the book to others. My father-in-law is a huge Dodger’s fan so I purchased him a copy for Father’s Day and my son the great baseball fan is reading it also.

Merrill - Thanks so much for the opportunity to be included. It was a great experience.

By: Paul Kirch

Paul Kirch — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:52:28 +0000

I have to say I really enjoyed the book. I was on vacation last week (after 10 days on the road for business) and didn’t have a great deal of time to read. Therefore, I read a couple of pages here and there, which probably took away from the last couple of chapters. What I did take away was a reminder that we’re all influenced by so many outside forces and people around us. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by my own mentors and influencers who have helped me be who I am today. When I started the book, I was expecting it would read more like a story of Steve. Instead, it was a great look at the people who made him who he is. I have to say, I really enjoyed it, but it left me wanting to know more about Steve Garvey, especially since he is not exactly loved by everyone. Still, it made it hard to not respect him and like him after reading this, simply because it made his professional success seem so human.

Merrill you mentioned one of your favorite take aways. I actually had a thought flash in my mind when I read that. Willie Mosconi, one of the greatest pool (billiard) players of all time, always used to state that you shouldn’t get down on your failed shots or up on your successful ones. If you’re playing pool and get angry about missing, it creates a negative energy which leads to frustration. If you celebrate on every accomplishment, you become easily satisfied and never strive for more. I think that made some of the greats as good as they were (are) since they’re never satisfied with one success. Of course Willie was also a great competitor and once said he played always to win and would want to beat his own mother 150-0 (straight pool is a game where you score a point for each ball made) if he was playing against her.

Thanks again for the opportunity to be in the book club. I really enjoyed it.

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:30:09 +0000

Hello,

By now my hope is you have finished the book. The last chapter was pretty good for me. I enjoyed learning a little more about Al Kaline and didn’t realize he made everything look so easy.

For me perhaps the best take away from this book was from this chapter. Steve wrote that he learned “that we can never be satisfied with our accomplishments.” Wow. for me that was pretty powerful. I would like to think that I try and live my life that way and hope that I strive to be better each and everyday.

Did you have a favorite part of the book?
Was there any meaningful takeaways for you?
Would you recommend the book to others?

Please post your comments and any questions on this site.

I truly hope you enjoyed the experience and sharing comments with the other participants.

Enjoy the weekend.

Merrill

By: chris hauck

chris hauck — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:45:15 +0000

I think I can add a little to my note above. I think that I got something significant from every player….which was Steve’s point. And I am so motivated by good sports stories - I still get jazzed when I hear the theme from Rocky! I passed my copy to a friend who was around in those days. Arthur lived in Brooklyn back then and had to adopt the Mets after the Dodgers went to CA. He said it was never the same passion for him. In some ways, he said Queens was a whole world away from Brooklyn. funny to us it just seems like a subway ride to the next borough, but to Arthur, it was too far and too foreign. As a baseball fan, he never recovered.

Thanks for sharing this! What do we do now?

By: chris hauck

chris hauck — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:03:22 +0000

I just finished the book and it really left me wanting something that wasn’t there. i really wanted to get a better feel for the way that Garvey applied these lessons in his life. Unfortunately, he also seemed to have a way of making them all very one dimensional as characters.

I did like the motivational factor that each provided. I think my favorite was Al Kaline, who kept growing as a player over time. Constant learning and growing is the best way to succeed! No I’m not a tigers fan

By: Magda Cooling

Magda Cooling — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:18:07 +0000

“The little stuff” for my company? Quality work! Employees who care about their job and co-workers. Owners who care about their Clients, Employees and Respondents. Showing appreciation to our Clients and Employees. Remembering their dislikes and likes, and important dates/events. Being available when a Client or Employee needs something.

Please describe something in your life that you have practiced and over time gotten better… Reading about Paul’s Pool competitions reminded me of my Figure Skating “career”. MANY years ago I was a competitive ice skater. I lived and breathed skating. I competed throughout CA, WA, OR, NV & CO. Thank you to my Parents for supporting me. (Hey Kim, if S. loves it - let her go as far as she can!) One cannot get any better in that Sport (or any Sport) w/o HOURS of practice, dedication and desire. Failure hurts, literally, as ice is not forgiving. Nothing compares to the moment you land those difficult jumps or you completed your routine perfectly. If you didn’t score high enough and you know you gave it your all, then it’s all-right where you placed. Believe me, I was my worst enemy, and still am. I had to learn to accept that someone has to come in last, and sometimes that was me.

What do you concentrate on that gives you an advantage? and what should you be concentrating on that will give you an advantage? These are excellent questions. As a Mom, I concentrate on my Kids. They have all the tools necessary to do well in School. I’m a fan of theirs and support them. As a Business Owner, I concentrate on the daily tasks and look to the future. I need to concentrate more on bringing in more business…

I was recently injured and unable to do my daily activities. I HAD to rely on others for help like getting kids to & from School, cooking, laundry, shopping. That was a blow to me to not be the one who was the Giver, but the recipient. I wasn’t comfortable NEEDING someone to really help me. Now I know who my real friends are though. For those of you who are also the Givers, let some of those recipients be the Giver to you too!

I agree with Jeffrey’s earlier comment… I enjoy reading everyone’s comments more than the Book. Thanks for letting me ramble…

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:17:56 +0000

Good afternoon.

Since the summer is here and lots of folks are on vacation I will post last weeks questions this Thursday to give everyone a little more time to respond.

Thanks.

Merrill