Rating: 
Summary: Chip on the author's shoulder
Review: This book, it seems to me, is written with a definite, preconceived bias against Joe DiMaggio the man. It seeks to portray him as an insensitive, rather stupid, monumentally selfish, and above all greedy jerk, in contrast of course to the myth of "The Great DiMaggio." In addition to having severe questions about the source of some of the material, which is written as though the author were right there, among other places, by Joe's deathbed which he obviously wasn't, I question the need for this type of book debunking a great American icon. Do we really care that the man had personal foibles? What's the point? Moreover, a lot of this material appears recycled, for example I recognize verbatim dialogue from a more balanced and searching essay by Gay Talese from the 60s entitled Silent Season of a Hero. Joe's brother Dominic was very opposed to this book and it isn't hard to see why. I mean, it is one thing to trash a political figure, but a baseball player? Count me as a dissenting voice. Surely this distinguished author is capable of better.
Rating: 
Summary: A lousy book by an average writer
Review: It is amazing that this guy won a pulitzer prize for writing. Except for the information on DiMaggio's playing days, the book is negative, racist, and extremely one-sided against the ballplayer. It makes one wonder if Ben Cramer had a personal vendetta against DiMaggio. If the author was attempting to make a point that our public images of athletes are false, then he could of done so with far less damaging material. It was overkill. I objected to his use of the word Dago, not in reference to DiMaggio's nickname (because he allegedly liked it), but to italian food. It is called Italian Bread not Dago Bread. The author slams DiMaggio for making money off of his autographs, but this is common for former stars to do. I suppose that Cramer thinks that the former athletes should allow millionaire sports memorabilia dealers to profit exclusively. I give this book one star for the information about Dimaggio's playing days. Reading beyond those initial chapters is a waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Exactly An Icon
Review: This book kind of shatters the image I had of Joe Dimaggio. No doubt he was one of the greatest players in baseball history. But this book gives a real inside look at what drove Joltin' Joe. If you want to remember Dimaggio as the quiet giant of baseball, then don't read this book. It paints a picture of a man driven throughout his life by selfishness and greed all of which seemed to get worse as he grew older. The author definitely did his homework and the insight is remarkable.
Rating: 
Summary: "Say It Ain't So, Joe." The Dark Side of the Hero Game
Review: Richard Ben Cramer's biography of Jo DiMaggio is an indictment of our culture of hero worship. That an individual so thoroughly despicable could be so idolized and worshiped says a lot about what's wrong with where America puts its values. No doubt, DiMaggio was one of the greatest atheletes of the 20th century. He was also a legendary womanizer who cavorted with mobsters and took mob money on the side. He broke off all relations with his son (who died a victim of his father's fame shortly after he did) and had little to do with his own siblings, two of whom were also major leaguers. He was a man capable of cutting off frendships that had lasted decades over the tiniest perceived slight. The only touching aspect of his life was his genuine love affair with Marilyn Monroe, a woman whose life he tried to save even as he physically abused her.Cramer is a first rate journalist and his lively prose makes "Joltin' Joe" come to life for the reader, warts and all. Cramer manages to get inside the head of the man behind the myth despite the fact that he received no cooperation from his subject. Cramer has the proper respect for DiMaggio's on field accomplishments and the proper amount of dismay at the bitter, stingy, thoroughly dislikable old man DiMaggio became. The closing of the book shows DiMaggio as a greedy huckster so willing to cash in on his own name that he was still attempting to autograph baseballs for cash on his deathbed. This is one of the absolute best recent sports biographies. And if it should happen to cause some people to re-examine their passion for sports memorabilia, so much the better.
Rating:
Summary: NOT a hatchet Job!
Review: I have to disagree from some of the reviewers. This is not a hatchet job. Oh, for sure, there is alot of "dirt", and whenever I have read a book from this genre, I have always felt "sleazy". But not this time. Cramer does not dwell on only the bad things (and boy, are there alot). He does try very hard to explain how Joe got his hero status, and why he probably deserved it. Believe me, I was a person who revered Joe D. I'm not sure if I've totally changed since reading this book. This was a GREAT biography. It illustrates how a legend was born, but also how legends are mortal, and have their flaws. Most disconcerting in the book for me was the sleazy dealings in the autograph trade (I personnally "met" Joe D. three times at these "meat markets", and have to admit a little disappointment in knowing his disdain for the common man. But hey, that's who he was -- take the good and the bad. As I said, I feel Cramer was evenhanded in his portrayl, and recommend this book to every baseball fan. Especially the younger ones -- this was baseball's golden age, and today's game pales in comparison. I cannot say enough good things about this book.
Rating:
Summary: Bigotry on display
Review: This book is well written. Beyond that, it is hard to say anything positive, or for that matter polite about this blistering and unnecessary attack on an American icon. The author is clearly a bigot. Had this book been written about a member of almost any other ethnic group it is doubtful it would have ever been published. If you enjoy the "Soprano's" and believe that all Americans of Italian heiritage are ignorant, pasta-eating members of the mob, you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste your time. For after having read it, all I know "new" about DiMaggio was that he put his pants on the same way I do.
Rating:
Summary: Tabloid Bio
Review: Cramer does not have one good, decent thing to say about his subject. A hatchet job; completely unbalanced. Cramer evidences the research skills of a biographer but its mostly tabloid stuff. Methinks he doth protest too much. Certainly Joe D was guilty of greed but Cramer's telling would be more persuasive if it were balanced. I was hoping for a full portrait, warts and all, but its not in this book; its warts only. I suspect Cramer is a long time fan of the Dodgers.
Rating:
Summary: why write a book about someone you hate
Review: mr cramer is a bigoted and small man writing about a complex larger than life hero. he is anti-italian, demeaning, glib and fails to explain to me anything about the inner life of a man who seems a contradiction of drive, shyness, pride, paranoia, and sadness. as an italian i was insulted by the author's tone of disrespect to italians in general. he demeaned joe's parents, their professions, their family relationships and their true selves. he never dealt with the underlying reasons for joe's extreme shyness, and discomfort with other people. instead he made fun of his dependence on others to be with him and talk for him. the author seemed particularly proud to "dig up dirt" about joe's connections but did little to explain the italian american world into which he was thrown, a world both good and bad. i don't understand why this author chose to write a whole book about someone he clearly disliked so intensely. after reading this book i could only wonder what this complex man was really all about.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating, But Depressing Book
Review: I believe this book rates with David Maraniss's book on Vince Lombardi as far as biographies go. I give this book five stars because of all the research author Richard Cramer did, but I found it to be a very depressing book. Yes, Joe DiMaggio was an outstanding baseball player. I did find it to be a pathetic situation to have to live up to an image of being perfect and be hung up on making money. He didn't want anyone taking advantage of him by making money off of his name, but if his problems are the price of being famous we can all give thanks that fame has eluded us.
Rating:
Summary: The dark side of DiMaggio
Review: It is a malevolent but sadly truthful biography of the greatest baseball icon,Joe DiMaggio.It is written in the same vein as Seymour Hersh The Dark Side of Camelot. You will flinch by reading this expose and learning more than you really wanted to know. Half of the book goes over DiMaggio playing days until 1951.Then the spicy part takes over detailing his obsession with the sex godess Marilyn Monroe.After Monroe's death his last thirty years are dedicated to selling-and what price-his image.He becomes involved up to his head wheeling and dealing in all kinds of baseball memorabilia. I recommend the book.Hard to put it down after starting to read.
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