Rating: 
Summary: Pete's Rose-colored glasses
Review: We can say this about Pete Rose: you won't find any false modesty with him. In fact, you won't find any modesty at all.
Pete was one of my heroes growing up...the way he played the game and his never-quit philosophy was an inspiration. But when you grow up, your childhood heroes become exposed as real people, with real problems.
After 14 years of lying to his fans, Pete finally reveals that he did indeed bet on baseball. Does he apologize to all those he lied to, to all those he ridiculed along the way who accused him of this charge? Heck no!
Instead, Pete justifies his behavior with all sorts of excuses, from having ADHD to simply saying "that's the way I am." His awful, ignorant decisions were proudly proclaimed "Pete Rose logic."
Pete's gotta be awfully sore...from patting himself on the back and from tooting his own horn so many times. If you took out all the self-congratulatory rhetoric, this book would be 10 pages long.
I did, however, enjoy some of his recollections from his playing career. It brought back some marvelous memories from childhood.
Pete Rose is a severely flawed individual, who doesn't appear to be headed in the right direction any time soon.
But one can still admire the way he played the game of baseball, and all that he did to achieve the nickname "Charlie Hustle."
Rating: 
Summary: sports-hater LOVES this book!
Review: What a fascinating tale of life, love, obsession and failure! If any book out there will make you think about what it means to 'live a good life,' this one will.A lot of people out there are giving this man s**t for being exactly who he is. He's never attempted to pretend that he was/is anything other than a man obsessed with baseball and, ultimately, winning - whether it be the game, the bet, or his life. Yes, it can be argued that he is arrogant and self-centered but he is also generous, kind and open to a fault, as well as deeply afraid of rejection and failure. Who among us can claim to NOT fear rejection and failure? I think that this tale opens up a myriad of discussions about psychological, philosophical and moral rights and wrongs on personal, judicial and societal levels. As I said, I am a sports-hater, but I loved Pete's tale told in his own vernacular and un-educated voice. He is what he is and he's proud of who his is -- good for him! As for those of you knocking this baseball legend, I'm glad to see that your own personal failures, lies and deceptions have not prevented you from passing judgement on someone else.
Rating: 
Summary: Charlie Hustle's New Hustle
Review: When I was a kid and still loved baseball, Pete Rose was Charlie Hustle, a nickname given him by Whitey Ford. And he was among my favorite players. The nickname was a reference to Rose's all-out play and determination (this was guy that ran to first base even when he got a walk). With the publication of this book, it's clear he is still Charlie Hustle, only the hustle is a completely different kind that he's trying to run by the public at large.
In his forward, Rose explains that he's finally confessing to betting on baseball because "it's time" and because someone "else might benefit." But as you read the book, it becomes apparent very quickly exactly who is meant to benefit-- Pete. After all, it's no secret Rose has been hustling for money for years and he reportedly received a one million dollar advance for this book. Sadly, it's clearly an autobiography intended to sell the public on granting absolution, with as little contriteness as possible. Ross was banned from baseball in 1989 for his gambling activities. For years he denied it, excoriating others who accused him of having done so. Why 14 years later it is suddenly time to come clean, other than for the money and the chance to be reinstated in baseball, is beyond me. And if this is supposed to be a confession, it sure is an odd one. The book acts more as a rationalization for Rose's actions, going so far as to try to justify some of Rose's actions by having a doctor state Rose is a textbook case of ADHD attention disorder. Heck, he even gets into blaming his childhood teachers because they didn't understand him. Please... Rose occasionally musters enough self-respect to say that he blames himself for his problems, but that rings pretty hollow in light of all the other pages spent pointing fingers at others. He does admit to betting on baseball four to eight times a week, including games he was managing, but almost seems to brush off criticism by saying he never bet against his team or tried to fix a game (after 14 years of lying, why should we believe him now?). Rose appears to be going for some form of martyrdom, but with as little personal sacrifice as possible. He tries to play the victim throughout the book when in fact he victimized others. It's probably noteworthy that he never really bothers to apologize to those who have been lambasted for raising the issue of his cheating in the past. Ultimately, it's not a very well written book, either. (I don't know who Rick Hill is, but he might want to leave this one off his resume). The book is so slanted that it really cannot be accepted as a true autobiography. Thankfully, I did not have to pay full price for it.
Rating:
Summary: Charlie Hustled.
Review: Would you rather a spouse or loved one: a)commit adultery? b) be addicted to drugs? or c)gamble?...Pete's sin is no worse than the others. And believe me, there are plenty of adulterers and compulsive drug users in the Hall. And don't give me that "the others don't hurt the integrity of the game" stuff. Do drug users and womanizers play to their potential after a long night of smoking crack or cheating on their wives? I don't think so. We love you, Pete, and your new book.
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