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Paperback
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Chris Bull
Last spring Billy Bean, the only living openly gay former major leaguer, gained national attention with his breakthrough memoir, Going the Other Way—an unprecedented chronicle of America's national pastime that went on to sell more than 25,000 copies. Bean brings us inside the clubhouse and onto the playing field, offering dead-on insight into the game and the physical and emotional demands it makes on players. Bean faced an agonizing choice, in secrecy and solitude, between continuing to play the game he loved and the honesty of a loving relationship. By turns heartbreaking and farcical, ruminative and uncensored, the book culminates in a respectful, deeply felt appeal to Major League Baseball and other professional team sports to live up to their promise of equality and opportunity. A testament to the power of the single voice, Going the Other Way is an exemplary American tale that points the way toward a more perfect game, one in which all men and women can pursue their athletic dreams free of prejudice and discrimination. An eight-page photo insert is featured in this New York Times bestseller.
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| Eye Opening |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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As somebody that knows almost nothing about sports and baseball I went into this book with low expectations but I have nothing but positive things to say about this book. Billy Bean writes with an authority that usually only the most polished writers have. His story is gripping and his sense of self is astonishing especially considering how insecure he seemed to have been in his early life. He even manages to make the sports talk easy to navigate for somebody that has no knowledge of that world. He speaks with clarity and honesty about his struggles of trying to find his true sexuality in the straight dominated world of sports and is rather brave in candid talk of life on a major league baseball team. He allows the truth to be known without bashing other people and never takes a mean spirited low blow at anyone. These stories seem true to life and don't feel exaggerated as other auto-biographies tend to feel at times. I feel that Billy Bean is a very relatable person and that anyone could learn a lesson in humility from his very humble way of talking about himself. This man has a lot of passion and clearly knows how to channel it into a passionate book. I recommend this book to anyone; Billy Bean is a hero and should be applauded for his courage to come out in such an honest, true to self way. This man is a true American hero.
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| Billy Bean |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Great story by a guy that wasted a lot of years not being himself to balance his high profile job. he went through lots of the same tribulation I did.
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| Fascinating glimpse into the closeted world of major league baseball |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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This is a heartfelt story that has not been told before -- a glimpse inside the world of major league baseball from the perspective of a perceptive and sensitive gay man. Billy writes with real passion about the sport he loves, the incredible pressure to excel, and the high personal price a gay man pays for remaining in the closet. He has a lot to say about the culture of professional sports, how players relate to each other both on and off the field, and what it takes to excel in a very demanding job. And for those who are not baseball fans, a useful glossary of baseball terms and slang is included at the back of the book.
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| Show's yet another reason for needing gay marriage |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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GREAT story. I am not a sports fan, but couldn't put the book down once I started to read it.
I think Billy helps to prove that the stereotype that gay men are vain is wrong. Here is a man that could have any gay guy he wants and is more interested in love.
Having to miss his partner's funeral almost brought tears to my eyes. This story right there provides yet another reason as to why we need gya marriage in the US>
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| A solid base hit! |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Billy Bean played for 3 major league baseball teams (the Dodgers, Tigers and Padres). He was never a star in the majors, but he had a decent career. Would Bean have a story to tell if he was not gay? Maybe, because it seems everyone writes an autobiography these days. This isn't just the story of a gay man. This is the story of a man struggling to discover who he really is.
Bean discusses his childhood, his high school playing days and his years in the minor leagues. While he progressed through life, he always seemed to feel as if something was missing or not quite right. Still he got married and thought he was living the 'right' life.
Eventually and painfully, Bean realized what he was and decided to act upon it, even though he was not ready to go public with everything. Tragically and much too quickly, his first meaningful gay relationship ended with his partner's death due to AIDS.
Bean's story of coping with this loss, while coming to terms with his sexuality is an engrossing story. You can feel Bean's pain. Gay or not, we all go through our own identity struggles. I guess that is one thing that makes Bean's book good. We can all relate to his struggles. Yet, on the other hand, I have no idea what he must have endured, but Bean paints a vivid and often painful picture of his journey. This makes the book a good read for all people.
I won't totally kill the ending, but I will say that it is uplifting and positive.
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