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rmmcdowell's review
4.0
Hamilton wrote Beyond Belief with a cowriter, so it's hard to know what, if anything, he actually wrote of his story. Either way, Hamilton comes across as a bit pompous and strangely defensive of his parents. The early portions of the book, while engaging, were hard for me to read. All I could see in Hamilton was a jock who was still attached to his mother and father ("momma" and "daddy," to hear him tell it). Time and time again he defended his parents in places that I didn't think they needed defending. As the book goes on, though, it seemed to me that Hamilton is not pompous or still attached to his umbilical cord--I think he's naive. I think he's, um, simple. And I think he's sweet.
As Hamilton recounts his descent into cocaine addiction, the story becomes at times engrossing and appalling. It's rather like watching a car crash--you want to look away from the destruction, but you have to know how it comes out. You can't look away. At least with Hamilton's story anyone who follows baseball knows at least how it comes around. The self-destruction is evident, and (this is why I think he's simple and sweet) Hamilton doesn't hide any of it. He details the squarlor in which he was willing to find his drugs, his descent into crack, and the levels he sunk to in order to feed his demons. Hamilton also doesn't hide the fact that his faith in God is all that brought him through. At face value, Beyond Belief is the tale of Josh Hamilton's addiction, his efforts to throw away the natural baseball talent that God gave him, and his recovery from drugs and of his career. When it comes down to it, though, this is a tale of spiritual warfare. From his tattoos to his drug addiction to his reclaimed career to his two relapses, that's what Hamilton's story is. And, at the end of the day, that's what our stories are too.
As Hamilton recounts his descent into cocaine addiction, the story becomes at times engrossing and appalling. It's rather like watching a car crash--you want to look away from the destruction, but you have to know how it comes out. You can't look away. At least with Hamilton's story anyone who follows baseball knows at least how it comes around. The self-destruction is evident, and (this is why I think he's simple and sweet) Hamilton doesn't hide any of it. He details the squarlor in which he was willing to find his drugs, his descent into crack, and the levels he sunk to in order to feed his demons. Hamilton also doesn't hide the fact that his faith in God is all that brought him through. At face value, Beyond Belief is the tale of Josh Hamilton's addiction, his efforts to throw away the natural baseball talent that God gave him, and his recovery from drugs and of his career. When it comes down to it, though, this is a tale of spiritual warfare. From his tattoos to his drug addiction to his reclaimed career to his two relapses, that's what Hamilton's story is. And, at the end of the day, that's what our stories are too.
booksandgore's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Addiction
setaian's review
3.0
I love baseball. It's as close to a spiritual experience as I go. I don't just think it's a beautiful game, I think it's "the" beautiful game. So I'm interested in a talented player like Josh Hamilton, but this book was a disappointment.
This book went into great detail about his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Honestly, what should have been a chapter was half the book. He talked about his fall from grace, his conversion to Christianity and his return to major league baseball. OK, I can deal.
His real sin in my opinion is that he has set himself up as a role model, and then stepped out on his wife. What that says about the way a woman can be treated is unforgivable. If he kept his private life private, just concentrated on his baseball, I might look at a photo of his smoking hot wife, shake my head and wonder why anyone would step out when she was waiting at home...but I could let it go and say it's none of my business.
As it is, he made himself a role model and he needs to be held to a very high standard. I liked him until I read this book.
This book went into great detail about his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Honestly, what should have been a chapter was half the book. He talked about his fall from grace, his conversion to Christianity and his return to major league baseball. OK, I can deal.
His real sin in my opinion is that he has set himself up as a role model, and then stepped out on his wife. What that says about the way a woman can be treated is unforgivable. If he kept his private life private, just concentrated on his baseball, I might look at a photo of his smoking hot wife, shake my head and wonder why anyone would step out when she was waiting at home...but I could let it go and say it's none of my business.
As it is, he made himself a role model and he needs to be held to a very high standard. I liked him until I read this book.
pinktulips1015's review
3.0
I would have given this book a higher rating, but unfortunately I know the current status to his story and feel somewhat cheated by his tale. I'm hoping it wasn't a chance to get "more" money.
ladrumm's review
4.0
As a huge baseball fan, I'd obviously heard of Josh Hamilton's story. I remember the 2008 Home Run Derby and the feel good story of Josh's amazing comeback. However, I had no idea just how far he had really come.
This book is clearly written by Josh; the grammar and sentence structure aren't perfect, but I appreciated that. It made the story that much more authentic. You can feel all of his emotion in his words - joy, devastation, hopelessness, redemption. His is a truly unbelievable story that would have been a great plot for a movie, if only it weren't true.
Baseball fan or not, if you enjoy a heartwarming, back from the bottom, feel good story that reinforces your faith in the human spirit, you have to read this book.
This book is clearly written by Josh; the grammar and sentence structure aren't perfect, but I appreciated that. It made the story that much more authentic. You can feel all of his emotion in his words - joy, devastation, hopelessness, redemption. His is a truly unbelievable story that would have been a great plot for a movie, if only it weren't true.
Baseball fan or not, if you enjoy a heartwarming, back from the bottom, feel good story that reinforces your faith in the human spirit, you have to read this book.
cubsfan3410reads's review
5.0
This was an interesting and inspiring read. I was riveted to his story and inspired by his courage. I cried through the last quarter of it.
READ THIS!!!!
READ THIS!!!!
taraddonai's review
5.0
I love baseball…baseball, baseball, baseball…….. I grew up watching and playing the game. I’ve been a fan for years, and so biographies of the players always interest me. Enter one Josh Hamilton.
I wasn’t really all that familiar with Josh’s story until I watched the Home Run Derby at the All Star game this summer. WOW, this guy was jacking them over the fence (and a few nearly out of Yankee Stadium) one by one. But that wasn’t what made this night so special, what made this night so special is who Josh Hamilton is, or rather, who he has become.
Josh grew up with what people in sports would call the intangible “it”. Nobody really can define “it” but “it” is something beyond a natural ability to play the game. Josh had “it” all throughout his growing up in North Carolina. He was drafted #1 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at 19 years old. He was the good kid and was always a role model to others. Then, another phase of Josh’s life took place. It was a phase filled with alcohol, rebellion, cocaine, crack, violence, sorry, and letting others down. The baseball player who had “it” turned into no more than a waste of flesh walking the world seeking his next high.
This book is so much more than a biography of a baseball player. It’s a story of God’s undeserved mercy and grace on a man who has been given a platform by God, for God. You won’t find Josh shying away from proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ in this book, nor will you find him making excuses for his past behavior. What you will find in this book is a story about a man with all the talent in the world (think of the movie The Natural) and wasted that talent for many years. I don’t believe God gives us the proverbial “second chance” but rather our lives are following the script He’s writing out. Josh’s past is part of His script, but the beauty is that Josh’s future, redeemed through Christ, is as well. It is a future of a man saved by God’s mercy and grace. A grace that found Josh right where he was; broken, good as dead, and ruined. It’s a grace that restored Josh, not to just play baseball, but that the name of Jesus might be glorified in Josh’s life.
If you’re looking for a gift to buy somebody who loves the game of baseball, buy this book for them without hesitation. They will be thankful that you did!
I wasn’t really all that familiar with Josh’s story until I watched the Home Run Derby at the All Star game this summer. WOW, this guy was jacking them over the fence (and a few nearly out of Yankee Stadium) one by one. But that wasn’t what made this night so special, what made this night so special is who Josh Hamilton is, or rather, who he has become.
Josh grew up with what people in sports would call the intangible “it”. Nobody really can define “it” but “it” is something beyond a natural ability to play the game. Josh had “it” all throughout his growing up in North Carolina. He was drafted #1 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at 19 years old. He was the good kid and was always a role model to others. Then, another phase of Josh’s life took place. It was a phase filled with alcohol, rebellion, cocaine, crack, violence, sorry, and letting others down. The baseball player who had “it” turned into no more than a waste of flesh walking the world seeking his next high.
This book is so much more than a biography of a baseball player. It’s a story of God’s undeserved mercy and grace on a man who has been given a platform by God, for God. You won’t find Josh shying away from proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ in this book, nor will you find him making excuses for his past behavior. What you will find in this book is a story about a man with all the talent in the world (think of the movie The Natural) and wasted that talent for many years. I don’t believe God gives us the proverbial “second chance” but rather our lives are following the script He’s writing out. Josh’s past is part of His script, but the beauty is that Josh’s future, redeemed through Christ, is as well. It is a future of a man saved by God’s mercy and grace. A grace that found Josh right where he was; broken, good as dead, and ruined. It’s a grace that restored Josh, not to just play baseball, but that the name of Jesus might be glorified in Josh’s life.
If you’re looking for a gift to buy somebody who loves the game of baseball, buy this book for them without hesitation. They will be thankful that you did!
cervinlibrarian's review
5.0
Josh Hamilton's story is an amazing example of God's grace and mercy. His is such a compelling story and one I highly recommend. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for him and his family in the future.
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