couillac 's review for:

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin

2.0

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Weirdly, better as a football book than as a bio of Thorpe, and surprisingly unsuccessful in its portrayal of both Thorpe and Carlisle School. No discussion of how the media and success/money shaped Thorpe's image and those of his fellow players, and controversial yet important topics like mascots and the legacy of Pratt and Carlisle School barely given lip-service. Fascinating to see the development of football into the modern game, and the role of the Carlisle Indians in its success, but frankly, lacking nuance in so many other respects. Disappointing from Sheinkin to not have dug deeper, asked harder questions about his subjects.