a sense of where you are_ bill bradley at princeton by john mcphee review
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A Sense of Where You Are_ Bill Bradley at Princeton by John McPhee ReviewTRANSCRIPT
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ASenseofWhereYouAre:BillBradleyatPrinceton
byJohnMcPhee
WhenJohnMcPheemetBillBradley,bothwereatthebeginningoftheircareers.ASenseofWhereYouAre,McPheesfirstbook,isaboutBradleywhenhewasthebestbasketballplayerPrincetonhadeverseen.McPheedelineatesforthereaderthetrainingandtechniquesthatmadeBradleytheextraordinaryathletehewas,andthispartofthebookisablueprintofsuperlativ...more
Paperback,240pagesPublishedJune30th1999byFarrar,StrausandGiroux(firstpublished1965)
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JohnMcPheewasborninPrinceton,NewJersey,andwaseducatedatPrincetonUniversityandCambridgeUniversity.HiswritingcareerbeganatTimemagazineandledtohislongassociationwiththeNewYorker,wherehehasbeenastaffwritersince1965.Thesameyearhepublishedhisfirstbook,ASenseofWhereYouAre,withFSG,andsoonfollowedwithTheHeadmaster(1966),Oranges(1967),TheP...more
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BestBiographies93rdoutof644books1,460voters
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StevenPetersonratedit
Ijustfoundmyoldpaperbackcopyofthisbook.Whileinhighschool,IadmiredBillBradley'sbasketballplayingatPrincetonagreatdeal.Asaresult,Iboughtthisbooksoonafteritcameabout.ThisisagoodluckatthecareerofBradleyatPrincetonUniversity.Literatelywrittenandafascinatingcharacterstudy....
3likesLikeseereview
DavidQuinnrateditShelves:fawning
Disappointinglyfawning,IhalfexpectedtoseeBillBradleysmotherandfatherascowriters.
BillBradleysPrincetonyearswereundoubtedlyfilledwithsupremebasketballandacademicsuccesssoIwasntexpectinganytypeofexposbutthesuperlativeswereheapedontooheavilyformyliking.
ThisisbettersuitedforYAreaders.
2likesLikeseereview
Lynnemarieratedit
ThisjustremindedmeofhowmuchIloveMcPhee'sstyleandalsoremindedmewhatitwaslikeinthe1960'stobelivinginahomewhereCazzieRussellwassuchahouseholdnamethatitreverberatestodaywithgreatclangorstilltoday.
ThisisessentiallybiographicalsketchofayoungBillBradleyjustafterheleftPrinceton.Totallybasketball,butaglimpseintotheworkingsofthemindnevertheless.Inasense,itisacompaniontoapieceMcPheewrotewithinthelastyearfor"TheNewYor...more
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CoreyThibodeauxratedit
Greatportraitofaplayerthroughhisowneyes.BillBradleywasauniqueplayerandmanandJohnMcPheecapturingsomeofthosemomentsinactionmadethisbookrelevant.IthinkIlearnedmoreaboutthegameofbasketballfromthisbookthananyothersource.
1likeLikeseereview
Kennyoratedit
ThisiswhereIbeganmystronginterestinandrespectforJohnMcPhee'swriting.HepaintsalyricalportraitofyoungBillBradleythatpiquedmyinterestinmoreofhiswriting.
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AlexStrickvanLinschotenratedit reviewofanotheredition
Ihavenointerestinbasketballwhatsoever,butthisbookkeptmehooked.I'mtryingtoreadallofJohnMcPhee'sbooksthisyear,andthiswasawonderfulstart.
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Notriviaorquizzesyet.Addsomenow
Bradleyisoneofthefewbasketballplayerswhohaveeverbeenappreciativelycheeredbyadisinterestedawayfromhomecrowdwhilewarmingup.ThiscuriouseventoccurredlastMarch,justbeforePrincetoneliminatedtheVirginiaMilitaryInstitute,theyear'sSouthernConferencechampion,fromtheNCAAchampionships.ThegamewasplayedinPhiladelphiaandwasthelastofatripleheader.Thepeopletherewerewornout,becausemostofthemwereemotionallycommittedtoeitherVillanovaorTempletwolocalteamsthathadjustbeeninvolvedinenervatingbattleswithProvidenceandConnecticut,respectively,scramblingforachanceattherestofthecountry.AgroupofPrincetonplayersshootingbasketballsmiscellaneouslyinpreparationforstillanothergamehardlypromisedtobeahighpointoftheevening,butBradley,whoseroutineinthewarmuptimeisagradualcrescendoofactivity,ismoreinterestingtowatchbeforeagamethanmostplayersareinplay.InPhiladelphiathatnight,whathedidwas,forhim,anythingbutunusual.Ashedoesbeforeallgames,hebeganbyshootingsetshotsclosetothebasket,graduallymovingbackuntilhewasshootinglongsetsfrom20feetout,andnearlyallofthemdroppedintothenetwithanalmostmechanicalrhythmofaccuracy.Thenhebeganaseriesofexpandinglydifficultjumpshots,andonejumperafteranotherwentcleanlythroughthebasketwithsofewexceptionsthatthecrowdbegantomurmur.Thenhestartedtoperformwhirlingreversemovesbeforeanothercadenceofalmoststeadilyaccuratejumpshots,andthemurmurincreased.Thenhebegantosweephookshotsintotheair.Hemovedinasemicirclearoundthecourt.Firstwithhisrighthand,thenwithhisleft,hetriedsevenoftheselong,gracefulshotsthemostdifficultonesintheorthodoxyofbasketballandambidextrouslymadethemall.Thegamehadnotevenbegun,butthepresumablyunimpressiblePhiladelphianswereapplaudinglikeanaudienceatanopera.6likes
IfbasketballwasgoingtoenableBradleytomakefriends,toprovethatabanker'ssonisasgoodasthenextfellow,toprovethathecoulddowithoutbeingthegreatestendeveratMissouri,toprovethathewasnotchicken,andtoliveuptohismother'schampionshipstandards,andifhewasgoingtohavesomemomentsleftovertosavorhisdelightinthegame,heobviouslyneededconsiderablepractice,soheborrowedkeystothegymandsetascheduleforhimselfthatheadherededtoforfourfullyearsintheschoolyear,threeandahalfhourseverydayafterschool,ninetofiveonSaturday,onethirtytofiveonSunday,and,inthesummer,about
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TriviaAboutASenseofWhere...
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Carolineratedit reviewofanothereditionShelves:dadrecommended,own
ASenseofWhereYouAredetailstheearlylifeandcollegebasketballcareerofBillBradley.ThoughattimesMcPheecomesacrossabitstarryeyedwhendescribingBradley,Iadmitthathisbasketballandacademicaccomplishmentsarequiteimpressive.ReadingthisbookafterBeerandCircus(whichisaboutmoderncollegiateathleticsandhowtheyareunderminingundergraduateeducation),Ifounditparticularlystrikinghowmuchemphasisthe"student"partofstudentathletewasgiveninthe19...more
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Darrylratedit
BillBradleywasborninasmallMissouritown,thesonofthetown'sbanker,whotaughthimdiscipline,hardwork,andaloveoflearning,andhiswife,afiercelycompetitivebutlovingformerathlete.TheirsonwasoneofthemostcelebratedschoolboyathletesinMissourihistory,andwasofferedscholarshipstoover70collegestoplaybasketball.However,hechosetoattendPrincetonUniversity,whichdidnotprovideathleticscholarshipsandwasnotknownforitsbasketballteam,ashehad...more
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JamesEntwistleratedit
Everynowandthen,I'llreadabook,watchamovie,orseeayoutubeclipofTimTebowtakingahandicappedgirlashisdatetoaformaleventthatlegitimatelymakesmewanttobeabetterman.Thisbookhadthateffectonme.BillBradley'sdrive,willpower,andmoralfortitudearetrulyinspirational.Bradley'ssuccessinbasketballandinhiscareerthereafterspeaktothevalueofhardworkandperseverance.Itwasalsorefreshingandinterestingtoreadabiographyaboutsomeonethatwas...more
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LisarateditShelves:nonfictionsports
IfinishedASenseofWhereYouArelastnight.Itwasafantasticbookandanoutstandingstory.BillBradleylivedoutastorythateveryathletehopesupon,especiallytogooutonsuchapositivenote.IfinishedthebookandimmediatelywatchedYoutubevideosofBradley.
IenjoyedMcPheeswritingstyle.Hesstraightforward,light,metered.Theresaneasyrhythmtohiswords.
Irecommenditforsportsfans,butalsofansofcreativenonfictionforthebeautifulwriting.
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RyanHolidayratedit
Ican'texactlysayhowIcametohearthetwoofthemrecommendthisbook,butwhenRobertGreeneandPaulGrahambothsaysomethingisgood,Idon'tneedtobetoldathirdtime.ThetitlecomesfromaBillBradleyquoteabouthishookshot,abouthowafterenoughofthemhisfeelforthegamewassogoodthathedidn'tneedtolooktoseewherehewasonthecourt.Hejustknew.Iguessit'sprobablyabitoftheselectionbias,butit'sfascinatingtometoreadabiographyofsomeonebefore...more
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Tomratedit
Averyquickread.Finisheditinoneafternoon.McPheecanreallywrite.Inmanyways,thisreadslikeaeulogyforidealizedimageofthe"studentathlete."Simplyput,BillBradleywaseverythingthatmajorathleticuniversitieswouldlovetothinkthattheirathletesare.Heck,Bradleywaswhatanyuniversitypresidentwouldlovetopointtoastheidealstudent.GuyslikeBradleywererareinthe1960sandtheyarerarenow.McPheedoesanelegantjobofdetailingBradley'suniquededicatio...more
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LeerateditShelves:recentlyread
agreataccountofbillbradleyinwhatmaybeperhapshisbestforum,thoughpossiblytheoneforwhichheisleastknown.mcphee'sfirstworkfollowsbradley'ssenioryear/seasonatprinceton.duringthisyearhewouldwinthenationalplayeroftheyearaward,takeprincetontothefinalfour,andbeselectedasarhodesscholar.bradleymustbethegreateststudentathleteofalltimeandthisbookaccountstheincrediblededication,resolve,andworkthatmadeitpossible.theonlycomplai...more
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Benratedit
IpickedthisupusedbecauseI'mgoingtobereadingmoreofJohnMcPhee'sworkthissummer.Iwascurioustoseehisgeneralwritingstyle.It'sveryclear.Itflowsandishardlynoticeable(thuslettingyoufocuscompletelyonthetopic).Istilldon'tlikebasketball,though.
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TrinarateditShelves:creativenonfiction,sportswriting
SuredidlikethisbookaboutBillBradleywhoplayedatPrincetonwhileIwasgrowingupthere.Ineversawhimplay,andIdidn'tevenreadthistilmuchlater,butit'sanoutstandingprofileofayoungbasketballplayeratthestartofhiscareerbyayoungwriteralsostartingoffhiswritingcareer.Throughdetaileddescription,McPheecapturesnotjustthetrainingandtechniquesthatmadeBradleysuchanextraordinaryathlete,butalsotheselfdisciplineandstrongsenseofwherehewas...more
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MichaelGreenratedit reviewofanotheredition
Lovedthisbook.Itprovidesawonderfulportraitofatalentedman,andthetellingofthestoryiscompelling,clear,andengaging.Highlyrecommend.
Likeseereview
Nedjoyceratedit
Asolidbook.Biographyofagreatman.Amanslifethroughhisapproachtoasport.Verywellwritten.MakesyouappreciatethemanthatisBillBradley.
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RonaldWiseratedit reviewofanotheredition
AdetailedhistoryofBillBradley'sbasketballcareeratPrincetonUniversityintheearly1960s.Thoughsuspiciouslylaudatory,itprovidedsomeusefultechnicalinsightsonthegamefromaplayersperspective.Themainpartofthebookwasfirstpublishedin1965,butthiseditionhasaddendafrom1978and1999withphotographsofBradley'sNBAcareerwiththeNewYorkKnickerbockersandhispoliticalcareerasaUnitedStatesSenatorfromNewJersey.Ilearnedofthisbookthroughatribute...more
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Alexratedit
McPheedoesn'tsentimentalizeBradley'sstandingorlayitonthicklikeothersportswriters.Hesimplygivesustheopportunitytowatchahardwoodfolklegendinthemaking.NonbasketballfanswillmarvelatthemonkishdedicationandcunningselfexperimentationthatwouldimpelBradleythroughNCAAandNBAchampionshipsrightthroughtotheU.S.Senate.Andforfansofthegame,theintimatelookintoBradley'sworkethic,behindthescenespreparation,andproprioceptivewizardryonthec...more
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Algerratedit
NotexactlytopdrawerMcPhee,butasuresignofthedirectionhiswritingwouldtake.Moreofaperiodpiecethanwritingfortheages.
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davidratedit
WonderfulyarnaboutBradleyandhisamazingcollegehoopscareeratPrinceton.Can'tgowrongwithsports,educationandhumor.
Likeseereview
BradaddeditreviewofanothereditionShelves:nonfiction,sports
AreallygoodprofileofBillBradleyincollege,beforehe'dgoonbecomeaNBAplayerandpolitician.McPheedoesagreatjobcapturinghowthoughtful,diligent,smart,andexceptionalBradleywascomparedtohiscollegepeersatPrincetonandotherschools.Myonlyrealcriticismwiththebookisthatmuchofthewritingonbasketballfeelshorriblydated.McPheewrotethisbookbeforemuchgoodwritingonbasketballexisted,sohisexplanationofplaysandshotsfeelsclunky.Iwishhewould'...more
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Nealratedit
bestbookaboutgrowingupasagiftedathletewhohasskillsandambitionsloftierthanthoseofmosttopathletes.mcphee'sdescriptionofgamesequencesisunrivalled,andhecaptureshischaracter'smostemblematicfeaturesinmundanemoments.oneunforgettablescene.bradleyispracticingjumpshotsinthegymasmcpheeobserves.he'smissingshotaftershot.hetellsmcpheethattheheightofthebasketisahalfinchoffofregulation.bradleyadjusts,andsinksshotaftershot.later,mc...more
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Maddedit
BeenalongtimesinceIwasinmyJohnMcPheephasebutIdorememberlikingthisoneprettywell.
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Timratedit
Thisbookreallyfocusesontheathleteandthefactualaccountofstatistics,scores,etc.andcolorsitwithsomebiographicalnarratives.It'saneasyread.
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DavidBarneyratedit
Quickread.AgoodreviewofBillBradley'scollegecareer.
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RonThunmanaddedit
PrincetontotheFinal4.BillBradley
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matthiahratedit
Agreatbookforthosewhoappreciatethelittlethings,thefundamentalsinsports(specificallybasketball).Goodsportswritingistoughtofindthesedays,butMcphee'sattentiontothedetailssetshimapart.Plus,itsareallymagnificentprofileofapreNBA,preSenateBillBradleyduringhisseniorseasonatPrincetonwhenhewasboththeNationalPlayeroftheYearandaRhodesScholar...trulyepitomizingthestudentathletemodelwhileleadingPrincetontotheFinalFour.Bradleywa...more
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DaverateditShelves:owned,sportnotsportsyousot
ThebookconsistslargelyofMcPhee's1965profileofBradleyforTheNewYorker,whichissufficienttodiscoverwhereBradley'sdriveanddesirecamefrom.Well,theprofileplussomebiographicalsetupservesasaniceleadintoBradley'slifeinbasketballandpolitics.IfeltlikethecaponBradley'ssenioryearatPrincetonservedtocompletethecirclewell,Mr.McPhee,don'tleavemehanging!ExcellentprofilebyamasterofthegenreinMcPhee.
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Bruggeratedit
Itisfuntoreadabookwrittenaboutapersonbeforethatpersongoesontoachieve&evenexceedwhateveryonethinksheiscapableof.Youoftenreadstorieslikethisaboutyoungmenorwomenwhothenendupburningoutandnotreachingtheirpotential.ThisisobviouslynotthecasewithBillBradley.AnotherfunaspectofthisbookistheauthorJohnMcPheewasayoungauthoratthetimeandalsowentontofulfillhispotential.
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