Alright before I get started on this review, let me start of by saying right of the bat that if you intend to read this book to find out how Joe Paterno contributed to the Sandusky sex scandal, you are going to be very disappointed. However, if your goal is to discover more about the life of Paterno the coach that was idolized by millions and also to try understand his legacy along with his fallout, then this is definitely a book should read.
This is a 416 page book is divided into five acts there is Act I: Before, then Act II: Excellence, then Act III: Success, followed by Act IV: What Comes After and to close the book out is Act 5:.Positives. The author Joe Posnanski's writing style makes you forget that you are reading a biography of Joe Paterno. If you have read other books on this man, such as 'No Ordinary Joe' you probably know all there is to know about the man already. You will not find too much new information regarding him as a person in this one. The book does look into the scandal in about hundred pages or so right at the end. It may not be enough for some readers, but it had to be included since it was part of his life. This section also covers his illness and untimely death, the author does this section of the book justice and closes the book off with a section that has notes on how he managed to obtain the information he used to compile this autobiography.
Who is Joe Posnanski? He is sports journalist who had unlimited access to all the personal files as well as his family, friends and even former players he coached. With this information he was able to write this book covering everything from when he was a child in Brooklyn to college and then the 61 years he spent coaching at Penn State.He also covers his philosophy in life, his passion for education as well as some of his speeches, including the tactics he deployed for motivation and inspiration. He states in the book that he was asked by Paterno to write only the truth, as he had uncovered it and not try to change the facts in any way. There are quite a few parts in the book that look at the relationship he had with the infamous Jerry Sandusky.
It becomes clear towards the end of the career of Sandusky, that their relationship had become strained. It is revealed in some of Joe's notes how towards the end he felt Jerry was becoming lazy as a coach. The author does state on record that the Paterno estate had no say on his final draft, so this will most likely be the most unbiased thoroughly researched autobiography of the man born as Joseph Paterno. This is probably most evident in how he criticizes how the Sandusky saga was handled by Paterno. Overall, this book is very well written. It is a pity that most people are going to remember Joe Paterno from the final hundred pages only. That to me is very sad. You should approach this book with an open mind, you will not encounter anything new about the life of this sports legend. However, the author does a very good job at delivering a very powerful portrait of the life of this legend in this book.
Available in several formats - Start reading Paterno By Joe Posnanski now