Winner of the 2016 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports WritingThe true story of the game that never should have happened--and of a nation on the brink of monumental changeIn the fall of 1943; at the little-known North Carolina College for Negroes; Coach John McLendon was on the verge of changing basketball forever. A protégé of James Naismith; the game's inventor; McLendon taught his team to play the full-court press and run a fast break that no one could catch. His Eagles would become the highest-scoring college team in America--a basketball juggernaut that shattered its opponents by as many as sixty points per game. Yet his players faced danger whenever they traveled backcountry roads.Across town; at Duke University; the best basketball squad on campus wasn't the Blue Devils; but an all-white military team from the Duke medical school. Composed of former college stars from across the country; the team dismantled everyone they faced; including the Duke varsity. They were prepared to take on anyone--until an audacious invitation arrived; one that was years ahead of anything the South had ever seen before. What happened next wasn't on anyone's schedule. Based on years of research; The Secret Game is a story of courage and determination; and of an incredible; long-buried moment in the nation's sporting past. The riveting; true account of a remarkable season; it is the story of how a group of forgotten college basketball players; aided by a pair of refugees from Nazi Germany and a group of daring student activists; not only blazed a trail for a new kind of America; but helped create one of the most meaningful moments in basketball history.
#5008 in Books Dave Grossman 2009-06-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 1.25 x 5.50l; .80 #File Name: 0316040932416 pagesOn Killing The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
Review
163 of 167 people found the following review helpful. An important book; especially at this time in our nation.By Jim KaucherLt. Col. Grossman's systematic and thoughtful study of why people kill -- and why they do not -- is important. His analysis on the role of conditioning on overcoming the natural resistance to killing another person provides helpful insight into how and why American society has become increasingly violent in recent decades. The last few chapters; which takes the lessons learned in the rest of the book and applies them to American society; ought to be required reading for those who insist on blaming the tools of violence for the existence of violence.Thanks; Lt. Col. Grossman; for studying this topic with such rigor and for explaining your work so cogently.126 of 129 people found the following review helpful. He Understands And Makes It OKBy Conservative ShopperAs a police officer I just went through a major shooting incident. As I read this book; Col. Grossman went through it with me. He described to a tee every emotion I experienced. Reading this book was extremely helpful.35 of 36 people found the following review helpful. Pavlovian Kills by the Military and the PoliceBy TrialAuthorAn excellent explanation about the psychology killing. It is frightening as he explains the Pavlovian conditioning given to modern soldiers and police.
