Title: The Things He Could Have Been: Stories of Babe Ruth

Author: W. Nikola-Lisa

Genre: Young Adult / Non-fiction / Sports

 

In The Things He Could’ve Been: Stories of Babe Ruth, author Nikola-Lisa explores the lesser-known facets of Babe Ruth’s life, shedding light on the many skills, jobs, and lifestyles the baseball legend could have embraced had he not risen to fame in Major League Baseball.

The Things He Could’ve Been: Stories of Babe Ruth is a celebration of Babe Ruth’s diverse talents and achievements. From boxing to singing to ranching, the book covers a wide range of settings and topics that are family friendly, fun, and engaging. With a clear and concise writing style, a creative and engaging format, and an inspiring and charismatic historical figure, this book would be a great fit for classrooms and school libraries.

The book is formatted in a series of succinct sections, and it is essentially a collection of vignettes, with each vignette capturing a snapshot of Ruth’s life when he explored other hobbies, jobs, and facets of himself outside of baseball. These vignettes, short and sweet, collectively form a quick and delightful read. Through each exploration, readers not only gain insight into Ruth’s life but also discover his humor, demeanor, strengths, and vulnerabilities.

At the start of each new section, there’s a poem that gives us a brief description and introduction to who Ruth “could’ve been”. These poems are witty and charming, with jazzy flair, perfectly capturing the essence of the 1920s and 30s, which is the time period of Ruth’s life that the book covers.

The book successfully paints a vivid picture of Ruth as the unpredictable man of many talents that he was. Some sections are light-hearted and funny, while others are deeply personal and will tug at readers’ heartstrings. Yet, throughout, readers will find inspiration in witnessing Ruth’s excellence across various domains, never settling for being anything less than the best. Ruth’s dynamic skill set and infectious energy leap off the pages, which will leave readers captivated and inspired.

One drawback is the lack of a chronological organization of the stories, leaving the timeline of Ruth’s life somewhat unclear. A visual aid, such as a timeline, could have enhanced readers’ understanding of the events covered in the book.

At the end of the book, there are citations for where the information was sourced, which is helpful for anyone who is interested in doing more research on Ruth. However, the book could have benefitted from incorporating authentic photographs, newspaper clippings, or diary entries that show Ruth partaking in each job, hobby, or activity. Including different mediums would’ve made the book more visual and could help readers connect the story to the real thing.

Punchy, quick, and light-hearted, The Things He Could’ve Been: Stories of Babe Ruth is suited for readers of all ages. With a voice that captures Babe Ruth’s passion and soul, The Things He Could’ve Been: Stories of Babe Ruth showcases Babe Ruth’s accomplishments beyond baseball. Baseball lovers, history buffs, and biography enthusiasts will indulge in this entertaining look at Babe Ruth’s life and legacy.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.