OCTOBER 2021 - AudioFile
The author examines a 90-day period in 1984 when sports milestones converged, along with pivotal pop-culture moments. From Michael Jordan’s shoe deal to a historic summer Olympics, from music videos to movies, the high points are well covered by author L. Jon Wertheim. Chris Abell narrates in an enthusiastic tone, truly embracing the topics. He shifts his voice when quoting people yet doesn’t try to imitate anyone. His approach brings contrasts that enhance the narration. The research and backstories are fascinating, and Abell more than keeps pace, varying his tone across the topics. Wertheim surprises with how much he covers, and Abell projects a genuine interest that makes for enjoyable listening. M.B. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
05/10/2021
Sports Illustrated executive editor Wertheim (Blood in the Cage) offers an occasionally entertaining history of developments in sports and culture during the summer of 1984, but fails to demonstrate that they’re more than coincidental. There’s no denying the year featured noteworthy events: it marked the first NBA Finals battle between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the Chicago Bulls’ drafting of Michael Jordan, and ABC’s purchase of ESPN, which enabled the tanking sports cable network to survive and expand. From the creation of the basketball “dream team” that represented the U.S. at the Los Angeles Olympics to the rise of Vince McMahon’s WWF, Wertheim offers a sweeping look at those “pivotal” 90 days, but sacrifices depth for breadth and prizes trivia over analysis, giving cultural milestones unrelated to sports a passing glance. Though a “string of blockbusters” hit theaters that summer, for instance, he briefly touches on them and devotes only a single sentence to Ghostbusters and John Hugh’s seminal Sixteen Candles. Similarly bewildering is the narrative’s clunky prose (“thermodynamics of celebrity makes for an inexact science”), which tends to overshadow more exciting passages, such as Wertheim’s detailing of Jordan’s “singular talent” for dunking, and the way he would “stuff the ball through, violently yet elegantly.” This feels like a missed opportunity. (June)
From the Publisher
Glory Days is a fascinating and entertaining look back at an epic summer that had such a huge impact on my life. Jon Wertheim’s knowledge and perspective on sport and its influence on pop culture is second to none." — Ralph Macchio “1984. The Orwell novel we all read in high school? Well, yeah. But as it turns out, and as Jon Wertheim lays out, 1984 was a pivotal year in the history of sports, with many of the major trends and enduring figures emerging and converging.” — Bob Costas “For me, 1984 was the year I made a fool of myself at Jackie Zisblatt’s Bat Mitzvah and sprouted my first whitehead. But thanks to Jon Wertheim’s terrific Glory Days, I can now mentally replace said awfulness with images of Jordan and Magic, Mary Lou and the Great Gretzky. Who knew—1984 was pretty outstanding after all!” — Jeff Pearlman, author of Three-Ring Circus "We talk about key moments in sports; but the summer of 1984 was a key moment for sports. Jon's book is nostalgic, informative, and most of all, a lot of fun." — Chris Evert “Fascinating . . . Glory Days is part sports history, part cultural analysis, part business book, and it’s certain to draw attention far beyond the sports pages.” — Booklist "Best read of the summer so far." — Mike Vaccaro, New York Post —
OCTOBER 2021 - AudioFile
The author examines a 90-day period in 1984 when sports milestones converged, along with pivotal pop-culture moments. From Michael Jordan’s shoe deal to a historic summer Olympics, from music videos to movies, the high points are well covered by author L. Jon Wertheim. Chris Abell narrates in an enthusiastic tone, truly embracing the topics. He shifts his voice when quoting people yet doesn’t try to imitate anyone. His approach brings contrasts that enhance the narration. The research and backstories are fascinating, and Abell more than keeps pace, varying his tone across the topics. Wertheim surprises with how much he covers, and Abell projects a genuine interest that makes for enjoyable listening. M.B. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
