Title: Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball
Author: R.A. Dickey
Genre: Sports Autobiography
Number of pages: 332
Year published: 2012
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
As one of the only pitchers in Major League Baseball this season to be in the top 5 in strikeouts, wins, earned run average, and quality starts, there is no better time to pick up R.A. Dickey’s autobiography. Dickey delves deeper into his past and reveals more about his inner struggles than I ever thought possible, especially considering the New York Met’s immense success in 2012. Dickey chronicles his life beginning with his troubled and scarred past, through his rocky baseball career, all the way up to complete confidence and forgiveness. Wherever I Wind Up presents baseball fans and non-supporters alike with a person who bears his soul and is truly trying to better himself.
I chose to read this book solely because I am a sports fan and I’ve had R.A. Dickey on my fantasy baseball team for a few years now. Since he has emerged as my best player, and is having his best season ever, I figured I would give the book a chance. It was nothing like I expected, however, and I’m glad for that. Dickey, being an English major and avid writer, makes the book easy and fun to read and explains his life and baseball in so much detail that it leaves you feeling like you know him personally.
Because Dickey is a knuckleballer, his path to the big leagues was unlike any other player. Throughout the book you see his constant change and development not only as a baseball player, but as a person as well. The only downside I can say at this point is that his career really is a rollercoaster ride. Every time things seem to be going well another poorly-timed, heartbreaking event occurs. It becomes semi-repetitive, but it is his true story so you can’t bag on the guy for telling the truth. And he tells ALL of it.
Wherever I Wind Up also has a religious tone to it. Dickey never pushes his beliefs on the reader, but does constantly reinforce his Christian faith and how he was able to save himself by giving himself up to God. It is certainly not forced, and Dickey gives honest accounts of his faith or lack there-of.
I recommend Dickey’s book to anyone, but especially sports fans and those who love baseball. It is an easy, fun read and I got tons of insider baseball information. I am a very slow reader but the book only took me about a month and a half to finish. It keeps your attention and is broken up into short, detailed stories for ease of flow. Dickey truly does bear his soul in this book, and as much as I wish it contained some of his thoughts from the 2012 season (the greatest year of his career), it is certainly interesting to see how he made it to where he is today. R.A. is an easy guy to root for and I look forward to cheering on his future success!
Review by Steven Nicholas, A&S '13
Author: R.A. Dickey
Genre: Sports Autobiography
Number of pages: 332
Year published: 2012
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
As one of the only pitchers in Major League Baseball this season to be in the top 5 in strikeouts, wins, earned run average, and quality starts, there is no better time to pick up R.A. Dickey’s autobiography. Dickey delves deeper into his past and reveals more about his inner struggles than I ever thought possible, especially considering the New York Met’s immense success in 2012. Dickey chronicles his life beginning with his troubled and scarred past, through his rocky baseball career, all the way up to complete confidence and forgiveness. Wherever I Wind Up presents baseball fans and non-supporters alike with a person who bears his soul and is truly trying to better himself.
I chose to read this book solely because I am a sports fan and I’ve had R.A. Dickey on my fantasy baseball team for a few years now. Since he has emerged as my best player, and is having his best season ever, I figured I would give the book a chance. It was nothing like I expected, however, and I’m glad for that. Dickey, being an English major and avid writer, makes the book easy and fun to read and explains his life and baseball in so much detail that it leaves you feeling like you know him personally.
Because Dickey is a knuckleballer, his path to the big leagues was unlike any other player. Throughout the book you see his constant change and development not only as a baseball player, but as a person as well. The only downside I can say at this point is that his career really is a rollercoaster ride. Every time things seem to be going well another poorly-timed, heartbreaking event occurs. It becomes semi-repetitive, but it is his true story so you can’t bag on the guy for telling the truth. And he tells ALL of it.
Wherever I Wind Up also has a religious tone to it. Dickey never pushes his beliefs on the reader, but does constantly reinforce his Christian faith and how he was able to save himself by giving himself up to God. It is certainly not forced, and Dickey gives honest accounts of his faith or lack there-of.
I recommend Dickey’s book to anyone, but especially sports fans and those who love baseball. It is an easy, fun read and I got tons of insider baseball information. I am a very slow reader but the book only took me about a month and a half to finish. It keeps your attention and is broken up into short, detailed stories for ease of flow. Dickey truly does bear his soul in this book, and as much as I wish it contained some of his thoughts from the 2012 season (the greatest year of his career), it is certainly interesting to see how he made it to where he is today. R.A. is an easy guy to root for and I look forward to cheering on his future success!
Review by Steven Nicholas, A&S '13
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