Al Worthington. CreateSpace, 2017. 146 pp. (Paperback).
If you have followed baseball for a long time, you may know the name Al Worthington. Born in Birmingham in 1929, he played for the University of Alabama in the late 1940s and early 1950s, then went on to play professional baseball until 1969. After retiring from playing, he coached from 1972 to 1986, the last 13 years at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Reading the book the best I could (more about that in a minute), I gleaned that Worthington has been a Christian for many years and is quick to share his faith with others. From the anecdotes and letters in the book, he seems to have been fruitful in this task, handing out tracts and sharing the gospel all over the world.
Now, knowing that the author is a prolific worker for the Kingdom, a gifted baseball player and coach, and apparently an all-around wonderful human being, what does a reviewer do when this author’s book is not well done? I have struggled with this ethical dilemma — do I give the warm fuzzies this man deserves for a life well lived and lead others to buy a book I would not recommend, or should I just be honest? Obviously, I have opted for the latter. I cannot, in good faith, lead someone to buy this book.
Why not? It is not really a book at all but a collection of random recollections put together in a way that is disjointed and confusing. What should have been an inspiring read turned out to be a difficult task. Just a little help from a book doctor could have made a tremendous difference.
I urge all aspiring authors to take the time to study the craft or get professional help. This man’s story deserves to be told and it deserves to be told well.
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Meet the reviewer
Martine Bates Fairbanks, Ed.D., reviews books and movies for The Alabama Baptist. She is a university professor and retired principal. She is a member of Central Baptist Church, Decatur.
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