Feherty - John Feinstein

Feherty

By John Feinstein

  • Release Date: 2023-05-09
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 65 Ratings

Description

The definitive biography of enigmatic golfer, commentator, and performer David Feherty—one of the most universally beloved figures in the game.

John Feinstein, who has spent four decades finding intriguing sports characters and narratives and turning them into classic books, chronicles the life and career of David Feherty. The two have known each other for years, beginning with Feinstein’s work on A Good Walk Spoiled, researched and written at a time when Feherty was an excellent player, who won five times in Europe and was on the '91 Ryder Cup team, but also a functioning alcoholic. In retirement from the game, Feherty has sobered up, while his golf world persona has only grown in stature. Feherty is now a grand ambassador for golf, a man who is feted by US Presidents and respected by every big name in the game.
 
Feinstein tells hilarious true tales about Feherty’s time in the limelight and interactions with stars such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Payne Stewart, and Seve Ballesteros. He also details Feherty’s struggles with alcoholism, the death of his son who was lost to addiction, and the highs and lows of Feherty’s marriages. Feinstein captures the human being behind the athlete, and his triumphant rebound as a golf commentator after his athletic career fell apart. Feherty is fall-down-funny, self-deprecating, and a lifelong underdog who has thrived as a commentator and television interview host, and most recently as a touring standup comic, using the difficult experiences of his life as a source for humor and understanding, which Feinstein mines with an expert’s touch.

Reviews

  • Outstanding

    5
    By Eyerish21
    Tremendous insight into the life of the funniest and kindest man in all of sports.
  • Feherty by Feinstein

    4
    By Salt999999
    I have read many of Feinstein’s books, this one is good, but not his best. The subject is a funny, multilayered, and interesting character who is well detailed by the author. One oddity and not necessarily enjoyable oddity of the book is that subsequent chapters tend to retell highlights from previous chapters as if a TV series saying “last week on Feherty...” Unsure whether this was to hi-light the funniest or most interesting part of the book or to remind the reader where they have been, but felt like trying to fill more pages with the same anecdotes to unnecessarily bolster the next chapters. Overall, a good read about a unique man.
  • Nice guys do win!

    5
    By bcherz
    A delightful book. David Feherty has never given up on his life and career. Although he has had many reasons to some self made others he had no control over. With the help of a network of true friends he has survived and continues to give back to others not as fortunate. No one writes better about golf and the people who make up the sport than John Feinstein.
  • Faherty

    1
    By 3281EP
    Poorly written and horribly edited. Many repetitive passages and long stretches with no point. Feinstein has done much better.