Pujols: More than the Game by Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth

Albert Pujols is a giant in baseball and a giant in faith. The book Pujols: More than the Game discusses both aspects of Albert Pujols' life. His statistics as a player are impressive not only for the tremendous talent they testify to but also for the consistency of play revealed. What this book by Lamb and Ellsworth shares is that Pujols' consistency is as much of a part of his life off the field as a Christian as it is on the field as a baseball player.

I must confess I am not much of a baseball fan. I am familiar with the big name players on my local team (the Minnesota Twins) and I watch with vague interest to see if they are doing well and might make it to the World Series (what is a pennant race?) So why would I review a book about a baseball player? There are several reasons. First, I wanted to give the book to a young friend who loves baseball and who I thought would like to learn more about a Christian player. Second, I like biographies. Third, my husband likes baseball so I thought it couldn't hurt to learn more about the game.

The book had some drawbacks. For someone who isn't into baseball, the long sections with detailed descriptions of games and stats will definitely pall, the sections that dealt with Pujols as a person and as a Christian were much more interesting. As a result, I was frustrated because I felt as if the writers never had a clear idea of which audience they were writing for.

Despite the drawbacks of the book, I am now a fan of Pujols and I know that whenever his name pops up during the sports segment of the news, I will definitely sit-up and listen more closely. He is a remarkable Christian who strives to surround himself with people who will not only hold him up in his faith but hold him accountable for his actions. He realizes that the purpose of his gift isn't to seek wealth or glory or even necessarily to simply point the finger to God. He knows that someday his life as a player will be finished and his life as a Christian will go on and what he is building with that life in mind is heart-warming.

It is a book worth reading. Just gear up for details that won't necessarily interest you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."