"Even readers who know who Mr. Rose is will learn much from.this book's stacked roster of interviews and anecdotes [and] fascinating and well-chosen tangents.Kennedy covers the [Big Red Machine] period expertly." --Craig Fehrman, The Wall Street Journal "Will absorb you immediately.a fascinating study of one of America's most enduringly fascinating athletes. Masterful." --Mike Vaccaro, New York Post "An exceptionally well-written book that lays out both sides of what remains a highly-charged issue.

" --Paul Hagen, MLB.com "Kennedy takes that familiar story and delves deeper, presenting an artful portrait.With writing of such quality and a subject of such complexity, it deserves to be read by anyone who appreciates good biography." -- John C. Williams, BookPage "Kennedy's book on the tarnished and enigmatic Rose is exceptional. Like the best writing about sport--Liebling, Angell--it qualifies as stirring literature. I'd read Kennedy no matter what he writes about." --Richard Ford "Kostya Kennedy has given us the real Pete Rose at last.

Perhaps Pete does not deserve him, but baseball fans and readers who appreciate superb and subtle writing will be grateful." --David Maraniss "This is a wonderful, clearly written book about a dark and complicated tragedy that continues to beset the purity of our national pastime. The whole story is here: the deeply talented, passionate ball player, 'Charlie Hustle,' and the deeply morally challenged hustler who bestrides essential questions about our national game." --Ken Burns "Pete Rose is too rich a character to fit on a bronze plaque. He requires a good, trenchant, poignant (ah, Petey) book, and this is it." --Roy Blount Jr. "Better than any previous account. Kennedy leaves no doubt about Rose's greatness as a player or his guilt as a gambler.

" --Allen Barra, The Boston Globe "A remarkable book about a fascinating, vexing figure." -- Kirkus (starred review) "Kennedy's ambitious account is an anecdote-rich read." -- Publishers Weekly.