Semi-Tough: A Novel

I am an English teacher and I love "great books." I also like to read books just for fun. I first experienced Semi-Tough when it came out in 1970 and thought it was one of the funniest books I had ever read. Over the years I lost my copy, and recently I got to missing Billy Clyde, Barbara Jane, Shake Tiller, Puddin Patterson -- hell, even Bubba Littleton -- so I ordered a new copy. It was just as entertaining this time and it was like running into an old friend and finding out you love them just as much now as you did back in the day. Warning: parts of Semi-Tough are, shall we say, crude. But it is all in fun and no one should be offended. The point - besides sheer entertainment -- is not to take football, ourselves, or even life its ownself too seriously.Now excuse me while I go chase some wool.

Bought the hardback in 1972 as a Christmas gift for my father. Read it while living in a fraternity house at Carolina (North...there's only one) before I gave it to him and tried not to bend the pages. My guys would come into my room at night and I'd read passages to them...they'd be howling. Try to read Semi-Tough once a year and it always amazes me how much of my thought processes, how much of my attitude about life, comes from this book. Y'all come back now...ya heah!

Having lived in Dallas for 52 years, I was aware of Dan Jenkins and his outstanding articles. Semi-tough was rated the 7th best sports book by Sports Illustrated. Based on my knowledge of Jenkins' work and the SI rating, I was disappointed in the book. I was expecting much more. The book had an air of crudeness about it given its use of racist and ethnic slurs constantly throughout the book. Jenkins made the statement early on basically saying this is the way people talked then. He isn't a racist. I believe that. It just got tiring. I expected the book to be funnier (and it was at times), but this review is simply a matter of expectations (very high) and satisfaction (moderate to low).

I'm still pissed that they used Jill Clayburgh in the movie, and Kris Kristoferson was ok. The book is 20 times better than the movie and this beauty started an amazing run of fast read, entertaining, bawdy and insightful books from Dan Jenkins. Not for the prudish, under 16 or the faint of heart - Dan's books talk the way people talk and you get the characters in every way. A must read for anyone who enjoys a sports story that will have you laughing outloud. Just ask my cat, TJ. He was 27 pounds, and stretched nose to tail the full width of a love seat. TJ Lambert had to be the inspiration for my monster cat! Grab this, then Limo, then Baja Oklahoma and you won't need any prodding to keep grabbing Dan's work from the sellers on Amazon.

I've read most of Dan Jenkins's books and manage to re-read Semi-Tough every couple of years or so. Its not classic literature but it is fun. I noticed this time through within the current vibes of the 20-teens that I was put-off by the constant use of the n-word and the bigotry displayed. Not sure a publisher would touch it today. Still its a good look at professional football and the legend of chicken fried steak with cream gravy.

Sold as "like new" Not even close

The 10 point female rating scale is reason enough to love this book. Billy Clyde, Shake and Barbara Jane are friends we would all take a bullet for.

Jenkins died shortly before the Masters which he had covered for over 40 years. Masters website had a nice obit. Had to buy this for a young friend.

Il libro è una romanzo sportivo ed è stato inserito nell'elenco dei dieci libri sportivi di tutti i tempi. Non è un libro per puritani in quanto il linguaggio utilizzato è molto scurrile ma esso viene utilizzato in un modo molto divertente

Irreverent, outlandish, funny as all-get-out