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ASenseofWhereYouAre:BillBradleyatPrinceton
byJohnMcPhee

4.07

ratingdetails834ratings64reviews

WhenJohnMcPheemetBillBradley,bothwereatthebeginningoftheircareers.ASenseofWhere
YouAre,McPheesfirstbook,isaboutBradleywhenhewasthebestbasketballplayerPrincetonhad
everseen.McPheedelineatesforthereaderthetrainingandtechniquesthatmadeBradleythe
extraordinaryathletehewas,andthispartofthebookisablueprintofsuperlativ...more

MoreaboutJohnMcPhee...

Paperback,240pages
PublishedJune30th1999byFarrar,StrausandGiroux(firstpublished1965)
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JohnMcPheewasborninPrinceton,
NewJersey,andwaseducatedat
PrincetonUniversityandCambridge
University.Hiswritingcareerbeganat
Timemagazineandledtohislongassociation
withtheNewYorker,wherehehasbeenastaff
writersince1965.Thesameyearhepublished
hisfirstbook,ASenseofWhereYouAre,with
FSG,andsoonfollowedwithTheHeadmaster
(1966),Oranges(1967),TheP...more

BooksbyJohnMcPhee

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(showing130of1,721)

StevenPetersonratedit

May24,2010

Ijustfoundmyoldpaperbackcopyofthisbook.Whileinhighschool,IadmiredBill
Bradley'sbasketballplayingatPrincetonagreatdeal.Asaresult,Iboughtthisbooksoon
afteritcameabout.ThisisagoodluckatthecareerofBradleyatPrincetonUniversity.
Literatelywrittenandafascinatingcharacterstudy....
3likesLikeseereview
DavidQuinnratedit

Jan02,2015

Shelves:fawning

Disappointinglyfawning,IhalfexpectedtoseeBillBradleysmotherandfatherasco
writers.
BillBradleysPrincetonyearswereundoubtedlyfilledwithsupremebasketballand
academicsuccesssoIwasntexpectinganytypeofexposbutthesuperlativeswere
heapedontooheavilyformyliking.
ThisisbettersuitedforYAreaders.
2likesLikeseereview
Lynnemarieratedit

May29,2010

ThisjustremindedmeofhowmuchIloveMcPhee'sstyleandalsoremindedmewhatit
waslikeinthe1960'stobelivinginahomewhereCazzieRussellwassuchahousehold
namethatitreverberatestodaywithgreatclangorstilltoday.
ThisisessentiallybiographicalsketchofayoungBillBradleyjustafterheleftPrinceton.
Totallybasketball,butaglimpseintotheworkingsofthemindnevertheless.Inasense,
itisacompaniontoapieceMcPheewrotewithinthelastyearfor"TheNewYor...more
1likeLikeseereview
CoreyThibodeauxratedit

Jul26,2012

Greatportraitofaplayerthroughhisowneyes.BillBradleywasauniqueplayerand
manandJohnMcPheecapturingsomeofthosemomentsinactionmadethisbook
relevant.IthinkIlearnedmoreaboutthegameofbasketballfromthisbookthanany
othersource.
1likeLikeseereview
Kennyoratedit

Nov13,2014

ThisiswhereIbeganmystronginterestinandrespectforJohnMcPhee'swriting.He
paintsalyricalportraitofyoungBillBradleythatpiquedmyinterestinmoreofhis
writing.
1likeLikeseereview
AlexStrickvanLinschotenratedit

reviewofanotheredition

May17,2014

Ihavenointerestinbasketballwhatsoever,butthisbookkeptmehooked.I'mtryingto
readallofJohnMcPhee'sbooksthisyear,andthiswasawonderfulstart.
1likeLikeseereview

QuotesfromASenseofWhereYouA...
Bradleyisoneofthefewbasketballplayerswho
haveeverbeenappreciativelycheeredbya
disinterestedawayfromhomecrowdwhile
warmingup.Thiscuriouseventoccurredlast
March,justbeforePrincetoneliminatedthe
VirginiaMilitaryInstitute,theyear'sSouthern
Conferencechampion,fromtheNCAA
championships.Thegamewasplayedin
Philadelphiaandwasthelastofatripleheader.
Thepeopletherewerewornout,becausemostof
themwereemotionallycommittedtoeither
VillanovaorTempletwolocalteamsthathad
justbeeninvolvedinenervatingbattleswith
ProvidenceandConnecticut,respectively,
scramblingforachanceattherestofthecountry.
AgroupofPrincetonplayersshootingbasketballs
miscellaneouslyinpreparationforstillanother
gamehardlypromisedtobeahighpointofthe
evening,butBradley,whoseroutineinthe
warmuptimeisagradualcrescendoofactivity,is
moreinterestingtowatchbeforeagamethan
mostplayersareinplay.InPhiladelphiathat
night,whathedidwas,forhim,anythingbut
unusual.Ashedoesbeforeallgames,hebegan
byshootingsetshotsclosetothebasket,
graduallymovingbackuntilhewasshootinglong
setsfrom20feetout,andnearlyallofthem
droppedintothenetwithanalmostmechanical
rhythmofaccuracy.Thenhebeganaseriesof
expandinglydifficultjumpshots,andonejumper
afteranotherwentcleanlythroughthebasket
withsofewexceptionsthatthecrowdbeganto
murmur.Thenhestartedtoperformwhirling
reversemovesbeforeanothercadenceofalmost
steadilyaccuratejumpshots,andthemurmur
increased.Thenhebegantosweephookshots
intotheair.Hemovedinasemicirclearoundthe
court.Firstwithhisrighthand,thenwithhisleft,
hetriedsevenoftheselong,gracefulshotsthe
mostdifficultonesintheorthodoxyofbasketball
andambidextrouslymadethemall.Thegame
hadnotevenbegun,butthepresumably
unimpressiblePhiladelphianswereapplauding
likeanaudienceatanopera.6likes
IfbasketballwasgoingtoenableBradleyto
makefriends,toprovethatabanker'ssonisas
goodasthenextfellow,toprovethathecoulddo
withoutbeingthegreatestendeveratMissouri,
toprovethathewasnotchicken,andtoliveupto
hismother'schampionshipstandards,andifhe
wasgoingtohavesomemomentsleftoverto
savorhisdelightinthegame,heobviously
neededconsiderablepractice,soheborrowed
keystothegymandsetascheduleforhimself
thatheadherededtoforfourfullyearsinthe
schoolyear,threeandahalfhourseveryday
afterschool,ninetofiveonSaturday,onethirty
tofiveonSunday,and,inthesummer,about

Carolineratedit
reviewofanotheredition
Shelves:dadrecommended,own

Jan04,2015

Morequotes

ASenseofWhereYouAredetailstheearlylifeandcollegebasketballcareerofBill
Bradley.ThoughattimesMcPheecomesacrossabitstarryeyedwhendescribing
Bradley,Iadmitthathisbasketballandacademicaccomplishmentsarequite
impressive.ReadingthisbookafterBeerandCircus(whichisaboutmoderncollegiate
athleticsandhowtheyareunderminingundergraduateeducation),Ifoundit
particularlystrikinghowmuchemphasisthe"student"partofstudentathletewasgiven
inthe19...more
Likeseereview
Darrylratedit

Aug15,2010

BillBradleywasborninasmallMissouritown,thesonofthetown'sbanker,whotaught
himdiscipline,hardwork,andaloveoflearning,andhiswife,afiercelycompetitivebut
lovingformerathlete.Theirsonwasoneofthemostcelebratedschoolboyathletesin
Missourihistory,andwasofferedscholarshipstoover70collegestoplaybasketball.
However,hechosetoattendPrincetonUniversity,whichdidnotprovideathletic
scholarshipsandwasnotknownforitsbasketballteam,ashehad...more
Likeseereview
JamesEntwistleratedit

May01,2013

Everynowandthen,I'llreadabook,watchamovie,orseeayoutubeclipofTimTebow
takingahandicappedgirlashisdatetoaformaleventthatlegitimatelymakesmewant
tobeabetterman.Thisbookhadthateffectonme.BillBradley'sdrive,willpower,and
moralfortitudearetrulyinspirational.Bradley'ssuccessinbasketballandinhiscareer
thereafterspeaktothevalueofhardworkandperseverance.Itwasalsorefreshingand
interestingtoreadabiographyaboutsomeonethatwas...more
Likeseereview
Lisaratedit
Shelves:nonfictionsports

Jul18,2014

IfinishedASenseofWhereYouArelastnight.Itwasafantasticbookandanoutstanding
story.BillBradleylivedoutastorythateveryathletehopesupon,especiallytogoouton
suchapositivenote.IfinishedthebookandimmediatelywatchedYoutubevideosof
Bradley.
IenjoyedMcPheeswritingstyle.Hesstraightforward,light,metered.Theresaneasy
rhythmtohiswords.
Irecommenditforsportsfans,butalsofansofcreativenonfictionforthebeautiful
writing.
Likeseereview
RyanHolidayratedit

Jun22,2012

Ican'texactlysayhowIcametohearthetwoofthemrecommendthisbook,butwhen
RobertGreeneandPaulGrahambothsaysomethingisgood,Idon'tneedtobetolda
thirdtime.ThetitlecomesfromaBillBradleyquoteabouthishookshot,abouthowafter
enoughofthemhisfeelforthegamewassogoodthathedidn'tneedtolooktoseewhere
hewasonthecourt.Hejustknew.Iguessit'sprobablyabitoftheselectionbias,butit's
fascinatingtometoreadabiographyofsomeonebefore...more
Likeseereview
Tomratedit

Dec10,2013

Averyquickread.Finisheditinoneafternoon.McPheecanreallywrite.Inmanyways,
thisreadslikeaeulogyforidealizedimageofthe"studentathlete."Simplyput,Bill
Bradleywaseverythingthatmajorathleticuniversitieswouldlovetothinkthattheir
athletesare.Heck,Bradleywaswhatanyuniversitypresidentwouldlovetopointtoas
theidealstudent.GuyslikeBradleywererareinthe1960sandtheyarerarenow.
McPheedoesanelegantjobofdetailingBradley'suniquededicatio...more
Likeseereview

threehoursaday.3likes

Leeratedit
Shelves:recentlyread

Apr15,2007

agreataccountofbillbradleyinwhatmaybeperhapshisbestforum,thoughpossibly
theoneforwhichheisleastknown.mcphee'sfirstworkfollowsbradley'ssenioryear/
seasonatprinceton.duringthisyearhewouldwinthenationalplayeroftheyearaward,
takeprincetontothefinalfour,andbeselectedasarhodesscholar.bradleymustbethe
greateststudentathleteofalltimeandthisbookaccountstheincrediblededication,
resolve,andworkthatmadeitpossible.theonlycomplai...more
Likeseereview
Benratedit

Jun10,2014

IpickedthisupusedbecauseI'mgoingtobereadingmoreofJohnMcPhee'sworkthis
summer.Iwascurioustoseehisgeneralwritingstyle.It'sveryclear.Itflowsandis
hardlynoticeable(thuslettingyoufocuscompletelyonthetopic).Istilldon'tlike
basketball,though.
Likeseereview
Trinaratedit
Shelves:creativenonfiction,sportswriting

Apr23,2012

SuredidlikethisbookaboutBillBradleywhoplayedatPrincetonwhileIwasgrowingup
there.Ineversawhimplay,andIdidn'tevenreadthistilmuchlater,butit'san
outstandingprofileofayoungbasketballplayeratthestartofhiscareerbyayoung
writeralsostartingoffhiswritingcareer.Throughdetaileddescription,McPhee
capturesnotjustthetrainingandtechniquesthatmadeBradleysuchanextraordinary
athlete,butalsotheselfdisciplineandstrongsenseofwherehewas...more
Likeseereview
MichaelGreenratedit

reviewofanotheredition

Apr25,2015

Lovedthisbook.Itprovidesawonderfulportraitofatalentedman,andthetellingofthe
storyiscompelling,clear,andengaging.Highlyrecommend.
Likeseereview
Nedjoyceratedit

Oct05,2014

Asolidbook.Biographyofagreatman.Amanslifethroughhisapproachtoasport.Very
wellwritten.MakesyouappreciatethemanthatisBillBradley.
Likeseereview
RonaldWiseratedit

reviewofanotheredition

Aug16,2011

AdetailedhistoryofBillBradley'sbasketballcareeratPrincetonUniversityintheearly
1960s.Thoughsuspiciouslylaudatory,itprovidedsomeusefultechnicalinsightsonthe
gamefromaplayersperspective.Themainpartofthebookwasfirstpublishedin1965,
butthiseditionhasaddendafrom1978and1999withphotographsofBradley'sNBA
careerwiththeNewYorkKnickerbockersandhispoliticalcareerasaUnitedStates
SenatorfromNewJersey.Ilearnedofthisbookthroughatribute...more
Likeseereview
Alexratedit

Sep08,2014

McPheedoesn'tsentimentalizeBradley'sstandingorlayitonthicklikeothersports
writers.Hesimplygivesustheopportunitytowatchahardwoodfolklegendinthe
making.Nonbasketballfanswillmarvelatthemonkishdedicationandcunningself
experimentationthatwouldimpelBradleythroughNCAAandNBAchampionshipsright
throughtotheU.S.Senate.Andforfansofthegame,theintimatelookintoBradley's
workethic,behindthescenespreparation,andproprioceptivewizardryonthec...more
Likeseereview
Algerratedit

Aug20,2014

NotexactlytopdrawerMcPhee,butasuresignofthedirectionhiswritingwouldtake.
Moreofaperiodpiecethanwritingfortheages.
Likeseereview

davidratedit

Apr24,2014

WonderfulyarnaboutBradleyandhisamazingcollegehoopscareeratPrinceton.Can't
gowrongwithsports,educationandhumor.
Likeseereview
Bradaddeditreviewofanotheredition
Shelves:nonfiction,sports

Aug28,2010

AreallygoodprofileofBillBradleyincollege,beforehe'dgoonbecomeaNBAplayer
andpolitician.McPheedoesagreatjobcapturinghowthoughtful,diligent,smart,and
exceptionalBradleywascomparedtohiscollegepeersatPrincetonandotherschools.
Myonlyrealcriticismwiththebookisthatmuchofthewritingonbasketballfeels
horriblydated.McPheewrotethisbookbeforemuchgoodwritingonbasketballexisted,
sohisexplanationofplaysandshotsfeelsclunky.Iwishhewould'...more
Likeseereview
Nealratedit

Nov13,2009

bestbookaboutgrowingupasagiftedathletewhohasskillsandambitionsloftierthan
thoseofmosttopathletes.mcphee'sdescriptionofgamesequencesisunrivalled,andhe
captureshischaracter'smostemblematicfeaturesinmundanemoments.one
unforgettablescene.bradleyispracticingjumpshotsinthegymasmcpheeobserves.
he'smissingshotaftershot.hetellsmcpheethattheheightofthebasketisahalfinchoff
ofregulation.bradleyadjusts,andsinksshotaftershot.later,mc...more
Likeseereview
Maddedit

Apr30,2015

BeenalongtimesinceIwasinmyJohnMcPheephasebutIdorememberlikingthisone
prettywell.
Likeseereview
Timratedit

Apr19,2015

Thisbookreallyfocusesontheathleteandthefactualaccountofstatistics,scores,etc.
andcolorsitwithsomebiographicalnarratives.It'saneasyread.
Likeseereview
DavidBarneyratedit

May04,2015

Quickread.AgoodreviewofBillBradley'scollegecareer.
Likeseereview
RonThunmanaddedit

Dec03,2014

PrincetontotheFinal4.BillBradley
Likeseereview
matthiahratedit

May08,2007

Agreatbookforthosewhoappreciatethelittlethings,thefundamentalsinsports
(specificallybasketball).Goodsportswritingistoughtofindthesedays,butMcphee's
attentiontothedetailssetshimapart.Plus,itsareallymagnificentprofileofapreNBA,
preSenateBillBradleyduringhisseniorseasonatPrincetonwhenhewasboththe
NationalPlayeroftheYearandaRhodesScholar...trulyepitomizingthestudent
athletemodelwhileleadingPrincetontotheFinalFour.Bradleywa...more
Likeseereview
Daveratedit

Nov12,2014

Shelves:owned,sportnotsportsyousot

ThebookconsistslargelyofMcPhee's1965profileofBradleyforTheNewYorker,which
issufficienttodiscoverwhereBradley'sdriveanddesirecamefrom.Well,theprofile
plussomebiographicalsetupservesasaniceleadintoBradley'slifeinbasketballand
politics.IfeltlikethecaponBradley'ssenioryearatPrincetonservedtocompletethe
circlewell,Mr.McPhee,don'tleavemehanging!Excellentprofilebyamasterofthe
genreinMcPhee.
Likeseereview

Bruggeratedit

Mar12,2010

Itisfuntoreadabookwrittenaboutapersonbeforethatpersongoesontoachieve&
evenexceedwhateveryonethinksheiscapableof.Youoftenreadstorieslikethisabout
youngmenorwomenwhothenendupburningoutandnotreachingtheirpotential.This
isobviouslynotthecasewithBillBradley.Anotherfunaspectofthisbookistheauthor
JohnMcPheewasayoungauthoratthetimeandalsowentontofulfillhispotential.
Likeseereview
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