QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH HOWARD BRYANT! Q . You have written three award-winning non-fiction books for adult readers. You're also frequently in the public eye -- on TV and radio. Why did you choose to turn your attention to younger readers? A . The biggest reason I turned to younger readers is because my nine-year old son, Ilan, is a voracious reader and budding tennis player. He loves to read and enjoys sports and Penguin gave us the opportunity to do something collaborative. It is a wonderful challenge to write subjects he may be interested in. The other reason is just as personal. I love words. I live to write and I loved reading when I was a child. Then, as I reached middle school and became devoured by my love of playing sports, I read less and less and didn't rediscover my love of reading until after high school. I hope this series offers young athletes who love both sports and reading to have both, to serve as a reminder that you can play sports while learning about them at the same time. Q . Why the inclusion of so many Top Ten lists within the book? A . Baseball has such a great history, we realized by the end of the book that some of the greatest names in the game were not mentioned, so the Top 10 lists were designed to be a fast way to give respect and mention to some of the greats--like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio--as well as include some lesser-known but important moments in baseball. A few of the lists provide statistical leaderboards so readers can learn about some great names they've likely never heard of. Excerpted from Legends - The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball by Howard Bryant All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
