This is a fantastic biography of a great man who became incredibly controversial just before his death. I grew up watching PSU football and attended Penn State during the later years, the lowest years in terms of wins and losses for the football team, of JoePa's career. His story was headed for an ending in sainthood before becoming embroiled in controversy. The Sandusky scandal shook the school and the nation. What did Joe know and when did Joe know it? This book does not really shed light on that, and in all likelihood that light will never be shed. We all, even Joe, do wish Joe had done more. But the narrative that makes him a co-conspirator, or holds him responsible as far back as 1999 when even the police decided not to pursue an investigation against Sandusky, is absurd. We love building up saints in our culture and we love tearing them down even more. Joe went, in the eyes of many, to a senile old man who did little coaching but still got credit for victories to the mastermind of a child abuse cover up.We all wish he had done more, that he had followed up. But Posnanski's story shows that by the end of his life Joe was totally focused on coaching and had little idea of the outside world; when he read the reports of what Sandusky had done he did not even understand much of the terminology. Also, the book illustrates how the two never really got along.The best thing about Joe, his legacy, is his emphasis on education. Penn State graduated football players at an extremely high level (which kind of refutes the NCAA's allegations that PSU put football above academics...what does that say of the rest of the country where kids don't graduate). It was not just the players graduating either; the Paternos gave back loads of money to the school. All of us who graduated from there in recent years have benefited from the Paterno library and many of us are grateful for the spiritual center. Overall, this book tells the story of a great and flawed man. Any PSU alum or fan ought to read it, as well as those who have judged Paterno solely based on the media stories around the scandal. He was flawed and made mistakes. He also changed the lives of scores of young men for the better. How you weigh those two in your mind is up to you. Impossible not to admire the man throughout this chronicle of his life. Nor does the author disguise the fact that he's fully in Paterno's corner. But somehow I had hoped for more of an objective look at the life and scandal that ended it. This cannot, nor will it be the definitive story. I think everyone following the scandal wants an "All the President's Men" like closure on the matter. No Al Pacino movie can do it. We'll need someone from Happy Valley to find the time and the sources. Even still, this was one hell of a coach and one hell of a football career. His accomplishments on the ball field cannot be overstated.
What do You think about Paterno (2012)?
Could not read this book yet. Started it, was liking it but it just makes me too sad...
—viri
Nice to read a book that wasn't a hatchet job and remembered the good he did
—sherii
I can't imagine anyone other than a Penn Stater would enjoy this book.
—Nicole
Great read if you enjoy biographies and sports history.
—Chaaliyah
honest account. great read. I couldn't put it down
—shae1996
