On the heels of the recent deaths of NHL player Derek Boogaard and NFL
safety Dave Duerson involving possible brain trauma, this book detailing
the current plague of sports-related concussions, written by MSNBC.com
health writer Carroll and sports scribe Rosner, is a very hot topic. The
authors cite estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention that there are 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related
concussions every year. With more than 44 million girls and boys playing
organized sports, the writers spell out the dire consequences of impact
games without proper safety measures. They provide grisly statistics
and cautionary examples of schoolchildren and sports figures such as big
league football stars Troy Aikman, hockey star Pat LaFontaine, and
boxer Jerry Quarry, who have compromised health after a life of
competition and concussions. The authors recount how scientists have
come to understand the danger concussions present ranging from memory
loss to impaired judgment and dementia and note that although treatments
and research in brain injuries are showing promise, prevention is the
best way to protect both child and adult athletes. This noteworthy book
issues a challenge to the "macho play-through-the pain" sports culture
and urges a rethinking of safety versus spectacle. (Sept.) Copyright
2011 Reed Business Information. -- Publishers Weekly
