Beyond Belief is an inspiring story of Josh Hamilton's battle with depression and drug addiction. This story is one that tells the story of how he fought his way back from the depths of despair to become one of baseball's most feared sluggers. Josh Hamilton does not beat around the bush, he tells it just like it was. Josh gives a vivid description of what it is like to be shackled to addiction and not know how to get out of it. The best thing about this book is the honest account that Josh gives. He is one of the few baseball players who has told the TRUTH about drug use. He uses his life as an example of the forgiving power of God and uses his life is a testament to God's grace.

This is a great book to inspire others with addictions of any kind. It is a great book to inspire those who are struggling in marriage. Josh's wife stood by his side through all of his struggles and have walked out together hand in hand. It is a beautiful story of courage, redemption, marriage, faith, and hope. I recommend it for fans and non-fans of baseball alike. Josh Hamilton's life is an encouragement to all. ( )

Josh Hamilton is what used to be known in the computer world as a WYSIWYG. He is up front about who he is and what he has done.

His is a familiar story, the highly successful young man who flounders as success piles on, who loses his way, but with the love of the right person and the Grace of God, is able to turn his life around, to redeem himself to the point that he succeeds beyond the original expectations.

The young man in this book is not a deep thinker; this volume pales in comparison to Bob Welch's heart-wrenching, deeply personal "Five O'Clock Comes Early." Josh delves only so deep in dealing with his addictions, but he delves only so deep in life, so the story he shares is an honest one.

It is a book about recovery through faith published by a Christian company which at first deterred me from reading it, thankfully Josh is low keyed about his faith and even addresses this issue.

There were times when I wanted more, more insight, more questioning, more expounding, yet none of those would have been true to the man who lived this story.

As simple and straightforward as he is, Josh Hamilton kept my interest alive through to the end. ( )

A familiar story, guy has it, all throws it away on drugs, finds solace in the tatooo needle, gets hooked on drugs, finds God all is well. This book just skims the surface with little depth. Hamilton is afraid to look at what caused his downward spiral. I do not want to diminish his recovery yet his solution to, his starting drugs, the failure to really look at his issues with parents, baseball and fame really holds back the story. If you know someone that needs help overcomming addiction this book might help. ( )

Just right out his North Carolina high school, Josh Hamilton was the first player chosen in the first round of the 1999 baseball draft. An amazingly talented athlete, he gives the reader an insider view of both professional baseball and the terrifying world of drug addiction. He tells the where, how and why of his downward spiral as a crack cocaine user. He places the blame squarely on himself while giving credit to those who helped him. He takes the reader to the underworld culture of cocaine and even tells how to prepare the drug. It is truly amazing how much abuse he gave his body while retaining the skills to regain his professional baseball status. Truly an inspiring story that will be enjoyed by both sports fans and general readers alike while delivering a Christian message of salvation.

Reviewed by David M. Buckley
Reference Librarian
Roesch Library
University of Dayton ( )

This is a touching story of a young man who was rose to the heights of the world as a baseball prospect, descended to the pits of drug addiction, and then rose again redeem his career, his relationship with his family, and his life in general. And yet he did not pull himself up by his bootstraps, he attributes his ability to shake off drugs to His relationship with Jesus Christ. A particular turning point during a low point in his life was when his Grandmother showed him love and hospitality when others would not, and when he stumbled upon a Bible verse which said "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

Josh is a unique person in many ways. To hear that a baseball player fell into a life of addiction would not turn many heads. But Josh was not your type baseball prospect. After having been drafted and playing within the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization, his parents traveled and lived with him! He kissed his mom and grandmother before each game! Even in this book, he still calls his father daddy! Within that context, you can see how shocking it must have been for people who knew him as such a straight kid to hear that he was a major crack addict. Josh's story shows that no-one is above sinking into a destructive lifestyle, no matter how "good two shoes" and "innocent" they are.

Josh's narrative of his redemption is very interesting and inspiring. He's a very interesting personality, and he really writes with a lot of depth and vigor. I think most everybody would enjoy this book. It's a good, inspiring read of a story of how there is no-one who has sunk so low that they have disqualified themselves for being redeemed. ( )

Beyond Belief by Tim Keown is not a baseball book, but a inspiration book. I had some trouble buying into his reasons for what he did. In the end though, his life has been turned around, and hopefully he continues on his chosen path. ( )

I normally prefer to read biographies rather than autobiographies because I think they present a less biased account of the person’s life. However, a first person account can reveal intimate details that a biography can’t. In this book, Josh Hamilton doesn’t try to hide all the awful things that he did to himself and his family as his addiction controlled his life. He doesn’t blame anyone, but himself for his problems. It is amazing how someone who had never even gotten drunk before could so quickly destroy his life with drugs. It is equally amazing how he has managed to turn his life around again. This book is a quick easy read that gives good insight into addiction and what life is like for someone who has immense talent. ( )

I'm not a baseball fan, so I wasn't sure that I would like this book. It turned out to be quite a page-turner. I was reading it every available moment. Sadly, the beginning of the story is all too familiar. Remarkably gifted athelete signs contract for millions of dollars and proceeds to squander his life (and money) on drugs.

What is different about this story is how Josh kicked the drugs and turned his life around. If this was fiction you wouldn't believe it. ( )

Do not expect Beyond Belief to be eloquent or a great literary masterpiece. It is what it is - a straightforward, simple, eyt heartfelt account of one athlete's fall from grace and subsequent redemption through religion. Drafted right out of high school and given a salary of 3.96 million, one can hardly anticipate fancy prose from Josh Hamilton. Instead, what lies in the 257 pages (with help from ESPN senior writer Tim Keown) is a humble account of his life as an athlete, drug addict, and finally, a man of faith. ( )

Beyond Belief is not only the title of Josh Hamilton's book; it is the theme. It is almost unbelievable that a young baseball player destined for greatness could throw it all away for drugs, hit rock bottom, and then sink so low that he traded his wife's wedding ring for crack. This is the same ballplayer who, only a few years later, hammered 28 homers into the seats during the All Star Home Run Derby. How did Josh Hamilton make his comeback? He put his faith in Jesus.

Humble yourself before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

This passage from the bible became Josh Hamilton's daily prayer. He surrendered to Jesus, asking for the strength to drive out the demons, resist the cravings for drugs, and come back to the life he was destined to have before he went astray. His life is an open book which he freely discusses to help others find the strength to come back from drug abuse.

You don't need to be a baseball fan or a Christian to enjoy reading this book. It will tug on your heart and bring both tears of joy and sadness to your eyes.

Reviewer: Jerry Morris

My husband, who by his own definition, is a non-reader, thought that this book was "great!" Addicted to sports, my husband grabbed this book when it came into our home. This is an easy read for any baseball addict, but is also a good read for a non-lover of the game. In this memoir, Josh is so talented a ball player that he receives $3.9 million bonus just for signing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at age eighteen.

Here is a man devoted to family and God, who comes close to throwing all away. My husband found himself getting angry as he read about the many bad choices Josh made for four long years! The promise of a Golden Life tarnishes because of drugs and alcohol.

Family ties are strong, and one family member comes through to help him turn back, and advance all the way to the All-Star Home Run Derby in 2008. Pick up a copy. ( )