The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of Life

Like most I learned about this story after having watched the Robert Redford directed film which to be frank, left me underwhelmed. However when I recently added it back into my Netflix list and watched again, something told me to read the book.

To say I was blown away would be a vast understatement nor did I expect something like this from Pressfield. Finding our "Authentic Swing" can be the most fulfilling journey we take; you do not need to be a golfer to embrace the message shared either. Dr. Wayne Dyer used elements of the book in one of his CD courses and for good reason. He draws a comparison between finding our authentic self by virtue the 'battle' story told in the Bhagavad Gita. Those that understand the role Resistance plays show more in our lives as well as its counterpart, Allowing can benefit. It's a shame the film doesn't follow the story, twist ending or even how and to whom the story is being told. Bravo Steve... a great story that can and likely has changed people's lives! show less

Although they were two completely different stories, this is one of those rare occasions (The Shawshank Redemption comes to mind) when the book and movie do not match but both are superbly told stories. I wouldn't change either and I feel uplifted by the two.

The book is far more supernatural and spiritual than the movie and (given my own skepticism and atheism) I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this fictional tale immensely. On previous occassions, I have tried reading books with similar themes and they've always fallen short. Until now, I chalked it up to my own personal doubts and agnosticism.

But now I know that if the story is good enough, I can let go of my unbelief and surrender to the story teller. That is a comforting show more feeling and in its own way, has a kind of spiritual virtue in and of itself which I would have denied even existed prior to discovering the genius of Steven Pressfield. I want more! show less

I loved this movie when it came out. A great story, great acting, it's about sports, and it takes place in Georgia. So why not read the book.

Golfing legends Bobby Jones (originator of the Masters Tournament held in Savannah, Georgia) and Walter Hagen are playing a golf exhibition in Savannah, Geogia. The locals decide to enter their own champion, Junah, who was a great golfer but is now a tortured soul. With the help of his caddie, Baggar Vance, he enters the tournament with the goal of finding his authentic swing...authentic self.

I had trouble separating the movie from the book. I kept seeing Matt Damon and Will Smith as I read, but I guess that also speaks to how they fully immersed themselves as those characters.

In later research, show more I learned that this story is a loose interpretation of a Hindu sacred text of a man who refuses to go to battle, and a god comes to help him be the warrior he is supposed to be.

Overall, I love the story, but the book is much deeper and spiritual than the movie. And as much as I love sports and golf, the reverence and poetical waxing of golf was a bit much.

This is a fine read and probably better if I wasn't constantly comparing to the movie. show less

A favorite book of mine. This is the story of the Hindu spiritual classic the Bhagavad Gita retold as a golf tournament during the Great Depression. (It doesn't sound like it should work, but it does!) If you saw Robert Redford's film of this starring Will Smith, this is the source and it's about a thousand times better. Highly recommended.

Great story, well told. You'll get the most out of it if you've played golf but you can still enjoy it if you've watched it on TV. Uses golf as a metaphor for life.

The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield was ok, not wonderful. It reads like a fantasy/philosophy story that is well excuted, but the religious/philosophical portions are jumbled. It is a little like: let's put some ancient Greek ideas of religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity (and golf) in a pot and see what we cook up. Some of its sentiments, like God is always with you etc., are nice. But I can't quite say I enjoyed the book as a whole.

Wonderfully written. The tale of a young boy & his brush with the some of the greatest golfers (& one caddy) to play the game.