Moneyball

Moneyball cover
Good Books rating 4.23

Technical:
  • ID: 629
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780393066234
  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
  • Published: 2004-03-17
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
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Moneyball is a groundbreaking exploration of how the Oakland Athletics, with one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball, managed to achieve unprecedented success. Author Michael Lewis delves into the world of baseball statistics, uncovering a hidden treasure trove of data that had been overlooked by traditional scouts and managers. The book highlights the innovative approach of Billy Beane, the team's general manager, who used this data to build a competitive team on a shoestring budget. Beyond the realm of sports, Moneyball offers a compelling narrative about the power of data and analytics in decision-making. Lewis's engaging storytelling and sharp insights make it a must-read for anyone interested in business, sports, or the art of thinking differently. The book is not just about baseball; it's a testament to the value of challenging conventional wisdom and finding creative solutions in the face of adversity.

Reviews
insightful 4.20

The book provides a detailed and insightful look into the innovative strategies of baseball. It is praised for its depth and analysis.

This review delves into the detailed analysis provided by Lewis on the transformations in baseball strategies. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the study and the way it contrasts different approaches to the game. They find the book to be insightful and informative, highlighting how it goes beyond the surface-level narrative to explore the broader implications of the new methods. The reviewer enjoys the way Lewis brings the characters and their stories to life, making the technical aspects of the game understandable and engaging.


Quick quotes

    Lewis goes into great detail as to what happened to Beane as a study in contrasts between drafting guys like him and the new way the A's began.

    Underdogs rejoice

    It was not a general interest in American baseball that prompted me to borrow Moneyball by Michael Lewis.

Cannonball Read · 2021-10-31
enjoyable 4.50

The book is enjoyable and fast-paced, focusing on smart people who think outside the box. It is praised for its engaging content.

The reviewer found Moneyball to be a quick and enjoyable read, particularly appreciating the focus on innovative thinkers. They highlight how the book makes complex ideas about baseball accessible and interesting. The reviewer enjoys the narrative style and the way it brings to life the characters and their strategies. They also note that the book is not just about baseball but about the broader implications of thinking differently and challenging conventional wisdom.


Quick quotes

    Smart people who think outside the box are so much fun to read about.

    I read this book really fast, and it was enjoyable to read the whole way.

    It's about math (which isn't my absolute favorite) and baseball (which I'm not all of that interested in, except as a ...

The Guardian · 2011-07-29
entertaining 4.00

The book is a compelling and entertaining true story that highlights a rare sporting triumph for the nerds. It is praised for its engaging narrative.

This review highlights how Moneyball is a captivating true story that makes a complex subject accessible and enjoyable. The reviewer appreciates the engaging narrative and the way it showcases an underdog triumph. They find the book to be a compelling read that sheds light on the innovative strategies used in baseball. The reviewer enjoys the way Lewis brings the characters to life and makes the technical aspects of the game understandable and entertaining.


Quick quotes

    A compulsively told true story about a rare sporting triumph for the nerds.

    Continuing our series on Guardian writers' favourite seasonal books

    Michael Lewis makes a compelling case