As 2009 begins, it is that time of year when Collegefootballtopten.com 
starts to give out its end of the year awards. In this post, we introduce you to the first annual “Book End” Awards. Since I have had so many reviews at CFTT this year, I am going to do a segment handing out awards to the top five books that I have read this year.
I looked back on the year and I counted at least nine books that I read and reviewed. That seems like a lot, but it is not quite one a month. However, considering all of the writing I am doing and my full time job, I suppose it is not to bad.
In order to evaluate the books and choose the top five books, I have decided to use a four-fold critera for evaluation.
1) Inspirational. Does the book inspire me to be a better person in some manner or another?
2) Enlightening of the game. Does the book tell me something about the game, particularly college football? Any part of the game is needed such as a book that tells me something about recruiting in college football.
3) Historical/Perspective. Does the book reveal history to me about the game and the context in which the story lived? Does it give me a larger perspective about football, or football in the context of life in gereral?
4) Writing Style. How is the writing style? Is it very descriptive and easy to follow? Is it humerous? Is the author creative, and does he/she not use to many clichés?
Top Five Books
5. Walk-On by Thom Gossom
This is a memoir of Gossom’s experience being an African-American athlete at Auburn University in the early 1970′s. This book is a 2008 publication. Read the CFTT Review.
4. Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx
This book is truly one of the most inspiring books I have read this year. The book was previously published in 2003. Read the CFTT Review.
3. Meat Market by Bruce Feldman
Bruce has left us a treasure here. Bruce allows us to listen as he sits in on recruiting at Ole Miss in 2006. This book was originally published in 2007. Read the CFTT Review.
2. Rose Bowl Dreams by Adam Jones
Adam does a great job of capturing a fan’s perspective of this madness we call college football. This book was a 2008 publication. Read the CFTT Review.
1. The Galloping Ghost by Gary Andrew Poole
Hands down, this was my favorite book of the year. It truly gave me insight in to football in the 20′s and 30′s. One should read this along with Jim Dent’s Twelve Mighty Orphans to understand more about football during that time period. And then, watch the movie Leatherheads. This book is a 2008 publication. Read the CFTT Review.
