"Pujols: More Than the Game" teeter-totters between statistical and situational (in-depth) reviews of each of Albert's ten seasons in Major League Baseball and his life and work off the field. The reader is given a glimpse into his upbringing and his rise to stardom in the baseball/sports sphere in the first 40 pages, but the majority of the book details his life since 1999 when he was drafted in the thirteenth round of the MLB draft. The authors testify to Pujols' belief in Jesus Christ and his recognition that his God-given abilities both allow and require him to defer all praise to God; and Albert is quick to give all credit to God and understands that baseball is merely a platform that enables him to reach millions both here in America and in the Dominican Republic with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I really enjoyed and was pleasantly surprised by Albert's clear vocalization of his faith in Christ and his family's mission to use baseball to share the Gospel and help people in need. The media does not bring much of what he says to light, instead focusing on his comments more directly related to the game itself or the latest contract negotiations. It was refreshing to learn that there are professional athletes who understand that the game is never about THEM, but about taking whatever life God blesses them with and blessing others in return. The main criticism I have of this book is that it was SO heavy on statistics and game-by-game reviews on entire seasons that at times I could hardly wait until that chapter was over. If you are a baseball lover you will appreciate his complete dominance in the game, but if you are not, this book will be hard to finish.
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