Learn the Names.

This is a fantastic listen. I love Bobby Hull and am a HUGE Jets fan. I recently bought a copy of Hull's photo book 'The Golden Jet' from him (autographed and all!). I recommend giving that book a quick read before listening to this. While I don't think the Golden Jet was anything special...especially since it only concentrated on his Chicago Black Hawk days, this book takes place during a typical signing session that Bobby Hull is doing for it. So, that book kind of creates the setting and when they mention a photo or some blurb contained within it, it was nice to know what they were talking about. However, it is very minimal and won't affect anything. It just enhanced my listening experience with this book.

The story was great. Like I said, Bobby Hull is a favourite of mine and I found that this book was the most well rounded biography I have ever listened to of his. It is honest. It is critical. It still gets through to the listener just how great of a hockey player he was. It tells of how he changed hockey, toppled greedy National Hockey League (NHL) extortionists, and on and on.

The book is very thorough. Like I mentioned previously, in the Golden Jet, nothing else but the Black Hawks are mentioned. I know the NHL likes to ignore anything to do with the old World Hockey Association (WHA) or even Hockey Canada stuff from back in the day. This book treated all the stages of Hull's career equally. His NHL career, the WHA, some international games, its all there. From a personal aspect, his troubled family life, health, and many other aspects of it are touched upon.

I hated taking away stars from the rating system but here is the only kicker with this audiobook. While I LOVED the narrator, heck he kept it interesting and fun, I will definitely listen to more stuff by this narrator... however he's got to first look up how to pronounce the people's names! I can overlook a couple, heck a few, but we are talking dozens of incorrectly pronounced names. The narrator must be great at his job because he must literally not know anything about hockey. He even mispronounced Rocket Richard and Guy Lafleur for Pete's sake! I hate the Montreal Canadiens but anyone who knows a little bit of hockey knows how to pronounce these names. I can understand people that may not be household names like the former Winnipeg Jet's owner Barry Shenkarow, etc., but there are just too many mispronunciations to overlook in this case! Mark Messier is another off the top of my head. There are probably many names I didn't even catch since I don't know all the characters involved in this book!

The name being read wrong was very distracting and I feel could lead others to not really know who the narrator is really talking about. Heck, it took me a few moments to realize he meant to say Rocket Richard. I've never in my life heard anyone call him 'Richards' like saying 'Richards Dawson' if I can explain one example of the mispronunciation though typing. I would hate for people being first introduced to many of these people to actually think this is what their real names are!

Overall though, the narration of the book (overlooking the names issue), the subject matter, and everything else about it was five star! I love this book and am so happy I used a credit on it! A mandatory listen for hockey fans interested in the history of the game!

3 people found this helpful

Please find a reader who can pronounce names!!!!!!

What would have made The Devil and Bobby Hull: How Hockey's Original Million-Dollar Man Became the Game's Lost Legend better?

Finding someone who can properly pronounce ubiquitously known hockey names.Some just off the top of my head:Henri RichardRocket RichardGuy LaFleurChico MakiLloyd PettitVezinaOddly enough, he nails "Borje Salming."

What did you like best about this story?

The story. It tells the story of Bobby Hull that the old guard of the NHL wants erased from the history books. You learn (well, in some cases are reminded) of how big of a sleaze bag the typical NHL owner was back in the '60's, and you really get an insight as to the level of risk Bobby Hull exposed himself to in going to Winnipeg.

What didn’t you like about Bernard Clark’s performance?

Please, for the love of hockey, learn how to pronounce the names and read hockey terms and abbreviations.

It's far too distracting to get a true enjoyment of the book.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Everything but the reading.

2 people found this helpful

Proof Read YIKES

Can't believe that this guy can't pronounce players names correctly. Hard to listen to. YIKES

1 person found this helpful

Maybe next time get a narrator knows something about hockey

The book seems well written and covers a lot of Bobby story but I just got distracted by the narrator all the time. It was obvious that he knows nothing about the game and knows none of the names of the players are the places because he missed pronounced him to the point that is distracting and sometimes I found myself yelling at my radio with my corrections

1 person found this helpful

Gotta know the pronunciations....

Love the story of Bobby Hull's experiences. However, the incorrect pronunciation of the names of some of the games biggest stars, founders and awards was very disappointing. Gotta do your homework!!

1 person found this helpful

Legendary story about B Hull

Great story about one of the greatest hockey players to ever lace up a pair of skates.
Poor reading in relation to May miss-produced names of other legendary hockey players. If someone is going to release and audio book the editor should know how names are pronounced.
IMO

Great Insights Compelling

Not just about the most talented and hardest working player of the Golden Age of hockey , but gives great insight into Hulls monumental influence on propelling hockey to where it is today. Both on expansion of the NHL in 1967 but in modern pro players salaries. His place in the history of the modern hockey is heads above anyone in 100 years which influenced all sports in North America, and his fall from grace surely formed better behavior in generations after him. This deep dive by an obsessive writer who researched and complied an amazing 360 view of the most influential and colorful character of his era
Unfortunately the Narrator mispronounced many Canadian names. Poor research on performance

After 425 Audible books, this ranks in my top 5

The writers insight and objectivity are both outstanding and professional. I love Bobby now more than I ever have. the narration is both awe inspiring and detached as if he's sitting in front of the second Great One hinself! Great production.

A Great Psychology of a Faded Star

Life is full of "what ifs". Sports are no different. We believe that athletes should retire at the highest point in their careers so their glory is preserved. This book is a completely honest look at what a faded star looks like. I was expecting it to concentrate on Hull's accomplishments on the ice. It definitely does. However, it also takes a very deep and unpleasant look into his personal life, mistakes, and vices the public was hidden from. It searches for the psychology behind the Golden Jet and all the " what ifs " left at the end of his career. An excellent read!

Not Really Bobby's Story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Was not truly a story on Bobby Hull, more about how he impacted the game.

Would you ever listen to anything by Gare Joyce again?

Probably not

Which scene was your favorite?

The court room during the divorce.

Was The Devil and Bobby Hull: How Hockey's Original Million-Dollar Man Became the Game's Lost Legend worth the listening time?

The book really was not a story about Bobby Hull, it is more of how he impacted the game of Hockey during his era. Some interesting facts but overall not a really good hockey book about one of the games most famous players.