The New York Times Book Review - John Swansburg
As a longtime Warriors beat writer…[Strauss] has notebooks that overflow with good color.
From the Publisher
"While Strauss clearly loves the sport, he also treats the N.B.A. as a reflection of the 'Darwinian contest' prized by American society...[he] offers insights into how power gets played out in personalities—the motivations, insecurities, and over-all vibe of people who are often insulated from judgment."—The New Yorker
"Strauss skillfully captures a team peaking as change is taking place all around them, and pulls the curtain aside on the often unsavory realities of what it means to succeed in the NBA."
—Library Journal
What Ethan Strauss does best is to dispense with the niceties and to cut to the core. He's done it again with The Victory Machine, an unvarnished inside account of the Golden State Warriors, from the driven, resolute owner who bought them to the capricious, conflicted superstar who ultimately left them. A must-read for NBA fans.—Jackie MacMullan, senior ESPN writer and Hall of Fame basketball commentator
"The Victory Machine is The Breaks of the Game of its era. Strauss pulls the curtain back to reveal the ambitions, insecurities, and riches that propel one of the most interesting sports leagues in the world. Most sports books are either idea-driven or character-driven-but Strauss has accomplished both. This is a book I'll come back to again and again for its insight and wit."—Kevin Arnovitz, NBA writer, ESPN The Magazine
"The Victory Machine isn't a romantic look at the Golden State Warriors dynasty, but it gets to the human core of success and asks the reader to question everything he or she knew about sports."—Bomani Jones, cohost of High Noon
Library Journal
03/01/2020
The past decade has been extremely successful for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. All of the championships and acclaim have also made the Warriors, according to journalist Strauss, the team "that would ruin basketball." Looking beyond the trophies and All-Star players, sportswriter Strauss reveals what really goes on in the back rooms of NBA teams. He also examines how the 24/7 nature of social media (both fan- and player-generated content) has changed dynamics in locker rooms and arenas. Once the Warriors became a dominant team, input from athletic companies and players themselves, along with unrelenting pressure from ownership, media, and fans threatened to overshadow their accomplishments. How they adjusted and persevered is a fascinating, sometimes ruthless, story that is still unfolding. Strauss skillfully captures a team peaking as change is taking place all around them, and pulls the curtain aside on the often unsavory realities of what it means to succeed in the NBA. VERDICT Sports dynasties tend to inspire the extremes of love and hate, and more than ever in this era of constant connection. For basketball fans interested in the lesser-known business side of the sport.—Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT
