How does the number one overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft, go from can't miss prospect to drug addict? Why would someone with enough natural ability to draw comparisons to Mickey Mantle self destruct? What happened to cause Josh Hamilton to choose a life of drug addiction above a loving family? More importantly, though, how did he go from spending $100,000 in six weeks on a crack addiction to major league All-Star starter in three years. Beyond Belief is the inspiring story of Josh Hamilton's descent into the depravity of human nature and God's remarkable rescue.
I'm a Texas Ranger's fan and have been since the early 1990s. I love the team even though the wins are usually not as abundant as the losses. When Josh Hamilton joined the team in 2008, I knew very little about him, but that didn't last long. By the end of the season I owned a Hamilton t-shirt, knew he was a remarkable talent on the field, and a glowing testament to God's redemptive power. Though I caught plenty of sound bites about his past during the season, I'm grateful to finally read the complete story. It's shocking at times, sad at others, but in the end the hope that led to Hamilton's recovery is what this book is about.
To say Hamilton is a good player is an understatement. He's an amazing talent with truly God given abilities. I've watched many Home Run Derbies, but I'll never forget watching him launch 28 in 2008. When he's healthy, he's one of the most fun players in the league to watch. In 1999, he was an all-American boy when Tampa drafted him straight out of high school. It was never so much a question of if he would make it to the majors, but how quickly. Tampa was willing to pay this kid, two days out of high school, $3.9 million to sign with them. He was expected to be a major contributor, but things obviously went very wrong. Hamilton's story is inspirational on many levels. Not only is it honest in its approach to addiction, but also in the hope it offers others, and the glory it brings to God. While Beyond Belief chronicles the ups and downs during his baseball career and personal life, it has a greater purpose than just baseball or Josh Hamilton--it's about God, the big picture, and a remarkable rescue. Though not without fault or setbacks, in the few years since his return, Hamilton has been transparent with the media in a way that backs up the faith he mentions frequently. As stated many times throughout the book, Hamilton's journey is a God thing and to share it with millions of readers and baseball fans is not only courageous, but inspiring.
I know sports/athlete books are not for everyone, but I highly recommend this one. Like most in this genre, it's very easy to read and not exactly high quality writing. While it does contain some baseball/career information, for the most part it's a life story. By far the human element outweighs the sports related themes and I think people who simply enjoy inspirational stories will find this one interesting and engaging. I loved it. For parents, kids, addicts, friends and families of addicts, sports fans, MLB teams and their owners this book raises some tough questions while at the same time providing a measure of comfort, support, and encouragement. To his credit and without excuse, Hamilton takes full responsibility for his destructive behavior. There are important lessons to learn from his life, but ultimately this book is a story of relying on faith to overcome addiction. It's truly uplifting and again I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it.Get more detail about Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back.
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