Last Dance

Behind the Scenes at the Final Four

By: John Feinstein

Narrated by: Arnie Mazer, Sean Runnette

When college basketball teams make it to the NCAA tournament, they say they're "going to the dance". John Feinstein's riveting new book is the story of the last dance: the Final Four. There is no event in sports quite like it. The Final Four draws millions to their televisions and thousands to a chosen city; attendance is topped only by the Super Bowl. It is the epicenter of sports madness, a circus of media, coaches, and fans swirling around the four teams talented enough to have made it to the end.

Tracking the four teams in 2005's Final Four, Michigan State's Spartans, the University of Louisville's Cardinals, the University of Illinois's Fighting Illini, and the University of North Carolina's Tar Heels, John Feinstein tells the story of a definitive and dramatic tournament. Here are the stories of UCLA's John Wooden, UNC's Dean Smith, and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, telling of Final Four dynasties that defined the sport. Here are great players like Bill Bradley, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, and Sean May, who thought they'd never make it to college basketball's final weekend. Here are the late nights at the coaches' hotel, where careers are advanced (or not). Here are the players in the 2005 Final Four trying to practice, eat, rest, and play, knowing that they will be remembered by these games for the rest of their lives.

©2006 John Feinstein. All Rights Reserved (P)2006 Time Warner AudioBooks. A division of Time Warner Book Group. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

"This is a terrific book....The anecdotes are entertaining, and the insights into the tournament's logistics fascinating, but what will linger most are the remembrances of players, especially those who ended up on the losing side. The best books take us to places we've never been and let us feel what life there is like. Welcome to the Final Four, courtesy of John Feinstein." (Booklist)

Too broadly focused

John Feinstein is a great storyteller. He knows a good story and knows he can reuse it from one book to the next. However, his other baketball books were very focused. They tended to concentrate on one season and within that on one team or one conference or one type of team. This book is a very short listen and it covers the NCAA tournament in total over decades. As a result it is not an in depth look at anything. Add in rehashed stories about Dean Smith and Coach K and it feels even less substantial.

Not Final Four Material

I am a rabid NCAA basketball fan but found this book mediocre. It has several interesting annecdotes but fails to put them together into a meaningful or interesting way. Kind of like watching ESPN where every story is in short reports. Doesn't really go into any kind of depth about anything...more like sharing stories at a cocktail party.

Suprisingly Disappointed

What would have made Last Dance better?

Inside, interesting information.

What could John Feinstein have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Brought us something that most basketball fans didn't already know.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Neutral

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointed. Cheated.

Any additional comments?

I normally love Feinstein's books but this one left me feeling cheated. There were minimal inside stories. I was left feeling that the book could have been written by watching ESPN Classics. I am going to go write a great review about Season on the Brink by Feinstein because he is normally great but Last Dance left me wanting my money back. It was a waste of time.