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MORE REVIEWS: See more reviews here
  READER REVIEWS: From Goodreads.com

Race, Class, and Public Education.
In a recent Kennedy Library Forum, Neil joined UMass Chancellor Keith Motley, former Charlestown High headmaster Michael Fung and Diamond Educators founder (and former Charlestown High star) Shawn Brown in a discussion about urban education and other issues highlighted in The Assist.
Watch, listen or podcast the forum here

    Place mouse over text to stop scroll       

Race, Class, and Public Education.
In a recent Kennedy Library Forum, Neil joined UMass Chancellor Keith Motley, former Charlestown High headmaster Michael Fung and Diamond Educators founder (and former Charlestown High star) Shawn Brown in a discussion about urban education and other issues highlighted in The Assist.
Watch, listen or podcast the forum here
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Neil is one of the co-authors of LAST LION, the new, definitive biography of Ted Kennedy, published by Simon & Schuster.

         
Neil is one of the co-authors of LAST LION, the new, definitive biography of Ted Kennedy, published by Simon & Schuster.



NEW PAPERBACK EDITION
The Assist is now available in paperback. It features a brand new Epilogue capturing all the drama that has continued to unfold in the story since the hardcover was released.
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The Alray Taylor Second Chance Scholarship Fund
![]() For more info on the fund, go to alray.org Tax-deductible donations to the fund can be made by credit card using Paypal. Click here: Or by check: The Alray Taylor Second Chance Scholarship Fund PO Box 590214 Newton, MA 02459 ![]() The Assist is a gripping, surprising story about fathers, sons, and surrogates, all confronting the narrow margins of urban life. At its center are the interwoven lives of O'Brien and two of his stars, easygoing Ridley Johnson and fierce Jason "Hood" White. The book follows Ridley and Hood on their hunt for a state title. But it also stays with them, to see how young men who seldom get second chances survive without their coach hovering over them -- and how he survives without them. A minister friend says O'Brien does the Lord's work "filling the space in these boys' lives." But O'Brien is no saint. Saints give without expecting anything in return. O'Brien needs his players and their problems as much as they need him. BUY IT: Order it on Amazon.com Order The Assist on Barnes&Noble.com Find a local bookseller through Booksense.com LEARN MORE: PublicAffairs, Publisher PREVIEW: Read the excerpt ![]() MORE: Expanded bio and contact info
THE BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE DETAILS THE SECOND CHANCE SCHOLARSHIP:
Read the article ![]() Click here for a reading group guide.
FOR TEACHERS
Parade Magazine recommends The Assist as part of its classroom curriculum on current events, sports, physical education, careers and critical thinking. Download Lesson Plan ![]() |
![]() The Assist honored by Iowa High School Book Awards 2011-2012
More info ![]() The Assist has been named a 2010-2011 nominee for the Rosie Book Award. Named in honor of Eliot Rosenwater, a recurring character in Kurt Vonnegut’s novels, the award is chosen each year by high school students across Vonnegut’s home state of Indiana. The students will be reading the nominated books throughout the school year and then voting for their favorite. If you have any Hoosiers in your networks, please spread the word! View the details here ![]() The Assist named honorable mention on Dime magazine's list of Top Ten Basketball Books of All Time. Story and list here ![]() BEST BOOKS OF 2008 The Washington Post names The Assist to its list of the year's best. Read the full list here The Assist named to Barnes & Noble's Best Books of the Year 2008 List.
More info Rocky Mountain News selects The Assist as one of its favorite books of 2008.
View the list here ![]() THE ASSIST SPOTLIGHTED ON THE TODAY SHOW ![]() Watch Neil Swidey, Ridley Johnson and Coach Jack O'Brien discuss Charlestown basketball and second chances on NBC's Today Show. Watch the Today Show segment here ![]() ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY gives The Assist an A- 'There's triumph, tragedy, and salvation in this story. Not to mention a movie.' Read review here Washington Post Book World raves:
"The Assist will prove indispensable to anyone interested in the art of coaching at any level or in any sport. And by distracting us from the sordid, steroid-fueled headlines, Swidey reminds us why we enjoy watching sports in the first place." Click here for the full review ![]() Bill Simmons, The Sports Guy from ESPN: "The Assist should be a must-read... The second-best book about inner-city high school basketball behind Darcy Fray's The Last Shot." Read Bill's spotlight here ![]() Bill Littlefield, host of NPR's "Only A Game," interviews Neil and gives The Assist a big thumbs up. Listen to interview part 1     Listen to interview part 2 Read Bill's review here ![]() NECN News Night host Jim Braude: "The Assist: Get it. Read it. It is really terrific." Watch the interview here ![]() The Dale and Holley Show Co-host Michael Holley: "There was a point for Bostonians where Common Ground was the book you had to read. I think The Assist is that book now." Co-host Dale Arnold: "Spectacular." Listen to Neil's entire "Dale and Holley" interview here
THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE'S PLAY: 'More Than a Coach.'
Read profile here
BORDERS selects The Assist for its ORIGINAL VOICES, which highlights the work of the most promising new and emerging authors.
Original Voices
NEIL DISCUSSES THE BOOK ON FOX25 NEWS
![]() Neil Swidey's new book takes you inside the boys basketball team in Charletstown. Watch interview here
THE NEW YORK POST: 'He Shoots, It's Good.'
Read review here GREAT WRITERS PODCAST
Neil reads from "The Assist" on Great Writers Listen here to Neil's talk at the Harvard Book Store, as part of the Great Writers Podcast series. Read more and listen to the podcast
FOXSPORTS.COM COLUMNIST MARK KRIEGEL (AUTHOR OF PISTOL): "The Celtics may have reached 30 wins in fewer games than any team in NBA history, but the best story to come out of Boston this season is The Assist by Neil Swidey."
POWELLS.COM:
Original Essay Series features a piece by Neil on Jay-Z videos and other adventures from writing the book. Read essay here TAMPA TRIBUNE
"One does not have to be from Boston to appreciate Swidey's writing skills. His characters are real and have a story to tell. It's a tale that pulsates with the intensity of a full-court press." -Bob D'Angelo Full review here ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
"Thankfully, The Assist isn't a formula sports story where everything leads up to 'The Big Game' that's won in overtime. It's an absorbing examination of at-risk, inner-city youths who succeed against all odds. GRADE: A." Click here for full review
ESPN: 'Gripping Journey.' Read excerpt here
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