--It's Where You Played the Game: How Youth Baseball Determines the Personality of the American Male

The father-and-son author team-Mike is a judge in Mass., Luke a paralegal in Manhattan-here present a tongue-in-cheek theory which holds that youngsters should not be allowed to play baseball. The reason? The positions they play will determine their adult personalities and hence the course of their lives. Pitcher: proud, vain; first base: conventional, condescending; shortstop: tough, fearless; second base: loyal, helpful (both Ryans, not so incidentally, played second base); catcher: persistent, tenacious; third base: stupid, primitive; center field: responsible but insecure; left field: intelligent, self-sufficient; right field: shy, indecisive, nerdy. The Ryans also consider the position in the batting order and even provide a quiz so readers can tell which positions their friends played. This delightful analysis will provoke plenty of laughter until the reader begins to realize that much truth is spoken in jest. (May)