Review: ‘Fail better’

I don't mind admitting that books about why baseball matters written by professors of philosophy may appeal only to a niche audience made up primarily of me.

Nevertheless, I recommend 'Fail Better: Why Baseball Matters” by Mark Kingwell, a professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto and a lifelong fan of the game. Kingwell doesn't hesitate to employ the logic of Ludwig Wittgenstein to consider the exploits of Rollie Fingers through the lens of Don DeLillo, Marshall McLuhan, and Homer Simpson, among other luminaries of literature, communication theory, and pop culture.

Along the way, Kingwell suggests that baseball is primarily a game of failure (relying in part on the old saw the a successful batter is a fellow who fails seven out of 10 times). He considers how that sets baseball apart from other athletic pursuits and how it might serve as a model for our lives.

But failure isn't Kingwell's only concern. He's interested in the nature of rules, the language unique to the game and what it signifies, and the difference in the experience of listening to a game on the radio to that of watching it on television.

On occasion, Kingwell's thoughts meander in a manner unlike a runner following the base paths. His changes of direction can be sudden like a devastating curveball, and the transition between ideas can be hard to suss out like the meaning of the manager's signs. His deeper dives into philosophical thought require extra attention, and sometimes surprise the reader like a pitch thrown high and tight.

Still, for those of us who believe baseball matters, Kingwell's attempt to explain why is worthwhile reading.