Paper Tiger

When they read "Paper Tiger", a lot of golfers are going to wish they'd thought of the idea behind the book before Tom Coyne did.

Coyne, a good golfer and a good writer as well, convinced Gotham Books that he could make a fine story out of his attempt to become an even better golfer by dedicating himself to the game for over a year. Accordingly, he moved to Florida, hired the requisite coaches, and played golf until convinced that he wouldn't make a fool of himself playing against men seeking careers in the game.

To his credit, Tom Coyne recognized that there is nothing duller than a golfer's shot-by-shot discussion of his trip around the course, so there is blessedly little description of particular rounds in "Paper Tiger". He was also canny enough to build a love story into his narrative, and to make room for kangaroos, as well.