Big reader here. That’s right – so much so that I have my own book club, the SoBros Book Club. I’m just like Reese and Oprah. If you see that SoBros logo on a book, you know it’s legit. That’s not true at all. Much like you can’t trust my taste in cuisine because I have the palate of a raccoon, I will also read literally any book that is set before me. Anyway, here’s the list of the things I’ve read this past year…err…I mean, the “official selections” for the “SoBros Book Club.”
The SoBros Book Club, 2025 Collection
- Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford – Thriftbooks – Yeah, truth be told, I started this book in 2012 and just finished it last winter. Weatherford’s stuff isn’t going to be for everyone – this book is as dense as dense can come. But, if you’re a history buff, it’s hard to imagine a book more detailed and informative than this one. 4/5
- The Complete Dagger Manual by Bobby Peters – Amazon – Okay, maybe I shouldn’t post this one here since it’s such a ‘nuts and bolts’ football book. But, if you’re trying to learn about the passing concept known as ‘Dagger,’ I can’t imagine a better resource! 5/5
- Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen – Thriftbooks – If you’re a Hiaasen fan, Double Whammy won’t disappoint. His style is unmistakable. I’d never read the novel that started it all for the beloved Skink character, so finally getting around to it made for a good time. I’m a Hiaasen fan – Double Whammy hits all the right notes. 3/5
- The Dark Between Stars by Atticus – Thriftbooks – Really cool book with great design, photography, and a few really good pieces. I like a little variety in my poetry, so the couple hundred straight pages of love poems (pretty much (maybe I’m exaggerating)) was a bit grating. 2/5
- Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury – Thriftbooks – Bradbury can do no wrong in my book, but I’d yet to get around to Dandelion Wine before this summer. It’s a perfectly set summertime book, eloquently written in flowery prose and spilling over with the very essence of childhood summers. It’s nostalgic. It’s sentimental. At times, it’s even tense and suspenseful. Dandelion Wine offers a little bit of everything, and instantly became one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. 5/5
- Cape May by Chip Cheek – Thriftbooks – Don’t judge me for reading books about people jerking and stroking. I love a good erotic story, and there’s a ton of sex in this book. It was a fun, steamy, scandalous little summer time read that also served as a step-by-step guide for ruining your entire life in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey. 4/5
- Astral Weeks, Etc. by Brookes Moody – Thriftbooks – Equal parts “the comfort of watching old home movies,” “a testament to the importance of art in our lives,” and “the way a good buzz illuminates the people around you.” Told through tight prose that hangs in the air like dust, reflecting every particle of light to a different spot in the room. And, I’m not even a Van Morrison diehard. Most of all, it’s a reminder to always check the local authors section of a bookstore when you’re traveling. 5/5
- The Packer Way by Ron Wolf – Thriftbooks – I picked this one up to try and get a better understanding of the head space the Titans braintrust may be in since football czar Chad Brinker came from this tree. It was an awesome book for anyone that is looking to learn more about how a front office works in the NFL, or for anyone who may be a fan of the Green Bay Packers. 3/5
- Feel the Bern by Andrew Shaffer – Thriftbooks – Shaffer’s Bernie Sanders parody is certainly chock full of silliness, and sure, you probably do need to be a Bernie Bro to enjoy this one (I’m howling at conservatives reading this mystery fuming with steam rising from their ears), but in it is a festive cozy feeling story set in Autumnal Vermont. 3/5
- Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King – Thriftbooks – I’m a fan of King’s detailed writing and atmospheric setting. This is a short one…I think it’s even considered more of a novella…so it’s a breeze. I picked it to kick off my Spooky Season reading this past year, and it certainly fit the bill. It is about as Halloween-y as they come…a violent werewolf showing up once a month in a small remote Maine town where it could be any one of the local townsfolk. Yeah, it’s a bloody good time. 4/5
- Trends in Offensive Football, Vol. 01 by Coach Dan Casey – Amazon – Coach Dan Casey has put together a breeze of a book that reads as an anthology of his ‘One Play a Day’ newsletter. It’s a good tip of the iceberg resource for football fans trying to learn more about the game. Plays are diagrammed on one page, described on the next, and Casey puts a QR code on the page for you to scan to actually see said play in action. I understand it’s a lot for the novices like me – I spent a lot of time reading, re-reading, and then Googling and YouTubing terms to make sure I had things right. But, it’s a ton of fun for diehard football fans. To me, it’s a must-read if you’re trying to expand your knowledge of the game. 5/5
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, second on Football & Other F Words, analyst for Stacking The Inbox, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, the NFL Draft, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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