{"product_id":"ultimate-glory-frisbee-obsession-and-my-wild-youth-riverhead-books","title":"Ultimate Glory: Frisbee Obsession and My Wild Youth — Riverhead Books","description":"\u003ch2\u003eA memoir of obsession, glory, and the early days of Ultimate Frisbee\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Ultimate Glory, David Gessner welcomes readers onto sunlit fields and neon-lit early tournaments, where a devoted group chased Nationals with a fierce blend of discipline and dialectical humor. The narrative follows his twenties as he trains, travels, and sacrifices for a chance at lasting recognition in a sport that many outsiders viewed as quirky or ephemeral. The book balances quick-witted banter with blunt honesty, offering a portrait of a young athlete who believed in a game that was still finding its voice and its future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history embedded in these pages is as much about culture as competition. Gessner captures the rough-and-tumble charm of 1980s Ultimate—the rivalries that sharpened grit, the legendary parties that punctuated long seasons, and the enduring ethos of the Spirit of the Game. This is not a victory lap but a candid look at what it cost to stay the course when glory seemed fleeting and public fame rarely followed the effort. Readers will encounter humor, heartbreak, and a persistent sense of purpose that defined a movement in its youth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the book progresses, the author transitions from field prodigy to writer with a clear-eyed respect for the sport’s roots and its evolution. The cast of teammates and rivals is sketched with warmth and bite, each character a thread in a larger tapestry of a community that learned to balance ambition with camaraderie. The prose invites you into the rituals, the road trips, and the dozens of small moments that accumulate into a life shaped by a single passion. The result is a vivid, human-scale history sparkled with personal insight and rueful humor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat to expect on the page\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVivid field scenes that place you inside the action and decision-making in real time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eClose-knit friendships and rivalries built through practice, travel, and shared rituals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHumor and candor that keep the memoir lively, grounded, and relatable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eA thoughtful arc from obsessive athlete to reflective writer, with reverence for the game’s spirit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho this book is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSports history enthusiasts curious about the 1980s era and the sport’s origins.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMemoir lovers who value character-driven storytelling and genuine voice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eReaders interested in the costs and rewards of devotion to a community and a dream.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFrisbee fans and nostalgia seekers looking for a heartfelt, human portrait of the game.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRiverhead Books presents Ultimate Glory as a window into a transformative period for a beloved sport. It offers a compelling blend of nostalgia, insight, and craft, inviting readers to ponder what it means to pursue a passion with devotion—and what a life can hold when that passion becomes a shared memory for a community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"product-faq-snippet\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: What is Ultimate Glory about?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: A memoir of a young athlete’s obsession with Ultimate Frisbee in the 1980s, mixing humor, rivalry, and the sport’s evolving culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: Who would enjoy this book?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: Sports history buffs, memoir lovers, and readers curious about dedication, community, and the early days of a niche sport that grew into a global pastime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Riverhead Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53080799772783,"sku":"073521056X","price":25.47,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/7354\/2767\/files\/riverhead-books-ultimate-glory-cover.jpg?v=1778569895","url":"https:\/\/golfavero.com\/products\/ultimate-glory-frisbee-obsession-and-my-wild-youth-riverhead-books","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}