Freedom to Win, Ethan Scheiner
Freedom to Win, Ethan Scheiner
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Freedom to Win
A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team that Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People—And Olympic Gold

Author: Ethan Scheiner

Narrator: Tom Beyer

Unabridged: 19 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/12/2023

Synopsis

During the height of the Cold War, a group of small-town young men would lead their underdog hockey team from the little country of Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, the juggernaut in their sport. As they battled on the ice, the young players would keep their people's quest for freedom alive, and forge a way to fight back against the authoritarian forces that sought to crush them.

From the sudden invasion of Czechoslovakia by an armada of tanks and 500,000 Warsaw Pact soldiers, to a hockey victory over the Soviets that inspired half a million furious citizens to take to the streets in an attempt to destroy all representations that they could find of their occupiers, Freedom to Win tells a story that ranges from iconic moments in history to courageous individual stories. And we will cheer as the team takes on its nemesis one last time with the Olympic gold medal at stake.

At the heart of Freedom to Win is the story of the Holíks, a Czechoslovak family whose resistance to the Communists embodied the deepest desires of the people of their country. Faced with life under the cruel and arbitrary regime that had stolen their family butcher shop, the Holík boys became national hockey icons and inspirations to their people.

About Ethan Scheiner

Ethan Scheiner is professor of political science at the University of California, Davis. His books include Democracy without Competition in Japan and Electoral Systems and Political Context. He now teaches and writes on the intersection of politics and sports. His writing on sports and political resistance has appeared in the Washington Post, Stars and Stripes, Politico, and The Daily Beast.

Reviews

Goodreads review by William J Brock on January 08, 2024

Loved it! Lots of history that I was not aware of and found extremely interesting! I wish I would have read this before I met and skated with Bobby Holik I didn't realize what an amazing family that he was from As someone whose passion is hockey with a great interest in history in general, this was a......more

Goodreads review by Tom on October 27, 2024

Possibly a bit too wordy and too long, but otherwise this is a fantastic book for anyone interested in Czech history and culture, the Prague Spring, and ice hockey. Scheiner is able to follow one hockey family for much of the book, and tells the story of 80 years of Czech history and hockey largely......more

Goodreads review by Art on February 08, 2024

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Interesting subject, excellent flow, and well researched. I learned a lot. If you like sports or history or underdogs this book is for you. Hope, hard work and getting up when you are knocked down. In light of current events in Ukraine this is a must r......more

Goodreads review by Jon on August 28, 2023

The book itself was fine. A good mix of hockey and history but it’s clear the author knows little about the sport. The terminology used regarding the games was often awkward, especially for a hardcore fan of hockey like myself, and it came across as sloppy.......more

Goodreads review by Calvin on June 25, 2023

This is a great story although at times bogged down or it might have been a 4.5. Reads about 50-60 pages too long.......more

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