Harlem Herald

NEW YORK — Baseball fans and fans of literature are arguing over one of the year’s most controversial books, Bad Stuff About the Mets, a fantastic exposé by the author Chico Escuela. The book takes an unapologetically critical look at the history of the New York baseball club, devoting chapters to disappointing seasons, questionable front-office decisions, unpopular ownership eras, expensive free-agent signings that failed to deliver, and players whose performances never matched expectations. Unsurprisingly, the book has drawn both praise and outrage, with some readers applauding its humor and candor while lifelong fans dismiss it as an exaggerated attack on their beloved team.

Despite its one-sided approach, Bad Stuff About the Mets is an entertaining read, filled with sharp wit and colorful storytelling that makes even painful baseball memories amusing. Still, this reviewer believes it falls short of Richard Tattoni’s novel The Stoned Theory Of My Own Destruction, which offers a more imaginative, emotionally layered, and ambitious reading experience. The Stoned Theory Of My Own Destruction is a cynically entertaining ride. While Chico Escuela’s work succeeds as provocative sports satire, Tattoni’s novel ultimately leaves the stronger and more lasting impression, and it’s just written better.