“One of the Ten Best Books of Nonfiction of 1999.” -- Esquire, Newsday, LA Weekly, Amazon.com
“A risky and brilliant book. . . . It compares favorably to Frederick Exley's classic A Fan's Notes. It is an emotional journey into Jock Culture's heart of darkness. . . . Shields [is] willing to write himself naked about the hungers and envies that move across the grandstand like the wave.” -- Robert Lipsyte, The New York Times
“The year's funniest and most trenchant exploration of racial politics.” -- Newsday
“Brilliant. In Black Planet, Shields uses his gift for mediated observation to astounding effect. He has produced one of the best books ever written on the subject of sport in America, which is to say a book that is about a great deal more than sport.” -- A.O. Scott, Newsday
“An invaluable contribution to the nation's dialogue on race.” -- Sport Magazine