House of Nails: A Memoir of Life on the Edge

Lenny Dykstra's memoir traces his life from baseball stardom through business success to imprisonment and loss. Nicknamed "Nails" for his hustle and grit, Dykstra played center field for the 1980s Mets and 1990s Phillies, earning three All-Star selections and appearing in two memorable World Series. Known for clutch hits, high on-base percentage, and aggressive defense, he was later identified by Billy Beane as a prototypical "Moneyball" player in Michael Lewis's bestseller. After retiring from baseball, Dykstra became a business mogul and investment guru, purchasing a $17.5-million mansion and traveling by private jet. When the economy collapsed in 2008, he lost everything. He was subsequently convicted of bankruptcy fraud—a conviction he contends was unjust—and served two and a half years in prison, where he was beaten by guards and lost his front teeth. The memoir presents Dykstra's rise and fall as a tragicomic American epic, moving between extremes of success and ruin.