Syl Sobel

Non-fiction Author
 

Boxed Out of the NBA:
Remembering the Eastern Professional
Basketball League 

Available for order!

 
Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts, 
How the US Government Works, and more

Available Now!

A must read for any basketball junkie!

“

TOMMY SHEPPARD
GM, WASHINGTON WIZARDS

“

An outstanding story on an unheralded era.

JOHN CHANEY
HALL OF FAME FORMER COACH, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

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SYL'S BIO

I'm a writer, attorney, reporter, and retired director of publications for a government agency. I started writing books when my oldest daughter—then in first grade—asked me if I could “make a book on how the government works.” So I did, and was fortunate to get it published. Shortly after it came out, my younger daughter, predictably, asked me to write a book for her, too. So I asked her what to write about, and she said "cool things about presidents." That’s how my second book came to be. When my editor asked me if I had any more book ideas, I told her that my older daughter suggested the first book, and my younger daughter suggested the second book, but now I was out of ideas. So my editor said: "You know, Syl, you should have had more kids." 

That was more than 20 years ago. Both girls have started their careers, I've had five books published, and self-published one. This year I've got a new book coming out, Boxed Out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League, which I coauthored with my childhood friend from Scranton, Pa., Jay Rosenstein. The book recounts the history of the Eastern League, the second-best pro league behind the NBA during the 1950s and early 60s when the NBA had only 8-10 teams and an unwritten quota on African-American players. It tells the story of some of the best professional basketball players you never heard of.

SYL'S APPEARANCES

FEATURED TALKS AND MENTIONS

Syl and his co-author Jay Rosenstein discuss their book about the Eastern Professional Basketball League on Butch McAdams' "In and Out of Sports" podcast. Interview starts at 1:15. 

Teachers, Parents! Looking to teach your students about presidential elections remotely? Check out this recent book talk by Syl on Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts.

"Who makes the laws?" is a question often asked by kids. Vermont Public Radio gets a lesson in laws, elections, and How the U.S. Government Works from Syl.

Syl appeared on C-SPAN's BOOK TV at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School.

Psychology Today mentions Syl in article on learning about the 2020 election.

SYL'S BLOG: CIVICS AND CIVILITY

View more of Syl's writings, including his award-winning high school sports reporting.

SYL'S REVIEWS

“

Boxed Out of the NBA is an outstanding story on an unheralded era of professional basketball. Kudos to Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein for shining a light on the Eastern League and its many talented players.

JOHN CHANEY,
HALL OF FAME FORMER TEMPLE UNIVERSITY COACH

“

Boxed Out Of The NBA is a treasure of wonderful stories about the legendary Eastern League. Syl and Jay have done a masterful job collecting the most unique stories from some of the game’s most legendary figures. A must read for any basketball junkie!

TOMMY SHEPPARD,

GENERAL MANAGER,
 WASHINGTON WIZARDS
 

“

Direct and easy to understand as branches, checks and balances, and rights are defined and explored. It's a useful addition to the study of U.S. history and government.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

CONTACT SYL

For media, book signing, or speaking inquiries, please contact me here.

syl.sobel@gmail.com