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hellarachel's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: This is the first biography of an athlete I've read since grade school, but the bar has been set HIGH. I am not a basketball fan (I'll watch games with friends, but I don't follow players). When LeBron left Cleveland to play for Miami, I thought the reactions of fans were ridiculous (burning a jersey? C'mon). But Jeff Benedict covered LeBron's life with rich detail and interesting storytelling. I surprised myself with how hard it was to put down the book - I wanted to learn more about LeBron on and off the court.
The only downsides were the length (18 hours!) and the amount of backstory provided for some folks. Sometimes I got lost in what their connection was, making it hard to keep track of the "side players" as they came in and out of LeBron's life.
Overall, very well-written and accessible to those who aren't LeBron or basketball fans. I hope LeBron continues his charity and political work - he has already made a difference for so many.
The only downsides were the length (18 hours!) and the amount of backstory provided for some folks. Sometimes I got lost in what their connection was, making it hard to keep track of the "side players" as they came in and out of LeBron's life.
Overall, very well-written and accessible to those who aren't LeBron or basketball fans. I hope LeBron continues his charity and political work - he has already made a difference for so many.
pwtjax's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book. LeBron James is arguably the most impressive American athlete of all time. He has lived most of his life in public and his biggest flaw is HOW he announced he was going to play for the Miami Heat.
LeBron’s basketball skills are not his most impressive attributes. His brilliance, instincts, maturity and discipline all outrank his athleticism. These attributes explain why 20 years into his career, LeBron is still one of the best players in the world.
Perhaps his greatest gift is his instincts for who to surround himself with. Starting with Maverick Carter and then Rick Paul, Randy Mims and his wife Savannah, LeBron surrounded himself with an amazing group of talented and loyal people that were vital to his ascension as an icon.
Once LeBron retires the empire he has built off the court will take more of a spotlight. He’s at the front of the line to own the NBA expansion team in Las Vegas. Twenty years from now I expect him to own multiple pro franchises and be one of the most powerful moguls in Hollywood.
This is one of the best sports biographies I’ve ever read about an amazing American. Highly recommend.
LeBron’s basketball skills are not his most impressive attributes. His brilliance, instincts, maturity and discipline all outrank his athleticism. These attributes explain why 20 years into his career, LeBron is still one of the best players in the world.
Perhaps his greatest gift is his instincts for who to surround himself with. Starting with Maverick Carter and then Rick Paul, Randy Mims and his wife Savannah, LeBron surrounded himself with an amazing group of talented and loyal people that were vital to his ascension as an icon.
Once LeBron retires the empire he has built off the court will take more of a spotlight. He’s at the front of the line to own the NBA expansion team in Las Vegas. Twenty years from now I expect him to own multiple pro franchises and be one of the most powerful moguls in Hollywood.
This is one of the best sports biographies I’ve ever read about an amazing American. Highly recommend.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I should say up front: I’m a diehard LeBron James fan to the point of irrationally defending him no matter what. I’ve rooted for him since he came in the league and loved his game ever since. And being a big fan, I’ve consumed thousands of words on his life and career.
So I wouldn’t say I know better than Jeff Benedict because I definitely don’t. I don’t know anything about LeBron’s personal life save that he’s a proud husband and father. But I was also disappointed to find that in reading this, I learned little more. I hadn’t read much about his time growing up in Akron; I knew it wasn’t easy but Benedict gives about as full of a picture as possible. Beyond that…meh. Just a whole lot of meh.
The basketball stuff is flat and brings nothing new to life. Benedict goes long into the LeBron, Inc. of James’ life, how he formed business relationships and built them. That’s impressive, I suppose. But for those of us who are fascinated with the subject, we never get a full portrayal of the man himself as this leans towards the hagiographic. I don’t need dirt or innuendo or “the hot goss.” But I’d like to know more about LeBron’s evolution as a human being, a player, a person. Benedict draws almost everything back to James’ traumatic childhood and yes, that’s certainly a factor — perhaps the biggest factor. But the man’s lived a full and complete life since he escaped public housing in Akron. What makes him tick?
This day and age, it’s tough to get a full, detailed biography on someone famous. And that’s fine, celebrities deserve their privacy too. But we also want to know the people who sell us shoes and soft drinks. I don’t need to know LeBron James’ personal business but I would have liked more insight on LeBron James the person. And this isn’t it.
So I wouldn’t say I know better than Jeff Benedict because I definitely don’t. I don’t know anything about LeBron’s personal life save that he’s a proud husband and father. But I was also disappointed to find that in reading this, I learned little more. I hadn’t read much about his time growing up in Akron; I knew it wasn’t easy but Benedict gives about as full of a picture as possible. Beyond that…meh. Just a whole lot of meh.
The basketball stuff is flat and brings nothing new to life. Benedict goes long into the LeBron, Inc. of James’ life, how he formed business relationships and built them. That’s impressive, I suppose. But for those of us who are fascinated with the subject, we never get a full portrayal of the man himself as this leans towards the hagiographic. I don’t need dirt or innuendo or “the hot goss.” But I’d like to know more about LeBron’s evolution as a human being, a player, a person. Benedict draws almost everything back to James’ traumatic childhood and yes, that’s certainly a factor — perhaps the biggest factor. But the man’s lived a full and complete life since he escaped public housing in Akron. What makes him tick?
This day and age, it’s tough to get a full, detailed biography on someone famous. And that’s fine, celebrities deserve their privacy too. But we also want to know the people who sell us shoes and soft drinks. I don’t need to know LeBron James’ personal business but I would have liked more insight on LeBron James the person. And this isn’t it.