Customer Reviews (1)

Black men sure can jump
This was a very short but interesting book on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.I did not know how involved he was in academics before.He has proven that being smart does not block your chances for being a great athlete.Although Kareem has been retired from basketball since 1989, all athletes should study his star performances.He is a perfect role model for athletes of any sport.Naturally, all basketball player should study his life story by reading this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Nearly a decade after leaving professional basketball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar decided to return to the sport he loved by becoming the assistant coach of the Alchesay Falcons--a high school team composed mostly of White Mountain Apaches. But in A Season on the Reservation, he may have actually learned more than he taught.

An outsider at the beginning, Abdul-Jabbar found ways to learn more about his athletes and the tribe. He discovered cultural traditions that made it difficult to coach the team (discomfort at being singled out for criticism, for example) and became more sensitive to the special challenges faced by young Native Americans. As Abdul-Jabbar notes, by working with the students he moved from a historical appreciation for the White Mountain Apaches as a people to an understanding of them as individuals. That said, Abdul-Jabbar can't quite seem to shake his romantic image of the young Apaches: "Sometimes I would glance his way and imagine him sitting astride a paint pony two hundred years earlier, ready to ride off into the mountains and hunt."

Through his players, Abdul-Jabbar finds himself getting caught up in the competition--his passion for basketball obviously rekindled. Readers may find the end of the Falcons' season rather abrupt, but perhaps that's the nature of high school sports. They also may be a bit put off by Abdul-Jabbar's occasional arrogance, especially when talking about his professional days ("The 1985 Lakers would have taken [Jordan's Bulls] in a championship series.") or when dissing later NBA stars such as Shaq ("He's publicly referred to the way I used to play as 'old man's basketball,' which it may have been, but it earned me six more rings than he's got so far."). Overall, however, A Season on the Reservation is infused with an obvious love of the White Mountain Apaches, their land, and the sport of basketball. --Sunny DelaneyBook Description
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has always been fascinated by history-nineteenth-century American history in particular. Tired of L.A., restless and looking for new adventure, challenge, and discovery, he decides to go live among the Apaches he's read about.

He encounters a complex reality. The kids on the Alchesay Falcons team don't easily embrace what he's trying to teach them on the court. Gradually they begin to learn from him as he begins to learn from them. He teaches them to push out of their comfort zone and try new things, both in sports and in life. They give him something he didn't quite expect: a way to reconnect with his passion for basketball.

This is a story about the qualities we have in common and the things that still divide us in terms of race, culture, and history. Along the way, we get to know the kids, the coaches, the town of Whiteriver and Alchesay High, the tribe-but most of all, we get closer to Kareem, a man well into middle age who wants to pass along his knowledge and experience in basketball and life. Kareem gives something back, and in so doing receives more than he ever imagined. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Interesting Story
This book is a record of Abdul-Jabbar's first season as a basketball coach.When Abdul-Jabbar's mother died, he became quite distraught and didn't know what to do with himself.One of his friends at the White Mountain Apache reservation in Arizona invited him to come to the reservation to try out coaching by working with the high school basketball team on the reservation for a season.Abdul-Jabbar found the invitation attractive for a number of reasons, and decided to give it a go.Once on the reservation, he had to learn not only how to coach rather than play basketball, but he also found himself trying to lead teenagers who weren't always looking for his directions, all while operating in an unfamiliar culture.

After reading the first chapter of the book, I stopped to re-examine the title and cover page to find out who the ghost writer was.After all, most books by sports figures are "told to" rather than written, especially books whose prose flows as well as this one.I was surprised to find that this volume had no ghost writer listed at all.As I read further along in the book, the reason became clear-unlike many other sports figures, Abdul-Jabbar has a number of academic interests and writes quite well.In reading this book, one finds that Abdul-Jabbar is a thinker, a person who brings his analytical skills to problems and new situations.He tries hard to get kids to appreciate the mental aspects of playing basketball.He is quick to pick up on the cultural characteristics that make the Apache kids react differently than other kids in mainstream America.He is occasionally carried away with emotion at games, but afterwards analyzes his inappropriate actions and chalks them up to lessons learned about coaching. Abdul-Jabbar explains how he happened to make a connection with the reservation, describes the kids on the team and the other coaches, and recounts hoop-by-hoop stories of several key games.In a few places, the tale bogs down a little in detail, but overall, it's well written and very enjoyable to read.

An Honest Look at the Man and his Passions
The honesty with which Kareem Abdul-Jabar's "A Season On The Reservation" is written is quite refreshing. In this age of spin control, especially when it comes to athletes and other public figures, it's nice to see a high-profile individual such as Mr. Abdul-Jabar share his insights and interactions with no noticeable smoke or mirrors. He begins his journey to an Apache reservation with hopes of uncovering some history (Mr. Abdul-Jabar has a fascination with Native-American history) and of sharing his wealth of basketball knowledge with the resident high school basketball squad. There are many bumps in the road, though, and "A Season On The Reservation" speaks eloquently about the cultural differences Mr. Abdul-Jabar encounters when dealing with the Native-American basketball players. They are not comfortable being singled out for criticism and they are not necesarily open to learning techniques that may make them better players. Over the course of the book, however, they learn from Mr. Abdul-Jabar and he, in turn, learns from them. One scene in particular, a confrontation with a player named Tony, is amazingly honest. "A Season On The Reservation" paints Mr. Abul-Jabar as a fellow human being, not a sculpture standing on a pedestal. The history lessons in the book, often drawing a parallel between Native Americans and African Americans, get a bit cumbersome occassionally, but "A Season On The Reservation" is well worth the cover price thank to its honest approach.

Very good book!
This book was very interesting and was filled with a lot of information in many ways.Abdul-Jabbar told us the history of the surroundings, the Apache tribe, and also told of his daily challenges and joys.

Call Him Coach
After being frustrated in his attempts at beginning a coaching career ateither the collegiate or professional level, circumstances led the NBA'sall-time leading scorer to an Apache reservation in Arizona where he becamethe assistant coach of the boys high school basketball team. In addition torelating the chronology of that season, Kareem also provides a fair amountof history while he's at it, and offers more of himself than he typicallydid during interviews throughout his playing career. As might be expected,Kareem gained as much from his year on the reservation as his players did.

Excellent, thoughtful book
Kareem tries to impart the difficulties of introducing a western culturalideal to a group of young men that are trying to keep their own culturalideals intact while at the same time competing within the majority culture. This book reflects Kareem's own difficulties in aculturation, and hisconflicts in trying to impart his basketball culture on another group. This is a thoughtful though imperfect work, less about basketball thanabout the difficulties of blending different people in the world today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Take a closer look at a private man
Giant Steps is an auto-biography of Kareem's first 30-35 years.A lot of people know Kareem as a sullen and bitter man and with good reason.But after reading his perceptions on his own life, you start to get an idea of what shaped Kareem and made him the man he was and how it shaped the man he is today.Raised in NYC, he was always a hoops phenom, always the tallest kid around, and after a few years, he became acutely aware of his blackness.A high school coach spitting a racial slur at him for "motivation" and a bus ride to racially insensitive North Carolina opened Kareem's (at the time his name was Lew Alcindor) eyes to racial inequality.He developed a keen interest in Islam (Kareem mentions the differences between the Islam he believes versus the Nation of Islam that Muhammad Ali believes in--very interesting take on this) and his own race.
After high school, it was on to sunny California and UCLA to play for John Wooden.The UCLA campus, chock full of white folks and scholars, was a bit different from the jazz joints he'd be hanging out at in Harlem.
From the US's two greatest cultural epicenters to Milwaukee?From the year-round paradise-like weather of LA to the frigid temps of Wisconsin?From the shelter of John Wooden's hoops program to the spotlight of the NBA and its aggressive media?Life can't change a lot more than that.And Kareem definitely had his difficulties, which he addresses and doesn't attempt to excuse.
You can feel Kareem's edge throughout the majority of the bio.The unforgiving chip on his shoulder weighs heavy on him, and after reading and understanding what pushed a bit more you can begin to sympathize with his personal struggles.
Near the bio's end you can literally feel weight sliding off of him.It's slow, it's gradual, and it's not complete, but it's the start of something.The "Giant Steps" title can refer to a lot of things in Kareem's life, New York to LA, LA to Milwaukee, college hoops to pro hoops, Wilt Chamberlain's friend to Wilt's enemy/competitor, but I believe the biggest steps Kareem takes are the steps toward acceptance of himself and others.
A companion book to Giant Steps is "Kareem"."Kareem" is a bio/diary Jabbar kept during his final season in the NBA.The second book picks up right where "Giant Steps" left off.His remarkable growth after his 35th birthday is clear to the most unobservant reader.
Kareem and his co-author clearly express his development in rich language.This isn't just for hoops fans."Giant Steps" is for anyone curious about race relations in America.Anyone curious about what it means to be truly different (7'1" black Muslim/basketball player in America in the 60s-80s--not too many of them around) and be forced to feel those differences every second of your waking life should take a look.
"Giant Steps" shows an angry, but passionate young man develop into a thoughtful, (somewhat) outgoing adult capable of contributing much of what he's learned to younger generations.

Giant Book
The only thing bigger than the chip on Mr. Abdul-Jabbar's shoulder in this text is the grand and engaging story he tells.For fans or just the curious observer (as I was), he takes us on an insightful journey into his motivation, his doubts, his difficulties, and his dreams.It sometimes seems that the persona behind the person is revealed more to the reader than to the writer.

A NICE READ FROM SPECIAL K
KAREEM TELLS OF HIS LIFE GROWING UP IN NEW YORK IN GREAT DETAIL IN THIS BOOK. BUT I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD US MORE ABOUT HIS PLAYING DAYS AT UCLA, MILWAUKEE AND LOS ANGELES. THIS HAS A LOT OF GOOD STUFF LIKE HIS FIRST MEETING WITH WILT, HIS TEAMMATES AT UCLA, AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHERYL PISTANO. I REALLY FOUND HIS BUDDAHISM AND ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED TO BE VERY WEIRD AND UNINTERESTING. KAREEM IS AN INTELLIGENT GUY WHO ENJOYS THE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL THINGS IN LIFE. HIS PIECE AT THE TIME CHERYL PISTANO, HELPED HIM TO BE MORE OUTGOING AND CORDIAL TO PEOPLE AND HELPED OPEN HIS LIFE MORE. JUST WISHED HE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DETAILED ABOUT HIS SEASON TO SEASON CAREER AT UCLA AND THE NBA. A GOOD READ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Final Season
Do you think you are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's biggest fan? If you are, this is the book for you to read. This book is a diary of Kareem's last season in the NBA. He played an unheard of twenty years.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar decided he was going to retire after the 1989 season before it started. He thought of it as a farewell tour considering all of the other team's crowds would be secretly cheering for him in his final season of a fine NBA career. One thing he didn't realize right away was how he wasn't concentrating as much on the game but on his special honors he received at away games.
Some things I liked were how Kareem had a diary kept for the whole season starting in training camp all the way through the finals. Also the diary wasn't just about the games as it included some talk about his family. A dislike was how it kind of became repetitive after reading the book for a while because Kareem's schedule was the same.
This is another chance for all of you hardcore Laker and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fans to relive the 1988-1989 season through Kareem's eyes. This is a classic season. Could the Los Angeles Lakers win their third championship in a row? Find out by reading Kareem.

REFLECTIONS FROM KAREEM'S LAST SEASON
JABBAR AND AUTHOR MIGNON MCCARTHY COME UP WITH A SOLID AND INTERESTING MEMOIR ON THE LAST TIME AROUND FOR NBA GREAT KAREEM. I FOUND MOST OF THE INFO INTERESTING AND WELL TOLD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JABBAR'S PRIVATE LIFE BUT THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED PRIVATE. HE WAS TRULY A LEGEND ON THE COURT AND SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY DECENT GUY OFF IT. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL FANS WHO FOLLOWED HIS CAREER AND WERE SAD TO SEE IT END. I REMEMBER HIM AT UCLA AND WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD BLOCK HIS SHOT RIGHT BACK IN HIS FACE. BUT AS TIME WENT ON, I ALONG WITH KAREEM MATURED. I REALLY CAN APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THIS LEGEND OF THE GAME.

Kareem's diary of his final season in the N.B.A.
"Kareem" is based on a personal diary written by the legendary center during his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1988-89 campaign.As the quote from Jackie Robinson in the front of the book reminds us, "Athletes die twice."The Lakers were the two-time defending N.B.A. champions and going for a three-peat.However, in the finals against the Detroit Pistons the Lakers lost both of their starting guards and were swept in four straight.Suddenly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career was over.Knowing that ending becomes important as you start reading this book, because, as Kareem says, "we were going for writing our names in the sky."

This is not a great sports biography, but it is certainly interesting, mainly because you get the private reflections and personal memories of a man who was also introspective and usually aloof.When his home burned down and his priceless collection of jazz records and Persian rugs was destroyed, Kareem was touched by all the people who sent him records to replace what he had lost.I think it is obvious on at least one level opening up like this was Kareem's way of returning the favor, a "written good-bye" to the fans, his fellow players, and the game for which we was one of the greatest players ever.His final season provides the framework for the book, but Kareem does cover his entire life and playing career, so you will also read about John Wooden and Oscar Robertson as well as Pat Riley and Earvin Johnson.Fans of the game are well aware of what he had done on the court all those years; this book lets us know what he has been thinking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

GREAT BIOGRAPHY OF A GREAT PLAYER
The book, Kareem!: Basketball Great is a wonderful book. The book provides a look into his childhood, where he struggled to fit in because of his height, Also, it tells of how he envisioned California as a great place but upon arrival at UCLA he hated it. His struggles with the national attention he recieves and the immaturity of his dormmates. The book gives a view of the beginning of his pro career with the Milwaukee Bucks. I give the book 5-Stars and recommend it to all sports fans.

GREAT BIOGRAPHY OF A GREAT PLAYER
The book, Kareem!: Basketball Great is a wonderful book. The book provides a look into his childhood, where he struggled to fit in because of his height, Also, it tells of how he envisioned California as a great place but upon arrival at UCLA he hated it. His struggles with the national attention he recieves and the immaturity of his dormmates. The book gives a view of the beginning of his pro career with the Milwaukee Bucks. I give the book 5-Stars and recommend it to all sports fans. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on August 1, 2004. The length of the article is 844 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Summer camp draws one big boy.(Sports)(A high-altitude basketball star descends on tiny Blue River to offer a few of the sport's "big men" some instruction)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: August 1, 2004
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: C1

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more