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Michael Jordan: The Life
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2014)The definitive biography of a legendary athlete
The Shrug. The Shot. The Flu Game. Michael Jordan is responsible for sublime moments so ingrained in sports history that they have their own names. When most people think of him, they think of his beautiful shots with the game on the line, his body totally in sync with the ball -- hitting nothing but net.
But for all his greatness, this scion of a complex family from North Carolina's Coastal Plain has a darker side: he's a ruthless competitor and a lover of high stakes. There's never been a biography that encompassed the dual nature of his character and looked so deeply at Jordan on and off the court -- until now.
Basketball journalist Roland Lazenby spent almost thirty years covering Michael Jordan's career in college and the pros. He witnessed Jordan's growth from a skinny rookie to the instantly recognizable global ambassador for basketball whose business savvy and success have millions of kids still wanting to be just like Mike. Yet Lazenby also witnessed the Michael Jordan whose drive and appetite are more fearsome and more insatiable than any of his fans could begin to know. Michael Jordan: The Life explores both sides of his personality to reveal the fullest, most compelling story of the man who is Michael Jordan.
Lazenby draws on his personal relationships with Jordan's coaches; countless interviews with Jordan's friends, teammates, and family members; and interviews with Jordan himself to provide the first truly definitive study of Michael Jordan: the player, the icon, and the man.
The Shrug. The Shot. The Flu Game. Michael Jordan is responsible for sublime moments so ingrained in sports history that they have their own names. When most people think of him, they think of his beautiful shots with the game on the line, his body totally in sync with the ball -- hitting nothing but net.
But for all his greatness, this scion of a complex family from North Carolina's Coastal Plain has a darker side: he's a ruthless competitor and a lover of high stakes. There's never been a biography that encompassed the dual nature of his character and looked so deeply at Jordan on and off the court -- until now.
Basketball journalist Roland Lazenby spent almost thirty years covering Michael Jordan's career in college and the pros. He witnessed Jordan's growth from a skinny rookie to the instantly recognizable global ambassador for basketball whose business savvy and success have millions of kids still wanting to be just like Mike. Yet Lazenby also witnessed the Michael Jordan whose drive and appetite are more fearsome and more insatiable than any of his fans could begin to know. Michael Jordan: The Life explores both sides of his personality to reveal the fullest, most compelling story of the man who is Michael Jordan.
Lazenby draws on his personal relationships with Jordan's coaches; countless interviews with Jordan's friends, teammates, and family members; and interviews with Jordan himself to provide the first truly definitive study of Michael Jordan: the player, the icon, and the man.
720 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
1261 people are currently reading
14289 people want to read
About the author
Roland Lazenby
75 books196 followersRoland Lazenby is an American sportswriter and educator.
Lazenby has written more than five dozen nonfiction books, mainly about basketball and American football. He has also contributed articles to magazines and newspapers.
Lazenby's book Bull Run! was named Sports Book of the Year for 1997 by the Independent Publishers Association.
Lazenby studied at Virginia Military Institute and Hollins University, and has been a member of Virginia Tech's Department of Communication and Radford University's School of Communication. A group of students from his media writing class compiled the book April 16th: Virginia Tech Remembers (2007), an account of the Virginia Tech massacre. Lazenby served as editor.
In 2005, Lazenby and Andrew Mager created Planet Blacksburg, a student organization that focuses on new media, journalism, and publishing.
Lazenby has written more than five dozen nonfiction books, mainly about basketball and American football. He has also contributed articles to magazines and newspapers.
Lazenby's book Bull Run! was named Sports Book of the Year for 1997 by the Independent Publishers Association.
Lazenby studied at Virginia Military Institute and Hollins University, and has been a member of Virginia Tech's Department of Communication and Radford University's School of Communication. A group of students from his media writing class compiled the book April 16th: Virginia Tech Remembers (2007), an account of the Virginia Tech massacre. Lazenby served as editor.
In 2005, Lazenby and Andrew Mager created Planet Blacksburg, a student organization that focuses on new media, journalism, and publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 651 reviews
July 9, 2025
If you’re struggling with summer depression, this is the book that can help lift you out of it.
Because it tells the story of a man who resembles an ancient Greek hero, with the major difference that he’s real and still alive. Also, he’s not of Greek origin \:D (In case anyone didn’t know that!)
I love when someone embodies the word “genius” and it’s not about a physicist, mathematician, etc., but an athlete. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that when it comes to sports, society rarely uses the word genius—but believe me, it shows up there even more often than in some chemistry lab.
I’m glad I chose to compare him to an ancient Greek hero and not a god. Because for Jordan to get where he is, nothing was gifted or handed to him—like heroes, he had to go through many trials.
From a young age, he grew up in a competitive environment, going up against his brothers. Every reward they received was based on their personal achievements.
When he started to break through in school basketball, he realized he had to work hard to get noticed because he was short for a basketball player. Through tireless training and sacrifices, he began to make a name for himself.
Eventually, when he finally got recognized and was taken onto the team he wanted, he didn’t slow down—in fact, he pushed himself even harder.
Jordan tells a story about a basketball camp with his team, where he practiced late into the night while the others partied. When he came back to go to bed, they said, “You’re already the best, why do you train so much? Come party with us—there’s alcohol, women, cocaine. Relax, man.” And he replied that the only unhealthy thing he allowed himself sometimes—because he really couldn’t resist the temptation—was a can of 7 Up (which sounds like brilliant paid advertising from Pepsi/7 Up, but I’ll believe it’s true), and then he went to sleep.
After this period of hard work, he joined the Chicago Bulls, and I guess you know that’s when the real fairy tale began. He wasn’t just a good player—he was the best. And with that, he started gaining worldwide fame and making a lot of money.
I’ll skip the details of his basketball achievements and just say that together with the team they achieved a record of 6 NBA titles in 8 years, which I’m not sure, but I think is a record that still hasn’t been broken today.
Back to his fame—once while visiting France for an ad, the whole country was in a frenzy. One journalist put it this way:
“If the Pope and Michael Jordan stood on opposite sides of a square, everyone would be looking at Jordan.”
But fame also brought trouble—he was constantly under a microscope for every action and criticized for the smallest thing. The ugliest was when his father was killed during a robbery, and the media spread the theory that it wasn’t random, that Jordan was to blame because of gambling debts he didn’t repay. Naturally, this was completely untrue. But Jordan took it very hard, and around that time he quit basketball and went to play baseball—one of his father’s dreams.
I don’t want this review to get too long, especially since I’m mainly using information from the book rather than my own.
So I’ll just say I admire Jordan not only as an athlete but also as a businessman. It’s no coincidence that he’s one of the richest athletes ever. His success in business is also thanks to his charismatic personality. I’d point to his collaboration with Nike as an example. Initially, the forecast was \$3 million in revenue over 2 years from his sneakers. But within just a few months they made \$5 million, and over 2 years sales totaled \$126 million.
To conclude, I’ll mention the last essay I wrote at school was on the topic:
“If you had Michael Jordan’s money, what would you do with it and would you share it with your children unlike Jordan (yes, he doesn’t give money to his kids—he wants them to earn it just as he did)?”
Pre_read:
Basketball isn’t one of my favorite sports, but it is for my mom. She’s talked to me many times about Michael Jordan—how, when she was a student, she started playing basketball because of him, and how her school team even won a gold medal. But then she got injured and had to stop playing. That’s why I’d be curious to learn a bit more about one of the greatest basketball players, one of the richest athletes, and one of the most famous people in the world.
Because it tells the story of a man who resembles an ancient Greek hero, with the major difference that he’s real and still alive. Also, he’s not of Greek origin \:D (In case anyone didn’t know that!)
I love when someone embodies the word “genius” and it’s not about a physicist, mathematician, etc., but an athlete. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that when it comes to sports, society rarely uses the word genius—but believe me, it shows up there even more often than in some chemistry lab.
I’m glad I chose to compare him to an ancient Greek hero and not a god. Because for Jordan to get where he is, nothing was gifted or handed to him—like heroes, he had to go through many trials.
From a young age, he grew up in a competitive environment, going up against his brothers. Every reward they received was based on their personal achievements.
When he started to break through in school basketball, he realized he had to work hard to get noticed because he was short for a basketball player. Through tireless training and sacrifices, he began to make a name for himself.
Eventually, when he finally got recognized and was taken onto the team he wanted, he didn’t slow down—in fact, he pushed himself even harder.
Jordan tells a story about a basketball camp with his team, where he practiced late into the night while the others partied. When he came back to go to bed, they said, “You’re already the best, why do you train so much? Come party with us—there’s alcohol, women, cocaine. Relax, man.” And he replied that the only unhealthy thing he allowed himself sometimes—because he really couldn’t resist the temptation—was a can of 7 Up (which sounds like brilliant paid advertising from Pepsi/7 Up, but I’ll believe it’s true), and then he went to sleep.
After this period of hard work, he joined the Chicago Bulls, and I guess you know that’s when the real fairy tale began. He wasn’t just a good player—he was the best. And with that, he started gaining worldwide fame and making a lot of money.
I’ll skip the details of his basketball achievements and just say that together with the team they achieved a record of 6 NBA titles in 8 years, which I’m not sure, but I think is a record that still hasn’t been broken today.
Back to his fame—once while visiting France for an ad, the whole country was in a frenzy. One journalist put it this way:
“If the Pope and Michael Jordan stood on opposite sides of a square, everyone would be looking at Jordan.”
But fame also brought trouble—he was constantly under a microscope for every action and criticized for the smallest thing. The ugliest was when his father was killed during a robbery, and the media spread the theory that it wasn’t random, that Jordan was to blame because of gambling debts he didn’t repay. Naturally, this was completely untrue. But Jordan took it very hard, and around that time he quit basketball and went to play baseball—one of his father’s dreams.
I don’t want this review to get too long, especially since I’m mainly using information from the book rather than my own.
So I’ll just say I admire Jordan not only as an athlete but also as a businessman. It’s no coincidence that he’s one of the richest athletes ever. His success in business is also thanks to his charismatic personality. I’d point to his collaboration with Nike as an example. Initially, the forecast was \$3 million in revenue over 2 years from his sneakers. But within just a few months they made \$5 million, and over 2 years sales totaled \$126 million.
To conclude, I’ll mention the last essay I wrote at school was on the topic:
“If you had Michael Jordan’s money, what would you do with it and would you share it with your children unlike Jordan (yes, he doesn’t give money to his kids—he wants them to earn it just as he did)?”
Pre_read:
Basketball isn’t one of my favorite sports, but it is for my mom. She’s talked to me many times about Michael Jordan—how, when she was a student, she started playing basketball because of him, and how her school team even won a gold medal. But then she got injured and had to stop playing. That’s why I’d be curious to learn a bit more about one of the greatest basketball players, one of the richest athletes, and one of the most famous people in the world.
June 22, 2014
"Michael Jordan, The Life," by Roland Lazenby. I listened to the audio book, which was excellent. At first I thought the biography was hagiographic, highlighting the incredible drive, sacrifice and overcoming the odds for Michael Jordan to achieve six rings and transform the NBA into the international franchise it is today. It truly is a remarkable story, and it was fun looking back on the "good old days" of Bird, Magic, the Bad Boys, and Jordan's Bulls, when the NBA was more raucous. Jordan has proven to be a financial wizard (according to Forbes, he's the first athlete to have a net worth of $1 billion). I especially liked the first part of the book, his background, the history of his parents and ancestors. But by the end of the book, one comes away with a rather negative view of the man -- a sports junky with no cultural interests, self-absorbed, promiscuous, foul-mouthed, vindictive, bitter, and always on the run. He has paid a heavy price for his fame and fortune. I'd give this book very high marks.
June 7, 2017
Πολυ λίγα τα πέντε αστεράκια!!!!!!!!!!!!Παρόλο που το βιβλίο έχει τυπογραφικά λάθη σε κάθε σελίδα και μικρή γραμματοσειρά είναι τέτοια η δύναμη της προσωπικότητας του Τζορνταν που δεν σε νοιάζουν καθόλου τα λάθη σύνταξης.ΑΠΊΣΤΕΥΤΟ ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΆ.ΠΡΈΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΜΕΛΕΤΗΘΕΊ ΑΠΌ ΕΠΙΣΤΉΜΟΝΕΣ.ΚΆΠΟΙΑ ΓΕΝΕΤΙΚΉ ΚΑΙ ΕΓΚΕΦΑΛΙΚΉ ΒΛΆΒΗ ΘΑ ΕΙΧΕ
June 21, 2019
Avevo nemmeno tredici anni, ero alto un metruncazzeunbarattolo e giocavo playmaker nella squadretta del mio paese. Avevo le Jordan ai piedi e mi mettevo il polsino sull'avambraccio sinistro. Un normale adolescente cretino, ero, però che fatica trovare quel polsino nel 1995 in Sardegna... Compravo American Super Basket, avevo le figurine dell'Upper Deck (sia stramaledetto chi me lo rubò) e aspettavo il sabato pomeriggio per vedere una partita NBA su Telemontecarlo. Allacciate le cinture di sicurezza, si parte!, urlava il buon Ugo Francica Nava. Puntavo la sveglia alle due del mattino per vedere le finali in diretta, e non nego che durante l'intervallo abbia fatto una capatina sulle reti locali alla ricerca di signorine discinte: avevo tredici anni e internet, con il suo carico di donne nude in tutte le salse, era ancora di là da venire. Beati i giovani d'oggi. A me Jordan e i Chicago Bulls mi stavano sulle scatole, principalmente perché piacevano a tutti (e come poteva essere altrimenti?). Io, io tifavo Lakers (sì, nonostante le Jordan ai piedi e il polsino sull'avambraccio) e solo chi sa di NBA può capire quanto fosse triste la mia scelta, in quegli anni, quando Magic non giocava più e Kobe doveva ancora arrivare. Passavo gli enormi pomeriggi liberi a giocare a basket, io e un altro manipolo di cretini, sempre con la palla da basket tra le mani. Il più alto di noi sarà stato un metro e ottanta, figuriamoci. Simulavamo delle robe che avremmo fatto meglio a guardarle solo in tv: chissà quanto eravamo ridicoli, con le nostre sarde manine piccoline a tentare passaggi e ricezioni a una mano. Lo faceva Jordan, certo, e minimo aveva una mano grande come la mia schiena. Ne sapevo un sacco di NBA, e ricordo ancora che internet non esisteva, e avevo appreso che esisteva una roba che si chiamava trash-talking. Non sapendo fare altro, divenne il mio segno distintivo. Ancora rido, se ci penso: un tredicenne alto un metruncazzoeunbarattolo, che sognava di diventare come Michael Jordan e che apprezzava più di ogni altra cosa Magic Johnson (sulla fiducia, non avendolo mai visto giocare) e che, soprattutto, giocava a basket e insultava gli avversari senza motivo. Mi chiedo come mai nessuno mi abbia dato due schiaffoni ben dati. Trash-talking 'sto paio di palle.
Insomma, tutto ciò c'entra pochissimo, però a me leggere la biografia di Michael Jordan mi ha fatto tornare tredicenne. E sono molto contento.
Insomma, tutto ciò c'entra pochissimo, però a me leggere la biografia di Michael Jordan mi ha fatto tornare tredicenne. E sono molto contento.
December 2, 2019
In many interviews, Michael Jordan often jokes that there isn’t much he can say tell you about himself that hasn’t already been written. “The Life” takes you on a journey of Michael’s life dating back to his great grand parents and progresses through his parents life, his childhood, etc.
I always find that the most interesting things to learn about a celebrity or athlete are those random stories from a college room mate, or the fact that they are afraid of water (slight spoiler). I enjoy that a lot more than the statistics and hard data. This book had a pretty even 50/50 balance of both sides.
Anyone who knows me personally knows that I absolutely love Michael Jordan and basketball, that being said.. it does not change the fact that this book is a hard read and solely for the fact that like i said, there are quite a bit of stats which are to be expected in this type of book!
Definitely would recommend to any basketball or MJ fans alike!
See more reviews on Instagram @UnshelvedEdition
I always find that the most interesting things to learn about a celebrity or athlete are those random stories from a college room mate, or the fact that they are afraid of water (slight spoiler). I enjoy that a lot more than the statistics and hard data. This book had a pretty even 50/50 balance of both sides.
Anyone who knows me personally knows that I absolutely love Michael Jordan and basketball, that being said.. it does not change the fact that this book is a hard read and solely for the fact that like i said, there are quite a bit of stats which are to be expected in this type of book!
Definitely would recommend to any basketball or MJ fans alike!
See more reviews on Instagram @UnshelvedEdition
May 25, 2015
Fantastically written. Lazenby's work was masterful. Jordan is every bit as complex and fascinating as you'd expect. This bio is akin to Isaacson's bio of Steve Jobs in terms of scope and depth.
May 26, 2014
I didn't think I would read another book about Jordan after reading The Jordan Rules (Sam Smith) and Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made (David Halberstam). As Lazenby himself admits in the acknowledgments, there are so many books written about Jordan that he has practically has a genre. However, after reading Lazenby's Reddit AMA, I pulled the trigger and preordered the book.
I don't think there's going to be a better book about Jordan's life and career so holistically. While most other books tend to focus on a specific season or specific aspect of his life (retirement, competitiveness/gambling, etc) — Lazenby does a great job of tying up all aspects of his life. He describes Jordan's relationships with his extended family and the yes-men in his entourage in the same vivid detail he portrays his late-game playoff heroics. Lazenby's not a phenomenal writer but he's done his homework. Whole most books tend to focus on the historical significance of Jordan's games or on his commercial success as one of the first major African American sports/pop-culture icons, Lazenby focuses the majority of his book on the relationships Jordan had with his coaches, family, friends, other players and the numerous other people whose lives came into contact with him.
This is the first book on Jordan to read for any sports fan. Thankfully, the book comes with an absolutely killer bibliography so you're able to track down any other books if you want to read about any particular part of Jordan's career in more detail.
I don't think there's going to be a better book about Jordan's life and career so holistically. While most other books tend to focus on a specific season or specific aspect of his life (retirement, competitiveness/gambling, etc) — Lazenby does a great job of tying up all aspects of his life. He describes Jordan's relationships with his extended family and the yes-men in his entourage in the same vivid detail he portrays his late-game playoff heroics. Lazenby's not a phenomenal writer but he's done his homework. Whole most books tend to focus on the historical significance of Jordan's games or on his commercial success as one of the first major African American sports/pop-culture icons, Lazenby focuses the majority of his book on the relationships Jordan had with his coaches, family, friends, other players and the numerous other people whose lives came into contact with him.
This is the first book on Jordan to read for any sports fan. Thankfully, the book comes with an absolutely killer bibliography so you're able to track down any other books if you want to read about any particular part of Jordan's career in more detail.
Read
July 2, 2020Although I know nothing about basketball, like many people, I loved the documentary series Last Dance, and I became very intrigued by the character of Michael Jordan—and particularly, trying to figure out his Tendency. So I read this biography, which didn't shed much light on that question. I think Jordan is either an Upholder or a Rebel, and I can't tell which! What do you think?
March 30, 2016
Absolutely thorough.
Took longer than expected to read but it was an experience. I stopped reading sometimes to watch/rewatch games and plays I read about on youtube. It's a good tome on Jordan. Lazenby was fair and objective. Learned so much more about Jordan, the Bulls and the NBA. So well written researched and written. People who saw me reading this book would ask me if it was as good as the Jordan Rules: first, anyone who is a MJ or Phil Jackson fan knows that book is despised. second, there's a fun plot twist in this book related to that book regarding Jerry Krause/Johnny Bach/MJ/Phi Jackson and third, SO MUCH BETTER. Not even worth comparing the two.
Took longer than expected to read but it was an experience. I stopped reading sometimes to watch/rewatch games and plays I read about on youtube. It's a good tome on Jordan. Lazenby was fair and objective. Learned so much more about Jordan, the Bulls and the NBA. So well written researched and written. People who saw me reading this book would ask me if it was as good as the Jordan Rules: first, anyone who is a MJ or Phil Jackson fan knows that book is despised. second, there's a fun plot twist in this book related to that book regarding Jerry Krause/Johnny Bach/MJ/Phi Jackson and third, SO MUCH BETTER. Not even worth comparing the two.
April 8, 2015
I don't normally write reviews but this one I felt I needed to. I'm going to start by saying how informative it was and definitely reassured me of why Michael Jordan was the greatest of all time. His work ethic is insane and with the talent he had was unstoppable. Also cool how there have been stories/rumours about him over time that were explained which I felt tied things together. So overall did good in aspects.
However, I felt this book could've been so much better. It felt like the book was written from someone who did an investigation or a trial and presented all the evidence to a jury. Less like a writer. Lots of repetitive stories and quotes. Repeating from other peoples perspectives but literally the same thing over again. Lots of info that could've been cut out or cut down extensively. For example, not to take away anything from the story but his family history could've easily been one chapter but instead lasted several. In saying that after all the info he gave I wish there was more he said on other subjects and didn't. One of my most favorite and inspirational sports stories ever was the flu game. He barely talked about it however. One guy thought he was sick for this reason, another guy thought he was sick for another reason. So anyways he played a good game and that's it. Or wish there was more talk on the dream team. Again the author did a good job bringing forth info just could've been done better. Because he gave so much info and because it seemed that the writer got every bit info he could I give it a 3. However under normally circumstances wouldn't have been as generous
However, I felt this book could've been so much better. It felt like the book was written from someone who did an investigation or a trial and presented all the evidence to a jury. Less like a writer. Lots of repetitive stories and quotes. Repeating from other peoples perspectives but literally the same thing over again. Lots of info that could've been cut out or cut down extensively. For example, not to take away anything from the story but his family history could've easily been one chapter but instead lasted several. In saying that after all the info he gave I wish there was more he said on other subjects and didn't. One of my most favorite and inspirational sports stories ever was the flu game. He barely talked about it however. One guy thought he was sick for this reason, another guy thought he was sick for another reason. So anyways he played a good game and that's it. Or wish there was more talk on the dream team. Again the author did a good job bringing forth info just could've been done better. Because he gave so much info and because it seemed that the writer got every bit info he could I give it a 3. However under normally circumstances wouldn't have been as generous
August 15, 2016
It's been some months since I finished this book, and I am only now getting around to reviewing it. It's very blah, and I say that as a biography fan, as a basketball and sportswriting fan, as a Michael Jordan fan, and as someone who enjoyed Phil Jackson's Eleven Rings tremendously. Lazenby's research and interview seems extensive, yet his book still comes across as lazy and incomplete. Sometimes it's the little things that annoy me, and I'm about to be petty, so bear with me. At page 453, Lazenby writes of the Bulls first championship celebration, "Jordan grabbed the trophy, and the team followed him back upstairs. As they came through the tunnel, the game operations crew blasted 'Eye in the Sky' by the Alan Parsons Project, the Bulls' intro music."
Except that "Eye in the Sky" has never to my knowledge been the Bulls' intro music. Rather, it's the introductory track that precedes "Eye in the Sky." That's a "Sirius" (and easily avoidable) mistake. The passage as a whole stands in for much of what makes the book feel so nondescript. Jordan is a main character not a protagonist here, in an expository scene without conflict or story. His motivations are left unexplored and unexplained: we simply see Jordan acting devoid of accurate or affective context.
The gist of Jordan's life is this (and by all means skip this paragraph if you don't want a thumbnail recap): our hero grows up little Mike Jordan in North Carolina in the tarheels of progenitors whose athletic abilities and work ethic are implied, the baby in a parental tug-of-war. His struggle to transition to Little League baseball in early adolescence in combination with regular courtside competition against older brother Larry lead him to basketball, but a (protective? incompetent? in process of succumbing to mental illness?) coach prevents him from joining varsity as a sophomore. He nonetheless explodes into prominence as he grows into his adult physique and graduates from summer camps to university recruit to professional draft phenom. Jordan's tireless, obsessive work in synergy with Sonny Vaccaro's premonitory advocacy transform him into *the* sports celebrity of the late 20th Century: the face of Nike, the mainstreaming of African American athletes, and the all-time leader of the National Basketball Association. From there, it's a matter of toil and trial beneath the whip hands of Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons until the elevation of Phil Jackson and maturation of Scottie Pippen allow him to evolve from all-star to threepeating champion eclipsing the legacies of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as the new standard against whom future athletes would ever later be compared and found wanting. Then, in the wake of his father's murder, rising public concern about his gambling, and post-Dream Team ennui, Jordan suddenly quits to find himself within America, busing from town to town in baseball's farm system. Midnight sojourn past, he ultimately returns to lead the Chicago Bulls to a second trio of championships before spasmodically retiring again in his playing dotage through an awkward managerial learning sojourn that criss-crosses multiple franchises. In the end, Michael Jordan, the consummate, competitive professional and businessperson can't seem to build and maintain a competitive team. How ironic.
This should be riveting material, but by and large it just plays as dull. Sports lovers and idolatrous fans alike will be disappointed to find insufficient play by play or suspense-building here to bring Jordan's many transcendent moments to life. There's little drama, certainly no intentional humor. Nor is there substantive psychological study and insight. It's just a slog. While Lazenby ventures the occasional opinion -- mostly to propose MJ's sabbatical from basketball as a compensatory response to his father's death -- the closest he comes to putting the reader alongside the man occurs shortly thereafter, although even this portraiture becomes blurred by being unfocused in time: it's never clear whether the author is attempting to define Jordan as a competitor or personality generally, within his present context, or something else entirely.
At page 536, the author begins, "What made Jordan's harshness so difficult to read was that it often came wrapped in the mirth of his trash talk.... [Bulls' Assistant Coach] Tex Winter observed, '...He enjoys playing, and he wants to keep it fun and loose.'" Lazenby then triangulates through Coach Jackson's motivational ploys on the following page before returning to the theme he has just introduced. "'They were vicious,' [former teammate Steve] Kerr said of Jordan's particular brand of mind games.'... Muggsy Bogues could confirm that. At a key point during the '95 playoff series between the Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, Jordan backed off of the five-foot-three Bogues and told him, 'Shoot it, you f***ing midget.' Bogues missed the shot, lost his confidence, and later reportedly told [Bulls' Assistant Coach] Johnny Bach that the play started his career down the path to ruination." Now that's definitely a harsh and vivid anecdote, but as profiles go, it's difficult to interpret on its own. Is Jordan's taunting vicious? Or just an example of competitive ruthlessness? Is such catlike toying with opponents a byproduct of confidence borne of mastery, a necessary means of maintaining his interest, a case of boredom breeding contempt? And where's the mirth?
Never does Lazenby bother to probe such examples or juxtapose them with other episodes from his life, relatives, or experience to suggest deeper cues to behavior. Perhaps Jordan harbors a Freudian insecurity borne of once-withheld parental approval. Perhaps Jordan seeks through yapping to challenge himself, bootstrap his on-court intensity. Perhaps, mild antisocial outbursts are the result of years of enforced isolation, or perhaps he's just a mean cuss. The author waits on his last page to finally shoehorn in an explanation , but the episode feels forced, an awkward attempt to bring closure to the manuscript of a biography still unfinished.
The cover image of my son's trade paperback, the version of the book I read, shows a uniformed Jordan with back to the camera, his face hidden. It's a statuesque pose. And he is here pictured exactly as the author has left him, unknowable.
Except that "Eye in the Sky" has never to my knowledge been the Bulls' intro music. Rather, it's the introductory track that precedes "Eye in the Sky." That's a "Sirius" (and easily avoidable) mistake. The passage as a whole stands in for much of what makes the book feel so nondescript. Jordan is a main character not a protagonist here, in an expository scene without conflict or story. His motivations are left unexplored and unexplained: we simply see Jordan acting devoid of accurate or affective context.
The gist of Jordan's life is this (and by all means skip this paragraph if you don't want a thumbnail recap): our hero grows up little Mike Jordan in North Carolina in the tarheels of progenitors whose athletic abilities and work ethic are implied, the baby in a parental tug-of-war. His struggle to transition to Little League baseball in early adolescence in combination with regular courtside competition against older brother Larry lead him to basketball, but a (protective? incompetent? in process of succumbing to mental illness?) coach prevents him from joining varsity as a sophomore. He nonetheless explodes into prominence as he grows into his adult physique and graduates from summer camps to university recruit to professional draft phenom. Jordan's tireless, obsessive work in synergy with Sonny Vaccaro's premonitory advocacy transform him into *the* sports celebrity of the late 20th Century: the face of Nike, the mainstreaming of African American athletes, and the all-time leader of the National Basketball Association. From there, it's a matter of toil and trial beneath the whip hands of Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons until the elevation of Phil Jackson and maturation of Scottie Pippen allow him to evolve from all-star to threepeating champion eclipsing the legacies of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as the new standard against whom future athletes would ever later be compared and found wanting. Then, in the wake of his father's murder, rising public concern about his gambling, and post-Dream Team ennui, Jordan suddenly quits to find himself within America, busing from town to town in baseball's farm system. Midnight sojourn past, he ultimately returns to lead the Chicago Bulls to a second trio of championships before spasmodically retiring again in his playing dotage through an awkward managerial learning sojourn that criss-crosses multiple franchises. In the end, Michael Jordan, the consummate, competitive professional and businessperson can't seem to build and maintain a competitive team. How ironic.
This should be riveting material, but by and large it just plays as dull. Sports lovers and idolatrous fans alike will be disappointed to find insufficient play by play or suspense-building here to bring Jordan's many transcendent moments to life. There's little drama, certainly no intentional humor. Nor is there substantive psychological study and insight. It's just a slog. While Lazenby ventures the occasional opinion -- mostly to propose MJ's sabbatical from basketball as a compensatory response to his father's death -- the closest he comes to putting the reader alongside the man occurs shortly thereafter, although even this portraiture becomes blurred by being unfocused in time: it's never clear whether the author is attempting to define Jordan as a competitor or personality generally, within his present context, or something else entirely.
At page 536, the author begins, "What made Jordan's harshness so difficult to read was that it often came wrapped in the mirth of his trash talk.... [Bulls' Assistant Coach] Tex Winter observed, '...He enjoys playing, and he wants to keep it fun and loose.'" Lazenby then triangulates through Coach Jackson's motivational ploys on the following page before returning to the theme he has just introduced. "'They were vicious,' [former teammate Steve] Kerr said of Jordan's particular brand of mind games.'... Muggsy Bogues could confirm that. At a key point during the '95 playoff series between the Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, Jordan backed off of the five-foot-three Bogues and told him, 'Shoot it, you f***ing midget.' Bogues missed the shot, lost his confidence, and later reportedly told [Bulls' Assistant Coach] Johnny Bach that the play started his career down the path to ruination." Now that's definitely a harsh and vivid anecdote, but as profiles go, it's difficult to interpret on its own. Is Jordan's taunting vicious? Or just an example of competitive ruthlessness? Is such catlike toying with opponents a byproduct of confidence borne of mastery, a necessary means of maintaining his interest, a case of boredom breeding contempt? And where's the mirth?
Never does Lazenby bother to probe such examples or juxtapose them with other episodes from his life, relatives, or experience to suggest deeper cues to behavior. Perhaps Jordan harbors a Freudian insecurity borne of once-withheld parental approval. Perhaps Jordan seeks through yapping to challenge himself, bootstrap his on-court intensity. Perhaps, mild antisocial outbursts are the result of years of enforced isolation, or perhaps he's just a mean cuss. The author waits on his last page to finally shoehorn in an explanation , but the episode feels forced, an awkward attempt to bring closure to the manuscript of a biography still unfinished.
The cover image of my son's trade paperback, the version of the book I read, shows a uniformed Jordan with back to the camera, his face hidden. It's a statuesque pose. And he is here pictured exactly as the author has left him, unknowable.
September 18, 2023
"He fallado una y otra vez en mi vida, por eso he conseguido el éxito." -Michael Jordan.
Una obra apasionante de Mr. Lazenby que, con una documentación brutal sobre el tema, nos comparte toda la complejidad de la personalidad, ideología, hechos y momentos que hicieron de "Su Majestad" uno de los atletas más grande de la historia del deporte y del marketing mundial.
La obra podrá parecer extensa (unas 700 y pico de páginas), pero no se sienten para nada. La forma de escribir del autor es tan certera pero, a la vez, tan amena que el libro se te va muy rápido. Me gustó que no hiciera énfasis en lo que está documentado a nivel de cancha (cosas que puedes ver en Youtube, o en su documental "The Last Dance"), sino que nos presentan los sucesos "tras bambalinas" que un aficionado de a pie (como yo) nunca supimos; y que, en efecto, nos da una buena idea de todo lo que podría rondar por la cabeza de Michael Jordan.
Recomiendo muchísimo la biografía. Es un imprescindible para todo aficionado al Basketball profesional, o incluso para cualquier aficionado a los deportes. Aun así recomiendo también la obra a cualquier persona que esté en la búsqueda de entretenimiento y motivación. Es un libro que permite aprender mucho de el más grande del baloncesto mundial.
Una obra apasionante de Mr. Lazenby que, con una documentación brutal sobre el tema, nos comparte toda la complejidad de la personalidad, ideología, hechos y momentos que hicieron de "Su Majestad" uno de los atletas más grande de la historia del deporte y del marketing mundial.
La obra podrá parecer extensa (unas 700 y pico de páginas), pero no se sienten para nada. La forma de escribir del autor es tan certera pero, a la vez, tan amena que el libro se te va muy rápido. Me gustó que no hiciera énfasis en lo que está documentado a nivel de cancha (cosas que puedes ver en Youtube, o en su documental "The Last Dance"), sino que nos presentan los sucesos "tras bambalinas" que un aficionado de a pie (como yo) nunca supimos; y que, en efecto, nos da una buena idea de todo lo que podría rondar por la cabeza de Michael Jordan.
Recomiendo muchísimo la biografía. Es un imprescindible para todo aficionado al Basketball profesional, o incluso para cualquier aficionado a los deportes. Aun así recomiendo también la obra a cualquier persona que esté en la búsqueda de entretenimiento y motivación. Es un libro que permite aprender mucho de el más grande del baloncesto mundial.
January 5, 2015
Weird to say that a book this big feels short, but that is definitely the feeling I got. The book tells a good synopsis of Jordan’s life, yet I never feel like anything is given the appropriate amount of depth. So many aspects of Jordan can be explored in entire books, and many have, that I can see the challenge in condensing all that into a single book. However, many important events seemed to be skimmed over and rushed through. I think what anyone reading about Jordan wants to know is, where his drive comes from. What made him into an obsessive competitor? The author tries to find that answer in Jordan’s father, but it doesn't feel like he commits to it fully. Also, there are constant overtures to personal struggles in Jordan’s life, such as his parent’s divide over time or his own divorce, yet they never get explored to my satisfaction. Overall, the writing style is enjoyable and I rarely ever felt bored. It’s a fast read for such a big book, so don’t feel intimidated. I’d say this is a good starting off point in the life of Jordan, and for those that crave more depth and nuance can choose one of the several other Jordan books to scratch that itch.
December 14, 2022
Couldn't imagine a better book about Michael Jordan. Highly recommended!
March 31, 2015
As a die-hard Jordan fan, I really enjoyed this book. I loved that Lazenby touched on the genealogy of Jordan's background as a means of further explaining the driving forces within him–both good and bad.
And while Lazenby doesn't make Jordan into the most likable character, at times, you never get the sense that he was trying to paint a negative portrait of the former NBA star. If anything, you gained a better understanding of the man behind the legend, and walked away from the book feeling as if you finally understood the why's of it all.
I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend giving it a look.
And while Lazenby doesn't make Jordan into the most likable character, at times, you never get the sense that he was trying to paint a negative portrait of the former NBA star. If anything, you gained a better understanding of the man behind the legend, and walked away from the book feeling as if you finally understood the why's of it all.
I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend giving it a look.
March 9, 2024
Muito boa biografia. As suas origens, a família, a adição ao jogo e claro a arte na quadra. Tudo escrito sem euforias nem condescendências face ao mito do biografado.
""Eram cruéis", disse Kerr sobre os jogos psicológicos de Michael. "o lado positivo era que nós tínhamos de lidar com ele nos treinos, mas os nossos adversários tinham de lidar com eles nos jogos."
Falando da performance desportiva, a existir algum atleta na Terra que tenha sido tocado por Deus, ele é Michael Jordan.
""Eram cruéis", disse Kerr sobre os jogos psicológicos de Michael. "o lado positivo era que nós tínhamos de lidar com ele nos treinos, mas os nossos adversários tinham de lidar com eles nos jogos."
Falando da performance desportiva, a existir algum atleta na Terra que tenha sido tocado por Deus, ele é Michael Jordan.
October 19, 2014
Michael Jordan: The Life is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. It starts all the way from Michael Jordan’s great grandfather and talks all the way up through Michael Jordan’s life and his basketball career. As explained by Roland Lazenby, “Michael Jordan books are as common as internet cat videos,” but Lazenby’s book is still different from all the others and in my opinion better. Normally I don’t have the commitment to read a book that is any more than 250 pages because I will get bored too easily and give up. Although this book was almost 700 pages long I couldn’t stop reading it. I learned so much about Michael Jordan that I never realized ever happened. I also found this book to be very inspiring. Most basketball players look up to Michael Jordan but if one is to ever become like him at all they need to learn what drove him to do the things he did and I really enjoyed seeing the way Michael’s mind worked. I always thought of Michael as this easy going, friendly player who just had a ton of talent and to some point that is true but there really is a much bigger side to him than that that made him the greatest player ever. Overall I think Lazenby did an incredible job on this book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the game of basketball or is a big Michael Jordan fan. It truly is one of my favorite reads.
January 27, 2019
A bit extended but as the story unfolds I couldn’t stop reading, especially when I entered the period I was aware of. It is a biography focused on everyone around MJ, sometimes leaving him aside which allows you to observe and understanding who he is/was. I recommend it as I feel it is a book that makes a myth look humane but at the same time inspires the reader just by mentioning all the things he and his teams have been through.
Highly recommended for anyone that manages teams of talented individuals, I learned a lot I will use!
Highly recommended for anyone that manages teams of talented individuals, I learned a lot I will use!
May 14, 2024
Good but far too long and descriptive.
Gives insight into his personality and the variety of challenges faced alongwith peoples opinions of him. While you would think there never can be too much written of such a career, somehow it just was.
The last dance series with the music and way edited is a better way to get the jordan experience.
Gives insight into his personality and the variety of challenges faced alongwith peoples opinions of him. While you would think there never can be too much written of such a career, somehow it just was.
The last dance series with the music and way edited is a better way to get the jordan experience.
Read
October 10, 2018DNF. Too many references to the basketball world that flew right above my head.
December 30, 2020
I first heard about this book when it was recommended on the What Should I Read Next podcast. Having recently watched The Last Dance, I was intrigued and requested it from the library. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I needed to own this book so I could read it at my leisure and not rush through the details.
Fascinating stuff.
Fascinating stuff.
March 6, 2020
Chylę czoła przed Rolandem Lazenbym i benedyktyńską robotą z jaką postanowił się zmierzyć. Wszystkie wywiady, statystyki, opinie,charakterystyki, do których się dokopał zasługują na słowa najwyższego uznania. Problem w tym, że jeśli nie interesujecie się historią NBA, bądź interesujecie się nią w stopniu niewielkim, to zanudzicie się "Życiem" na śmierć.
Lazenby bardzo szczegółowo, niemal mecz po meczu, sezon po sezonie opisuje drogę Michaela Jordana na szczyt - począwszy od jego pojedynków 1 na 1 ze starszym bratem na podjeździe przed domem, przez występy w licealnej drużynie koszykarskiej, NCAA (jeśli ten anagram nic wam nie mówi, to odpuścicie sobie lekturę serio) po NBA i dalej, aż do momentu gdy Jordan został właścicielem Charlotte Bobcats (Hornets). Nie byłoby to nawet takie złe, bo autor ma dobry warsztat i książkę czyta się bardzo przyjemnie, gdyby za punkt wyjścia do opowieści nie wybrał losów pradziadka koszykarza. Pierwsze rozdziały zatem, to przedzieranie się przez gałęzie drzewa genealogicznego gwiazdora, na tyle żmudne, że miałem ochotę cisnąć lekturę w kąt i więcej do niej nie wracać. Na szczęście wytrwałem, ale akcja rozkręca się bardzo wolno.
Jeszcze jedno Lazenbyemu trzeba przyznać. Jest obiektywny w ocenie poczynań Jordana, jego książka to nie jest hagiograficzna tęcza na cześć najwybitniejszego koszykarza w historii koszykówki. Choć autor nie odbiera M J wielkości, nie wybiela jego postępków ("najgorszy sukinsyn w całym NBA"), i nie unika kontrowersji, w szczególności dotyczących traktowania przez Jordana reszty drużyny Byków.
Chociaż, siłą rzeczy książka skupia się głównie na karierze Jordana i jego rodzinie, autor równie szeroko opisuje całą ligę, mechanizmy nią rządzące, a także co wybitniejszych koszykarzy. Szerokiej analizy doczekał się też wpływ Michaela Jordana na popkulturę i komercjalizację ligi, wiele miejsca poświęca jego związkowi z Nike.
Podsumowując "Życie" to pozycja wybitna, w sposób w jaki wybitne są opracowania naukowe, czyli zainteresuje z pewnością już zainteresowanych, jeśli natomiast koszykówka kompletnie was nie interesuje, a ciekawi was po prostu sylwetka tego człowieka, zastanowiłbym się dwa razy nad sięgnięciem po tą biografię.
Lazenby bardzo szczegółowo, niemal mecz po meczu, sezon po sezonie opisuje drogę Michaela Jordana na szczyt - począwszy od jego pojedynków 1 na 1 ze starszym bratem na podjeździe przed domem, przez występy w licealnej drużynie koszykarskiej, NCAA (jeśli ten anagram nic wam nie mówi, to odpuścicie sobie lekturę serio) po NBA i dalej, aż do momentu gdy Jordan został właścicielem Charlotte Bobcats (Hornets). Nie byłoby to nawet takie złe, bo autor ma dobry warsztat i książkę czyta się bardzo przyjemnie, gdyby za punkt wyjścia do opowieści nie wybrał losów pradziadka koszykarza. Pierwsze rozdziały zatem, to przedzieranie się przez gałęzie drzewa genealogicznego gwiazdora, na tyle żmudne, że miałem ochotę cisnąć lekturę w kąt i więcej do niej nie wracać. Na szczęście wytrwałem, ale akcja rozkręca się bardzo wolno.
Jeszcze jedno Lazenbyemu trzeba przyznać. Jest obiektywny w ocenie poczynań Jordana, jego książka to nie jest hagiograficzna tęcza na cześć najwybitniejszego koszykarza w historii koszykówki. Choć autor nie odbiera M J wielkości, nie wybiela jego postępków ("najgorszy sukinsyn w całym NBA"), i nie unika kontrowersji, w szczególności dotyczących traktowania przez Jordana reszty drużyny Byków.
Chociaż, siłą rzeczy książka skupia się głównie na karierze Jordana i jego rodzinie, autor równie szeroko opisuje całą ligę, mechanizmy nią rządzące, a także co wybitniejszych koszykarzy. Szerokiej analizy doczekał się też wpływ Michaela Jordana na popkulturę i komercjalizację ligi, wiele miejsca poświęca jego związkowi z Nike.
Podsumowując "Życie" to pozycja wybitna, w sposób w jaki wybitne są opracowania naukowe, czyli zainteresuje z pewnością już zainteresowanych, jeśli natomiast koszykówka kompletnie was nie interesuje, a ciekawi was po prostu sylwetka tego człowieka, zastanowiłbym się dwa razy nad sięgnięciem po tą biografię.
October 30, 2024
Esta é uma biografia muito interessante, especialmente para quem começou a ver e a apreciar a NBA com estrelas como o Jordan, Magic, Bird, Abdul-Jabbar, Iverson e outros do mesmo calibre. É focada essencialmente no seu período de jogador, desde o liceu até à retirada nos Wizards. Tem imensos contributos de jornalistas, outros jogadores e treinadores, podendo a tempos ser um pouco massuda, mas sem perder o interesse. Apresenta-nos uma perspetiva abaixo da superfície de Jordan, além da sua genialidade, numa visão mais isenta que aquela apresentada pelo próprio em "The Last Dance". Recomendado a todos os apreciadores desta era de ouro da NBA e obviamente de Michael Jordan.
December 18, 2015
Michael Jordan’s championships run starting in 1991/92 season coincided with my move to the States. A budget oriented sports junkie with no understanding of neither football nor baseball, Chicago’s WGN provided a sustainable fix as part of the economy cable. This book gave a deep understanding of what it took to build that amazing Chicago team I have admired so much in those years. This book is very pro Jordan, and would not be enjoyed by people looking for a more balanced view of the Legend. I would recommend watching Jordan’s 50 great moments on YouTube before embarking on this book to have a visual to some of the complex terminology used in the book.
October 25, 2015
To put it simply, this book was fantastic. I am a long-time MJ fan & grew up idolizing him like most 90s kids. I read many sports books and have read more than a few specifically on him but this was easily the best. Finally a book that not only notes his undeniable accomplishments on the court, but also one that delves into why he is so frequently considered "complex." Not that I needed any additional fuel, but this book only made me like him more (didn't think that was possible). It was detailed, kept me interested throughout all 600+ pages and struck the right balance between basketball & a biography. A must read for any MJ fan.
February 21, 2016
Amazing book ! Recomend it to everyone.
August 13, 2014
Lazenby was apparently able to roll together chapters from previous books about Michael and the Bulls together with new information into this comprehensive 700 page biography of the Greatest of All Time. It spans from Jordan's ancestry all the way to his caustic Hall of Fame acceptance speech and failures as Charlotte owner.
I grew up in the Jordan Era, had The Dunk on my wall, wore Nike everything, and watched Bulls games on NBC and WGN religiously. This book includes every anecdote and story I ever heard about MJ's early career-- pretty much anything that was ever put in print or on the air. Lazenby has exhaustively gone through public record for much of this; a weakness of the book is that he seems to lack personal access to Jordan over his 30 years of covering him. That is probably just as well, plenty of other journalists were close to Jordan and protected his secrets. But the depth of Jordan's relationships with others aren't explored, it is not an expose like The Jordan Rules was. But critics wrongly assail Lazenby on this point as Jordan does not open himself up to just anyone, and neither do those who know him well-- Jordan never forgets a slight and does not care to make amends. If Lazenby had been close with Jordan, the book may well have been a puff piece like Hang Time.
The strength of this book is looking at Jordan's family tree beginning with his great grandfather, who came of age in the post-Civil War South. Speaking of him still brings tears to Jordan's eyes, the man was tough and relentless and Lazenby has the reader believe that his resolve runs through Jordan's DNA. Jordan's ancestors faced discrimination and hardship that helped mold his family into a unit and created opportunities for Jordan. They could never have imagined a black man from the South being an icon for billions of people worldwide.
Every man has a wound, usually from his father. James Jordan wounded Michael early in life when Michael was trying to help him work on cars. "You don't know what the hell you're doing. Go back inside with the women," would drive Jordan to push to win his father's affection over that of his brothers. I did not know what a douche James Jordan was, a pedophile, thief, and serial philanderer. It's very sad that Michael seems to idolize him, even though Michael learned he could not be trusted in business. Michael's mother, on the other hand, comes across as "solid," and "professional," and Nike preferred working with her than with James.
Despite an unbelievably competitive nature on the court, Jordan is his mother's "laziest child," paying others to do his chores and holding a paying job for only one week. His competitive light came on only in sports. The legend of Michael being left off his high school varsity team is explored, that is somewhat of a complicated story but the logic made sense at the time.
The Jordan era didn't have AAU, where all the best kids travel and play three games a day and can't take the time to care about winning all that much-- it's rather about showcasing their individual talent. Lazenby floats others' hypotheses that Jordan would not have the competitive fire if he had grown up in the modern era like LeBron James.
Jordan didn't really have another coach/person motivate him by intentional wounding until Bobby Knight did it on the '84 US Olympic team. (Knight comes across as a real douche in the book as well.) His time at UNC served him well, and Dean Smith comes across as an honest person who cares about his players but has the same ego and competitive drive as any major college coach. Jordan resented the Carolina Way, how fast break dunks that showed up the other team were punished and seniors were given the limelight. "The System" limited his individual ability, but helped him play in Tex Winter's triangle offense and be somewhat of a teammate.
I was interested in the back story on the Bulls' seasons, Phil Jackson's mind games, and Jordan's mind games with himself. People comment over and over how Jordan, often privately, goes out of his way to make time for the common person and autograph seeker. This wears on him, he's a prisoner in his hotel room for much of the book. But despite the inner rage that makes appearances mostly on the court, Jordan is shown as having a sense of humor. His friends are journalists, drivers, equipment men, etc. But you get the sense he's not really close with anyone. Even Phil Jackson betrays him (and gets away with it) by being a key source about Jordan's caustic personality in The Jordan Rules. That I found interesting.
I was a teenager and a bit less interested in the '96-98 era and was disgusted by the Wizards run. I enjoyed Lazenby's insights into the back story of '96-98, how Jordan and the team embraced Phil Jackson's meditation and other unusual methods, how an inebriated Jordan would disrespectfully harass GM Jerry Krause on the team bus after games. The inner demons, invented and real, that drove Jordan on the court. Jordan could never be taught to not call his teammates "my supporting cast," and that's what they knew they were.
The depth of the book becomes pretty shallow in Jordan's later years, however. His divorce is mentioned almost as an afterthought. One never gets the full sense of Jordan's philandering, but there are stories of games of pool in topless bars, all-day golf excursions, and plenty of fine cigars and booze to fill the time. Lazenby makes MJ's playing for the Wizards seem like a benevolent deed, not something Jordan did because he couldn't succeed at anything else and his ego just wouldn't let his position within the game go. The book is fairly critical of his time as "The Loser" as owner of the team with the worst single-season record in league history. In some cases, perhaps Jordan is reaping bad karma from having been so critical of Krause and Reinsdorf and holding grudges when they traded his friends or made other necessary business decisions.
Jordan's demons are on display in this book, compiled from public statements by and about Jordan as well as information from other books. The older he gets, the worse it gets. He both acknowledges the uniqueness and blessing of being the only truly worldwide global icon, but also seems to blame the world for it and feels begrudged like everyone owes him something. If you want to know as much as can be known about the man's career, then check this book out. 4 stars out of 5.
I grew up in the Jordan Era, had The Dunk on my wall, wore Nike everything, and watched Bulls games on NBC and WGN religiously. This book includes every anecdote and story I ever heard about MJ's early career-- pretty much anything that was ever put in print or on the air. Lazenby has exhaustively gone through public record for much of this; a weakness of the book is that he seems to lack personal access to Jordan over his 30 years of covering him. That is probably just as well, plenty of other journalists were close to Jordan and protected his secrets. But the depth of Jordan's relationships with others aren't explored, it is not an expose like The Jordan Rules was. But critics wrongly assail Lazenby on this point as Jordan does not open himself up to just anyone, and neither do those who know him well-- Jordan never forgets a slight and does not care to make amends. If Lazenby had been close with Jordan, the book may well have been a puff piece like Hang Time.
The strength of this book is looking at Jordan's family tree beginning with his great grandfather, who came of age in the post-Civil War South. Speaking of him still brings tears to Jordan's eyes, the man was tough and relentless and Lazenby has the reader believe that his resolve runs through Jordan's DNA. Jordan's ancestors faced discrimination and hardship that helped mold his family into a unit and created opportunities for Jordan. They could never have imagined a black man from the South being an icon for billions of people worldwide.
Every man has a wound, usually from his father. James Jordan wounded Michael early in life when Michael was trying to help him work on cars. "You don't know what the hell you're doing. Go back inside with the women," would drive Jordan to push to win his father's affection over that of his brothers. I did not know what a douche James Jordan was, a pedophile, thief, and serial philanderer. It's very sad that Michael seems to idolize him, even though Michael learned he could not be trusted in business. Michael's mother, on the other hand, comes across as "solid," and "professional," and Nike preferred working with her than with James.
Despite an unbelievably competitive nature on the court, Jordan is his mother's "laziest child," paying others to do his chores and holding a paying job for only one week. His competitive light came on only in sports. The legend of Michael being left off his high school varsity team is explored, that is somewhat of a complicated story but the logic made sense at the time.
The Jordan era didn't have AAU, where all the best kids travel and play three games a day and can't take the time to care about winning all that much-- it's rather about showcasing their individual talent. Lazenby floats others' hypotheses that Jordan would not have the competitive fire if he had grown up in the modern era like LeBron James.
Jordan didn't really have another coach/person motivate him by intentional wounding until Bobby Knight did it on the '84 US Olympic team. (Knight comes across as a real douche in the book as well.) His time at UNC served him well, and Dean Smith comes across as an honest person who cares about his players but has the same ego and competitive drive as any major college coach. Jordan resented the Carolina Way, how fast break dunks that showed up the other team were punished and seniors were given the limelight. "The System" limited his individual ability, but helped him play in Tex Winter's triangle offense and be somewhat of a teammate.
I was interested in the back story on the Bulls' seasons, Phil Jackson's mind games, and Jordan's mind games with himself. People comment over and over how Jordan, often privately, goes out of his way to make time for the common person and autograph seeker. This wears on him, he's a prisoner in his hotel room for much of the book. But despite the inner rage that makes appearances mostly on the court, Jordan is shown as having a sense of humor. His friends are journalists, drivers, equipment men, etc. But you get the sense he's not really close with anyone. Even Phil Jackson betrays him (and gets away with it) by being a key source about Jordan's caustic personality in The Jordan Rules. That I found interesting.
I was a teenager and a bit less interested in the '96-98 era and was disgusted by the Wizards run. I enjoyed Lazenby's insights into the back story of '96-98, how Jordan and the team embraced Phil Jackson's meditation and other unusual methods, how an inebriated Jordan would disrespectfully harass GM Jerry Krause on the team bus after games. The inner demons, invented and real, that drove Jordan on the court. Jordan could never be taught to not call his teammates "my supporting cast," and that's what they knew they were.
The depth of the book becomes pretty shallow in Jordan's later years, however. His divorce is mentioned almost as an afterthought. One never gets the full sense of Jordan's philandering, but there are stories of games of pool in topless bars, all-day golf excursions, and plenty of fine cigars and booze to fill the time. Lazenby makes MJ's playing for the Wizards seem like a benevolent deed, not something Jordan did because he couldn't succeed at anything else and his ego just wouldn't let his position within the game go. The book is fairly critical of his time as "The Loser" as owner of the team with the worst single-season record in league history. In some cases, perhaps Jordan is reaping bad karma from having been so critical of Krause and Reinsdorf and holding grudges when they traded his friends or made other necessary business decisions.
Jordan's demons are on display in this book, compiled from public statements by and about Jordan as well as information from other books. The older he gets, the worse it gets. He both acknowledges the uniqueness and blessing of being the only truly worldwide global icon, but also seems to blame the world for it and feels begrudged like everyone owes him something. If you want to know as much as can be known about the man's career, then check this book out. 4 stars out of 5.
October 7, 2023
"What do you think of me now Pops? How bout all all of this? Do I still have to go back into the house?
One can imagine Jordan pausing then realizing what his closest friends and his many fans realized so long ago. That he doesn't have to ask anymore, his long-ranging debate can be put away forever now the answer is right there in front of him, in front of all of us, something that he can clearly see."
Wow.
Picked up this book in the news that Jordan had been added to the 400 richest Americans list. Wanted to know more of his family history this book provided it Mike was just a country boy from the swamps of North Carolina, his family had struggled for generations hard to not be inspired by his story to literally lift his family’s name from the depths of racism into the halls of history. Especially loved the last paragraph which I’ve shared above.
Air Jordan
One can imagine Jordan pausing then realizing what his closest friends and his many fans realized so long ago. That he doesn't have to ask anymore, his long-ranging debate can be put away forever now the answer is right there in front of him, in front of all of us, something that he can clearly see."
Wow.
Picked up this book in the news that Jordan had been added to the 400 richest Americans list. Wanted to know more of his family history this book provided it Mike was just a country boy from the swamps of North Carolina, his family had struggled for generations hard to not be inspired by his story to literally lift his family’s name from the depths of racism into the halls of history. Especially loved the last paragraph which I’ve shared above.
Air Jordan
February 24, 2024
I was very intimidated by this book. It was very very long but it all felt necessary. I got such an insight into the life of Michael Jordan and I really got to see his journey from a young guy to him at his prime and then beyond.
Very fascinating and insightful and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Very easy to get lost in the life of Jordan.
Very fascinating and insightful and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Very easy to get lost in the life of Jordan.
October 1, 2015
At first I was intimidated by the length of this book. Almost 700 pages on just one basketball player? The biographies I have for Einstein and Benjamin Franklin aren't even that long! But this tome is actually very readable and I breezed through it in two weeks, which given my usual reading speed is quite impressive and speaks well to the author's straightforward, easy prose. At the same time, there is plenty of depth and insight throughout.
The story of Michael Jordan told in this book starts back with his great-grandfather. The Jordan family, with an emphasis on the line of men that led to Michael, is given a lot of exposition. At first it felt odd to read about the family, their businesses, and their lives under segregation. It eventually becomes clear that the influence of each generation on the next was key to building the character of Michael Jordan, building to the crescendo of his father telling him to go back in the house with the women when Michael can't help with some tools. Thus began Michael's competitive drive and desire to prove his worth to his father.
I enjoyed how much time was given to Michael's early life. Too often biographies skim over the origins of the person and race to their famous days. This book provides plenty of details about Jordan's high school and college days. The author pulls no punches but also gives everyone his due. It's easy for people in retrospect to claim Jordan's high school basketball coach must have been crazy to cut him, but it made sense at the time and in the situation. Jordan's anger and combativeness with managers and other front office types has its roots in this early stage of his life, driving his urge to prove to everyone he is not only better than they think but the best period.
The bulk of the book is obviously devoted to Jordan's days with the Chicago Bulls. Growing up during that time period I remember how popular the Bulls where nationwide. The first NBA game I remember watching was a Bulls/Suns Finals game. I never really wanted to "be like Mike" but reading about that time again definitely brought back memories and a desire to get back into playing basketball. Even through a secondhand account in a book Jordan's competitive drive to elevate his teammates (mostly by breaking the lesser ones) shines through decades later. Many accounts are given of how brutal practicing and playing with him was, but without that killer instinct Jordan would never have ascended to the heights he did.
I was never aware of all the backstage drama between Jordan and the Bulls' owner and GM. I was not really old enough to care when it was happening. Now it's a little shocking to think the team held together long enough to win six championships. The influences of Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen definitely helped. Phil Jackson in particular is a master at coaching the elite of the elite, moving from Jordan to Kobe and Shaq. Just enough of Jackson is discussed in this book without spilling over into a secondary biography. The focus remains on Jordan throughout.
The last section deals with the immediate aftermath of Jordan's second retirement from the Bulls, his unfortunate days with my hometown team the Wizards, and his frustrating experience with the Charlotte Bobcats. His playing days as a Wizard are mostly remembered as a joke; now I know he wasn't originally supposed to play but he felt it was the only way he could help improve the players. His draft pick of Kwame Brown is terrible in retrospect but one has to remember being a great player does not necessarily lead to being a great GM or even coach. His determination in sticking with the Bobcats despite so many setbacks is actually admirable. It would be easy to give up and live a life of total excess with no responsibilities. But he's still trying to prove he can succeed.
The book touches several times on criticisms of Jordan for not being more socially conscious and using his fame and wealth to help others, particularly other black people. The comparisons people made between him and Muhammad Ali seem slightly unfair to me. Ali did not have to take the strong stances he did; it's admirable he did but expecting every famous athlete after him to follow suit doesn't seem fair. Granted Jordan's response that his shoe endorsement was more important that social or political stands was a little flippant but also brutally honest. It's fitting that one of Jordan's better friends, Charles Barkley, was at the center of the "I am not a role model" controversy.
One criticism I do have with the book is an overreliance on game recaps. Likely everyone reading this book knows Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever. We do not need to know his individual stats from so many games. And while constantly listing his 40+ or 50+ scoring streaks emphasizes how much he could score at will, I wound up skimming through some pages when they just turned into an abbreviated sports page recap.
Many other books have been and will be written about Michael Jordan. I doubt few if any will reach the overall depth of this biography.
The story of Michael Jordan told in this book starts back with his great-grandfather. The Jordan family, with an emphasis on the line of men that led to Michael, is given a lot of exposition. At first it felt odd to read about the family, their businesses, and their lives under segregation. It eventually becomes clear that the influence of each generation on the next was key to building the character of Michael Jordan, building to the crescendo of his father telling him to go back in the house with the women when Michael can't help with some tools. Thus began Michael's competitive drive and desire to prove his worth to his father.
I enjoyed how much time was given to Michael's early life. Too often biographies skim over the origins of the person and race to their famous days. This book provides plenty of details about Jordan's high school and college days. The author pulls no punches but also gives everyone his due. It's easy for people in retrospect to claim Jordan's high school basketball coach must have been crazy to cut him, but it made sense at the time and in the situation. Jordan's anger and combativeness with managers and other front office types has its roots in this early stage of his life, driving his urge to prove to everyone he is not only better than they think but the best period.
The bulk of the book is obviously devoted to Jordan's days with the Chicago Bulls. Growing up during that time period I remember how popular the Bulls where nationwide. The first NBA game I remember watching was a Bulls/Suns Finals game. I never really wanted to "be like Mike" but reading about that time again definitely brought back memories and a desire to get back into playing basketball. Even through a secondhand account in a book Jordan's competitive drive to elevate his teammates (mostly by breaking the lesser ones) shines through decades later. Many accounts are given of how brutal practicing and playing with him was, but without that killer instinct Jordan would never have ascended to the heights he did.
I was never aware of all the backstage drama between Jordan and the Bulls' owner and GM. I was not really old enough to care when it was happening. Now it's a little shocking to think the team held together long enough to win six championships. The influences of Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen definitely helped. Phil Jackson in particular is a master at coaching the elite of the elite, moving from Jordan to Kobe and Shaq. Just enough of Jackson is discussed in this book without spilling over into a secondary biography. The focus remains on Jordan throughout.
The last section deals with the immediate aftermath of Jordan's second retirement from the Bulls, his unfortunate days with my hometown team the Wizards, and his frustrating experience with the Charlotte Bobcats. His playing days as a Wizard are mostly remembered as a joke; now I know he wasn't originally supposed to play but he felt it was the only way he could help improve the players. His draft pick of Kwame Brown is terrible in retrospect but one has to remember being a great player does not necessarily lead to being a great GM or even coach. His determination in sticking with the Bobcats despite so many setbacks is actually admirable. It would be easy to give up and live a life of total excess with no responsibilities. But he's still trying to prove he can succeed.
The book touches several times on criticisms of Jordan for not being more socially conscious and using his fame and wealth to help others, particularly other black people. The comparisons people made between him and Muhammad Ali seem slightly unfair to me. Ali did not have to take the strong stances he did; it's admirable he did but expecting every famous athlete after him to follow suit doesn't seem fair. Granted Jordan's response that his shoe endorsement was more important that social or political stands was a little flippant but also brutally honest. It's fitting that one of Jordan's better friends, Charles Barkley, was at the center of the "I am not a role model" controversy.
One criticism I do have with the book is an overreliance on game recaps. Likely everyone reading this book knows Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever. We do not need to know his individual stats from so many games. And while constantly listing his 40+ or 50+ scoring streaks emphasizes how much he could score at will, I wound up skimming through some pages when they just turned into an abbreviated sports page recap.
Many other books have been and will be written about Michael Jordan. I doubt few if any will reach the overall depth of this biography.
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