Michael Jordan

March 31, 2014
Michael Jordan’s role as handsome pitchman/basketball champion belies a complicated life in this hefty, revelatory biography by veteran basketball author Lazenby (Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon). Nearly branded a lost cause by his parents, Jordan turned his passion for hoops into a furious work ethic that included not stopping one-on-one games until he won and catching an early morning ride with his high school coach to the gym before school. As Jordan’s fame grew—hitting the game-winning shot for the University of North Carolina in the 1982 NCCA Championship, reviving the Chicago Bulls with his aerial artistry, winning six NBA titles—his world grew into a turbulent fishbowl. Fame became so overwhelming that he limited his circle of friends to a select few; his family, torn apart by accusations and bad business decisions, became irritants. The search for competition was almost toxic: he created feuds with players to elevate his game. And his corrosive relationship with Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, a blunt personality, helped hasten the break-up of a dynasty. Lazenby’s work isn’t definitive—Jordan, after all, is still alive—but it yields a fascinating examination into the lonely, prideful man behind the glimmering icon.

Michael Jordan's drive, demons, and pure talent are well documented in this audiobook. The author aptly describes Jordan's personal and professional lives and analyzes to perfection the very real dichotomy between the affable persona he displayed off the court and the tornado that appeared at practices and games. Narrator Bob Souer uses a staccato rhythm reminiscent of a sports announcer calling a basketball game to great effect. His command of the material propels the listener and captures the essence of this single-minded icon. Even if listeners know only the basics of the game, hearing the coalescence of the psychology and politics that surges onto the court with the players for every game makes this as exciting as any thriller. E.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine