Becoming Kareem, Kareem AbdulJabbar
Becoming Kareem, Kareem AbdulJabbar
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Becoming Kareem
Growing Up On and Off the Court

Author: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld

Narrator: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Unabridged: 5 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/21/2017

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

The first memoir for young readers by sports legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City with all the usual problems: He struggled with fitting in, with pleasing a strict father, and with overcoming shyness that made him feel socially awkward. But with a talent for basketball, and an unmatched team of supporters, Lew Alcindor was able to transform and to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

From a childhood made difficult by racism and prejudice to a record-smashing career on the basketball court as an adult, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's life was packed with ""coaches"" who taught him right from wrong and led him on the path to greatness. His parents, coaches Jack Donahue and John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and many others played important roles in Abdul-Jabbar's life and sparked him to become an activist for social change and advancement. The inspiration from those around him, and his drive to find his own path in life, are highlighted in this personal and awe-inspiring journey.

Written especially for young readers, Becoming Kareem chronicles how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar become the icon and legend he is today, both on and off the court.

About Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is recognized by Sports Illustrated and Time magazine as history's greatest basketball player (he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer). The author of several New York Times bestsellers, his books include Giant Steps, Black Profiles in Courage, and Brothers in Arms. Since his retirement as a player in the NBA, Kareem has worked as a special assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Caroline on February 20, 2018

I try to be conservative with my five star reviews, but there were just so many good things about this book. I thought there was a good balance between Kareem's experiences with racism and intolerance without becoming overly political. It is an unapologetic look at who he has become and why, without......more

Goodreads review by Samuel on November 28, 2023

I’ve always been a fan of Kareem but watching “Winning time” felt like I got bit by the 1980s NBA bug and I needed more after finishing the series. I really enjoyed this read and highly recommended it for everyone.......more

Goodreads review by Shauna on June 23, 2018

Simply WOW! So many books to pair this with! So many curriculum tie-ins. I think is must reading for everyone, not just sports fans. And if I wasn't already in love with this book, he made it possible to pair with one of my favorite books from this year (Schomberg), quotes John Green, and Robert Fro......more

Goodreads review by DaNae on May 19, 2018

I've had a number of students blow through this and I was happy to have it for the little sports enthusiasts, but I assumed it would not interest me much. I don't know a hook shot from a touch down. I couldn't have been more wrong. BECOMING KAREEM shines not just on young Lew Alcindor's formative ye......more

Goodreads review by Tansu on July 12, 2020

This is such an informative and inspirational book. My admiration for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar definitely doubled after reading this memoir! Powerful lessons about questioning social norms, assessing what you hear, learn at school, what your friends and parents teach you against your conscience, your log......more


Quotes

* "In our current moment when black athletes are joining the national confrontation with the nation's overwhelming legacy of racial injustice, few are better suited to provide context than Abdul-Jabbar.... Wrestling with what it means to be black, determining his own responsibility and capacity to respond to injustice, and becoming the "kindest, gentlest, smartest, lovingest version" of himself takes center stage in this retelling of the early part of his life. Like the author's unstoppable skyhook, this timely book is a clear score."—Kirkus, starred review

* "More than a play-by-play sports story, it's an honest, powerful exposition of what it means to be black in white America, offering a de facto history of the civil rights movement."—Booklist, starred review

* "This timely and unforgettable memoir is essential for middle and high school collections, and affords rich opportunities for classroom and book club discussions."
SLJ, starred review

"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is... as gifted an intellect as he is an athlete... It's a tale by a wise elder-- about basketball, sure, but also about cultural, political, social, and religious awakenings, big stuff narrated in a very accessible way."—The New York Times Book Review


Awards

  • SLJ Best Book
  • NAACP Image Award