The Book of James, Valerie Babb
The Book of James, Valerie Babb
2 Rating(s)
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
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The Book of James
The Power, Politics, and Passion of LeBron

Author: Valerie Babb

Narrator: Valerie Babb, Sean Polite

Unabridged: 8 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Published: 11/28/2023

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

The unique social, cultural, and political life of the incomparable LeBron James
 
LeBron James is the hero in two very American tales: one, a success story the nation loves; the other, the latest installment in an ongoing chronicle of American antiblackness. He’s the poor boy from a “broken” home who makes good. He’s also the poor Black boy from a “broken” home who makes good, then at the apex of his career finds “n*****” spray-painted across the gate to his home.
 
James has lived in the public eye ever since high school when his extraordinary athletic skills subjected his every action, every statement, every fashion choice to intense public scrutiny that tells us less about James himself and more about a nation still wrestling with many social inequities. He uses his celebrity not to transcend Blackness, but to give it a place of cultural prominence, and the backlash he receives exposes the frictions between Blackness and a country not fully comfortable with its presence. As a result, James’s story is a revelatory narrative of how much Blackness is loved, hated, misunderstood, and just plain cool in an America that has changed and yet not changed at all.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Tara on June 05, 2023

I didn't know what to expect when I received an advanced reader copy of this book. After all, I'm not at all a sports person and I knew very little of LeBron James beyond his work in public education and his obvious basketball genius. But WOW. This is an exceptional book. The biography of James is a......more

Goodreads review by LaShanda on December 03, 2023

Since day one, I’ve been a HUGE a LeBron James’ fan. It is not too often you see an athlete transcend a sport, pop culture & just about everything quite like James has. At 17, Sports Illustrated crowned him “The Chosen One’. A heavy title to bear for such a young person. Many have criticized him ove......more

Goodreads review by Bridget on January 23, 2024

Definitely not what I expected. The author pushed a lot of social movements and cultural issues. I was hoping for more of a biography.......more

Goodreads review by Chad on February 16, 2024

Powerful, thoughtful, complex, analytical, and compelling. Great writing, greater thinking, and unapologetic truth-telling.......more

Goodreads review by Molly on January 24, 2024

This was such a great audiobook to listen to. Lebron is a true inspiration and I so admire his character. I loved learning more about his I Promise school and all of his efforts (both large and small on a daily basis) in advocating for equality and education. I highly recommend this read.......more