I've met James Iverson. The Book is For Real and so is Jim!
931214
I met Jim at a super bowl party last year. The host introduced us. My buddy stated, Pat I want you to meet this guy he's an auhtor he's right up your alley. The short time Jim and I spent togather changed my life. No matter what your monkey might be, don't let it win GUT THAT F@#$%&.
I think God put Jim in that jungle village that morning for one reason and one reason only.
Could you have pulled that trigger? Well Jim did. And sent that Butcher of Babys to hell!!
That was a true act of Heroism. I'm sure Jim would disagree. SO HERES TO JIM AND THOSE LIKE HIM TOO FEW LEFT.RECON ALL THE WAY!!!!SOG..
4226684
OK, I'll just admit it up front. I'm one of Jim's biggest fans. Not just as a story teller but as a true friend and instructor. Jim finds his "voice" about a third way into the book to where I can envision his gestures and beaming face as he only scratches the surface of the endless stories I heard during many flying lessons and cross-countries. If you like stories about aviation, I believe you'll enjoy the book. If you know Jim, you'll love it.
4971021
Not only a great book about NYC basketball, but a better one about inner-city life, eclipsed only by R. Telander's "Heaven is a Playground". Having spent most of 2 Summers in Brooklyn playing b-ball in '80 and'81, I'm still amazed that the hopes and dreams of these young men aren't shattered by the long odds of getting out. The educational system is a shambles and they are constantly reminded that basketball talent will take them only so far, but when this is all you've got to look forward to, reality takes on a different vision...I've seen first hand the life that Mr. Frey depicts and can tell you that this is as realistic as it gets. Very highly recommended reading!
4347103
I got this book and took it to work and placed it on my desk thinking I will read a few pages during lunch to get a feel of it. I ended reading it through my lunch and did not eat lunch. I could not drop the book. I have invested in over 15 books on the same subject but NONE of the authors have the confidence and intelligence of this young man. He knows what he is talking about and tells you the truth of the business that other authors intentionally shy away from because they want to 'sell'. This guy is the deal. Actually I am completing my Master's degree in Internet Marketing and I have to write about a 'Master' kind of hero in my field. I chose Evan and I will be researching his works and present a paper to my class. That is how good he is. I recommended the book to my peers and they have been very impressed. Buy this book. You will not regret it.
Great read
4945563
The writing style will certainly be familiar to regular readers of Simmons' articles.  Some may find the cultural references too cutesy or forced ( or inappropriate for some),  but the vast majority of the time I find them quite funny.  I am the same age as Simmons so perhaps they resonate more with me than some others.  Regardless, the quality of the basketball analysis is outstanding and is worth a read even if you skip past all the references. I found the "How the Hell Did We Get Here" chapter  especially elucidating, a fantastic description of the various eras.  He writes explicitly of the important but usually avoided topics such as race and drug use and how they affected certain eras.  He is willing to tell insider's stories even though his basic premise has always been writing from the fan's perspective.  I have never liked the Celtics but am entertained and amused by his Celtic stories and unlike other readers do not feel like his rankings are overly biased.  I am a lifelong Pacers (and therefore Reggie Miller) fan, and believe his evaluation of Reggie's strengths and weaknesses are spot-on and fair , despite his labeling of Reg as the most overrated "superstar" in the last 30 years. A potential complaint might be that although he emphasizes that the Secret of Basketball is achieved when players willingly ignore statistical goals for the betterment of the team, the book at times gives overwhelming statistical analysis.  The beauty, however, is that the book is divided into many short segments which can be read at different times and order, if one gets exhausted.
  I bought this book for my 15 year old basketball player/fan (knowing that I also wanted to read it) so that he could get a better grasp of names and teams from the past. I believe Simmons did a fantastic job of creating an extremely lively and fair appraisal of  the important players and teams in the modern times of pro basketball.  I highly recommend it to  anyone who enjoys pro basketball.  By the way , I am one of the seemingly few fans who prefers the pro game to college, especially playoff basketball. Perhaps this book will encourage some people who dismiss the NBA to see what they are missing.
4727766
Jamie Iveys book is a truthful and engaging gift to her readers.  I collect spiritual memoirs and this one is now with my favorites.  Im glad that we have Podcaster Jamie and Author Jamie!
3428107
The game is real but I would never have believed people worked this hard at it. It's funny, interesting, and at times very insightful.  A must read fir anyone who ever tried to be a player.
320810
I have read quite a few fitness and diet books. This one is completely different. This one is a story. He's real. He says it like it is and isn't trying to sell you any products or gadgets to accompany the book. He tells of his journey through the fitness industry and battling cancer and how he came out the other side with the knowledge that sugars and grains are not good for anyone. The approach is so simple, unlike the others with food combining, calorie counting, timed eating and whatever else the industry has conjured up. It's a great read that led me to their podcast that also has a wealth of information, his new vitamin club that has the best vitamins on the planet, and his website that gives a wealth of information. I know my life is better having read this book.
3722230
First, a little about me, so you understand where this review is coming from.  I am NOT a basketball fan and have never enjoyed professional basketball.  But, I have heard of Lebron James and a few months ago saw a story about him on 60 Minutes that made him see like a down-to-earth kind of guy and I was curious to learn more about him.  I'm also a sucker for sports stories where people overcome the odds.  So, when I saw this book offered by the Amazon Vine, I snatched it up.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book.  It's written in a breezy style and his personality and values really come through.  For me, the book flew from the descriptions of his childhood to when he met the others in the Fab Four. Some of the later chapters go into a lot of detail (and I mean A LOT OF DETAIL) about the games and the seemingly minute by minute breakdown of what happened.  I skimmed those parts.

Lebron and his friends did overcome a lot to get to where they were at the end of the book and went on from there apparently.  The thing I enjoyed the most was the story of their friendship and how it affected them through their teenage years.  At the end, it was great to read that they are still in touch and still consider each other friends.
3897876
I got his book yesterday (Saturday) and I finished it this afternoon!

The book will completely wrap you up in the stories and the DETAILED descriptions of everything he went through. He doesn't pull any punches, even when it comes to some embarassing details and crazy self-depricating humor.

Even if you aren't a fan of his, or ever even watched American Gladiators, you WILL enjoy this book. There isn't a dull moment. I haven't read a book in ages, but this one made me keep going. I sware I stayed up past 3AM last night (or this morning, whichever way you look at it) reading it and I only stopped because my vision was blurring, I'm not kidding. I didn't want to stop.

This book made me feel kinda guilty, because I was an avid American Gladiators fan, I still am actually, I won't even miss a rerun I've seen hundreds of times! But all the things he did to his body to please the crowd, and to satisfy his addiction because he felt like he NEEDED to use drugs, is detailed and heart-wrenching. I read that somebody cried like four times reading it. I almost came to that, but there were people in the room, and I try not to cry in front of anyone.

His life is defined by the tragedies that he faced as a child and he explains it to the reader like he is TELLING it to you in person. You can actually picture the words playing out like it's a movie; a very sad, graphic movie that you can't look away from, even at the most detailed content that you cannot believe actually happened in his life.

Before reading his book, I knew steroids were bad, I knew about the "glorified side-effects", but I never knew the more inner personal side-effects. Steroids are NO JOKE, using steroids is NO JOKE. It's not a joke, they will [..............]! Dan Clark exposed his most inner secrets in incredible detail to PROVE that steroids are NOT GOOD, they are REALLY NO JOKE, he tells his story to help people understand the more unknown side-effects of steroid use, that people might try to look away from, turn a blind eye to. He DOESN'T depict himself as a victim, he knows he did it to himself. The Epilogue is extremely powerful, extremely powerful. He actually offers up his own advice to parents of athletes.

This book is a great read. It's real, it's detailed all the way through about his using, trying to overcome it, becoming a father, being an American Gladiator, growing up, everything is here, and I recommend it to anybody. If you are thinking about buying this book, don't THINK about it, BUY IT, BUY IT NOW! Definite 5 ***** STAR book, definately.

Review by - The Robin.
518832
Having seen Bob on the One Show I bought this book and was delighted I had.  The relationship between Bob and James feels real when you read his story and I can see how he literally saved his life.  I am so glad James made it through his addiction and maybe has a better life from his book sales.  They are a right pair and reading about it does your heart good.  Recommended.
2330441
Having read this book cover to cover, I can tell you if you incorporate the techniques in it, it can and will change your life as a sales person. Not fluffy or mind numbing like a lot of sales books, James uses real world techniques.. They work. James brings it to your front door and all you have to do is open it up. Rock solid read!
2977464
I choose this rating because this book reveals I serve a God that walks with me through real life and sustains me in real life. No fluff, just geniune accounts of real testimonials of how shows up in the real struggles in life and heals, delivers, encourages, etc.

I have sent copies of this book to my friends who are having some life challenges right.
Great read.
3038004
I really enjoyed the book! I do a lot of reading/interviewing of authors and found this book to be very honest and self-aware. The power and influence of wealth is on full display here as is the struggle of the author coming to grips with his inability to scratch out a living as a world class athlete.

The interview I did with Mark Shultz is linked here  http://tonybasilio.com/index.php?page=mp3_archives&dest_dir=BookCorner&dir_name=Book+Corner#archive_player

Give it a listen and grab this book
149563
Jim Perry. What an amazing man. I find myself after reading this several times loving him even more. Truly if you missed out on Jim Perry's career and him, you missed out on a truly phenomenal guy. He is all REAL. No phony business.  I do believe he was my favorite guy ever to grace the TV screen. I just feel different with him. My first love on TV, is my strongest. And truly that happens a lot in life. Just such a proud fan of Jim Perry. He may have been severely and grossly underrated but he was truly the best in his craft and his heart and soul was even better. I am so glad Jim Perry was put into my life. He gave me and others "his legions of fans" so many great memories to cherish. He brighten our day by him just being him. He made us connect with him and take a ride with him. That ride was incredibly fun and still is. This is true talent, this is a REAL man.  Others gave us less than best, but that wasn't Jim Perry. He gave us his ALL. Jim slayed every single time he was on screen, he owned it.  We couldn't dare ask for more. So while in heaven Jim, love yourself. And know we loved you dearly and was very unique in the best of ways. Jim deserved ALL the love. And most of all "don't be nervous, you're among friends." Rest peacefully Jim. Such sweet soul like you deserves it. Love ya 4ever Jim Perry. I recommend this book to everyone, it is a great read and you get to see just how amazing, deep, and incredibly strong Jim is.  Sincerely, a devoted fan
186480
I enjoyed both books I have read by Mr. Lieberman, but being a basketball fan and having a financial background made this book a great read.  To me, when I finish a book in two days, this is the best test of my enjoyment level as I normally keep puting a book down if it is not keeping my interest.  Keep up the good work and look forward to future works.
3639787
This book is hilarious. It is written with honesty and no shame and I love it. The best part about reading anything Rick writes is you know it is the truth how he sees it. He doesn't try and sugar coat and he doesn't try and exaggerate. He is a great story teller and really allows you to see who these sports celebrities really are. Some of them are really arrogant jerks and some are awesome. He has a way of making you actually laugh out loud. I will continue to read anything this man writes. From my 90 year old sports enthusiast grand mother to my 26 year old daughter, we all love this book!