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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court Kindle Edition

by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,156 ratings

The former NBA star and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient explores his 50-year friendship with Coach John Wooden in this New York Times bestseller.

President Barack Obama’s Favorite Book of 2017
A Boston Globe and Huffington Post Best Book of 2017 Pick

When future NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was still an 18-year-old high school basketball prospect from New York City named Lew Alcindor, he accepted a scholarship from UCLA largely on the strength of Coach John Wooden’s reputation as a winner. It turned out to be the right choice, as Alcindor and his teammates won an unprecedented three NCAA championship titles. But it also marked the beginning of one of the most extraordinary and enduring friendships in the history of sports . . .

Coach Wooden and Me is a stirring tribute to the subtle but profound influence that Wooden had on Kareem as a player, and then as a person, as they began to share their cultural, religious, and family values while facing some of life’s biggest obstacles. From his first day of practice, when the players were taught the importance of putting on their athletic socks properly; to gradually absorbing the sublime wisdom of Coach Wooden’s now famous “Pyramid of Success”; to learning to cope with the ugly racism that confronted black athletes during the turbulent Civil Rights era as well as losing loved ones, Abdul-Jabbar fondly recalls how Coach Wooden’s fatherly guidance not only paved the way for his unmatched professional success but also made possible a lifetime of personal fulfillment.

“A miraculous evocation of the ultimate odd couple relationship in sports history.” —Huffington Post

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  1. Print length
    321 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    December 26, 2017
  5. File size
    51.3 MB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Abdul-Jabbar and Wooden shared a priceless friendship, and this sensitive, sharply written account brings it to full, vivid life.

-- "Booklist (starred review)"

A celebration of mutual devotion, understanding, and love.

-- "Boston Globe"

More than just a memoir about college basketball-although it is that, from one of the greatest players of all time-Abdul-Jabbar recounts his lifelong friendship with UCLA coach John Wooden and the ways he learned only later that Wooden guided and tried to protect him as he broke through racial barriers.

-- "Los Angeles Times"

This stunning eulogy will appeal to readers far beyond the confines of sports. Highly recommended.

-- "Library Journal"

Anyone inclined to dismiss John Wooden and Abdul-Jabbar's relationship as merely coach and player... will rethink that miscalculation after reading this compact, engaging memoir.

-- "Publisher's Weekly"

About the Author

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Since retiring, he has been an actor, a basketball coach, and the author of many New York Times bestsellers. Abdul-Jabbar is also a columnist for many news outlets, such as the Guardian and the Hollywood Reporter, writing on a wide range of subjects including race, politics, age, and pop culture. In 2012, he was selected as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador and in 2016 Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award which recognizes exceptional meritorious service. He lives in Southern California.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LYJI4UO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (December 26, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 26, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 51.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1455571245
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 1,156 ratings

About the author

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a huge Holmesian--7'2" tall, basketball's all-time leading scorer, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (our nation's highest civilian honor) which was awarded from President Obama. He writes extensively, for The Hollywood Reporter & The Guardian Newspaper and has published 15 books; Giant Steps (biography), Kareem (last year in NBA), What Color is My World (children's), Profiles in Black Courage, Brothers in Arms (military history), On the Shoulders of Giants (black history), Coach Wooden & Me (our 50-year friendship and Becoming Kareem On and Off the Court (YA). His first novel Mycroft Holmes, starring Sherlock Holmes lesser well known but far more talented older brother, was published in 2015. The Mycroft trilogy is now complete and available online.

For more information visit: KareemAbdulJabbar.com

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,156 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a must-read that captures a unique friendship between two great men. The writing is eloquent, and customers describe it as heartfelt and inspirational, with one review noting how it weaves powerful stories together with strong individuality. Customers appreciate the book's intelligence, with one review highlighting its depth about "The Wizard of Westwood." The visual quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the great pictures on the dust jacket, and customers find it fun to read.

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100 customers mention "Readability"100 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as wonderful and a must-read, with one customer noting it's required reading for all athletes.

"...He's led an interesting, reflective life. Truly a special book that I could not recommend higher." Read more

"...It was a delightful book full of surprising information about Wooden and Jabar." Read more

"...This wonderful book put an end to that. It is brimful with emotion, often self-effacing but always remarkably candid and open...." Read more

"...Well-written and great read whether you're a sports fan or not. It was terrific!" Read more

73 customers mention "Storyline"73 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of this book, describing it as a great read about a unique relationship and friendship, with one customer noting it as one of the best books on mentor-mentee relationships.

"...This book was very readable and surprisingly intimate coming from Kareem who was always quiet and not gregarious as were most of the other Wooden..." Read more

"...Jabbar is a very good writer and has quite a story to tell...." Read more

"...I call it unique in that it is focused on a long-term friendship rather than just a typical autobiography...." Read more

"...That the unique and life-long friendship they forged transcends all of it is, too." Read more

54 customers mention "Writer"54 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, describing it as excellent, eloquent, and very readable.

"...This book was very readable and surprisingly intimate coming from Kareem who was always quiet and not gregarious as were most of the other Wooden..." Read more

"...And how could this amazing athlete write such a touching, compassionate story of the love and respect shared between Jabbar and Wooden?..." Read more

"...Jabar is a surprisingly easy writer to read even when the topic is basketball. His style is conversational and gently revealing...." Read more

"...Well-written and great read whether you're a sports fan or not. It was terrific!" Read more

40 customers mention "Heartfelt story"40 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartfelt and inspirational, capturing Wooden's feelings in a very humanist way.

"This book will have you in tears by the end, and makes you feel as thought you know Coach Wooden yourself." Read more

"...And how could this amazing athlete write such a touching, compassionate story of the love and respect shared between Jabbar and Wooden?..." Read more

"...This wonderful book put an end to that. It is brimful with emotion, often self-effacing but always remarkably candid and open...." Read more

"...backgrounds and cultures can, and do, learn to be friends and respect one another, when they give it a chance...." Read more

33 customers mention "Intelligence"33 positive0 negative

Customers praise Wooden's intelligence, describing him as an amazing person and one of the greatest coaches and athletes in history.

"...the fact that he was also human, not a saint, but a beautiful and wonderful man...." Read more

"...It's all here in these pages. Abdul-Jabbar was a GREAT basketball player, clearly intelligent. Most don't get a great chance at a second career...." Read more

"...Abdul-Jabbar always struck me as a fiercely intelligent, complex and thoughtful guy...." Read more

"...Kareem was a phenomenal player and Coach Wooden, a great teacher and man...." Read more

32 customers mention "Insight"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with many noting it contains valuable lessons. One customer describes it as a great learning experience about "The Wizard of Westwood," while another appreciates how it captures the profound importance of Wooden's teachings.

"...It would be a terrific book for a father, mother, or parents together to read to their children or play the CD of Kareem reading it himself...." Read more

"...His style is conversational and gently revealing. I didn't know his conversion to Islam was based on spiritual reasons, not political...." Read more

"...Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did such a fine job of capturing the profound importance of his relationship with John Wooden that I shared his grief when..." Read more

"...loved the fact the two of them were such good friends and learned so much from one another...." Read more

16 customers mention "Visual quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, with one customer noting it provides a great window into Coach Wooden's character.

"...shows that plus the fact that he was also human, not a saint, but a beautiful and wonderful man...." Read more

"...His style is conversational and gently revealing. I didn't know his conversion to Islam was based on spiritual reasons, not political...." Read more

"...This book offers a unique look into Wooden as I haven't seen in any of his other books...." Read more

"Outstanding look at the man John wooden from an intimate perspective. Very well written...." Read more

9 customers mention "Humor"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and fun, with one mentioning it brought back many good memories.

"...The stories in the book are poignant, touching, and at times funny. I cried myself reading certain parts especially towards the end...." Read more

"...His touching tribute to his coach and mentor was a joyful and moving read...." Read more

"...He doesn't sugar coat it up. The book is a fun, learning, authentic read you don't want to finish that has more heart than any book I have read in a..." Read more

"A good mix of basketball and life lessons. This book also allowed me to relive and understand history particularly as to civil rights movement...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Bonnie Sawyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book about a wonderful man & Coach
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I knew Coach Wooden, his wife Nellie and daughter Nan. I've met Kareem a couple times but I don't "know" him. This book was very readable and surprisingly intimate coming from Kareem who was always quiet and not gregarious as were most of the other Wooden players I knew, and still know, from over the years. I read half the book, then while traveling across country, I listened to Kareem read the book on a CD. I eas very touched and having known Coach Wooden, I cried in several places. He was a truely wonderful man and this book shows that plus the fact that he was also human, not a saint, but a beautiful and wonderful man. I am blessed to have been part of the Bruin family during many of the years that Coach Wooden was coaching. I couldn't more highly recommend this book to anyone. It would be a terrific book for a father, mother, or parents together to read to their children or play the CD of Kareem reading it himself. There are many lessons young people coud learn from both Coach & Kareem.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • LH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Touching, heartfelt much read for sports fans
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book will have you in tears by the end, and makes you feel as thought you know Coach Wooden yourself.
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  • Rick Spell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just Phenomenal.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Kareem Abdul Jabbar is one of our most intelligent athletes ever and has always followed a different drummer. Now a committed author with books and opinion pieces in papers like The NY Times. As a fan of John Wooden I had to read this book with low expectations. They were FAR exceeded.

    Jabbar is a very good writer and has quite a story to tell. How could a thin, tall athlete with left leanings maintain such an intimate relationship with a much older, conservative MidWesterner? How could these two opposing personalities meld until Wooden was in his 90s? And how could this amazing athlete write such a touching, compassionate story of the love and respect shared between Jabbar and Wooden? It's all here in these pages. Abdul-Jabbar was a GREAT basketball player, clearly intelligent. Most don't get a great chance at a second career. But Jabbar is a great writer/activist that deserves our attention. He's led an interesting, reflective life.

    Truly a special book that I could not recommend higher.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Bookhandler Press
    4.0 out of 5 stars Surprsingly Sweet Book about Basketball
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    My book club read this book, which is the only reason I would have read it. I'm not a sport fan, but I am a fan of memoirs and learning about relationships. Jabar is a surprisingly easy writer to read even when the topic is basketball. His style is conversational and gently revealing. I didn't know his conversion to Islam was based on spiritual reasons, not political. I didn't know Wooden put becoming a great ball player as the 5th item of what is important for his players to learn. It was a delightful book full of surprising information about Wooden and Jabar.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Jerry in Japan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational memoir
    Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am not even a huge basketball fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed this unique memoir. I call it unique in that it is focused on a long-term friendship rather than just a typical autobiography. It's also unique in what an unlikely friendship is described in the book. As Kareem summarizes early in the book, "I was Lewis Alcindor, an eighteen-year-old seven-foot-two-inch black kid from NYC. I was all about fast subways, hot jazz, and civil rights politics. He was John Wooden, a fifty-five-year-old five-foot-ten-inch white man from a hick town in Indiana. He was all about....tractors, big bands and Christian morals. We were an odd-couple sitcom waiting to happen."
    And yet this odd couple maintained a powerful and poignant 50-year friendship.
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  • Jordan Sollitto
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and heartfelt memoir of an unlikely -- yet profound -- friendship..
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    My eyes filled with tears at the end of this book. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did such a fine job of capturing the profound importance of his relationship with John Wooden that I shared his grief when Coach dies in the final pages. Abdul-Jabbar always struck me as a fiercely intelligent, complex and thoughtful guy. But his often stoic public demeanor prevented me from realizing how deeply sensitive, introspective and warm he is as well. This wonderful book put an end to that. It is brimful with emotion, often self-effacing but always remarkably candid and open. Both of these remarkable men factored heavily in my basketball fandom. That the most important dimensions of each of them are not actually directly related to their prodigious accomplishments on the court is remarkable. That the unique and life-long friendship they forged transcends all of it is, too.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • michael
    5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT READ about REAL PEOPLE!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Having grown up during the UCLA heyday ('60-"70s), this book brought back a lot of memories for me. That's especially true because I was a student at and a huge Memphis fan. Kareem was a phenomenal player and Coach Wooden, a great teacher and man. I loved the fact the two of them were such good friends and learned so much from one another. The bond they had was admirable and proves that people of different backgrounds and cultures can, and do, learn to be friends and respect one another, when they give it a chance. Well-written and great read whether you're a sports fan or not. It was terrific!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dispelled a lot of untruths Great read!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I am not a big basketball ball fan since the Knicks have stunk for the last 20 years. I always rooted for Larry Bird's Celtics against the Lakers. I always perceived Kareem to be arrogant. Always heard about the legend of John Wooden but heard he was kind of racist. This book was such a great read I didn't want to put it down. Have such respect for Kareem now having read this book which chronicles his growth not only as a professional basketball player but as a complex human being. Feel the same way about John Wooden after reading this. The anecdotes about the racism Kareem and other African American players faced and how an older white coach from Indiana handled it are compelling for their humanity and how he learned to adapt. This book was enjoyable and I highly recommend it.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • adnan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and an absolute treasure of a book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Its hard for me to put into words how much joy I felt reading this books. Both coach wooden and Kareem are scholars of not just basketball but also life. Stories span across a critical time in human history for sports but also freedom of rights. Thank you Kareem for sharing. It would be wonderful if you could stop by London to meet some of your fans :-)
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  • Ronald English
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good account of the various stages in their relationship
    Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Very good account of the various stages in their relationship. Some vignettes of the Power Memorial and UCLA days, as well, including his recruitment (Alcindor, that is). I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Abdul-Jabbar and/or Wooden.
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  • 松原梅子
    5.0 out of 5 stars 英語がわかりやすく美しい
    Reviewed in Japan on April 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    NBAレジェンドで、最近は知識人、ライター、アメリカの良心として注目されているKareem Abdul-Jabbar。NBA時代のコーチWooden氏との出会いや関係について書かれた一冊。バスケットボールについてまったく知らない私でも、十分に楽しめました。コーチと学生、友人として、2人がどう関係を築いていったのか、その時代背景とともに描かれています。終盤は、彼のコーチに対する優しいまなざしに、泣けて泣けて仕方がありませんでした。
    英語は高校の教科書レベル。多読をしたい、1冊読み通してみたいと考えている高校生、大学生、もちろん一般の方にもおすすめです。
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  • Dani
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book! Moving and inspiring
    Reviewed in Italy on May 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book goes well beyond basketball. I really recommend it.
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  • Fernando
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mucho más que baloncesto, un gran libro
    Reviewed in Spain on January 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Un libro excelente, bien escrito y que narra la amistad de por vida entre uno de los mejores jugadores de la historia del baloncesto y el nombrado mejor entrenador de Estados Unidos de cualquier deporte. Una obra muy recomendable para todo aquel que quiera profundizar en una relación muy interesante que trasciende los límites de la cancha y deja muchas lecciones para la vida.
    Report

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