Bill Russell: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) [Hardcover]

Murry R. Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Greenwood Biographies | Publication Date: June 30, 2005

As a student of life and basketball, as a basketball player and coach, as an African-American, a businessman, a lecturer, and a man, Bill Russell projects the same single image of a man committed to understanding, improvement, and teamwork in the constant pursuit of new and ever-greater heights. And as his 2 NCAA titles, his Olympic gold medal, and his 11 NBA championships clearly show, the heights towards which Bill Russell most often strove were athletic, and in these athletic contests he was rarely to be denied. As a coach—the first black coach in NBA history—and general manager in his later days, Russell still maintained this same ability to utilize all of the resources available in order to construct a winning entity, and it is because of this very ability that he was later able to captivate lecture audiences from behind a podium. Bill Russell remains a compelling subject for anyone interested in the constitution and development of a champion.

This book also includes a thorough bibliography of print and electronic sources to aid further research. A timeline plots the key events in Russell's life and career.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[R]eveals an Afro-American who was a basketball player, businessman, lecturer, and more. Most will know Russell's name through sports: the appearance of a coverage which follows his many talents provides a well-rounded view of the man's many achievements….[A]n excellent references."

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MBR Internet Bookwatch

"In 1966, Bill Russell, a five-time MVP with the Boston Celtics, took the helm of his team, becoming the first black coach in NBA history. Aimed at high school students, this concise biography presents highlights from Russell's life and career. Coverage includes Russell's upbringing in Louisiana; his years as a player and coach; and his views regarding events such as the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. The volume features a chronology and a glossary."

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Reference & Research Book News

"Russell's career accomplishments on the basketball court continue to amaze. Always the ultimate team player, he held a record of two collegiate championships, one Olympic Gold Medal, and eleven professional championships (in 13 years as a Boston Celtic) that seems mythical. Russell's rebounding ability and defensive strategies changed the way basketball is played….[N]elson does convey Russell's dedication and work ethic, qualities that serve as a good contrast to those of many me-first flamboyant athletes who may have great individual statistics (but often no team championships). One can easily understand why in 1980 the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America voted Russell the greatest player in NBA history. Nelson's simple writing style makes this book most appropriate for younger readers. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates; general readers."

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Choice

"Bill Russell explors the career of the African-American basketball player who won two championships as a college player, 11 titles as a member of the Boston Celtics, and an Olympic gold medal. Nelson describes his career after retiring from the NBA, when he became a coach and a motivational speaker….In-depth time lines help students understand the significant contributions of the featured subjects….[a] valuable source for student reports."

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MultiCultural Review

Book Description

This biography chronicles the life of Bill Russell from his days as a youth in rural Louisiana, through his time as a basketball player and coach for the Celtics, to his enshrinement in the NBA Hall of Fame and in the American consciousness.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood (June 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313330913
• ISBN-13: 978-0313330919
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good primer about a fascinating man (Bill Russell), July 5, 2005

By 

Ricco "logitech2" (Texas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Bill Russell: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) (Hardcover)

Like just about all new books, this book is "pricey." That is the only reason I did not give it a 5-star rating. [CAVEAT: I freely admit that I am biased. For several reasons, I like Bill Russell.]

"Bill Russell, a Biography" is well-written and concise. It contains a great deal of basic information about Russell's youth and about Russell as a basketball player. To say that Russell "revolutionized" professional basketball is not an overstatement. Standing 6-feet, 9-inches tall and being able to high-jump over 6 and 1/2 feet should be illegal, yet Russell could do this. He was also extremely fast. However, even sheer, raw talent like Russell had would have been wasted had he not been an extremely diligent student of the game.

I wish the book had contained more about Russell as a man, for this is what interests me about him. The book touches on his moral failures and his self-doubts (which, of course, proves that he is human!). Yet I had hoped for more. (I would love to meet him and talk to him about anything EXCLUDING basketball. He seems like a fascinating man.)

I also wish it contained more about Russell's career-albeit, a short career-as a TV "basketball analyst," for he was a superb communicator. I always enjoyed watching a game he was doing, for he had so much insight into the game, and he could share that insight with the viewers in a light-hearted, fun way.

The author makes 2 glaring mistakes in the book: (1)While it is true that Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI), he did not convert to "Islam" (that is, Orthodox Islam) until later in life. (2)Ali-formerly called Cassius Clay-likewise became a member of the NOI, yet the NOI is not "Islam" (again, Orthodox Islam).

To sum the 2 glaring errors: the NOI does NOT practice Orthodox Islam.

The book is a good primer about a fascinating man, IMO.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Biography written mainly for children or adolescents, August 1, 2005

By 

Marc Winter (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bill Russell: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) (Hardcover)

This Bio of one of the greatest sportsmen ever to step onto a hardwood floor is well written, but clearly aims at children for a reading audience. Too much time goes into explaining obvious historical knowledge like the fact that back in the fifties races were seperate.
I anticipated a biography written by somebody else than Bill himself (who wrote three autobiographies), but this book doesn't live up to my expectations

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars russell, February 20, 2011

By 

happy dove user - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bill Russell: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) (Hardcover)

did not find this a good read for me...did not finish it. a great man and great player though