Customer Reviews

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball: 101 Great Hoop Stories from Players, Coaches, and Fans (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Quality Paper))

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball: 101:...was "okay." I bought it for my husband because I thought it had more information about Philadelphia teams. However, it was informative and can be read at one sitting. As with all books, there are many things that can be discovered.

As a contributor to this wonderful book, I cannot recommend it enough. As a reader of this wonderful book, I cannot recommend it enough. My contribution to this book is "The Coach from Iona," (my story of a brief encounter with Jim Valvano at a basketball camp when I was a kid) and I am thrilled that Pat Williams included it in a book filled with so many inspirational, captivating and heart-warming stories. Each gifted writer weaves a gift in the form of words, wrapping your emotions in a world of hope, dreams and possibilities. Even if basketball is not a past time for you, the message of this book is a past time for everyone. If you love basketball (as I do), then this book is a powerhouse of passionate richness, that I will read again and again, cherish always, and share energetically with all who are dear to me. I am honored to be part of a team that is so much bigger than myself...and I hope you read these stories with all your heart, your mind and your soul.

All I can say is, "Wow! What a terrific book!" I'm not much of a reader, but I love sports. I thought that this book would be okay because I could read one or two stories at a time and not have to read all day. Well, I couldn't put the book down.

I loved the story about Chris Paul honoring his grandfather by scoring 61 points in a game. I loved the story about Barack Obama playing hoops with the UNC Tarheels. I couldn't believe the story about Jim Jones Jr. I'm not a very emotional person, but this book got to me. I was fired up, I laughed, I even teared up because of a few stories.

I've received a few "Chicken Soup" books before, but never one like this. I am absolutely amazed at how many unbelievable stories are in the book. You won't be disappointed with this purchase.

The book was disappointingly light. I hadn't read a chicken soup for the soul book for some years so expected it to match the quality of the original books. I expected stories that had a message or a quirkiness, but found this to be more self promotion of athletes and their lifestyle choices. Good choices and worth promoting, but not unusual enough to justify being under the chicken soup name I felt. I was looking for stories that were more...? Perhaps more realinsight inside basketball, not about "I did this", "won this" and am a good guy etc...

A great collection of short stories about life and basketball players, coaches and people involved with the sport. Every story is inspiring with a nice "life lesson" message with it. A great reference for teens who love basketball. Inspiring messages to remind them character is observed both on and off the court.

To only a minor degree do I agree with another reviewer, who regretted a certain light tone and self-serving characteristics in some of the chapters. However, overall I found this book to be excellent and WELL worth reading. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to be blown away like I was - Marc Balara is my 'oldest' friend, and I was mostly interested in his chapter. Dare I say that Marc's chapter also happens to be THE most substantial. Prepare yourself for a few tears as well when you get there, because I predict you WILL get there. Any human being who tries to remain conscious on this planet can relate to Marc and some of the other writers in this book - it is ALWAYS the so-called 'little' things that make all the difference. And I get it - youngsters will especially be shaped by the moments of kindness, the attention that so-called adults take for granted, that can alter the entire course of one's life or experiences. Thanks, folks, and thanks for no tawdry "slam dunk" analogies.