Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life [Hardcover]

Deion Sanders (Author), Jim Nelson Black (Author), T. D. Jakes (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1998

Superstar Deion Sanders tells his powerful life story and reveals how power, money and sex could not satisfy the void in his life-a void ultimately satisfied by his relationship with Christ. A photo section included in this national best-seller.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Even in the world of athletic superstars, Sanders (aka "Neon Deion" and "Prime Time") is exceptional, supremely gifted in two sports: he is, for instance, the only man ever to hit a home run in the National League and score an NFL touchdown in the same week. His autobiography find a sympathetic audience not only among sports fans, however, but among conservative Christians who can't tell a punt from a bunt. Religion has played a large role in Sanders's life recently. He plans to enter the ministry after his sports career, and his faith has enabled him to express affection for his father, a drug addict who deserted the family when Sanders was seven and living in Fort Myers, Fla., and for his stepfather, an alcoholic. Readers may feel less inclined to forgive, but all will agree that his mother was a tower of strength. Sanders was a sports star in high school and college before turning pro. His success quickly brought the eponymous power, money and sex, but Deion found life empty, and his marriage a failure. He was saved?in the religious sense?by the efforts of two clergymen, including Bishop Jakes of Dallas, and now feels that his life is fulfilling. Sanders stumbles when expounding on his religious notions, which are sprinkled with awkward homilies ("the devil don't waste time offering you stuff you don't want"). They also reflect conservative principles that some readers won't share. It's Sanders's fast-paced account of his struggle to navigate the hazards of a life in the limelight, not his prosyletizing, that give this book the indelible stamp of Neon Deion.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Sanders is the flamboyant Dallas Cowboy defensive back who also had a successful major-league baseball career. Ultimately dissatisfied with his fast-track life, Sanders writes about his pain and the relief he subsequently found when he accepted Christ. Other Christians will recognize Sanders' personal crises as a common precursor to religious conversion and will strongly identify with him. For readers looking for more than an account of personal spiritual redemption, Sanders supplies plenty of details about his upbringing and his career as one of the most recognizable and successful athletes of his time. The book might reach wider audience if it were less segmented. As it is, the first half is about Sanders' sports career, the second about his faith and the comfort it has brought him. Sports fans may abandon the book when the message arrives; nonfans may give up before they get there. On balance, Sanders does a surprisingly low-key job in presenting his life and faith, despite an admittedly misleading, bait-and-switch title. Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Word Publishing (October 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084991499X
• ISBN-13: 978-0849914997
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #695,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Prime Time's Years of Slime Time, December 16, 2003

By 

D. Brickeen "dbrickeen" (TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life (Hardcover)

Let me start off by saying I like Deion Sanders, otherwise I never would have purchased his book. And I admire the fact that the man has come a LONG way and overcome many obstacles to accept Christ into his life.
However, I do have a major complaint - well, two to be totally honest.
One, Deion seems to blame all his past problems on others. Even though Deion admits he was hell on wheels and self destructive for a time, he still doesn't take responsibility for many of his actions in this book. The time in Cincinnati, when he played for the Reds, when he got into an altercation with a security guard while he was riding around in a golf cart. Everyone knows Deion made that situation worse than it ever could have been, but in Deion's retelling of the story, the security guard provoked him. There are several more stories like this one, where Deion was involved in something that escalated because the other party in the dispute was out to "get him". I'm not going to say that everything that has happened to Deion is his fault, but let's be real - a lot of it is. I'm surprised, as a christian, that Deion hasn't stepped up to the plate and taken a little more responsibility for his past actions. I'm not judging Deion, but I must admit my disappointment.
The other problem I had with the book, and this is most likely not Deion's fault but rather the authors, is that his "escapades" are glamourized, instead of downplayed. I've read several biographies written by famous people - athletes, politicians, actors, etc - and they all are guilty of this. I understand the risk you take as a writer, explaining the past deed and attempting to unfold what happened, but doing so in a manor that is interesting to the reader. When this happens, it's every easy to glamourize the story, instead of exposing it for the bad thing that it was.
Overall, an entertaining read, albeit somewhat short to my surprise.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prime Time's Quest to Christ, February 3, 2000

By 

The Electrifying JE "eazy-e1" (CALI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life (Hardcover)

Wow! The life and times of Deion Sanders is most definitely a most unique and touching story. Who would think that a man with so much going for himself: fame, fortune, women and much more would want to commit suicide? It just goes to show the public that material gifts don't bring happiness without those who love us in our lives on a daily basis.

Due to hearing the numerous testimonies of Sanders (and others outside of pro sports and the entertainment industry) on ESPN and Christian networks, I am trying to take those extra steps to put Christ in my life full time.

I must admit, I loved the non-religious Deion Sanders. He was so conceited and filled with so much arrogance, and my goodness was he entertaining! However, by seeing the new Deion Sanders, I admire him even more because it takes lots of courage to make the transformations and sacrifices he has made.

I've read a little over half of Deion's book thus far, so I'm informed about part of his journey to spirituality. Now, it's time for me to read the other half of his book and get the complete story of how Deion found "The Big Guy In The Sky."

Job well done by Deion and his editor, Jim Nelson Black on bringing us a most uplifting story for all readers to take part in.

Finally, I just want to say: Keep doin' what ya doin' Deion and don't change. Keep safe and God bless!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A SMALL glimpse into the soul of Deion Sanders (aka Prime Time), January 5, 2009

By 

D. Mills "dmills1555" (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power, Money & Sex (Paperback)

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time. I really wanted to hear the story of Deion's conversion from Prime Time, to being a Christian. I was particularly intrigued by his suicide attempt, wondering what drove him to that point, and how it impacted his life afterward.

I thought the book was decent, but was a bit disappointed. It left me wanting more. I found his writing style to be rambling, and repititious. While his focus was to tell the story of his conversion, which I appreciated, it wasn't as in depth as I would have liked. A little too "preachy" in many places. I still don't feel like I really know who Deion Sanders really is. Based on his own description, I didn't see a lot of difference between the new Deion and the Old Deion, although that is the power of his testimony. In both instances, he described himself as a supremely talented and confident talented individual who is essentially good at the core, but who is usually misunderstood.

In the book, Deion says that he created the "Prime Time" image while he was in college as a way of marketing himself, and that that isn't really who he is. The problem is that is exactly who we saw throughout the book. He still seems to be hiding behind that persona. I don't question the validity of his experience. I can only assume that Deion wrote this book as a baby Christian (1998). I'd be interested in hearing him tell his story now, with ten years of walking with Christ under his belt.

In summary, its a good book, but lacked in substance. His intentions were good, but he needed a little help on the delivery.