The Fab Five: Basketball Trash Talk the American Dream [Hardcover]

Mitch Albom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1993

Recounts the remarkable story of University of Michigan basketball players Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson, and chronicles their success in the NCAA tournaments of 1992 and 1993.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mitch Albom is the author of nine books. His first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven , is the most successful U.S. hardback first novel ever and has to date sold over 8 million copies worldwide. Tuesdays With Morrie, (1997) his chronicle of time spent with a beloved but dying college professor, spent four years on the New York Times bestseller list and is now the most successful memoir ever published. Both books were eventually turned into celebrated TV films. The critically acclaimed Five People You Meet in Heaven aired on ABC in winter, 2004. Oprah Winfrey produced the film version of Tuesdays With Morrie in December 1999; starring Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria. The film garnered four Emmy awards, including best TV film, director, actor and supporting actor. An award-winning journalist and radio host, Albom wrote the screenplay for The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and is an established playwright, having authored numerous pieces for the theater, including the off-Broadway version of Tuesdays With Morrie (co-written with Jeffrey Hatcher) which has seen more than 40 productions nationwide, and several recent comedies which have been produced and performed in venues across the country. Albom has founded three charities in the metropolitan Detroit area: "The Dream Fund," established in 1989, allows disadvantaged children to become involved with the arts. "A Time To Help," founded in 1998, brings volunteers together once a month to tackle various projects in Detroit, including staffing shelters, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and operating meals on wheels programs for the elderly. “S.A.Y Detroit,” Albom’s most recent effort, is an umbrella program to fund shelters and care for the homeless in his city. He also raises money for literacy projects through a variety of means including his performances with The Rock Bottom Remainders, a band made up of writers which includes Steven King, Dave Barry, Scott Turrow, Amy Tan and Ridley Pearson. Albom serves on the boards of various charities and, in 1999, was named National Hospice Organization's Man of the Year. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (November 30, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446517348
• ISBN-13: 978-0446517348
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.3 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Basketball > College & University

More About the Author

Mitch Albom is an author, playwright, and screenwriter who has written seven books, including the international bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time. His first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, as were For One More Day, his second novel, and Have a Little Faith, his most recent work of nonfiction. All four books were made into acclaimed TV films. Albom also works as a columnist and a broadcaster and has founded seven charities in Detroit and Haiti, where he operates an orphanage/mission. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#63 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs

#64 in Books > Self-Help

#67 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#63 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs

#64 in Books > Self-Help

#67 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best sports book ever written... November 2, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

...and a strikingly vivid portrayal of the intricacies of big-time college athletics. Albom has the ability to make the story of five basketball players from inner-city America transcend race, culture, and sport, and he writes a book moving to fans and non-fans alike. His prose is elegant, his portrayals intensely realistic. I've read this book at least twenty times, and it never ceases to amaze. It is the best tribute imaginable to the young men who were the Fab Five and to the cultural phenomenon they induced. Albom perfectly captures what it felt like to be a fan of the Fab Five in the early '90s and reminds us all of the complexities involved when five strong, brash, and confident individuals take the court...and there's only one ball. A must-read for all individuals--I promise it won't disappoint.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Five Freshmen April 9, 2006

By Jason D. Bowman

Format:Hardcover

"What scares you Jalen? Death, said Jalen,... because I can't imagine a world without me in it." The cockiness that was the Fab Five is captured perfectly by Mitch Albom in his book the Fab Five; Basketball, Trash Talk and the American Dream. Like Albom's other books Tuesdays with Morrie and 5 People You Meet in Heaven, his story telling engulfs the reader and transforms a normal story into a legendary tale. Albom recognizes the important interaction between people in their actions and conversations and captures that in his writing. This story, the Fab Five, was a great book and one of the best for any sports fan. The "Greatest Class Ever Recruited", as Albom called them, is a great story that is told from behind the scenes, during the Fab Five's historic career at the University of Michigan. The Fab Five by Albom is the finest sports book because Albom's humorous and stylish writing brings to life the events surrounding five freshmen that transformed college basketball.

The Fab Five is a book about Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, the fabulous five freshmen at the University of Michigan. A group assembled in many different ways, each contributing a unique story to what brought them to Ann Arbor. Albom takes his first few chapters describing the intricate lines that connected each player to Ann Arbor. Jalen and Chris were from Detroit and went to UofM because they were always best friends. Ray Jackson and Jimmy King are from Texas. Ray Jackson was noticed accidentally while scouts were in Texas recruiting other players. For Jimmy King, he came to UofM because Juwan Howard, his roommate on a recruiting trip, was going.... And to put it all together, Juwan became a Michigan Wolverine because his recently diseased grandmother wanted him to go to UofM. Together they became the Fab Five and marched their way on campus and took the college basketball world by storm making it to back-to-back NCAA men's national championship appearances.

The caliber of talent that sounds this book is one for the history books. However, the Fab Five would not be the book it was without the writing and story telling ability of Mitch Albom. Albom has been voted the number one sports writer an unprecedented seven times by the Associated Press Sports Editors. He has hosted a TV show on ESPN and written many famous books as well as a sports column for the "Detroit Free Press". His ability to touch every reader regardless of background is rare. He makes people cry reading Tuesdays with Morrie and people stand up in cheer for the `91 Michigan basketball team in the Fab Five. Undoubtedly, Albom is one of the best writers in American and is writing about one of the best sports teams America has ever witnessed.

Albom accurately describes the sequence of events leading five high school seniors to main-stream college freshman superstars. But one of the things that makes this story one for the ages is that while on many teams today it is rare to see two freshmen starting a game, in 1991 the Fab Five were five freshman players who all started on a team that made it to the NCAA men's Championship basketball game. Having five freshman start a national championship game is unheard of and still to this day, unmatched. Albom predicts, "There will never be another group like the Fab Five." Through what brought them to Michigan, through every behind the scenes event, through every exciting and electrifying game, this book comes to life in front of the readers' eyes. As the book progresses the plot thickens for these young athletes as if Albom himself wrote the story. Every big game and tournament game was commentated as if live from the radio. Albom writes, "And with 21 seconds left, Michigan lead by just a basket, 71-69. `No three-point-shots,' fisher yelled." The games brought a sense of involvement for the reader taking them back in time to the game. With writing style that is clear and descriptive, and while combined with the dazzling games provided by the Michigan Basketball team, this leads to a suspenseful, well illustrated book that makes the heart pump and adrenaline rush. While watching the suspenseful games, Albom knew greatness at the very moment it happened and was there to preserve ever moment of history in his book; a book about kids who became "The Greatest Class Ever Recruited."

They had become the most popular names and faces in college basketball. In Ann Arbor, they sold jerseys and shorts for a hundred and fifty dollars total; "They sold out in a heartbeat," Albom wrote. Stories like these make this book different than any other sports book, a book written while the events occurred with detailed stories nobody else could get. He also wrote about that one game they all walked onto the court with their fashionably baggy shorts, black socks and black shoes revolutionizing college basketball, and he was there to catch every story and detail. Black socks, black shoes and baggy shorts all surprised people watching college basketball. Later looking back, people would contribute these five freshmen as revolutionizing basketball and creating its image today. Albom knew this and felt it was necessary to capture their uniqueness in this book. Mitch Albom, like the rest of the world knew greatness while it was happening and the passion and enthusiasm that he wrote with to illustrate that greatness he was witnessing is another example of why this book is so fabulous.

Albom also included inside stories, taking the reader to a place only a few were able to see. Inside the games, inside the practices and inside the family that was the Fab Five. When Jalen walked in the first day as a freshman and announced, "Freshmen verse ya'll," everyone in the gym was stunned. Where most freshmen come in to find themselves at the bottom of the barrel, these freshmen came in and ran right to the top. After saying, "Freshmen verse ya'll," the five freshman went on to win three scrimmages against the upper classmen. Albom wrote, "The Fab Five has been born." While many people could watch the televised games and see for themselves the spectacle surrounding these freshmen, he took this audience backstage and incorporated these stories that give the reader more than they could otherwise see. Stories about crazy pranks to trash talking rants and bizarre interviews to the baggy shorts and black socks and shoes, is why Fab Five gives the reader more than a sports book. It gives the reader a legendary, and even though no previous knowledge is necessary a substantial amount of time is essential because putting the book down once the readers starts if difficult.

The Fab Five is a humorous, entertaining and well written book, but furthermore, it is an inside look at one of the greatest college basketball stories. Mitch Albom, as one of America's most heralded writers, gives one of his best writing performances for his perfectly illustrated, historical tale of "The Greatest Recruiting Class Ever." He captivated my attention and sparked my interest in Michigan Basketball because of his urban style humor and story telling ability. While most other historical accounts tend to be boring, Mitch Albom captivates his readers and provides one of the best books about sports; a must read for any sports fan. Albom quoted Jalen Rose, "they'll be talking about us for 20 years." This is true about the Fab Five and the Fab Five will be talked about for many years to come Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No doubt. December 23, 2004

By Steven Kempton

Format:Mass Market Paperback

With all the kids going to the pros now this book just gets more and more interesting. College hoops may never be the same as it was when the fab five were together. Although it may be wrong to say they were the reason for so many changes, they were certainly style agents of the nth degree. No doubt about the power of youth and potential and Albom captures all of it with a lot of excitement and enjoyment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fab Five - The Story of the Baggy Pants Revolution May 16, 2001

By Mark Pappas

Format:Hardcover

The book covers the trials and tribulations of Michigan University's freshmen class of '91 (Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King). A remarkablely indepth "inside" story, Albom dives into each players lead up to limelight and their reception to it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Univ of Michigan Fab Five Rules!!! May 17, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is clearly the best sports book I ahave ever read in my life and would recommend this book to any of the college and NBA basketball fans out there. You will see how Chris, Juwan, and Jalen came about, where they are superstars in the NBA, while Jimmy and Ray had to try a little harder to become the stars, which they still haven't yet (but they will be in the NBA soon!!!). EVERYBODY, get this book its fun and fast reading, very informative, Mitch Albom did a great job in giving the reader an inside story of what was going on during the 92-94 Fab Five hype!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Super Friends December 14, 2009

By M. Gibson

Format:Hardcover

This... is... the... beginning...
Welcome to the hip hop entry into the NCAA. In a BIG way. Prior to the Fab Five, there were hip hop athletes on college teams. You even had some stars in the same conference. But NEVER this collection in one TEAM. Put it like this, what Michigan accomplished was something short of a minor miracle. The Fab Five became cultural icons, and introduced to college basketball alot of the trends it enjoys now. Proof? Ok, best friends going to same team, who can actually play (Rose/Webber) later became (Oden/Conley), Black socks, Black shoes, baggy shorts, above the rim (don't mention Phi Slamma Jamma, i'm talking all 5 starters will dunk on you, AT WILL), inside/outside perimeter players (King), pregame chants, big time Nike endorsements (specific shoes, quickstrikes, etc) the list goes ON... Keep in mind the top 4 players in the NATION went here (Howard- #1 C, King- #1 SG, Rose- #1 PG, Webber- #1 PF) and one all State (Jackson), from the same class. That will never be repeated. This book captures all the good, bad, and ugly in Michigan Hoops, from never winning a Title, to the conceived prejudiced IU-Michigan games, to the heated Duke games. Even the media portrayal and "dismissal" are discussed in this book. From Steve Fisher and his bosses acceptance, and reliance on the class, to how it changed UM financial fortunes for the basketball team, to the Nike-Webber recruitment, to the after effects on recruiting, it's all wonderfully laid out. Why no 5 star? easy, I went to IU :-)