Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You: The Making of a Champion (Hardcover)

by Lisa Leslie (Author), Larry Burnett (Author)
Key Phrases: junior national team, gold medal game, Coach Stanley, Coach Scott, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A three-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time MVP of the WNBA, and the first woman ever to dunk in a professional basketball game, Lisa Leslie is considered one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball. Now in her own words, she points the spotlight onto her remarkable life off the court, where being a confident champion was not always simple.

As a child growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Lisa was timid, awkward, and over six feet tall in the sixth grade. Opponents challenged her, and she struggled to overcome self-imposed fears and limitations. But as her interest in basketball grew, she toughened both her game and her resolve. She also learned she could retain her femininity and throw a few elbows too.

Still there was a nagging notion that girls--even tall girls and especially pretty ones - could not play well. At the same time, Lisa's home life, though loving, was unstable. Lisa never knew her father. Her mother worked as a traveling truck-driver to support the family, leaving Lisa to shuffle between relatives. Lisa's beloved older sister seemed only to torment her, harbor hidden jealousies, and would later go on to steal her identity and almost ruin her finances. And as a young woman, it would take two broken engagements before Lisa finally found the love of her life.

Yet overcoming tremendous doubts are what paved the way to Lisa's greatest achievements--scoring 101 points in the first half of a high school basketball game; signing with Wilhelmina Models and appearing in Vogue magazine; and of course traveling the world and winning championship after championship...after championship.

Today, Lisa is a beautiful, poised, assertive, six-foot-five-inch basketball powerhouse. Her elegance and charm have made her a favorite with fans, the fashion world, and even Hollywood. With hard-won candor and self-assurance, Lisa Leslie shares her empowering story about finding grace under pressure, balancing a life of contradiction without losing yourself, and exceeding expectations--including your own--by playing like a girl.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dafina (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758227353
• ISBN-13: 978-0758227355
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #525,154 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #45 in	Books > Sports > Miscellaneous > Women in Sports
  #69 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Biographies > Basketball

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing like a girl!, May 5, 2008

By	Christina Prevot (Los Altos, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Even as a non-fan of the WNBA, this story really hit home! LL's different, sometimes heartbreaking stories were really an eye-opener into the life of someone who is constantly facing opposition-- LL is a true inspiration!

I was appalled but utterly intrigued when she recollected the story about her own SISTER trying to steal Lisa's identity!

From an athletic role-model to a stunning fashionista, LL has been through it all and I'm glad that she joined forces with Larry Burnett to create a great read!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Champion..., July 13, 2008

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

Lisa Leslie's bio/memoir is not just another story of an athlete's rise from hard times to good luck. This is the story of a woman's ruthless determination to honor the gifts and talents God has given her. There is no luck involved... just pure, unadulterated hard work, a loyal personal and professional support network and God's blessings.

DON'T LET THE LIPSTICK FOOL YOU is one of those rare bios that shares the good, the bad and the ugly while inspiring each of us to follow our own journey, working through the dross to get to the silver, then the gold. From a latchkey home in Compton, California to the Olympic Stadiums in Atlanta, Georgia and Sidney, Australia, Lisa Leslie has traveled the road of disappointment, hardship, and betrayal to become a champion in her personal and professional lives.

Leslie has earned the admiration and respect of many of her peers, as evidenced in the foreword by Earvin "Magic" Johnson; but she has earned mine through the sheer diligence, hard work and integrity that not only resonates through her life, but through the precious pages of her uplifting story. DON'T LET THE LIPSTICK FOOL YOU is definitely a keeper.

Reviewed by Cxandra
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like talking to a friend!, May 31, 2008

By	R. V. González "Tashe075" (Carolina, P.R. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I loved this book because it is like having a conversation with Lisa Leslie herself in which she tells you everything you ever wanted to know without actually having to ask her anything. It's like talking to a friend who just confides in you. I have always admired this woman, but know I really feel like I know her and admire her even more. It's not like I was in the dark about who she is, she projects her personality and values very clearly, however, with this book, one gets to discover how she got to be who she is and why she has gotten so far. I hope one day I get to meet her in person because she is very dear to me as a person, a woman, a player...she is a great role model to have. So go get a copy of this book. You won't regret it.