I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It: Some Things I'Ve Learned So Far

Rating:
Summary: Charles, I expected more!
Review: As a fan of both Charles Barkley and Michael Wilbon, I would like to recommend this book. Unfortunately, I cannot do so. The book is a definite disappointment. I was waiting for Barkley to tear down the altars of political correctness. Maybe he will someday, but not in this book. About 75% of the book pretty much restates the same theme: racism is bad. I think most of us already understand this concept. Not exactly the stuff controversy is made of. There were about four chapters of the book that were vintage Barkley. He makes some good jabs at poltical correctness, although not nearly enough. The chapter on John Drew was outstanding. He also takes up the issue of high school kids leaving too early; he says high school players should go to college to improve their game. I'm not sure he's thought the issue through completely, though. It seems to me somone who grew up in poverty should understand that a poor kid in high school might need to get a NBA paycheck immediately to help their family, even if they miss out on a year or two of instruction in college.

However, a few good chapters aren't enough to justify buying this book. It's a disappointment. I hope Barkley will try again. I know he can do better. Oh, and one more thing: Barkley's analysis of Bob Gibson just doesn't hold up. Bob Gibson wasn't mean because he grew up black in a white man's world. Gibson was mean because he was mean. Willie Mays was black, too, and grew up in poverty; yet he became a nice person. Things aren't quite as black and white as Barkley would have you believe.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Charles Barkley has been someone I have really enjoyed watching as both a player and an analyst. The content of this book should come as a surprise to no one. An honest look at the world through his eyes, Charles discusses many of today's social issues. Many of his views made me stop and think about the way I view these same issues. If you are looking for stories of basketball glory, this book isn't for you.

I can't say he is always right, but this book makes you believe that if you could have a debate with Charles himself, you would have an open conversation with no hard feelings!

Rating:
Summary: OK book, but, where's the controversy?
Review: Charles Barkley is a riot, and I think he has a lot of good ideas that, once polished, will make him a fine politician someday, in the event he feels like heading in that direction. Furthermore, I think he would make a great Republican candidate, which the country needs more of from the black community. Barkley toys with Right side in "I May Be Wrong...," pretty much because, looking around the spot where he grew up (when he's back in town), he can't help but notice that all those years of Democrat promises and vows to shape things up in urban communities haven't changed much of anything.

Barkley is a gracious lover of the game of basketball, too, and pays clear and respectful homage to his forefathers. He mentions how a lot of the up-and-comers don't have the respect for their elders that they need to succeed in sports, and in life. Barkley clearly paid attention to guys like Moses Malone and Dr. J., recognizing that they had a lot of wisdom to impart to a young guy, on and off the court. Barkley comments on some of today's players, both young and old, but does so (for the most part) with courtesy and without finger-pointing. He is adult enough not to slam Scottie Pippen, despite the fact that Pippen has stabbed Barkley and others in the back.

His thoughts on race relations in this country are all over the map, and register more misses than hits. Barkley is interested in the subject and phenomenon of race, but hasn't honed his arguments or feelings to laser-like (or even shotgun-like) accuracy. He complains that black actors are often given non-mainstream roles such as pimps and whores in Hollywood, even though those roles are the customary "non-traditional" ones that whites win Oscars with (Elizabeth Shue in "Leaving Las Vegas," for instance). He blames a lot of ills on the rich in this country, without any accountability on the part of the poor, like when he treats credit card companies as part of a conspiracy to trap the lower classes in a financial hole they can't climb out of. Barkley pontificates about double standards between black and white athletes and celebrities, and yet conspicuously omits from the debate the single greatest example of an athlete getting away with murder in this country's history (O.J., of course).

But most importantly, and the worst part of this book, is that there is nothing outrageous about it whatsoever. Despite its being pitched as a no-holds-barred, tell it like it is missive and social commentary (including in the book's prologue), there is nothing said that's more controversial than that Michael Jordan is a cheapskate. All in all, this is a nice autobiographical sketch of Sir Charles that doesn't really excite, and certainly doesn't deliver on its hinted theme of "I told you so."

Rating:
Summary: Great book. The Chuckster rules
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Reads quick, but doesn't lack substance as Charles has a lot to say.

My biggest surprise was in the political area: For years, I have heard that Charles is a conservative, and I always see GOP big shots try to capatalize on his fame. After reading the book, however, I don't think Charles is as much as a GOP man as even Charles himself seems to think. His views on race, wealth, big business and several other issues are light years away from anything I hear republicans in power espousing these days. His positions are much more left leaning in everything but name- which is fine.

In the end, its all good no matter what your politics. Charles has much to offer here, and thankfully leaves the nuances of breaking down the pick and roll on the weak side to other books. He talks about things that matter, and for this I thank him and show up here to recommend his book.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: In this book he talks about how he is making the transistion from basketball to something else, political commentator or something like that, now that he has retired from the NBA. He is at his best AWAY from basketball in this book, and even though he talked a lot about wanting to move beyond it he still talked about it a lot.

I recommend this book because of his comments on racism, which I found interesting in that they would be hard to characterize as liberal or conservative. I hope Charles does do something political because based on what he says here I think he could be a valuable inbetween sort of person that both sides could trust to help sort some issues out. He talks frequently about the need for more discussion and I agree with him. This book really did make me think, I tend to be conservative on the race issue, but I did not find his views about where racism lies to be at all race baiting like so many black leaders out there, or excessively small minded, but rather thought provoking and things I have gone back to in my mind since reading the book and noticing racial things on TV, etc.

All in all a good read, easy reading, and enough juicy basketball stuff if that is what you are up for to go with the meatier stuff about social and racial issues.

Rating:
Summary: I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It - review
Review: Like many other professional sports today, professional basketball has its fair share of colorful, wild, and notorious players. However, thought to be one of the most controversial players in any sport, Charles Barkley personifies the unique and highly opinionated sports figure. I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It, by Charles Barkley, is an amazing autobiography, not only of the star's life on the basketball court, but of Barkley's opinions, goals, struggles, and triumphs in the real world.

I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It is a story of the career and personal life of one of the most talented basketball players to ever set foot in the NBA. Still noted as one of the only players, along with Wilt Chamberlain, to "total more than 23,000 points, 12,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists," this sports legend now expresses his opinions, not by playing the game he was so talented at, but through his present position as a TNT sports commentator. As quoted by the book, "There's nothing Charles Barkley shies away from here-not race, not class, not big money, not scandal, not politics, not personalities, nothing."

Barkley infrequently utilizes literary devices. However, the author employs very personal and unique language that not only keeps the reader interested, but also enables the reader to feel as if he has known Barkley for a long time.

I thought I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It was an incredible autobiography. Although highly opinionated and in some instances controversial, this book is a must read for any sports fan. The book lacks a definite theme, but its purpose is to present the life of one of the most intelligent minds in all of sports today and the opinions and ideas that have molded this man into the "character" he is today.

Rating:
Summary: keep talking
Review: the thing about the book that stands out the most, is that charles barkley took out time to " write a book " on some things that were important; not only to him, but to the average person that relates and understands those concerns. how many pro sports figures even care to do something like this???