Playing for Keeps : Michael Jordan and the World He Made

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Summary: Halberstam out does himself with "Playing for Keeps"
Review: Up until now, "Summer of '49" had been my favorite sports book. Now "Playing for Keeps" is easily my favorite. I have read almost every single sports book out there. This book brings the reader close to Michael Jordan through detailed stories and anectdotes.You will never regret purchasing this book.

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Summary: Blatant error on page 386
Review: Haberstams reference to 'Lenny Wilkens, the fabled Atlanta coaach, soon to be the only man in the Hall of Fame as both player and coach' is a gross error and misinformation. I would like to point out that the John Wooden, the former UCLA coach, and greatest college coach of all time, was the first man inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame, as both player and coach. Please check the records.

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Summary: Read This Book
Review: Finally, a book that places the individual within the context of his sport. I don't need to know everything about Michael Jordan. I want to know why he matters to basketball. This should be mandatory reading for all NBA players; maybe, they wouldn't cry over their salaries.

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Summary: The best journalistic writer in America does it again!
Review: "Playing for Keeps" demonstrates why Halberstam so richly deserves recognition as the best journalistic writer in America -- and probably the best writer of sports books ever. Insightful, full of wonderful stories, he never fails to involve the reader and maintain one's interest. There's nothing better, I suppose, than a long book that seems like a short read and "Playing for Keeps", like all of Halberstam's works, is one of those books. Pick any of his titles, from the lengthy yet fascinating "The Reckoning" to the short yet wonderfully complete "The Amateurs" and you're in for a real treat. I started with "The Breaks of the Game," went quickly through all the rest and urge anyone to pick up any one of his books and start your own adventure into Halberstamland. Picking up "Playing for Keeps" is as good a way to become familiar with Halberstam as any and you'll no doubt find that, like me, you'll be hard pressed to find a better writer in contemporary American non-fiction.

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Summary: Fascinating look on Jordan
Review: David Halberstam writes an another masterpiece. The author brings us closer to the superstar and his unique world. The most interesting aspect of the book is the author's in depth analysis of Jordan's extreme competitiveness and passion which drives him to be the apotheosis of athletes.

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Summary: Great book!
Review: David Halberstam wrote a great book on Michael Jordan. It gives us a different look at the world's most popular athlete and about his incredible desire and willpower to be at the top of his game and set a higher standard for himself and his teammates. Read it!

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Summary: best!!!!!1
Review: absolutely great!!!!!!!

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Summary: A superb book about excellence in sports and in life.
Review: David Halberstam scores again with another superb book about achieving excellence in sports and in life. Michael Jordan's rise to becoming the globally preeminent athlete of his time is chronicled in Halberstam's engaging style that places Jordan's career in the context of the American and worldwide sports entertainment business. Blessed with extraordinary skills, Jordan drove himself to excel and dominate his sport through willpower and a work ethic that is a model for all. Halberstam's chapter on "Michael Jordan's coming out party", his record 63 point April 20, 1986 playoff game against the Boston Celtics brought back a vivid memory for me, as I was privileged to be in attendance to witness what Larry Bird described as "God disguised as Michael Jordan". I attended that game with Don Mitchell, one of the authors of another new book, "The 2000 Percent Solution", which has many insights to help us mere mortals focus our thinking to attain exponential success. Read "Playing for Keeps" for the sheer enjoyment of reliving Michael Jordan's career and of regaining some faith in athletes as role models.

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Summary: Thoroughly entertaining...but not a biography
Review: David Halberstam has long demonstrated an unmatched nose for nuance. His latest effort does nothing to tarnish that reputation. "...Playing for Keeps" is replete with "inside" information about Jordan, the Bulls and the tangled relationships therein. His psychological profile of Jerry Krause was particularly insightful and entertaining. For all the subtle details, however, Halberstam's effort falls short as a biography of Michael Jordan. Juanita? Mentioned once or twice. The kids? I'm not sure they appear. Even his father's death gets scant attention. Moreover, the book was poorly edited. While this may be attributed to a fast-track production schedule prodded by Jordan's retirement, it is a symptom that also affected "The Children" (Halberstam's last book). Overall, however, "...Playing for Keeps" will entertain basketball fans -- particularly of the hard core variety.

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Summary: A Bulls junky bible- A must book for a Bulls/basketball fan.
Review: A well written basketball journal of the greatest modern day dynasty. The book gives the romance of the Bulls championships and the building of the NBA into one of the most powerful business in the world.