Rating: 
Summary: The best from the Best
Review: "Drive: The Story of My Life" is my absolute favorite sports book of all time.
The first thing the reader realizes is Larry Bird's writing could not come from an uneducated hick. His storytelling and prose is engaging and makes you think twice about putting the book down.
It's obvious Bird wrote this book with the intensity and verve he was known for on the court. And now that multiple generations have passed since Bird played his last game, anyone involved in coaching basketball should make it suggested reading for their players.
"Drive" is a basketball treasure and widely (and accurately) considered one of the greatest sports autobiographies ever written.
Rating:
Summary: An autobiography of the NBA'a best all-around player ...
Review: "Drive" is the autobiograhy of Larry Bird, the NBA's best basketball player of all-time. This book shows readers what made Larry Bird the player that he was. His unselfish attitude, his ability to make the big plays, and how he made everyone around him a better player. There may have been better athletes, flashier players, but Larry Bird (if you consider every aspect of the game of basketball) is the best all-around basketball player of all-time.
Rating:
Summary: Larry Bird shows that hardwork brings success.
Review: A lesson that I learned from Larry Bird was that if you put your mind to something and give it your all ,you will achieve it. Larry Bird would set goals for himself to help him become better at basketball. He would practice everyday and all day to achieve those goals on the basketball court. He would get up in the morning to practice free throws, he would shoot between classes, and then he would have basketball practice after school. When Bird got into the NBA he had to establish himself as a good basketball player all over again, so he worked harder then ever to compete and then to dominate his opponents. Larry Bird's success proves that if you set your goals and be hard working and persistent then you will achieve those goals. Larry Bird's mentor was Jim Jones, his high school basketball coach. Jim Jones guided Larry Bird in his first years of playing basketball. Coach Jones taught him the basics of basketball and helped him correct his mistakes. Jones was a father figure to Bird when he was going through tough times when his dad committed suicide. Bird has kept in touch with his former coach throughout his life, and now they teach basketball camps together. I have a good opinion of this book. I like this book because it is mainly about basketball, and I love playing basketball. It also showed me how hard work can pay off in such a big way. I think it is very interesting because I was reading about one of my idols and learning the obstacles he overcame to get to where he is now. If you like to read about basketball and want to learn about Larry Bird, you should consider reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest book ever made dogg!
Review: Book Review The book I chose to read was Drive a biography about Larry Bird and written by Larry Bird and Bob Ryan. This book was made in 1989, the book includes a forward from Magic Johnson and a description of each city Bird played in. A summary of my book is about the life and the career of Larry Bird. Larry Bird was the best professional basketball player to ever live, he also had more work ethic than 99% of the people who ever lived. He would stay after a game for like 4 hours until he perfected whatever he did wrong that game. He would wake up at 6 in the morning to shoot 500 free throws. He grew up in a small town in Indiana, he was very poor and all he did was play sports. I guess coming from a poorer family people usually have better work ethic because they have to work for everything they get and earn it. Bird played Varsity basketball in 10-12 grades and then he went to Indiana to play for Bobby Knight who obviously didn't see talent in Larry. So Larry transferred to Indiana State and brought them to the national championship. He then got drafted by the Boston Celtics and played there until retirement and having one of the greatest rivals in sports history with the famous Ervin "Magic" Johnson, and the rest of the Lakers.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest book ever made dogg!
Review: Book Review The book I chose to read was Drive a biography about Larry Bird and written by Larry Bird and Bob Ryan. This book was made in 1989, the book includes a forward from Magic Johnson and a description of each city Bird played in. A summary of my book is about the life and the career of Larry Bird. Larry Bird was the best professional basketball player to ever live, he also had more work ethic than 99% of the people who ever lived. He would stay after a game for like 4 hours until he perfected whatever he did wrong that game. He would wake up at 6 in the morning to shoot 500 free throws. He grew up in a small town in Indiana, he was very poor and all he did was play sports. I guess coming from a poorer family people usually have better work ethic because they have to work for everything they get and earn it. Bird played Varsity basketball in 10-12 grades and then he went to Indiana to play for Bobby Knight who obviously didn't see talent in Larry. So Larry transferred to Indiana State and brought them to the national championship. He then got drafted by the Boston Celtics and played there until retirement and having one of the greatest rivals in sports history with the famous Ervin "Magic" Johnson, and the rest of the Lakers.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Another Life Story By An Athlete On His Way Out
Review: Don't get me wrong. Larry Bird's playing career in Boston--especially his 3 consecutive MVP seasons from 1984-1986--were the most exciting Celtics seasons ever since I started following the NBA--and Dave Cowens and the Celtics--in 1973. I loved the 1984 Championship Finals, the 1985 Finals, and THE 1986 FINALS--WITH BILL WALTON!!! But as exciting a player as Larry Bird was, DRIVE:THE STORY OF MY LIFE is boring, and just another life story by an athlete on his way out. In fact, Bird's career was marred by injuries after the end of the 1987-88 season, and he never played in another NBA Final after 1987. So after 1988, he was really coasting on his past performances. The two most interesting parts of DRIVE are Bird's stories about Bill Walton's time with the Celtics, and a brief mention of his heart racing during the 1986 Finals against Houston, the best series I've ever seen. I wondered why his heart would be racing, and later when Bird's heart trouble was revealed it all added up--athletes conceal their health problems just like the rest of us. But Larry Bird after 1988 was just a shadow of his former self, unable to dominate, unable to run, and unable to carry the Celtics back to the NBA Finals. In fact, a book about the Dream Team had a chapter that called him THE GREAT WHITE HASBEEN, and that echoes Dennis Rodman's comment in 1987 that Bird was overrated because he was white. Before 1987, I've never seen a player--particularly a white player--who had to be guarded as much as Bird--forget about him scoring, coaches like Pat Riley just didn't want him to have the ball! But Bird lost a step in the 1987-88 season--ironically, the year he started serious weight training--and the Detroit Pistons' braintrust saw that!--and that was the beginning of the end for Bird, even though he scored the highest average ever for a Celtic that year, 29.9 points per game. From 1980 to 1988, Larry Bird was the greatest forward in the history of basketball. But after that, he was just another player. This book rambles and avoids that, and doesn't deal with some of the questions about the Celtics like what really happened to Coach KC Jones--how many coaches quit after 4 NBA Finals appearances in 5 years?--and why the Celtics didn't know that 1986 #1 draft pick Len Bias was a drug user, before he overdosed on cocaine. If you want to read a great basketball book by a former Celtic, read Bob Cousy's THE LAST LOUD ROAR, or anything by Tommy Heinsohn. Their books go into more detail, have better pictures, are surprisingly candid about race and the Celtics-- which is an unavoidable pairing--and are more interesting. Larry should have passed on this one. Chari Krishnan RESEARCHKING
Rating: 
Summary: Could be better
Review: Larry Bird is one of the greatest forwards to ever play the game. Most people know that he was raised in a small town in Indiana and came to be the player for the Celtics in the 1980s. One thing Larry Bird cannot do though is write a book. The book is littered with grammatical errors which quickly become a detriment to the content. He does make some interesting comments in here which I think would be good for those who are fans of Larry. He talks briefly about his daughter he had in college which he so rarely references and about his brief stint at Indiana. He also talks about some of his teammates in a light that few people have seen them before. All in all, Larry wrote the book before his career ended which was in fact premature. In addition, his co-writers should have had more influence in this endeavor not to mention the editors. Not bad if you like Larry but I am sure there are better.
Rating:
Summary: A touching, deeply motivating account of his life and career
Review: Larry Bird is truly one of the greatest that ever played the game. With the help of Ervin "Magic" Johnson, he not only managed to resurrect the Celtic dynasty, but also the entire NBA, which was teetering on the brink of ruination. Now, we get to hear the man behind the legendary exploits on the court. This book not only tells of his career and accomplishments, but also gives a truly touching account of where he came from, where he's been, what he's been through, and what it took to become possibly the most legendary, if not talented, athlete ever to step on a basketball court. This is an inspiring, breathtaking story, and is deeply motivational. Bird is a living example that a combination of hard work, self-sacrifice, never-say-die ethics, and a selfless sense of team play, whether in a sporting venue or in ANY situation life has to offer, invariably leads to not only success, but also excellence. Recommended reading for all aspiring athletes, young people, and anyone else in need of inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: Larry Legend brings a great person to a great read.
Review: Larry Bird was one of the best basketall players ever and the perfect American hero. "The Hick from French Lick" personified what hard work can do for someone not blessed with great ability. As you read the book, you feel inspired by Bird's work ethic, his troubled youth, and learn to appriciate his carreer and a great insight to being on the road in the NBA.
For any sports fan, Drive is a great look at a great professional.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest book ever made dogg!
Review: Larry Bird was one of the greatest forwards to ever play the game. He was blessed w/great physical skills as well as an unbelievable work ethic. He shares his life story about his humble origins to his rise to worldwide celebrity. Unfortunately the book is poorly organized and poorly written. It's written in an overly simple manner and needed more personality. It reminded me of Larry's game, solid and fundamental but not overly flashy. I guess I was looking for a more entertaining book, and not a simple recounting of his life. The book could use more personal anecdotes and behind the scenes sharing. Overall, I was disappointed and wanted much more.
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