Rating: 
Summary: Not a history of 'One Hour Martinizing'....
Review: A superbly edited work of staggering genius. The only way to top the enjoyment I derived from reading this book is to turn it into an animated spectacular utilizing the voices of the cast of "Seinfeld."
Move over Eldridge Cleaver and H. Rap Brown. Sir Charles is now in charge. Also, the cover photograph makes an excellent head-on-a-stick for those inclined to tackle a craft project of moderate difficulty. Instructions are included on the inside of the back jacket cover. With Trick or Treat season upon us, why not use your crafty Barkley head for your next "Ugliest Man in America" cocktail party.
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: Funny but. . . .
Review: Barkley is funny, but this book could tone down the lecture. We get it. Humor is a good way to teach. I like this book, but Barkley needs to chill.
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: Fantastic Point of View
Review: Charles does a fine job of conveying his own view about the world, sports, whites, blacks, rich, poor, just everything under the sun. He does a great job in expressing a view for people to take a stand on, and opens reader's minds to acknowledge differences and problems in society. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to discover views that maybe they haven't taken the time to look at.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Charles is a funny guy (so is Wilbun) & his humor comes through in this. His pokes at political correctness are worth the price alone. (If you like jabs at political correctness, you may also like "No One's Even Bleeding" & "Delano".) If you're a Barkley fan, definitely check this out.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: Charles wrote this book mainly to talk about his life and how he thinks of stuff in is perspective. It's very interesting in how he can just say about racism and what he wants to do. I thought it was veyr nice in how he will just go out there and speak the truth. It's just very nice of him when he did this. This book tells you about who he respect as a player and how he think that young player should just go to college first because most of them come out of high school uneducated. I thought that it was a very good book. How he went out there and said what he thought was needed to say. I would recommand this book to anyone that likes to read the truth and likes to read biography. Well i can give you 1 comment. Just to take things seriously when you read it. He's not trying to offend anyone but just trying to say what he wanted to say.
Rating:
Summary: Clear Thinker
Review: Charles, I loved your book. I thought it was going to be a pure sports book. However, it turned out to be a life and living book. Hey, one gets what they want out of a book. What Charles says is that people don't want to talk about real issues of life - I agree. I most especially love the fact that this man wants to help kids and people in need.
Rating:
Summary: Not as mind blowing as Barkley thinks it is.
Review: Chuck figures he's blown the lid off by stating the obvious about racism, poverty, politics. He hasn't. At best, he's shown he paid attention to the world surrounding him. It doesn't make him special. And it doesn't make his book any kind of epiphany. Barkley spends the opening chapter bemoaning reporters of the sproting genre who just didn't care about his worldviews. The reason, painfully obvious, is that they didn't care about his worldviews. His aren't the original theories he figures they are -- they've been around for, oh, 50 damn years -- though they may be original for the 21st Century athlete. Barkley's better off striking a posture and leaving it that.
| 
