Rating: 
Summary: Not meant to be funny, illuminating essays, some provocative
Review: First, this is not a book about basketball -- nor is it meant to be a collage of funny stories. Rather, if it has a theme, it is that Barkley wants people to discuss truly important issues; topics like race and discrimination that need conversation rather than political correctness. His goal with this collection of 25 "essays", running about ten pages each, is to get people out of the comfort zone and table subjects often pushed to the side by polite society.While we think Michael Wilbon {in his foreword} went a little overboard in citing some of the ideas as "in-your-face" provocative and occasionally profane, Barkley tries hard in at least half the articles to stir somebody's pot. Current events like the Augusta National Golf Club issue with women (and Tiger Woods), child abuse at the hands of priests, and September 11th get his thoughts, alternating with fairly folksy chit chat about his Dad, his Grandma, the Dream Team, and so on. Barkley seemed at his best to us in three segments: (1) discussing religion and why it is totally irrelevant to sports -- the title says it all: "God doesn't have a favorite team!"; (2) debunking the myth that only players on championship teams can be truly great; (3) and that "Making a Difference" is his (and should be everybody's) calling having "made it" -- indeed, the last stanza is entitled "If the Playing Is All You're Going to Do, You've Missed the Boat". Don't read this cover to cover in one two-hour session. Read a few, let it sink in, then read a few more. Then TALK about it; otherwise, as Sir Charles says, you've missed the boat !
Rating:
Summary: Some Good Points But Not Too Original
Review: From reading I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It, I can appreciate how Charles Barkley has progressed since his humble beginnings as a youth in rural Alabama. His mother and grandmother guided Charles away from trouble while growing up. As it turned out, Charles was able to establish himself as a premiere NBA player and an insightful sports analyst after he retired. Throughout his time in the limelight, Charles Barkley has always been none to bring some compelling insight and humor to the world of sports and the game of life. The insights about race would be good if they did not dominate the book so much. Charles does talk about the lack of executive level jobs in sports for Blacks and Hispanics as well as TV sitcoms. What Charles Barkley does leave out is how this compares to other industries throughout the world? Also what about other minorities besides Blacks and Hispanics? The role of how America's colleges failure to prepare student athletes for the working world is discussed well. However, this is not a new topic. The graduation rates have been declining greatly over the past decade. But how do you convince colleges notto [exploit] these potential basketball stars for their own short term needs? Barkley makes a good suggestion of organizing a minor league system for basketball. Many ball players who are talented but obviously are not college bound will in an enironment where they can focus on just basketball to see if they can hone their craft. Maybe this good suggestion can keep a watchful eye on the so many colleges bending the rules to admit basketball stars who really are not students. The stories about such former stars as Ted Williams, Bill Russell, Julius Erving, and Magic Johnson are certainly though provoking. The role model chapter has some good points that parents and teachers should be held most accountable. However, athletes need to realize that young people emulate their every move and need to act like responsible adults rather than self centered jerks that many are. Overall, Charles Barkely has a refreshing style. But outside of a few valid points, there is not much information that hasn't been heard before.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Barkley
Review: Gotta love athletes like Charles Barkley. Unlike the MJs and Tiger Woods of the world Barkley isn't afraid to speak his mind about things. It's really nice to see some one who does take time and effor to actually know a little about politics and other stuff before speaking out about it. Definitely worth the read
Rating:
Summary: Depending on what you're looking for....
Review: How much you will enjoy this book depends entirely on you. If you are a basketball fan looking for playing-days anticdotes, this is not for you! If you are a Charles Barkley fan seeking a little more understanding of this wondefully open individual, you are likely to enjoy this book.
Contrary to reviews of the book, what Charles has to say is by no means offensive but rather quite logical and fair. He has a wonderfully down to earth view of the world and his views on children are absolutely superb. He does drag on a little too much about racism but beyond that, what he has to say is interesting.
However, unless you disagree with his views, this book is not likely to make you think, and except for the intro, it is not particularly funny. Charles uses the book as a platform to discuss serious issues he can not speak about on television.
A great book, truly, but being a basketball fan I was dissapointed by the lack of basketball content and hence only 3 stars! But this does not mean it is a 3 star book, I can understand someone other than myself loving it.
Also, 250 pages of double spaced print, pretty short book, can be read in no time at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing to say the least.......
Review: I agree with most of the other reviewers in the fact that Charles repeats himself over and over and over until you want to scream: "I got it, racism is bad!!" It's almost as though Charles and Michael Wilbon (who I think is a fantastic journalist) struggle to make this book longer that a Sports Illustrated feature article. Simply put, the book is terrible in every aspect......thank God it was so short!!
Rating:
Summary: He's Had Better Magazine Articles
Review: I bought this book at first sight as Charles Barkley is one of my favorite athletes, and one of the best sources of entertaining and memorable quotes/observations in the past 15 years. Sadly, this book was a big disappointment. One wouldn't expect deep thought analysis or high journalism with this book, but instead entertaining commentary and observations that is Charles' trademark to compensate. While the former holds true, the latter is missing. What the reader is ultimately left with is a book that could have been written by any athelete, and you wouldn't be able to differentiate the voice as belonging to Charles. The special quality that makes Charles interesting and unique simply is not present in the book. It pains me to say this as one of his biggest fans, but this book simply isn't the same Charles.
Rating: 
Summary: Sir Charles is the proper name
Review: I bought this book for my son, who has been a Barkley fan for years. I started to read it and decided to order another one, as I don"t want to give this up. It is great. I have also been a fan. But I enjoy his honesty and being so forthright. He's really changed my views on different things. S. Riding
Rating:
Summary: "I'm tired of talking about stuff that doesn't matter"--C.B.
Review: I checked out this book because I enjoy listening to Charles Barkley on TNT and am also a big fan of Michael Wilbon (who provides the introduction to this book) and his ESPN program Pardon the Interruption. In fact a few of the issues brought up in the book are used by Wilbon a lot on his television show like PETA, the lack of African Americans on the popular reality shows, DWB (Driving While Black), the wonders of the Dish etc. Barkley writes about many issues, but does not get into too much depth on anything. Even his reflections on his childhood in Leeds, Alabama jumps around. Insights from being in the NBA so many years are mostly general and only really touch the surface. Tidbits that piqued my interest, like the fact that NBA players get a new pair of basketball shoes for every game and that many of the younger players today do not listen to the advice of Barkley and other statesmen of the game are only mentioned. His experience as member of the legendary Dream Team would benefit from more depth, though he does mention an eye-opening moment with Magic Johnson not long after Johnson announced he was HIV positive (pg. 190). Other times, I think he takes the safe route on issues. He devotes significant space to his belief that Catholic Priests found guilty of sexually abusing children should be put in jail...OK. He also stops short of controversy. He will make a statement like: "Bobby Knight pretty much just wanted to keep guys he could control [on the 1984 Olympic team]. There were a lot of good players who were cut, guys who were better than ones who made the team" (pg 177). Well, how were the players who made the team more controllable? Who made the team who was not better than some who were cut? Alas, these questions are never answered. He mentions players who should have made the Fifty Greatest NBA players list (pg. 187). That's easy, but the harder more controversial part, mentioning names who should be replaced by these players, is not touched on. He does discuss important issues like racism ("people rarely talk about race until something tragic or ugly happens," pg. 42) and topics that make you think, like the idea that professional athletes can have a greater impact through business than through athletics or media double standards for players surrounded by controversial situations like Patrick Roy, Jason Kidd, and the late Darryl Kile. (pp. 89-90). Other times, he skips around to all sorts of topics from militias to African Americans winning Oscars. The book is written in a chatty manner with a lot of repetition and no strong attention to organization. Some of his comments are already dated (i.e. that Kobe Bryant has not done anything to embarrass himself or his family and that no high school student or one-year college student coming into the NBA has made an immediate impact). Still, for the most part, it is a fun book that most Barkley fans will enjoy. Just don't expect to be amazed.
Rating:
Summary: Charles is a trip
Review: I couldn't help but give Charles five stars for this book, since it's original, entertaining, and from the heart. Those who enjoy watching Charles on TV will not be disappointed with this book. Charles is a straight shooter and hopefully will personally deliver results on some of the social issues he discusses. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".
Rating:
Summary: Not too much to this book
Review: I don't follow basketball or Charles Barkley in particular really, but I checked this book (on cd) out from the library. I'm thinking they were trying to sell this is a controversial book with tough talk on important topics, but it's really not. It's a decent look at Barkley, the man, and his life (sort of)...but the issues he talks about are all pretty standard and fairly tame. He constantly talks about racism- he thinks it's still a huge problem, I'm not sure too many people would agree with this view. Racism is bad, and blacks and hispanics are disadvantaged, and he seems to be saying it's the fault of white people...tho, he does mention blacks themselves don't do enough to get ahead. I don't really agree with any of his views on racism, but even if I would have- it wasn't entertaining to listen to his views on the subject. He talks about basketball, again- in fairly general terms for the most part, about young players and the fact that they don't usually help their team straight out of high school until at least 3 yrs into the careers...and he pays much kudos to the greats of the game. Dr J, Moses Malone, and Magic Johnson. All in all, the basketball stuff isn't that exciting either. I was expecting much more from this book, but maybe I'm not part of the target audience. I wasn't impressed, and I really was not entertained at all. It's somewhat short, which was a plus in my book, and it could have been better if it would have actually been a book about tough issues and his so-called controversial opinions on these issues, but it wasn't any of that.
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