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.
Rating: 
Summary: Some gems amid the rambling . . .
Review: I found this book to be interesting, but somewhat repetitive. On several occasions, Barkley repeats points brought up in previous chapters. His premise for the book is to bring up subjects of a socially sensitive nature, and in that he succeeds, although not consistently enough. I found the book to read like a long ramble. There are many good points and thought-provoking statements made, but you have to sift through the ramble to find them. The book is an easy read (big print, big margins) and can be knocked off in one evening.
Rating: 
Summary: I thought this was going to be funny, but I doubt it.
Review: I guess I should have investigated this book a little more before buying it. I thought it was going to be about Charles' life in the NBA. He is so funny, but in this book, it is only his political and racial opinions and I am not interested in that. I was very disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing
Review: I have been a Barkley fan for years, but this book is just a bunch of ramblings on by him. I felt like I was listening to him come up with ideas off of the top of his head rather than a printed book that went through edits and revisions. I would have like to have seen his thoughts organized better and edited so it read well. If you are looking for your standard Barkley matter-of-fact, cut-to-the-heart rantings, it is in there. But because it is so poorly written, I didn't even finish the book. I got tired of the reiterations and mindless (and sometimes unrelated) babbling.
Rating: 
Summary: How could I not give this book 5 stars...Its Great!!
Review: I highly recommend this book as one to have on your bookshelf because it makes you not only think but also goes where most people won't go.Charles Barkley touches certain subjects that most people would not even touch with a 10 foot pole but he says whats on his mind which is why this is such a good book.Most of what he says in this book is very true on life and what he has discovered but then some of it is just Sir Charles throwin a shocker out at ya.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Barkley I hoped for...
Review: I love Charles Barkley; his insight and wit on TV are terrific. I had hoped that I would get to read even more of his thoughts on the world today by buying this book, but I was disappointed. If you like reading mainly about his basketball career and not much else, then you'll like this book. I enjoyed reading some of it, but was hoping to read something more "deep" from Charles.
Rating:
Summary: I'm positive. You are definitely wrong all the time
Review: I never read this book and would not take advice from a player who has never won an NBA championship and plays golf like Corky from "Life Goes On". He has always had a big mouth but as it turns out now he has nothing left to back it up with. At least he got a show where he has a reason to have a big mouth. I'll give him credit for that.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable Book That Opens Your Eyes
Review: I really enjoy Charles Barkley. He was an amazing player and he proves to be an entertaining writer and social commentator. Suprisingly the book makes little reference to his basketball playing times. No inside stories on basketball games won at the buzzer or anything of that nature. His references to hoops are limited to the advice passed onto him by the older players (mainly Moses Malone and Dr J) and some commentary on the young players today (see: comments on Steve Francis and his last year in Houston and the worthlessness of an entourage). I do wish he expanded on the problems which developed on the Suns after losing to the Bulls in the Finals (1993)...he hints at the problems but does not, perhaps to his credit, identify the problem people. This is a book which, as the title and other reviews foreshadow, are Charles' thoughts on issues (in summary, the interesting analysis of African American culture of success and jealously, racism outside of sports, the power of the NBA owners and being smart before, during and after an NBA life). I did not agree with everything he said but it provoked thought (which is one of his stated objectives). The negatives to the book, it contains a series of simple spelling mistakes (the ebook). Someone was asleep at the computer (see: Keith Van Horne....it doesn't have an e on the end). I would recommend the book to anyone because, as always, Charles has some interesting things to say. Well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: You are mainly right
Review: I really enjoy Charles Barkley. He was an amazing player and he proves to be an entertaining writer and social commentator. Suprisingly the book makes little reference to his basketball playing times. No inside stories on basketball games won at the buzzer or anything of that nature. His references to hoops are limited to the advice passed onto him by the older players (mainly Moses Malone and Dr J) and some commentary on the young players today (see: comments on Steve Francis and his last year in Houston and the worthlessness of an entourage). I do wish he expanded on the problems which developed on the Suns after losing to the Bulls in the Finals (1993)...he hints at the problems but does not, perhaps to his credit, identify the problem people. This is a book which, as the title and other reviews foreshadow, are Charles' thoughts on issues (in summary, the interesting analysis of African American culture of success and jealously, racism outside of sports, the power of the NBA owners and being smart before, during and after an NBA life). I did not agree with everything he said but it provoked thought (which is one of his stated objectives). The negatives to the book, it contains a series of simple spelling mistakes (the ebook). Someone was asleep at the computer (see: Keith Van Horne....it doesn't have an e on the end). I would recommend the book to anyone because, as always, Charles has some interesting things to say. Well worth the effort.
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.
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