[(Imperfect )] [Author: Jim Abbott] [Apr-2013]

by Jim Abbott

Paperback

Published April 16, 2013

About the author

Jim Abbott was born September 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan without a right hand. He was an All-America hurler at Michigan; won the Sullivan Award in 1987; was the pitcher for the Gold Medal Olympic Team in 1988; and threw a 4-0 no-hitter for the New York Yankees versus Cleveland (September 4, 1993). Jim played for 10 seasons on 4 different teams and ended his big league playing career in 1999.

Abbott has worked with The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) on several initiatives encouraging businesses to hire people with disabilities.

Today, in addition to often being a Guest Pitching Instructor during Spring Training for the Los Angeles Angels, Jim Abbott is a motivational speaker. (From JimAbbott.com.)

Reviews

[Jim Estes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Determined not to let his limitation get in the way of realizing his dream, you can’t help but admire Jim’s drive to be his best starting as a child trying to figure out how to throw a rubber baseball against a brick wall w his left hand then quickly return his glove to the same hand to catch the ball. Lots of low points to his baseball career, along with a couple of memorable highs…, probably not unlike a lot of able-bodied professional athletes….which was exactly how Jim wanted to be perceived. More than anything, I admired his humility and his willingness to acknowledge to himself and the reader that in addition to overcoming his physical limitations, overcoming his self-imposed mental limitations were just as challenging, yet I thought he faced both w extraordinary courage.

[Bethany Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I vacillated between a 3 and 4 for this book. There were moments of beautiful writing. Lots of them actually. And as a lifelong resident of Flint I loved reading about Jim’s experiences in my hometown. I, however, struggled with the back and forth between years. The stories of ball games, except the no hitter, just didn’t hold the same lure for me. I will admit, I like baseball, but I’m certainly not a diehard fan. Do I think this book is worth reading? And am I glad I read it? Absolutely 100%.

[Jen Bury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend who has a similar birth defect to try and gain a small measure of insight into his life. Though there is a lot of baseball in this, (a lot a lot!), there is much about how we as people want to be appreciated for our abilities and accomplishments, not our “inadequacies”. No one wants their identity to be just one aspect of who they are.

Appropriate for all readers

[Ann LePore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Jim Abbott speak at a conference years ago and picked up the book at that time. It somehow was hidden on my bookshelves until this year. It's well written and inspiring.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring from start to finish Jim Abbott’s story proves that determination and heart can overcome any limitation.