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Heir to a Dream
The author describes how he struggled to become a successful basketball player and discusses his efforts to overcome alcoholism and personal problems with the aid of religion
234 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 19, 2021
Intro
We all have dreams, aspirations of what we want to experience or do in this life. Unfortunately, not all dreams come true. When this happens, it is tempting to force these dreams into our children. Aspirations of fame, fortune, and success forced upon our youth can lead to the success that we never experienced, but often leaves the child scarred. Think of examples such as Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, and Miley Cyrus. Raised from a young age knowing nothing but their craft. They excelled, but at a deep cost. Another example can be seen in the life of “Pistol” Pete Maravich. From a young age he lived and breathed basketball, all in an attempt to fulfill the dreams of his father, Press Maravich. He documents this in his memoir “Heir to a Dream” which plays out the story of his life as told by someone trying to find meaning in life. The point of him writing this book? To show that he was more than an athlete, but also more than an heir to his father’s dream.
Synopsis
Maravich and his co-author Darrel Campbell divided this book into three main sections. The first is about Pete’s father, Press Maravich. It tells a story of growing up in the rust belt in the first quarter of the twentieth century dealing with topics such as child labor, education, religion, and the economic status of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania during this time. Like any town reliant on steel production at the time, it was fairly poor and relied heavily on the Catholic churches in the area to help raise their children. This is where Press got into the most trouble and also where he discovered his first love, basketball. Press had dreams of playing both in college and professionally. He played for Davis and Elkins before becoming a Navy pilot during World War II. After he returned from the war, he finished college at Youngstown and attempted to play professionally. This did not pan out, so he decided to use his basketball knowledge to become a coach. He was very successful as a head coach in the NCAA, working with such schools as Clemson, NC State, and LSU. It was during his time at LSU that he had the opportunity to coach his son, Pete.
Section two is all about Pete and basketball. Press wanted to instill in his sons the same love for basketball that he had, and he found success with Pete. From the time Pete could walk, he could dribble a basketball. Press took it upon himself to drill every bit of knowledge he had into Pete, turning him into a scoring phenom. Pete made his high school varsity team while still in the eighth grade, and would go on to have a very successful collegiate career at LSU. Even though he set the yet to be broken scoring record for NCAA basketball, the national championship eluded him. He went into the NBA with two goals in mind, sign a one-million-dollar contract and win a championship. He made the money easily enough, but that championship eluded him for his entire career, which was cut short due to lingering knee injuries. Pete also documents his own mental strife coming from the expectations that he put on himself to make his father proud, as well as keeping the fans happy. He turned alcoholism in his college years, and this would plague him throughout his career. His mother also struggled with alcoholism, and it would eventually lead to her death.
Section three is about his life after basketball. Pete writes about the depression that came from retirement from basketball, a game that he had dedicated his whole life to. He tried to fill the void with various hobbies and studies, but he could not fill the emptiness that he felt. He documents his conversion to Christianity in this section, and cites this as when he began to find purpose. He would spend the rest of his life running basketball camps and speaking at events all across the world. This section also documents the death of his father, which Pete took very hard. Yet, he cites his faith in Jesus as the means of his dealing with the grief associated with his father’s death. The book ends with him being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Review
Maravich and Campbell pieced together two life’s stories into one with great care and attention to detail. While the book obviously ends before Pete’s death, it tells the story of a life dedicated to one thing, to fulfill the dream of someone else. Pete offers a homely tone and audience friendly writing style that is conducive to good story telling, even it seems hokey at times. He delves into self-referential sidebars which sometimes breaks away from the narrative, but that can be chalked up to him not being a writer by trade but a story-teller. He brings this story-telling feel to the entirety of his book, while Campbell cleaned it up and made it presentable. His thesis, while not explicitly stated, is about trying to find meaning in life. For Pete this was basketball, and later on his relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe that this only one aspect of this book. This book touches on the problem with childhood celebrity, which has plagued the entertainment industries and sports worlds during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The idea of forcing one’s dreams onto their children is both selfish and damaging to the children at stake. It can lead to great success, which is what any parent wants for their child, but I would argue that the mental and emotional cost is too great. Pete coped with alcohol, Michael Jackson coped with drugs, Tiger Woods coped with sex. Time and time again, the toils of becoming the best at what you do from a young age often leads to the search for something to fill the void. Not everyone is as fortunate as Maravich, he was able to rise above the alcoholism and live a life defined by more than basketball.
“Heir to a Dream” is a must-read for any fan of American basketball, or sports historian focused on basketball. While not a comprehensive source of his life, it offers plenty of solid primary source material about the life and struggles of “Pistol’ Pete Maravich. It is a story of athletic success, and also about finding solace in more than the dreams of others. This is a lesson that many can stand to try and understand.
We all have dreams, aspirations of what we want to experience or do in this life. Unfortunately, not all dreams come true. When this happens, it is tempting to force these dreams into our children. Aspirations of fame, fortune, and success forced upon our youth can lead to the success that we never experienced, but often leaves the child scarred. Think of examples such as Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, and Miley Cyrus. Raised from a young age knowing nothing but their craft. They excelled, but at a deep cost. Another example can be seen in the life of “Pistol” Pete Maravich. From a young age he lived and breathed basketball, all in an attempt to fulfill the dreams of his father, Press Maravich. He documents this in his memoir “Heir to a Dream” which plays out the story of his life as told by someone trying to find meaning in life. The point of him writing this book? To show that he was more than an athlete, but also more than an heir to his father’s dream.
Synopsis
Maravich and his co-author Darrel Campbell divided this book into three main sections. The first is about Pete’s father, Press Maravich. It tells a story of growing up in the rust belt in the first quarter of the twentieth century dealing with topics such as child labor, education, religion, and the economic status of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania during this time. Like any town reliant on steel production at the time, it was fairly poor and relied heavily on the Catholic churches in the area to help raise their children. This is where Press got into the most trouble and also where he discovered his first love, basketball. Press had dreams of playing both in college and professionally. He played for Davis and Elkins before becoming a Navy pilot during World War II. After he returned from the war, he finished college at Youngstown and attempted to play professionally. This did not pan out, so he decided to use his basketball knowledge to become a coach. He was very successful as a head coach in the NCAA, working with such schools as Clemson, NC State, and LSU. It was during his time at LSU that he had the opportunity to coach his son, Pete.
Section two is all about Pete and basketball. Press wanted to instill in his sons the same love for basketball that he had, and he found success with Pete. From the time Pete could walk, he could dribble a basketball. Press took it upon himself to drill every bit of knowledge he had into Pete, turning him into a scoring phenom. Pete made his high school varsity team while still in the eighth grade, and would go on to have a very successful collegiate career at LSU. Even though he set the yet to be broken scoring record for NCAA basketball, the national championship eluded him. He went into the NBA with two goals in mind, sign a one-million-dollar contract and win a championship. He made the money easily enough, but that championship eluded him for his entire career, which was cut short due to lingering knee injuries. Pete also documents his own mental strife coming from the expectations that he put on himself to make his father proud, as well as keeping the fans happy. He turned alcoholism in his college years, and this would plague him throughout his career. His mother also struggled with alcoholism, and it would eventually lead to her death.
Section three is about his life after basketball. Pete writes about the depression that came from retirement from basketball, a game that he had dedicated his whole life to. He tried to fill the void with various hobbies and studies, but he could not fill the emptiness that he felt. He documents his conversion to Christianity in this section, and cites this as when he began to find purpose. He would spend the rest of his life running basketball camps and speaking at events all across the world. This section also documents the death of his father, which Pete took very hard. Yet, he cites his faith in Jesus as the means of his dealing with the grief associated with his father’s death. The book ends with him being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Review
Maravich and Campbell pieced together two life’s stories into one with great care and attention to detail. While the book obviously ends before Pete’s death, it tells the story of a life dedicated to one thing, to fulfill the dream of someone else. Pete offers a homely tone and audience friendly writing style that is conducive to good story telling, even it seems hokey at times. He delves into self-referential sidebars which sometimes breaks away from the narrative, but that can be chalked up to him not being a writer by trade but a story-teller. He brings this story-telling feel to the entirety of his book, while Campbell cleaned it up and made it presentable. His thesis, while not explicitly stated, is about trying to find meaning in life. For Pete this was basketball, and later on his relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe that this only one aspect of this book. This book touches on the problem with childhood celebrity, which has plagued the entertainment industries and sports worlds during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The idea of forcing one’s dreams onto their children is both selfish and damaging to the children at stake. It can lead to great success, which is what any parent wants for their child, but I would argue that the mental and emotional cost is too great. Pete coped with alcohol, Michael Jackson coped with drugs, Tiger Woods coped with sex. Time and time again, the toils of becoming the best at what you do from a young age often leads to the search for something to fill the void. Not everyone is as fortunate as Maravich, he was able to rise above the alcoholism and live a life defined by more than basketball.
“Heir to a Dream” is a must-read for any fan of American basketball, or sports historian focused on basketball. While not a comprehensive source of his life, it offers plenty of solid primary source material about the life and struggles of “Pistol’ Pete Maravich. It is a story of athletic success, and also about finding solace in more than the dreams of others. This is a lesson that many can stand to try and understand.
November 10, 2018
On its surface, Heir to a Dream is a book about Pistol Pete and his legacy as one of basketball's greatest players. At its core, however, it is Peter Marovich's confession of the personal struggles he constantly dealt with off the court: his mother's drinking problem that eventually led her to suicide, depression caused by his self-conditioned belief that losing a game was unacceptable, the hordes of rabid fans, and the irresponsibility with which he treated his fortune, just to name a few. Ultimately, however, it is a testament to the futile emptiness the worship of false gods (namely basketball, in Peter's case) brings, and the peace and fulfillment that Peter found when he finally accepted Jesus Christ as his savior.
January 3, 2010
I read this book in 8th grade. It was inspiring and transformational. It taught me about focus, dedication, and work ethic. It taught me that success in sports does not make a complete person. More than anything, Heir to a Dream taught me how to find joy in and through hard work, not just joy in its fruits.
August 10, 2011
Wow. What a story. A bit sad but you can't change history.
It really shows how someone with little talent can become somebody by their hard work and passion for their sport.
It also detailed his remarkable conversion to Christ and how he sought to share that outside of basketball.
It really shows how someone with little talent can become somebody by their hard work and passion for their sport.
It also detailed his remarkable conversion to Christ and how he sought to share that outside of basketball.
January 26, 2008
Pistol Pete's lifehood story is inspiring but sad at the same time. All Pete knew was basketball and he figured out that couldn't solve all his problems.
September 6, 2022
I saw this relatively short autobiography of Pete Maravich at a local library, and immediately wanted to read it, because I found Maravich relatively puzzling as a player. Why he was one of college basketball's greatest offensive stars but second-tier as an NBA star. I vaguely knew that he suffered injuries late in his career.
The book is tightly focused on Maravich himself; his father; his college career and lifestyle; and his personal failures and failings. It has little to say in-depth about Maravich's NBA career, as though Maravich wasn't very interested in discussing that. There's virtually nothing specific about career highlights or about other players.
Things I learned:
The book is tightly focused on Maravich himself; his father; his college career and lifestyle; and his personal failures and failings. It has little to say in-depth about Maravich's NBA career, as though Maravich wasn't very interested in discussing that. There's virtually nothing specific about career highlights or about other players.
Things I learned:
Maravich drank irresponsibly during his college career (and probably his NBA career). He admits only that he became an alcoholic after his career, and also that in one college season finale (I forget whether it was the last game of his college career), he was suffering a hangover and naturally played terribly. He says nothing about playing any NBA games drunk or hung-over; but even with no admission given, I'm suspicious of alcoholism even then, just because his career is less impressive than I would expect for a such a driven and and practice-obsessed player.
The basketball culture on the Atlanta Hawks was too conservative for Maravich's style, and he was continually seen as a ball-hogging showboater. It makes the eventual trade to the then-expansion New Orleans Jazz look inevitable.
I knew that Maravich turned to Christ after his career, becoming born again; but I did not know that, as he explains, he made a personal idol of basketball and it left him continually feeling empty. It was all about the pursuit of success, money, fame, etc.
March 24, 2021
Very moving! This is an amazing biography, more importantly, a testimonial. As a young child, Pistol Pete was one of my hero’s. He broke many basketball records. His father, Press Maravich taught him. More importantly, Pete taught and mentored his loving father toward the end of Press’ life. Press passed the same year this book was published in 1987. Pete passed away 5 weeks after publication and 9 months after his father. The Lord allowed Pete and Press to complete His will in glorious fashion.
"I want to be remembered as a Christian, a person that serves Him [Jesus] to the utmost, not as a basketball player."
His greatest gift wasn’t basketball. It was his Faith in Christ.
The book is now on my Fav. shelf. Several copies will be purchased and given as gifts to friends and family.
"I want to be remembered as a Christian, a person that serves Him [Jesus] to the utmost, not as a basketball player."
His greatest gift wasn’t basketball. It was his Faith in Christ.
The book is now on my Fav. shelf. Several copies will be purchased and given as gifts to friends and family.
June 6, 2025
This book provides an interesting look into the life and thoughts of a professional athlete. Maravich’s tireless dedication to becoming the best basketball player he could be is evident in the early chapters of the book. His efforts paid off as he was a notable player in the NBA. The later chapters give a glimpse into his drinking and the toll it would take. It’s one of the most PG rated memoirs including substance abuse I’ve ever read. I then realized the publisher of the book is a Christian company. As expected, the final chapters are about the transformation he experienced through his Christian faith. Even if you didn’t pick up this book from a church bookstore or read it for spiritual reasons, Pistol Pete’s story makes for enjoyable reading.
April 8, 2024
Good auto-bio by Pete Maravich recounting his life, the highs & lows, the hidden struggles, centered around his relationship with his father, Press Maravich.
Maravich really bares his soul about his basketball career & his personal life. There is insight about his basketball experiences on the collegiate & professional levels.
this really turns into a redemption story after his Born-again Christian experience towards the end of his rather short life - he died the year after this was published.
Maravich really bares his soul about his basketball career & his personal life. There is insight about his basketball experiences on the collegiate & professional levels.
this really turns into a redemption story after his Born-again Christian experience towards the end of his rather short life - he died the year after this was published.
January 31, 2020
A couple friends ranked this as their favorite book, so I requested an interlibrary loan to read it. The book is about "Pistol Pete" and his dad making it especially valuable. The story includes humor, incredible life experiences, tragedy of sin, and eternal blessings of changed lives, making it a great book to share with the next generation. That is what I plan to do with a young man in our church who loves basketball.
July 4, 2025
The title is so good. Writing wasn’t amazing obviously but I remain fascinated with both his career and that of his father. Worth the read
August 3, 2011
This little book is an autobiography (with some help) by one of college basketball's greatest players ever. Pistol Pete Maravich helped to transform the game into today's fast-paced run-and-gun style, and beyond his playmaking abilities, he was an almost unparalleled shooter. His college points records still stand. He averaged over 44 points per game in his college career, and the next closest player is still only at 34 points per game. That's domination.
But this book is about so much more than basketball. Maravich starts with his dad, recounting his discovery of basketball when it was still a young game, and his growing love for the sport, first as a player but then even more as a coach. When he had a son, it only seemed natural to teach him this same love for the game, and thus, Pete's obsession with basketball was born. He haunted the high school and college courts where his dad coached, and ultimately played for his dad at LSU, where they both shined. But Maravich recounts how his life off the court was one of recklessness and irresponsibility. He shunned the idea of being a role model, and his drinking and partying was a constant problem, even costing LSU a shot at the NIT championship when Pete stayed up the whole night before a big game partying.
Pete's despair continued as he played in the NBA, first for Atlanta, then for the New Orleans Jazz (who later moved to Utah; the name made so much more sense in Louisiana!), and last for the Boston Celtics. His whole life was basketball. He lived and breathed it, always in search of a championship. But a championship was never to be. Instead, he spent his professional career butting heads with his teammates, always seeking acceptance and adulation that never seemed to come. In the end, he walked away after the preseason of his second season with the Celtics, feeling like he wasn't getting enough playing time and appreciation--the team went on to win the championship that year.
Basketball had been pretty much all Pete knew or cared about. His marriage to Jackie, who wasn't a basketball fan, kept him grounded to at least some limited extent, but once he left the game, he realized that it had been pretty much all he had. This began an important search for him, to discover what life is really all about, because it certainly wasn't basketball. It was then, into this emptiness and helplessness, that someone spoke about Christ. Maravich came to accept Jesus into his life, and was overwhelmed by the purpose and hope that is found in realizing that you aren't the center of the universe and of discovering life's true purpose and meaning.
This simple little book made a great story about basketball, but also proves a nice refreshing reminder of the beauty and coherence and joy that come with knowing Jesus Christ. For me, it is something I too often take for granted, but it is always nice to be reminded about the joy of salvation and the peace that it brings.
But this book is about so much more than basketball. Maravich starts with his dad, recounting his discovery of basketball when it was still a young game, and his growing love for the sport, first as a player but then even more as a coach. When he had a son, it only seemed natural to teach him this same love for the game, and thus, Pete's obsession with basketball was born. He haunted the high school and college courts where his dad coached, and ultimately played for his dad at LSU, where they both shined. But Maravich recounts how his life off the court was one of recklessness and irresponsibility. He shunned the idea of being a role model, and his drinking and partying was a constant problem, even costing LSU a shot at the NIT championship when Pete stayed up the whole night before a big game partying.
Pete's despair continued as he played in the NBA, first for Atlanta, then for the New Orleans Jazz (who later moved to Utah; the name made so much more sense in Louisiana!), and last for the Boston Celtics. His whole life was basketball. He lived and breathed it, always in search of a championship. But a championship was never to be. Instead, he spent his professional career butting heads with his teammates, always seeking acceptance and adulation that never seemed to come. In the end, he walked away after the preseason of his second season with the Celtics, feeling like he wasn't getting enough playing time and appreciation--the team went on to win the championship that year.
Basketball had been pretty much all Pete knew or cared about. His marriage to Jackie, who wasn't a basketball fan, kept him grounded to at least some limited extent, but once he left the game, he realized that it had been pretty much all he had. This began an important search for him, to discover what life is really all about, because it certainly wasn't basketball. It was then, into this emptiness and helplessness, that someone spoke about Christ. Maravich came to accept Jesus into his life, and was overwhelmed by the purpose and hope that is found in realizing that you aren't the center of the universe and of discovering life's true purpose and meaning.
This simple little book made a great story about basketball, but also proves a nice refreshing reminder of the beauty and coherence and joy that come with knowing Jesus Christ. For me, it is something I too often take for granted, but it is always nice to be reminded about the joy of salvation and the peace that it brings.
June 4, 2011
All I knew of Pistol Pete was that he was a great basketball player with a lot of determination to be the best he could be. I never knew just how much he struggled through life and this book was definitely an eye opening to those struggles. I now live in the city he called home after his NBA career ended. I pass a sign for Pistol Pete Enterprises every day and can't help but look at it every time. It says those 3 words and has a picture of his famous droopy socks & basketball shoes with a basketball next to it. And just last week, the local drug store put up the dates of the Maravich summer basketball camp up on their sign. 23 years after his death, he is still a part of this community and his legacy is being carried on to future basketball stars. I just hope that no other athlete has to go through the struggles that he did in his life.
June 22, 2014
Teen Pistol Pete, with his shaggy hair and his floppy socks, made me a fan of basketball in the '60s. He set records back then that still haven't been broken. Heir to a Dream is an interesting look at a man perfecting a basketball legacy while he struggles with his personal life; Pete was flawless on the court while his personal life was anything but. RIP, Pistol Pete.
November 19, 2014
The story about Pistol Pete is sad but yet inspiring at the same time. I would've never known how difficult his life was if I hadn't read this book. The bond between him and his dad is very inspiring.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the game of basketball and likes non fiction.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the game of basketball and likes non fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2008
What a fantastic individual! This book is an inspiration. Pete show not only how to win at the game of basketball--but how to win the "game" of life!
Pete was blessed having a highly motivating and caring dad, then he took what his dad passed along to him, and took it to another dimension.
Pete was blessed having a highly motivating and caring dad, then he took what his dad passed along to him, and took it to another dimension.
August 4, 2013
Read it seven times in high school. Continues to inspire and haunt in equal measure.
March 22, 2019
"I was a simple guy with a love for the game of basketball; and thanks to great coaching and thousands of hours of practicing the fundamentals, I had managed to become good at it."
August 26, 2015
Very Inspiring Story of Christian, Pistol Pete Maravich!
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