Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson

by Larry Platt

Part sports star, part antihero, part hip-hop icon, Allen Iverson has managed to cross over into the mainstream of American culture -- without compromise. Defiantly tattooed, with his hair in cornrows, the six-foot Philadelphia 76ers point guard is one of the most recognizable and controversial stars of the sports world. His meteoric rise from a troubled childhood in the ghetto to NBA superstardom has been marked by five straight playoff appearances, including a finals berth in 2001 and an MVP award. From his rap sheet to his rap album, fans and journalists alike hound his every move. But never before has a biographer presented a full portrait of this complicated and intensely private star -- a man whose loyalty to his family, the streets, and his friends trumps any other concern. Filled with exclusive interview material and unprecedented access to many of Iverson's inner circle, Only the Strong Survive is the first in-depth look at the truth behind this newly minted legend.

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Biography, Nonfiction

262 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2002

Reviews

[Nelson Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I disliked Allen Iverson. I happen to come upon this book at a co-workers desk and I was intrigued by it. He let me borrow it and it was a quick easy read, and after the first couple of chapters, I felt my bad feelings toward him going away and I started to actually have a kind heart to this 'thug' as some people refer to him. Seeing the struggles that he and his family went through shed different light upon him. Many would say that there are many of the same type of people, why would you have a different opinion of Allen Iverson. As he is coined the Answer, my answer is, he is portrayed as a mischievious miscreant, disobeyes all, no regard for authority. My opinion is that he has been labeled as someone before they actually know him. I did learn something valueable from reading this book. Look inwards on a person rather than the physical sculputer that makes that person, look deep within that person, find out what makes that person come alive. Rather than blow someone off based on appearance, I am finding myself tryin to figure people out rather than just pass them by. I am starting to go by words once told to me...."The person you walk by and brush off, maybe someone who will need you or you will need them in the future.

[Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The oddysey of allen iverson is a great book if you like to play basketball or you like to know more about basketball player. this book shows you that even though you go threw tough times, you have a chance to make something out of your life. Allen had to live in a home where the water pipe was always running and he had no money to buy things for himself. He had to get help from his coaches and gear from his coach. In the end A.I. became a great basketball player and he did that because he never gave up he also had some help from people that really loved him and cared for him. You need that in life to go through.

[Donika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography with perfect source material. I wish I could have adopted little Allen.

[Aurélien Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicknamed 'The Answer' (hint at 'the answer' to the famous question then on everyone's lips: who will succeed to Michael Jordan?), well-known for the speed of his moves and his creativity ball in hands, him whose cross-overs became legendary, Allen Iverson was also a controversial star, admired as much as he was hated. The journalist Larry Platt retells here his journey, in an interesting book written when Iverson was still playing at Philadelphia, and in which he not only delves into his career, but, also, throws some reflections to try and explain such a phenomenon.

The thing is, rebel, subversive in some way, difficult to control, Iverson was more than a mere athlete. He was, also, reflecting a part of an America that America would happily refuse to see. Indeed, if he certainly wasn't the first Black players coming from the ghettos, he might have been the first to have brought the ghetto with him into the NBA. He, in any case, wasn't your bubble-gum type of guy willing to surrender to the business gurus ruling the league in order to offer a neat image, mostly for sponsorships sake! As such, Iverson was never far away from scandals.

Keeping a whole set of dubious relationships (gangsters, drug dealers), having friends who ended up killed in various gun shootings, himself having issues which often involved the police, and, up until his look (dressing like a gang member -something he never was) and his extra-curricular activities outside the court (a hip hop singer whose lyrics, at time, caused controversy) his whole attitude and persona in fact costed him dearly -e.g. he never was selected for the Dream Team. It's not about judging, though, far from that! For Larry Platt indeed, such personality cannot be understood unless Iverson's background and personal history are, themselves, understood. Were they? His tumultuous relationship with Larry Brown, his coach, are, about, a case in point.

Constantly drawing parallels between his career as a player and his attitude outside the courts, the author is not interested in Iverson's outrageous behaviours for the sake of offering yet another set of sensationalist headlines. What he does, on the contrary, is to try and shed lights upon a misunderstood character. His sentencing to five years in jail (he served only three months) while he was a teenager and following a fight between White and Black in a club, an event which had then crystallised his hometown, reveals itself to be crucial. Beyond basketball, Iverson's life, then, puts us indeed in front of deeper issues, such as the racial tensions plaguing the USA and undermining even professional sports.

All in all, then, here's an intelligent biography going beyond the judgemental clichés, and, also, going beyond sports itself to unravel a controversial personality -no matter what you think of Iverson. A good read.

[Robert Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate this book 5 stars because Allen Iverson was a very influential player to basketball and learning about his life was interesting. My favorite part of the book was when he played college basketball. He learned how to lead a team. He came from nothing to making millions in the NBA.

[Logan Metivier]

I gave the book a rating of 3/5. I did so because I was hoping it would be more so about his stint in the NBA oppose to his upbringing and rise to fame. Although not what I was hoping for, still a pretty okay book nonetheless, takes a deep dive into racism, poverty and social injustice.

[Jmorgan1314 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen Iverson was one of the most controversial players to ever play in the NBA. In this book, Larry Platt gives the reader a full overview of the life of Allen Iverson. One of the most critical features of Allen Iverson is his appearance. Iverson was only a measly six-foot and 165 pounds. He had his hair in cornrows, but more importantly was all of his tattoos. My favorite tattoo of his is the one that states “Only the Strong Survive.” Iverson talks about the meaning of the tattoo. He says that growing up he lived in deep poverty along with many other people in his neighborhood. Also, Iverson struggled in his childhood due to not having a father figure in the house because he was in prison. But, basketball was always there for him at the local playground. In an interview, Iverson says that if a person is weak, they will never make a name for themselves or a place in the world. That is where the quote “Only the Strong Survive” originates. This tattoo has significant meaning to Iverson, and I also agree with him that if you want something in life that you have to work for it.
The first strength of this book is how detailed it is. It goes through Iverson’s most meaningful moments on and off the court. From him getting into brawls at the bowling alley up to shootings in his neighborhood. I also enjoyed reading about the different coaches he had along his career and what they thought of him. This book also shows you just how much attention a basketball player gets and the fake news that the media let out to the public. Another strength of this book is the pictures. Each chapter starts off with one of Iverson’s tattoos, allowing the reader to understand the meanings behind them. I am against tattoos, but I can understand how they can allow a person to express themselves in tough times. The main weakness of this book is that it is a little bit hard to follow. Sometimes the book will break off and talk about a different experience that Iverson had in the middle of a chapter and does not give the reader time to adjust.
In a Goodreads review, Carlos states that “even though you go through tough times, you have a chance to make something out of your life.” I agree with this statement, and this is one of the central themes of the book. Allen Iverson was dealt a bad hand, but he worked through it. He channeled all of his frustration in life and put it towards working hard in basketball. Nelson Ruiz says that from this book he has learned to not judge a book by its cover. Iverson may seem like some thug, but that is the label that he has been given. I agree with this statement and believe that you have to get to know a person before you can decide if you like them or not.

[Ciaran Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it told a true story about how working hard can get you the results you like. I think that coming from a backround like Allens is tough to over come. In the begining of the book it tells you how Iverson grew up in a poor family where 9 kids shared two beds. His mom was hard working trying to find a way to support her family. Allen soon finds a love for basketball and football taking his team to state in both sports. The day before going to state for basketball(a couple months after winning one for football) he was involved in an altercation where a group of white people claimed to be beaten by Allen and his group of friends. Allen was found guilty of assault and was given 5 years in jail. Luckily enough for him there was sufficent video footage that showed he had no part in the altercation and was free to go. After that incident he went back to playing basketball and was recruited by Georgetown university where he would be an athlete for the then top ranked Hoyas. After 2 years in college he was drafted 1st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played ten seasons with the sixers never winning a championship but capturing the NBA's Most Valuable Player award in 2001. After his NBA career he was arrested by a cop for having an illegal firearm and an ounce of marijuana. He was also accused of throwing games in which he won 10,000 dollars from a casino after a playoff loss. All in all it has been an up and down road for Iverson but there is no denial that he changed the game and will forever be a hero.

[Courtney Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry Platt shows us the behind the scenes of one of the most revered, most loved, most hated outside of Philadelphia, most driven to succeed on the court as any, and yet a thorn in the side of every coach and GM that ever had him on their team because of his defiance towards practice. Alan Iverson is truly an inspiring person who shows that with true grit and determination you can succeed. Then considering some of the choices he made in his youth, he is also an individual that is so lucky that he got ant chance to play basketball at the highest level and lot just playing pick up games at the recreation hall in a prison.
Great Read, The above all that the message is clear. It is not the size of the dog in the fight. It is the size of the fight in the dog.

[Stevie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am ashamed to say that, much like my southern contemporaries, my opinion of Iverson was based on a prejudging media lynching and a largely racist point of view from my largely white acquaintances. Luckily, unlike these same narrow minded contemporaries, I have developed a yearning to not ignore the beliefs of which I disagree. Larry Platt does a wonderful job of showing me a greatly misunderstood human who tried to stay true to his character no matter the expectations of society, a value which I envy and would hope people believe about me. Unfortunately, I can not go back and appreciate the greatest basketball player of my time, but thanks to technological progress I can go back and watch with amazement the on court exploits of one of my all time favorite basketball players.

[Joshuacitrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

allen iverson is hands down my favorite baller of all time. he was the embodiment of a hip hop culture on court: tats and braids, posse and parties. he turned ball control into a deadly weapon. no one since jordan or magic or bird had the kind of influence that he has on the game. in his prime, no one could take over a game like AI. standing six foot nothing, a hundred and seventy-five pounds, he still had no fear taking it in the lane and scoring over the big fellas. heart, guts and freak skill; The Answer had it all. coming out of the rough hood of Newport "Bad" News where only the strong survive.

[Jonatan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really love allen iverson as a basketball then i recomend this book to you. The reason is that this book goes trought the whole life of A.I. he is my favorite basketball player. It tells you what iverson's tattos symbol and who he met and what he did, so read this book its a nice book

[joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is inspiring. I gave it 5 stars.

[Brett Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only the Strong Survive tells the powerful story of Allen Iverson, a basketball legend who had to fight through a lot just to make it to the NBA—and even more to stay there. The book starts with Iverson’s rough childhood in Hampton, Virginia, where he grew up in poverty and was constantly surrounded by violence and pressure. One of the biggest events in his early life was the bowling alley incident, where he was arrested as a teen in a case that many believed was racially motivated. Despite that, he went on to become a star at Georgetown and then the #1 pick in the NBA. But even at the top, he was still judged for the way he dressed, spoke, and carried himself. The book really dives into how Iverson stayed true to who he was, even when everyone wanted him to change.

Two important people in this story are Allen Iverson and his coach, Larry Brown. Iverson comes across as fearless, emotional, and very stubborn, but also incredibly loyal and passionate. He didn’t care what people thought of him, which sometimes got him into trouble, but also made him stand out. Larry Brown, on the other hand, is more of an old-school coach who believed in discipline and structure. At first, they clashed a lot. But over time, they learned to respect each other. Their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book because it showed how two completely different people can still push each other to be better and build stronger connections.

There are a few big themes that stood out to me. First, perseverance is a huge one. Iverson faced so many obstacles. Including: racism, poverty, injuries, media criticism, however he never gave up. The title says “Only the Strong Survive,” and Iverson is proof of that. Another theme is staying true to yourself. Iverson was always criticized for being "too street" or "too flashy," but he never changed who he was. As the book says, he “didn’t want to just play the game—he wanted to change it.” Lastly, the book talks about injustice, especially when it comes to race. The way the bowling alley case was handled and how the media treated Iverson showed how hard it can be for Black athletes to be accepted when they don’t fit a certain image.

The author, Larry Platt, writes in a way that feels real and easy to follow. It’s not too complicated, but he adds just enough emotion to make you care about what’s happening. Sometimes he adds his own opinions, but it doesn’t get in the way. He uses a lot of quotes and stories from people close to Iverson, which helped me understand different sides of the story. The pacing was fast enough that I never got bored, and even the off-court stuff kept me interested.

Personally, I thought this was a really good book. I’ve always liked basketball, but this book made me think more about what players go through off the court. Iverson wasn’t perfect, but he had a lot of heart, and his story is really inspiring. I learned a lot about what it means to be strong—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s into sports or wants to read about someone who never stopped fighting, even when the odds were against him.

[Kunal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allen Iverson has meant so much to so many people, including me. For those who don’t understand the beauty of sports, it’s difficult to wrap your head around what his story stands for.

To me, he stood for possibility.

He grew up in unthinkable circumstances, but he made it. He was malnourished and the smallest guy on the court, but he made it. He was racially maligned and attacked throughout his life by people who didn’t know a single thing about him, but he made it. He was misunderstood, but he made it.

Through it all, he took care of his own and never lost his joy and love for the game.

I’ll never forget being that 5’2” 95lb 10th grader stepping onto any field of play. That feeling when you know that everyone on that field is counting you out, expecting you to not be worth shit. That feeling when the opposing team is doing their mental math before the game starts and thinking, ah we probably don’t have to guard this skinny little Indian kid.

And then the rush when you prove them wrong. Feeling the joy at seeing their faces when they realize. Oh shit, we thought it was one way, but it’s actually the other way….

Thinking back to those times, it was men like Allen Iverson who gave kids like me hope and confidence. Earl Boykins. Steve Smith. Lionel Messi. Sachin Tendulkar. Darren Sproles. When you watched them, you thought anything was possible.

More technically, it was fascinating to read about Iverson’s relationship with his coaches, both John Thompson and Larry Brown. Coaching this man must have been quite an experience 😅

To anyone who idolizes Allen Iverson and wants to know more, if you have any questions, this book has The Answer.

[Carter L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only the Strong Survive by Larry Platt is a biography of Allen Iverson who was an NBA legend and a 2001 MVP winner. The biography shows his struggles in life with his family, but through basketball and football and people along the way, they helped Iverson get to where he was.
Allen Iverson was born and raised in Hampton Virginia, where his 15-year-old mother had to take care of Allen where there was a lot of crime and drugs. Hampton had a high poverty rate when Allen was born, also Allen's father left him and his mother. One summer 8 of his friends died in shootings alone. Allen Iverson has always been one of the smallest kids on the court and the field, but with his talent and speed, he is always the best on the field and court. During high school, Allen found himself in jail. The Georgetown basketball coach stepped in and gave Iverson a place to play basketball and get himself together. He spends to years at Georgetown before declaring for the draft. The NBA is where he really became great in the basketball world, but also as a rapper.
Only the Strong Survive really shows how someone can be born into nothing and became something great. In Only the Strong Survive every page is good, there was never one page where you could say it was boring. The book keeps you on your toes. Every sports fan who likes basketball should read this book because it shows you many valuable lessons about life and basketball. Also, it shows that you don't have to be huge to play basketball in the NBA, Allen was 6 feet tall and 150 pound, he was an MVP and baskteball legend.

[Robbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I’ve owned for 10+ years, yet only ever read once previously. This was my second time reading it.

Informative & well documented account of Iverson’s first 7/8 seasons in the NBA (Iverson would go on to play 14 seasons in total) so this book does not cover Iverson’s entire NBA career, however the seasons it does cover it covers nicely.

Easily readable & digestible it helps the reader to formulate an opinion of A.I. as a misunderstood & often mistreated black American athlete. A fierce competitor on the court & devoted family man off the court it appears Iverson was labelled as a troublemaker, often falsely (even if was prone to miss a few practice sessions here & there..)

Worth reading.

’He would advertise who he was on his very own skin, because if he couldn’t control how he was portrayed or perceived, he knew he could control his own body. It’s the one thing he’d always been able to control, the one thing that has gotten him where he was today.’

a lot of people would like to be like him, to be a free spirit, to live your life, to not think twice about what other people think of you.’

[Joseph Stieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always been a bit ambivalent about AI: found his game electric and his intensity inspiring, but always befuddled by his inability to get his s--- together. This excellent little book confirmed those impressions but added some new layers. The accounts of his youth are riveting, almost mythical in the combination of his insane athletic feats and deep poverty. Platt paints Iverson as the anti-Jordan who appealed to a new, hip-hop listening audience by presenting an "authentic" self. He also emerges as a deeply sensitive figure with a hard exterior, someone longing for acceptance and security who can't get out of his own way. Honestly, if he had been my teammate, I would have detested him. As a fan, I mostly admire him, but I lament that his poor work habits and off-court misbehavior limited his achievements. As a historian, I see Iverson as a fascinating figure, a transition point as hip-hop culture started to go mainstream in society and the NBA and large swathes of both pushed back vehemently. Recommended for hoop geeks for sure, otherwise you probably wouldn't like it that much.

[Джан Тефик · Rating 4 out of 5]

Последните 5-6г прочетох доста баскетболни биографии и тази е една от добрите. Като споменем ,че е и на един любим баскетболист-легенда от близкото минало, нещата стават още по-сладки. Автора доста добре се справя както със стилът си на писане , така и с журналистическите си умения , даже бих казал и детективски хаха ( доста интервюта е взел, за да придаде автентичност и достоверност ). Минуса е ,че е издадена 2003г и не обхваща следващите му професионални години, но книгата предлага един много любопитен и дълбок поглед към живота на Айверсън, от самото му начало до към 2003г. Без сухи статистики и безцелни абзаци, изпълнена с интересни случки предимно извън терена. Айверсън винаги е бил себе си пред обществото и медиите и тази книга доказва това. Един човек проправил пътя на много , много играчи след него, дали с прическата, дали с облеклото, дали с личността и татусите си.... Задължителна за феновете на Allen Iverson !

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

On first glance, Biographies look like boring tales of nothing. However if you give them a second look, you will normally be awarded with a not only interesting, but also exciting story of someone’s life. And when you get a story about a professional athlete phenomenon like Allen Iverson, it makes the novel a great deal more fun to read. After reading this biography, it was not only an exciting read but it was also inspirational.

In this book, author Larry Platt tells the story about Allen Iverson and how he went from nothing to something. He grew up in a poor community, also known as a “hood” in Hampton, Virginia. His mom was very poor and struggled to provide for Allen due to his father leaving him. She was 15 when she had him and it wasn’t easy for her taking care of a child and going to highschool at the same time. Growing up in the hood proved to be a great challenge for him, he fell into peer pressure easily because he really didn’t know any better. He not only struggled to stay away from drugs but he also struggled to stay out of trouble. On the other hand, whenever he wasn’t at school or getting into trouble, he was playing pickup basketball with his friends from the block. He always was the best player on his team and it made him realise that he had a gift for the sport. He had a passion for basketball, although earlier on in life he thought otherwise,”Basketball is soft, I’m a football player.”(Platt 77) He played football on the side in highschool and was actually quite good at it. Allen’s goal in life was to make a lot of money and help his mom out, he wanted to make sure she had whatever she wanted in life, because of this he set out to make a career out of basketball. Once Allen joined the school basketball team, he began to get statewide recognition for his skill. He quickly became one of the most recognised players in the state and soon was being looked at by different colleges. After he went to college he was sent to the NBA draft. He realised that his goal in life was about to be a dream come true when he was selected round one, pick one by the Philadelphia 76ers. He finally fell into some money and made sure his mom had what she wanted and he couldn’t have been any happier.

The author of this book, Larry Platt, did a terrific job in the writing process. He successfully wrote a biography and made sure that he could entertain the reader while informing them too. I believe that this is one of the more exciting biographies out there. I especially liked reading about when Allen was getting to the NBA and all that he was getting in life. “Like her son, Ann Iverson doesn't just smile; she emits joy” (Platt 129) Everything was going his way and he began to spoil himself. He was buying basically anything that he could possibly want. The transition between him being poor and him being filthy rich was a short period of time and it was cool seeing how that went down. Another example of an exciting event was when he was 17 and had everything going for him, he had colleges lining up and he couldn’t be any happier. He was at a bowling alley with a couple of his friends when suddenly a gang brawl broke out. Although he did not participate in the brawl, he was still convicted. The court waited until Iverson turned 18 to try him as an adult. Allen was found guilty of the felony, “Maiming by Mob” and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in Prison. “Many of us, whether we consciously realise it or not, similarly comprehend iverson as a symbol, which necessarily means we invest in him---either as a victim or a victimizer.”(Platt 252) This quote goes to show that everyone deep down believes in Iverson as a role model, and once they thought they took his side because of this changed their minds immediately and had no problem voting guilty.

Another key asset that makes this biography the great one that it is, is the fact that it is very inspirational. Larry Platt not only included the success, money, and fame that Iverson acquired, but he also included Iverson’s failures. He showed the reader how Allen overcame his challenges and became a better person and basketball player because of them. One thing that Iverson did that inspired me was that he was a leader, not a follower. He came to the NBA as a rookie and changed the whole mentality of the players for years to come. The NBA didn’t really have a strict dress code, players usually wore their sunday best while out in public. Iverson, on the other hand, wore whatever he pleased,”The NBA would refrain from publicising the award because of Iverson’s white skull cap.”(Platt 4) This goes to show that he did not care about other people’s opinions. In fact, NBA players rarely had tattoos until Iverson wore tattoos on the court, now nearly every player has at least one tattoo. Also, this biography is inspirational because Platt explains how Iverson didn’t have many people rooting for him when he was growing up and he still made something of himself despite the odds,”(Older guys)...would shake their heads and laugh, but they’d look out for him too,---because they saw a prodigy in the making…”(Platt 2) This shows that Iverson had to motivate himself to succeed, but even with that he still gained the respect of others with his determination.

Besides from being one of my favorite biographies, I believe that this is the go-to book if you are looking for a not only exciting, but inspirational story of a man who against all odds made his dreams come true. I would recommend this novel to anyone who has a dream, because this book made me realise that you can do anything you set your mind to, so reach for the stars.

[David Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Sixers fan, there are a lot of mixed feelings about Iverson's time in the league. The book goes through a lot of personal stories with many details of his life and team relationships that I hadn't heard before. I think it's fair to say that if you love Iverson, the book may make you think slightly less of him, while if you hate him, the book will have you look at him more favorably. For nostalgia, I found myself googling some of the on court moments depicted in the book and was surprised to find one in which Platt incorrectly described the play which felt like a sloppy mistake, but overall the book is well written and feels both true and fair to everyone involved.

[Larisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Answer, Allen Iverson, was one of my favorite ball players growing up. He played with such heart and intensity and he wasn’t afraid to be himself on and off the court. He changed basketball culture, inducted into NBA hall of fame, MVP’er, so many successes.

The Answer was labeled by most as a thug, or a gang member by the public. Media said he had an attitude problem.

AI knew he was going to be one of the greatest athletes in football or basketball when he was younger.

[Richard Scricca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid background and perspective but felt a little incomplete. What about his post-Sixers odyssey? Was also clearly extremely heavy on an interview Platt did with Pat Croce. Way too much Croce in this. Good book, breezed right through it, I learned things I didn't know and felt like I got to know a lot of the personalities involved a lot better, but still just felt like there was far too much left on the table.

[Melissa Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives great insight into how the media can make or break a person. The media demonized Allen Iverson in many ways, without acknowledging the circumstances he battled. This book counters the media’s portrayal of Iverson in a resounding way, giving context to the (usually) unnecessary public attacks on the world-famous player.

[Geuris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book it shows the struggles he went through as a child.

[Jonah Aguirre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most influential athlete of my generation. Hands down

[Conrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book in my opinion. This book is about Allen Iverson's life. Throughout the book it talks about his struggles in life and how he didn't have much. It talks about how he had to move on from bad stuff in the past.
Allen Iverson didn't have much growing up and when he was younger he liked football more than basketball. That changed after a little bit when everyone realized how good he was and how good he could be at basketball.
In my opinion it was an OK book. I gave it a 3/5 stars because it was very long and had unnecessary stuff in there. Other than that it taught me a lot about his life growing up and in the NBA.

[Jahshawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

what i like about the book is that when you read it got the date of when he was born and the timeline and it tell you about his life and how he be come what he is right now of today

[M2189 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t watch the NBA anymore but AI was tough as nails. And he is a good person as you will see.

[Debbie Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I know this isn't great literature, but I enjoyed this book. Iverson is one of those guys who grew up in a tough neighborhood with no dad and no prospects, but his basketball talent got him out of that environment. I can remember living in Virginia when Iverson was a high-school basketball star who got involved in a big brawl and ended up doing jail time; his conviction was later overturned. For me the book was a good glimpse into that street/hiphop culture and actually even helped me understand the whole tattoo thing. (Oh, and as a bonus, there were illustrations of AI's tattoos along with his explanation of what they meant to him. TMI?) Also interesting to learn about Larry Brown's coaching style and some of the workings of the NBA. Most interesting, I think was the author's observations about how the media put Iverson into a "bad boy" box from the get-go and Iverson's response to that--sometimes immature, but maybe understandable, out of his frustrations with the media and an NBA that insisted on airbrushing his tattoos and earrings out of publicity photos. Is this an objective book? Not quite. But it was a good read.