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Back from the Dead
“An elegiac yet exuberant new memoir” ( The New York Times Book Review )—Bill Walton’s New York Times bestselling memoir about his recovery from debilitating physical injury and how lessons from John Wooden at UCLA (and the music of the Grateful Dead) have inspired his darkest hours.
In February 2008, Bill Walton suffered a spinal collapse so devastating he was unable to get up. It was the culmination of a lifetime of injury. Although Walton had played fourteen seasons in the NBA, he actually missed more games than he played during those years due to injury. From the time of his spinal collapse until his eventual recovery, he spent most of three years flat on the ground. The pain was excruciating, and he thought seriously about killing himself. But he survived, and Back from the Dead is the story of his injury and recovery, set in the context of his amazing athletic career.
Walton grew up in southern California in the 1950s and was deeply influenced by the political and cultural upheavals of the 1960s. Although Walton identified strongly with the counterculture, especially in music, the greatest influence on him outside his family was Coach John Wooden, a thoughtful, precise mentor who seemed immune to the turmoil of the times. The two men would speak every day for forty-three years until Wooden’s death at age ninety-nine.
John Wooden once said that no greatness ever came without sacrifice. In this “frequently stirring memoir…Walton’s love for life and the people and things in it—including his college coach, John Wooden—is infectious. You can’t stop reading, or rooting for the man” ( Publishers Weekly ). Back from the Dead shares his dramatic story, including his basketball and broadcasting careers, his many setbacks and rebounds, and his ultimate triumph as the toughest of champions. “[Walton] scores another basket—a deeply personal one.” ( Kirkus Reviews )
In February 2008, Bill Walton suffered a spinal collapse so devastating he was unable to get up. It was the culmination of a lifetime of injury. Although Walton had played fourteen seasons in the NBA, he actually missed more games than he played during those years due to injury. From the time of his spinal collapse until his eventual recovery, he spent most of three years flat on the ground. The pain was excruciating, and he thought seriously about killing himself. But he survived, and Back from the Dead is the story of his injury and recovery, set in the context of his amazing athletic career.
Walton grew up in southern California in the 1950s and was deeply influenced by the political and cultural upheavals of the 1960s. Although Walton identified strongly with the counterculture, especially in music, the greatest influence on him outside his family was Coach John Wooden, a thoughtful, precise mentor who seemed immune to the turmoil of the times. The two men would speak every day for forty-three years until Wooden’s death at age ninety-nine.
John Wooden once said that no greatness ever came without sacrifice. In this “frequently stirring memoir…Walton’s love for life and the people and things in it—including his college coach, John Wooden—is infectious. You can’t stop reading, or rooting for the man” ( Publishers Weekly ). Back from the Dead shares his dramatic story, including his basketball and broadcasting careers, his many setbacks and rebounds, and his ultimate triumph as the toughest of champions. “[Walton] scores another basket—a deeply personal one.” ( Kirkus Reviews )
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
September 14, 2016
Bill Walton's autobiography is true to his person. Just as Bill Walton was never remotely "just a basketball player" this book is clearly not just a basketball book. Walton's passions, eclectic interests, friendships, family and of course basketball and injuries all jump out at the reader.
Walton starts with a portrait of an idyllic if different life growing up in San Diego. Basketball soon consumes him and leads him to UCLA. While Walton clearly reveres John Wooden, his candid story shows a complicated relationship between the two with frank descriptions of the many times they disappointed the other and did not understand the other which makes Walton's respect and affection for Wooden all the more credible. UCLA basketball is also central, and there are great tales including Walton's and UCLA's heartbreaking loss to North Carolina State. The UCLA years were not just about basketball, there is lengthy discussion about counterculture, the Grateful Dead , marijuan and political protest, especially against the war
Walton tells of his career with Portland, my favorite chapter in the book was the magical championship year with details of the various series leading up to the championship match against the 76ers. Walton's loyalty is seen here; he gives Maurice Lucas credit for being the real MVP and bluntly says Portland won because Bob Gross outplayed Juluis Erving.
The next years are dominated by injuries and failed medical diagnoses and treatments. There is the comeback with the Boston Celtics where Walton is a reserve and gets as much treatment in the book as Portland's championship with Walton as a star. Those chapters include the best writing on Larry Bird that I have ever read.
Walton is very frank about how his injuries came to a head and how he spent years in constant, excruciating pain and how he literally had to be carried and wheeled to his car for medical appointments. He then describes his recovery which restores Walton to a life of passion, broadcasting, biking and family. If there is a shortcoming it is the jarring exception to the candid pages in the book, his first marriage with the mother of his sons. The sons lives are told in detail, especially their college years and marriages, and Walton's second marriage is fully discussed. The absence of the first marriage is jarring compared to the completeness and frankness of the rest of the book, but perhaps Walton deserves a pass here as all the characters, his first wife and four sons are still alive and a frank narrative here would invade their privacy not just Walton's.
Walton starts with a portrait of an idyllic if different life growing up in San Diego. Basketball soon consumes him and leads him to UCLA. While Walton clearly reveres John Wooden, his candid story shows a complicated relationship between the two with frank descriptions of the many times they disappointed the other and did not understand the other which makes Walton's respect and affection for Wooden all the more credible. UCLA basketball is also central, and there are great tales including Walton's and UCLA's heartbreaking loss to North Carolina State. The UCLA years were not just about basketball, there is lengthy discussion about counterculture, the Grateful Dead , marijuan and political protest, especially against the war
Walton tells of his career with Portland, my favorite chapter in the book was the magical championship year with details of the various series leading up to the championship match against the 76ers. Walton's loyalty is seen here; he gives Maurice Lucas credit for being the real MVP and bluntly says Portland won because Bob Gross outplayed Juluis Erving.
The next years are dominated by injuries and failed medical diagnoses and treatments. There is the comeback with the Boston Celtics where Walton is a reserve and gets as much treatment in the book as Portland's championship with Walton as a star. Those chapters include the best writing on Larry Bird that I have ever read.
Walton is very frank about how his injuries came to a head and how he spent years in constant, excruciating pain and how he literally had to be carried and wheeled to his car for medical appointments. He then describes his recovery which restores Walton to a life of passion, broadcasting, biking and family. If there is a shortcoming it is the jarring exception to the candid pages in the book, his first marriage with the mother of his sons. The sons lives are told in detail, especially their college years and marriages, and Walton's second marriage is fully discussed. The absence of the first marriage is jarring compared to the completeness and frankness of the rest of the book, but perhaps Walton deserves a pass here as all the characters, his first wife and four sons are still alive and a frank narrative here would invade their privacy not just Walton's.
April 28, 2016
I was a good reads first giveaway winner of the book "Back From the Dead" As it says in the title; Bill Walton is one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. This is his memoir. One of the first things that Bill Walton makes clear, he is a big rock and roll fan. His favorite group is The Grateful Dead. He devotes each of his chapters to quotes from his favorite songs. Many of them from The Grateful Dead. he has been to over 450 concerts by his favorite band. He is even friends with the members of the band. Bill Walton talks of his happy childhood one of four children. He soon discovered he had a talent for basketball. He grew to be six foot eleven. He knew he wanted to go to UCLA where the great coach John Wooden was. Of course he did make the team and spent a few chapters of this book describing the years he was there and the championships they won.
He went on to describe his years with the Portland Trailblazers, and then a few years later his time with the Celtics. He talks a lot about his fellow basketball players such as Larry Bird and so many others.
Bill Walton suffered very many serious injuries over the years. a lot of broken bones,many surgeries. He should have not played Basketball and was warned by the doctors to stop playing. Walton ignored the warnings continued to play getting more injuries. The worst came about ten year ago when he suffered a total spinal collapse. He spent two agonizing years laying on the floor not able to move. He finally had spinal surgery and endured a long time back to recovery.
There is much more to Walton's book. He talks much about many of the games and players. Anyone who is a fan of Bill Walton may enjoy this well done memoir.
He went on to describe his years with the Portland Trailblazers, and then a few years later his time with the Celtics. He talks a lot about his fellow basketball players such as Larry Bird and so many others.
Bill Walton suffered very many serious injuries over the years. a lot of broken bones,many surgeries. He should have not played Basketball and was warned by the doctors to stop playing. Walton ignored the warnings continued to play getting more injuries. The worst came about ten year ago when he suffered a total spinal collapse. He spent two agonizing years laying on the floor not able to move. He finally had spinal surgery and endured a long time back to recovery.
There is much more to Walton's book. He talks much about many of the games and players. Anyone who is a fan of Bill Walton may enjoy this well done memoir.
March 28, 2016
If Bill Walton were a foot shorter, he’d be just another Deadhead.
After listening to Scott Simon’s interview with Bill Walton, (http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/03/...), I was excited to read his book. Walton sounded so interesting and wonderful in this interview that I decided to overcome my aversion to all things basketball and buy the book.
After reading the book, I have a greater aversion to basketball than ever. I admire Bill Walton for his ability to overcome incredible pain and achieve a satisfying life. I will never read another book by him. It will take an incredible amount of effort for me to pick up another book about basketball (exceptions – In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle, because it is one of the best books about girls, athletics, and coaching I’ve ever read and A Sense of Where You Are, because anything John McPhee writes is worth reading).
My aversion to basketball stems from three objections. More than any other sport, freakish height is a prerequisite for success. While there have been short basketball players, my understanding is that they fill a very small and infrequently needed niche. The amount of the game that is played “above the rim” disqualifies anyone remotely considered short from making any kind of contribution on the court. Full disclosure: I’m 5’4” tall.
I dislike basketball because there are no rules. The whistles are blown randomly, if at all. The book reinforces this impression. The players make the rules and brutality is the technique of enforcement.
Of all the spectator sports, basketball exploits its players most egregiously. Walton is a living testament to this particular form of torture. It is also the professional sport in which young black men have the highest proportion of participation and exploitation. While I make no study of this, it seems that an extraordinary number of rookies in the NBA are black men who have dropped out of college. I presume they are also among those who retire with injuries, but without Walton's resources.
With regard to the book: It is a mish-mash of stories and anecdotes, generously interspersed with acknowledgements of Walton’s gratitude to his various mentors and champions. It borders on modesty, but that doesn’t ever last very long.
My chief objection to the book is its incompleteness. For someone who prides himself on truthfulness, there is a conspicuous absence of discussion on the role drugs have played in Walton’s life. Other than an oblique reference to “high altitude training,” there is nothing. Was he listening to the same Grateful Dead that I was? What was Jimi Hendrix talking about?
Was he an angel, or was the highest paid athlete never tempted by any women? And Bill, (still employed in basketball) Are there any gay professional basketball players?
After giving a lot of credit to his parents for providing him a wonderful and constructive environment, he pretty much drops the subject until much later in the book when his father is on his deathbed. What was it like in his family when as a teenager, he takes off on a world tour with an abusive coach and a group of brutal teammates?
What is it like for his family when he is either felled by criminal fouls (if there are actually fouls in basketball) or crippled by his obsessive play. What is it like for his wife? What wife?
About a third of the way through the book, he announces the birth of his first child. What? By himself? Just like that, he has a child. And three more, without mentioning his wife, or at least the mother (mothers?) of his children? Did he really bear children? I’m wondering, “Did I miss a chapter? Was there some terrible divorce? Did the mother abuse the children? Why can’t he even name her?”
He certainly gives John Wooden his props. Certainly Wooden gave him more than anyone else in his life except his family, but he doesn’t really tell us how much contact he had with Wooden after UCLA. It is sort of like his Dad, back for ceremonies, but no continuing contact.
The book starts off well, with a lot of detail about how he grew up and how much fun he had as a boy and his experiences. Even the part about UCLA and the chemistry of the team is interesting.
The middle third of the book is mostly about his professional career. The beginning and the end of his career is interesting, but his reminiscing about games and playoffs made the book seem much longer than it actually is. However, this section was useful in reinforcing my prejudice against basketball.
The final third is about his most recent recovery, hence the title of the book. It is inspirational and gives added empathy for those people who suffer from unbearable pain. It is also full of gratitude for the people who have made his recovery possible, especially his previously unnamed wife.
As sports literature, I think the maxim is true. “The quality of sports literature is inversely proportional to the size of the ball.” As a memoir, it is mediocre.
But what I can’t get over is that it is all because of his height. Without the height, there is no basketball, no UCLA, no Wooden, no NBA, no fantastic wealth, no adoption by the Grateful Dead or the Rolling Stones. Probably the defects in his feet would not have been so detrimental to his overall health. Perhaps there would be no foot surgeries, no knee injuries, no back surgeries.
I have bad feet and a bad back. I’m the same age as Walton. I love to bike and it is my second favorite sports outlet. While never considering myself moderate in anything, especially physical activity, I’ve managed to hold myself together a lot better than Walton. I envy him nothing, especially his height.
After listening to Scott Simon’s interview with Bill Walton, (http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/03/...), I was excited to read his book. Walton sounded so interesting and wonderful in this interview that I decided to overcome my aversion to all things basketball and buy the book.
After reading the book, I have a greater aversion to basketball than ever. I admire Bill Walton for his ability to overcome incredible pain and achieve a satisfying life. I will never read another book by him. It will take an incredible amount of effort for me to pick up another book about basketball (exceptions – In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle, because it is one of the best books about girls, athletics, and coaching I’ve ever read and A Sense of Where You Are, because anything John McPhee writes is worth reading).
My aversion to basketball stems from three objections. More than any other sport, freakish height is a prerequisite for success. While there have been short basketball players, my understanding is that they fill a very small and infrequently needed niche. The amount of the game that is played “above the rim” disqualifies anyone remotely considered short from making any kind of contribution on the court. Full disclosure: I’m 5’4” tall.
I dislike basketball because there are no rules. The whistles are blown randomly, if at all. The book reinforces this impression. The players make the rules and brutality is the technique of enforcement.
Of all the spectator sports, basketball exploits its players most egregiously. Walton is a living testament to this particular form of torture. It is also the professional sport in which young black men have the highest proportion of participation and exploitation. While I make no study of this, it seems that an extraordinary number of rookies in the NBA are black men who have dropped out of college. I presume they are also among those who retire with injuries, but without Walton's resources.
With regard to the book: It is a mish-mash of stories and anecdotes, generously interspersed with acknowledgements of Walton’s gratitude to his various mentors and champions. It borders on modesty, but that doesn’t ever last very long.
My chief objection to the book is its incompleteness. For someone who prides himself on truthfulness, there is a conspicuous absence of discussion on the role drugs have played in Walton’s life. Other than an oblique reference to “high altitude training,” there is nothing. Was he listening to the same Grateful Dead that I was? What was Jimi Hendrix talking about?
Was he an angel, or was the highest paid athlete never tempted by any women? And Bill, (still employed in basketball) Are there any gay professional basketball players?
After giving a lot of credit to his parents for providing him a wonderful and constructive environment, he pretty much drops the subject until much later in the book when his father is on his deathbed. What was it like in his family when as a teenager, he takes off on a world tour with an abusive coach and a group of brutal teammates?
What is it like for his family when he is either felled by criminal fouls (if there are actually fouls in basketball) or crippled by his obsessive play. What is it like for his wife? What wife?
About a third of the way through the book, he announces the birth of his first child. What? By himself? Just like that, he has a child. And three more, without mentioning his wife, or at least the mother (mothers?) of his children? Did he really bear children? I’m wondering, “Did I miss a chapter? Was there some terrible divorce? Did the mother abuse the children? Why can’t he even name her?”
He certainly gives John Wooden his props. Certainly Wooden gave him more than anyone else in his life except his family, but he doesn’t really tell us how much contact he had with Wooden after UCLA. It is sort of like his Dad, back for ceremonies, but no continuing contact.
The book starts off well, with a lot of detail about how he grew up and how much fun he had as a boy and his experiences. Even the part about UCLA and the chemistry of the team is interesting.
The middle third of the book is mostly about his professional career. The beginning and the end of his career is interesting, but his reminiscing about games and playoffs made the book seem much longer than it actually is. However, this section was useful in reinforcing my prejudice against basketball.
The final third is about his most recent recovery, hence the title of the book. It is inspirational and gives added empathy for those people who suffer from unbearable pain. It is also full of gratitude for the people who have made his recovery possible, especially his previously unnamed wife.
As sports literature, I think the maxim is true. “The quality of sports literature is inversely proportional to the size of the ball.” As a memoir, it is mediocre.
But what I can’t get over is that it is all because of his height. Without the height, there is no basketball, no UCLA, no Wooden, no NBA, no fantastic wealth, no adoption by the Grateful Dead or the Rolling Stones. Probably the defects in his feet would not have been so detrimental to his overall health. Perhaps there would be no foot surgeries, no knee injuries, no back surgeries.
I have bad feet and a bad back. I’m the same age as Walton. I love to bike and it is my second favorite sports outlet. While never considering myself moderate in anything, especially physical activity, I’ve managed to hold myself together a lot better than Walton. I envy him nothing, especially his height.
August 18, 2018
Bill Walton is a great story-teller. I don't necessarily believe everything he says, and it would be interesting to hear the same stories from the perspective of the other people involved (and I did some googling to find out), but it was excellent to hear him tell them. His enthusiasm is infectious, and it must have been great to be on a team with him. His relationship with Larry Bird was the best part of the book.
May 9, 2016
5 stars! Really..5 stars for a basketball autobiography! Bill Walton along with his red hair, love for long bike rides and (like the time he rode up Halelakaa in Maui) is back from the dead.
I was born in Portland Oregon in 1976. In 1977 with the help from a red-haired hippy (Grateful Dead Fanatic) named Bill Walton the Portland Trailblazers won their only NBA championship and celebrated with a championship parade. I wonder if my parents took me in a stroller to Tom McCall Waterfront Park to see Walton go by? At the time Walton lived in NW Portland on Kearney Street and 23rd. He rode his custom made bicycle across the river to the old Trailblazers Stadium to his games and fans cheered him along the way.
Walton has a great story. He grew up in San Diego near Balboa Park surfing, listening to the Grateful Dead, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan. He grew to be about 7 feet tall and won a national championship with UCLA with the great coach John Wooden. Then on to playing in Portland Oregon. Some say he may have been the best center to every play the game if it were not for ankle and foot injuries. Despite multiple surgeries, hypnosis treatment, and anesthetic...his career was cut short due to navicular bone injuries.
Despite being a stutterer Walton became one of my favorite NBA commentators for his over the top rhetoric. Everything was the best ever, the greatest, never to be matched.
5 stars. I wish Walton could have received better orthopedic care (such that is foot and ankle and spinal bones were not ground down to dust) and we could have seen him play much longer.
I was born in Portland Oregon in 1976. In 1977 with the help from a red-haired hippy (Grateful Dead Fanatic) named Bill Walton the Portland Trailblazers won their only NBA championship and celebrated with a championship parade. I wonder if my parents took me in a stroller to Tom McCall Waterfront Park to see Walton go by? At the time Walton lived in NW Portland on Kearney Street and 23rd. He rode his custom made bicycle across the river to the old Trailblazers Stadium to his games and fans cheered him along the way.
Walton has a great story. He grew up in San Diego near Balboa Park surfing, listening to the Grateful Dead, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan. He grew to be about 7 feet tall and won a national championship with UCLA with the great coach John Wooden. Then on to playing in Portland Oregon. Some say he may have been the best center to every play the game if it were not for ankle and foot injuries. Despite multiple surgeries, hypnosis treatment, and anesthetic...his career was cut short due to navicular bone injuries.
Despite being a stutterer Walton became one of my favorite NBA commentators for his over the top rhetoric. Everything was the best ever, the greatest, never to be matched.
5 stars. I wish Walton could have received better orthopedic care (such that is foot and ankle and spinal bones were not ground down to dust) and we could have seen him play much longer.
July 26, 2016
It's hard rooting against someone in crippling pain, but Walton finds a way for me to do so. Everyone has that one boss who talks of the old days and name drops people you never knew existed like they were Jesus and does so in excruciating detail. This is a book of that. Walton admittedly acknowledges his cocky, brash nature especially while on UCLA but too often this book is a mix of "I LOVE THE GRATEFUL DEAD!!!" and self-pity. Go read a John Wooden biography instead.
April 22, 2016
I've always been a fan of Bill Walton's. He signed an autograph for me back in 1977 or so when the Portland Trailblazers played In Milwaukee. He got Maurice Lucas, Bob Gross and Dave T all to sign my Topps cards. He's been my favorite ever since.
It's a great book with lots of good stories about The NBA, The Grateful Dead & San Diego life. I would highly recommend reading it.
It's a great book with lots of good stories about The NBA, The Grateful Dead & San Diego life. I would highly recommend reading it.
November 1, 2024
I’ve always found Bill Walton to be an interesting and inspiring character to have a stuttering problem he overcame to become a sports broadcaster. His death this year prompted me to look for books about him. Back from the Dead was a very enjoyable book. I learned much more about Bill Walton and came away far more impressed with his intellect, values, and humility. I had no idea he was a Rhodes Scholar candidate and attended Stanford law for two years while in the NBA. I remember Walton in his final Celtics years and wondered how good he had been when healthy. The injuries he had while playing and for years after were devastating. He overcame so much in his life and this book embodied an exuberant, do the right thing spirit displayed almost ubiquitously as I look at his very public life. 4 stars and recommended reading for basketball fans and those who appreciate positive attitude, athletic prowess, and intelligence.
July 4, 2024
This sounds dumb, but Walton’s death hit me hard, like I’d lost someone with whom I was very close. It feels like all my life, he just simply was always there, calling a late night Pac-12 game, popping on an NBA show, making appearances across the globe, living life to the fullest. You could just tell that this guy decided that his lot in life was to soak up every second he had and radiate pure joy and good vibes to people. I’ve found myself rewatching several classic Walton broadcast clips, and getting to hear his voice leap off the page in this biography was quite special. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he titled this book 'Back from the Dead'; while he may be physically gone, spiritually he isn’t going anywhere. His impact and joy will be felt forever.
“Basketball is the most perfect of all games. [...] I learned early on that basketball was life, and that every possession of the ball provided unlimited opportunities to make a powerful, positive impact and contribution to our goal, a realization that I try to apply to everything I do in my life.”
“A wonderful thing about basketball is that on every one of your trips up or down the floor, you have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the outcome of the game. [...] You have to master your own skills, anticipate all the possible movements of the other players, and know how to react to everything, especially when things go wrong or off the tracks.”
“I have since learned that Wooden’s ingenious high-post creation was one of the greatest inventions in the history of civilization, right up there with the wheel, fire, birth control, and the thermos. But it was not for me.”
“There are few things on earth like a championship parade. I highly recommend them–as often as possible.”
“Basketball is the most perfect of all games. [...] I learned early on that basketball was life, and that every possession of the ball provided unlimited opportunities to make a powerful, positive impact and contribution to our goal, a realization that I try to apply to everything I do in my life.”
“A wonderful thing about basketball is that on every one of your trips up or down the floor, you have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the outcome of the game. [...] You have to master your own skills, anticipate all the possible movements of the other players, and know how to react to everything, especially when things go wrong or off the tracks.”
“I have since learned that Wooden’s ingenious high-post creation was one of the greatest inventions in the history of civilization, right up there with the wheel, fire, birth control, and the thermos. But it was not for me.”
“There are few things on earth like a championship parade. I highly recommend them–as often as possible.”
October 11, 2016
This was an excellent autobiography. I was first of all impressed with how well written it is. Then I was also impressed with how much Bill remembered from his youth and his appreciation for his family and those coaches and other players who inspired him. Of course this is HIS autobiography, so he can include or dismiss any part of his life he'd like, but he never mentions his first wife AT ALL, so there seems to be a hole. And since she is the mother of his four sons (who he does tell about several times), it seems she could have at least been mentioned. It was also very inspiring how he dealt with his injuries and the physical challenges that resulted from the years of misdiagnosis and the pain he had to work and live through. And I don't know how he found the time to go to all those Grateful Dead concerts! Overall, a very enjoyable read. Thanks, Bill!
March 30, 2016
Walton's book reveals the physical cost to one's body to play pro sports. I enjoyed going back to some of my grad school days, reading THE DAILY BRUIN and counting off UCLA wins. The pro parts were not as interesting to me, but Walton reveals his down years as well as the championships. I loved the parts about his sons and wish we knew more about his wives. Again, the whole issue of our hero-worship society stands out. Bill was not really prepared for the level of ridiculousness, having had parents who kept their family on the straight and narrow (no television!). Good read.
June 12, 2016
I started watching UCLA basketball during Bill Walton's senior year and followed his nba career afterwards. He was a joy to watch. His love of the game and enthusiasm for life come through in this memoir. Loved reading about all the basketball stars he's played with and the coaches he's played for. Great book for a basketball fan.
July 8, 2016
Bill Walton is an amazing man, not just for his basketball accomplishments but also for his broad interests, positivism in the face of serious physical breakdowns, and enthusiasm for life generally. I found the book to be very uplifting. I highly recommend it, especially to basketball fans, but for those who have been faced with physical disabilities.
September 14, 2016
Just barely a four. Sports fans will love it. I know that you're not required to tell everything in a memoir but it's a bit off-putting that the mother of his children isn't even mentioned.
August 23, 2025
In terms of heart, this is one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. Is it Montaigne? No way. Not fancy. Not stylish. It is Bill. Full of tie-dyed “Blues For Allah”-vintage Greatful Dead, of wonderment for life and California’s stunning nature and the joy of biking, the beach, and, crucially, basketball.
Bill’s memoir inspires. He was a big guy whose spirit wasn’t meant to fit in a widget—and who was blessed and cursed with a body that could do amazing things on a basketball court—but one that broke done repeatedly because its feet and bones and spine couldn’t easily support that big frame.
Walton, who died last year, made friends for decades—Greg Lee or Maurice Lucas, partners on the court who always had his back; John Wooden, the UCLA coach and lifetime mentor; Larry Bird, who talked trash to him but shared an undying enthusiasm of the game; Lori, his late-in-life partner and savior during his long, uncertain recovery from paralyzing spinal pain that felled him in 2008; and Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia.
One section of the book that will stay with me is Walton and Wooden, decades after clashing politically at UCLA, walking through the Vietnam War Memorial in DC, and Wooden reciting from memory the poem “The Two Sides of War,” by Grantland Rice.
Wooden, the crew-cut, button-downed leader, was driven to distraction by Walton’s arrest during an antiwar demonstration and Bill’s writing of a protest note to President Nixon on Wooden’s stationery.
Wooden recited:
“Portly and solemn in their pride,
The elders cast their vote
For this or that, or something else
That sounds the martial note.
“But where their sightless eyes stare out
Beyond life’s vanished toys,
I’ve noticed nearly all the dead
Were hardly more than boys.”
Walton, the son of a social worker/music teacher and a librarian, was encouraged to read and be a free thinker from the jump. He speaks about growing up in a San Diego with public basketball courts and parks and beaches, all free, in a family that didn’t particularly want a TV or wasn’t grubbing for more and more consumer goods. Going camping was the thing, Playing baritone horn in his family’s informal band was his thing. The same with questioning authority —and he did.
Walton thought his chronic injuries let everyone down. He frequently recounts his mistakes and bad moves—and the way he taxed Wooden and later his young family, particularly during his road warrior second career as a sports broadcaster, an unlikely and difficult turn for a lifelong stutterer.
In this memoir, however, he gives readers a reason for joy. His pain, his 37 orthopedic operations, his years in the pool trying to recover, come with gratitude to the people who pulled him through, from medical specialists and physical therapists to fellow cyclists who managed a SF-to-SD ride without a limbs — or the voice of Jerry singing Dylan’s “Visions of Johanna”, the moment he first believed he could come back from his 2008 break that, literally, floored him..
A personal note: I sat next to Bill and Lori at a commemoration of the premature demise of the son of a mutual friend. They had flown cross-country in support, and I was enthralled with Lori’s work. I’d mentioned by son was looking at colleges and they both insisted - insisted - that we come stay with them and see UCSD and how great the school and San Diego would be. Their generosity rocked me. Were they serious? I asked our mutual friend the next day. Totally, my friend responded. “That’s Bill.”
Bill’s memoir inspires. He was a big guy whose spirit wasn’t meant to fit in a widget—and who was blessed and cursed with a body that could do amazing things on a basketball court—but one that broke done repeatedly because its feet and bones and spine couldn’t easily support that big frame.
Walton, who died last year, made friends for decades—Greg Lee or Maurice Lucas, partners on the court who always had his back; John Wooden, the UCLA coach and lifetime mentor; Larry Bird, who talked trash to him but shared an undying enthusiasm of the game; Lori, his late-in-life partner and savior during his long, uncertain recovery from paralyzing spinal pain that felled him in 2008; and Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia.
One section of the book that will stay with me is Walton and Wooden, decades after clashing politically at UCLA, walking through the Vietnam War Memorial in DC, and Wooden reciting from memory the poem “The Two Sides of War,” by Grantland Rice.
Wooden, the crew-cut, button-downed leader, was driven to distraction by Walton’s arrest during an antiwar demonstration and Bill’s writing of a protest note to President Nixon on Wooden’s stationery.
Wooden recited:
“Portly and solemn in their pride,
The elders cast their vote
For this or that, or something else
That sounds the martial note.
“But where their sightless eyes stare out
Beyond life’s vanished toys,
I’ve noticed nearly all the dead
Were hardly more than boys.”
Walton, the son of a social worker/music teacher and a librarian, was encouraged to read and be a free thinker from the jump. He speaks about growing up in a San Diego with public basketball courts and parks and beaches, all free, in a family that didn’t particularly want a TV or wasn’t grubbing for more and more consumer goods. Going camping was the thing, Playing baritone horn in his family’s informal band was his thing. The same with questioning authority —and he did.
Walton thought his chronic injuries let everyone down. He frequently recounts his mistakes and bad moves—and the way he taxed Wooden and later his young family, particularly during his road warrior second career as a sports broadcaster, an unlikely and difficult turn for a lifelong stutterer.
In this memoir, however, he gives readers a reason for joy. His pain, his 37 orthopedic operations, his years in the pool trying to recover, come with gratitude to the people who pulled him through, from medical specialists and physical therapists to fellow cyclists who managed a SF-to-SD ride without a limbs — or the voice of Jerry singing Dylan’s “Visions of Johanna”, the moment he first believed he could come back from his 2008 break that, literally, floored him..
A personal note: I sat next to Bill and Lori at a commemoration of the premature demise of the son of a mutual friend. They had flown cross-country in support, and I was enthralled with Lori’s work. I’d mentioned by son was looking at colleges and they both insisted - insisted - that we come stay with them and see UCSD and how great the school and San Diego would be. Their generosity rocked me. Were they serious? I asked our mutual friend the next day. Totally, my friend responded. “That’s Bill.”
February 6, 2020
If you like Bill Walton's basketball color analysis, you will like his book. If you don't like Walton, you will probably not like this book. It reads like his commentary, but IMO that makes it authentic. I really like Bill Walton so I thoroughly enjoyed it. At times he can be a bit hyperbolic (that's an understatement), but underneath it all is one of the best basketball minds we have ever seen. The man has a zest for life that is unquestionable. His convictions do not always line up with mine, but I always appreciate him.
Disclaimer: I am an Oregonian who joined Blazermania during that magical 76-77 season where Walton played the center position, for about 18 months, better than it has ever been played before. We (Blazer fans) are all just fortunate that the curse on Blazer big men did not kick in until after the Walton gang had won one NBA championship.
Disclaimer: I am an Oregonian who joined Blazermania during that magical 76-77 season where Walton played the center position, for about 18 months, better than it has ever been played before. We (Blazer fans) are all just fortunate that the curse on Blazer big men did not kick in until after the Walton gang had won one NBA championship.
April 30, 2025
To me, Bill Walton is a modern-day Paul Bunyan or Johnny Appleseed. He was a star on John Wooden’s UCLA champs, won an MVP and ring with the Blazers and Maurice Lucas, and was a key piece in the final Red Auerbach/Larry Bird era C’s championship. All of that before he became the most entertaining play-by-play commentator in basketball history. And I haven’t even mentioned he’s perhaps the biggest Deadhead of all time. I absolutely loved this book, and I loved getting to hear Walton’s voice for 12 more hours via audible. The life lessons imparted by Coach Wooden, the harrowing tales of his 37 orthopedic surgeries and debilitating injuries, and most inspiring his overcoming of a stutter, all came together to make this one of my all time favorites.
February 14, 2020
Highly recommended
June 4, 2024
RIP to one of the best players of all time
April 8, 2023
Basketball world knows Bill Walton's unique style and personality which this book shows it all and then some. A true story of when life has you down there's always a brighter side to it.
June 28, 2025
I feel like a lot of autobiographies/ memoirs can have the slick, professional feel of a ghost writer ironing out all the wrinkles in the subjects narrative. This is not the case here ; Bill Walton 100% wrote this book. Real fun read, impossible not to read this in his voice. Loved all his venom directed towards Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, whom he called the prince of darkness. Loved the story about visiting Larry Birds house in Indiana and scooping dirt from the driveway into a jam jar and bringing it with him throughout the ‘86 Celtics season, periodically rubbing himself with it whenever he needed luck. Bill was a weirdo, but in a world full of suits you gotta love a weirdo like Bill. He was the voice for countless wildcat games, and one of the best to ever do it. Love ya Bill, thanks for everything :,3
March 22, 2018
Bill Walton was a hero of my childhood. He was the baddest guy on the baddest basketball team in the land - UCLA. When playing pickup ball, we would take turns pretending we were him.
His pro career didn't materialize as imagined, given the injuries he suffered. Walton says he played less than 4 complete season's worth of ball during his 13-year NBA career. Despite this, he was still recognized as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history during the NBA's 50th anniversary celebration.
Despite his limited playing time in the NBA, he was still a center (pun unintended) of attention in the sports world for his behavior, attitudes and outspokenness on social and political issues, e.g., long hair, pot smoking, political activism, hanging out with the Grateful Dead, etc.. Considered a rebel and troublemaker at the time, his behaviors were incredibly mild and uncontroversial when viewed through today's lens.
What I learned from this book was how severely those injuries, exacerbated over a lifetime of playing basketball, weight lifting, cycling, etc., affected him later in life. For two full years, he was unable to walk, pretty much living on the floor of his home as an invalid. His wife should be beatified for her patience and support in nursing him back to health. Walton does a wonderful job expressing his gratitude for her and the support she provided.
This is a great story of one of the legends of the late 20th century American sports scene. He was a 3-time All American and 3-time Academic All American as well. Don't believe anybody else has accomplished that feat before or since.
Despite his success, he appears to have remained a humble, self-effacing individual, thankful to those how have helped him along the way. He heaps praise on teammates, friends, business partners and coaches of every stripe, citing their positive influences that helped him become the person he is today. He does a wonderful job describing his life-long relationship with his college coach, John Wooden, and how he came to love the man and the values for which he stood, despite the huge differences in age, social and political values and lifestyles.
Walton is famous as a basketball player. Anybody reading this book will learn that he should be famous for much more, including the incredible struggles he encountered to live a happy, healthy, pain-free life in his later year.
My only critique of this book is that Walton glosses over some of the more controversial elements of his life. He describes his relationship with Jake Scott in less than two paragraphs on one page. Famous as a stoner, he only refers to his recreational drug use euphemistically. Hell, the guy followed the Grateful Dead for more than 3 decades. There is certainly more to those experiences than he shares. Still, when you write your autobiography, as I believe he did without the assistance of a ghost writer, you get to tell the story the way you want. All that said, he's a renaissance man who I'd love to sit down with over a beer and ask more probing questions about his life.
I consider this a must-read for any basketball fan alive during the heyday of the UCLA basketball dynasty of the l1970s and anyone who remembers the Trailblazers championship as fondly as I do.
His pro career didn't materialize as imagined, given the injuries he suffered. Walton says he played less than 4 complete season's worth of ball during his 13-year NBA career. Despite this, he was still recognized as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history during the NBA's 50th anniversary celebration.
Despite his limited playing time in the NBA, he was still a center (pun unintended) of attention in the sports world for his behavior, attitudes and outspokenness on social and political issues, e.g., long hair, pot smoking, political activism, hanging out with the Grateful Dead, etc.. Considered a rebel and troublemaker at the time, his behaviors were incredibly mild and uncontroversial when viewed through today's lens.
What I learned from this book was how severely those injuries, exacerbated over a lifetime of playing basketball, weight lifting, cycling, etc., affected him later in life. For two full years, he was unable to walk, pretty much living on the floor of his home as an invalid. His wife should be beatified for her patience and support in nursing him back to health. Walton does a wonderful job expressing his gratitude for her and the support she provided.
This is a great story of one of the legends of the late 20th century American sports scene. He was a 3-time All American and 3-time Academic All American as well. Don't believe anybody else has accomplished that feat before or since.
Despite his success, he appears to have remained a humble, self-effacing individual, thankful to those how have helped him along the way. He heaps praise on teammates, friends, business partners and coaches of every stripe, citing their positive influences that helped him become the person he is today. He does a wonderful job describing his life-long relationship with his college coach, John Wooden, and how he came to love the man and the values for which he stood, despite the huge differences in age, social and political values and lifestyles.
Walton is famous as a basketball player. Anybody reading this book will learn that he should be famous for much more, including the incredible struggles he encountered to live a happy, healthy, pain-free life in his later year.
My only critique of this book is that Walton glosses over some of the more controversial elements of his life. He describes his relationship with Jake Scott in less than two paragraphs on one page. Famous as a stoner, he only refers to his recreational drug use euphemistically. Hell, the guy followed the Grateful Dead for more than 3 decades. There is certainly more to those experiences than he shares. Still, when you write your autobiography, as I believe he did without the assistance of a ghost writer, you get to tell the story the way you want. All that said, he's a renaissance man who I'd love to sit down with over a beer and ask more probing questions about his life.
I consider this a must-read for any basketball fan alive during the heyday of the UCLA basketball dynasty of the l1970s and anyone who remembers the Trailblazers championship as fondly as I do.
May 1, 2016
I read Bill Walton's autobiography Back from the Dead on Saturday after my long run. It was a good one and does a great job of capturing a complicated life filled with super high peaks and extremely low valleys.
I was into basketball as a pre-teen. I played forward for a little while but really settled into my role as a guard. I played until junior high school when I stopped playing soccer and basketball and focused entirely on tennis, which lasted until high school when I smashed my last wood racquet on the court. After that, I ran track and cross country and really began my love of long distance running.
I dug Bill Walton when he played for the Trail Blazers. My team as a little kid was the Dallas Chaparrals until the ABA blew up. I didn't really have a team again until I moved to Boston to go to college, so I just liked individual players. When I eventually stopped paying attention to basketball in high school, even though the Dallas Mavericks were now my home town team (and I won a Dallas Mavericks college scholarship for $1,000 for some reason I can't remember), I lost touch with pretty much all the players. So it was fun to see Walton re-appear in my junior and senior years at MIT on the Boston Celtics, which re-energized my interest in basketball a tiny bit (it didn't hurt that the Celtics were completely dominant in that time period.)
In Back from the Dead Walton covers his years playing at UCLA, Phoenix, and Boston in great detail. He also talks about his time on the San Diego - and then LA Clippers - which includes some scathing commentary on the craziness and misery that was the team under Donald Sterling in its early years.
The basketball stories, especially some of the detailed history, is fun to read. I've always enjoyed sports history from a first person point of view of a player, and Walton doesn't disappoint. But that's simply the foundation for the book.
Walton's basketball brilliance is interspersed with endless injuries. He talks about them in detail - initially the physical struggles, but then the mental struggles as the pain as well as the time recovering and rebuilding grows. He doesn't complain, but shows a vulnerable side in his description of his struggles. For a period of time, he's at the top and bottom of the game at almost the same time, fighting through the injuries until they overwhelm his ability to recover and he finally retires.
He then goes through his career as a sportscaster. Mixed throughout is his love for and journeys with the Grateful Dead. And then his spine breaks, ESPN fires him gratuitously (they eventually rehire him under new management, but he skims over this), and a very long recovery begins.
At this point, you can feel Walton's pain. Sure - the physical pain is there, but the emotional pain is profound. And his writing about it is powerful. And clean. And clear.
He gets through it and ends the book filled with love and joy and the energy that bubbles throughout his early playing days. Overall, the book is a powerful reminder of this complicated thing we call life and how hard it can be, even when you are at the top.
I was into basketball as a pre-teen. I played forward for a little while but really settled into my role as a guard. I played until junior high school when I stopped playing soccer and basketball and focused entirely on tennis, which lasted until high school when I smashed my last wood racquet on the court. After that, I ran track and cross country and really began my love of long distance running.
I dug Bill Walton when he played for the Trail Blazers. My team as a little kid was the Dallas Chaparrals until the ABA blew up. I didn't really have a team again until I moved to Boston to go to college, so I just liked individual players. When I eventually stopped paying attention to basketball in high school, even though the Dallas Mavericks were now my home town team (and I won a Dallas Mavericks college scholarship for $1,000 for some reason I can't remember), I lost touch with pretty much all the players. So it was fun to see Walton re-appear in my junior and senior years at MIT on the Boston Celtics, which re-energized my interest in basketball a tiny bit (it didn't hurt that the Celtics were completely dominant in that time period.)
In Back from the Dead Walton covers his years playing at UCLA, Phoenix, and Boston in great detail. He also talks about his time on the San Diego - and then LA Clippers - which includes some scathing commentary on the craziness and misery that was the team under Donald Sterling in its early years.
The basketball stories, especially some of the detailed history, is fun to read. I've always enjoyed sports history from a first person point of view of a player, and Walton doesn't disappoint. But that's simply the foundation for the book.
Walton's basketball brilliance is interspersed with endless injuries. He talks about them in detail - initially the physical struggles, but then the mental struggles as the pain as well as the time recovering and rebuilding grows. He doesn't complain, but shows a vulnerable side in his description of his struggles. For a period of time, he's at the top and bottom of the game at almost the same time, fighting through the injuries until they overwhelm his ability to recover and he finally retires.
He then goes through his career as a sportscaster. Mixed throughout is his love for and journeys with the Grateful Dead. And then his spine breaks, ESPN fires him gratuitously (they eventually rehire him under new management, but he skims over this), and a very long recovery begins.
At this point, you can feel Walton's pain. Sure - the physical pain is there, but the emotional pain is profound. And his writing about it is powerful. And clean. And clear.
He gets through it and ends the book filled with love and joy and the energy that bubbles throughout his early playing days. Overall, the book is a powerful reminder of this complicated thing we call life and how hard it can be, even when you are at the top.
May 10, 2016
I knew of Bill Walton mostly from his playing days at UCLA and his being the first round NBA pick for the Portland Trailblazers in the 1970s. Most of the press in those days portrayed him as kind of an outspoken, self-centered jerk. Anyone who reads the book (or listens to it ... Walton reads the book himself) won't have their opinion changed. I don't like or dislike Walton any more than I ever did, but did learn a lot about him and and athletics during the 1970s. Walton is a true free spirit Californian who loves the outdoors, athletic competitions, rock-n-roll, and the Grateful Dead. He doesn't much care for the establishment or anyone's rules and has gotten himself into a lot of trouble with his mouth.
The book is primarily about his health struggles. At near 7 feet tall, everything that went wrong with his feet, legs, and back went wrong in a pretty major way. Born with a congenital foot defect, he played basketball at a time when the game was more brutal and players were told to "suck it up." He had over 30 leg/foot surgeries and a pretty major spine re-construction that was necessary just so he could walk. The book starts out with Walton nearly contemplating suicide because he was physically unable to get off the ground and had spent nearly two years being able to do little but be on the ground.
Nonetheless, the book isn't as much about triumph as it could have been. Walton spends way too much time talking about people he knows, places he's been, games, and other athletes. It is all fairly one dimensional, and even though one feels for anyone who has had to deal with so much pain in life, I still had the sense that he has been able to live so much more and so much better merely because he is Bill Walton. On some levels, he admitted that, but I didn't truly get the sense that he fully appreciated the privilege he did have by being a basketball star. I also couldn't figure out how much he brought on himself. Walton portrayed most of his injuries as the next in a long string of bad luck, but far too often he would be getting a broken bone in a pickup basketball game when taunting the opposition, or getting hit by a skateboarder when recovering from back surgery. Some of the things that did occur really demonstrated a poor decision-making process.
For my attorney friends, Walton has a segment about his year spent at Stanford Law. A friend got him in the school, and after a year, Walton decided he wanted to try to play pro-basketball again. There was an unnecessary gratuitous section about a boring clerkship job he had where he thought he'd be doing meaningful work but wound up "alphabetizing files which probably didn't need to be alphabetized."
He often didn't come off as a very sympathetic main character.
The book is primarily about his health struggles. At near 7 feet tall, everything that went wrong with his feet, legs, and back went wrong in a pretty major way. Born with a congenital foot defect, he played basketball at a time when the game was more brutal and players were told to "suck it up." He had over 30 leg/foot surgeries and a pretty major spine re-construction that was necessary just so he could walk. The book starts out with Walton nearly contemplating suicide because he was physically unable to get off the ground and had spent nearly two years being able to do little but be on the ground.
Nonetheless, the book isn't as much about triumph as it could have been. Walton spends way too much time talking about people he knows, places he's been, games, and other athletes. It is all fairly one dimensional, and even though one feels for anyone who has had to deal with so much pain in life, I still had the sense that he has been able to live so much more and so much better merely because he is Bill Walton. On some levels, he admitted that, but I didn't truly get the sense that he fully appreciated the privilege he did have by being a basketball star. I also couldn't figure out how much he brought on himself. Walton portrayed most of his injuries as the next in a long string of bad luck, but far too often he would be getting a broken bone in a pickup basketball game when taunting the opposition, or getting hit by a skateboarder when recovering from back surgery. Some of the things that did occur really demonstrated a poor decision-making process.
For my attorney friends, Walton has a segment about his year spent at Stanford Law. A friend got him in the school, and after a year, Walton decided he wanted to try to play pro-basketball again. There was an unnecessary gratuitous section about a boring clerkship job he had where he thought he'd be doing meaningful work but wound up "alphabetizing files which probably didn't need to be alphabetized."
He often didn't come off as a very sympathetic main character.
November 27, 2015
Being a UCLA alum it’s almost required reading to go through anything written by those famous who came before us, though mostly it’s written by or about Coach Wooden. I’ve read Kareem’s books too, so it’s only right I do the same to the other great of the many greats in UCLA basketball, Bill Walton.
In a flash I was through the first few chapters; it’s a surprisingly easy read.
The one glaring moment came about halfway through the book, where he’s made no mention of a girlfriend, let alone marriage. While I don’t need to know about such things, it’s a bit jarring when you suddenly come across a passage saying “Our first child was born.” Even if things didn’t work out, a simply mention of “I got married over the summer” would have made things a lot easier. There is mention of a second wife, but this is after the kids are born.
For me personally, the most difficult part was the chapter on Coach Wooden’s passing. I remember I was in Denmark when I first found out he was ill; I also remember tweeting, “Don’t go yet, Coach, the world still needs you.” More to the point, I was unaware of the memorial in Pauley and all the tributes until I read it here, which was rather heart-wrenching.
One note: this story is not the squeamish. While stated in matter-of-fact tones, some of the descriptions of Mr. Walton’s numerous injuries and especially the subsequent surgeries had me cringing and skipping ahead. But what struck me the most, though not until I was finished, was how modest Mr. Walton comes across. Though he lists his accomplishments as they happened, there’s no sense of the overwhelming success he’s had in both basketball and life. There’s no “Aw shucks” here, more of a straightforward retelling, though in no way boring. His time as a broadcaster, Deadhead, and cyclist among other things are full of humor, and is just as great reading as his triumphs in overcoming tremendous pain and bad people.
In a flash I was through the first few chapters; it’s a surprisingly easy read.
The one glaring moment came about halfway through the book, where he’s made no mention of a girlfriend, let alone marriage. While I don’t need to know about such things, it’s a bit jarring when you suddenly come across a passage saying “Our first child was born.” Even if things didn’t work out, a simply mention of “I got married over the summer” would have made things a lot easier. There is mention of a second wife, but this is after the kids are born.
For me personally, the most difficult part was the chapter on Coach Wooden’s passing. I remember I was in Denmark when I first found out he was ill; I also remember tweeting, “Don’t go yet, Coach, the world still needs you.” More to the point, I was unaware of the memorial in Pauley and all the tributes until I read it here, which was rather heart-wrenching.
One note: this story is not the squeamish. While stated in matter-of-fact tones, some of the descriptions of Mr. Walton’s numerous injuries and especially the subsequent surgeries had me cringing and skipping ahead. But what struck me the most, though not until I was finished, was how modest Mr. Walton comes across. Though he lists his accomplishments as they happened, there’s no sense of the overwhelming success he’s had in both basketball and life. There’s no “Aw shucks” here, more of a straightforward retelling, though in no way boring. His time as a broadcaster, Deadhead, and cyclist among other things are full of humor, and is just as great reading as his triumphs in overcoming tremendous pain and bad people.
December 13, 2016
Walton was one of my favorite players growing up. I loved the way he worked with teammates, how he understood the various nuances of the game, and the passion he played with. I didn't understand the level of injuries he had until reading this book.
I admire him for his stances on the social issues of his times - not all athletes were willing to go out on a limb and risk their careers and earning potential. I also admire him for overcoming his speech impediment and going into broadcasting, where he started on the low end and rose to among the pinnacle of the industry.
I believe overall it's a good read and there were some revealing insights about the game. He is taken to hyperbole, but that is his style, and it didn't bother me too much. What bothered me was him not even mentioning his first wife, Susan, the mother of their four sons. Even if the divorce was bitter, you'd think he would mention her and say something about it. I understand there was an issue about him meeting a younger woman at a Grateful Dead concert, which she alluded to in a NY Times article in 2001. It would have been good of Walton to address this - to either say he was wrong or the marriage was a sham at that point and he needed something new. Or maybe he thought they were on a break, like in the Friends episode. Or maybe they had an understanding that they could stray, though Susan Walton didn't seem like that was the case in 2001. Just something.
He also could have addressed smoking pot, which is more normal these days. It would help provide some insight into why people gravitate towards smoking pot, which seems to be mostly as stress relief in such high-stress occupations. I don't have a problem with people smoking pot in their homes, as long as they aren't out driving. Someone like Walton should come out and defend it, as that could help the national debate on the subject.
I admire him for his stances on the social issues of his times - not all athletes were willing to go out on a limb and risk their careers and earning potential. I also admire him for overcoming his speech impediment and going into broadcasting, where he started on the low end and rose to among the pinnacle of the industry.
I believe overall it's a good read and there were some revealing insights about the game. He is taken to hyperbole, but that is his style, and it didn't bother me too much. What bothered me was him not even mentioning his first wife, Susan, the mother of their four sons. Even if the divorce was bitter, you'd think he would mention her and say something about it. I understand there was an issue about him meeting a younger woman at a Grateful Dead concert, which she alluded to in a NY Times article in 2001. It would have been good of Walton to address this - to either say he was wrong or the marriage was a sham at that point and he needed something new. Or maybe he thought they were on a break, like in the Friends episode. Or maybe they had an understanding that they could stray, though Susan Walton didn't seem like that was the case in 2001. Just something.
He also could have addressed smoking pot, which is more normal these days. It would help provide some insight into why people gravitate towards smoking pot, which seems to be mostly as stress relief in such high-stress occupations. I don't have a problem with people smoking pot in their homes, as long as they aren't out driving. Someone like Walton should come out and defend it, as that could help the national debate on the subject.
January 16, 2016
BACK FROM THE DEAD by Bill Walton is a great memoir about an amazingly complex and unique life of a man who appreciates life and always looks to makes more out of it. Blessed with height, natural talent, and a burning desire for success of every team he plays for, Bill's adult life begins with lots of triumphs and accolades and he is riding high, but his body starts to break down at about the moment he reaches the pinnacle of success in basketball. He has spent the next almost forty years trying to find a way to live life with a body that is constantly breaking down. Bill throws in some of his political thought into the book, along with his love of music, particularly the Grateful Dead. The book shows how blessed Bill feels to have his life, his family, and his friends no matter the obstacles that are thrown his way.
You can't help but want to meet Bill after reading this book, he seems like such a kind and inspiring person. He writes in a passionate yet clear style. I have read many sports memoirs and stories and I consider his book among the top ones. He is able to recount games and series with all of the action and emotion there was and yet doesn't linger any longer than necessary. The way Bill describes all the people that he appreciates around him makes me want to meet (or have met) them all, particularly Maurice Lucas, John Wooden, and Dr. Jack Ramsey.
For any basketball fan or any reader who enjoys a good memoir, this book is a treat!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Bill Walton and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
You can't help but want to meet Bill after reading this book, he seems like such a kind and inspiring person. He writes in a passionate yet clear style. I have read many sports memoirs and stories and I consider his book among the top ones. He is able to recount games and series with all of the action and emotion there was and yet doesn't linger any longer than necessary. The way Bill describes all the people that he appreciates around him makes me want to meet (or have met) them all, particularly Maurice Lucas, John Wooden, and Dr. Jack Ramsey.
For any basketball fan or any reader who enjoys a good memoir, this book is a treat!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Bill Walton and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 14, 2017
From afar, as a b-ball fan and student, Bill Walton has been part of my life since 1969 (I was there when he lost to my UO team in 74 and won the NBA championship in 77). Coach Wooden and UCLA basketball go back to 1963 when I saw my first NCAA tournament game featuring Coach's first championship team. The standard that "Coach" set was and is remarkable influencing my life decades later.
This is a wonderful book for any basketball fan both college and pro. Equally inspiring for any avid cyclist, Grateful Dean fan, or caregiver for those in physical need.
However, Bill is exhausting as an author and reader (this was an Audible book). His style like his basketball days is pounding. The language is a blend of thoughtful reflection and excessive cliches.
What stands out:
Where is reference to Susan, his first wife and mother of boys. Other mom and his current wife, it appears there were no other women who touched his life.
His love of the Grateful Dead expressed beautifully in the interleaving of GD lyrics
He had great parents
His love of the amazing Coach John Wooden (all references to the Coach are wonderful). For those who don't know the wisdom of the coach, please go learn. Don't assume you have to like basketball to learn from the Coach!
The last chapters are inspiring as Bill transforms his incredibly painful physical challenges and debilitating injuries into purpose to help those who are challenged by severe physical disabilities.
Bill did find the "penny" after a course of redemption and healing.
This is a wonderful book for any basketball fan both college and pro. Equally inspiring for any avid cyclist, Grateful Dean fan, or caregiver for those in physical need.
However, Bill is exhausting as an author and reader (this was an Audible book). His style like his basketball days is pounding. The language is a blend of thoughtful reflection and excessive cliches.
What stands out:
Where is reference to Susan, his first wife and mother of boys. Other mom and his current wife, it appears there were no other women who touched his life.
His love of the Grateful Dead expressed beautifully in the interleaving of GD lyrics
He had great parents
His love of the amazing Coach John Wooden (all references to the Coach are wonderful). For those who don't know the wisdom of the coach, please go learn. Don't assume you have to like basketball to learn from the Coach!
The last chapters are inspiring as Bill transforms his incredibly painful physical challenges and debilitating injuries into purpose to help those who are challenged by severe physical disabilities.
Bill did find the "penny" after a course of redemption and healing.
May 4, 2016
I knew Bill Walton for his basketball skills and career that, due to injuries, fell short of its potential. What I didn't know was that he can write. Deep, soul searching writing about life through basketball. Excellent!
Walton goes through the ups and downs of his life while describing some amazing on and off the court experiences. He tries to present life as a sort of rollercoaster where things go excitingly good and fast only because of previous periods of excruciating climbing up the hill. It is a good metaphor but the author enthusiastic reading makes a it difficult to relate (with his health back, Walton is a happy person and he can't help it). Still, the intended moral is strong and well delivered.
Stories are told in a very engaging discourse and pace is kept fast at all times. Walton's experiences are brought forward in a rhythm tailored for basketball fans. His frustrating first national team participation, his championships at UCLA, his time in Portland and LA (Clippers) and his decision not to go into game 6 of the finals when the Lakers were about to beat Boston for the 1987 championship were all very interesting anecdotes.
This was a great book of life and basketball. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Highly recommended for basketball and fans of any sport.
Walton goes through the ups and downs of his life while describing some amazing on and off the court experiences. He tries to present life as a sort of rollercoaster where things go excitingly good and fast only because of previous periods of excruciating climbing up the hill. It is a good metaphor but the author enthusiastic reading makes a it difficult to relate (with his health back, Walton is a happy person and he can't help it). Still, the intended moral is strong and well delivered.
Stories are told in a very engaging discourse and pace is kept fast at all times. Walton's experiences are brought forward in a rhythm tailored for basketball fans. His frustrating first national team participation, his championships at UCLA, his time in Portland and LA (Clippers) and his decision not to go into game 6 of the finals when the Lakers were about to beat Boston for the 1987 championship were all very interesting anecdotes.
This was a great book of life and basketball. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Highly recommended for basketball and fans of any sport.
June 15, 2016
I received this book free from a GoodReads give-away. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I am a big fan of UCLA, Coach Wooden, and Kareem. I have read books by both Wooden and Kareem and was so impressed by both of their stories. I though Bill Walton's book would be as interesting. There were things I really liked about this book. I liked how he used music to see the world and how he felt the music and lyrics were meant for him. I liked the end where he helped others learn to be positive with their disabilities. That said, there was not much in between that I liked. It started with the name calling of politicians he didn't agree with. I understand you may not like a certain political group but to refer to them as soulless and self-centered is unnecessary. Then to hide the penny from the coach was just cruel. And talk about self centered, maybe he should look in the mirror. I assume he was a husband along with being a father and no mention of his wife. He talks about his trials of being injured and then follows the Grateful Dead during the summer. What man leaves his wife and kids home while he follows rock groups around. My opinion of Walton is that he is a very selfish, self-centered man. I actually like Walton less after reading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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