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Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Heroine
Record-breaking, trend-setting, polarizing, and controversial, Serena Williams often sparks conversation and debate. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has a team, an entourage, celebrity groupies, and a band of fans who call themselves “Serena’s army.” When not winning titles, Williams finds time to run her own fashion line, endorse luxury and financial brands, and fund schools for girls in Africa and Jamaica. Serena Williams transcends sports.
More than a biography, Serena Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Heroine not only tells the story of her upbringing and remarkable career but also looks at Williams as a sports pioneer. Merlisa Lawrence Corbett explores Williams’ influence on cultural and political issues such as body shaming, gender equality, and racism in sports and society. Corbett also analyzes Williams’ impact on discussions of feminism, the sports celebrity, and the marketing of female athletes. Williams is one of the most intriguing and influential figures in sports, and this book is the first to provide a fully-rounded portrait of a tennis icon.
More than a biography, Serena Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Heroine not only tells the story of her upbringing and remarkable career but also looks at Williams as a sports pioneer. Merlisa Lawrence Corbett explores Williams’ influence on cultural and political issues such as body shaming, gender equality, and racism in sports and society. Corbett also analyzes Williams’ impact on discussions of feminism, the sports celebrity, and the marketing of female athletes. Williams is one of the most intriguing and influential figures in sports, and this book is the first to provide a fully-rounded portrait of a tennis icon.
- GenresSports
208 pages, Hardcover
Published February 15, 2020
4 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett
4 booksMerlisa Lawrence Corbett is a sports journalist who writes about tennis and sports in society.
She is a former tennis columnist for Bleacher Report and reporter for Sports Illustrated. She also covered sports for the Pittsburgh Press, Staten Island Advance, Tampa Tribune and Tampa Bay Times.
Lawrence Corbett wrote the foreword for Arthur Ashe Jr's. "A Hard Road To Glory: A History Of The African American Athlete: Track and Field."
Her articles have also appeared in Ebony, the Washington Examiner, Essence, Capitol File and Black Enterprise magazines. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in journalism.
Currently a contributor to Tennis View and Black Tennis magazines, Lawrence Corbett lives in Central Florida where she competes in local tennis leagues. She wields a mean one-handed backhand and takes pride in being called "Evil Backhand Lady."
She is a former tennis columnist for Bleacher Report and reporter for Sports Illustrated. She also covered sports for the Pittsburgh Press, Staten Island Advance, Tampa Tribune and Tampa Bay Times.
Lawrence Corbett wrote the foreword for Arthur Ashe Jr's. "A Hard Road To Glory: A History Of The African American Athlete: Track and Field."
Her articles have also appeared in Ebony, the Washington Examiner, Essence, Capitol File and Black Enterprise magazines. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in journalism.
Currently a contributor to Tennis View and Black Tennis magazines, Lawrence Corbett lives in Central Florida where she competes in local tennis leagues. She wields a mean one-handed backhand and takes pride in being called "Evil Backhand Lady."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 17, 2019
I enjoyed this book - don't get me wrong, but felt the author didn't really know Serena as there are so many references to other books etc or where she got the information from to make it very enjoyable.
I have since looked up the author who is a sports journalist and now it all makes sense, but I wonder if they were closely connected or how much input if any, Serena actually had. The e-arc version I read, had no pictures which again detracted from the book and would hope if I read another biography/autobiography that the pictures would be included. Don't they say a picture is worth 1000 words and would have been great to see some of the growing up shots, early tournaments, but not a good enough book that I'd want to go out and buy it, based on what I have read. Too many references and not enough personal knowledge.
I would rather read an autobiography that Serena writes when she's a little older and her tennis career is actually over and find out where she goes from there.
I may be a bit cynical but always find it odd when someone brings out a book about themselves or a biography of a particularly young person about their life story, as they haven't really had enough time to live it.
Unfortunately the Serena Williams book doesn't compare to the last tennis based autobiography I read: "Open" by Andre Agassi which was absolutely brilliant and I really am a big tennis fan and like both players, however not so much the Serena biography. Sorry.
I have since looked up the author who is a sports journalist and now it all makes sense, but I wonder if they were closely connected or how much input if any, Serena actually had. The e-arc version I read, had no pictures which again detracted from the book and would hope if I read another biography/autobiography that the pictures would be included. Don't they say a picture is worth 1000 words and would have been great to see some of the growing up shots, early tournaments, but not a good enough book that I'd want to go out and buy it, based on what I have read. Too many references and not enough personal knowledge.
I would rather read an autobiography that Serena writes when she's a little older and her tennis career is actually over and find out where she goes from there.
I may be a bit cynical but always find it odd when someone brings out a book about themselves or a biography of a particularly young person about their life story, as they haven't really had enough time to live it.
Unfortunately the Serena Williams book doesn't compare to the last tennis based autobiography I read: "Open" by Andre Agassi which was absolutely brilliant and I really am a big tennis fan and like both players, however not so much the Serena biography. Sorry.
January 16, 2020
When an athlete becomes known when just the first name is said – for example Tiger or LeBron – it is clear that the athlete would be not only a great player but well-known outside of sports as well. Serena Williams – hereafter referred to as "Serena" – has achieved this legendary status. This biography by sportswriter Merlisa Lawrence Corbett tells readers how she rose to the top of the tennis world and at the same time became a voice for social, racial and gender equality.
Readers who want to learn about Serena's tennis career will have good material at their disposal, especially in the first quarter of the book and also near the end when Serena made her comeback attempt after giving birth to her daughter. These sections read like long recaps of important matches and Grand Slam events that Serena won mixed in with many observations made by other writers, her father Richard and her older sister Venus.
Throughout the book, Lawrence Corbett will remind readers frequently of the sisterly love between Serena and Venus. This is especially noteworthy early in their respective careers as it was initially believed by many, including Richard, that Venus was the one who was going to be the tennis superstar. While Venus did end up having a very good career with multiple Grand Slam title, she was eclipsed by her younger sister, who at the time of publication has won 23 of these titles.
While the tennis makes for good reading, more of the book is dedicated to other aspects of Serena and her activism. It is noted that her savvy use of social media has helped to have an even bigger presence than other athletes who were also addressing racial and gender issues. Serena's successes are celebrated, such as getting all of the Grand Slam tournaments to offer equal purses for both men and women. Even Serena's marketing success and fashion tastes (also part of the marketing) are described in the book. These sections, while at times do repeat some talking points, nonetheless make very good parts of the book in which the reader will learn what makes Serena the international star that she is.
Lawrence Corbett does not shy away from addressing controversial topics such as the behavior of Richard, the booing of the two sisters at tournaments early in their careers and Serena's outburst at an official at the 2018 US Open finals when she was penalized a point. These subjects are presented in a fair manner without editorializing and therefore the reader can come to his or her own conclusion. While no biography is truly complete without interviews from either the subject or those close to the person, the research and writing in this book makes it one that is worth the time to read if a reader wants to learn the complete story of Serena.
I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Note: 3 ½ stars rating is rounded to 4 for Goodreads and NetGalley
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Readers who want to learn about Serena's tennis career will have good material at their disposal, especially in the first quarter of the book and also near the end when Serena made her comeback attempt after giving birth to her daughter. These sections read like long recaps of important matches and Grand Slam events that Serena won mixed in with many observations made by other writers, her father Richard and her older sister Venus.
Throughout the book, Lawrence Corbett will remind readers frequently of the sisterly love between Serena and Venus. This is especially noteworthy early in their respective careers as it was initially believed by many, including Richard, that Venus was the one who was going to be the tennis superstar. While Venus did end up having a very good career with multiple Grand Slam title, she was eclipsed by her younger sister, who at the time of publication has won 23 of these titles.
While the tennis makes for good reading, more of the book is dedicated to other aspects of Serena and her activism. It is noted that her savvy use of social media has helped to have an even bigger presence than other athletes who were also addressing racial and gender issues. Serena's successes are celebrated, such as getting all of the Grand Slam tournaments to offer equal purses for both men and women. Even Serena's marketing success and fashion tastes (also part of the marketing) are described in the book. These sections, while at times do repeat some talking points, nonetheless make very good parts of the book in which the reader will learn what makes Serena the international star that she is.
Lawrence Corbett does not shy away from addressing controversial topics such as the behavior of Richard, the booing of the two sisters at tournaments early in their careers and Serena's outburst at an official at the 2018 US Open finals when she was penalized a point. These subjects are presented in a fair manner without editorializing and therefore the reader can come to his or her own conclusion. While no biography is truly complete without interviews from either the subject or those close to the person, the research and writing in this book makes it one that is worth the time to read if a reader wants to learn the complete story of Serena.
I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Note: 3 ½ stars rating is rounded to 4 for Goodreads and NetGalley
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
June 19, 2024
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett bietet in ihrem Buch "Serena Williams: Tennis-Champion, Sport-Legende & Kultur-Ikone" eine umfassende und inspirierende Biografie einer der größten Sportlerinnen unserer Zeit. Der Klappentext fasst treffend zusammen, was den Leser erwartet: Eine detaillierte Darstellung von Serena Williams' Weg von ihrer Kindheit in Compton, Kalifornien, bis hin zu ihren beispiellosen Erfolgen auf den internationalen Tennisplätzen.
Das Buch beleuchtet nicht nur die sportlichen Triumphe von Serena Williams, sondern auch die Herausforderungen und Widerstände, die sie auf ihrem Weg überwinden musste. Corbett erzählt von den frühen Jahren, in denen Serena zusammen mit ihrer Schwester Venus von ihrem Vater Richard Williams trainiert wurde. Diese frühen Einblicke geben dem Leser ein tiefes Verständnis dafür, wie hart der Weg zur Spitze wirklich war und wie viel Disziplin und Entschlossenheit dafür erforderlich waren.
Ein besonders beeindruckender Aspekt des Buches ist die Darstellung von Serenas Kampf gegen Rassismus und Vorurteile. Corbett zeigt eindrucksvoll, wie Serena immer wieder gezwungen war, sich gegen eine oft feindselige und kritische Öffentlichkeit zu behaupten. Trotz dieser Hindernisse blieb sie fokussiert und entwickelte sich zu einer der erfolgreichsten Tennisspielerinnen aller Zeiten mit 23 Grand-Slam-Titeln im Einzel.
Neben ihren sportlichen Erfolgen wird auch Serenas Einfluss abseits des Tennisplatzes ausführlich behandelt. Corbett beschreibt sie als eine Ikone der afro-amerikanischen Gemeinschaft, eine feministische Vorreiterin und eine erfolgreiche Geschäftsfrau. Serena hat nicht nur ihre eigene Modelinie gegründet, sondern auch in von Frauen geführte Start-ups investiert, was ihre Überzeugung und ihr Engagement für die Unterstützung junger Frauen unterstreicht.
Das Buch "Serena Williams: Tennis-Champion, Sport-Legende & Kultur-Ikone" ist mehr als nur eine Biografie. Es ist eine inspirierende Erzählung über Ausdauer, Stärke und den unermüdlichen Willen, gegen alle Widrigkeiten zu triumphieren. Es bietet tiefe Einblicke in das Leben einer Frau, die trotz vieler Rückschläge und gesundheitlicher Probleme immer wieder aufgestanden ist und sich neu erfunden hat.
Für Tennisfans und Bewunderer von Serena Williams ist dieses Buch ein Muss. Aber auch Leser, die an inspirierenden Lebensgeschichten interessiert sind, werden von diesem Werk nicht enttäuscht sein. Corbett schafft es, Serena Williams als die "Greatest of All Time" darzustellen und gleichzeitig ihre Menschlichkeit und Verletzlichkeit zu zeigen. Dieses Buch bringt Serena Williams den Lesern auf eine Weise näher, die bewundernswert und bewegend ist.
Das Buch beleuchtet nicht nur die sportlichen Triumphe von Serena Williams, sondern auch die Herausforderungen und Widerstände, die sie auf ihrem Weg überwinden musste. Corbett erzählt von den frühen Jahren, in denen Serena zusammen mit ihrer Schwester Venus von ihrem Vater Richard Williams trainiert wurde. Diese frühen Einblicke geben dem Leser ein tiefes Verständnis dafür, wie hart der Weg zur Spitze wirklich war und wie viel Disziplin und Entschlossenheit dafür erforderlich waren.
Ein besonders beeindruckender Aspekt des Buches ist die Darstellung von Serenas Kampf gegen Rassismus und Vorurteile. Corbett zeigt eindrucksvoll, wie Serena immer wieder gezwungen war, sich gegen eine oft feindselige und kritische Öffentlichkeit zu behaupten. Trotz dieser Hindernisse blieb sie fokussiert und entwickelte sich zu einer der erfolgreichsten Tennisspielerinnen aller Zeiten mit 23 Grand-Slam-Titeln im Einzel.
Neben ihren sportlichen Erfolgen wird auch Serenas Einfluss abseits des Tennisplatzes ausführlich behandelt. Corbett beschreibt sie als eine Ikone der afro-amerikanischen Gemeinschaft, eine feministische Vorreiterin und eine erfolgreiche Geschäftsfrau. Serena hat nicht nur ihre eigene Modelinie gegründet, sondern auch in von Frauen geführte Start-ups investiert, was ihre Überzeugung und ihr Engagement für die Unterstützung junger Frauen unterstreicht.
Das Buch "Serena Williams: Tennis-Champion, Sport-Legende & Kultur-Ikone" ist mehr als nur eine Biografie. Es ist eine inspirierende Erzählung über Ausdauer, Stärke und den unermüdlichen Willen, gegen alle Widrigkeiten zu triumphieren. Es bietet tiefe Einblicke in das Leben einer Frau, die trotz vieler Rückschläge und gesundheitlicher Probleme immer wieder aufgestanden ist und sich neu erfunden hat.
Für Tennisfans und Bewunderer von Serena Williams ist dieses Buch ein Muss. Aber auch Leser, die an inspirierenden Lebensgeschichten interessiert sind, werden von diesem Werk nicht enttäuscht sein. Corbett schafft es, Serena Williams als die "Greatest of All Time" darzustellen und gleichzeitig ihre Menschlichkeit und Verletzlichkeit zu zeigen. Dieses Buch bringt Serena Williams den Lesern auf eine Weise näher, die bewundernswert und bewegend ist.
August 31, 2022
5 sterren voor Serena, 3 voor het boek.
February 15, 2020
Written like an article more so than a story, this book highlights Serena's entire career. However, it's written from an outsider's view so there isn't much emotion. It's very matter of fact. If someone was doing research on Serena, this is a good compilation of events in her life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews