Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby is an in-depth profile of one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Written by an experienced sports journalist, the book puts forward an expansive and complex portrait of an icon who has transformed the cultural landscape. The book is an insightful look into the life of a great athlete who has impacted the world of business and sports with his successes.
Roland Lazenby takes readers on an extraordinary journey with Michael Jordan as the biographer delves into the small-town North Carolina roots of the former Chicago Bulls star and explores his amazing transition from high school phenom to NBA dynamo. The book is comprehensive in its coverage of the player’s journey, spanning from the family dynamics that drove his success in school to the extraordinary direction of his unique talents on the basketball court.
The sheer brilliance of Jordan’s play and athleticism is recounted in extensive detail. From seemingly impossible turnaround jumpers to memorable last-second shots, the magnificence of Jordan’s on-court production is chronicled in Lazenby’s book. But the author also succeeds in capturing the intangible elements of Jordan’s success and setting him against the backdrop of an exploding NBA. Through interviews with Jordan himself, Lazenby is able to a provide an intimate glimpse of the individual who etched his name into American sports lore.
Part of what makes Michael Jordan: The Life so gripping is the sheer volume of factual information presented by Lazenby in his detailed writing style. The staggering number of entries from the Jordan record book forces the reader to step back and admire the achievements of one of basketball’s most decorated players. The book itself features stories from the life of Jordan that have become synonymous with basketball lore. They include his epic scoring streak, his alliance with the Dream Team, and his brief ill-fated foray into professional baseball.
On the other side of the spectrum, Lazenby also delves into topics that have, at times, been uncomfortable for the Jordan camp. The book explores the dynamics of Jordan’s two marriages, his petulant behavior while managing the Washington Wizards, and his many rumored affiliations with gambling.
It is clear that Michael Jordan: The Life is not a biography of a saintly figure. Rather, it is a sympathetic portrayal of a great athlete whose impact on the culture and business of basketball has been vast and enduring. This book provides an exhaustive journey through the life and career of a remarkable individual. The prose is clear and concise, allowing the reader to piece together a story that can only be described as legendary.
