BECOMING KAREEM Growing Up On and Off the Court

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar narrates his deeply engaging memoir, which includes the events that shaped his life from early childhood to the beginning of his fame on the basketball court. Though he's not a professional narrator, his distinctive voice adds immense value to the listening experience. Abdul-Jabbar's level, low-key delivery creates the sense that he's chatting about his life in a companionable way, and chapters often end with suspenseful observations that prompt continued listening. Pivotal moments of astonished happiness (as when Wilt Chamberlain himself admires his long legs) and piercing discomfort (as when a best friend betrays him in middle school) are all the more striking for being delivered with restrained intensity. This audiobook creates a portrait of an impressive life lived against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2017]