ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance

If Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hadn’t been a basketball star, he would have been a history teacher, he says. The NBA’s top scorer honors the “giants” of the Harlem Renaissance and shares the lessons he has learned from their accomplishments. Richard Allen’s voice has both gravitas and a conversational quality, matching the “call-and-response” style of the book well. Allen’s voice also reflects the love Abdul-Jabbar has for his subject. That love comes through most when Abdul-Jabbar discusses his favorite topic, jazz, and its greats. Abdul-Jabbar relates the past giants of this seminal historical era to today’s headliners and entertainers, as well as to his own life. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]