Jordan Michael - Michael Jordan: the life

An utterly definitive biography. The most comprehensive attempt yet made to explain the factors that have gone into producing the most famous basketball player and marketing phenom in the history of world sports. I dont know how it would be possible to write a more complete biography of him.

Allen Barra, Chicago Tribune

In his thoughtful, extraordinarily well researched biography Michael Jordan: The Life, Roland Lazenby gives us the life and much more. The exhaustive narrative of Jordans basketball career is written with appropriate awe. But what makes this portrayal especially worthwhile is everything else.

Mike Greenberg, New York Times Book Review

Right from its early pages its clear that Roland Lazenbys biography of Michael Jordan is in full-press mode to be the best volume ever written on perhaps basketballs greatest player. Lazenbys a born researcher and some serious legwork went into gathering all of the quotes and facts here, which add up to a kind of Jordan-centric encyclopedia.

Colin Fleming, Boston Globe

Its not every day that Im blown away by a book about a sports figure. But Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby ranks up there with the very best: The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn, Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger, and Joe DiMaggio by Richard Ben Cramer. The depth of reporting, his frequent ascent into poetry, and his intelligent analysis of the life of this complicated, fascinating American icon deserve Pulitzer Prize consideration. For the first time I understand what makes Michael Jordan tick. I was captivated, fascinated, and beguiled from beginning to end.

Peter Golenbock, author of George and In the Country of Brooklyn

A lot has been written about arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, but Roland Lazenbys Michael Jordan: The Life is easily the definitive version. The journalist has covered Jordans career for nearly thirty years, and his knowledge of the game and of this miraculous player shows in what is one of the best sports biographies in years.

Scott Neumyer, Parade

When a world-class biographer writes about a world-class athlete, you have a biography for the ages. This is the ultimate study of Michael Jordan, and I know you will be as captivated as I was.

Pat Williams, senior vice president of the Orlando Magic and author of Coach Woodens Greatest Secret

Think you know everything there is to know about the legend that is MJ? Think again. In Michael Jordan: The Life, Roland Lazenby looks beyond the on-court exploits of a sports and cultural icon to find the complicated, and often contradictory, man behind the myth.

ESPN.com

Roland Lazenbys new biography of Michael Jordan is as breathtaking as a dunk by His Airness. A richly detailed, thoroughly researched book. Lazenby expertly sifts through the myths to produce a definitive portrait of Michael Jordan.

Bob DAngelo, Tampa Tribune

Lazenbys thoroughly enjoyable biography is an impressive portrait of a man consumed by his competitive ambitions. It is also by far the most complete book on Michael Jordan to date. Essential reading for all sports fans and particularly for those interested in American cultural history and popular culture.

Derek Sanderson, Library Journal

Revelatory. A fascinating examination into the lonely, prideful man behind the glimmering icon.

Publishers Weekly

Lazenbys book is impressive in its research. There are details bound to surprise even the most die-hard Bulls fan.

Mike McGraw, Chicago Daily Herald

What could have been just another sports hagiography unfolds as a complex portrait of a gifted athlete who was also a deeply flawed human being, a man whose extreme competitiveness (on and off the basketball court), personal history, and often-troubled family life make him one of the most compelling figures in American sports.

Kevin Nance, Chicago Tribune Printers Row

The definitive portrait. The dream of the nonfiction writer is to condemn future books on the same subject to irrelevance. Its possible Lazenby has achieved this lofty goal: nothing more needs to be written about Jordan.

Adrian Lee, Macleans

A comprehensive look at the life and times of the man and the legend. A great work for any sports enthusiast and b-ball fan to read about one of the best that ever came to the game.

Brook Stephenson, Ebony

Lazenby is one of the best, most thoughtful, and thorough people writing books on the NBA today, which makes all his books fascinating reads and great looks at the psychology of teams and great players. His stuff is must-read.

Kurt Helin, NBC Sportss ProBasketballTalk

MJs life is a movie worth watching again, and Lazenby adds enough deleted scenes to add some oomph to the familiar story.

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