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    West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life
    Unavailable
    West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life
    Unavailable
    West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life
    Audiobook9 hours

    West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life

    Written by Jerry West and Jonathan Coleman

    Narrated by Ryan West

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    He is one of basketball's towering figures: "Mr. Clutch," who mesmerized his opponents and fans. The coach who began the Lakers' resurgence in the 1970s. The general manager who helped bring "Showtime" to Los Angeles, creating a championship-winning force that continues to this day.

    Now, for the first time, the legendary Jerry West tells his story-from his tough childhood in West Virginia, to his unbelievable college success at West Virginia University, his 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his relationships with NBA legends like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Unsparing in its self-assessment and honesty, WEST BY WEST is far more than a sports memoir: it is a profound confession and a magnificent inspiration.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateOct 19, 2011
    ISBN9781611139624
    Unavailable
    West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life

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    Reviews for West by West

    4/5

    34 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I loved this book. I learned much about basketball, Jerry West and coping with loss, depression and life in general. Great read!
    • 3/5
      For many West Virginians, Jerry West is a man on the pedestal. He's truly a homegrown hero and unfortunately most heroes aren't allowed to have foibles or faults. This book shows that a man that is blessed with many talents may also have to deal with many problems. What is astonishing is that even after revealing these human frailties, Jerry West is still perceived by many in the state of West Virginia as a hero. Mr. West is a gifted athlete and quite adept at allowing us to see the man behind the curtain (so to speak). I'm pleased that I received this book and had the opportunity to learn more about this multi-talented yet down-to-earth man.
    • 5/5
      Jerry West's autobiography is a landmark in basketball memoirs, a strikingly honest look at his own personal history, broken into dazzling vignettes. Thought it is not a straight narrative--at times West jumps forward years, then goes back--it captures every important period of his life in enough detail for the reader to construct his own biography, which means that it more than fulfills the purpose.One intriguing aspect of the book is that it gives a window into how much Los Angeles has changed in the 50 years between West's arrival and the present. Any LA resident knows that you can capture the dynamism of the city by taking a picture of any street corner every ten years and comparing them--they always seem to look different. West's description of Mar Vista, where he used to live with his first wife and kids--and Mar Vista Park, where I am a regular pickup basketball player--squares with this observation.It was interesting to see that West has a strong personal relationship with Bill Russell, and West's glowing admiration for Elgin Baylor shines through the insecurity and crankiness that are evident elsewhere in the text. Beyond that, West's comment that Wilt Chamberlain was the loneliest person he'd ever known--and that he seemed never to have actually hooked up with any of the 10,000 women he so claimed (which I've read elsewhere, along with speculation that he was gay)--is fascinating.
    • 5/5
      This is far less a book about basketball than it is about psychology. This has to be one of the most brutally honest autobiographies I have ever read. West is candid and opinionated about everything from his West Virginia childhood thru his Hall of Fame career with the Lakers. West comes off as sad, funny, arrogant, humble and a dozen more faces all in one. The book at times seems to have been written in stream of consciousness style but when you take it as a whole you realize it is a perfectly honest portrait of a man that really has spent a charmed life tormented by depression & anxiety. Unfortunately for West in the few trips he has made to a physchiatrist he didn't find much relief and felt that he should be able to handle his problems on his own. If you know anyone who suffers from depression, anxiety, ocd you know immediately that everything West is tormented by is very real to him and I would hope that writing this book has helped him in some small way. Either way you don't have to be a sports fan to appreciate this life story. SI ran an excerpt from this book a few weeks ago. I would incourage anyone who's on the fence about reading this to read the excerpt first. I think after reading that you will feel you have to read the entire book.
    • 4/5
      You don't need to be a basketball fan to enjoy this wonderfully honest memoir from Jerry West with his co-author Jonathan Coleman. If you are a basketball fan, then this book is a must have and it doesn't matter which team you follow. Growing up in the Los Angeles area during West's tenure with the LA Lakers, you couldn't avoid cheering for the team, so this book with inside look at the Lakers is just wonderful. West really pulls the covers off of his own life and opens up about the abuse he suffered as a child and the depression that stayed with him through out his life. There are parts in the book that are truly wrenching. I can understand why his family didn't want much of this story printed since it probably opened up a lot of wounds.
    • 5/5
      Description: West By West is the autobiography of L.A. Lakers All-Star Jerry West. The autobiography is a detailed account of Jerry's entire life from his birth in WV in 1938, to his experience in the 1960 Rome Olympics, even his years as a L.A. Laker and a coach/adviser; and everything in-between.Review: Let me begin by saying that I have never been a fan of basketball, not of any sport in particular, but when I read the pre-release for this book I felt compelled to request a copy. I do love a good autobiography, one written by the person themselves always seems more authentic than one pieced together by a secondary source. But when I began reading West By West, I immediately noted how genuine it was. It wasn't just another look at a celebrity's career and faux pas, but a completely honest and compelling look at Jerry West, the real man behind all of the celebrity/sports star persona. As Jonathan Coleman writes,"this was an opportunity to peel back the onion, layer by layer, to try and get at, by whatever means necessary, the riddle and enigma that Jerry West had always represented to me..." At this, both Jerry and Jonathan succeeded. The personal feel of every account is apparent; from the abuse Jerry suffered as a child, to the death of the brother he looked up to, the wins and losses both on and off the court, and the struggle with his own inner demons. As for the writing style, it emotes highly and goes perfectly with the content. I may not be a sports fan, but after reading West By West, I feel like I know Jerry West personally, his life, his career, and his hardships. Amazing autobiography, not just for the sports oriented.Rating: Bounty's Out (4.5/5)***I received this ARC from Little, Brown and Company in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
    • 3/5
      Convoluted....He just kept going all over the place. Not well done which was disappointing since I was looking forward to reading it.
    • 5/5
      I've probably read at least 100 sports biographies (if not more) and this autobiography of legendary NBA player, coach, and general manager, Jerry West, is among the best. Be forewarned: It starts out slowly and tends to bounce around, topically and chronologically somewhat but, overall, it's excellent.His insights to his teammates and opponents, during his playing career with the Lakers and with his coaching and GM duties, were to be expected. If West didn't comment on someone NBA-related during the past 60 years, they're probably not worth commenting on. If you're a basketball fan, you'll probably love this book.Almost more interesting to me, however, is that West is a man with hidden depths, one who seems to have it all, yet one who battles his demons. Physically abused by his father while growing up in West Virginia, West had no love in his life. Normal human interactions were tough for him. He's suffered through depression.This is a book I'd highly recommend to any sports fan.

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    • 3/5
      I won my copy thru Library Things Early Reviewers. This book is the autobiography of Jerry West and I had never heard of him until I read this book. He was a former NBA player tuned manager. I had no idea that the logo of the NBA is modeled after him, that his nickname is Logo. Jerry grew up in West Virginia and had sort of a rough upbringing. It really mad me sad when I read about the loss of his brother. Jerry’s family life was kind of sad after that moment. He rises up through this and goes on to win the MVP, some of his accounts along the way is really sad in dealing with Depression and his own grief. I was equally impressed with the itemized list of injuries he sustained during his playing career. As a child of the 70’s, this book does bring you back to the old school era of basketball during this time. I also enjoyed the pictures in the book. I would highly recommend this book to all sports buffs.