A thought-provoking pleasure for spiritually minded sports fans.
A celebration of sports as a vehicle for enlightenment, moral education, and spiritual satisfaction.
The son of New Age pioneer Deepak Chopra, Gotham Chopra, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, admits to not having much in the way of connection with “classical religion.” The author shares that mentality with most Americans, fewer than half of whom are church members, the number of believers growing even smaller among younger people. For Chopra, Sunday football on a soft couch beats sermons on a hard bench. “Sports inspire, taking on meanings far beyond the scoreboard,” he writes, assisted by Levin. “Sports give us a place where we can see dreams come true. They help us heal. They show us how to get the absolute most out of our talents.” It’s a reasonable point, but the author belabors it in these pages. Commendably, the range of athlete profiles extends well beyond the usual male football, baseball, and basketball stalwarts. One of the most affecting stories concerns Paralympic track star Scout Bassett, who had a leg amputated as a child; after receiving an artificial limb, she found remarkable success—but not without considerable pain and difficulty, so much so that one of her transcendental moments was struggling to place third in an event. “Everybody always thinks about the record-breaking moments or the gold medal moments, but for me, winning that bronze medal is one of the things that I’m the most proud of,” she recalls. A better-known subject is Kobe Bryant, whom Chopra portrays as a seeker who was always trying to extend his understanding; another is Steph Curry, a traditional Christian who balked, initially, when Chopra told him, “Steph, when you take a three-pointer, you’re praying.” The author closes with a series of exercises to prompt reflection on what sports mean, what sorts of community they build, and the like.
A thought-provoking pleasure for spiritually minded sports fans.Pub Date: Dec. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781501198090
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
“Protect your passion,” writes an NBA star in this winning exploration of how we can succeed in life.
A future basketball Hall of Famer’s rosy outlook.
Curry is that rare athlete who looks like he gets joy from what he does. There’s no doubt that the Golden State Warriors point guard is a competitor—he’s led his team to four championships—but he plays the game with nonchalance and exuberance. That ease, he says, “only comes from discipline.” He practices hard enough—he’s altered the sport by mastering the three-point shot—so that he achieves a “kind of freedom.” In that “flow state,” he says, “I can let joy and creativity take over. I block out all distractions, even the person guarding me. He can wave his arms and call me every name in the book, but I just smile and wait as the solution to the problem—how to get the ball into the basket—presents itself.” Curry shares this approach to his craft in a stylish collection that mixes life lessons with sharp photographs and archival images. His dad, Dell, played in the NBA for 16 years, and Curry learned much from his father and mother: “My parents were extremely strict about me and my little brother Seth not going to my pops’s games on school nights.” Curry’s mother, Sonya, who founded the Montessori elementary school that Curry attended in North Carolina, emphasized the importance not just of learning but of playing. Her influence helped Curry and his wife, Ayesha, create a nonprofit foundation: Eat. Learn. Play. He writes that “making reading fun is the key to unlocking a kid’s ability to be successful in their academic journeys.” The book also has valuable pointers for ballers—and those hoping to hit the court. “Plant those arches—knees bent behind those 10 toes pointing at the hoop, hips squared with your shoulders—and draw your power up so you explode off the ground and rise into your shot.” Sounds easy, right?
“Protect your passion,” writes an NBA star in this winning exploration of how we can succeed in life.Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
ISBN: 9780593597293
Page Count: 432
Publisher: One World/Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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