Shaq Talks Back by Shaquille ONeal

Shaq Talks Back Reviews

• 
  Paulo

  This is an autobiography by basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. Living the NBA lifestyle is something regular people can't properly imagine and Shaq tries to bring us that life here in these pages. He is kind of a clown, a comedian, already since childhood. I think this way of being is motivated by his need to hide his insecurities about being so big when he was a child. Though I also think he has a great personality and a real humor.
  
  It has always amazed me his self-control on the court when he get fouled frequently so intensely, so hard. He himself says it is because his father prepared him for anything. This father (stepfather, in fact) was a little abusive, I think, but Shaq repeatedly stands up for him. Besides, Shaq talks about his biological father, who he was, how they didn't keep in touch and he only met him a couple of times.
  
  To know better his private and family life, in the book there are several letters from his mother, stepfather, sister and personal chef. They bring us closer to the most intimate Shaq. A quote I particularly liked of his way of seeing life was «you take advantage of the opportunities while they are there».
  
  One sentence that has surprised me is when he claims he was a juvenile delinquent, something I didn't know. For sure, later he assures that he left that world quickly and in fact he tried to stay away from problems. In this way he says that he doesn't do drugs and even doesn't drink alcohol... both frequent in the world surrounding the NBA.
  
  What I liked the least in this book is that it's clearly write to glorify his ego. Shaq is here (and always, I'd say) very arrogant, and he makes use of these pages to criticize rivals and media. However, written in 2001 when he played in LA, almost everything is good works for Kobe, and knowing how things were later...
  
  Another aspect I didn't like in the book is his problem with free throws. Recurrent and a key in his game, he is disdainful and comes to say «Hey, if I made them all, it wouldn't be free?» Seriously, Shaq? The way he deals with this subject is a clear sign of his arrogance, unable to admit his weaknesses in a natural way.
  
  Shaq is not precisely a writer, and he didn't have the best of educations (he describes in the book his early struggles with his grades). I must admit that, under these circumstances, he does not write more or less well. Too much slang for me, though.
• 
  Trudy

  I will admit that I have been a fan of his for years... It was an interesting read. I learned things I didn't know about him and his family. Intelligent, down to earth... even though he is really a big kid! This book did nothing but reinforce my like/respect for him...
• 
  Iman

  Have just read some pages but already amazed by Shaq talks
• 
  RK Byers

  uh...
• 
  Crone LMC

  Shaquille O'Neal jokes about his basketball career and weird stuff that's happened to him. It's non-fiction so everything is true and it's hilarious.
  Brennan M.
  8-1 Martin 1-2 Block
• 
  Tedi31

  Bought: April 7, 2013
  Location: Booksale (Robinson's Place - Manila)
  Price: P80
• 
  Isaiah Gates

  Amazing book would love to read it again.