by Chris Paul with Michael Wilbon
ABOUT THE BOOK
By the NBA superstar: A powerful and unexpected memoir of family, faith, tragedy, and life’s most important lessons.
The day after future NBA superstar Chris Paul signed his letter of intent to play college basketball for Wake Forest, he received a world-shattering phone call. His grandfather, Nathaniel “Papa” Jones, a pillar of the Winston-Salem community where he owned and operated the first Black-owned service station in North Carolina, was mugged and ultimately died from a heart attack resulting from the assault. His funeral filled the largest church in the county, which held over one thousand people. He was sixty-one years old.
The day after burying his grandfather, Chris was coping the best way he knew how: by playing basketball for his high school team. After pouring in shot after shot, his last attempt was an airball purposely flung out of bounds from the foul line before Chris exited the game. The next day, local news headlines declared that he fell six points shy of the statewide single game high school scoring record. But he accomplished exactly what he set out to do: scoring sixty-one points, one for each year of life lived by his grandfather.
In Sixty-One, Chris opens up about life beyond basketball and the role his grandfather played in molding him into the man and father he is today. He’ll speak about the foundation of faith and family he built his life upon, what it means to be a positive light within your community and beyond, and the importance of setting the proper example for future generations. Most importantly, Chris will talk about his home, Winston-Salem, and the close-knit family and village that raised him to become one of the most respected leaders in all of sports.
- Publisher : St. Martin’s Press
- Pub Date : June 20, 2023
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
My Thoughts
Any question under a Trivia sports category would leave me wide-eyed and you’d be listening to crickets in the background. So I’m happy to share with you that this book is more about the ability of one person to make an impression on a young boy. Of course, it also has a sports theme woven throughout, but it all worked fine for this fair-weather sports fan.
Chris Paul offers a wonderful look into his family life that I found inspirational and thought provoking. It emphasizes the fact that many times, even the things we’re not aware of have a lasting impact on those around us.
In Paul’s case, the story revolves around his grandfather, who, in only a few years, instilled values that Chris remembers and implements even today.
My Concerns
It felt slightly too long for the subject matter.
Final Thoughts
I loved reading about Paul’s grandfather’s determination and method of rising from poverty to being a business owner. I was touched regarding his treatment of others who were less fortunate. And I was happy to see faith and family through the chapters.
If you love inspirational memoirs, this is a book you won’t want to overlooked. I loved the underlying emphasis that even the small things we do have the ability to touch others.
The story is well-written and easily drew me in.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing for an ARC. I was under no obligation to post a positive review or to to review it. SixtyOne #ChrisPaul #SMPInfluencers
What’s Behind The Title Of The Book
ABOUT THE AUTHOR and COAUTHOR
Chris Paul is a twelve-time NBA All-Star, two-time Olympic Gold medalist, and the former president of the National Basketball Players Association. Off the court, he’s a father, husband, entrepreneur, activist, and philanthropist. He founded the CP3 Basketball Academy. The Chris Paul Family Foundation continues to provide resources that enrich underserved communities.
Michael Wilbon is an award-winning journalist and co-host of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption. He has reported on sports for over thirty years, and worked with Charles Barkley on his books I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It and Who’s Afraid of a Large Black Man?, both New York Times bestsellers. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
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