A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball

( 26 )

Overview

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is one of the superstars of the NBA—and a Gold Medal winner at the Bejing Olympics—but he’s A Father First.  In this moving and triumphant memoir, Wade shares his inspiring thoughts about fathers and sons, writing poignantly about the gratifying responsibilities of being a single dad to his two sons, Zaire and Zion, while recounting his own growing up years and his memorable rise to the top echelon of professional basketball.

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A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball

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More About This Book

Overview

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is one of the superstars of the NBA—and a Gold Medal winner at the Bejing Olympics—but he’s A Father First.  In this moving and triumphant memoir, Wade shares his inspiring thoughts about fathers and sons, writing poignantly about the gratifying responsibilities of being a single dad to his two sons, Zaire and Zion, while recounting his own growing up years and his memorable rise to the top echelon of professional basketball.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
In 2011, Wade, a basketball superstar with the Miami Heat, won full custody of his two young sons in a much publicized battle with his high school sweetheart and ex-wife, Siohvaughn. Using the happy resolution as his starting point, Wade recalls his own life, returning to the courtroom ugliness and peppering the story with his observations on fatherhood. Forget about Wade’s soft-focus parenting advice or the endless drama surrounding his deteriorating marriage and custody woes. Wade’s frank examination of his childhood, most of which was spent in a Chicago neighborhood ruled by gangs and drugs, focuses the narrative. His mom, Jolinda, kept finding a new bottom due to almost insurmountable drug addiction. Wade’s older sister, Tragil, swooped him out of the chaos, taking the eight-year-old to live with their disciplinarian, basketball-loving father. Recalling his younger days, Wade is honest and clear-eyed, whether it’s describing his mother’s destructive behavior, outlining his misguided reasons for starting a relationship with Siohvaughn, or describing the peace of backyard basketball. All things considered, Wade’s narrative is inspirational, and his enthusiasm for life and parenthood is apparent. 16-page color insert. (Sept.)
Kirkus Reviews
The smooth, composed memoir of a superstar NBA player juggling celebrity and fatherhood. From the opening pages, Wade's comforting narrative voice--assisted by co-author Rivas (co-author: Becoming Dr. Q, 2011, etc.)--draws readers in, as he provides recollections from his shy childhood in the 1980s, during which his drug-addicted mother shuffled him around the gang-addled streets of South Side Chicago. He was comforted by his loving grandmother and an obsession with basketball and Michael Jordan, as well as his older sister, Tragil, who shepherded her baby brother out of harm's way. In school, Wade's stepbrother dominated the varsity basketball games, but an early growth spurt and a string of expert coaches allowed Wade to shine and demonstrate his burgeoning abilities on the court. His star potential blossomed at Marquette University and eventually fostered NBA celebrity status as a guard for the Miami Heat. However, his marriage to high school sweetheart Siohvaughn Funches ended in a tumultuous 2007 divorce, and a custody battle for sons Zaire and Zion became ugly. The text seamlessly alternates between Wade's rise to athletic fame and the aftermath of a 2011 decision to award him sole custody of his two sons, a legal decision eliciting both positive (stability for his boys) and negative ramifications (Funches' vicious accusations and relentless interference). Wade capably demonstrates the power of hard work, faith, honest fatherhood and the dedication necessary to achieve happiness and harmony from hardscrabble beginnings. A refreshing chronicle of a fervent sportsman with his head and heart in all the right places.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780062136152
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 9/4/2012
  • Pages: 337
  • Sales rank: 37,465
  • Product dimensions: 6.40 (w) x 9.08 (h) x 1.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Dwyane Wade is a guard for the Miami Heat whose Wade's World Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to benefit children and families across America. President Obama recently appointed him to help lead a program geared toward encouraging fathers to become more involved in their children's lives. He lives in Miami, Florida.

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Table of Contents

Prologue: Homecoming 1

Part I

1 Go Get You a Game 19

2 Prayers, Promises, and Dreams 39

3 In the Backyard 64

Part II

4 Sanctuary 87

5 Hoopin' 110

6 Marquette 132

7 Miracles 159

Part III

8 Rookie Season 185

9 Mount Everest 224

10 Olympics 258

11 Keeping Promises, Keeping Faith 294

Acknowledgments 331

Final Thoughts: Next Steps for Getting Involved 335

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 26 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(17)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(1)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 26 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 9, 2012

    Great book!!!!

    This book is great. Just like woman want equal rights in the world, fathers want that same right when it involves raising thier children or being able to spend time with thier children. This book shows that fathers are willing and ready to raise thier children.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 13, 2012

    Dwayne Wade has the total package!

    Wonderful book from an incredible young man. D Wade is who we all want as a son. God is truly with him and he never forgets it. Wishing all blessing to him, tbis book makes u want to be better!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 4, 2012

    Go

    Amazin

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 11, 2012

    Wow

    This was a wondeful book... it makes you see that everyone has its ups and downs in life

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 11, 2012

    Excellent book!!! D.Wade is a good example of what a father shou

    Excellent book!!! D.Wade is a good example of what a father should be. Sometimes people feel men in the industry are so busy with their careers they simply supply the children with material things instead of love. D. Wade shows how he makes fatherhood a priority and loving his children is what he does best. keep of the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!! D Wade's #1 Fan!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 8, 2013

    I thought this book was good and had a good message because as a

    I thought this book was good and had a good message because as a young kid his family was very poor. Now he helps kids that were like him. I found it interesting to learn of all the adversity he had to overcome in order to reach incredible achievements

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 14, 2013

    Good

    Good book

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 9, 2013

    How to be a dad

    This book was very sad and interesting u learn a lot from it

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 17, 2012

    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

    This is a heartfelt biography as well as a testament of strength and perserverance during a time of struggle. Dwyane has overcome the negative aspects of "baby mama drama" and can now be the father to his boys and be happy. His family support was clearly demonstrated in this book. Many thanks for a great read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 17, 2012

    Recommend it for aspiring basketball players-readers

    It's an inspiring story of up-from-the-projects of a supreme basketball talent. For parents with younger kids, I recommend for 10+ since it has some choice words and deals with sensitive contextual issues like drug use, divorce and jail.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 13, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    This seems to be a story to encourage readers to seriously consi

    This seems to be a story to encourage readers to seriously consider their sex lives, that is to consider how sex may lead to parenthood and how you, as a parent, will be able to balance your school-life and your work-life with being a parent. Over the course of years from age 19 to age 25 Dwayne Wade seems to realize that his focus was on basketball more than being a husband and a father. Then by age 25 through a series of events (life altering events) he realized the special privilege he was missing by not focusing on his family life. His candid biography will probably help young fathers to focus on being a father first, then focus on career goals and make sure those career goals include family communication and positive family energy. This biography should, hopefully, encourage readers to start their career life first and be on the road to financial stability before starting a family to make sure you and your spouse are compatible on more than the sexual aspects of a marriage.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 20, 2013

    I love this book

    You should read this book because it doesnt just talk about his childer but it talks about his childhood too

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 3, 2013

    Hanging with Dwayne Wade!

    To read about DW is insightful and a great opportunity to read the words of a champion. DW led the Heat to the NBA championship, as he carried the team on his shoulders, star quality. From where I sit he is a a great human being!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 19, 2013

    How nice to know the story behind the headlines.

    Well written autobiography about a star who came up the hard way. Shows the warmth and caring of a popular player who is a "real" person as well as a hero. I'm an older woman who enjoys watching the Heat play and enjoyed the book!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 5, 2013

    Wade

    Best basketball player in NBA history.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 26, 2013

    Is it a good book?

    I like to know if the book is good enough to buy?!?

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 5, 2013

    It was awesome

    I love the way Dwayne kept fighting for his kids. It shows he really cares

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 29, 2013

    ii

    Bad book i hate it

    0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2013

    Greatest

    This book is the best. It helped me know Dwyane better and I just want the chance of meeting him someday. I want to be like him.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 26 Customer Reviews
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