Growing up in the 1990s in Columbus, Ohio, Hanif Abdurraqib witnessed a golden era of basketball that shaped his love for the game. He reflects on his childhood and the experiences that influenced his perspective on success, role models, and the tension between excellence and expectation. Hanif's personal anecdotes and historical accounts intertwine to create a rich exploration of what it means to make it and who deserves success.
Through his writing, Abdurraqib skillfully weaves together themes of identity, culture, and community, drawing inspiration from his own life and the lives of those around him. He shares stories of his family and friends, including basketball legends like LeBron James, and explores the complexities of growing up in America, where expectations and pressures can be overwhelming. At the same time, he celebrates the joy and solidarity that can be found in the faces of those who are often overlooked or marginalized. Hanif Abdurraqib's writing is both deeply personal and universally relatable, making "There's Always This Year" a triumph of lyrical and historical storytelling.
This book is a poignant reflection on the power of basketball to transcend boundaries and bring people together. Through his vivid descriptions of the game and its players, Abdurraqib reveals the human side of athletes like LeBron James, who have become legends not just for their skills on the court, but for their characters and compassion. By exploring the stories of those on the margins of society, Abdurraqib invites readers to reexamine their assumptions about success, role models, and the very notion of what it means to be a hero.
Growing up in the 1990s in Columbus, Ohio, I remember the excitement and passion that basketball brought to my community. It was a unifying force that brought people together, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. I often wonder what it would have been like to experience that same sense of euphoria and purpose that Hanif Abdurraqib writes about. His personal anecdotes and historical accounts are woven together with a skill and nuance that makes you feel like you're experiencing the story alongside him.
Hanif's writing is deeply personal, yet universally relatable. He shares stories of his family and friends, including basketball legends like LeBron James, and explores the complexities of growing up in America, where expectations and pressures can be overwhelming. Yet, he also celebrates the joy and solidarity that can be found in the faces of those who are often overlooked or marginalized. I was struck by the way he weaves together themes of identity, culture, and community, drawing inspiration from his own life and the lives of those around him. His writing is both lyrical and accessible, making the book a triumph of storytelling.
At its heart, this book is a poignant reflection on the power of basketball to transcend boundaries and bring people together. Through his vivid descriptions of the game and its players, Hanif reveals the human side of athletes who have become legends not just for their skills on the court, but for their characters and compassion. By exploring the stories of those on the margins of society, he invites readers to reexamine their assumptions about success, role models, and the very notion of what it means to be a hero. As I turned the pages, I was moved by the book's emotional depth and the way it made me see the world in a new light.
Rating: 4.1 / 5.0
This book is a deeply personal and universally relatable triumph of lyrical storytelling. It's a poignant reflection on the power of basketball to transcend boundaries and bring people together, weaving together themes of identity, culture, and community with skill and nuance. The author's personal anecdotes and historical accounts are woven together with a lyricism that makes you feel like you're experiencing the story alongside him. The writing is both accessible and emotional, revealing the human side of athletes who have become legends for more than just their skills. This book invites readers to reexamine their assumptions about success, role models, and what it means to be a hero, leaving a lasting impact and a new perspective on the world.