Letters to a Young Athlete

April 26, 2021
NBA All-Star Bosh’s good intentions aren’t enough to salvage his slack debut, a collection of short essays meant to impart life lessons to youthful athletes. He sets his goal in his introduction: to help readers take the right path in life, “the one that helps you get the most out of yourself, out of your potential, out of this game—whatever that game is for you.” Bosh, whose impressive career was prematurely ended by a “surprise blood clot” in 2016, is undoubtedly sincere about wanting to share his hard-won wisdom, but many of his insights are less than profound, as evidenced by such blandly titled chapters as “Leaders Lead,” “Take Care of Yourself,” and “Communication Is Key.” Readers unaware of exactly how grueling professional sports can be will be enlightened by stories of his time on the court, as will those needing to learn that skills alone won’t guarantee success. However, his advice is often general (“Leaders pick their teammates up when things get hard”) and he curiously relegates the importance of mental health to a single footnote. Even flashbacks of pivotal moments from his playing career—like setting up a “perfect pass” with LeBron James—feel glib in his flat delivery. Nothing here distinguishes this from similar volumes.

June 1, 2021

Retired basketball player Bosh is a two-time NBA champion, 11-time NBA All-Star, and winner of an Olympic gold medal. In this collection of letters, he gives advice and inspiration to young athletes seeking success. Drawing on the work of inspirational speaker Simon Sinak, Bosh encourages athletes to find a reason to play sports, other than wealth or fame. He maintains that, in order to get ahead, young athletes must take care of their minds and bodies while also taking care to educate themselves on social justice issues. In his view, a leader treats their teammates with respect and takes responsibility for mistakes. In terms of winning and losing, he advises maintaining an even temperament to navigate the ups and downs of a game and season. At the same time, Bosh suggests, a young athlete must not rest on their accomplishments and should learn to accept constructive criticism. Beyond basketball, Bosh takes inspiration for this book from poetry, music, business leaders, and other sports stars. VERDICT Readers seeking a memoir about Bosh's life may be disappointed. Although the advice here is not revolutionary, this straightforward book will find an audience with high school athletes hoping to improve their game outside of practice.--Chris Wilkes, Tazewell Cty. P.L., VA

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