Doc

A Memoir

By: Dwight Gooden, Ellis Henican

Narrated by: J. D. Jackson

Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A brutally honest memoir of talent, addiction, and recovery from one of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time. As a shy 19-year-old, Dwight Gooden swept into New York, lifting a team of crazy characters to World Series greatness and giving a beleaguered city a reason to believe. Then he threw it all away.

Now, with fresh and sober eyes, the Mets’ beloved Dr. K shares the intimate details of his life and career, revealing all the extraordinary highs and lows: The hidden traumas in his close-knit Tampa family. The thrill and pressure of being a young baseball phenom in New York. The raucous days and nights with the Mets’ bad boys (and the real reason he missed the 1986 World Series victory parade). The self-destructive drug binges and the three World Series rings. His heartbreaking attempts at getting sober, the senseless damage to family and friends, and the unexpected way he finally saved his life - on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. In Doc, Gooden details his close friendships with many of baseball’s greats: Pete Rose, George Steinbrenner, Joe Torre, and nephew Gary Sheffield. For the first time ever, he reveals the full story of his troubled relationship with fellow Mets superstar Darryl Strawberry. And he tells the moving story of the Yankees no-hitter he pitched for his dying father. Doc is a riveting baseball memoir by one of the game’s most fascinating figures and an inspiring story for anyone who has faced tough challenges in life.

©2013 Dwight Gooden (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Awesome Story

What did you love best about Doc?

I love non-fiiction true stories and this was one of the best I've read

What did you like best about this story?

That it covered his enttire choldhood to present day

Which scene was your favorite?

The part where he talked about the world series and the days after

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The life of Doctor K

Any additional comments?

recommend this book to anyone battling with addiction

Much More Than Baseball

What made the experience of listening to Doc the most enjoyable?

Great Reader - Story About My Childhood Idol.

What about J. D. Jackson’s performance did you like?

Wonderful -

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His Spiritual Conversion

Any additional comments?

Doc 'K' Gooden Again Becomes Dwight Eugene Gooden.

very touching and powerful

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it was a nice change from my usual fiction books.

What about J. D. Jackson’s performance did you like?

Loved his voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! but that wasn't going to happen! Did not want it to end.

Great honest look at Dwight's life

I really enjoyed this book. As Dwight was one of my heroes growing up and rooting for the New York Mets, it was fascinating to hear about the struggles he went through. I rooted for him to find peace in his life as much in this book as I ever rooted for him to win games on the baseball field.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ATHLETE FALLS FROM GRACE-DRUGS

Is there anything you would change about this book?

No because it was his life story. Recommend getting to the point, instead of giving play by play of too many baseball games. Mentioned almost all his team-members on an ongoing bases. This took away from his story, which was about addiction, tolerance that athlete's are given by EVERYBODY, and HIS ABUSE OF HIS OWN FAMILY THAT HE SWEARS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HIM.

He did not treat his family with love and respect.

I WAS ANGRY READING THE ENTIRE BOOK!
HE COMES ACROSS AS "POOR ME", INSTEAD OF ACTING LIKE A REAL GROWN UP.

Would you be willing to try another book from Dwight Gooden and Ellis Henican ? Why or why not?

No, because I get so tired of these athletes given special treatment from 18 years +, and no matter how much they screw-up their lives, they have a BUILT IN SAFETY NET. They never live in the REAL WORLD, like the rest of us.
Even the legal system gave him breaks that they would have NEVER GIVEN ANY OTHER BLACK MAN IN THESE UNITED STATES.

What three words best describe J. D. Jackson’s voice?

Not focused on the voice. Being read to with clarity.

I WAS ANGRY LISTENING TO THE ENTIRE BOOK.

Did Doc inspire you to do anything?

NO! he was allowed to be great, have lots of kids that he never took care of on a day-to-day basis, but continued to say how much he loved them. HOW?? You were not present in their lives.
He ALWAYS had someone come to his rescue and NEVER GAVE BACK TO HIS BLACK COMMUNITY.
LIKE MOST, HE CAME ACROSS AS THE VICTIM, AND CONTINUED TO BE SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED AND SELF-ABSORBED. EVERYONE, INCLUDING JUDGES HELD HIM IN HIGH ESTEEM BECAUSE HE COULD THROW A BASEBALL.

I got tire of him constantly talking about the details of so many games and player names.

We need to focus on education of young black men in this country and stop using them.
I am not even convinces he loved baseball.

It is frustrating because the rest of us do not have expensive an attorney, a franchise backing, women willing to look the other way, and a support system that makes sure you land in nice "DIGGS/CAR", WHEN YOU GOT OUT!

Any additional comments?

I no longer read the printed versions of books since I found Audible.com.
Audible.com provides an alternative for those of us that want to read, but are not very good at the comprehension, or focus. therefore, rarely finish the printed version....

So much potential gone to waste

This book is about Doc's life, mostly in baseball, but also outside of baseball. It's really a lesson about the perils of addiction. I wouldn't claim that Doc was "defensive", he does admit to many mistakes. But he caused so much pain, particularly to all his children from many different women. So many people tried to help him, but he let them down on every occasion and just threw away his immense baseball talent. It's hard to feel sorry for him.