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West by West  By  cover art

West by West

By: Jerry West, Jonathan Coleman
Narrated by: Ryan West
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Publisher's summary

He is one of basketball's towering figures: "Mr. Clutch," who mesmerized his opponents and fans. The coach who began the Lakers' resurgence in the 1970s. The general manager who helped bring "Showtime" to Los Angeles, creating a championship-winning force that continues to this day.

Now, for the first time, the legendary Jerry West tells his story-from his tough childhood in West Virginia, to his unbelievable college success at West Virginia University, his 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his relationships with NBA legends like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Unsparing in its self-assessment and honesty, West by West is far more than a sports memoir: it is a profound confession and a magnificent inspiration.

©2011 Jerry West, Jonathan Coleman (P)2011 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about West by West

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Could not stop listening!

A must read for anyone who has lived though child abuse or know someone who has, if you are a sports fan in general or a basketball/Laker fan to be more direct.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Kindred Spirit

Me West. You are quite my kindred spirit, sir. Your story is very eye-opening. Thank you very much. Maria Mariani.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent stories, needs a pro narrator

The producers should have hired a pro reader; Ryan and Jerry do their best, but they sound like grade schoolers reading aloud in class.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I GET JERRY

I get the Pain..I have Overcome the Pain....Scars are there but...it is never Forgotten....and it's always a struggle and a Challenge...I get you Jerry
Thank you Jerry

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible book

Listen at 1.5x, seemed slow to me. Dive into the greatest developer and scout of talent in the history of the game. Legend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Raw and Powerful

The book is biographical, but also something more. A genuine insight into a great man. Really delves into the emotions, tribulations, and the thought process of someone who we admire.

Great Read.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

a little bit disturbing, and not that well done.

I don't listen to many autobiographies, but I didn't get a sence that Jerry West understood himself that well, he listed the oddities, quirks and superstitions but glossed over his mistakes and the people he wronged, West needed get an actual writer to help him tell his story, not his pal, and worse his son reads the book, and after listening to him read, you really appreciate a good reader, seven words take a breath, seven more, all the way through, stay away.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Jerry is really disturbed and needs help

What disappointed you about West by West?

About as poorly written book as one could write. This book is disturbing for one who loved basketball in the 60's. Jerry, get help before you take your own life. It didn't help that his son Ryan was the narrator. His performance was as bad as the writing of the book.

I finished listening to this recording only because of the characters that surrounded Jerry during his career. Russell, Baylor, Cousy, Robertson, Barry etc...

Painful...

Has West by West turned you off from other books in this genre?

Absolutely not

How could the performance have been better?

The performance was dismal. The context of the book didn't help.

What character would you cut from West by West?

N/A

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Cut, cut, cut!!!

I was interested enough to buy the book, but where's the editing? He just talked thw book into a mic and then all of was slung like hash into a book.
Cut, cut, cut. And cut out all the 'I' s.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

So terrible!

Would you ever listen to anything by Jerry West and Jonathan Coleman again?

No!!

Would you be willing to try another one of Ryan West’s performances?

No way! He's terrible. Monotone.

Any additional comments?

This may have been a gripping book, but I couldn't get past the monotone performance. Depressing!

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1 person found this helpful