Life Is Not an Accident

A Memoir of Reinvention

By: Jay Williams

Narrated by: Jay Williams

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Like millions of kids before him, Jay Williams used to pretend he was making the game-winning shot while playing basketball in his Plainfield, New Jersey, backyard. Unlike almost all of those other kids, he kept right on making shots until he became an NCAA champion and two-time national player of the year at Duke and the number-two overall NBA draft pick in 2002.

But after just one season with the Chicago Bulls, a team starved for a new messiah since Michael Jordan's retirement, Williams destroyed his career when he suffered a horrific motorcycle accident. In an instant, the man with as fast a first step as any point guard in history could no longer do anything for himself, including walk.

In Life Is Not an Accident, Jay Williams shares his story - both heartbreaking and uplifting - of being a young man trying to wrest control of his life from his overinvolved parents, from the pleasures and perils of fame and money, and from the near-fatal mistake that threatened to define him.

©2016 Jay Williams (P)2016 Tantor

Taking ownership of mistakes

I had the opportunity to meet Jay and hear him tell a small portion of his story at a conference in Pebble Beach. It inspired me to buy the audible version of his book. It had to have been hard to expose himself to relive these events in telling his story and the raw emotion plays through in the audible version. It was one of those books that I wanted to keep listening to every chance I got. Powerful message for young people. You will root for Jay's star to continue to rise after finishing this book.

Disappointed

I came across this book on Lewis Howe's podcast and had high hopes. As someone who has gone through a life-changing injury myself, I can appreciate the journey and was hoping to gain some new insights into adapting to life, post-injury.

While there was some of that, it was maybe 25-30% of the book. Like many books, there is a lot of unnecessary filler about his journey to become a basketball player during his youth, as a college player, and during his brief stint as a pro. I know basketball is a component of the story, but it should not have comprised the bulk it.

If you don't care about basketball and just want the insight, I would save your money and listen to the Lewis Howe's podcast instead.

Great listen but no surprises

Decent memoir about a life around basketball. A familiar story if you have followed Williams's career much. Was hoping for more insight into why/how he was able to get his life back on track better than many "fallen" athletes, but his transitions all come off as simple/immediate. Not the best performance (reading) but is good to be done by author.

Basketball story @ its best

I'm glad that I've picked up this book for reading/listening. Usually I'm not a big fan of autobiographical books but for some reason this one made a cut to my library... and I'm happy for it. Such a powerful story about climbing the mountain, falling down, and climbing to the top yet again. A lot of life messages for all folks. Especially valuable book for everyone involved in basketball: players, parents, coaches, and administrators. Would make it a mandatory reading for all NBA rookies... before signing the contract :)

Loved it!!

Thoroughly enjoyed hearing his story through his own words and voice!! Didn’t know many of the stories he shared before reading!

A brave man!!!

It takes a brave man to share the demons in his journey, and to acknowledge the angels👍🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Courageous

Jay Williams honesty and redemptive story is a gut punch to the "quit when it gets hard, or doesn't go your way" mentality we are so accustomed to in modern life. He touches on so many interesting facets of basketball as a dream, a business, a prison and a profession. I enjoyed his narration of his story, that really brought it home. Top 10 best books I've read!

A story everyone needs to listen to

Amazing work by Jay. He’s a great story teller and his book is one that allows you to gain proper perspective on life.

A sad, tormenting, electric, uplifting and hopeful life story.

Jason Williams tells a very good story, here. It’s heartbreaking and empowering, sad and hopeful. Now Jason Williams is a bigger and better man than he would have been if he never faced the adversities he faced. If you like basketball, athletic greatness and/or tea life drama you’ll enjoy this book.

Great stuff

Worth the read. only knock would be it jumps around a bit besides that it's solid 🪨