The Tao of Yao: Insights from Basketball's Brightest Big Man

by Oliver Chin

As a basketball player and international spokesman Yao Ming has become the eighth wonder of the sports world. Amazing fans, players and experts with his surprising performance and down to earth... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1583940901
• ISBN13: 9781583940907
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 3.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

An innovative biography & a read well worth your while

I'm a big basketball fan and a friend recommended this book to me. I really found it very interesting, informative, and yes, insightful. As opposed to a standard rehashing of a celebrity?s biography, or predictable blow by blow travelogue, this book takes a more dynamic approach to looking at why Yao has become such an international phenomenon. By seamlessly blending current events with basketball history, Chin explains what this athlete symbolizes, how he represents so many diverse fans, and why this all matters in today?s global village. Now I can see how some people might not get the subtler messages - the relevance of the 2,000 year tradition of Chinese philosophy with modern life isn?t headline news in the US. But the author does a worthy job of making these links, and supporting the larger case that Westerners have to be more aware of Eastern perspectives (just as Asia has followed America), since this "alternative" awareness actually can help us lead more well-rounded lives. And in our crazy world, I think that is a lesson well worth reading.

Chin's book is worthy while also being cutting-edge.

If you are expecting to read "The Tao of Yao" because you are a Yao Ming fan, you will come away with some good & funny info about this gentle giant. But, this book is so much more as you progress from chapter to chapter! I often wondered why my hair would rise whenever I watched Yao play basketball on TV, but, I just thought it was because I was watching a very good "tall" basketball player with some skills. Chin does a marvelous job of blueprinting how Yao's impact on the NBA scene is more profound than many thought possible.