I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson

Rating: 4 1/2 of 5 stars (excellent)Review:Jackie Robinson is one of the few athletes whose importance and popularity transcended sports. "I Never Had It Made" is an excellent autobiography on his life, his outspoken views on the state of civil rights for black people during his life and oh, yes, a little bit about his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers as well.Most people know of his accomplishments on the baseball field and what he had to endure during his early years with the Dodgers, even those who are not sports fans. However, it might not be known to most readers that Robinson was also active in politics for the Republican Party. Given the history of the relationship between civil rights leaders and the GOP, that might come as a surprise, but Robinson does a good job of explaining why he did so and what the eventual outcome would be.Robinson pulls no punches in this book.Whether it is about race relations in society, the military or baseball, or his relationships with first Branch Rickey and then Walter O'Malley, or the tender passages written about his wife Rachel and their three children, the reader will know without a doubt how Robinson feels about that topic.By writing his true feelings and not sugar-coating it or making it more palatable for those who might not be comfortable with such frankness, I thought that every subject he wrote about was told in a much better way. The reader learns about the topic, gets Robinson's perspective, and can then make up his or her own mind.The baseball sections of the book are very good as well. There isn't much description of on-field action or statistical analysis, however. This is written from a player's point of view and the views expressed are just as much about the business and the social life on the field as well as hits and runs. It was just enough to satiate the sports fan in me, but because this book is so much more than just a sports book, it should be read with the objective of learning about other topics as well.This book certainly will teach the reader a lot about that era in American history and a lot about Jackie Robinson, the man. "I Never Had It Made" is an excellent book that many readers should pick up and enjoy.Did I skim?No.Did I learn something new?Yes, a lot. Because Robinson recounted so many of his experiences in great detail, I learned so much about his convictions on race relations and civil rights. I did have a casual understanding of his off-field life and activities, but I did not realize how involved he was with the civil rights movement and politics.Pace of the book:Fairly slow, but in a good way. For a reader like me who wanted to learn so much more about the man, it was helpful to read the book slowly.Positives:There were so many in this book that it would be hard to list them all. However, I believe they can all be covered by just stating that was a very outspoken man and this book reflects that trait.Negatives:While this isn't a negative for me, some readers might not be comfortable reading about Robinson's candor on the controversial issues of his day. There were two notable problems in the editing of the e-book version. One was that a period was inserted prior to each use of the word "other." The .other (intended to show that edit) was that when the World Series was discussed, the phrase was not capitalized as it is elsewhere.Do I recommend?Yes. Going well beyond sports and baseball, this book is a good source of information on issues concerning race relations and some events of the turbulent 1960's. Whether the reader likes baseball, politics, history or biographies, this book is an excellent read for anybody who enjoys these topics.

There's probably nothing new I can write about this man's life that can improve on what's already been said, but I admired him as much as ever after reading this book. A winning book, for sure.

There have been a number of instances in which I have found autobiographies to come across as rather disjointed, varying in tone by page and by chapter, particularly when it comes to those co-authored by individuals who are not themselves subjects of the stories within. To what extent this is the result of editorializing or revisionism on the part of either subject or co-author, I never know for certain. With "I Never Had It Made," I felt that, while I could not personally discern any significant difference between the flesh and blood individual and the form apparent in the written word from any first- or second-hand experience (being born 15 years after his passing and all), I suspected this to be a natural extension of Jackie Robinson's persona. As a ballplayer, Jackie endured countless threats, taunts, and much worse, for the sake of Branch Rickey's "noble experiment." As a man, Jackie is incredible effusive when it comes to his on-the-field achievements as member of a World Series-winning Brooklyn Dodgers team and well-deserving inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you are looking for the story of Jackie Robinson's life, i.e. the chronology of events from birth to baseball, success and fame, to activist and icon status, well, this is probably not that book. What is perhaps most striking, in my opinion, is the manner in which the tone shifts repeatedly from Jackie's humble perspective as a son/husband/father/soldier/ballplayer/businessman/activist, deflecting praise for achievements that seem to have come about as a natural extension of his determination and effort to prove himself worthy in seemingly every personal endeavor, to his stream-of-consciousness sort of reflections on the choices (and admitted mistakes) he made, often against the will of the pigheaded masses, or those closest to him. What comes through most in this book is evidently Jackie's voice. While Jackie does not sugar-coat things, he does not tend to dwell on past transgressions against him. While he does not proclaim justice to have been faithfully served in his lifetime, nor wildly optimistic sentiments about the likelihood that it shall have come to be upheld in his children's, he consistently emphasizes the beliefs and values that have guided him throughout a life that, although extraordinary in its accomplishments, is remarkably ordinary in its narrative of struggle and overcoming of one's obstacles. That is not to detract from the transcendent stature of Jackie Robinson's legacy, which he earned in spite of 'never having it made.' Rather, in much the same way he enlightens readers to the differences of opinion he had with the likes of Dr. King and Malcolm X, or common ground he shared with Nixon and Rockefeller, Jackie does not shy away from contradiction, and embodies the message of Matthew 5:14 ("You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.") that has so frequently been misappropriated by politicians and evangelists. If Jackie Robinson is to be considered a shining example of American ideals (and I firmly believe that he is), a flawed but beautiful fusion of both conservative and liberal values that seems particularly poignant these days, then I believe that this book should be as widely shared and read as humanly possible.

Ce livre est excellent! Il est divisé en deux partie; soit sa vie sportive et sa vie après sa carrière. J'ai frissonné à maintes reprises en lisant ce livre tant les événements qu'il a vécu sont incroyables et oh combien biens écrits. J'aime bien le fait qu'il reconnaisse ces erreurs après réflexion et qu'il donne ses propres opinions sur certaines personnes très influentes telles Malcolm X et JFK pour ne nommer qu'eux. De plus, je suis québécois et, l'anglais n'étant pas langue natale et loin d'être bilingue, je n'aie eu aucune difficulté à le lire en anglais.Je le recommande fortement pour un lecteur de Biographie ou simplement un fan de sport!Simon

It's the biography to read about Jackie Robinson.

always wanted to read the complete story of Jackie.( including after baseball.)This filled the bill.

Perfect for baseball fans!

Thank you