Gregory Zuckerman Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars

Last updated: June 18, 2019

Gregory Zuckerman Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars
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We looked at the top Sports Books and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Sports Book you should buy.

Overall Take

In our analysis of 33 expert reviews, the Gregory Zuckerman Rising Above placed 7th when we looked at the top 8 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues. Athlete after athlete in this book found discipline, hope, and inspiration on the playing field, rising above their circumstances. Filled with first-hand accounts from stars who exemplify the idea of enduring at all costs, Rising Above will serve as a must-read source of inspiration for kids and sports fans of all ages.

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

There is both solace and inspiration in these 11 heroes.
The Zuckermans’ writing style is lively and very easy to read. The stories themselves are fairly short, so each one can be read in one session --- a nice benefit for younger readers with shorter attention spans.

What experts didn't like

Doesn’t take much to imagine that for each of them, there were dozens who didn’t get the break.
Although I liked the book, I had a few formatting issues with RISING ABOVE. First, there is no introduction. Granted, the Zuckermans included an afterword about how and why the book was written, but I think the book would have been better with this information presented first.
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