Tiki: My Life in the Game and

By Tiki Barber

Book Overview

Tiki Barber, former running back for the New York Giants and current Today show correspondent, has seemingly led a charmed life. Whether on the field or in front of the camera, the Smiling Giant makes everything look easy. But it has taken a lot of motivation, hard work, and help from those around him to get where he is today.

Here, he recounts his extraordinary life to date--being raised in semi-rural Virginia alongside his twin brother, Ronde, by a strong single mother who made every sacrifice to make sure her boys had all the tools they needed to succeed in life; getting drafted in 1997 by the Giants, where he eventually became a standout running back after overcoming injuries and flaws in his game with the help of his coaches and teammates; his stellar 2005 season, when he finished the year with 2,390 yards from scrimmage (the second-highest total in NFL history); and the controversies that marred the Giants' 2006 season, including the surprise announcement of his retirement at the age of thirty-one.

As much as Tiki takes you into the locker room, past the sidelines, and onto the field to give you the view from inside the huddle, this book is also an inspirational look at his arduous evolution from ordinary player to elite--on the field and off--and at the amazing people along the way who have helped him achieve his goals. Tiki takes on the role of both the interviewer and the interviewee in special "Tiki Interviews Tiki" sections, as he asks and answers the really tough questions.

Tiki is a riveting, inspiring read for all who want to know what really goes on behind the scenes, and for anyone looking for the strength to step up and follow his or her dreams.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 141695564X
• ISBN13: 9781416955641
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

I enjoyed this book very much!

I really liked this book. I found Tiki's writing to be very intelligent, interesting and thoughtful. I am not a big sports fan...though my daughter married into a sports-loving family--but I found Tiki's story to be positive...and to repeat myself, interesting. I learned more about football...and the fact that many football players and other athletes are very well educated. I also learned more about the injuries football players sustain...and of Tiki's own attempts to minimize or even prevent injuries through training...and with the help of a chiropractor, masseuse, and acupuncturist. I liked learning how he made plans to ultimately transition out of playing football to become a sportscaster for NBC. He also told an interesting story about meeting the President of Isreal, who invited him to visit Isreal, which he did. And his family life was interesting...that he has a twin brother, Ronde, also a football player...and that the two of them have co-authored six children's books. Tiki and his wife have two sons and Ronde and his wife have two daughters. Tiki strives to be a good role model to his children.

For Giants Fans Only

For Giants fans only - I like Tiki a little bit more after reading his book. He is full of himself and uses a bunch of 25 cent words, but he was a heck of a running back. I would still get a Barber #21 jersey after I got a Strahan and Headen one.

Tiki Barber Review

It was an excellent book, but after I finnished reading the book it left me with alot of questions. Which some you just can't bare not to find the answer and you keep searching and searching, but still can't find the answer. That was one of the things that bothered me in this book. One thing that you mite enjoy it as much as I did, at the end of the book there is a section of the book with all of his stats and records. He is one of the best running backs ever to play the game. He is compared to Barry Snders,and alot more of the famous or to be famous running backs. One thing you mite not like is that he criticizes Tom Coughlin because of his practice style that every body should have th same drills as every other player if tour a rokie, bench warmer, star, or hall of famer you have the same practice as every body else.

Could not put it down

I picked up this book with mixed feelings. Around the NY area, there are Tiki-lovers and Tiki-haters. I neither loved nor hated Tiki, I am just a Giants fan who wishes he had stayed, but understands why he left. It is his own decision, and I respect it. Sometimes I think fans want to control players lives, like they are some sort of commodity and we are on the board of directors. Life doesn't work like that. Enough preaching, and on to my review: I loved this book. It is the type where you cannot put it down; you say to yourself, "One more chapter and I'll go to sleep," and the next thing you know it is an hour later and you've read 5 more chapters. So you keep on reading. I think in this book the reader can really get to know Tiki. The style, pace, is as if Tiki is narrating all of this. I am not sure how much his ghost-writer contributed to this, but of all sports biographies, this seems to me the one most likely to have been penned by the athlete, with minimal editing. Reading about Tiki's childhood, relationship with his twin Ronde, his wife Ginny, members of the team, his masseuse in the city (strictly therapy) and especially his trip to Israel and meeting Shimon Peres, it was just incredibly engaging. I recommend this book not only to Giants fans, but to anyone who wants to read a biography of someone who has a positive attitude, isn't scared to speak his mind, and wants to better himself and society. I respect Tiki a lot more, and to me he is no longer #21 hiding under a helmet, or the stud runningback on my fantasy team, he is a real person about whom I really know something.

If You Are A True Fan You Will Love This Book

Just for the opening chapter alone, this is worth the price of the book. Tiki takes us on a step by step blow by blow account of a touchdown run. if there is a prize for the best sports writing of the year I think this chapter should be it. I think all the haters who have it in for Tiki should be revealed as having psychological difficulty with a strong successful black man speaking out. If you are a Giants fan and hate Tiki then there is something wrong with you since the guy is the all-time leading rusher for your team. This book shows how he did it, with detailed, interesting descriptions about climbing the ladder of success in the NFL. It was not an easy process and he had to suffer along the way but what goal is achieved without pain and sacrifice? All in all it is a very inspiring story with a lot of insights into how the NFL works. Plus I don't understand how his opinions could be called an attack on his old team. If you read the book he is actually complimentary about Eli Manning his QB and even Tom Coughlin his coach. Tiki calls out all those who say "shut up and play football" as small-minded hypocrites. His football career was awesome, and now he is blazing into a broadcasting career, so if you want to be inspired to become better in your chosen profession, this book is great. It's also good for parents who want to know how to raise their children to be successful. The best thing is that it is an easy, quick read, which leaves you feeling like if Tiki did it, you can do it too.