Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm by DeMar DeRozan and Dave Zarum
Reviewed By: Jacob Roberts, Youth Services Specialist
Genre: Memoir
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is This Book About? DeMar DeRozan, a 6-time NBA All-Star, and player for the Sacramento Kings, shares his story of trial and fame as he rose up out of Compton from a young age and onto the world stage as a professional athlete in the NBA. He relives trauma, addresses what it’s like to be in the NBA, expresses the importance of family, and most importantly, tells the reader that mental health is real and important to find help with when you need it most.
My Review: Although many celebrities and athletes can feel distant and removed from the average person’s experience, DeRozan’s story and mindset proves to be down-to-earth and frank. He is straight-forward and acknowledges repeatedly how he is forced to reconcile where he came from with where he is now. I believe that having such a down-to-earth voice and athlete speak out on mental health is a great example for generations to come. The book shows that you can be both masculine and vulnerable at the same time. Most importantly, it tells the next generation that they don’t have to know all the answers to be successful in this world. DeRozan continues to stress that he is healing, rather than having been “healed,” and continues to work on his mental health when he has the strength.
Three words that describe this book: inspiring, real, down-to-earth
Read this if you like… Becoming Kareem, Kobe: The Mamba Mentality, Michael Jordan: The Life
Rating: 5/5
