Basketball (and Other Things) - by Shea Serrano (Paperback)

About the Book

"Thirty-three chapters, each chapter ... a different basketball question that needs to be answered. Some of them are obviously crucial ... and some of them are secretly crucial. But all of them are approached in ways that ([the author] hope[s] you think) are smart and fun and nuanced"--Back cover.

Book Synopsis

#1 New York Times Bestseller - Selected by Barack Obama as one of his favorite books of the year

What year was Michael Jordan the absolute, undisputed Devil-mode version of Michael Jordan? Who belongs in the elite, deeply disrespectful Dunk Hall of Fame? What are the exact, unwritten laws governing what is allowed and absolutely forbidden in a pickup basketball game?

Basketball (and Other Things) is the definitive collection of pivotal, ridiculous, and brilliant fan disputes from hoops history. Perfect for fans of sports trivia, pop culture essays, and deep-dive NBA analysis, this book breaks down the standard talk-show debates you've heard a million times into the hyperspecific questions you didn't even know your brain needed answered.

Award-winning writer Shea Serrano covers everything from the analytical (How many years was Kobe Bryant actually the best player in the league?) to the wonderfully chaotic (Which NBA player would you want as an ally if The Purge happened in real life?).

With a foreword by NBA legend Reggie Miller and packed with stunning, comic-book-style illustrations by Arturo Torres, this classic 33-chapter masterpiece treats the mythology of modern basketball with equal parts brilliant insight and hilarious irreverence.

It's the ultimate sports gift book for anyone who has ever stayed up until 3:00 AM arguing about the NBA's greatest what-ifs, or for anyone ready to fall in love with the beautiful absurdity of basketball fandom for the very first time.

Review Quotes

"With colorful, comic-book depictions of Spurs great Tim Duncan and other NBA stars by artist Arturo Torres, Serrano drops some serious and seriously funny knowledge on a sprawling range of hoops debates."-- "San Antonio Express-News"

"Amazing artwork by Torres adds Jack Kirby-esque crackle to the book..."

-- "The San Antonio Current"

"...hilarious and insightful..."-- "Men's Journal"

"...this coffee-table-book-that-you'll-actually-read is a perfect gift for anyone who's up for debating which qualities make a great basketball villain--or which NBA player they'd want as an ally if The Purgehappened in real life."-- "Mental Floss"

"...weird and very fun..."-- "The Indianapolis Star"

"All of the musings--the book spans 240 pages and is comprised of 33 chapters--is playfully illustrated by Arturo Torres and serves as a reminder that although basketball fans may get all riled debating GOAT status and greatest teams, the NBA, at its core, is just plain fun."-- "Hoop Magazine"

"An original work that captures the spirit of basketball."-- "Library Journal"

"Cleverly written and beautifully illustrated... It's a must for any basketball fan."
-- "Esquire"

"Even if you're a basketball novice or die-hard Spurs fan like Shea, this is a perfect companion to his Rap Year Book: full of myths, what-ifs, and hyperspecific fanaticism."-- "Vulture"

"It's full of hilarious hypotheticals, fun footnotes, and magnificent illustrations..."-- "Buzzfeed"

"Serrano deftly unravels the history of basketball via ridiculous debates, quirky answers and unexpected wisdom."-- "Ozy"

"Shea Serrano's new book... is a hilarious, informative group of passages that answer questions you never realized needed to be asked."-- "Slam Magazine"

"Shea Serrano's Basketball (And Other Things) is equal parts hilarious and enlightening... this is the ultimate book on basketball fandom."-- "NPR"

"The book is Serrano's testament to the great joys of basketball fandom..."-- "The FADER"

"The game's impact and influence on everything from fashion to young POC kids' work ethic is undeniable and some, like Shea Serrano, have always been attuned to that."-- "Remezcla"

"The questions Serrano asks and answers (and that Arturo Torres illustrates in engaging graphic-novel style) includes many barstool argument-starters ("Who's the Greatest Dunker in NBA History?," "What Year Was Michael Jordan the Best Version of Michael Jordan?") as well as some nerdily conceptual ones."

--Jim Higgins "The Milwuakee Journal-Sentinel"

"The sports-obsessed teen will definitely love this (even if they don't read any other books)."-- "Travel + Leisure"

About the Author

Shea Serrano is a three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, and journalist known for his uniquely hilarious, deeply analytical approach to sports and pop culture.

He is the creator and author of the wildly popular, best-selling "And Other Things" series, which includes Basketball (and Other Things)--selected by President Barack Obama as one of his favorite books of the year--Movies (and Other Things), and Hip-Hop (and Other Things). His breakout hit, The Rap Year Book, was also a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a multi-part documentary series for AMC. Beyond his essay collections, he is the author of Expensive Basketball and the comedic fiction piece Werewolf Lawyer.

In addition to his books, Serrano is an accomplished television creator. He created, wrote, and executive produced the critically acclaimed coming-of-age comedy series Primo alongside Mike Schur, which earned a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

A former staff writer for The Ringer and a former public school teacher, Shea lives in Houston, Texas, with his family and a rotating cast of very good dogs.