I thoroughly enjoyed “How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius by Nick Greene.” I’ve been a lifelong fan and basketball player in my youth. So, this book was something I would’ve picked off the shelf anyway.

The strength of this book was the detail and the references that he put into the work. A very impressive section was taking Dr Naismith’s original rules and explain them for us in relation to basketball today

Additionally he carried l basketball examples to the modern day. He touched on the fundamentals of the game shooting, scoring, 3 point shooting and rebounding just the nam a few.

On a negative point, I thought the cover was not very attractive and would not draw my eye. The book is much more serious than the silly cover shows.

I recommend this book to others.

This book was provided By NetGalley for my review and honest.feedback.

Nick Greene watches basketball with people from industries including everything from ballet to marketing, the sciences to the arts, and shows basketball fans old and new how to watch the game smarter.

I didn't grow up watching full basketball games, just reading about the Bulls and if I was lucky later on watching short clips over dialup internet. But I love watching it now, even if there are huge gaps in my knowledge of the game itself and its history. So a book with a title promising to show me how to watch like a genius? Sign me up!

Told with humour by not in any way that it detracts from the book's mission statement (as it were), it's a fantastic read from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the opening chapter looking at the early rules of the game and their impact on what we see today (honestly, if Kawhi and PG13 were boosting each other over balconies to retrieve a ball that left the court I wouldn't miss a game). I also liked how vivid the descriptions were. I'm autistic and imagining in my head some of what's described via the written word can at times be difficult but I had no real problems in that regard here.

I highly recommend it for both basketball obsessives and newbies alike.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

As a lifelong basketball fan, I was really intrigued by this book. The cover caught my eye, but the synopsis sealed my interest, and I was thrilled to be approved for this title.

In How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius, Nick Greene pulls from various professions, perspectives, and experiences in order to dissect and examine the international sensation that is professional basketball. Spanning decades and points of view, Greene breaks down how basketball became the multi-billion dollar industry it is today, how the rules have changed over time, and what exactly makes basketball so damn watchable.

I can't say enough good things about this book. From the first page, Greene had me hooked. His sarcastic, oftentimes self-deprecating humor was both clever and engrossing. I've gone to the HoF many times in my life, but he managed to relay brand new information about a sport I've always loved without info dumping or succumbing to the dreaded tour-guide reciting monotone.

This book has everything: facts, figures, jokes, historical tidbits, and hilarious anecdotes.

And while I requested this because of my love of the sport, this is definitely not just a book for basketball fans. Sure, it helps to be familiar with the game and players, but there's so much to love about how Greene approaches the ins and outs of success and popularity that gives this universal appeal. I think many readers will respond to his anecdotal structure and diverse figures.

On a personal note, I loved getting to read about some of my favorite teams and players, and I knew this book was legit when Greene included a breakdown of Andre Drummond's free throw style.

Overall, How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius is one of my top books to look for in 2021. As entertaining as it is enlightening, add this to your TBRs now.

Huge thanks to Abrams Press for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.