The greatest basketball player ever. Not just on the court, but off the court also. Revolutionized the sneaker industry and made millions and millions. Horrible franchise owner though, but no one bats a thousand. Award-winning sportswriter Roland Lazenby examines Michael Jordan in his new book, Michael Jordan: The Life ($22).

Lazenby’s book goes into Jordan’s family background, his well-known competitive streak and head coach Kevin Loughery’s system of giving the ball to Jordan all the time, and the less than accommodating reactions of his teammates to it. Check out David Halberstam’s biography of Michael Jordan, Playing For Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made ($15), for another great read on Jordan.