The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams

That might have been a better title, because it reads a lot Stephen Covey of Franklin/Covey fame. Since reporters have been spoon-feeding us tales of his Jeter-ness since he was a rookie, Yankee fans probably will not learn much that they did not already know. It is nice to have it all in one place, though: the child proclamation that he would be the Yankee shortstop; the uncertain nights in Tampa as a teenage bonus-baby; the dates with Mariah. The story of how his parents and he jointly created the "goals" sheet for each coming year is perfectly retold, and the book includes a picture of the actual document created by Derek and his parents. However, this book is by no means a kiss-and-tell: in one vignette, an aging, unidentified utilityman infielder makes the young, minor-league Jeter pick up balls on the field. Jeter is bummed but compliant, but then the wise Gerald Williams tells his Jeter-ness that he should play it cool, because "that guy is gone" as soon as Derek is ready. A nice story, but come one, who was the villian? Velarde? Fernandez? I do not fault Mr. Jeter for his discretion, but the reader should know this is not Jim Bouton or Sparky Lyle material. The bulk of the book is devoted to the self-improvement themes ("Set your goals high!", "Have a strong supporting cast!"). The positive message is encouraging, and I thus would recommend this book for middle school students and perhaps other people under 18. I'm older than that (see my reference to Jim Bouton), but since I subscribe to many, if not all, of Derek's theories, I enjoyed it as well. Those who are jaded can pass on this one.

A true inspirational and motivational book. Once I began reading, I found it difficult to put down. A true tribute to how determination, dedication, love, support and a positive attitude can help anyone achieve whatever dreams they desire. Derek Jeter's journey from a childhood dream to the steps and scarifices he took in accomplishing his goal is a life lesson for anyone, whether you're 9 or 99. An intimate look at his family, his thoughts, his fears, his struggles, his triumphs...I found myself laughing, crying and reflecting on my own life as I related his experiences to my own. This book teaches you about Derek Jeter, but mostly, it teaches you about life. A+++++

Jack Curry truly captures your heart in this inspirational, motivational masterpiece! Read this book and follow life's instructions on how to accomplish your goals and achieve your dreams. If you're a Jeter fan, well...you won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. It's the only book that provides the real insight on #2! Thank you Mr. Curry for showing us the way to a bright future!

I could not put this book down. Derek Jeter has become a role model for people of all ages. It's an honest look at his life and how he has become so successful. This book is a touching tribute to his parents and the wonderful job they have done. I would recommend this book to young people and their parents too. Enjoy it.

I bought this book for my son, who devoured it inside of a week. What I like most is the focus on enduring principles, like persistence toward a goal and daring to dream big. In an age when sports stars like Charles Barkley and John Rocker squander opportunities to use their stature to benefit the kids who admire them, Derek Jeter and Jack Curry have created a road map that any kid can follow, whether they want to be a baseball star like Jeter or the premier baseball writer in the business like Curry. My son and I read this book together and had some great discussions about my son's aspirations and how we can work together to help him achieve his dreams. This gets 5 stars from me and 5 from my son Casey.