The Mamba Mentality: How I PlayThe Mamba Mentality: How I Play
Score Modern
What it's about
Kobe Bryant, the NBA great nicknamed the Black Mamba, shares his approach to the game: how he prepared physically and mentally, studied opponents, and pushed himself to succeed, alongside photographs of his career.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 30 weeks on the lists. It's a revealing look at one of basketball's greatest competitors.
You'll love it if you liked
Shoe Dog
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
OpenGood to know
It's a large, photo-heavy book with short essays. It was published two years before his death.
By the numbers
- Readers63 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller42 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #195 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #736 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1377 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
If you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
When Breath Becomes Air
The Passage of Power
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert OppenheimerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →Quick answers
Is The Mamba Mentality: How I Play worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 30 weeks on the lists. It ranks #1,377 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Mamba Mentality: How I Play about?
Kobe Bryant, the NBA great nicknamed the Black Mamba, shares his approach to the game: how he prepared physically and mentally, studied opponents, and pushed himself to succeed, alongside photographs of his career.
How long does it take to read The Mamba Mentality: How I Play?
About 6 hours (244 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Mamba Mentality: How I Play?
If you liked it, try Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth or Open by Andre Agassi.















