The definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, from the highly respected, career sportswriter and author of Michael Jordan: The Life . Magic Johnson is one of the most beloved, and at times controversial, athletes in history. His iconic smile lifted the dowdy sport of American professional basketball from a second-tier sport with low ratings into the global spotlight―a transformation driven by Magic’s ability to eviscerate opponents with a playing style that featured his grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed the Los Angeles “Showtime” Lakers to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charm. Then, in 1991, at the height of his charismatic power, Johnson shocked the world with a startling cautionary tale about sexually transmitted disease that pushed public awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Then out came his confession of unprotected sex with hundreds of women each year, followed by his retirement, an attempted return, and a proper farewell on the iconic 1992 Olympic Dream Team. Longtime biographer Roland Lazenby spent years tracking the unlikely ascension of Johnson―an immensely popular public figure who was instantly scandalized but who then turned to his legendary will to rise again as a successful entrepreneur with another level of hard-won success. In Lazenby’s portrayal, Johnson’s tale becomes bigger than that of one man. It is a generational saga spanning parts of three centuries that reveals a great deal, not just about his unique basketball journey but about America itself. Through hundreds of interviews with Johnson’s coaches, representatives past and present, teammates, opponents, friends, and loved ones, as well as key conversations with Johnson himself over the years, Lazenby has produced the first truly definitive study, both dark and light, of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr.―the revolutionary player, the icon, the man. PRAISE FOR Magic: The Life of Earvin "Magic" Johnson "[A] compendious, scrupulously researched biography, so rich in basketball and cultural lore...What Magic gives us is a wealth of detail, a huge cast of characters and, in a way, the tapestry of our time as illustrated by this supremely talented and beguiling figure." ― The New York Times " Magic reigns as a wonderful and comprehensive biography of a world-class athlete and fascinating person...[a] masterful examination of the man behind the winning smile and unbreakable confidence." ―Booklist "Magic , a biography of basketball star Earvin Johnson, deserves to be the first sports biography ever to win a Pulitzer prize. Author Roland Lazenby has written a can’t-put-down masterpiece, combining incredible research, a remarkable story of greatness and tragedy, and a beautiful narrative to produce a timeless classic about one of the most fascinating athletes ever to fast break into America’s heart." ―Peter Golenbock, New York Times bestselling author of The Bronx Zoo and Bums "Roland Lazenby’s comprehensive tome regarding this profound legacy could only be titled Magic...With narrative clarity and observational depth of focus, Lazenby’s book carefully guides us on this epic journey through the life and times of one of the most significant cultural figures that America has ever known.” ―Dr. Todd Boyd, aka Notorious Ph.D., Katherine and Frank Price Endowed Chair for the Study of Race and Popular Culture in the USC School of Cinematic Arts PRAISE FOR ROLAND LAZENBY "Roland Lazenby's the David McCullough of the sports biography." ―Matt "Money" Smith, Fox Sports Radio "Lazenby is one of the best, most thoughtful and thorough people writing books on the NBA today, which makes all his books fascinating reads and great looks at the psychology of teams and great players. His stuff is must read." ―Kurt Helin, NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk "Roland Lazenby is one of the preeminent voices when it comes professional hoops…" ―Sean Burch, FOX Sports' "Lake Show Life" PRAISE FOR Michael Jordan: The Life One of Chicago Public Library's Best Books of 2014 A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist: History and Biography One of Amazon's Best Books of the Year: Sports & Outdoors, 2014 "In his thoughtful, extraordinarily well-researched biography ‘Michael Jordan: The Life,’ Roland Lazenby... gives us the life and much more.... The exhaustive narrative of Jordan's basketball career is written with appropriate awe. But what makes this portrayal especially worthwhile is everything else." ―Mike Greenberg, New York Times Book Review "What makes this portrayal especially worthwhile is the long trail Lazenby follows before the awesome career even begins." ― New York Times Book Review's "Editor's Choice" "An utterly definitive biography.... The most comprehensive attempt yet made to explain the factors that have gone into producing the most famous basketball player and marketing phenom in the his