I Came as a Shadow

An Autobiography

By: John Thompson, Jesse Washington

Narrated by: Jesse Washington

"From his time growing up to his remarkable career at Georgetown University, contractual deals with Nike, and meaningful moments off the court - this is a fascinating audiobook. [Narrator Jesse] Washington brings the right level of emotion, doesn't imitate anyone, and gives Thompson's words the respect they deserve. A must-listen for anyone whose mind is made up on Thompson." (AudioFile magazine)

The long-awaited autobiography from Georgetown University’s legendary coach, whose life on and off the basketball court threw America’s unresolved struggle with racial justice into sharp relief.

John Thompson was never just a basketball coach and I Came as a Shadow is categorically not just a basketball autobiography.

After three decades at the center of race and sports in America, the first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship makes the private public at last. Chockful of stories and moving beyond mere stats (and what stats! three Final Fours, four times national coach of the year, seven Big East championships, 97 percent graduation rate), Thompson’s book drives us through his childhood under Jim Crow segregation to our current moment of racial reckoning. We experience riding shotgun with Celtics icon Red Auerbach, and coaching NBA Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson. How did he inspire the phrase “Hoya Paranoia”? You’ll see. And thawing his historically glacial stare, Thompson brings us into his negotiation with a DC drug kingpin in his players’ orbit in the 1980s, as well as behind the scenes of his years on the Nike board.

Thompson’s mother was a teacher who couldn’t teach because she was Black. His father could not read or write, so the only way he could identify different cements at the factory where he worked was to taste them. Their son grew up to be a man with his own life-sized statue in a building that bears his family’s name on a campus once kept afloat by the selling of 272 enslaved people. This is a great American story, and John Thompson’s experience sheds light on many of the issues roiling our nation. In this audio - a last gift from “Coach” - he proves himself to be the elder statesman whose final words college basketball and the country need to hear.

I Came as a Shadow is not a swan song, but a bullhorn blast from one of America’s most prominent sons. Huddle up.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

©2020 John Thompson (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2021, New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year

This was a great Story!

I loved the stories and the context Big John presented! I enjoyed every moment and could not stop listening!

Great !

you can tell how much passion and love for the game he had as well as the students he mentored.

A Must Read

A great book by a great man. I respect him now even more than when I knew him. I learned a lot from this book and it wasn’t about basketball.

great read

loved it refreshing look at a deep soul. he truly loved his players beyond the game

Excellent

Wanted to listen to this as a Coach. It was a great listen, thought provoking and entertaining.

Powerful

This story opens your eyes to the hurt that was then and to the vision 1 man had. To Teach.

it is not just about basketball

I have always been intrigued by Coach Thompson. This book did not disappoint. This book is more about the life of the man, with Basketball stories sprinkled in. Great Read, fantastic performance.

Unapologetically Great!

I'm going to start off with, I'm not sure I've enjoyed a listen this much in a long time.

John's story is about way more than basketball. That's what John really was to many, more than basketball. His story is told in a way that flows well, providing vignettes of various moments of personal significance in his life. None seems prolonged and are told in a way that is interesting. He's always been one of those people that "if you listen to closely enough you just might learn something", and his book is no different. I think people who know DC and MD well will enjoy aspects of his story as he talks about growing up in the area.

For me, this book had a bit more personal connection in it as John is about the same age as my father, grew up in the region of the country my parents grew up, along with where I was raised. Aspects of his past intersect with my family's experiences which not only added intrigue but a large dose of "real" to his life story. His unapologetic nature, was something I didn't pay attention to at first but as I got older I grew to appreciate and admire him for it.

Outside of the pages (or bits) of the book, I was struck by how many people said "You saved my life" about him publicly, not sure if there's a greater compliment anyone can give. Inside the book, I understood why even more.

My only criticism... unfortunately it couldn't be Big John's voice talking.

Incredible Story in Black History

This is a story that should be included more in Black History. This was a well crafted story from start to finish and left me in tears at the ending. Thank you to the author for documenting this autobiography and bringing this story to life!

Was not going to purchase this book

I have no intention on listening to this book until I heard an interview with the co author. I am really glad I did. I learned a lot about struggle. And how to overcome it. Also discovered my new favorite quote about freedom. I highly recommend this book.