Straight Shooter

A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes

By: Stephen A. Smith

Narrated by: Stephen A. Smith

AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE

America’s most popular sports media figure tells it like it is in this “raw, deeply authentic, and immensely entertaining” (Bob Iger, #1 New York Times bestselling author and CEO of The Walt Disney Company) book, not only dishing out his signature, uninhibited opinions but also revealing the challenges he overcame in childhood as well as at ESPN.

Stephen A. Smith has never been handed anything, nor was he an overnight success. Growing up poor in Queens, the son of Caribbean immigrants and the youngest of six children, he was a sports-obsessed kid who faced struggles, from undiagnosed dyslexia to getting enough cereal to fill his bowl. As a basketball player at Winston-Salem State University, he got a glimmer of his true calling when he wrote a newspaper column arguing for the retirement of his own Hall of Fame coach, Clarence Gaines.

Smith hustled and rose up from a reporter on the high school beat at Daily News (New York) to a general sports columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer before getting his own show at ESPN in 2005. After he was unceremoniously fired from the network in 2009, he became even more determined to fight for success. He got himself rehired two years later and, with his razor-sharp intelligence and fearless debate style, found the show he was destined to star in: First Take, the network’s flagship morning program.

In Straight Shooter, Smith writes about the greatest highs and deepest lows of his life and career. He gives his thoughts on Skip Bayless, Ray Rice, Colin Kaepernick, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Cowboys, and former President Donald Trump. But he also pulls back the curtain and talks about life beyond the set, sharing authentic stories about his negligent father, his loving mother, being a father himself, his battle with life-threatening COVID-19, and what he really thinks about politics and social issues. He does it all with the same intelligence, humor, and charm that has made him a household name.

A provocative and moving “blueprint of tenacity” (Fat Joe), this book is the perfect gift for lovers of sports, television, and anyone who likes their stories delivered straight to the heart.

Steven A Smith is the Man! What a Amazing Story!!

Steven A Smith is the Man! What a Amazing Story!! what I love is that he learned lessons along his way and took constructive criticism and put it to work and came back stronger than ever! Every young black male should be made to read his book!

Well done Stephen A. Smith

Inspiring. It’s real, it’s raw. This book pushes you believe in yourself, and helps you find new ways to do so.

Great Story of Hardwork...from the Bottom Up

Great Story of Triumph...from poverty to the top of the media empire demonstrating the power of family, mentors and mistakes.

A new respect and appreciation for SAS!

I’ve watched Stephen A and First Take over the years, but I learned so much more about the man himself. In reading the book, I felt as if I with with Stephen A all throughout all of his life journeys and learned some valuable lessons. We can see his warm heart under that big tv personality. Well done Stephen A!

Transparent and Riveting

Enjoyed listening to the autobiography. I appreciate the author’s willingness to be transparent on many topics! Great lessons learned!