Kingdom on Fire Audiobook By Scott Howard-Cooper cover art

Kingdom on Fire

Kareem, Wooden, Walton, and the Turbulent Days of the UCLA Basketball Dynasty

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Kingdom on Fire

By: Scott Howard-Cooper
Narrated by: Feodor Chin
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

In the tradition of Blood in the Garden and Three-Ring Circus comes a bold history of the iconic UCLA Bruins championship teams led by legendary coach John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Walton—set against the turmoil of American culture in the 1960s and ’70s.

Few basketball dynasties have reigned supreme like the UCLA Bruins did over college basketball from 1965–1975 (seven consecutive titles, three perfect records, an eighty-eight-game winning streak that remains unmatched). At the center of this legendary franchise were the now-iconic players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton, naturally reserved personalities who became outspoken giants when it came to race and the Vietnam War. These generational talents were led by John Wooden, a conservative counterweight to his star players whose leadership skills would transcend the game after his retirement. But before the three of them became history, they would have to make it—together.

Los Angeles native and longtime sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, Scott Howard-Cooper draws on more than a hundred interviews and extensive access to many of the principal figures, including Wooden’s family, to deliver a rich narrative that reveals the turmoil at the heart of this storied college basketball program.

Making the eye-opening connections between UCLA and the Nixon administration, Ronald Reagan, Muhammad Ali, and others, Kingdom on Fire puts the UCLA basketball team’s political involvement and influence in full relief for the first time. “Perceptive and exciting, this is a slam dunk for college hoops fans” (Publishers Weekly).

©2024 Scott Howard-Cooper (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio
Basketball History Sports Sports History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Kingdom on Fire

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved learning about the players.

I enjoyed this Audible book. I was surprised how much college basketball and political events collide. I have read and listened to the book Steve Kerr: A Life, and now Kingdom on Fire. I appreciate the talent on the court more and have a greater understanding of the sport. While watching high school playoff games I wondered if the next great player was on the court. Scott Howard - Cooper has made me a basketball fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Honest stories about the times and UCLA baskeball

Great book that discussed the 60’ and 70’s along with the story of ucla basketball. Both the good, bad. So much success along with pressure and expectations. Shows Coach Wooden as a great
man and coach, who also had his flaws like any other man. I was too young to live thru, it but as a Bruin alum the stories are great to hear.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great basketball read

I really enjoyed revisiting my youth as a basketball lover. I was taken a back by how Coach Wooden supported these two stars of the game and in many ways contributed to the men of distinction the became, finding who they were and then allowing them to shine on and off the court. Using the word love would be strong, but I felt that all three grew to love and respect each other. What a tribute to Coach Wooden, a good man. The issues that they encountered, faced, and dealt with were different in many way.. But they are issues that all of us have encountered as young men. I gained new respect for both Karen and Bill Walton; guided by a gentle man of the game Coach Wooden remained true to his standards till the day he died. I was especially moved by at least three references to my beloved University of Dayton Flyers who competed against these great teams with distinction. Thank''s Scott for a great listen, taking me back is so hard to do, you filled it with joy and that is a hard thing to do.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!