A Father First

By: Dwayne Wade

Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi

Dwyane Wade, the eight-time All-Star for the Miami Heat, has miraculously defied the odds throughout his career and his life. In 2006, in just his third season in the NBA, Dwyane was named the Finals' MVP, after leading the Miami Heat to the Championship title, basketball's ultimate prize. Two years later, after possible career-ending injuries, he again rose from the ashes of doubt to help win a gold medal for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As co-captain, he helped lead the Heat to triumph in the 2012 NBA Championship. Little wonder that legendary coach Pat Riley has called Dwyane "B.I.W." - Best In the World.

As incredible as those achievements have been, it's off the court where Dwyane has sought his most cherished goal: being a good dad to his sons, Zaire and Zion, by playing a meaningful role in their lives. Recounting his fatherhood journey, Dwyane begins his story in March 2011 with the news that after a long, bitter custody battle, he has been awarded sole custody of his sons in a virtually unprecedented court decision. A Father First chronicles the lessons Dwyane has learned as a single dad from the moment of the judge's ruling that instantly changed his life and the lives of his boys, and then back to the events in the past that shaped his dreams, prayers, and promises.

As the son of divorced parents determined to get along so that he and his sister Tragil could have loving relationships with both of them, Dwyane's early years were spent on Chicago's South Side. With poverty, violence, and drugs consuming the streets and their mom descending into addiction, Tragil made the heroic decision to take her younger brother to live with their father. After moving his household to suburban Robbins, Illinois, Dwyane Wade Sr. became Dwyane's first basketball coach. While this period laid the groundwork for Dwyane's later mission for fathers to take greater responsibility for their kids, he was also inspired by his mother's miraculous victory over addiction and her gift for healing others. Both his mother and his father showed him that the unconditional love between parents and children is a powerful guiding force.

In A Father First, we meet the coaches, mentors, and teammates who played pivotal roles in Dwyane's stunning basketball career—from his early days shooting hoops on the neighborhood courts in Chicago, to his rising stardom at Marquette University in Milwaukee, to his emergence as an unheralded draft pick by the Miami Heat. This book is a revealing, personal story of one of America's top athletes, but it is also a call to action - from a man who had to fight to be in his children's lives - that will show mothers and fathers how to step up and be parents themselves.

©2012 Dwyane Wade (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

a Man's elemental story of unwaivering perseverenc

Loved this book. Dwyane Wade gifts us a universal message of love of family while offerring keys of encouragement which we can use in our life journeys. Dwyane's love for his family is inclusive to all and who he is. From the lesson of his Grandmother to his Christian faith, to his love of his favorite girl his life IS much bigger than basketball just as his mother predicted. i hope that many take on this read. it is honest and beautiful. It gives so much back and I have a new and renewed respect for struggle and the LOVE that brings them through. Thank you for writing this.

MV3

Inspiring and motivational story of tragedy, triumph, and redemption.

And I agree with Wade, he should have won MVP in ‘09.

Inspiring and motivating to be a better father.

Through the ups and downs of your struggles in life. Never give up and always have faith that things will get better.

Truly a Father First!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is a testimony to how far the love of a parent can reach. It will inspire us all to be better people because little eyes are watching.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved hearing about Dwayne's mother. I loved the honestly raw details shared with the reader as well as how she slowly became more than anyone ever expected of her.

Have you listened to any of Prentice Onayemi’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not but he was EXCELLENT!!!!!! I believed it was Dwayne talking. I forgot it wasn't actually Dwayne. His ability to differentiate between characters, even between males and females, was expertly done!

What did you learn from A Father First that you would use in your daily life?

Never give up and love hard.

Great Listen

Learned alot about Dwayne and his appreciation for his journey and role that everyone played in it. Many lessons in this book

Title Is Misleading

More of an autobiography.
Minimal insight into being a single dad.
It's mostly about his childhood.