Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go: My Journey from Mental Welfare to Mental Health

by Lucille O'Neal, Shaquille O' Neal (Foreword), Allison Samuels (Collaborator)

“In Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go Lucille will take you on a 40-year journey from ‘mental welfare to mental wealth.’ You will laugh—you may cry—and in the process you will be encouraged, enlightened, and empowered.” —Paula White, author of Dare to See Yourself as God Sees You   As the mother of one of the greatest athletes of all time, her journey is exceptional; but her story reveals that she is more than just “Shaquille O’Neal’s mom.” Lucille O’Neal is a woman you know, a woman you understand. Perhaps your own journey resembles hers. O’Neal has been a rebellious teen, a single mother, a wife, a college student, a divorcée, and, above all, a woman of unique courage.  Acquainted early in life with turmoil, O’Neal’s circumstances shaped her perspective and strengthened her resolve to overcome the challenges she would encounter later in life. She has endured poverty, rejection, abuse, addiction, and the illness of a child, yet today her faith and compassion for others are stronger than ever.  O’Neal writes candidly—and often humorously—about her years of spiritual unrest and mental warfare, and her return to the God of her childhood. In Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go , O’Neal shares her struggles and disappointments against the backdrop of her sweetest memories and proudest accomplishments. After fifty-five years, O’Neal has gained the wisdom to recognize her wrongs and guide others down a different path. Her story is proof that it’s never too late for a new beginning.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

225 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2010

About the author

Lucille O’Neal was born into a Christian home in Dublin, GA. She spent her childhood, adolescent years and early adulthood in the Central Ward of Newark, New Jersey. She often speaks of the spiritual foundation and lessons taught by her mother and grandmother as the source of her courage and inspiration for parenting. Lucille refers to them as two of the most humble and strong women she has ever known. As an active mother in the lives of her four adult children and a grandmother of fourteen, she takes her role of parenting and grand parenting very seriously!

In 1992 Lucille and her family moved to Florida where she contributed to the development of the SHAQ NETWORK as the Chief Operations Officer. She managed the day-to-day operations of the first official Shaquille O’Neal Fan Club until October 2003. In addition to the duties in her son’s organization, Lucille co-founded the Mother’s of Professional Basketball Players (MPBP) and served four years as executive secretary (1996-2000). She was very instrumental in the leadership and development of the organization’s goals and objectives. The MPBP was created to provide support to mothers whose sons and daughters were currently playing or had played in the National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Association. Since the organization’s inception the MPBP has endeavored to support the communities represented by the players and their mothers. Today she serves as the current President of this restructured organization; The Mother’s of Professional Basketball Players, Inc.

Lucille’s gratitude to God for His mercy, grace and abundant blessing on the lives of her family has motivated her passion to help others that are less fortunate. Her sincerity is evidenced by her involvement in numerous youth oriented and community projects. Lucille’s straightforward attitude and ability to adapt to any situation has equipped her with a tireless ability to serve. Whether chairing fundraising events like “Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out!” (an annual premier event featuring a variety of celebrity hosts, including Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Dennis Scott, to benefit The Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund; named in memory of her Mother) or rolling up her sleeves to assist other organizations at the grass roots level, Lucille gives her all for the cause. As a newly appointed Board Member of Orlando’s Ovarian Cancer Alliance and a new member of MD Anderson’s Council of Governors, it is evident that her commitment and devotion to others is conveyed through her extraordinary volunteer efforts (past and present) and her involvement with numerous charitable organizations. Lucille’s dedication to diverse causes underscores her heart for humanity. She has made countless contributions to various charities and continues to be an inspiration to many people, young and old. After 30 years of raising two sons and two daughters, Lucille resumed her studies in an Adult Education Program at Bethune-Cookman University where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (June 2003). Most recently she completed her graduate program (Master of Arts in Organizational Management) at the University of Phoenix (March 2005).

Reviews

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. The story was choppy and lacked a consistent flow. Then ending comes abruptly without a sense of real closure to any of the different stories.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. I couldn't put the book down and read it in a day.

However, there were some cliffhangers which I don't think Lucille followed through, for example, she mentioned that she would soon find out in later years why her parents were the way they were.

I was expecting something drastic but what unfolded was quite mellow, in my opinion, even though I saw how the situation would have affected the relationship between her parents and, between her and them.

There were some LOL moments, one I remember is the incident at a school in Germany with Shaquille.

This book shows a determined, focused woman who, despite the traumas she has been through, knows when to let go and follow a better path.

Highly recommend.

[Carol Fordahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purchased this on cd from discount bookstore. Lucille O’Neal has had an interesting life. Crediting God for her success (now), she really wasn’t a church goer for many years. Alcoholism, being torn from her mother at a young age, teenage pregnancy, domineering husband, life in Germany free from racism, divorce and obtaining her masters degree are all covered. I like true stories. This was just so-so.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Lucille last summer at a wedding and my friend gave me a signed autograph copy of her book. I really appreciated the opportunity to read everything Lucille shared about her own childhood, her family, her marriage, raising children, spiritual growth, and career. Very inspiring!

[Carandus Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her story reminded me of my own mother. We grew up in bad situations but was always happy because she did what she could. I enjoyed this book and the battle over obstacles both mentally and physically. I plan to share with my mother as she can still use inspiration in life.

[Sade Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walk like you have somewhere to go is great book ms. O'neal shares her struggles and disappointments about her memories and accomplishments in life . MUST READ ✅

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mix of biography and life advice, Mrs O'Neal tells her story to lift and inspire. A couple of spots the writing/editing needed some ironing out but overall a good read.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

She blessed so many readers by being grasp in her writing this book.

[Thomas Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book contained less information on Shaquille than I had hoped for, I did enjoy this book. Lucille has done her best to open up her past and her culture to us as honestly as I think she can. She tells us about ups and downs and attempts to be transparent. I believe that she is honest in her introspection. She writes simply and she does a great job of maintaining a positive outlook throughout the process. She quotes scripture throughout the book and gives credit to the Lord for her blessings in life.

With that said, I did find several areas that bring me concern. I believe these are areas that are common to the western motivational speaker culture. We simply can't pinpoint problems without attempting to spin them in a way that removes blame and where we can rise above by hard work and determination. We live in a society that tells us we can be anything we put our mind to. And we reject anyone who attempts to think realistically about how temporary life is or how unachievable some dreams really are.

Lucille presents her story as a case that reveals how this can happen. Reality is that her case shows that without certain events having gone especially right (having a genetic disposition to height, husband who loved her and connected her family to basketball, and a son who pursued an NBA career - as example) Lucille would have probably never become the person she is. She says that she is not the kind of person to shift blame but throughout the book she makes statements like,

"I'm no doctor, but I've always felt that his anger over his handicap contributed to the demise of our parent's marriage. The rage he must have experienced being unable to do the simplest things must have had a profound impact on his personality and his interactions with all the people around him. How could you have a successful marriage when the most important aspect of it (communication) was nearly impossible?"

"Believe it when I say I'm not someone who usually blames my problems on others, but Joe's plunge into drugs was more than his own doing. The ugly face of racism, coupled with the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the recent deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, made it easy for a young African-American man to become hopeless and turn to drugs. This, in turn, made it even easier for him to just walk away from his child and me."

Lucille understands first hand that life often gives us a raw deal. In one minute she will emphasize that someone couldn't help the decision they made, then, in the next minute, she will take credit for determination in making choices to overcome her past. And throughout all of this she will refer to God's watch over her.

As Lucille refers to God, she never gives any clarity on how she came to enjoy a personal relationship with God but instead seems to refer to him as someone she simply expects to do good for her. She gets a divorce from a man who was committed to her simply because she is no longer committed to him. This is presented as a good decision and as amoral as far as God is concerned.

All of these are concerns to me but all of these are a good study in modern culture. Lucille is not a person who is seeking to do wrong, reject God and or pick fights. She is the type of person that all of us would probably enjoy being friends with. Lucille is a "good" person in the light of the world. She is motivational and helps to give humanistic reasons for being positive, determined and go after good things you want. But in the end we all need something a step above all of this: A Divine Relationship. God created us for fellowship with him and not just to be the "best" we can be or to achieve all our dreams.

This is an enjoyable book but don't let it move you to settle for less than a Divine Relationship with God Himself!

I do recommend this book to help us understand the mainstream narcissism of our current culture.

[Chickadee · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Lucille, walk like you have somewhere to go.”, is a statement that Lucille O’Neal’s pastor gave her many years ago when she was a self-conscious teenager.

Lucille’s unusual height of six feet by the time she was twelve years old only added to her feelings of unhappiness as she was growing up in her grandparent’s home.

As the middle child, struggling to understand her parents divorce, Lucille felt the need to be the “fixer” in her family and took on a large amount of responsibility at a very young age. Lucille had no idea that she would end up the mother of a famous NBA basketball star (Shaquille O’Neal) and someday live in a mansion.

She never imagined the plans that God had in store for her, when at the tender age of seventeen she faced her mother and grandmother and her unexpected pregnancy. At a time when unwed pregnancy brought shame and disgrace to the entire family, Lucille was determined to stand strong and raise her son even though his father didn’t stick around.

Around the time Shaquille turned two years old, Lucille eventually married and had more children. The man who became her husband is partly responsible for discovering Shaquille’s talent on the basketball court, and is the man who Shaquille has always called “dad”. This book details the triumphs and trials of Lucille and her family, and what it was like to be the mom of a future NBA star when the colleges and scouts came calling.

If you enjoy a good “rags to riches” story, this is one book you’ll want to read.

Sidenote:
I cannot give this book 5 stars, due to the fact that I do not agree with Lucille's statement on pages 180 - 181 that God gave her "signs" to leave her marriage. She states in the book that she and her husband Phil had "grown apart" and that she was "unhappy" in her marriage. She talks about feeling like they led two separate lives, but at the same time she mentions going on the road with Shaquille while leaving her other children at home with their father for long periods of time. At no time does she mention infidelity or adultery (which I believe is the only biblical grounds for divorce between Christians). She admits on page 180 that Phil did NOT want a divorce. She does not mention any attempts at counseling or reconciliation, so I think this is a bad example for other Christians who may be unhappy in their marriage and looking for an easy way out. There are two sides to every story and maybe there are things that Lucille didn't share in this book. Based on what she *did* share, it doesn't appear that she had biblical grounds for her divorce but simply left Phil based on her feelings.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucille O'Neal is most famous for being Shaq's mom, but her autobiography, "Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go," is mostly about her own story. She takes her readers through her childhood, which included a broken home; her teen years, which included being a single mom to Shaquille; her young adult years, which included marriage, being a military wife, and having three more babies; and adulthood, which included Shaq's move to the NBA, their family's move from rags to riches, her earning her college degree, and eventually divorcing her husband. Throughout it all, Ms. O'Neal describes her struggles with alcohol and dealing with broken family relationships. Her mother was a great influence in her life, and Ms. O'Neal gives her the credit for helping her build a foundation of faith, which wavered greatly over the years.

Although I learned some interesting trivia about Shaq (ex: His name means "little one"!) and found Ms. O'Neal's story to be somewhat interesting, I did not at all feel inspired by her story. In truth, I felt that her son's prosperity, not her "regained faith," is what gave her the freedom and confidence of which she boasts. (To her credit, this is very understandable.) A verse of Scripture is posted at the beginning of each chapter, and it just seems very forced and unrelated, in my opinion.

The story seems a bit slow at times and seems to jump around, but I appreciate the fact that it is told in Ms. O'Neal's own words and tone. Allison Samuels, who helped Ms. O'Neal with the writing, did a great job of letting Ms. O'Neal's voice be heard. I felt like I was sitting in her living room and just listening to her tell her story. And with the addition of family photographs sprinkled throughout the book, the story held my interest and helped me to picture the characters in her story.

Overall, this book is a fairly interesting but not a very inspiring read.





http://booksneeze.com/art/_140_245_Bo... of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Bookventures Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a story that many women in my generation know all too well. Lucille O’Neal may have a famous son and may live the life that one can only imagine. Yet where she started is all too real and less than glamorous. Pregnant at 15 for an older man, living with her grandparents, having a strained almost non-existent relationship with her mother, being in an equally strained and emotionally taxing marriage; all of the above are recipes for a mentally unhealthy woman. Yet never once do you sense defeat in this book. Lucille preaches the power of God and finding solace in him and that gives her the strength to persevere.

Some of the main themes that presented itself were that of Family Relationships, especially traditional ones and Religion. I grew up under the guidance of my grandparents as well and their values are the ones that I hold close to me even to this day. All grandparents are strict, even mine, and so I connected to the pain that Lucille felt when she just simply could not express herself around them. Her grandparents were also religious and she credits them for bringing her to the Lord in this first instance. Here I saw the marriage of both themes; religion and family relationships at play.

Was there any doubt that I would chose Lucille as my favourite character!? She trusted and believed in God and even in the face of adversity she stuck by her beliefs. I loved Shaquille too, because he too defied all the odds and saw his dream to fruition. He made her proud in the same vain my children do everyday and when I read those corresponding chapters I could not help but smile to myself. However I could hardly say the same for Lucille’s grandparents. They never took the time to explain the strained relationship with her mother or why she and her brother were taken away from her mother. At the same time, in their rigid household, Lucille was never able to express herself.

Though she did not go into much detail about her feelings towards her marriage and her grandparents, there is very little that I would change in this book. I loved the story and really connected to Lucille’s plight of becoming a mentally strong woman. Walk Like you Have Somewhere To Go is raw and exciting because for the first time, Lucille is telling her side of the story. Her accomplishments in the end all seemed like the icing on a beautifully made cake.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Walk Like you Have Somewhere to Go is the recent autobiography of Lucille O'Neal, mother of famous NBA basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. Written in collaboration with Allison Samuels, the book provides broad brushstrokes to Lucille’s life, from her childhood in 1950s and 1960s until 2009. A tall self-confident woman today, the book shares stories of her struggles with low self-esteem (what she calls mental welfare) and how she overcame it and acquired mental wealth. Raised by her father’s strict grandparents, she rebelled in her teens which finally resulted in an unwed pregnancy (Shaq). After Shaq’s birth, she took responsibility for herself and her son, looking for ways to get off public assistance and gain self-respect. She marries Phil and together they had 3 children. Phil’s military career took the family on assignments all over the world, but life was financially difficult, alcoholism took its toll and Lucille struggled in her role as wife. She credits her mother, God and getting a college education with helping her overcome her mental welfare and mature into the confident woman she is today, filled with mental wealth.

I thought it was a fairly stereotypical story of many women from her generation, with the exception being she is the mother of a famous basketball player. I felt some parts of her story were missing substance as it seemed she glossed over parts of the story. There are Bible verses scattered throughout the book and in a final chapter, Lucille shares 40 of her favorite verses. I didn’t really see in the book how these verses helped her in growing spiritually during the course of her life. It was almost like they were simply an addendum to her narrative. Written in short chapters, this was a simple, easy book to read. Everybody has a story and this is Lucille’s.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go. Lucille O'Neal. 2010. Thomas Nelson. 256 pages. ISBN 978-1-5955-5307-2.

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go is an autobiography written by NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal's mother, Lucille O'Neal. The book details Lucille's hardships through life from becoming a teenage mother to conquering alcoholism, and dealing with her son's rising fame; all the while relying on motivation and faith to help her. Lucille also introduces the term "mental welfare", which she uses to help describe her mental health condition as it progresses over the years.

Overall, Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go feels incredibly short in length, and I would have liked more specifics on how push comes to shove in terms of motivation and also how God plays His role. Lucille tells us about the EVENTS that lead to her life rejuvenation, but she goes into even less detail about her thoughts and feelings. Lucille quotes scripture throughout the book and we read a timeline of her life, but again, more bulk behind what drives her to do certain things would make the book infinitely more motivating.

I didn't find Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go incredibly memorable and I found it to be very similar to other autobiographies written by celebrities. I recommend this book to fans of Shaquille O'Neal and to mothers of well-known media icons or celebrities.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Trinity Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
Usually I read Christian fiction, but sometimes I like to read an autobiography. Some people have such interesting lives. This is such the case with Lucille O’Neal’s book “Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go.” This book is very easy to read, with short chapters and very interesting. It would be easy to read it in one sitting if you had the time. “Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go" is the story of how a young single mother grew to become a college graduate and the mother of a NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal. I like one of her phrases From Mental Welfare to Mental Health. By using Mental Welfare Lucille means she didn’t get the kind of love she needed, resulting in lack of self-esteem & confidence. Mental Health is when she finds out who she is and that she is important and worthwhile. She struggled with poor choices and the abuse of alcohol. Lucille had Christian upbringing but it was presented to her in such a way that she strayed away from the faith in her teen years. Ms. O’Neal went through many things like death, divorce, illness of a child; alcoholism but has many happy things and times to enjoy. When we are at our lowest sometimes that is when we go running back to God. Ms. O’Neal went from having nothing to getting a Master’s Degree in organizational management. She is very close to her children and now has speaking engagements. Many of Lucille’s speaking engagements are on having a can do attitude. Very good book that I know you would enjoy having in your library.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Jacqueline Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walk like You Have Somewhere to Go Book Review

Here’s my promo: I loved this lady the second I read that she taught her kids that education is a must. No matter what you want to do in life, you need education. The moment I read that she taught this to Shaquille O’Neal, I knew this book would be a winner.

Walk Like you Have Somewhere to Go by Lucille O’Neal, is a story that really reveals much about herself, her family, and the man we know as Shaq. She begins the story with a walk through her life which is a true amazement. Any single mom out there can understand her story, her mission, and her dreams.

The wonderful part about this story is, even though this is about her life, she incorporates Shaquille’s journey to success all along the way. I loved that he included his family on every part of the walk of fame journey. He didn’t leave his family out to dry after he found success. Instead, he took them along with his amazing journey; giving them gifts, houses, etc. This is a man who had a firm foundation and has taken his life to greater heights because of it.

There are many wonderful parts to this story but I am going to talk about only a few of them:

• I love the Scripture verse that begins each chapter. I was able to take a moment, read the verse, and then dive into that chapter. Each time, I could understand why she picked that particular verse.
• I adored the pictures throughout the story. I found this to be as if we were watching a movie of her life.
• Her favorite Scriptures at the end are fabulous for anyone who can understand and appreciate where she has walked. Let’s face it. There are many single moms out there could use some Scriptures of hope. She gives them very eloquently.

[Britni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Lucille O'Neal (the mother of NBA star Shaquille O'Neal) and her journey from her childhood to where she is now. The book is full of stories from her life, relationships, and lessons she's learned in her fifty-five years including the biggest lesson she seems to have learned in her life - live your own life rather than living the life others want you to live. Treat every day of your life with a purpose as every day has a purpose and will affect the person you become.

I have to be honest and say that as intrigued as I was by this book initially, I lost interest about twenty pages in. I really like self-help type books, books that make you think about ways you can improve your life. This wasn't that kind of book. This was a book that really focused on Lucille's journey and as interesting and challenging as her life was, it really didn't teach me or inspire me to change in any way. It gave me a lot of information about Lucille and her family, but it really didn't help me understand how Lucille came to an understanding that she needed to start living her own life rather than the life she thought she should be living. I'm not typically a biography type person and that's what this book was for me - an autobiography.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning about Lucille's life, especially if you're interested in Shaq as she does throw in some interesting tidbits that you may never know about the superstar. But I probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book to anyone else as it wasn't the most interesting, inspiring, or really the most anything for me. 3 stars.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently had the opportunity to read and review the book, Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go, by Lucille O'Neal with Allison Samuels.

This was a book I was excited to read. In the book, Lucille, the mother of NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, shares her struggles and disappointments in life along with many of her sweetest memories.

I have to be honest; this book disappointed me. From the very first chapter, I felt that the story was written with a "woe is me" attitude. As the book progressed, the tone improved, but every once in a while that whine would come back, and since that tone had been there from the very beginning, I found it difficult not to roll my eyes when I'd read about yet another reason that she struggled. It was especially strange to hear her mention her mother and how she would say "Lou, stop being so pitiful." She seemed to recognize that she tends to complain a lot, and it definitely reflected in her writing.

To be fair, the book did have it's good points as well. It was an easy read. It was interesting to peek into her life and the lives of her children, and it kept my attention. It shared some fun memories and stories that made me smile, such as her being able to finish college and get a degree. She made some very good points throughout the book as she matured and figured things out.

I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars....many people may really enjoy it, especially those who like to get a peek into the reality of celebrity life. It had great potential to be incredibly inspiring, but it just didn't do that for me.

[Lynnea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is my fourth review from a book provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for writing a book review.
This was a very interesting story. This is the autobiography of Lucille O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal's mother. There are several photos scattered throughout the book, making it easier to "be in the story." Lucille is very candid about her life and the mistakes she has made throughout her lifetime. She knows her teenage pregnancy (with Shaquille) was a sin, her drinking to avoid reality was a sin, etc. and she has turned her life around to be for God's glory.

I don't keep up with celebrities, especially sports' figures but it was still neat to hear how "Shaq" grew up. The funniest part of the book was when Shaquille and his family were stationed overseas and Shaquille showed his classmates the break-dancing he learned before he left the states. The teacher had never seen such moves and thought he was having a seizure! She even called his parents to take him to the doctor! I laughed aloud at that anecdote!

My favorite quote from the book is when Lucille says, "...life begins and flourishes at whatever age you become comfortable in your own skin and whenever it is that you fall in love with what you see when you look in the mirror each morning."

The title of the book is rather catchy and interesting. However, it is not really tied in to the story as much as I think a title should be...

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was meant to tell the tale of how Lucille O'Neal emerged from humble beginning to raise one of the biggest sports stars that ever set foot on earth, the magnificent Shaquille O'Neal. The problem is that she came from a comfortable, middle-class background and although her key relationships were notably cold and she lacked moral support from those she loved, her was still a life of privilege and stability. Lucille O'Neal is an inspiring and talented public speaker but has not expressed herself adequately in this book which makes the book sadly linear and one-dimensional. The key in an autobiography is to explain what events meant to you and how you grew from the experience but Lucille merely lists events and she also tends to lay blame outside of herself. Her cold and dissatisfying relationships are responsible for her teenage pregnancy and constant dinner parties and alcoholism when Shaquille was a boy and she takes it as a sign from above that she must divorce her husband. While her charisma and charm when she is speaking are enough to show how she has moved past the events in her life and grown from them, they are not present in the book and it lands up being sorely lacking.

You can read the full, more detailed review here: Book Review: Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go

[Sara Strand · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a fast reader and I read a lot, but this book was so awkward and unfun that it has taken me that long to read it. I kept passing it up until a week ago when I was like- dang. I just have to finish it. So I did. And I thought it was lame.

It's the story of Lucille, who is Shaq's mom, and her growing up and what it was like being a single mom. And I get that the theme of Book Sneeze is apparently all Jesus based, which makes me wonder how I even got started, but this one was kind of over the top. Her parents were really strict and honestly, I would say abusive. But she just talks it off like it's no big. And that really irritates me because that kind of behavior isn't ok. Anyways. Although I didn't really enjoy the memoir myself- it would be very good for someone who fits the stereotypical un-wed, uneducated mother. While it's obviously worked out for her that isn't the case for everyone. And I guess when I read the book it made me feel like she was saying, "Hey- it's ok to have babies on your own with no education! You just pray real hard and everything will be great." And really? That's not a plan. That's a hope. I had a hard time identifying with this story but then again, I've never been in that situation. So I guess if I have to give it a 1-5 rating (5 being the best) I'd say 1. Only because I just couldn't stay engaged at all.

[Kimberly Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucille shares some wonderful messages about hope, perseverance and believing in yourself throughout the story of her life. We learn how she rose above some very tough obstacles in her life to become the woman she is today. Although I feel she never really acknowledged responsibility for her own actions - blaming her circumstances for the reason things happened. She became pregnant because of her broken home and her strict religious upbringing. She drank because she battled depression, again because of her upbringing, her tough military husband etc. I really felt sorry for Lucille and the ups and downs she battled throughout her life, however even by the end of the story she still never really accepted any of the blame for her actions or clearly speaks out about her own personal relationship with God.

It was also interesting to read about the home life and upbringing of Shaquille O’Neal. The story gives a little peek into what it was like for him and his family as they fought their way to the top to become one of the most influential families in the NBA.

A wonderfully encouraging, candid and heartwarming story about an equally wonderful woman and her family.

[Andy Mitchell]

“That’s my kid! I couldn’t be more proud!”

Have you ever imagined how life would change if your child became rich and famous?

Shaq’s mom humbly and honestly explains that without a strong relationship with God, a quality education, and the courage to follow your own dreams, you may as well just sign up for a double dose of “mental welfare.”

You know that feeling you have sitting down at your family reunion with the person who knows your family’s history inside and out?

Sit down for a couple of hours with Lucille and you’ll feel like you’ve known her family for years.

Come alongside one woman’s journey from “mental welfare” to “mental wealth.”

Full disclosure: Thomas Nelson provided me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Join me by visiting BookSneeze.com.

[Larisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucille O'Neal is the mother of sport icon Shaquille O'Neal and in this book she shares her life in a very natural way.

This book tells her story and shows the process she went through to change "From Mental Welfare to Mental Health". Ms. O'Neal has been through teenage pregnancies (her own and her daughter's), addiction, divorce, and so much more, and she shares, openly, about all of those in this book.

Her journey has indeed been one that has taken her from the inner city to around the world. Her legacy is not just in giving the world a top basketball player, but in the positive message of hope that she leaves with the world.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it take to be the mother of a superstar? Lots of life experience, plenty of tough love, and enough faith for two lifetimes. Lucille O'Neal has seen it all, and tells her story with the help of journalist Allison Samuels (CAU!!!). The two craft a rich narrative that makes you feel as if you're sitting with Shaq's mom on the front porch, sipping a perfect glass of sweet tea and taking in simple---but memorable---life lessons that could apply to any woman, any parent.

[Lauren orso · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don't know what my obsession is with shitty celebrity autobiograhies, but SHAQS MOM WROTE THIS ONE and i think i'm finally starting to realize my problem.

on a related aside, it was better than rodman's.

[Amy Kauderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting autobiography, but I was looking for a little more guidance from her. The end of the book "A Note From Lucille" was more of what I was looking for in the rest of the book.
If you want to know about Lucille O'Neal and Shaquille's early life you will enjoy this book.

[Tiffany]

So far, this seems like a great book.

[Sidney · Rating 3 out of 5]

really inspiring.

[Mark Holencik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of doing the best you can with what you have. Lucille picked her goal and stayed focused on it, instead of focusing on what she was doing wrong or what she did not have.