My World My Dream

Author: Yao Ming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: "My surname—'Yao'—has no meaning when used alone. Like Jones (Jones), it's just a surname. But the two characters that make up 'Yao' each have real meanings. The left character 'nü' () means woman, and the right character 'zhao' () means a vast number—larger than a billion. Together, the two characters refer to numerous women. That should be more than the number of girlfriends of the late NBA superstar Wilt Chamberlain, right?" (Note: The late NBA legend Chamberlain was rumored to have over 20,000 girlfriends—translator's note). In the book, Yao Ming will narrate his growth in China and his career in the NBA over seasons, interspersed with evaluations from his teammates and coaches at the Rockets. Most of the content, however, comes from Yao Ming's own voice. The book also reveals the efforts and struggles Yao Ming went through to play in the NBA, as well as his thoughts on his confrontation with 'The Shark' Shaquille O'Neal in the NBA.
An English version of Yao Ming's autobiography, My World, My Dream: Yao's Life in Two Worlds, was sold for a staggering $1.5 million and became a bestseller in the U.S. and a phenomenon in Europe. The Chinese version of Yao Ming's autobiography, Yao: Life in Two Worlds, was eventually acquired by Yangtze Literature and Art Publishing House Beijing Book Center. The English version of Yao Ming's autobiography is titled Yao: Life in Two Worlds, and after its publication in the West, it caused a huge sensation. Since Rick Butcher, the interviewer, is a professional writer for the NBA and asks questions from a Western humanistic perspective, completely free from the ideological constraints of domestic journalists and writers, the book fully exposes Yao Ming's upbringing, basketball career, flaws in Chinese sports, and his personal romantic experiences. For example, Yao Ming's first visit to the U.S. left him emaciated; for example, the bureaucratic attitude of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in negotiations with the NBA; for example, the profit-sharing ratio between the Shanghai Sharks Club and Yao Ming's income; for example, those who tried to use Yao Ming for personal gain but turned destructive when their plans failed; for example, Yao Ming's critique of the Chinese sports system, especially basketball, and so on and so forth.
What's particularly important is that the book is interspersed with numerous reflections and evaluations from American NBA lawyers, agents, Rockets executives, CBA directors, coaches, parents, and friends, all centered around Yao Ming's struggles and the Chinese sports system. These dense details and multiple perspectives form a symphony of depth and drama in Yao Ming's autobiography. The biggest appeal for domestic readers lies in the fact that Yao Ming has added two chapters for the Chinese version: Yao Ming at the Athens Olympics and his care for the Special Olympics. Thus, the Chinese version of the book is titled My World, My Dream.
The publication of Yao Ming's autobiography in Chinese will receive full support and assistance from the NBA. The distribution process will follow NBA commercial operations, with large-scale, planned promotions and publicity. Alongside the fiery NBA matches in Shanghai and Beijing on the 14th, Yao Ming will hold a press conference in Beijing on the 16th. On the 17th, sales events (signed books and basketballs) will be held in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenyang. After one week, one month, and two months of release, a nationwide, unprecedented, and planned promotional wave will be launched. The content and prizes (provided by the NBA) are currently confidential. But one thing is certain—it will be a surprise never before experienced by domestic readers!