The Mamba Mentality

The book’s title is directly connected to its core thematic consideration, which is the idea that in order for a person to be the best at whatever he or she or they want to be, there is the necessity for hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. The gameplay and career of basketball player Kobe Bryant shape the lens through which the book examines this idea. What Kobe says about himself throughout the book, he is saying about the Mamba Mentality in general. If consistent, outstanding success is a goal, he says, then all paths towards reaching that goal have to be considered, pursued, and enacted with equal commitment and intention.

The term “Mamba Mentality” has three points of origin. The first has to do with a large poisonous snake, the black mamba, which is known for the speed and ruthlessness of its attack as well as...