The Blind Side

Author:

By Michael Lewis

Format:

Paperback (Hardback)

Availability:

In print, usually dispatched within 3-4 days.

Price:

£8.99

Tagged with:

American Football, College Football, Michael Oher

Member Reviews

• Reviewed by 1 member with an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Login or join us to post the first review!

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Further Details

• Published: 30th Aug 2007
• ISBN: 0393330478
• Pages: 320
• Size: 210mm x 140mm

From the Publisher:

One day Michael Oher will be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read or write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game in which the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side. This paperback edition contains a brand-new 2007 afterword.

Member Reviews and Ratings

James (Blogger)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

As a fan of the sport I was very keen to read this, to see what insight Lewis has in the world of American football after reading his excellent Moneyball.

I wasn't disappointed; The Blind Side is firstly an excellent analysis of how American football has evolved from the old "three yards and a cloud of dust" era where running dominated the game, to the modern day pass dominated incarnation. Lewis documents in detail the players and coaches that helped transform the game (with some subtle, often moving references within these sections) in an easily accessible way. Although I play and coach the sport, I thought the content in this part was written well enough for the layman to understand and enjoy it.

Secondly, this book is a human interest story about a phenomenally talented young athlete and his incredible route to recognition and the opportunity it provides. This isn't a simple feel good story, it really is a one in a million tale and the athlete at the centre of the story, Michael Oher, really is as good as written. I've since been onto NFL Scouting websites and researched him and the consensus is he is already a stunningly gifted college player and has the potential to be one of the best ever at his position in the NFL if his good fortune continues. After reading the book, you'll be rooting for this fortune to remain good!

The Blind Side highlights aspects of the sport that even dedicated fans miss, or ignore. The players who toil away from the limelight but are as integral to a team's success or failure as the megastars in the media spotlight. It is an engaging, well researched and very well written book that is well worth reading.

Posted on 22nd Apr 2008 at 19:42:32 BST.