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randomhiccup's review against another edition
4.0
First time I’ve read a sports book. I’ll give the author credit for balancing the sports technical speak with the human interest side of the story.
jleclerc21's review against another edition
4.0
Less about football and more about a poor kid from Memphis...just a great story.
starkiwi's review against another edition
3.0
I have heard a lot of great things about this book, and its movie. And I agree. This book was very meaningful and heartfelt. There is this big boy who has no home, so this rich family decide to take him in. As I said, heartfelt. He has to work through all the problems in life, and face his past which he has so gratefully forgotten. So it is meaningful in many themes laid throughout the book. The only reason I give it three stars is because it wasn’t for me.
I am not a big football fan. In fact, when anyone turns on football, I’m out of the room. I have never liked it, and that is the reason I didn’t really enjoy this book. At first I thought it was interesting, the story part at least. There are some chapters that focus and relate the history of football before Michael Oher came along. Those I did not like and for the most part didn’t understand. The story was interesting enough and kept me for most of the book. One of the only problems is that I already knew where he ended up, so it wasn’t going to be that much of a surprise for me. As the book got more into football, the more it lost me.
I would only recommend that you read this book if you play or take a particular interest in football. As you can tell by my recollection of when I read the book above, you need to have at least a little interest in football before you read this book. Maybe if you have a very open mind to it you can also read this book without wanting to abandon it not only half-way through.
Football people, this is a great book for you. I would totally recommend it for all the reasons I said above and more. It could really be a great book if you like the subject. And I hope you read it because I think this book is really in need of someone to read it who likes football and cares enough to.
I am not a big football fan. In fact, when anyone turns on football, I’m out of the room. I have never liked it, and that is the reason I didn’t really enjoy this book. At first I thought it was interesting, the story part at least. There are some chapters that focus and relate the history of football before Michael Oher came along. Those I did not like and for the most part didn’t understand. The story was interesting enough and kept me for most of the book. One of the only problems is that I already knew where he ended up, so it wasn’t going to be that much of a surprise for me. As the book got more into football, the more it lost me.
I would only recommend that you read this book if you play or take a particular interest in football. As you can tell by my recollection of when I read the book above, you need to have at least a little interest in football before you read this book. Maybe if you have a very open mind to it you can also read this book without wanting to abandon it not only half-way through.
Football people, this is a great book for you. I would totally recommend it for all the reasons I said above and more. It could really be a great book if you like the subject. And I hope you read it because I think this book is really in need of someone to read it who likes football and cares enough to.
jessierach's review
4.0
This book has two storylines, much like the movie adaptation of Lewis’s Moneyball. There is a human interest layer, Michael Oher, and the layer about the sport itself. Lewis explains the importance of covering the quarterback’s blind side, and how that translated into a change in value and pay for offensive linemen (specifically, the left tackle). I know very little about football, and never follow the NFL. I can’t find anyone but the quarterback on the field, nor do I care to. Still, I was fascinated by The Blind Side. Lewis is an excellent writer, and truly made both Oher’s life and the position he played on the field relevant and interesting to any reader.
sendpam's review against another edition
4.0
Really really enjoyed this book. I feel like I learned a bunch of football and have gained a greater respect for how intellectual the game it. You think of football players as gifted athletes, but forget how much thinking is involved. I also liked learning the history of the statistics and rules and how the trends have changed over time.
It is great to know what a fantastic man Michael Oher is and if the Tuohys are half as amazing as they come off as in this book, I would love to know them.
It is great to know what a fantastic man Michael Oher is and if the Tuohys are half as amazing as they come off as in this book, I would love to know them.
imyourmausoleum's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
2.0
Michael Oher was born in 1986 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of twelve children born to his mother, Denise. Oher was not set up for success, living in a low-socioeconomic situation with one parent in prison and one parent addicted to substances. Oher showed significant talent in football and eventually obtained admission to Briarcrest Christian School. Oher was in and out of various foster homes when he went to live with a family that had two children attending the same school. Oher would go on to improve in school, excel in sports, and make it to the NFL.
I do not care one whit about football or sports of this nature. I only selected this book to read because Oher alleged in 2023 that the family who he lived with, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, tricked him into signing conservatorship papers. He was led to believe they were the same as adoption papers. This conservatorship allowed the family to make financial deals and decisions in his name, while reaping benefits, especially once he made it to the NFL. His story was sold to make a movie, that Sandra Bullock starred in, and the family received royalties from that. I do not like people capitalizing on other people's talents or hardships, and certainly not under the guise of being "good Christian people". That negates the few good Christian people out here floating around and also is detrimental to relationships between foster children and those trying to help. When you look at people who you think have your best interest at heart and they swindle you and who knows what else, it wounds your soul. At any rate, the book was interesting enough.
I do not care one whit about football or sports of this nature. I only selected this book to read because Oher alleged in 2023 that the family who he lived with, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, tricked him into signing conservatorship papers. He was led to believe they were the same as adoption papers. This conservatorship allowed the family to make financial deals and decisions in his name, while reaping benefits, especially once he made it to the NFL. His story was sold to make a movie, that Sandra Bullock starred in, and the family received royalties from that. I do not like people capitalizing on other people's talents or hardships, and certainly not under the guise of being "good Christian people". That negates the few good Christian people out here floating around and also is detrimental to relationships between foster children and those trying to help. When you look at people who you think have your best interest at heart and they swindle you and who knows what else, it wounds your soul. At any rate, the book was interesting enough.
juice916's review
5.0
I loved loved loved this book. Well written, great story, - clearly the author did tons of research. I literally laughed out loud reading this book and at times I cried so much that reading more was impossible. I skipped my plans for tonight to finish the book.
If you have any warmth in your heart for football, you need to read this book. Now I really want to see the movie.
If you have any warmth in your heart for football, you need to read this book. Now I really want to see the movie.
colls39's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed learning more about Oher's past and what parts of the movie were actually accurate. I also enjoyed reading about the evolution of the offensive lineman positions, but it got a bit long-winded.
ldoz's review against another edition
4.0
I am not a sports person by any means; I read this to learn Michael's story and find out how his life changed. It's inspiring for sure, but yet another indicator of inequality in this country. Michael was able to succeed because he ended up with good people wanting to help him - imagine the number of lives that could be changed if the same happened every day across the country.
snugshelf's review
3.0
This book actually made me care the tiniest bit about football, which is a true miracle.