The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
Book Review: An Amazing and Mostly (?) True Story of Redemption and Recruiting in the Hotbed of College Football
Summary: 5 Stars
The story of a young illiterate black man of gigantic proportions being taken in--adopted-- by a well-to-do white family and, not without some difficulty, making the most of his chance to succeed.
A tragic, but heartwarming story..A little "too perfect," however, when the young man winds up signing with his adopted white father's alma mater leading some readers, especially those familiar with college football recruiting in the South, to suspect that the author left out or chose to overlook parts of the story---if he in deed had full access to the whole story.
But there is enough ugliness and beauty here, earthy humanity, struggle and sacrifical love to offset that concern or suspicion....And sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction. TThis may be one of those times...
Lots of valuable insight here into the challenges of inner city ghetto life, the challenges inner city high schools face, the recruiting process in the SEC and the evolution of the left offensive tackle position, all good stuff...
Overall, a good book, a very good book, especially since it is a true story...but there is that scent, very faint, but still there....That's unfortunate and perhaps unfair. But it's still there.
Book Review: Check it out even if you're not a football fan
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book even more than Moneyball. Great insight into the college football recruiting process. Also great to see a book recognizing the offensive line position. Lewis discusses football in a way that is deep enough for football fans, yet still understandable for novices. Definitely check this book out.Book Review: Much More Than Football
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book because I really enjoyed MONEY BALL and felt certain Lewis would handle any subject well. He did not disappoint me with this book. If you're looking to read a football book, you won't be disappointed, but you'll most likely be surprised by the intimate human story of love, loyalty and leadership that is included. This is a book for anyone looking to expand their awareness of our society and the human race.Book Review: Repetitive
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading the book I was interested to see if others felt the same as I, that the book felt repetitive as if the author was trying to fill pages. This story could have been a feature magazine article. Half way through I just wanted it to end.
Book Review: A must read for educators and coaches
Summary: 4 Stars
What did Lawrence Taylor do to the game of football? As outside linebacker for the NY Giants, LT destroyed quarterbacks. He reveled in making his opponents fear him - having ended the career of Joe Theismann, every quarterback entering the field against LT knew the danger of getting hit snd finish a game, a season, or even a contract on the sidelines.
Because of LT, offenses changed to compensate - with a focus on protecting the blind side. With the advent of free agency and salary caps, organizations had to decide the most valuable players on the field. As Lewis demonstrates, the left tackle is the highest paid position in the NFL, secong only to the man they protect - the starting quarterback.
What begins as a commentary on the evolution of a game turns into a narrative of the making of one left tackle. The perfect combination of size, strength, and agility came out of under-privileged Memphis in Michael Oher. Oher began attending a Christian private school and was adopted by the well-to-do Tuohy famiy, which set out to make Oher successful.
Oher, under the watchful eye of the Tuohy family, went from a near illiterate to an average student in just a couple of years. This transformation opened the world of NCAA sports to Oher, which will likely lead him to become the most sought after left tackle in the NFL. He's currently playing football at Ole Miss.
For even the casual fan, understanding the evolution of the left tackle position is intriguing. After reading this book, it's hard to watch a football game without looking to the edge of the screen to see if the left tackle is doing his job. Well, you'll at least look for it on replay - when he doesn't do his job, and the team suffers.
While the general trend in the NFL is interesting, the life of Michael Oher is fascinating. The Tuohy family integrating Oher into their lives is an amazing story of charity. The Tuohy family proves that a radical change in environment can make all the difference in the world. Oher was plucked from a wasted world, where his likely future included drugs, gangs, and an early death and inserted into a loving, nurturing home. By recreating his life with the Tuohy's, Oher thrived in school & sports. His IQ went from 80 - 100, demonstrating that environment can make all the difference in the world.
To sports fans and educators alike, I recommend this book.