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: Not Only Football
Summary: 5 Stars
Football fan or not, "The Blind Side" is a fascinating look at the game of football, The South and the lives of inner city youth raised in poverty. You will recognize several people in this book, and look at football in a new way. Lewis has combined several stories into an inspiring book about one person who was able to overcome formidable disadvantages and triumph.Book Review: Another interesting, in-depth sports story for Lewis
Summary: 4 Stars
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis is the author's most recent (to date) book, and it takes the reader into the poorly-understood and frequently overlooked football position of Left Tackle.
How Lewis does this is by telling the story of a young man named Micahel Oher - a young, troubled, and supremely talented football player, who goes from being practically homeless for most of his life to earning a football scholarship at Ole Miss.
Lewis does a great job of drawing the reader in with real-life drama, not only when he's focusing on Oher, but also when re-telling the real-life stories of former NFL players such as Lawrence Taylor, the legendary defensive end who convinced offensive coordinators of the importance of the left tackle position.
Like Moneyball, Lewis ends up telling multiple stories in one book, which give the reader a larger and more complex look at football and the men that play it.
The only drawback I can come up with is that, at times, Lewis doesn't take a particularly objective approach to his subject. He's rooting for Michael Oher to succeed a little too much, and dubs a real woman as "NCAA Lady". To Lewis, this woman isn't so much another character with an honest purpose so much as a faceless antagonist sent to crush Michael Oher's chance of getting a scholarship.
Such bias is understandable, as Lewis explains in the end of the book that he came to know Michael Oher and his new family personally, and clearly spent a good deal of time talking with them.
Given how steeply stacked the odds against Michael Oher seem to be, the story is an inspiring one of perseverance and courage. And it is one that any sports fan will almost certainly enjoy.
Book Review: An engaging read, even for those who don't like football
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not particularly a football fan (I'm a recovering Washington Redskins fan living on the West coast), but I'll readily admit to being a fan of Michael Lewis' work. Ever since Liars' Poker, I've loved the way he brings together the big and the small in a story, ultimately tying high-level trends to human stories. The Blind Side upholds Lewis' high standards. I read the book in one sitting on a flight to Asia, and I have to blame the book for depriving me of many hours of sleep. This is a book that somehow manages to thoughtfully examine race and class in the South, as well as the development of the game of football.
I have to confess that as a boy I was a huge Washington Redskins fan, and I thought I well remembered the infamous play that ended Joe Theismann's career. Lewis takes the analysis of that play--and with it, the changes that it represented in the game--to a whole new level. From Lawrence Taylor's famous sack, we see the development of a kind of arms race to deploy first enormous left tackles, and then equally enormous and strong offensive players to counter them. Lewis goes back through football's history to see how the game evolved from running to passing, and then looks at how passing offenses drove new defensive tactics. He takes what could be dry history and brings it to life with vivid recreations of critical plays in past games that represent milestones in the evolution he's charting. I probably won't be able to watch a passing play in football the same way again.
The second thread Lewis follows in the book is is the touching story of Michael Oher, an enormous and enormously talented young man who narrowly avoids falling through the cracks in the projects of Memphis. Oher is a boy with every physical gift but every conceivable social disadvantage. Through the caring and kindness of new adoptive parents, the Tuhoy family, he is set on a course to attend college. Of course, nothing is that simple, and The Blind Side doesn't shy from leaving some ambiguity as to whether the story of Michael Oher has really taken a good course. Lewis handles this openly and deftly, with the result that you don't feel as though he's simply a cheerleader rooting for Oher and his adoptive family. That said, I was eagerly turning the page, hoping to read of a happy ending for Oher. It is truly compelling stuff.
Bottom line: I couldn't stop reading The Blind Side until I was out of pages. Then I just wanted more. It's an example of some of the best nonfiction writing you can find today. And it might even make you like football again.
Book Review: INSIGHT
Summary: 4 Stars
M. Lewis provided a view of recruiting in the South East that comes off as if the Coaches were Country Bumbkings. They just can't be the clowns as described and field the teams they do. Entertaining, but a bit extreme.
A very heart warming personal story about a fine athlete. His three years as starting left tackel for Ole Miss has shown he is one of many in the Conference with size and speed. He may have reached his level of development. He has not exceled as in high school.
It was good to see the premium placed on linemen yet they are considered body guards for the quarterbacks.
Ole Miss, under Coach Vaught, was known for the size and speed of its linemen. Gene Hickerson, his brother Willie Hickerson, Crawford Mims, Charlie Duck, Bob Allison, Billy Yelverston as examples. The premium on left tackels is not a new one. Just not discussed. Ole Miss in those Vaught days had three teams that on any given day could play each other and come out almost even each game. Never think that Ole Miss Recruiters were ever at the low level described in the book. The earth shook when Wobbel Davidson visited a home. A real pro. and gentleman. The best scout and recruiter in the Southeast. He was creditable, respected and respectful. In the 50s' speed, toughness and grades were the key to being recruited at Ole Miss. Look back at the records. I was there and proud of all my teamates, and Coaches. Look at the mess we have now.
Book Review: Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Very few non football people can capture the intricacies of success in football like this author did. Whether you are skeptical over motives ,or appalled by the reality that american's crave to be involved with football, you get the facts of life about high school football recruiting, and NCAA recruiting. I admire the family that took him in and hope she does find a building to house other athletes in need. If you want to know what really goes on inside of high school and college football read this book.