Helpful Score: 2
The Blind Side is an incredibly interesting and informative book about a poor African-American's escape from poverty to being adopted by a rich, White, conservative, Southern family and heavily recruited by the top college football programs in the country. This is set against the backdrop of a changing NFL.
Full review at Newsvine .
Full review at Newsvine .
Helpful Score: 2
After watching the movie on DVD we obtained and read this book. It is truly a journey for Michael and wonderfully researched by the author. Pages and pages about coaches like Parcell, Walsh and the fire history of Lawrence Taylor provides a clear insight into the NFL as well as college coaches, high school amidst the problems of a cross cultural true story.
Even after reading it a first time, I went back and read parts again, and again.
If you are a football fan at any level, this you WILL enjoy. Magnificant true story.
Even after reading it a first time, I went back and read parts again, and again.
If you are a football fan at any level, this you WILL enjoy. Magnificant true story.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book, well thought out. Good football analysis and an inspiring story (haven't seen movie).
Helpful Score: 1
I know more about football than I expected to know. Good read.
Helpful Score: 1
After watching the movie, I bought the book asap. It was a great read, well-written and very engaging even for someone who is not a football fan by any stretch of the imagination. I plan on working it into my history elective syllabus.
Helpful Score: 1
An excellent analysis on the evolution of the passing game in football and the need for a special type of person to play left tackle and guard the quarterback's "blind side." Also a fantastic human interest story. The movie (for which Sandra Bullock wins the Best Actress Oscar) covers the human interest stuff very well. The book has a great deal more on the evolution of the passing game. Much like the author's previous work "Moneyball" (about baseball), this book is highly readable even if you are not a sports fan.
Helpful Score: 1
Great book. Gives a background on football and why players are paid what they are paid as well as Michael Ohers story.
After seeing the movie I was curious about the book and though I'm not a big football fan decided to give it a read.
The story is well written and Michael Oher's story is compelling. I'd been curious about the Racism vs. Ole Miss angle as it was not emphasized in the film and knowing what I did of Ole Miss's history I was curious. This was covered very well in the book.
I was a bit daunted by depth of the coverage of the evolution of football in the book but I can't say I wasn't warned... The title indicated as much. Mostly the explanations of football strategy were very good and I followed most of it though I'm in no way a fan of the game. There were a few sections (particularly when the footnotes got to be close to half a page) when the football details became too much for me but I'm sure that dyed in the wool fans loved it.
Even the sections on Lawrence Taylor and and Steve Wallace, and John Ayers were eminently readable, even for a non-fan.
If you're a sports fan or if you've got one on your gift list, this may well be a great buy. If you'd rather not learn a lot about football but are still curious about the Michael Oher story, by all means, check out the movie.
The story is well written and Michael Oher's story is compelling. I'd been curious about the Racism vs. Ole Miss angle as it was not emphasized in the film and knowing what I did of Ole Miss's history I was curious. This was covered very well in the book.
I was a bit daunted by depth of the coverage of the evolution of football in the book but I can't say I wasn't warned... The title indicated as much. Mostly the explanations of football strategy were very good and I followed most of it though I'm in no way a fan of the game. There were a few sections (particularly when the footnotes got to be close to half a page) when the football details became too much for me but I'm sure that dyed in the wool fans loved it.
Even the sections on Lawrence Taylor and and Steve Wallace, and John Ayers were eminently readable, even for a non-fan.
If you're a sports fan or if you've got one on your gift list, this may well be a great buy. If you'd rather not learn a lot about football but are still curious about the Michael Oher story, by all means, check out the movie.
I'll admit after seeing the movie, I became intrigued by Michael Oher. The thing to remember with this book is the title says it all. "The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game." This is not just the story of Michael Oher but an explanation of the changing game of football which made Micheal Oher such a commodity. It was those chapters that I liked the least. I almost can't imagine going into this book with no football knowledge at all. Luckily, I grew up watching many of the names written about. I feel like that story of Michael Oher deserved a solid 4 stars where the "evolution of a game" part deserved a mere 3 stars.
I loved the movie, but the book ruined it for me. The family comes across as paternalistic and opportunistic, while Michael is just a boy who needs help. At the end of the day, there is a reason why the NCAA qualifying GPA was the magical number to reach. Overall, I was left upset and annoyed by the book, where there was none of the soul searching that redeems the parents somewhat in the movie. Also, there was too much about the technicalities and recent historical developments in football.
I thought the book was interesting. It certainly was not the same book as the movie, which, it turns out, provides a star vehicle for Sandra Bullock.
Nevertheless, I learned a lot about football...which I do enjoy.
But in the long football narratives dragged the book a bit.
Still, I do recommend it!
Nevertheless, I learned a lot about football...which I do enjoy.
But in the long football narratives dragged the book a bit.
Still, I do recommend it!
its a great read - about a kid born to a set of parents who never learned to care for themselves and could not/would not care for their many children - this kid managed to get a lucky lotto ticket and meet a family that was willing to care for him, love him, see to it that his best interests were looked after - I enjoyed the book for the family story but its very heavy on the football strategy - I may know the pro team names but I know little of how to play let alone the strategy involved - so that part of the book was certainly educational but i could have done without it
I'm not a very eloquent writer, so I'll keep this short and sweet. This book is fabulous.
This is one book you will always want in your library for the true story of how one family help a homeless young man become a Famous Football Hero. Dreams do come true.
