They had violated the letter of every NCAA rule ever written. They'd given Michael more than food, clothing, and shelter. They'd given him a life. Yes, I find myself rooting for Michael Oher to make it in the NFL, but mainly because I feel that if he doesn't, the life that these people have given him will seep away, and he'll be back on the streets from which he was rescued.
I also was annoyed by which the degree Lewis writes from a perspective of "poor black" athletes and "rich white" heroes. He can't help himself from throwing these modifiers on any person where they might apply. But when talking of about a black investment banker, he isn't written as "a rich black banker", instead he is merely described as being from Washington, D. Michael is meant to stand in for so much of what is happening in this country in terms of race and economics, and, while large though he may be, he isn't big enough to tell this story unless Lewis cuts off these annoying details and nuances.
In the end, it rings with the empty ease of a cheer before a football game: "Whitey, go adopt a black kid that can run 4. View all 3 comments.
Dnf at Now, let me explain. So I absolutely loved the movie The Blind Side, I've seen it many many times and that's saying something because I hate sports. With that being said, I hate football, and that is why this book didn't do it for me. The book seemed to read more like a documentary in my opinion and I rather watch a documentary then read one.
It also had way more football talk in it then the movie and I felt like I was learning more about the sport itself then Michael Oher's life.
In Dnf at In all honesty I actually did enjoy this book at first, I could get past all the information about football that bored me and I actually enjoyed learning more about Michaels life in the beginning.
But the more I read, the more I caught myself getting really bored and wondering "should I just dnf this" and the more I wondered the more I realized that yes, I should. I really don't want to throw myself into a reading slump so the best thing for me is to put this book back on my shelf and possibly pick it up at a later time. If I'm being honest with myself though I honestly don't think I'll ever pick it up again.
I'm not saying it was bad! This would be a perfect read for someone who loves football, or is trying to learn more about the sport.
I on the other hand am not really interested in learning about football so much as I was learning about Michael Oher's life and I feel the movie gave me that and also kept me entertained better then the book did. Shelves: sports , nonfiction. I think The Blind Side is the kind of book that anyone can read--football fans and foes alike.
I literally did not care one bit for football prior to reading this book, and was very okay with keeping things that way. That was Until recently. My boyfriend ex-boyfriend is hopelessly obsessed with football, and keeps trying to get me into it, with little success.
A big reason I haven't been able to extract any semblance of ent I think The Blind Side is the kind of book that anyone can read--football fans and foes alike. A big reason I haven't been able to extract any semblance of entertainment out of this sport is definitely due to me not understanding the rules nor what-the-heck is ever going on. So I bought this book on his recommendation and started reading it in hopes of coming out with a better understanding of the game.
And by golly Would you believe it? It actually worked. The Blind Side is in large part a biography of offensive lineman Michael Oher, and it uses his story as an example of the effects a changing game can have on an individual. In this book you get a heartwarming story in the forefront, while also learning about the intricacies of the football offensive line. This meant that the next time I tried watching football I had something specific I wanted to observe seeing the things I had read about actually in action , which drew me in and allowed me to finally start following the game.
If you like football, there's a good chance you'll like this. If you don't, there's still a good chance you'll find enjoyment in reading about the very interesting life of Michael Oher, and maybe even come out with a better appreciation of football. Please give this review a "Like" if you've made it this far, and follow me if you want more! Lewis writes two stories here. One is interesting.
The other is mildly intriguing and probably not as a big a story as it seems. When telling the story of Michael Oher, a poor black kid from Memphis adopted by a loaded white family and the journey he takes from uncommunicative, unschooled, untrusting child to a succesful lineman starring at Ole Miss it's a good story.
When writing about the emergence of the left tackle position in the NFL it was hard not to skip passages. Left tackle is an key posi Lewis writes two stories here.
Left tackle is an key position and the excerpts from players and coaches is interesting. Reading about the gruesome ways Lawrence Taylor destroyed people is great. But it's tedious and in the end it's hard to argue it's important.
There's no real comparison to other ways the game has evolved. The Michael story left me uncomfortable. As great a story as his is and it's still going - when his NFL draft approaches, Lewis-hype will ensure you know he's available , significant ethical questions are raised by the conduct of his adoptive family.
Lewis correctly raises the questions, though he had little choice after the NCAA launched an investigation into the subject. But he never attempts to answer them. And his portrayal of the Tuohy family never wavers from supportive.
Lewis never tackles their involvement, preferring to leave the questioning to others, and in doing so he is doing the story a disfavour. This book has quite a few different stories going on: 1 the importance of and rise of the offensive lineman 2 the story of Michael Oher, 3 LT as in Lawrence Taylor of the NY Giants and Bill Walsh football coach, 49er's these are "supporting stories" amongst others I heard of the movie and I like football books, so I thought I would enjoy this story about Michael Oher and I did.
I assumed it was just a story about Michael Oher, which it wasn't. I read Lewis's book Moneyball awhile back and This book has quite a few different stories going on: 1 the importance of and rise of the offensive lineman 2 the story of Michael Oher, 3 LT as in Lawrence Taylor of the NY Giants and Bill Walsh football coach, 49er's these are "supporting stories" amongst others I heard of the movie and I like football books, so I thought I would enjoy this story about Michael Oher and I did.
I read Lewis's book Moneyball awhile back and not only did I enjoy it, I winded up buying a few other books he had suggested etc.. Ok, so if you want to read this book- just know that it is not just an inspirational story about a poor kid who makes it to the NFl, it is also a very matter of fact book about the evolution of certain postions in football mostly the left tackle, who protects the blindside of the QB and also about some of the changes in the game of football.
Mixed feelings about this one. But I can totally see why Michael himself had problems with how he was portrayed in the book. This is not just a poor black teenager being taken in by rich white upper class christian family stereotypical rags to riches taking the black child ou Mixed feelings about this one.
This is not just a poor black teenager being taken in by rich white upper class christian family stereotypical rags to riches taking the black child out of the ghetto story that hollywood loves. Oher in this book. I have no idea if this is an exaggeration or actual truth either way I find it more than a little disturbing. View 1 comment. Apr 17, Coleen rated it really liked it. Overall, a very educational story for me. For someone who doesn't necessarily consider themselves a true football fan, some of the football history may seem a little dry.
I was okay with it, but tended to start skimming the further I got into the book. The chapters specifically about Michael Oher were more engaging, although I feel myself left with a sour taste in my mouth as to the role the Tuohy family played in developing this young man's sports career.
I have mixed feelings about that. Hence, his is an inspiring story and the Tuohy's should probably be commended for their unfaltering support of Oher. But it reaffirms to me that in many cases, money makes the world go 'round, and in many instances, it was the Tuohy money that allowed all of this to happen. View all 4 comments. The Blind Side is a book about a homeless teenager who gets adopted by a married couple who sees him on the side of the road and gives him a ride and a place to stay.
While he is with them he grows fond of them he starts to attend a fancy mainly white Americans go there he only has a couple pairs of clothes. He starts playing football but he does not have the best grades in the world, his major is protection.
The family loves him and he loves them. He is in a place where everyone loves him Warning: plot spoilers and discussion follow below. The protagonists are the people who adopt him are pretty much his whole community. The only antagonists are the streets he is trying to get away from. By the streets I mean the town where he used to live. The main conflict is trying to get his grades up so he can attend a college.
One of his parents wants him to go to the university of Tennesse , the other wants him to go to the university of ole miss. Oct 14, Julie rated it really liked it Shelves: tennessee-waltz.
When I was an young adolescent, I was a cheerleader. This is difficult to admit publicly, but there it is. At the football games, when I faced the audience and performed, I felt on top of the world. When I turned around and was forced to watch the game, I was bored out of my mind. We're just bored. Despite being a cheerleader for 3 years, having a football obsessed father and then marrying a football obsessed man, I'm still totally and completely bored by the game.
If I'm obligated to watch football, live or televised, I hold a book off to the side, so I may politely ignore everything else that's happening. Knowing this about me, you can now know just how much you can trust my recommendation here. This is a book about football, and not just a little. But, it's about football in the way that The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about cellular biology. It's a book about people, with a big, juicy human interest component that pulls you in and tackles you Score!
It's a damn good story, which is obviously why someone else read it and said, "Hey, let's make a movie out of this! I know. It's so weird. I am a big Michael Lewis fan, but Blind Side really missed the mark. This was a chance to explore race, socioeconomics, education, and college and professional sports. Instead, it becomes a story of how wonderful a white family is for taking in a poor, black kid who is then groomed to play football for the NFL.
There are so many shades of gray in this true story, but Lewis never really "goes there" and it becomes clear why in the acknowledgments - he is childhood friends with the rich white man I am a big Michael Lewis fan, but Blind Side really missed the mark.
There are so many shades of gray in this true story, but Lewis never really "goes there" and it becomes clear why in the acknowledgments - he is childhood friends with the rich white man in question. The story itself raises some very interesting questions, but the author is never the one to ask them. Their absence really niggles at the back of your mind as you read. Skip it. I loved this book! Love, love, loved it. Interest in football? Interest in the surge of importance of a single football position I maybe could point out on the field, but probably not?
Interest in the motives and actions of a white Christian Republican uber-rich Memphis family? Not even. Interest in this book which contains all of the above? I couldn't put it down. That is the mark of a very good non-fiction writer. Do you like football? Read this book. Do you not like fo I loved this book!
Do you not like football? Uplifting and inspiring. Enjoyed the book, and loved the movie. Hooray, for those who have the courage to fight prejudice. 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 ti 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 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 loved this book Michael Oher's story was touching and I loved that specific part in this book. He changed his stars and put them in line. It was very inspirational. This started as a solid and clear 5 stars. Michael Lewis wrote this story so well. But then he got all technical about football, coaches, players, and plays. Which, to be honest, really isn't my thing.
I like football just a tad less than baseball, and I really don't like baseball. Football, to me, just see I loved this book Football, to me, just seems to be a very long game of fat-man tag.
So that is the reason it gets 4 stars. I loved Michael Oher's story though. I read somewhere that he wasn't completely happy with the way he was portrayed in this book. But I think the author did a great job with the details that were included in this.
So whether or not the author got creative with that I don't know. But the story he told here was beautiful. Michael Lewis does it again, this time with football. This is the story of a black kid from the country's third poorest zip code in Memphis who was adopted by a wealthy white family they own their own jet and with lots of support from the father of a son and from coaches and teachers and tutors played football at Old Miss and made it to the NFL and multi-million dollar contracts.
Woven into the story of Michael Oher is the development of the importance of the left tackle in professional footbal Michael Lewis does it again, this time with football. Woven into the story of Michael Oher is the development of the importance of the left tackle in professional football. It's his job to block the guy whose job it is to approach the quarterback from his blind side and sack him. Even for someone like me, a non-fan of football, Lewis makes the details of who played what position on what team when and against whom interesting and entertaining.
And the story of Michael Oher, adopted by what would seem like the last family in the world to love and care for someone like him, is a delight. In fact, so delightful is it they made a movie, starring Sandra Bullock as the steel magnolia who is the mother of the Tuohy family of East Memphis. Sep 02, Melissa Perret rated it liked it. A little light on the human side of the story and heavy on the football- which I found a bit difficult to follow!
It was still a powerful story, but I definitely preferred the movie. In other news, this is my 85th book of the year which means I hit my goal for I had estimated a little lower than last year, thinking we'd be busy with travelling and I wouldn't read much with Noah to entertain The new goal A little light on the human side of the story and heavy on the football- which I found a bit difficult to follow!
The new goal is by the end of the year! The Blindside took me by surprise. I was expecting a book documenting the life of Michael Oher, but instead I got a page description of how football has changed-- with Oher's experience to enhance it. Though these events did not occur simultaneously, Lewis connects them as if they were meant to go hand in hand. And in some ways, maybe they were. For anybody who has seen the movie portrayal The Blindside took me by surprise.
For anybody who has seen the movie portrayal of the book and has an interest in football, I would deem this book a "must read". I got much more out of it than I did from the movie. You get a better sense of who these people really were. But, I would also say if you're not too interested in the dynamics of the game this book is likely going to prove boring and a disappointment. Sep 02, Pasquale rated it really liked it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
But it dosn't just tell a story about Michael Oher, we learn and understand a lot about the job of a left tackle. Now one of the highest paid positions because it is possibly one of the most important on the field. It is known as the blind side because most quarterbacks are right handed are their backs are facing that way. In the book we learn about defenders on that side and how they made a living hitting the qb from that side.
Being a left tackle is something Michael Oher seemed to be really good at. Being 6ft5 and over lbs as a high schooler, every single college coach on the planet wanted him to come to their school. Michael Oher was a natural athlete who grew up without a dad and a mom that never really cared for anything except drugs. A family by the name of Touhy took Michael in and gave him everything he needed. He becomes a star and its very inspiring to read this book. I love how he never gave up on the field but more importantly in school.
A kid that has a learning disability, being tutored every single night and going to school everyday struggling, fights through it to get his grades up. Another favorite part of mine is how the Touhy family believed in this kid and he never let them down.
Trying to grow up with out a father is something unimaginable for me but what Michael Oher went through his whole life is undescribable. Potential problems include Michael's poor academic standing which may prohibit him from participating in extracurricular activities at the school, his learning disability which may extend to other aspects of his life beyond his schooling, whether he actually can play football, and authorities questioning Leigh Anne and all the Tuohy's motivations in inviting Michael into their home and family.
Michael Oher , a homeless black teen, has drifted in and out of the school system for years. The Tuohys eventually become Michael's legal guardians, transforming both his life and theirs. Michael's tremendous size and protective instincts make him a formidable force on the gridiron, and with help from his new family and devoted tutor, he realizes his potential as a student and football player. A poor, oversized and under-educated teenager is recruited by a major college football program where he is groomed into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect.
At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.
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