The Blind Side Evolution Of A Game

"Lewis has such a gift for storytelling... he writes as lucidly for sports fans as for those who read him for other reasons."--Janet Maslin, New York Times When we first meet Michael Oher is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read or write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, Evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game in which the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.

Its not a jock book. Its not a sociology book. Its a storybook about modern society, ancient virtues, and the power of love, money and talent to do a little good.

In football, as in life, the value we place on people changes with the rules of the games they play.

The book behind the Academy award-winning film starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw—over one million copies sold. When we first meet him, Michael Oher is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read and write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, Evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability, his blind side.

The football star made famous in the hit film (and book) The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirational New York Times bestseller. Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams. Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.

Quicklets: Learn More. Read Less. Michael Lewis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the year 1960. He attended Princeton University and graduated with a BA in Art History. After a few years in the banking industry, Lewis left his lucrative position to write his first novel, Liar's Poker (1989) and to find work as a financial journalist. Liar's Poker was a semi-autobiographical novel focused on Lewis' experiences at Salomon Brothers. He continued the financial theme in his sophomore novel, The New, New Thing (1999) before transitioning to the sports-centered theme found in The Blind Side with his novel Moneyball (2003), which focused on the success of Billy Beane and the Oakland A's. Lewis' success has been far-reaching. As a regular contributor for such periodicals as The New Yorker, The New Republic, Slate, Conde Nast, and Vanity Fair, famed novelist Tom Wolfe called Lewis one of the two top "writers to watch" in 2010. The Blind Side is the story of high school footballer Michael Oher rising from the clutches of poverty to rise to fame as a first-pick draft choice for the NFL. When the book was first released in 2006, it quickly became a New York Times bestseller. In 2009, the book was adapted into a film. The film earned a slew of award nominations, from the Teen Choice Awards to the Academy Awards. Sandra Bullock, who portrayed the tough-as-nails Leigh Anne Tuohy, won an Oscar.

This engaging book explores how Christians can most profitably and critically hear, read, and view popular culture through the lens of film. William Romanowski highlights the benefits of a faith-informed approach to cinema that centers on art and perspective and shows how Christian faith contributes to the moviegoing experience, leading to a deeper understanding of movies and life. The book draws examples from classic and contemporary American movies and includes illustrative film stills. Additional resources for professors and students are available through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.