American Football Books

Raoul

I have been reading Coaching Confidential by Gary Myers at the moment. It is really insightful into the merry go round of being HC in the NFL and various trials and tribulations that HCs have to go through. I am only about a quarter of the way through the book. It is very easy to pick up and read a chapter at a time and rather easy going.

I have also read Jon Gruden's "Do you love football?". Fantastic read. I found it very motivational for my own career and to read about the effort and commitment that he puts in to become the best, it made me realise that to achieve anything significant, it takes more than just to show up. Preparation is key and so is organisation. I think it is a great book for anyone that is doing exams in particular to read.

Can't really do proper reviews as I read Gruden's last year and not too far into Coaching Confidential. During the offseason I plan to read The War Room and Patriot Reign.

Anyone else reading any American Football books to get them their fix?

adrian522

I read this last year, excellent read and goes into the back stories of a lot of the key players and coaches, written by the guy who did Black Hawk Down:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0089EHQYC/ref=oh_d__o06_details_o06__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Raymond Berry (WR), Jonny Unitas (QB), Sam Huff (LB) Vince Lombardi (OC) Tom Landry (DC) etc.

Raoul

adrian522 wrote: »

I read this last year, excellent read and goes into the back stories of a lot of the key players and coaches, written by the guy who did Black Hawk Down:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0089EHQYC/ref=oh_d__o06_details_o06__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Raymond Berry (WR), Jonny Unitas (QB), Sam Huff (LB) Vince Lombardi (OC) Tom Landry (DC) etc.

Didn't realise Ridley Scott wrote NFL books. :pac:

The thing I am liking about Coaching Confidential is that it is brand new. So its really accessible for me as I know the people he is talking about rather than the older guys who I wouldn't know much about.

adrian522

Gotta know your history Raoul...first ever OT game

I'm, also planning to read Friday Night Lights at some point, the movie was excellent.

EDIT: This one looks good too...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75638.A_Civil_War

Raoul

adrian522 wrote: »

Gotta know your history Raoul...first ever OT game

I'm, also planning to read Friday Night Lights at some point, the movie was excellent.

Yeah actually thats on my list too.

I know its good to know your history but its tough when you are reading books about guys who you are meant to know. The odd time in Coaching Confidential they are talking about players in the 90s and I have no idea it is. Very frustrating.

JaMarcus Hustle

Raoul wrote: »

Yeah actually thats on my list too.

I know its good to know your history but its tough when you are reading books about guys who you are meant to know. The odd time in Coaching Confidential they are talking about players in the 90s and I have no idea it is. Very frustrating.

Might be true about most books, but the best part about TBGE is Bowden builds up every character in it from scratch. He does a fantastic job of giving each character their own personality - I find most sports book rely a lot on well-known names, but that's what separates this book from others. Like seriously, each character has practically a chapter all to themselves. So when you read about Sam Huff, or Raymond Berry or Johnny Unitas - you're not just thinking "Oh yeah, that's the guy that it said was a Quarterback earlier on...", you instantly recognise the character more than the name. Hard to put into words, but anyone who has read it knows what I mean.

Raoul

Yeah that goods actually, I know what you mean!

Might have to add it to the list!

D.R Adams

Must check out Coaching Confidential, sounds like a good read.

During the Summer I read Paper Lion (George Plimpton) and it was very good. It was also recommended on Boards.

Based in the late 60's and it follows Plimpton as he spends the pre-season with the Detroit Lions as their 3rd string QB. He gets to know all the players and takes you through the routine of a team like that in that era, very easy to read and entertaining too. Well worth a look.

f1dan

War Room by Michael Holley is very very good

pepperfoot5

war room is very enjoyable

Syferus

I thought it'd be worth adding this here in case anyone doesn't already know: www.audible.com/t1/amazon

Audible always have a two free audiobook offer on the go and you can get anything from an 88-hour tome on city planning to 7-hour thriller novel under that offer, you literally have free reign of the entire store.

What makes it particularly interesting for this thread is that their library includes books like The Best Game Ever, When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, and (for the Pats fans) Teddy Bruschi's Never Give Up or The Long Sapper, about a 38 year-old long snapper who the Patriots drafted in after 3 years away from the league in December 2003, narrated by the best radio announcer voice you could imagine.

There's literally over 100 more, everything from auto-biographies by Bill Walsh to Tom Coughlin to err, Rich Eisen and an NPR journalist who tried out to be a kicker for the Denver Broncos.

This is a good place to start looking for football books: http://www.audible.com/search/ref=sr_pg__1?field_subjectbin=2226858011&searchRank=salesrank

I'd recommend if you do go for the trial to listen to the samples they have of the books so you'll know if you like the narrator's delivery, if you choose a book you like but you hate the narrator's style you're unlikely to ever finish it.

Oh, and make sure to go into your account options and cancel your gold membership after you buy your two books - you're charged nothing but if you don't end the trial (which you can at any time and your account will remain open and you'll still be able to re-download your two free books in future) you'll be charged the monthly fee.

PerrinV2

Think I'm gonna order "Coaching Confidential" and "the Greatest Game Ever" later this evening
Hope I don't get too lost in them as I've only being watching NFL seriously this past season.
My only reference for Johnny Unitas is this


Now theres a haircut you could set your watch too

TO.

PerrinV2 wrote: »

Think I'm gonna order "Coaching Confidential" and "the Greatest Game Ever" later this evening
Hope I don't get too lost in them as I've only being watching NFL seriously this past season.
My only reference for Johnny Unitas is this


Now theres a haircut you could set your watch too

I have a copy of the greatest game ever that I am finished and wont be bringing to the States with me if you want it.

PerrinV2

TO. wrote: »

I have a copy of the greatest game ever that I am finished and wont be bringing to the States with me if you want it.

I''ll probably just get it online,its only 9.50,thanks for the offer though

TO.

PerrinV2 wrote: »

I''ll probably just get it online,its only 9.50,thanks for the offer though

No worries excellent book you will enjoy it. Its up for grabs if anyone wants it. No cost, Freebie. Will most likely be offloading the rest of my books over the next 3-4 months also. Will post them all up here when I do. Might as well pass them on to you guys first. Too heavy to bring over the Atlantic with me.

PerrinV2

Just finished Coaching Confidential by Gary Myers there last night,since I haven't been following nfl all that long I really enjoyed,it was like a mini history lesson.
Not sure what to get next

pepperfoot

ive been meaning to rad it actually. during the offseason i watch football movies and try to read stuff about it . so i will give it a try