I really like this book a lot because it shows to stay strong and do as Walter Payton says never die easy. He is saying that because he stayed strong when he was dying he stay calm and relaxed until his day came and he finally passed away. He was very inspiring to me because his coaches didnt think he was good enough to play for them and then one day he made it into the NFL. That is my review on Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton.

The book has been on my shelf for years, I've just never read it.

I liked reading all the different points of views about the same situation, but I had hoped the book would have been more about his early years through his football days and not as much about his car racing days/ philanthropy work (I still would have wanted to read about those things, but more about his younger life).

Walter Payton is my newest hero/role model. Title of book says is all - never back down from contact (or difficult life situations). Always persevere with thanksgiving for being alive today!!

Completed shortly after his death, this semi-autobiography paints abesutiful portrait of the man who was Walter Payton. Written more like a journal and a homage, this was an heartfel, ulifting, and revealing read.

Although, Walter Payton was a private man, this book gives one an intimate look into his heart and mind. We read of his humble beginnings in a small town - Columbia, Mississippi town to a small southern state university (Jackson State) to the 'city of big shoulders" (Chicago). Through all this, the persona of Walter Payton grew and matured. He was always was a team player, a competitior, a family man, and a friend. He had a sense of humor, humility, vision, and a heart for sharity. Through his own words and the memories of his siblings, children, former teammates, his former coaches, mentors, business partners, and wife & children, we learn of intimate moments and cherished memories. We also learn he was a man of faith who lived by a higher level of Christian principles.

This is a wonderful tale of a man whose heart loved Chicago and it loved him. He will always be remembered as one who fought against odds and became the greatest running back in NFL history. Despite his setbacks which included being overlooked for the Heisman Trophy, playing a decade before getting to the Super Bowl, not scoring a touchdown in his lone Super Bowl, retiring early, losing out on not being able to be the first black football team owner, and not seeing his charity reach the heights he set, he was a happy, content and extremely successful man. Walter Payton believed in working hard, being honest, giving back to his community, being kind, being honest, and helping the down-trodden. His fight against live rfailure and cancer showed he was a warrior with great faith in God. He never wavered in his faith throughout his life and held onto iy as he was dying. His death is handled with love, respect and integrity, befittign Walter Payton.

The last chapter is comprised of the five speakers at his memorial in the fall of 1999: Jarrett Payton, Eddie Payton, John Madden, Michael Singetary, and Mike Ditka. Their words echo the champion, warrior, humanitarian, and friend that Walter Payton was during his life. This is a fitting testament to a man who was a fighter with a heart of gold. I highly recommend this autobiography.

a true MAN....

I like this book very much. It talks about Walter Payton's life as a child to an adult. There is a wonderful combination between feelings that the story bring out in you. Towards the end of the story is mostly just focusing on your sad emotions. Overall the book is pretty good and I believe that most of my peers will enjoy it.

Something that I really liked about the book was the story. It goes through his entire life from a child to an adult. I also liked the information it gave us on how he stayed in shape and some of his training methods. For example in the story it says that he went to the dump and got an old pair of army boots. then he went into the forest and trained as if the trees were defenders. Something that I didn't like was the final chapters of the story. They are all very sad and are basically just repeating the last chapter. the story's are all about Walter getting sick, dying, and his funeral. Not only were they boring but there was obviously nothing exciting in those final chapters.

Despite the amount of sadness and depression towards the end of the story, I would love for some of my peers to read this story. Lots of them are big on football and this would probably be very interesting to them. Personally I believe its a fantastic book. I recommend this for many of my friends and family.

Sweetness Says It All...

I struggle to find words that embody the life and story of Walter Payton. I am amazed by the humility and love he showed while confronted by the many challenges that life threw his direction. To read this book and "hear" his words, lessons, wisdom, and guidance is to be a better person for having been given the opportunity to do so. If you live your life trying to be a better human, this book is the instruction manual you need to read. If you're looking for the rationale behind why the NFL created the Walter Payton, Man of the Year award, you'll wonder no more. If you need a reason to try harder, feel good about yourself, or love another, this is a book you should consider. I'm placing this one near the top of all time greats...not just the book, but also the man!

I like to read a sports book or biography every couple months so I picked up Walter Payton's autobiography. He actually tragically passed during the writing of this book so they included interviews with all kinds of people in his life. Walter Payton was obviously an incredible football player. I'm a Bears fan because my dad grew up in that area, but I've never really known much about Payton.

A few things stick out about Walter Payton. His work ethic was tremendous. His willingness to train far harder than his opponent seemed to me to be the distinguishing things for him as an athlete. He didn't have some of the natural ability that other great running backs had, but he was powerful and determined. His training regimen put his peers to shame. I definitely pushed harder in my work outs while reading this book. He credits his parents and some coaches for instilling this in him, especially his parents. They were both blue collar hard-working people. I appreciated their character as Walter talked about them. I really think their character is what allowed Walter to shine like he did.

A second thing that really stuck out was Payton's humility. He was not a perfect man, but every person who talked about him said they recognized that Payton wasn't searching for the spotlight. He was uncomfortable with being made much of. One person said that any room Payton would enter (once he became famous) he would look for the every day man in that room and that's who he would go and talk to. Payton always gave autographs and he never stopped doing it until people had left. Payton loved children and he gave to kids in need without seeking any credit. He downplayed his disease so his son could have the spotlight later in life. Honestly, this characteristic was the most endearing thing that I read about in his life. I can't think of many athletes that I'd call humble.

The third thing that stuck out to me about Payton was that he was a prankster and jokester when the team wasn't on the field playing or practicing. He knew that people need to laugh and he embraced the role of helping people relax. As fierce and determined as he was, he didn't pretend to be a super human. Many of his teammates credited Payton with overcoming racism, because he treated his teammates the same. He would help all of them laugh and relax.

The last thing I love about Payton is that he stayed on the Bears for his entire career. Payton did win a Super Bowl, but that was only after years of the team playing poorly. His teammates and coaches said that he never complained about it. He never demanded a trade. He never held out on a contract. He was just grateful to be able to play football. He was grateful that the Bear GM drafted him and gave him a chance. And he said he came to love the Bears fans so much that he couldn't even imagine being on another team. It never crossed his mind. I love that loyalty from Payton. I want to be like that.

My childhood hero who turned out to be the GOAT as an RB and as a man. Taken way to soon, thank you for everything Sweetness. RIP.

This book is about Walter Payton, one the greatest running backs ever to be in the NFL. Between his life and his football career he was a great person and this book expresses all of that.

OF COURSE I would read this - a quick read but inspiring and good for sportsfans.

This book is really good. It’s about Walter Payton and his journey to nfl. His triumphs. And his untimely death