My husband read this as a sports book, but as an educator I was very interested in the barriers poverty presents for getting through (or even "to") school. My father-in-law recently reminded me of the book when he recalled that Oher and his brother grew up in a section of Memphis where Census results showed not a single father in the entire zip code. Is anyone starting a Memphis Children's Zone?

The Blind Side is a wonderful novel about a young man with an incredible story who will one day be one of the highest paid athletes in the National Football League. We first learn about Michael at the age of 13 when we read that his mom is addicted to crack; he doesn’t know his real name, his father, his birthday or any things a child should know by that age. Michael then learns to play football, go to school, and a family picks him off the streets and takes him into their home. The story mainly revolves around how the family learns to make him part of the family and decide to adopt him. The other part of the story deals with Michael playing football and how Michael must protect the quarterback at any cost. I had no problem giving this book 5 stars. It truly was one of the best books I have ever read. I quote that I could not get out of my head was Beth: “You’re changing that boy’s life.” Leigh Anne Touhy: “No he’s changing mine.”
It’s a pivotal moment in the story, as Mrs. Touhy realizes how bringing Michael into the family truly was a life changing experience that seems to have made a bigger impact on her than she ever could have imagined. The way I could connect this to class was it isn’t a memoir because it wasn’t written by the actual person of the story; it does include direct quotes of what was said by Michael and the Touhy’s and explains the whole story of what happened. I recommend this book to everyone. Anybody who wants to read a great book and a great story that will leave you heartfelt should read this book. Don’t think if you don’t like football you will not like this book because that is definitely not true. It may deal with a lot of football but it deals with so much more that can be enjoyed by all ages.

You don't have to be a football fan to enjoy this story, so don't put it aside for that reason. The author breaks down the portions of football you need to understand in order to get at the real story he is trying to tell, that of Michael Oher.
This book can be appreciated on many different levels. For the student of football, getting the backstory of how the game has evolved and adapted is quite an education. For those who enjoy the human interest story, you get one of the best in the form of Michael Oher. If you really want to dig deeper intellectually, the socioeconomic factors, especially regarding professional athletes, is glimpsed. There is just so much to this story and Michael Lewis does the job beautifully!
As with any book made into a movie, I recommend reading it before watching it. But even doing the reverse, I found the book enjoyable and want to watch the movie again. So don't be afraid to pick up the book even if you think you've been tainted.
I was about halfway through the book before it became something I'd only recommend to teens and older readers. It wasn't the use of the n-word that changed my recommendation, as I feel words and ideas like that help spur conversation with tweens. There are references to drug use and sales, but once again it opens avenues for talking about real issues. Even the deftly handled subject of siblings by multiple fathers wasn't too much. But when foul language and mention of strip clubs came into play, this definitely went beyond anything a tween should be reading, in my opinion.

Of course, because we’ve all seen the movie, I expected to be wowed by the inspirational aspect.
What I wasn’t expecting was to learn so much about the evolution of football, particularly the left tackle. It’s a sport I know nothing about, except Americans are obsessed by it.
I found myself constantly googling the rules, checking out players stats, etc. A fun learning curve.
One piece I wasn’t expecting were the details of Michael’s early life. The author really researched to give a far truer understanding of this part of His life.
It’s a good read!

Funnily enough, I actually had decided on reading this book before the whole controversy with the conservatorship and whatnot broke out: on coming out to school, I brought with me some old books from home that seemed interesting to me, and this was one of them. I would also like to state that I am wholly uneducated on the specifics of the controversy and what the specifics of the lawsuit entail, so my review is attempting to remain unbiased.

That out of the way, the main thought running through my head after completing this story is Wow. If there were ever a real-life instance showcasing how crucial a specific moment can wind up being, this is it. Michael's luck in becoming friends with Big Tony is out of this world. Also, Big Tony is definitely the unsung hero in this story, who I wish more time were spent on.

One aspect of the book that surprised me, given its lack of focus in the movie, was the attention to detail that Michael Lewis had in providing the backstory behind the evolution of the left tackle position and its significance and therefore monetary value in the modern game. I felt like, while being educated on Michael Oher, I also received a crash course on the offensive line.

The Tuohys, on surface value and purely from reading this book, appear to be fantastic people. There is, however, the crucial note of observation in the Author's Note about Sean Tuohy and Michael Lewis being childhood best friends, which perhaps makes one view the story through a different lens. Would Michael have still been taken in by the Tuohys if not for his freakish athletic potential? Probably not. Definitely not, since Big Tony probably would have never noticed him. Were they purely using him for this potential? I guess we'll have to stay tuned to the lawsuit to find out.

TL;DR: Like the movie but with more detail, specifically football detail.

3.5

I loved the movie and I loved the story of Michael Ohre and the Toehy family but I really didn't need the football lessons about the history of the position or the history of Ole Miss Just a lot of space

The Blind Side is a book about a young man who becomes an NFL star. With his huge body and extreme protective instincts he becomes one of the best left tackles the NFL has ever seen. Michael Oher came out of poverty and the only parental guardian he knows would be his mother. He was raised in an extremely dangerous part of west Memphis. For the total amount of time that he has ever gone to school, is less than a year. Michael Oher stands at six foot four and weighs roughly three hundred pounds. Micheal Oher was in the sixth percentile academic wise, but in the seventh grade he tested for self defense and ranked in the ninety-ninth percentile. Michael Oher was made to play football. He attends a christian school that focus more on directing students to God then actually teaching them. Michael did not have a home, and rarely was able to see his mother. Seeing Micheal walk home every night in the cold with the same clothes on every single day, Leigh Anne Tuohy picks him up and takes him home. Eventually Mrs. Tuohy will become Micheal’s legal guardian. Michael is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and needs to get his grades up to be able to play football. With the help of Mrs. Tuohy and multiple tutors Michael is able to play football. He is looked at by the top colleges in the nation. I would give this book five stars because it always involves football, one of my favorite sports. It makes you excited to see Michael’s progression through high school and going on to college. I think any athletes that play or even watch the game of football will love this book. I feel like anyone from the age of ten and up would be able to understand the book if they had even a tad of football knowledge. I feel like Carter Ibsen, Kaden Kier, Eli Holt, Blake Macklin, Sam Talero, would all be able to read and understand the book.

This both is and isn't about football. In fact, it's more of a socioeconomic analysis and critique, one that sheds a harsh light on the reality of two different Americas that are often mere blocks away in the same city. Michael Oher was lucky, blessed, rescued, saved - however you want to term it. He got out. He had a talent that allowed him to eventually reach the pinnacle of the NFL. Whatever aspersions were cast on the Tuohy family as to their motives, the bottom line is they didn't have to do what they did. They didn't have to go above and beyond in assisting Michael to make something of his life - but they did. They gave him a chance. Yes, he had physical attributes that would allow him to dominate a football field. But there was no guarantee he would be successful or that it would pan out as a career. It all makes for a good story. But if you do a little searching, the sobering reality on Michael Oher is vastly different.

i like nfl so book good

The Blind side is a novel about a troubled African American high school student who, with help from a wealthy white family, turns into a football prodigy. He shows great compassion and determination to leave a troubled life. I recommend this novel because it is a compelling story of compassion and determination. It shows that anyone can achieve greatness, no matter how hard and far you have to go to be great. I think it gives us the hardships one must endure to achieve greatness. Michael Oher, a Nfl left tackle now, shows us all that the pain of one life can also be saved by another’s. The author used great symbolism in this novel, showing us that there’s no happiness without pain.

I read this after seeing the movie version and was amazed that many of the precious details I assumed had been invented by Hollywood writers were real and actually happened. The book is mostly about Michael Oher, a homeless black teenager who was adopted by a white family in Memphis who then went on to be a successful football player. There are also a few dense chapters devoted to recent changes in professional football and how the player who guards the blind side of a quarterback now has greater value in the NFL. (Not being a football fan, I skimmed those sections.) But the chapters about Oher's rise and turnaround were fascinating and thoughtful. Michael Lewis is a gifted reporter and I plan to read more of his books.