3.5 stars

This book was extremely well-written. Lewis was able to give a biographical account of Michael Oher’s peculiar life in a way that was fun to read.
The story was very interesting and it’s what kept me reading the book. For my personal liking, there was a bit too much football history that disrupted the story. That being said, I recognize its importance to the story, and it was still interesting to learn about football as someone who’s never taken an interest to the sport as it was written in a way that was easy for me to understand. Lewis takes an in depth look into the complex history and evolution of football over the years. Had I been a die hard football fan I would probably have rated this book a 4.5, the only downside being the constant change in story line, jumping from one to another and then back to the original story a few chapters later. It made it a little confusing at times, but it was still overall fairly easy to follow.
Definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed the different layers of this book. On the surface it's a simple story about a poor black kid who was adopted by a white family and became a football success. But this book delves so much deeper to look at the history of the offensive line and the evolution of the left tackle position in football, at the systemic racism present in Memphis (and many other cities nationwide), at the natural segregation that happens as a result of this racism and at the insufficiency of public programs to address these problems. I recommend this book highly to anyone, not just football fans.

This is the first book I have read by this particular author, and I thought it was great. Even though I have not viewed the movie, I am a huge football fan so I was able to make great connections throughout the whole book. Micheal Oher, the protagonist, is one of 13 children raised by a crack addict mother. He does not know much of anything such as his father, his birthday, or anything about education. Football helped him through the thick and thin of his life which is why I think the plot of this book is incredible and inspiring. The story of Micheal and the whole Touhy family was truly inspiring and uplifting. It represented huge-hearted and opened minded people, which is great for books and movies. As well as Micheal, Sean Touhy played a major role in the book as well. He was the hardest worker to achieve what he wanted to and I believe he can truly be an inspiration to every reader of this book, just like Micheal. Now these 2 differ in sports, Micheal plays football and Sean plays basketball, they both quickly contributed to the book in a great way. Micheal has a million reasons to be bitter and angry. However, he is none of these things. instead he goes with the flow and persevers through the struggles of life. I think this book teaches great lessons. Wether that be perserverence, kindness, or hardworking, it never failed to intrest me and keep me reading. As a sports and football fan myself, i was able to make great connections between me and Micheal and his struggles. I highly recommend this book to every individual, not just football fans.

I think The Blind Side is the kind of book that anyone can read--football fans and foes alike. "Football haters too?!" Yes, dependent on the depth of your hostility.

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 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.

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It has taken me so long to read this book because I went back to Texas and it stayed in Connecticut. This book is FASCINATING and provides a much truer and fuller story than the movie The Blind Side did. Lewis toggles back and forth between the story of Michael Oher and the history, importance, and story behind the left tackle position in football. The account of Oher's life is fascinating, as are the varying motivations and prejudices of those around him-- both the people looking to protect him and to profit off of him. 4.5 stars.

Uplifting and inspiring. Enjoyed the book, and loved the movie. Hooray, for those who have the courage to fight prejudice.

First off I could not relate to this book at all. It was about a poor huge black kid that lives in the "hood" of Mississippi. His Mom had many different children, along with many different fathers. She was also a crack addict. So, from this Michael Oher was left on the streets. It was interesting to see the life and struggles a poor kid faces. He spent nights wherever he could find open shelter. He eventually wound up at a wealthy Christian school. A rich white family had accepted him into their family, loved him, and worked him toward success in the classroom and on the football field. I liked this book a lot. I liked to see how he behaved with such a change. How he coped with college coaches always at his doorstep and investigators trying to figure out who this kid really was. I really liked seeing the positive impact he left on other poor black kids from the inner cities. I also enjoyed how the book has so many pages about Michael's life and how he is experiencing the world. And after that it relates his life to the job of the left tackle and its job of protecting the quarterbacks blindside. In football Michaels position is left tackle so we get to learn all about it and how his tremendous size helps him find success

Let me start this review by pointing out the obvious: This book is NOT the feel-good movie starring Sandra Bullock as the force-of-nature LeighAnn Tuohy (I'm downplaying the fact that it celebrates a white "savior" for a troubled Black boy...). That was a suprise.
I really enjoy Michael Lewis' ability to delineate an issue and explain it so even someone w/ no experience in the subject matter can understand it (like me w/ "shorting" stocks. I didn't "get it" at all until my husband had me watch the movie, "The Big Short," based on Lewis' book of the same name.) Lewis' "The Premonition" left me angry w/ everyone involved in the handling of the current pandemic. Therefore, I have to admit that when I figured out that MICHAEL LEWIS wrote "The Blind Side," I thought, "Well, huh. Maybe he just wanted to write a feel-good story about a Black kid who made it out of the 'hood." Nope. The MOVIE is a feel-good story; the BOOK is about the business of being an offensive left tackle in the NFL, and how the change in football offensive strategy from running to passing led to the offensive left tackle becoming one of the highest-paid players on a football team - b/c he protects the very-expensive quarterback's "blind side" (IF the quarterback is right-handed.). Michael Oher's life story is used as illustration on the shift in focus onto the left tackle. This worked OK for me, as I dearly love college football (and my Chiefs!) and could follow what he was saying about the change in football strategy.
It's a good book, but I can't go a full 5 stars, b/c I just can't help that get the sense that Lewis' personal relationship w/ Sean Tuohy left him perplexed about the Tuohys' motives for "saving" Michael Oher from the streets of west Memphis. Lewis' ambivalence translates onto the pages of the book and therefore on to us as readers. Therefore, I rounded down to 4 stars.

I was pleasantly surprised that movie stayed fairly true to the book and real life story. Besides the chapters of football stats and descriptions about the NFL players that I definitely skimmed, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and being taken into a world that was vastly different than my own.

I appreciated the extra details, funny anecdotes and quality of writing done Micheal Lewis. All of which made for a very easy and satisfying read.

The story itself is one that definitely raises so many questions to ponder while also leaving the readers with a sense of hope. In that people’s life outcomes can change when put in a environment that encourages and supports them to succeed.

All in all, it was a lovely book with a lot of good messages.

In the depths of the book that spurred the hit feel-good football movie, “The Blind Side” and the brilliant work of Michael Lewis explores all aspects of the Michael Oher story, both the good, the bad, and the ugly. From the underdog notion of Big Mike’s struggle to simply survive to his rebirth under the kindness of the Tuohy family, and finally to Michael’s occasional confrontations with persons of authority, Lewis shines light on the entire story that most people have come to love though mostly due to the creative liberties of Hollywood. Though I personally love the movie, I admire the book more as it simply puts forward the truth in elegant prose and allows the reader to judge all parts of it as they see fit. Also, the book goes to great length to document the rise of the left tackle position in professional football; as both a football fan and historian, it was thrilling to learn so much about football’s history, especially in how it relates to the modern game we watch every Sunday in the fall. You’ve watched the movie - now pick up the book and enjoy the entire story!

3.5 Stars - Heartwarming!!!

I chose The Blind Side because I’ve always been fascinated by underdog stories—especially ones that involve sports. There’s something about seeing someone overcome crazy odds that just never gets old. But this book? It’s not just about football. It’s about opportunity, about struggle, about how the smallest moments can change everything in the end. Michael Lewis incorporates two very different narratives in this book: the evolution of football strategy and the inspiring, unlikely journey of Michael Oher. But throughout, it shows how talent, luck, and generosity can collide in the most unexpected ways. Lewis takes us deep into the mechanics of football—offensive lines, the importance of left tackles specifically, and coaches screaming from the sidelines. He explains how one play, one moment, one devastating hit from Lawrence Taylor completely changed the way football teams protected their quarterbacks almost immediately. And then there’s Michael Oher who’s quiet, massive, and overlooked. His life? Unbelievably tough. Homeless, drifting from couch to couch, wearing the same clothes for days until the Tuohy family finally takes him in. A wealthy, football-loving family meets a kid with nothing but potential. And just like that, his life changed for the better.

The Blind Side ultimately tells two connected stories: the rise of the left tackle position in professional football and the personal journey of Michael Oher. The book begins by exploring how football changed after Lawrence Taylor’s brutal sack of Joe Theismann, leading to a greater emphasis on protecting quarterbacks. As Lewis breaks down this change, he introduces Michael, a homeless teenager from Memphis with extraordinary size, standing at 6 '5 and weighing 350, and athletic ability. With little formal education and almost no stability in his life, Michael’s talent on the football field catches the attention of wealthy private school coaches. The Tuohy family, particularly Leigh Anne Tuohy, takes him in, offering him not just a home but also the structure and support he desperately needs. The book follows Michael as he struggles academically, learns the specifics of football, and becomes a highly looked upon college recruit. The final sections of the book explore his recruitment process, the NCAA investigation into his eligibility, and his eventual decision to play for Ole Miss.

The certain way that the author, Michael Lewis combines sports analysis with compelling storytelling works very well in my opinion. Some sections move at breakneck speed, leaving you flipping pages, intrigued. Others slow down, offering detailed breakdowns of football plays that might fascinate some readers but bore others. Yet, through all the stats and strategies, there’s an emotional core that keeps the book from becoming just another sports analysis. That’s where this book truly stands out. It’s not just about Michael Oher. It’s about the way the world works—how some people get noticed, others don’t, and how the right break at the right time is the true difference. It forces you to think about race and class, about the intersection of opportunity and ability. Lewis’s writing style enhances this impact through effective repetition of key themes such as privilege, talent, and opportunity—making the message hit personally without feeling forced. All of the writing moves that he incorporates, specifically many instances of stylistic sentences, make the story feel purer to the reader.

On the other hand, while The Blind Side delivers a compelling story, it doesn’t always stick to the landing. The book straddles the line between sports journalism and biography, but at times, it leans too heavily on the football aspect which makes it feel less personal and relatable to the readers. Readers who are looking for a more emotionally rich narrative may find themselves frustrated with how distant Michael Oher feels in his own story. The book often focuses on how others perceive Michael rather than letting his own voice shine. Additionally, some sections drag, particularly when Lewis dives deep into football strategy. While the technical aspects of the game are important to the overall theme, they sometimes overshadow the human element, making the pacing uneven. The NCAA investigation section also feels drawn out, slowing the momentum built in earlier chapters. Overall, while the book is insightful and engaging, a stronger focus on Michael’s perspective and a tighter narrative structure would have made it even more impactful.