Amazon.com
Hollywood producer Lynda Obst (Flashdance, Sleepless in Seattle) recounts her own battles in Hollywood's trenches--from her beginnings as a journalist to her current role as the maker and breaker of careers. Like other "classic" Hollywood books--Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger and You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again by Julia Phillips--Hello, He Lied is saturated with sleaze and proves, once again, that most of Tinseltown's stars are seriously lacking in the upstairs department.
Book Description
"Never go to a meeting without a strategy." "Ride the horse in the direction it's going." These are just two of the gems unearthed from the trenches of Hollywood by Lynda Obst, one of the most successful producers in the movie business today. In Hello, He Lied, Obst offers real, practical advice to would-be professionals in any field: "Thou shalt not cry at work," "thou shalt not appear tough," "thou shalt return all thy phone calls," and more. She takes us inside high-pressure meetings with David Geffen, onto the set of Sleepless in Seattle, and into the heated negotiations for The Hot Zone and reveals what she's learned in more than twenty years in the business: how to swim with the sharks--and not get eaten.
Customer Reviews:
An IRRATATING READ!!!!!!.......2007-09-05
Sorry guys, but I was unfortunate enough to have bought this book years ago from some hollywood bookclub I can't even remeber anymore, but this is THE MOST SUCK UP book, on how to make it in Hollywood that I ever had the time to waste reading. Do yourself a HUGE FAVOR and take her advice with CAUTION--PLEASE!
For the most part I simply felt her advice was outright--dishonest in a way...Tip-toe here...Compromise there...For what?
Talking about sucking up, she mentioned a pitch session she had with David Geffen, who wasn't even listening to her. After she was done he simply said to her, "You know, you'd be more attractive if you had some collogen shots." Obst's response? "What did he mean?" IT WAS OBVIOUS THIS MAN WAS BEING RUDE! Obst wasn't even honest enough to admitt that!
You want to learn the business and how to break in with at least half a chance on developing enough clout to call a shot? Consult with the INDUSRY HERETICS and PROFESSIONAL MAVERICKS! Obst is doing nothing but rehashing COMMON WISDOM a zillion different ways. The answer is not in COMMON HOLLYWOOD WISDOM.
You learn the RULES then BREAK THEM!
Excellent advice about more than just the movie business ..........2007-06-13
Ms. Obst has written a delightful book filled with many lessons about how to get complicated projects completed, something she's expert at accomplishing. This book has applications for most complex business projects, and also for building a career. Obst knows how to get over hurdles, deal with interference, hang in for the long haul, and keep the project moving along despite all the difficulties that come with big dollar, competitive deals.
It's one of the few excellent business books I've ever read (including the ones I had to read in business school). Even though it's centered on the movie business, the author has shared many nuggets that are relevant to all kinds of endeavors. Very high recommendation! Plus it's quite entertaining from start to finish.
P.S. The negative comments of some reviewers are a mystery to me. Complaints about "Hollywood movies" (whatever that stereotype means), and unsettling business practices are common enough feelings, but these feelings are not sufficient as critiques of Hello He Lied. If you truly want to learn more about how big deals are done, read this book.
BUY IT NOW -- -- It's the best guide to Hollywood deals.......2006-06-29
HELLO HE LIED is written by Lynda Obst one of the top female producers in Hollywood. (I only say female because she does talk about the challenges of being a woman in Hollywood). Her films include such classics as THE FISHER KING, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE and CONTACT. She lives in Los Angeles and Texas -- which should give you a hint already that it's important to get some distance now and then (and maybe more) from TWINKLETOWN -- I MEAN TINSELTOWN. Her advice to NEVER GO TO A MEETING WITHOUT A STRATEGY is one we all should remember. All too often we worry about our powerpoint or our clothes or our car-- and not the strategy and outcome we want. IT's this good common sense business stuff that makes Lynda's book different from so many schmoozerama books -- how to schmooze and meet and network with Moguls in Hollywood. All too often MAGIC is associated with Hollywood movies and dealmakings and Lynda lets you know that it's not magic but good hard work and a thick SKIN. She also mentions Yoga and has a bit of a zen approach to all of this that makes us realize it ain't brain surgery! Her chapter on the TAO of Power and her description of how the film THE HOT ZONE did/didn't get made is fascinating....what a smart lady this is. If you are a woman you'll like the section called CHIX IN FLIX...oh you don't need any more recommenation-- just buy it - used or new-- I don't know why it took me so long to read it....BUT DO IT -- all of life is Hollywood in some way now -- ie American Idol etc.
First Hollywood book I ever read.......2005-12-29
Lynda Obst uses her experience as an accomplished film producer to explain to new people how to make it in Hollywood. She hits every topic right on the head. I have experienced the same things in getting my films made, particularly The Indie Pendant. All of her info can used by anyone wanting to become a filmmaker. The chapter on figuring out which way the horse is headed was probably the best chapter I have ever read on getting things done in Hollywood. Look for all of this info and more during The Indie Film Hour on World Talk Radio. Hosted by myself. www.vdefilms.com
Next to "Hollywood Animal," must-have for screenwriters.......2004-11-29
"I wouldn't go near ______________ this week. It's scary over there." Direct quote. Fill in the name of any major studio/media conglomerate and you have the essence of HELLO, HE LIED: Know the territory. And have a tanda--that's the term for a group of allies, especially women. Novel concept. In a business where according to superstars such as Mollie Gregory (WOMEN WHO RUN THE SHOW) women are about as supportive as the final contestants on "The Bachelor," future movie moguls cwill be uplifted by Lynda Obst's lessons learned from being a "d-girl" (that's story development girl) and working on films such as THE ENGLISH PATIENT (standard line in Hollywood: "Great! If you get Julia Roberts we're a go!" Lynda's comment: "Like you're too dumb to know that Julia's unavailable.") Another lesson: Never go to a meeting (or have a conversation in Hollywood) without a strategy. Good advice for all of us, but especially for writers.
Book Description
This is Esera Tuaolo's own searing story of terror and hope. A Samoan raised on a Hawaiian banana plantation, he had a natural talent, football. He went on to play for five NFL teams: the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Carolina Panthers, and the Atlanta Falcons in the 1999 Super Bowl. But for the nine years he played professional football he lived in terror that when his face flashed upon the TV screen, someone would divulge his darkest secret. Esera Tuaolo is gay.
Alone in the Trenches takes you inside the homophobic world of professional football and describes fears that almost drove him to suicide. He evokes heartbreak--how his older brother, Tua, died of AIDS--and hope when, Esera, a deeply devout Christian fell in love and started a family.
"Tuaolo emerges in these pages as a complex, intellectually curious and fascinating individual defined neither by his choice of career nor by his sexual orientation." --Booklist
"Tough, tender and brutally honest." --Robert Lipsyte, former New York Times sports columnist
"Even I was not prepared for his amazing life story." --Billy Bean, author of Going the Other Way
Customer Reviews:
Alone No More.......2007-06-25
Esera has been through a long struggle and come out on top. Now he is "Big Daddy" and Mitchell, his life partner, is "Little Daddy," to a pair of Samoan-American twins, Mitchell Junior and Michelle, and the two of them live quite, contented lives and travel frequently on Rosie O'Donnell's family cruises with their brood. Having twins has opened Esera's willingness to talk about his sexual preference, and he insists that he is doing it for them, so they will know how painful his life has been, in all its aspects.
He had it pretty bleak growing up, sort of like a Hawaiian version of Betty Smith's popular novel A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, with a hardworking, sometimes impatient mother, and a charming, weak father who took away all of the fun with him when he died unexpectedly and far too young. And he had a gay older brother who died of AIDS, and a wicked uncle who began molesting little Esera when he was six, and who, in a melodramatic finish, got himself killed in a terrible accident and they had to identify his little pieces by his tattoos and dental work! It made me wonder, is the monster really dead? Or might he have faked his own death to avoid paying the consequences of messing with Esera--molestors, after all, know how to play the game and how to fool the rest of us who aren't sociopaths, and I thought, he's probably living the Gary Glitter lifestyle in Thailand or somewhere by now.
However, Esera seems quite certain he is dead. He has nothing good to say about Garrison Hearst either, which amused me! Don't invite those two to the same dinner party--Hearst would bolt like a scared jackrabbit!
Like other reviewers, I could have used a bit more detail about what sex is like when you're a closeted NFL star, for Esera is one of the view who has been through the neon inside and escaped to tell the story. And although he seems frank about his addictions to alcohol and grass (or whatever), I wonder if there isn't anything he's not telling us. In the meantime, I look forward to Esera's forthcoming CD of modern pop music, for the descriptions he gives of his haunting, majestic voice make him seem like a modern day Perry Como, only with more "ufis" (balls).
This is a really thoughtful book..........2006-12-19
Esera's book reads very well. I really appreciate that he shares his life with us, he did not have to. I have met the man at Univ. of Hawaii, he does have a beautiful voice.. and a year later finally read the book. I read this book and Reichen Lehmkuhl's "Here's What We'll Say" at the same time. Each book has it's positive and negatives but this book is much better flowing, seems more genuine, and Esera has such a big heart. It really pains me to see all that he went through to make some money in the game of football. I related much to his story and it really helped me. I live here in Hawaii and I know how disjointed the community is here due to culture and social stigmas. I wish he would have talked more about his relationship, living with a stylist has it's own stories to tell! Hmmm, maybe I will write a book Esera?
interesting for many reasons.......2006-08-15
The whole book is great. As a gay parent myself, I love to see more gay people telling their stories. But aside from that, the most interesting part of the book was the influence of religious conservatives on NFL players. As a sports fan, I found those sections alarming. Not because I think players should not express their faith, but because of the strong-arm tactics that may be in use to influence people's careers.
Read the book, it's a quick read.
Esera Finds Peace & Happiness.......2006-07-19
I give this a 5 because he deserves it. This poor guy was so paranoid and afraid of being caught or outed before he chose to do so himself. It is the predominant theme in the book and gets tiresome at times-but I suppose he had a lot to lose being a football player. He's gentlemanly enough to leave out all the juicy stories he could probably tell, but it's always interesting to read how one evolves from a closet case. I e-mailed Esera but never heard back from him and was VERY disappointed over that!!! What's up Esera, you don't appreciate fans??
read for all.......2006-03-02
what i got from esera tuaolo's book was so much more than i ever expected. tuaolo's story tore at my heart, the pain of his self identity that drove him to the edge...that in the end became a source of his strength was very powerful. i feel that those, who are in a place where there orientation has to be kept hidden, will now find comfort in knowing that others have been there and that life can, and often is, a wonderful place outside the closet. i see this as a tool to help educate, and make those who feel gays don't have a place in our society, to rethink just how much pain and destruction that they have helped fuel by creating the environment where so many feel the need to hide in the shadows of fear. maybe this man's story will help to bring more people together. the book was a very quick read, the story pulled me in and i felt like esera was reading it to me. his amazing positive energy came through as i read. however, it did not make the darkest parts of the book easy to read.
i hoped this has helped someone considering this book to give it a read.
Book Description
hen 21-year-old Jay Mohr moved from New Jersey to New York City to pursue his dream of stand-up stardom, he never thought the first real job he'd land would be on Saturday Night Live. But, surprisingly, that's just what he did. What followed were two unbelievable, grueling, and exciting years of feverishly keeping pace with his talented cohorts, outmaneuvering the notorious vices that claimed the lives of other cast members, and struggling at all costs for the holy grail of late-night show business: airtime. In Gasping for Airtime, Jay offers an intimate account of the inner workings of Saturday Night Live. He also dishes on the guest hosts (John Travolta, Shannen Doherty, Charles Barkley), the musical guests (Kurt Cobain, Steven Tyler, Eric Clapton), and of course his SNL castmates (Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, and David Spade). Refreshingly honest and laugh-out-loud funny, this book will appeal both to fans of Jay Mohr and to devotees of Saturday Night Live.
Download Description
GASPING FOR AIRTIME is a hilarious and often moving memoir by former Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Mohr. When twenty-year-old Jay moved from New Jersey to New York City to pursue his dream of stand-up stardom, he never thought he'd land his first real job on Saturday Night Live. But he did-and what followed were two crazy years of trying to keep up with his talented castmates and get on the air as often as possible (a daunting feat for a rookie cast member). Jay offers an intimate first-person account of the inner workings of Saturday Night Live-the audition process, the first week on the job, what goes on at the pitch meetings, and how skits make the final cut of the show. Jay also dishes on the guest hosts (John Travolta, Shannen Doherty, Alec Baldwin, Charles Barkley), the musical guests (Kurt Cobain, Steven Tyler, Eric Clapton), and of course his SNL castmates (Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers). You'll learn which cast member was told off by guest host Sally Field, what happened when Janeane Garafalo told the New York Post that the show was biased against women, and why the show's opening monologues are often not funny. Finally, Jay writes candidly about his insecurities and frustrations on the show, and why he made the decision to leave after two years. Refreshingly honest and laugh-out-loud funny, this book will appeal to both fans of Jay Mohr and fans of Saturday Night Live.
Customer Reviews:
Jay Mohr is funny........2007-09-21
Good read, very insightful and revealing. Wait, are not those the same things! I'm a moron! Fruuuuuuuuuuuuunkis! Jay is hilarious on O&A and on Ron & Fez.
Loved Every Page.......2007-07-04
Of course the book tells stories of the inner workings of SNL, but the book itself is 3 stories: Jay's dealing with, and treatment of a panic disorder, hilarious stories of things he witnessed and played a part of, him getting totally screwed during his tenure. It's a fantastic book.
Wish it were longer.......2007-03-23
An insider's view of working in the trenches of "Saturday Night Live". This book is not meant to be a tell-all book nor a production diary. Some other reviewers have bemoaned the dearth of juicy gossip tidbits in the text. But Mohr's account is open and honest and rightfully one-sided. "SNL" has long been a fascinating cultural phenomenon, and Mohr gives you a peek behind the curtain. He speaks as a lower-rung writer/performer, and is certainly unjaded by the whirlwind success that other "SNL" alums achieved, mostly because he never achieved it himself.
He fawns over a musical guest or two, and has nothing but loving things to say about Chris Farley, but the rest is basically a week-for-week, show-for-show account of how the show's inhumane production schedule brought out both the best and worst in him (and everybody else).
REALLY GOOD BOOK!.......2007-03-13
This book was GREAT, I heard of Jay mohr and knew well of him but not knowing who he was you still could enjoy this book its a autobio on his life starting and ending in saturday night live. He tells some reallly funny stories about him and the cast at the time, like chris farely and adam sandler. It ends sad definitly but really good book its hard to put down.
A decent book.......2006-06-19
The review from Publishers Weekly, while being somewhat on the mark, doesn't give this book enough credit. I enjoyed this book, although I had never heard of Mohr. While few of the author's skits aired, he was having better ideas his second year, and one gets the feeling that if he hadn't been so impatient he would have met success.
What I really liked about the book is its feeling of authenticity. You feel as if you are there, getting the job, suffering the anxiety and witness to the SNL creative process. Also authentic is the portrait the author draws of himself, which is the main thread in the book. With all the defects that the author exhibits, he still comes off as quite likeable.
Download Description
Who knew that Bernie Mac's earliest stand-up shows were on subway cars and at funeral parties? Who brought Tom Cruise to Top Gun? Who was Peter Gallagher before Sex, Lies and Videotape and The OC? How did one superagent (formerly the mail guy) nab Marlon Brando as his first star client?
In a heyday of reality television and overnight stardom, it's easy to forget that some players had to work-hard-to make it big. How I Broke into Hollywood brings together dozens of Tinseltown's greatest success stories, from legends Sydney Pollack and Lalo Schifrin to rising starlet Erika Christensen to über-producer Gavin Polone. Interviewed in their Beverly Hills homes and Century City offices, they share the highs and lows of their careers in their own words, dishing dirt and imparting the wisdom they gained along the way.
Customer Reviews:
Both A and B level people share stories.......2006-09-25
At first I thought this book wouldnt be that great because there are a lot of names that I didnt recognize when looking at the index of people interviewed. However, that is because a lot of the names are the behind the scenes people who may not be 'names' unless you study the credits at the end of movies. There are some very interesting stories here. There is one good interview where a guy indicates how he screwed people all the way to the top of his field and later himself was screwed by someone he trusted. Payback. Karma. I hated that guy, but Im glad he told the truth. Each interviwed person is shown in a photograph. This is a well crafted book, done in a simple way and it works.
Gathers dozens of Hollywood's greatest successes under one cover.......2006-08-18
Major Hollywood stars had to work hard to break into the industry and make it big, but few places chart their stories under one cover. HOW I BROKE INTO HOLLYWOOD: SUCCESS STORIES FROM THE TRENCHES gathers dozens of Hollywood's greatest successes under one cover, including not just actors but writers, directors, designers and more to provide profiles of the best and how they worked to achieve their goals. Inspirational chapters profile nearly fifty such Hollywood success stories and will appeal to any interested in learning from experience.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
67 Inspiring Stories.......2006-08-17
I loved this book, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in working in Hollywood, or to any creative type struggling to find career success. There are 67 first-person stories (from a variety of producers, actors, editors, lawyers, writers, etc.), and the interviewees have been incredibly generous in sharing not only their successes, but also their humble beginnings, self-doubts and failings. That willingness to show the true journey, warts and all, is what makes this book so inspiring, and such a gift. Many thanks to those who participated, and to the authors for making it happen.
A word to the publisher: this book has all the hallmarks of a classic, but the cover art and title don't match the contents. I almost passed it over on the shelf because the graphic design looked low rent, and it seemed to just be the personal story of the two authors, whose names I didn't recognize (sorry, guys). When it comes out in paperback (which it should--promote this baby!), how about listing some of the well-known participants on the cover, and changing the title to How I Broke Into Hollywood, 67 Success Stories from the Trenches? This book is a winner!
Engaging Personal Accounts.......2006-05-02
I thoroughly emjoyed this book, very readable, lively and interesting. The interviews flow like fascinating stories. The advice from those who made it will apply to almost any endeavor so the book should appeal to a wide audience.
Not for gossip-hounds, but great advice for those considering a Hollywood career.......2006-04-11
If you are looking for some gossip-rag style tales of how Hollywood's biggest names got to where they are, then this isn't the book for you. There are a few big names in this book, Bernie Mac among them, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
This book, rather, is a thoughtfully introspective look at how many of the behind-the-scenes people working in Hollywood accepted crushing rejection time and time again, dealt with monetary difficulties while pursuing their dream, the tips and tricks they used to become known and well-employed in Hollywood.
Screenwriters, producers, actors, music supervisors, agents, and costume designers are featured, among other jobs, and their tales are inspiring and really helpful. Each person interviewed in this book really seemed to set aside their ego and talk truthfully about the times they doubted themselves and what could have made things go more smoothly in their journey to Hollywood elite. The advice given is really solid, and could benefit anyone in any career, but especially in the brutal film/ TV industry.
I'd definitely buy this book for any friend considering trying to make it in Hollywood. The advice and stories are entertainingly given and would be valuable and interesting even if they didn't end up pursuing that particular dream.
Book Description
Grammy Award winning and Country Music DJ Hall of Fame member Bill Mack tells a grand story of his life in radio, TV and country music. He won a Grammy Award for songwriting in 1996 for writing "Blue" by LeAnn Rimes. His daily radio show on XM Satellite Radio is heard from coast to coast.
Book Description
Written from the French Front by a brave Red Cross Canadian nurse, these home letters were hurriedly penned amidst the incessant roar of mighty guns and surrounded by the wounded and the dying. Shivering at times with cold, and wearied almost to the point of exhaustion from working every day from 5.30am to 9pm, they give a fascinating glimpse into the life of a nurse at war.
Customer Reviews:
a real eye opener..........2005-04-19
This is a very interesting account of a Red Cross Nurse's experiences during World War One. Although they are 'letters', they read just like an account of the action.
Certainly Miss Warner's obvious love for the French troops in the trenches or the 'Poilus' shines through every page.
I have read quite a few nurse war books, but I found this to be quite an eye opener, as I had not realised some of the nurses worked quite so hard as they did. Well recommended!
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant.......2005-02-21
The dominant opinion here seems to be that "Copse 125", while not completely useless, is inferior to Jünger's masterpiece "The Storm of Steel" and should not be bothered with. While it is true that this book is in no way equal to "The Storm of Steel", it is a brilliant description of trench warfare in its own right, and what one reviewer has erroneously called "philosophical ramblings" are actually quite interesting observations regarding the union of man with machine, and the coming of the "New Man", Jünger's ideal warrior "merciless to himself and others". Jünger's trademark coldness may turn some off, but I find it refreshing. So, while for those seeking simply a "war book", "Copse 125" is not the best choice, but for those seeking a unique piece of literature which combines lucid, moving, poetic descriptions of life in the trenches with philosophical observations of modernity, warfare, and the indomitable human spirit, "Copse 125" should be read and cherished.
Leave it on the shelf .......2004-11-04
I read "Storm of Steel," and enjoyed it for the historical references and descriptions. I could take Junger's philosophical ramblings as it was mixed with interesting writing.
"Copse 125," was too much of the latter...terrible pish-posh of "Steel warriors forged in the trenches," nonsense.
Philosophy vs. Memoir.......2004-07-17
Storm of Steel, Junger's more famous WWI memoir, is an excellent book, capturing a young patriotic German's response to trench warfare. It's full of details of daily life in the trenches and has a particularly good passage of his involvement in the Kaiserschlacht offensive. By comparison, Copse 125, only contains a few pages of war memoir. The balance of the book is philosophical tract based on zealous nationalism. If you want to read several hundred pages of why Imperial Germany deserved to win the First World War and rule Europe, well, be my guest.
only for the serious.......2003-07-31
a reprint with poorly reproduced text. Its a good memoir from a German officer, with some ripping good bits. However, at least half or so is a lot of self reflection.
So if you are really into the German side of WW1 in a scholarly way iots a great source. If you just want cool tales of fighting pass it up.
Book Description
In Reggie White's own fast-paced, inspiring account of his colorful, sometimes controversial career, both in the pros and in the pulpit. Packed with insights, observations, and war stories of his twelve years in the NFL--including his championship season--"In the Trenches" delves into the heart of an amazing athlete who balances an array of extremes: he is both beloved and feared, tough and gentle, competitive and compassionate, fierce and generous.
Customer Reviews:
REGGIE WAS A TRUE GENTLEMAN.......2006-06-25
THIS IS THE STORY OF REGGIE WHITE FORMER NFL GREAT. THIS IS A GOOD READ FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST FOOTBALL FANS. REGGIE TELLS US OF HIS LIFE AND CAREER WITH THE EAGLES AND PACKERS, ALONG THE WAY HE HAS SOME GREAT STORIES ABOUT FORMER COACHES AND TEAMATES. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN THIS BOOK IS HOW TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE. REGGIE WAS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN AND SPREAD THE WORD. HE NOT ONLY TALKED THE TALK BUT WALKED THE WALK. THE LESSONS AND MESSAGES IN THIS BOOK ARE WELL WORTH READING AND USING IN EVERYDAY LIFE. I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO LEARN OF REGGIE'S DEATH. HE WAS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR EVERYONE. I RECOMMEND THIS ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO READ. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH REGGIE WHITES IN THIS WORLD.
Great Book About Reggie White's Football Career and His Christian Witness!.......2006-06-08
"I've never seen any conflict between Christianity and football. I don't see football as a violent sport; I see it as aggressive. And I see Christianity as an aggressive faith." (pg. 189).
IN THE TRENCHES spends tons of time talking about what made Reggie White famous, FOOTBALL, and what he thinks is most important for him to do with his football success, use it to promote JESUS!
"...three words--IN THE TRENCHES--sum it all up for me. I live my life in the trenches. I do my work in the trenches. I serve my God in the trenches. I go to war against evil, poverty, racism, and injustice in the trenches." (pg. 22)
Reggie talks about how he grew up. He was the second son of a teenage mother, who seldom saw his father. He was always much larger than other kids his age, and they called him names like "Bigfoot" and "Land of the Giants." He got saved when he was 13, and he would point out what the Bible said to bad kids who were doing things like always telling lies.
He claims O.J. Simpson as his childhood inspiration and main reason that he wanted to play football, even though this book was written after the famous murders?
He toughened himself up for football, to prove wrong the folks who said he couldn't handle it because he's a Christian!
He talks about playing in the USFL and the NFL, for the Showboats, Eagles and Packers. This book was written before he won the Super Bowl with the Packers. He spends plenty of pages giving many details about many different games. Sometimes it gets a little too long for me, so if you are interested in hearing about his football career, then this is the book for you! "Sacks are fun, man. There's nothing like throwing a quarterback down for a big loss." (pg. 83). He also talks about being one of the first really big stars to go into Free Agency, which was not popular with the team owners of the time! "The owners who screamed the loudest about free agency were the owners of the notoriously tightwad teams--the Eagles, the Bengals, the Steelers." (pg. 127).
He details the times when God pulled off public miracles to heal him to play. He also discusses how God used his football fame to bring to the public eye the problem of church arsons in the South, by having Reggie's church get burned down, which brought national media attention, and plenty of extra love and support from Green Bay fans, and from across the nation.
There are many b/w photos in the middle of the book, so you get to see many of the family and friends discussed.
This book is better than Reggie White's later book, BROKEN PROMISES, BLINDED DREAMS, which is mostly about his thoughts concerning African-Americans in the USA. BROKEN PROMISES focuses mainly on what's wrong with the immoral US culture, these days, so you should read BROKEN PROMISES if you are interested in social activism and the African-American experience, from Reggie White's perspective.
He only briefly touches on the culture wars in this book, IN THE TRENCHES, "Nobody's preaching abstinence today because nobody's figured out how to get rich off of other people's abstinence--but there's plenty of money to be made from other people's sexual activity...[...]..sexually transmitted diseases...aborting unwanted babies...Much of the money spent on various aspects of people's sexual behavior is TAX money--money you and I shell out to the government, money that is spent without our say-so!" (pg. 217).
At the end of the book he give tips on how to be a good role model.
I am a Reggie White fan, because I like what he did with his football fame, using it to promote Christianity throughout his entire career, and way before and after his pro football days, as well!
I think this is the best Reggie White book that I have read, though I can also recommend BROKEN PROMISES for anybody who is intrigued by the activist aspect of Reggie White's life.
There is also a pretty decent book of photos called REGGIE WHITE: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE, 1961-2004. This is slim on text, but has many interesting photos of his pro football years.
"When I face the final judgment, God isn't going to ask me how many Pro Bowls I played in or ask me to recite my stats. He's going to ask me if I knew Jesus, and if I helped to bind up the wounds of people." (pg. 195, IN THE TRENCHES).
In The Trenches by Reggie White.......2000-12-18
I found this book very interesting I learned a lot about Reggie White. I wish that he was still with the Green Bay Packers. I am a huge Green Bay Packer fan. This book had a lot of interesting stuff in it. For example I never knew that one of his favorite players growing up was O.J. Simpson. Reggie said in the book that O.J. Simpson was like a moving target for defensive linemen; he said, that was one of the reasons that he wanted to play defensive end. I also learned that he really liked his coach Buddy Ryan when he played with the Philadelphia Eagles ,and when Buddy Ryan got fired Reggie couldn't figure out why he got fired; he said Buddy Ryan was a good coach. Reggie also talked about his church getting burned. He also talked about his friend and teammate Jerome Brown who was killed a car accident and he thought he was a really great person and he said he misses him. I learned a lot from reading this book. This book is one of my favorite books that I read. I would recommend this book to every Green Bay Packer fan.
Exciting, well written book; could use some more chapters.......1999-10-29
This was a great book because it shared with me how profesesional athletes deal with the same things that us normal, every day Joe-Schmoes have to deal with. It was interesting how he dealed with his church getting burned down and how he was frustrated with the authorities, just as I am.
Great Book.......1999-05-27
really awesome book, cool pics in the middle!! exciting life to read about. im a big GB fan, ad was sad when he retired, but am constantly impressed by his faith. God bless Reggie!!
PS im glad u finally got a superbowl !!!
Books:
- High-Speed Digital Design: A Handbook of Black Magic
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
- Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth: Book 1
- The Distinguished Guest
- The Complete Guide to Creating Heritage Scrapbooks
- The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
- An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits
- Were It Not For Grace: Stories From Women After God's Own Heart; Featuring Condoleezza Rice, First L
- Shadows in the Sun: Travels to Landscapes of Spirit and Desire
- The Bridges of Washington County: Spanning Work and Nature
- Family Business Management: Concepts and Practice
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
The Hollywood Rules
You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again
Hit and Run
The Mailroom: Hollywood History from the Bottom Up
So You Want to Be a Producer
