I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond [Paperback]

The football star made famous in the hit film (and book)The Blind Sidereflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirationalNew York Timesbestseller.

 

Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams. Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love,I Beat the Oddsis an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.

"The real Michael Oher just might be the first person with more sparkle and good looks than his movie counterpart...the book offers a harrowing first-person account from a child's point of view of the Dickensian conditions many American kids endure." —USA Today

"With the release of his memoir...Oher finally takes ownership, filling the gaps in the familiar narrative and somehow managing to make his journey from the streets to stardom seem even more amazing and compelling...I Beat the Odds is thoughtful and heartfelt, a young man coming to grips with an amazing journey that required the distance of years and perspective to fully grasp." —The Washington PostMichael Oher is an American football offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Mississippi for the Ole Mislă