I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

( 236 )

Overview

The football star made famous in the hit film (and book) The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirational New York Times bestseller.

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 ...

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I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

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Overview

The football star made famous in the hit film (and book) The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirational New York Times bestseller.

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 Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.

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Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

To say that the odds were stacked against Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher is a radical understatement: His mother was a crack addict and his biological father was murdered in prison when the future NFL star was in high school. One of thirteen children, Michael bumped around from school to school, from foster home to foster home, living a deprived, sometimes homeless life in the Memphis ghetto. Many people know the skeleton of Oher's story through Michael Lewis' book The Blind Side and the Sandra Bullock film that it inspired, but this is the first time that Oher himself has told his own story in his own words. I Beat the Odds is a real-life inner city Cinderella fable that possesses a poignancy that you could not make up. This February release trade paperback and NOOK Book contains a new introduction with updates since the hardcover release.

Lisa Echenthal

-USA Today
"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."
-The Washington Post
"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."
USA Today
"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."
The Washington Post
"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."
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781592406388
  • Publisher: Gotham
  • Publication date: 2/7/2012
  • Pages: 288
  • Sales rank: 48683
  • Lexile: 1130L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 7.90 (w) x 5.30 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

Michael Oher

Michael 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 Miss Rebels. He is best known as the subject of Michael Lewis’s 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, and the even more popular 2009 film The Blind Side, in which Michael is portrayed by Quinton Aaron.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 236 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(112)

4 Star

(48)

3 Star

(39)

2 Star

(17)

1 Star

(20)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 241 Customer Reviews
  • Posted Sat Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Gripping story

    What a pleasure to read a story about someone working hard and having their dreams come true. It is such a relief when a time of excessive athletes here is one with their head on right. A great story for all.

    9 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    The autobiography I Beat The Odds by Michael Oher is an outgoing

    The autobiography I Beat The Odds by Michael Oher is an outgoing piece of a young boy growing up in the ghettos of Memphis. With his mom being a crack addict, Michael goes through many challenges like being homeless when his mom locks him and his twelve siblings out of the house while his mom is out doing crack. Over the years of bumming a place to sleep and food off people, he realizes he didn’t wanna live in the ghetto for the rest of his life; he wanted to escape the ghetto. He knew what he had to do, which was to get good grades in school and play sports. This took him to college on a full scholarship, and later he ended up in the NFL. One aspect I liked in the book is that he never took a break; he was constantly working to get out of the ‘hood and later achieved his goal. That showed me that if you are really focused on a goal you can beat the impossible, and just like Michael, you can beat the odds. 

    6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    A really rivivitng book

    This book i beat the odds could be very inspirational to young people living in harsh times. In the story Michael Orr shows courage and hardness as his parents are being taken away. His life was full of sorrow and the comeback he made was extrodinary. To have such a rough childhood and become one of the more dominating players in football really should make people set goals higher than normal. The one thing I really enjoyed about this book is the depth that Michael used in order for the reader to understand his life.
    This book is very detailed and easy to understand for ages 10 and up and is also approiate for ages 10 and up too. I would recomend this for people that are going through hard times. I say this because he went through so many adoptions and so many grahpic events that it was hard for him to forget. Also this is for kids who want to go far in life. Meaning that if you have a dream go for it and dont let anybody stop you. This book was never really dry. The plot kept flowing and never got to boring.That is what I thought about this book.

    4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    A great character education tool for students

    As a school counselor, I am always looking for ways to relate with at-risk students, and I think this book could go a long way toward reaching students from all walks of life. Michael Oher's description of generational poverty is very informative, and I think his book can be a wonderful guide for educators.

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Apr 08 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Highly recommended!

    I normally do not read biography's and I could care less about football, but I'm so glad I decided to check this one out! Michael Oher is an inspirational young man and truly blessed. A must read for anyone young and old alike!

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Inspirational

    Michael Oher really had an inate desire to succeed and no matter how much help he had along the way, his drive and ambition to overcome the adversities of his childhood are the primary reasons for his success. What a special and loving young man! Great read!

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    The book I Beat The Odds is an autobiography about the life





    The book I Beat The Odds is an autobiography about the life of Michael Oher. 
    He talks about when he was a kid having to live with his drug-addicted mom until the 
    was put in foster homes. He really got detailed, explaining the struggle in his early 
    years. He does a great job going through the different stages of his life and how he 
    never stayed in one home for more than a couple weeks. He shows that even when 
    your dreams seem impossible, you can still achieve them by hard work and 
    dedication. The only thing that I disliked about the book was that some points in his 
    life that were not as important were explained a bit too much. I recommend this book 
    to anybody. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because of the message of inspiration it 
    sends.

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2012

    This is an excellent book for all! Yes, the language is simplist

    This is an excellent book for all! Yes, the language is simplistic, but that is understandable consider Oher is trying to reach out to young kids going through the same things he experienced as a child. It's a great book for all because of the message of hope it provides. Rather than falling into the same cycle of neglect, drug use, and crime that Oher saw all around him, he worked very hard to change his situation and make a better life for himself. He was lucky to receive a lot of support from both the wealthy and some not so wealthy adults along the way, but all in all, he made a better life for himself because he chose to do so. I wish this was required reading for all middle schoolers. Oher tells his story with tenderness and never fails to give credit to all who helped him along the way. Highly, highly recommend!

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Finally, the story in his own words

    This is the perfect third leg on the Michael Oher story (with The Blind Side and In a Heartbeat). The writing is a bit simplistic and repetitive and unfortunately the intended audience (youth at risk) is probably the last group to ever see it, but it's worth a walking with Mr. Oher to see the world from his perspective.

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Michael Oher

    He is my insipiration!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Good read

    very inspiring easy read

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    There is a message and lesson in this book!

    I had seen the movie FIRST,so,I cheated a bit,but,this is a really good book for young people who think they have no future and/or have no one to care about them and are alone. Michael Oher shows you and tells you what it takes to be like him-courageous and determined to succeed,which he has done. Encouraging read for struggling people. Good read!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2013

    A wonderful book. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Michael Ohre.

    A riviting book with great things. I did it for a report at school.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Awesome

    This book is amazing

    1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    I beat the odds by micheal oher

    Very great book
    Go micheal oher

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Apr 13 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    this gave me a heart warming feeling. Its like once you read thi

    this gave me a heart warming feeling. Its like once you read this story you will be very grateful for life that you have right now. Because when you read this story and see the opstical that this man has overcome you'll be like "whaoooo really". Michael is a truly blessed person and through all that pain and sufering hes been through im glad he is where he is today.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Inspirational

    I found this a quick easy read. I find this young man inspiriational. I also noticed that movie The Blind Side, did not do him justice. He is clearly a bright articulate young man who did beat the odds. It gives a clear picture of inner city Memphis. I also noticed in USA Today that this is now required reading for High School students in Annarundel County, Maryland. Kudos to Michael Oher for getting out of the slums and drawing attention to the great need for effective foster parents. His story is a good one. This is a book I read very quickly and enjoyed reading. I have recommended it to several people.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2012

    A Must Read for those working wtih children!

    This book was an open honest story about the consequences of a drug addicted mother and an absent father! Michael had a determination most children have beaten out of them due to their circumstances and the foster care system.

    I, too, have adopted children, one who came home at the age of 10 years old. I saw a lot of her behaviors of trust in this book and I saw the longing for a family just like Michael longed!

    I am so proud that instead of focusing on immaterial things Michael chose to focus on his family, this blessings, and wrote concerning his experiences. This is a must read for teachers, social workers, those working with youth in any manner, and those who just care.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2012

    mike oher

    This was the best book i ever read

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Michal Ohre

    When i first read the blind side a year ago, i loved it and after i saw the movie i loved it even more. I highly recomend it to anyone

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 241 Customer Reviews

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