Truth Doesn't Have a Side: My Alarming Discovery about the Danger of Contact Sports

by Bennet Omalu, Will Smith (Foreword), Mark Tabb (Primary Contributor)

One day in 2002 the fifty-year old body of former Pittsburgh Steeler and hall of famer Mike Webster was laid on a cold table in front of pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu. Webster’s body looked to Omalu like the body of a much older man, and the circumstances of his behavior prior to his death were clouded in mystery. But when Omalu cut into Webster’s brain, it appeared to be normal. Something didn’t add up.

It was at this moment, Omalu studying slides of Webster’s brain tissue under a microscope, that the world of contact sports would never be the same: the discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE can result in an array of devastating consequences including deterioration in attention, memory loss, social instability, depression, and even suicide. And Omalu’s discovery of CTE in the brain of an American football player has become the catalyst of a blazing controversy across all contact sports.

At the center of that controversy stands the unlikely Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born American citizen, a mild-mannered, gentle man of faith. It is fascinating that it would take someone on the outside of American culture to make this amazing discovery, and refuse to let it be kept hidden. Dr. Omalu began his life in strife, growing up in war-torn Nigeria. But his medical studies in forensic pathology proved to be a lifeline. It fed his natural curiosity and awakened within a deeper desire to always search for the truth. Who would have thought that such an unexpected character would play such a role in bringing to life this world-changing data?

In Truth Doesn’t Have a Side, discover the truth about CTE: Its causes and symptoms, how we might keep our children safe and guide professional athletes when CTE sets in. The problem of CTE is coming to light with each new story about an athlete’s concussion problem, and we are likely facing dramatic changes to professional sports. You’ll be inspired by Dr. Bennet Omalu a man driven by his love and concern for the welfare of all people, and his professional vow to speak the truth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Science, Football, Biography, Medicine, Memoir

303 pages, Hardcover

First published August 8, 2017

Reviews

[Sonia Schoenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The movie Concussion convinced me of the danger that playing football poses, but reading this book has given me an almost religious zeal against the game. Why any reasonable person would continue playing football (or let their child play) after reading this book is beyond me.

But this book is not just about Dr. Omalu's discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, the disease that comes from repeated blows to the head that so many football players suffer from. Truth Doesn't Have a Side is his life story, beginning with his childhood in Nigeria and his dream to come to America. Dr. Omalu has a very strong faith and that is evident throughout the entire book. He sees each person as a child of God, even the bodies upon which he performs autopsies, and treats them all with respect. He has met many obstacles in his life, including depression,poverty, the threat of deportation, and the attempt by the NFL to discredit him because of his medical findings. At every obstacle he turns to God and trusts God to remove whatever is blocking his way.

Dr. Omalu's style is straightforward, laying out the truth whether is it about a medical condition or an event in his life. I found his book was captivating and I highly recommend Truth Doesn't Have a Side.

[Matthew Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST read if you have an interest in any of the following
-Contact sports
-Health/medical Science
-Thinking of having kids and allowing them to play contact sports

Or watch the movie “concussion”

[Wendi Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narration of discovery, hope, hurt, love, and faith is priceless. Not religious myself, Dr. Omalu's frequent prayers and Biblical references seemed completely fitting and comfortable to read because it reflected his faith and his attitude toward particularly trying experiences.

It was very hurtful and disappointing to learn of his racism experiences in the 90's in the liberal state of Washington and my college hometown Pittsburgh. NFL executives and doctors can ignore his research, but none can deny Dr. Omalu's deep love and caring for his fellow man. Not even a football fan, he showed the players with CTE more respect and regard than anyone else by pursuing the path of their brain injury. He treated them as more than income-generating entertainment.

A good read!

[Angie Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The book Concussion by Jeanne Marie Laskas (the basis for the movie by the same name starring Will Smith) explored the topic of "mild" brain trauma within the NFL and Dr. Bennet Omalu's role in bringing the dangers of brain trauma in athletes to light. In Laskas' book, we got to know a bit of Omalu's personal story. In Truth Doesn't Have A Side, readers get the expanded version (though, in all honesty, the bulk of the first 65 pages or so of material in Truth are pretty well covered in the Concussion book).

Yes, he does talk about his discovery of and work with CTE cases, but the majority of this book focuses on the years prior to his time in the spotlight -- the journey from a small community in Nigeria, through years of red tape and racial prejudice to finally finding a new place to set roots in the United States. What a journey it's been for this man!

In his own words, Omalu discusses his family history, the good and the bad. The story of Omalu's father is particularly harrowing: Omalu's father and aunt were abandoned by their mother after her husband's supsicious death, leaving them to survive as street children until a visiting missionary was able to arrange housing for them. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out well -- Omalu's father was beaten, often starved, treated as a servant, but endured it because the family did provide him with schooling. The way Omalu tells it has an almost biblical tale kind of ring to it!

During the Nigerian Civil War (aka Biafran War), the time during which Omalu himself was born, his father's accomplishments -- college degree, years of dedicated employment as a civil servant -- were minimalized to "You're Igbo", forcing the entire family to have to relocate to a refugee camp for the duration of the war. The crazy thing is Omalu's father STILL worked as a government employee while they forced him to live in a refugee camp!

As mentioned a bit in Concussion, Omalu explains how medicine was actually not a natural calling to him. His true dream was to become an airline pilot, but since his parents had their hopes set on him studying medicine, that's what he went with (though he does admit that science DOES feed his natural curiosity quite nicely). Imagine where the medical community would be had he take the "I do what I want!" stance. Truthfully, it made me a little sad for him that he didn't feel the freedom of choice to pursue his heart's desire, but I applaud his commitment to fully dedicate himself to his field regardless, as his work has opened the way to research that is on its way to helping so many in future generations.



Omalu describes the journey of how he came to have SO many degrees and certifications, the process of earning medical degrees in both Nigeria and the US. Through it all, he reveals his struggles with deep depression, racial prejudice in his new American community once arriving here in 1994, and the frustration of having certain people wanting to bar his progress every step of the way. It certainly seemed like an act of God that he managed to get a medical degree here at all.

The CTE material, Mike Webster case that started it all, all of that... actually takes up only a small portion of this book. The book in its entirety is not a long read, less than 300 pages total. The bulk of his discussion on his CTE years starts in Chapter 11 (approx. 120 pgs in, hardcover ed.).

For those interested in behind-the-scenes movie facts and trivia, Omalu also dishes on his very first meeting with Will Smith, who was chosen to portray Omalu in the film Concussion, how Smith originally wasn't interested but once a friendship developed between the to, he was quickly and happily immersed in the role.

Omalu tells a powerful story, but it was sometimes hard to follow, as he would jump back and forth between his days as a medical examiner in Pittsburgh and his time as an ER doctor in Nigeria... with little to no transition or chronological explanation in between. I will say though, Omalu closes on a wonderful prayer for the future that left me quite moved.

Following the close of his story, Omalu offers parents a Q & A guide on the topic of sports and head trauma, should their children want to play contact sports. He strongly urges readers to keep their kids out of such sports altogether, but admits that if you choose to go forth with sports anyway, it's best to at least go in informed.

FTC Disclaimer: BookLookBloggers.com and Zondervan Publishing kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.

[George P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Saturday, September 28, 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu began the autopsy of a 50-old white male. Case A02-5214 was straightforward. The man had died of a heart attack. His name was Mike Webster.

Perhaps I should say the Mike Webster: Pittsburgh Steeler, center to Terry Bradshaw, four-time Super Bowl champ. Though “Iron Mike” was adored as a football icon in Pittsburgh, he had fallen from grace after his career ended. Memory loss, depression and erratic behavior, coupled with addiction, left him — in Omalu’s words — “a bankrupt, divorced, homeless man living in his truck” at the time of his death.

A heart attack killed Mike Webster, but Omalu suspected that the radical changes in behavior were the result of brain damage. Outwardly, Webster’s brain looked normal. But when Omalu fixed it in formalin and examined the tissue under a microscope, he discovered massive damage at the cellular level. In a 2005 paper about Webster’s brain, Omalu gave the damage a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — “a bad brain associated with trauma over a long period of time.”

Just how much trauma had Mike Webster’s brain experienced? Over the course of his football career — high school, college, NFL — it has been estimated that he experienced the equivalent of 25,000 car accidents. Those collisions, often helmet to helmet, left an indelible mark on his brain.

One would think that the discovery of CTE would have been welcomed by the National Football League (NFL). After all, if you know a problem exists, you can begin to prescribe a solution. And indeed, the NFL had begun investigating the problem of concussions among its players around the time.

Two years prior to the publication of Omalu’s first CTE paper, for example, the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Committee published a series of paper stating that concussions were rare in professional football and that better helmets could protect against them. Omalu’s first CTE paper implied that the brain trauma associated with high-contact sports was severe. (As Omalu autopsied the brains of other deceased NFL players, however, his repeated findings of CTE suggested that the severe brain damage was routine.) The NFL sent a letter to the journal that published Omalu’s 2005 paper, demanding that it be retracted. Privately, they trashed his reputation.

As late as 2016, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys stated, “We don’t have that knowledge and background and scientifically [sic], so there’s no way in the world to say you have a relationship relative to anything here. There’s no research. There’s no data.” Denial, it seems, is not just a river in Egypt.

For those not in denial, Omalu’s research, combined with the research of others, has established the reality of CTE. The damage is so bad that Omalu states, “I believe God did not make human beings to play football, especially children.” This is a radical stance, especially in America, a country that loves its “Friday night lights.” Omalu believes it is the only reasonable stance in light of the evidence he has uncovered, however.

So, why tell Omalu’s story in an article for a Christian leadership magazine? Because Omalu is a devout Christian, and his crusade against brain injury is an example of using one’s influence for the common good. Pastors and other congregational leaders need to remember that their discipleship efforts should prepare congregants for life in the secular world. Basically, Christian faith should make doctors better doctors. (And teachers better teachers, plumbers better plumbers, etc.)

Second, Omalu’s story is an example of prophetic influence. We often associate biblical prophecy with future events. It is that, of course. It is also an exposure of injustice and a call for repentance, however. Those injustices violate the shalom in which God created people to live. Omalu’s medical research forces us to ask a question: Should we be entertained by high contact sports that do such damage to those who play them professionally?

In the late fourth century, St. Telemachus wandered into a stadium and witnessed the violence of a gladiatorial contest. Running onto the stadium floor, he yelled, “In the name of Christ, stop!” Bennet Omalu is a modern-day Telemachus.

And that brings me to a third point: prophetic influence is costly. St. Telemachus, for example, was killed by enraged fans of the gladiatorial contest. Omalu’s detractors have questioned his credentials, cast aspersions on his findings, and trashed his reputation. Everyone wants to call out society’s injustices. Few are willing to pay the price.

Fourth, Omalu’s story shows the power of what he calls “conformational intelligence.” He defines the phrase this way: “a phenomenon whereby the way you think and perceive the world, including your sense of right and wrong and good and evil, are controlled, constrained, and constricted by the expectations, cultures, traditions, norms, and mores of the society around you without you even knowing it or being aware of it.” The biblical term for conformational intelligence is stronghold.

The reason why prophetic influence in society is costly is precisely because one is calling its strongholds into question. Professional football is a fan favorite and a big money maker. Calling that sport into question because of the damage it does to players’ brains exposes our national pastime as a national stronghold. No wonder the NFL went after Omalu.

And no wonder Omalu — an immigrant — was able to see through its conformational intelligence. As an outsider to American culture, he didn’t share our blind spots about football. If we’re going to exercise prophetic influence in our society, we need to develop an outsider perspective. Christians need to be in the world but not of the world, as Jesus said (John 17:16,18).

Truth Doesn’t Have a Side tells Dr. Bennet Omalu’s fascinating story. It’s not essential reading for Christian leaders; but for those with eyes to see, it’s an enlightening tale of influence used Christianly in the real world.

 

Book Reviewed:
Dr. Bennet Omalu with Mark Tabb, Truth Doesn’t Have a Side: My Alarming Discovery about the Danger of Contact Sports (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017).

P.S. This review was written for InfluenceMagazine.com and appears here by permission.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the final nail in the coffin of me whiling away fall Saturday's watching NCAA football. I will still watch if someone invites me over to a game, and go to the Texas Bowl at Christmas with Houston with my father for tradition's sake, but I can't in good conscience watch football anymore. I've been following the concussion/injury situation in football since PBS' 2013 Frontline special "League of Denial," and read several other books on the topic, as well as seen the movie "Concussion." The book is a quick and easy read.
P.S. LOL, it's funny that my profile pic is me at a Ole Miss vs TAMU game, wearing an Arkansas shirt!

[Christine Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Omalu not only discovers the long-term devastating effects of repeated head trauma, he also coined a new phrase to describe blindness to the truth - conformational intelligence. When people WANT to believe in something because it's ingrained in their culture and society, they just DO. Football is part of American culture, people love the hoopla and pageantry enough to ignore the irreparable damage done to the players. Sad! Great story about how Dr. Omalu and the truth prevailed.

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a decent memoir of the man, but for me, was a tough book to really enjoy. It seemed to drag at time and while Dr. Omalu was passionate about his work and his findings, I found the book "Concussion", on which the movie was based, as a much more engaging and compelling read.

[Tor Langehaug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard Dr. Omalu in an interview on the Eric Metaxas on the Metaxas Talk podcast and later watched the move Concussion prior to reading this book. Honestly, between those two sources I expected to be quite bored with this book. I should have known that a man born in Nigeria with a medical degree, two medical fellowships, a master’s in public health, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon cannot have a boring story. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself looking forward to reading the book. This recommendation is largely the highlights of why I found the book enjoyable.

First, the movie Concussion doesn’t do Dr. Bennett Omalu’s faith justice. The movie, Concussion, incorporates elements of his faith into the story by depicting him attending church and references to God. However, reading the book it is abundantly clear that Dr. Omalu’s faith in God and Christian view of the world undergirds everything he did to research Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and challenging the NFL. On countless occasions Dr. Omalu referred to his belief that man is created in the image of God as the reason for his continued research despite personal pain and suffering as a consequence of his discoveries. Illustrative of this deeply rooted faith is traced all the way back to the name given him at birth: Bennett Ifeakandu Omalu means “A blessing…life is the greatest gift of all…if you know, come forth and speak” (p. 29) and he absolutely believes God foreordained this name as part of his life’s work.

Second, the movie focused primarily on the story of Dr. Omalu’s discovery. The book provides a holistic view of Dr. Omalu’s life. Roughly the first third of the book is about Dr. Omalu’s family history and his immigration to the United States. I found this section of the book very interesting and it demonstrated a uniquely American story. A boy grew up in war torn Nigeria, came to the US, earned multiple respectable medical and non-medical degrees, challenged American assumptions, and even if you disagree with his conclusions made an enormous impact on our society.

Third, because Dr. Omalu was not raised in America I found the cultural commentary interesting. Throughout the book there is commentary on racism based on his experience as a black African in the United States. I found the commentary to be insightful and compelling because it’s not aligned to any political agenda but simply stated factually as a reminder that racism is still very much alive. Additionally, his outside observation about the fanaticism of Americans and sports is also interesting. As an example, he likened the experience of watching his first Steeler’s game to observing a cultic religious ritual. I’m not saying watching football in this manner is wrong, but his outsider view should give Christians at least a little bit to chew on.

I would recommend this book to others even if you choose to completely reject his claims on tackle football. Although, Concussion focused on the NFL, Dr. Omalu is not opposed to tackle football but rather contact sports played by children under the age of 18. Dr. Omalu acknowledged at multiple points that adults should absolutely be given the liberty to play contact sports but given his analysis of CTE Dr. Omalu contends children should be protected from potential life-long harm. Basically, all I am trying to say is don’t let a love for the game of football deter you from reading this book. It’s an enjoyable read and offers insight to the life of a truly remarkable man.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu was doing a routine autopsy on former Pittsburgh Steeler great Mike Webster, when he made a discovery that critically impacted all levels of sport going forward. Omalu determined that Webster, who died at just 50 years ago, had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)...a brain disease never before observed and described. As Omalu learned more about the final years of Webster's life -- the depression, chronic mood swings, confusion, anger, and so on -- he came to the conclusion that repeated blows to the head (including concussions) during Webster's football career led to CTE and his premature death. When Omalu made public his findings in an academic paper, the world of athletics, and especially the NFL, was turned upside down, and so was Omalu's own life.
Sometimes Omalu regrets ever meeting Mike Webster, as he puts it. His diagnosis of CTE and its awful repercussions brought down a storm of protest, slander and all out harassment from the powers in football who didn't want to hear that their sport could be debilitating and deadly.
But Omalu continued to research and do autopsies on the brains of athletes, and the trend was undeniable.
The book is much more than CTE, however. Omalu details his early life in Nigeria and his decision to come to America, which he viewed as the greatest country on the planet, to study medicine. Even when he approached the NFL about CTE, he had the naive hope that his discovery would do so much good for the game and lead to significant changes in how it's played. Sadly, Omalu was instead shunned and called a fraud.
Throughout, however, Omalu relied on his tremendous faith and the support of his family to not back down and continue publishing papers and spreading the word about CTE. Today, it's commonly accepted that repeated blows to the head and concussions -- even just one -- can lead to serious neurological problems, sometimes in a short time, but also years down the road. Yet if Omalu had his way, children would not play contact sports until age 18, because of the inherent risks to developing brains. I doubt that we'll see such drastic change in sports culture in my lifetime, but personally, I'm thankful neither of my kids play a contact sport.
Omalu uses cigarette smoking to make an excellent analogy. We know it's dangerous and we do not advise any child to smoke one cigarette a day (or 5, or 10). All cigarette smoking is dangerous, just like every blow to the head is dangerous. We do not allow children to smoke, yet we allow them to suffer traumatic brain injury.

[Lucas Moda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um aviso para quem espera um enfoque na descoberta, explicação e consequências da CTE: O livro é praticamente uma autobiografia de Omalu, então as tretas com a NFL só começam a aparecer depois da metade e não são o ponto central, nem possuem tanta profundidade (ele não entra em muitos detalhes técnicos sobre a doença ou o processo para detecção, por exemplo). De início isso me frustrou um pouco, mas sua história de vida e narração são bem interessantes; uma criança nascida no meio da guerra do Biafra (Nigéria) vencer todo tipo de preconceito e dificuldades para se tornar um pesquisador referência nos EUA. Omalu é um fofo e muito humilde, é muito fácil se identificar com seus dilemas e foi bem legal poder aprender sobre a sua trajetória até virar esse grande desafiador da NFL.

O que me incomodou muito durante toda a leitura e me fez tirar uma estrela foram duas coisas: sua ingenuidade com os Estados Unidos, afirmando por diversas vezes como ama e tem orgulho de ser um cidadão americano, apesar dos inúmeros episódios tenebrosos que sofreu de preconceito, ameaça de deportação e descredibilidade como cientista/médico africano nos EUA. Para alguém tão inteligente é triste e frustrante ver que ainda acredita na ilusão que tinha, quando criança (e os meios de informações eram muito mais escassos), do "American Dream". Porém, o que me incomodou ainda mais foi o fato de ele fazer pregações a cada 2 ou 3 páginas; ok ter sua fé e tal, mas ter o fluxo da história interrompida toda hora por passagens longas de citações de Bíblia, salmos e orações foi bem chato pra mim. É da personalidade dele e é o livro dele, então não estou criticando necessariamente sua escolha por escrever assim, mas fica o alerta aí pq se isso não te interessa (assim como para mim), vc vai se ver por muitas e muitas vezes pulando páginas até ver que ele voltou a falar sobre o assunto.

Ou seja: Livro legal sobre um carinha gente boa, com uma história inspiradora e que sofreu muito no tenebroso EUA. Não espere muitos detalhes sobre CTE e a treta com a NFL (o título é meio enganador), e prepare-se para muita pregação. Mas vale a pena sim.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are books that come into your life that are life-changing. They change the way you look at the world, or an aspect of your life or society, and you are never the same after. Or it's a book you can't stop talking about with your friends. This book is both for me.

Growing up in the Deep South, football is life. It literally takes up over half our week, from high school Friday Night Lights, to Saturday College Football, to Sunday, Monday and Thursday pro football. Parents go out with their kids and toss the pigskin back and forth for hours. For some, it is the only possibility out of a life of abject poverty. Thinking that it could be a life-threatening sport that we are willingly putting our children in from single-digit ages goes against threads that make up a good portion of our society. Football is such a lucrative sport, I can understand why the NFL would want to squash this evidence that shows football can negatively impact a player's life.

The author, Dr Bennet Omalu, puts forth the situation in which he found the first case of what he later termed, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or as we lay people recognize it, CTE. He does it in such a clinical, and yet personable way that makes him seem very approachable and no-nonsense. He presents the facts, and says how he came to his conclusions.

During the time I was reading this book, it came out that Aaron Hernandez was found to have the worst case of CTE known at his age. It certainly explains why a superstar player like Hernandez, who was adored in New England, would get involved with drugs, murder (alleged murder, since his suicide in prison overturned his conviction), and suicide. It can also explain why OJ Simpson has done the things he has done.

I highly recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone I come across.

[victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book a wonderful writing and compelling to read with inspires us to speak for the truth in our own lives and learning from how much and incredible that Dr. Bennet Omalu was searching and discovered a disease he later name Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and it appeared in the brain. For many football players like him had been effect to our hero from Nigerian American and his family he love with his long journey to fighting of faithfulness and what is mean to be a disciple of Jesus. This will be a remarkable story that will making us to love our brain more than ever. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers program for this review “.
Dr. Bennet Omalu is a Nigerian-American neuropathologist who discovered and named Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players, other athletes, and military veterans. He is the chief medical examiner of San Joaquin County, California, and a clinical professor at the University of California, Davis. His story is told in the major motion picture Concussion, starring Will Smith. Bennet and his wife have two children and reside in Sacramento, California.
Mark Tabb has authored or coauthored more than thirty books, including the number one New York Times Bestseller Mistaken Identity

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think what Dr. Bennet says in this book makes a lot of sense (I say this as an ardent football fan), and there is much to be admired about him and his story.

I saw the movie first, which really drove me to read the book. I anticipated learning more about this admirable man of faith, so before diving into the book I went to his Instagram page to follow him. What I saw kinda messed with the image I had built up of him as a health-loving Christian, such as photos of lots of liquor with captions like, "I am gonna get stoned tonight…who is joining me?" and others of him apparently passed out. I don't know; he spends the whole book rightfully advocating for taking the best care of our brains that we can....and then he openly admits to getting stoned on social media? That's not exactly good for the brain, is it? Perhaps it was a timely reminder for me that two parties can very much agree on one topic but disagree on others while still benefitting from the relationship.

That being said, I think Omalu's story is important, and I'm glad I read it. He is clearly a man with a strong mind and backbone -- completely necessary when taking on a moneymaking juggernaut. I found many parallels in this book to what is happening in the world today, and it was well-written and easy to read. I will definitely keep an eye on his research and writings in the future.

[Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books to read as a sports fan and or parent. Anyone with an aspiring dream and wants inspiration to see it through, regardless of the natural sickness in humanity to stop the truth in threat of affecting something we love.

After a lifetime of hockey, soccer, lacrosse and short stint in professional wrestling I'm deeply concerned with what my future may hold. Not only for me but the people who love me and I share a world and life together.

For that matter, all I have been through already and what was the actual cause and could a lot of heartbreak and strife been prevented? Brain tissue, no matter age, will not grow or come back. Facts.

I have already signed off my entire body and organs for science years ago. I now will seak a local University or Foundation and sign of on my brain to science.

I'm slightly frightened for my future. This is not opinion, belief based theories...fact CTE in any of us who have played contact sports. It is not about concussions, number of them or none, it is simply from any and repeated impacts to the brain that causes this disease.

Your brain sits in a capsule of jelly water, there is nothing that can prevent or reduce injury to it within contacts sports.

Facts. Embrace them or live in a complete denial.

[JKC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, I think, a second book by the man who discovered CTE - Chronic traumatic encephalopathy - that which causes brain damage from repeated blows to the head, such as from contact sports. I haven't read his first book, Play Hard, Die Young, and I am only guessing this one is more autobiographical and/or that it is simply updated to include the movie made from his story - Concusion - which stars Will Smith. Smith himself, according to Omalu, did not at first want to play the part because he loved football and his son played football; but he agreed once he was moved by the story - and the findings, which is that playing football causes permanent brain damage from blows to the head. The internal brain damage from these blows cannot be fended off by wearing a helmet and there is no cure. Results in the players, even at an early age, can be mood swings, irritable and irrational behavior, and suicidal tendencies, among other things. It's a good book. I don't know if it is better than his other - which is on my TBR. It's a straightforward retelling of his journey, which is the journey of a very religious man who wishes the best for his fellow humans. I respected that.

[BMR, LCSW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this ARC from Netgalley for review.

The incredible story of the forensic pathologist who actually discovered CTE in football players and other high contact athletes. This has been made into a film: Concussion, starring Jada Pinkett's husband, Will Smith. Dr. Omalu immigrated to the US from Nigeria, and was blessed to have great placements for his medical residencies and fellowships. Sometimes, he worked for free to prove himself. His discovery of CTE in the brain of the late football star Mike Webster cost him a great deal, and some folks have never forgiven Dr. Omalu for this and distrust him to this day.

I will never look at football and hockey the same way after reading this book. It is disgusting how much money and power is involved in perpetuating the myth that repeated blows to the head and the resulting brain injuries to our nation's children in these sports are 'nothing.'

Recommended for anyone interested in neurology, football, hockey, ethics, labor, and immigration.

[Christina Wiseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I commented to a friend who saw that I was reading this book, it was a difficult read...not due to the writing, but due to both how much I as a sports enthusiast do not want to believe and to the large religious undertone that sometimes distracted me from the reason I was reading the book.

That said, it is well-written, in a style similar to sitting and listening to Dr. Omalu speak to a small group. And he’s telling his story, and as a strong Christian, of course his story incorporates his faith.

As with any one source, I want to do other research to confirm his claims, yet I doubt that any research not sponsored by those who profit from contact sports will negate his findings. Which puts me in the difficult position - if he’s right, how do I continue to support these sports? And isn’t that the point of a good book - to force me to look at what might need to change in my own mind and life?

[Jeff Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a remarkable story about the man, Dr. Bennet Omalu, who was the first to discover and come forward with the brain damage caused by repeated impact caused by collisions between football players. He did the autopsy on Mike Webster, the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive player who was an all-star but had a serious decline in his mental capabilities and a premature death. The story talks about Dr. Omalu's struggle in Nigeria and all of the racism/ostracism/xenophobia he has experienced here in the United States. The narrative is not complementary of the NFL (who has tried to keep the research suppressed) nor of organized medicine (some of whom seemed to have been purchased as "consultants" for the NFL to try to discredit the research). It also talks about the making of the movie "Concussion" where Will Smith plays Dr. Omalu.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and highly important memoir about the man who discovered and named CTE, which is serious brain injury caused by playing contact sports. I knew this story already from a PBS documentary and the Concussion movie, but I enjoyed reading more about Omalu’s family background, impressive quest for education, and deep religious convictions which directed his work. The book also addresses the racism Omalu experiences and the extreme pressure he endured from football fans and the NFL after publishing his paper about the dangers of undetected subconcussive hits to the head. While at times the writing rambles a bit, the story and message are so important.

[Emily Goenner Munson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there is much about this book I intensely dislike (his extensive religion, too much personal history details, far too much repetition), its importance outweights those problems. This is a passionate, detailed, convincing account of the discovery of CTE, its prevalence, the hardwork the NFL has done to protect its money and fail its players and the danger of high-impact, contact sports. If you have a son, a nephew, a neighbor, a friend--anyone--who plays or lets their child play football or hockey (or other high-impact contact sports), read this book. Read this book. Read this book.

[Bailey Naylon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not normally review books, but this one I must. Perhaps it is me being an Athletic Trainer and dealing with what feels like a never ending line of concussions but this book made an impact on me. There was enough science to be insightful but not too much to be dry and feel like a peer reviewed article.
When I read that Dr. Omalu recommends no one plays football or high contact sports until 18+ years old, I caught myself thinking, “now that is going too far”. His point is made that the NFL controls a day of the week.
An insightful and interesting read!

[Qaseem Hamdani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Dr. Omalu after watching Concussion in which Will Smith portrays him and takes us through the challenges of life following the discovery of CTE in football players. I wanted to read the book as it is a more direct narration as it comes from the doctor himself. Its written from an emotional place yet it has firm grip on the scientific facts. Reading this book was quite an educational and enlightening experience.

[Jennifer Sakash]

I can't remember why I thought I wanted to read this. I may have seen it in Guideposts magazine in an article about Will Smith in the movie "Concussion". Since I don't enjoy football, medical details, or nonfiction in general, this was a quick skim for me and can't really be counted as having read. I understand the importance of the discovery and hope bringing the subject to light helps stop some injuries but doubt people are going to stop playing high-contact sports no matter the risks.

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. It was interesting to read about CTE. I admire Dr. Omalu for speaking up and sticking to his guns. This is a subject that needs to be written about. But, it probably will not due to the sports that toes may be stepped on. Very good book. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

[Lorraine Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful with a story and message that must be taken seriously for the sake of our children and nation

A very important book with a very important message for all parents and the nation as a whole. The game of football especially mirrors our fascination with violence which is not healthy

[Elke Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Dr. Bennet Omalu is an amazing man, and we should all pay attention to his research, especially those of us who have children who are athletes. It's scary, but we need to know what happens to our brains when they are injured in sports or otherwise. I want everyone I know and care about to read this book!

[Carol Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent read. The arc of the book is the same as the movie Concussion, but Omalu's insights make it much more interesting. My take-home is that we should not delude ourselves into trying to heal or cushion any head injury, we should all avoid them, and sports should be designed with this in mind.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debating between a 4 and a 5 for this one

Seriously read it, it will shake you and god bless this man for his work despite his persecution for bringing light to this issue,
Interested in reading more about CTE and ways psychology/neuropsychology can help manage symptoms

[Cook Memorial Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 2017 staff favorite recommended by Sonia and Mary. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...