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No Other Home: Living, Leading, and Learning What Matters Most
No Other Home is a themed collection of inspirational stories, poignant moments, and life advice from midwestern boy-next-door, Matt Besler, who has made it to the elite level of playing internationally in the World Cup. No other country; no other club; no other home; no other story.
Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler has achieved something extraordinary in the least extraordinary way. At every level of his athletic career, Besler has heard the same questions and initial dismissal of his talent. Even as he made his slow, steady progression into the consciousness of his coaches, opponents, and fans, then onto the national and world soccer stage, he heard it still. How does a normal guy like Matt Besler end up playing in the World Cup, one of the most exclusive competitions in international sports?
If it’s true that he’s a rather typical Midwestern guy, it’s also true that Matt happens to be one of the best soccer players in the country. Professional soccer is a bastion for the flamboyant—the lifestyles, the hairstyles, the WAGs, the passionate fans—yet Matt has flourished as the anti-flamboyant. He is preternaturally calm. He is stalwart. He is relentlessly committed to his preparedness and his athletic success. Matt Besler may seem to be Mr. Average, but it is this very characteristic that has made him exceptional.
No Other Home offers an honest, first-person perspective into exactly what it takes to reach the highest levels of the sporting world. Matt shares his stories—from
growing up in a loving but fiercely competitive family, to climbing through the ranks of high school, club, and college athletics, to dealing with injuries and professional
setbacks, and even to his own rather extraordinary experience of becoming a father. The poignant lessons he’s learned so far hold value for soccer fans and nonfans
alike. This is a book to be shared among family members, young and old. And for parents looking for positive influences in professional athletics, they will find no better
role model than Matt.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the nonprofit charity, the BESLER FAMILY FOUNDATION.
Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler has achieved something extraordinary in the least extraordinary way. At every level of his athletic career, Besler has heard the same questions and initial dismissal of his talent. Even as he made his slow, steady progression into the consciousness of his coaches, opponents, and fans, then onto the national and world soccer stage, he heard it still. How does a normal guy like Matt Besler end up playing in the World Cup, one of the most exclusive competitions in international sports?
If it’s true that he’s a rather typical Midwestern guy, it’s also true that Matt happens to be one of the best soccer players in the country. Professional soccer is a bastion for the flamboyant—the lifestyles, the hairstyles, the WAGs, the passionate fans—yet Matt has flourished as the anti-flamboyant. He is preternaturally calm. He is stalwart. He is relentlessly committed to his preparedness and his athletic success. Matt Besler may seem to be Mr. Average, but it is this very characteristic that has made him exceptional.
No Other Home offers an honest, first-person perspective into exactly what it takes to reach the highest levels of the sporting world. Matt shares his stories—from
growing up in a loving but fiercely competitive family, to climbing through the ranks of high school, club, and college athletics, to dealing with injuries and professional
setbacks, and even to his own rather extraordinary experience of becoming a father. The poignant lessons he’s learned so far hold value for soccer fans and nonfans
alike. This is a book to be shared among family members, young and old. And for parents looking for positive influences in professional athletics, they will find no better
role model than Matt.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the nonprofit charity, the BESLER FAMILY FOUNDATION.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2017
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 30, 2018
I received this book as a Christmas gift from my daughter. She loves soccer. Sporting Kansas City is her favorite team and her favorite player is Matt Besler. I know nothing about soccer. However, No Other Home is neither about soccer nor is it about Matt Besler. This Captain of the Sporting Kansas City Soccer team has written a very intuitive book about becoming a better "you". It is about setting goals with a plan to accomplish them..defining your character (your backbone)..accepting the fact that you may fail, but must learn from it..spending time vs investing time..having a backup plan, but not giving up on a dream..giving 100% of yourself in all that you do. This is just a remarkable book written in short little vignettes...pick it up..open it to any page and enjoy.
January 10, 2018
A fun mix of inspirational stories, motivation for young players, and insider tips from Matt Besler.
November 23, 2017
I was never a sports kid. I was the kid who was reading and didn't even notice that a sports event was nearby (except for Nebraska Husker football games--everyone in the state knew all about those). Otherwise, I just didn't care. And then a local soccer coach told me I should join his team. I wasn't sure why he said that, as I was the most unathletic person I knew, but I gave it a shot. And from that fifth-grade team developed my lifelong love of soccer. I am so fortunate now to live in Kansas City, where we have the best team in the MLS, and where I get to see several of my favorite local players play nationally and internationally as well. One of those local players is defender Matt Besler.
Last year, Besler was out for a while with a bad concussion, and his doctor suggested he write to help his brain recover more quickly. So he wrote a journal and did some blogging, and from there grew his new book, No Other Home. A native Kansas Citian, Besler is the captain of Sporting KC and a member of the men's national team. He's not a flashy player, but his consistency, his dedication, his willingness to work harder than anyone else, and his humble confidence shine through and make him someone to watch no matter what team he's on.
No Other Home isn't an autobiography. It's more of a discussion of the journey that he took to professional sports. He talks about his family and his faith and about the difficult decisions and sacrifices he's had to make along the way. He talks about making it onto the U. S. Men's National Team and about being benched by injury. He shares his inspirations and his struggles, his family and his teams. The book is honest and extremely readable, and you can sit down and read it start to finish or pick through and read whatever part strikes you at that moment. It's ideal for kids interested in sports and for the adults who make that journey alongside them.
Matt Besler is no ordinary sports hero. He is quiet and unassuming. He's been underestimated on every team he's been on, having to work harder and dog deeper to prove himself. But he always does, and the team is far better off having him on their pitch. It's also easy to underestimate him as a writer. But No Other Home proves that he belongs on every bookstore shelf, and we are all far better off for his sharing his stories with us.
Galleys for No Other Home were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Last year, Besler was out for a while with a bad concussion, and his doctor suggested he write to help his brain recover more quickly. So he wrote a journal and did some blogging, and from there grew his new book, No Other Home. A native Kansas Citian, Besler is the captain of Sporting KC and a member of the men's national team. He's not a flashy player, but his consistency, his dedication, his willingness to work harder than anyone else, and his humble confidence shine through and make him someone to watch no matter what team he's on.
No Other Home isn't an autobiography. It's more of a discussion of the journey that he took to professional sports. He talks about his family and his faith and about the difficult decisions and sacrifices he's had to make along the way. He talks about making it onto the U. S. Men's National Team and about being benched by injury. He shares his inspirations and his struggles, his family and his teams. The book is honest and extremely readable, and you can sit down and read it start to finish or pick through and read whatever part strikes you at that moment. It's ideal for kids interested in sports and for the adults who make that journey alongside them.
Matt Besler is no ordinary sports hero. He is quiet and unassuming. He's been underestimated on every team he's been on, having to work harder and dog deeper to prove himself. But he always does, and the team is far better off having him on their pitch. It's also easy to underestimate him as a writer. But No Other Home proves that he belongs on every bookstore shelf, and we are all far better off for his sharing his stories with us.
Galleys for No Other Home were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley, with many thanks.
January 25, 2020
I’m not one to typically pick up a biography, let alone one about an athlete, but my community has a program where they pick a local author’s book each year to connect to each other and so I was passed along this book.
It was more interesting than I expected it to be. The first half was focused on being words of inspiration for anyone (athlete or not) and I found a good bit of it relatable and useful. The later half is more focused as a biography and advice for the aspiring student athlete but even that was entertaining enough even if it wasn’t entirely my cup of soup. Overall it was an easy read and did a fair job at holding my attention (even peaking my interest for actually watching some soccer in the future).
It was more interesting than I expected it to be. The first half was focused on being words of inspiration for anyone (athlete or not) and I found a good bit of it relatable and useful. The later half is more focused as a biography and advice for the aspiring student athlete but even that was entertaining enough even if it wasn’t entirely my cup of soup. Overall it was an easy read and did a fair job at holding my attention (even peaking my interest for actually watching some soccer in the future).
September 21, 2022
I chose this book to read about a hometown hero who I've wanted to be like since I've first seen him play. Instead of just learning about him and how he got to the level he did, the book helped me in another way. I started reading when I got my concussion and his concussion story really spoke to me, It helped a lot with my patience with coming back and reminded me that all concussions are different, this concussion is different is different then my last one. I think all soccer lovers should read this book, especially parents, and teenagers dealing with injuries.
January 29, 2019
Maybe I’m biased because I’ve covered Matt Besler since he was in high school, but I enjoyed this book. Instead of a strictly chronological autobiography, the book is divided into topics covered by various parts of Besler’s life. He simply tells stories and relates what he’s learned. He’s straightforward and honest, and the book provides a clear picture of how Besler got to where he is today. Highly recommended for Sporting KC fans, and worth a read for most American soccer fans.
November 6, 2017
"No Other Home" is an incredibly easy read, even for those like myself who aren't passionate about soccer. It's not a normal sports autobiography, combining soccer stories along with messages about life in general for people of all ages.
I'll admit it, I'm not one of those people who cries all the time, but I definitely shed a few tears reading about the birth of his daughter.
I'll admit it, I'm not one of those people who cries all the time, but I definitely shed a few tears reading about the birth of his daughter.
July 3, 2018
I really enjoyed learning more about Matt Besler’s path to Sporting KC & USMNT in his own words. He includes some heartfelt messages for all audiences—fans, kids who play any sport at any age, parents, etc. It’s also written so well that it entertained both me & my 10 year old daughter. I’m already a huge SKC fan but reading this made me a big fan of Besler specifically. Highly recommend.
January 14, 2018
I know Matt & his family. He played soccer against my son, Scott, in the early years and they were very competitive in Blue Valley. My son passed from Ewings Sarcoma at age 16, so this book was bittersweet. I enjoyed his inspirational advice and feel this book would benefit others, especially kids!
December 5, 2020
I wish I had this to read as a young athlete. I would recommend this to any young serious athlete. I am amazed and admire his determination to succeed. He seems like a family oriented, kind, and humble man.
March 20, 2018
Really enjoyed Besler's life lessons and honesty about the difficulty of being a professional athlete! Great read!
May 27, 2018
Really good book that really put you in the shoes of Matt Besler. Enjoyed learning some more of his story and advice for players. A quick and fun read for anyone.
December 24, 2018
This is a great book but not what I expected. More of a motivational book than anything. I love Matt and I love Sporting! No other club.
January 14, 2020
This is the 2020 O-Town Reads book and is a must-read for all parents of athletes, and the athlete themselves. Full of good advice, and true stories from Matt Besler's life.
August 26, 2022
3.5 really. Exactly as advertised, short chapters that can stand alone. Definitely not a typical sports book, but in a good way.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews