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Coming Back STRONGER: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity
When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team―and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again―coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, Will the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope―yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done―and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’s inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 2010
343 people are currently reading
3800 people want to read
About the author
Drew Brees
9 books42 followersDrew Brees is the 2009 Super Bowl MVP winning quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. A 2001 graduate of Purdue University, Drew was a two time Heisman finalist and led the Boilermakers to a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl appearance during the 2000 season.
In Drew's five years with the San Diego Chargers and four years with the New Orleans Saints, he has been elected to four Pro Bowls while being named 2004 Comeback Player of the Year, 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
On February 7, 2010, he led the Saints to their first World Championship against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, completing a record thirty two passes on his way to being named Super Bowl MVP.
As much pride as Drew takes in his on-field performance, he takes even more pride in his community service endeavors. Drew and his wife, Brittany, established the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003 and since then have raised and/or committed more than $5 million to help advance cancer research; improve care for cancer patients; and help rebuild schools, parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields in New Orleans, San Diego, and the Purdue community.
A native of Austin, Texas, Drew currently lives with his wife, Brittany, and son, Baylen, in New Orleans.
"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
August 31, 2016
When I was a kid, I read (and reread) everything in the house, including my brother's books on sports. I particularly remember one he owned about the history of the NFL championships games and one that was actually mine (I still have it), Gale Sayers' I Am Third, which I'm sure I wanted to read after seeing the 1971 TV movie "Brian's Song," when I ended up caring more about Sayers than I did about Brian Piccolo.
Brees' book, even though I read a Kindle copy, reminds me of both of those. It's a mixture of his faith, his family and his career, with the important inclusion of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when he arrived in New Orleans. I didn't expect it to have good prose, and it doesn't; but there's something compelling about it and it was perfect for reading in front of all the college bowl games this week. Repetition and cliches and cheesy-sweet stuff about his wife and son are scattered throughout; but I forgive all that, because I could tell how sincere he is, as if the professional writer's 'cleaning' all that up just wouldn't've been Brees. He relates how Scott Fujita (a former teammate) gave him a hard time about always being "annoyingly optimistic." Being from New Orleans, and of course having lived through Katrina and then all of Brees' time here, I teared up quite a bit while reading.
Brees' book, even though I read a Kindle copy, reminds me of both of those. It's a mixture of his faith, his family and his career, with the important inclusion of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when he arrived in New Orleans. I didn't expect it to have good prose, and it doesn't; but there's something compelling about it and it was perfect for reading in front of all the college bowl games this week. Repetition and cliches and cheesy-sweet stuff about his wife and son are scattered throughout; but I forgive all that, because I could tell how sincere he is, as if the professional writer's 'cleaning' all that up just wouldn't've been Brees. He relates how Scott Fujita (a former teammate) gave him a hard time about always being "annoyingly optimistic." Being from New Orleans, and of course having lived through Katrina and then all of Brees' time here, I teared up quite a bit while reading.
January 15, 2013
I read Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees. This autobiography about the famed quarterback of the New Orleans Saints is a must-read no matter what your views on sports or the Saints are. This book will capture your attention with stories of Drew, his storied career, and the city of New Orleans right after the decimating hurricane Katrina. While reading through book, you will see New Orleans through the eyes of a true Saint and a great man. When Drew arrives in New Orleans after many injuries, including a torn rotator cuff, a blown ACL,and a separated shoulder, he will start to write one of the greatest comeback stories the National Football League has ever seen. I would give this book five stars and recommend it to anyone no matter what age, gender or interests.
September 11, 2011
Drew Brees throughout this book certainly explores deep, as deep as you can for a football player, about dealing with adversity. The examples of adversity in his life definitely fills the book, and the there is a wide range of adversity that Mr. Brees has dealt with in his life and football career. I enjoyed the Christian theology in the book, even though it was fairly weak. He mentions Jesus Christ maybe three times through the entire book. When he talks of to being saved, one only has to, "accept God's graces." What does that mean? It is a statement meant not step on toes. Unlike Dungy's book, which speaks openly about Gospel and isn't shy about mentioning Jesus Christ several times through every chapter of the book. Drew Brees focuses more on the city of New Orleans and its fans and citizens and what it means to be team through adversity. If your looking for a good Christian book about how to deal with adversity I would look else where. But if your wanting to read a good book about an Christian athlete then this will do. The language is very simple and it is a quick and easy read. A little to many cliche statements and he continually repeats himself throughout the entire book, saying basically the same thing over and over again with little word changes. But after reading it I do respect and look up to Drew Brees, and will root for him for the rest of his career.
June 5, 2024
My GOAT. I love you Andrew Christopher Brees.
October 23, 2011
This book is one of several written in the past about the recent success of the New Orleans Saints in the years since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina threatened to place the future of the team in doubt. Drew Brees chronicles his experiences so eloquently and attempts to maintain a positive attitude when setbacks occur. Brees himself was dealt a serious blow to his career almost simultaneous with the uncertain times the city of New Orleans (and the Saints) did in the first months after Katrina.
Brees discusses how he conquered a painful sports injury that ended his career with the San Diego Chargers. After seeing for himself the impact of the whole situation in New Orleans, he realized his calling to sign with the Saints. It wasn't something that didn't involve risk taking, but he saw this as a means of giving back to a region fraught with pain and suffering.
Brees does a wonderful job describing his leadership and relationships with his teammates, the coach, the owners, and the citizens of New Orleans. In retrospect, the first season after Katrina served as a major step forward in the recovery, mainly due to jump-starting the economy. The Saints eventually reached the semifinals that year. It wasn't until 2010 when Brees led the team to victory after victory all the way to their first Super Bowl and Lombardi trophy in Miami.
This is merely an autobiography/memoir type book with many spiritual undertones. Still, it is inspirational throughout with main idea being hope amid despair. Highly recommended for most library collections, especially for young adults and in secondary school collections.
Brees discusses how he conquered a painful sports injury that ended his career with the San Diego Chargers. After seeing for himself the impact of the whole situation in New Orleans, he realized his calling to sign with the Saints. It wasn't something that didn't involve risk taking, but he saw this as a means of giving back to a region fraught with pain and suffering.
Brees does a wonderful job describing his leadership and relationships with his teammates, the coach, the owners, and the citizens of New Orleans. In retrospect, the first season after Katrina served as a major step forward in the recovery, mainly due to jump-starting the economy. The Saints eventually reached the semifinals that year. It wasn't until 2010 when Brees led the team to victory after victory all the way to their first Super Bowl and Lombardi trophy in Miami.
This is merely an autobiography/memoir type book with many spiritual undertones. Still, it is inspirational throughout with main idea being hope amid despair. Highly recommended for most library collections, especially for young adults and in secondary school collections.
February 10, 2017
“God, I know that if you bring me to it, you will bring me through it.
Overall Thoughts
If you're a Drew Brees then I think you should read this book. That simple. This book was a really good look into his life. Personal and professional. You get to learn about how things like trading players and deals really work in the NFL and how the players feel while going through those things. I'm a big Drew Brees fan myself and I loved learning about his past, his struggles and how he overcame things through faith and with the help of Jesus Christ. This is an inspiring read and I really loved it. WHO DAT!!!
Until Next Time,
Emerald BookWorm
Overall Thoughts
If you're a Drew Brees then I think you should read this book. That simple. This book was a really good look into his life. Personal and professional. You get to learn about how things like trading players and deals really work in the NFL and how the players feel while going through those things. I'm a big Drew Brees fan myself and I loved learning about his past, his struggles and how he overcame things through faith and with the help of Jesus Christ. This is an inspiring read and I really loved it. WHO DAT!!!
Until Next Time,
Emerald BookWorm
October 16, 2016
I love reading autobiographies of inspiring people. Drew Brees had everything going for him until injury and doubt took over. This is his story of how he came back stronger. I am a Drew Brees fan and this book only made me like him more. Yes, I'll be cheering for him, unless he's playing the Broncos. I loved reading about New Orleans and their comeback from Hurricane Katrina.
There is lots of references to his faith in Christ. I liked that, and I appreciate that there's still people in the world who will not be afraid to admit that they pray and rely on God for help.
This book really uplifted me and has given me new perspective on hope and dealing with adversity.
It does get a little redundant. The book could have been about 100 pages less and still had the same effect. Even if you are not interested in the NFL or football, you would still like this book. It's more focused on trusting in God's plan, have hope, be a good person, and work hard. Football is just the platform, very applicable to any situation.
No swearing, or adult content. (There is one part when he admits he drank too much, and was only 20 years old).
Favorite Quotes:
pg 12- Was I going to quit or come back stronger? I chose to come back.
pg 14- Life finally made sense- this was not some random existence here on earth. God had a plan for me, and he wanted me to be in a relationship with him. If I would cultivate that relationship, good things would spill over to others in my life.
pg. 19 “Do what you are supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it. And do it that way every time. He also emphasized that if you do things the right way, good things will happen to you. They might not happen today or tomorrow, but eventually they will.” Joe Tiller, Purdue Coach
pg 43-Sometimes it’s not how you get to your destination that’s most important. The key is ending up in the right place- on the right team, in the right situation, with the right opportunity.
pg 53- The truth is, you don’t learn much from winning, but losing can make you a lot stronger. Some say experience is what you gain when you don’t get what you want.
pg 61- You’re only as strong as your weakest link.
pg 66- Forget all the doubters. Forget all the critics. Is there satisfaction in proving them wrong? Sure, but I don’t’ want to give those people the gratification of even dwelling on their words that long. There’s a motivator much more powerful than doubt. I play in honor of those who believe in me.
pg. 79- A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don’t worry about a week from now or a month from now- just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!
pg. 120- Whether you’re talking in terms of the physical, the emotional, or the spiritual, healing has its own timetable. When there is a tragedy in your life- perhaps a health crisis or the death of a family member or something else that upends you world- there’s a mourning period you have to go through in order to cope with it and come out on the other side healthy and mentally whole. You have to work through the emotions and deal with the fallout. God has designed our bodies and hearts to need rest and recovery when we’ve been wounded, and you can’t rush that. You have to give it time. There’s no way around it. One of the worst things you can do when you’ve been laid low is to try to come back too quickly. You have to see the truth about your situation and accept it in order to heal right and return stronger. You need to learn the lessons while you’re still down in order to put yourself in the position to make a comeback. The painful things we go through have a way of teaching us things we can’t learn any other way. Pain is a gift I sure don’t want, but I believe God used it for a purpose in my life.
pg 134 He allowed some of these things to happen in our lives so he could shape us and mold us and give us the opportunity to come back stronger. Without adversity, there would be no opportunity. Faith is a gift from God, but it’s also a responsibility. It’s not enough to have it. You’ve got to live it out, even when times are tough.
pg 137- “It is amazing how much you can accomplish in life if you don’t mind who gets the credit.” –President Harry Truman
pg 136-138 “F-A-I-T-H. F- fortitude. Fighting for something you know is there but you might not be able to see it yet. A- attitude, speaks to the way you approach life. I- integrity. A person with integrity does what he says he’s going to do. T- trust. Trust is the cornerstone of every meaningful relationship. H- humility. Sums up the meaning of teamwork.
pg. 188- The next time you’re up against one of those difficult times, you might not be able to see it as an opportunity to gain power and confidence, but it is- you can bank on it. You have to prepare now to trust and have faith that it’s happening for a reason. And when it comes, you can lean into the adversity, put your shoulder down, push through it and learn from it. Through those experiences, God will mold you into the person he wants you to be. The person you’re meant to be .
pg 210- But when you succeed, you have to realize that just because you did it once doesn’t make it any easier the second time. It’s human nature to relax and feel entitled. If you want to win consistently, you have to fight the tendency with everything in you. When you reach the top of the mountain, don’t forget how hard it was to get there in the first place.
pg 227- One of the strangest things about life is the way our deepest sorrows can coexist with our greatest joys. Sometimes the good is woven in so tightly with the difficult times that it’s almost impossible to separate the two.
pg 242- “Allow yourself to grieve. You don’t’ ever want to look back and realize you didn’t let yourself feel what you needed to feel.” –Sean Payton
pg 272- “Sometimes you focus so much on the result that you lose track of the process. You’re thinking so much about winning, winning, winning that you forget the process it takes to win. There are certainly times when you can care too little. But there are also times when you can care too much.” –Tom House
pg 300- My desire was to have you turn the last page and become excited about waking up tomorrow. You will undoubtedly have challenges ahead that you will have to face and overcome. But don’t forget that adversity is not your enemy. It can unleash a power in your life that will make you stronger and help you achieve amazing things- things you may have never thought were possible…until now.
pg 300-302 Find a mentor. Don’t give up- The worst thing that could happen in life is not getting knocked down; it’s getting knocked down and then staying down. Commitment is when you refuse to give yourself an excuse. Turn your defeats into triumphs- the greatest opportunities in life are the ones that test us the most. Dream- If your mind can conceive it, you can acheieve it. Hope- In order to come back after a disappointment and accomplish something great, you have to believe in something bigger than yourself. Be flexible- coincidence is usually God working anonymously. See adversity as an opportunity. Don’t be afraid of taking a few steps back- a step back is not necessarily a setback. Sometimes you have to take a few steps backward before you can get the momentum to jump over a chasm in your life. Don’t spectate- be ready. Remember who you are- God created each one of us for a purpose. You will find that purpose in doing the small things well, in taking things one day at a time. Finish strong- it’s not where you start in life, but rather how you finish. Keep it simple: in everything you do, make your last rep your best rep.
pg 303- If you take away only one thing from this book, never forget that sometimes your greatest victories can come from your greatest defeats. The next time adversity knocks on your door, stand up tall and do the right thing. You can do more than just survive. You can come back- stronger.
There is lots of references to his faith in Christ. I liked that, and I appreciate that there's still people in the world who will not be afraid to admit that they pray and rely on God for help.
This book really uplifted me and has given me new perspective on hope and dealing with adversity.
It does get a little redundant. The book could have been about 100 pages less and still had the same effect. Even if you are not interested in the NFL or football, you would still like this book. It's more focused on trusting in God's plan, have hope, be a good person, and work hard. Football is just the platform, very applicable to any situation.
No swearing, or adult content. (There is one part when he admits he drank too much, and was only 20 years old).
Favorite Quotes:
pg 12- Was I going to quit or come back stronger? I chose to come back.
pg 14- Life finally made sense- this was not some random existence here on earth. God had a plan for me, and he wanted me to be in a relationship with him. If I would cultivate that relationship, good things would spill over to others in my life.
pg. 19 “Do what you are supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it. And do it that way every time. He also emphasized that if you do things the right way, good things will happen to you. They might not happen today or tomorrow, but eventually they will.” Joe Tiller, Purdue Coach
pg 43-Sometimes it’s not how you get to your destination that’s most important. The key is ending up in the right place- on the right team, in the right situation, with the right opportunity.
pg 53- The truth is, you don’t learn much from winning, but losing can make you a lot stronger. Some say experience is what you gain when you don’t get what you want.
pg 61- You’re only as strong as your weakest link.
pg 66- Forget all the doubters. Forget all the critics. Is there satisfaction in proving them wrong? Sure, but I don’t’ want to give those people the gratification of even dwelling on their words that long. There’s a motivator much more powerful than doubt. I play in honor of those who believe in me.
pg. 79- A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don’t worry about a week from now or a month from now- just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!
pg. 120- Whether you’re talking in terms of the physical, the emotional, or the spiritual, healing has its own timetable. When there is a tragedy in your life- perhaps a health crisis or the death of a family member or something else that upends you world- there’s a mourning period you have to go through in order to cope with it and come out on the other side healthy and mentally whole. You have to work through the emotions and deal with the fallout. God has designed our bodies and hearts to need rest and recovery when we’ve been wounded, and you can’t rush that. You have to give it time. There’s no way around it. One of the worst things you can do when you’ve been laid low is to try to come back too quickly. You have to see the truth about your situation and accept it in order to heal right and return stronger. You need to learn the lessons while you’re still down in order to put yourself in the position to make a comeback. The painful things we go through have a way of teaching us things we can’t learn any other way. Pain is a gift I sure don’t want, but I believe God used it for a purpose in my life.
pg 134 He allowed some of these things to happen in our lives so he could shape us and mold us and give us the opportunity to come back stronger. Without adversity, there would be no opportunity. Faith is a gift from God, but it’s also a responsibility. It’s not enough to have it. You’ve got to live it out, even when times are tough.
pg 137- “It is amazing how much you can accomplish in life if you don’t mind who gets the credit.” –President Harry Truman
pg 136-138 “F-A-I-T-H. F- fortitude. Fighting for something you know is there but you might not be able to see it yet. A- attitude, speaks to the way you approach life. I- integrity. A person with integrity does what he says he’s going to do. T- trust. Trust is the cornerstone of every meaningful relationship. H- humility. Sums up the meaning of teamwork.
pg. 188- The next time you’re up against one of those difficult times, you might not be able to see it as an opportunity to gain power and confidence, but it is- you can bank on it. You have to prepare now to trust and have faith that it’s happening for a reason. And when it comes, you can lean into the adversity, put your shoulder down, push through it and learn from it. Through those experiences, God will mold you into the person he wants you to be. The person you’re meant to be .
pg 210- But when you succeed, you have to realize that just because you did it once doesn’t make it any easier the second time. It’s human nature to relax and feel entitled. If you want to win consistently, you have to fight the tendency with everything in you. When you reach the top of the mountain, don’t forget how hard it was to get there in the first place.
pg 227- One of the strangest things about life is the way our deepest sorrows can coexist with our greatest joys. Sometimes the good is woven in so tightly with the difficult times that it’s almost impossible to separate the two.
pg 242- “Allow yourself to grieve. You don’t’ ever want to look back and realize you didn’t let yourself feel what you needed to feel.” –Sean Payton
pg 272- “Sometimes you focus so much on the result that you lose track of the process. You’re thinking so much about winning, winning, winning that you forget the process it takes to win. There are certainly times when you can care too little. But there are also times when you can care too much.” –Tom House
pg 300- My desire was to have you turn the last page and become excited about waking up tomorrow. You will undoubtedly have challenges ahead that you will have to face and overcome. But don’t forget that adversity is not your enemy. It can unleash a power in your life that will make you stronger and help you achieve amazing things- things you may have never thought were possible…until now.
pg 300-302 Find a mentor. Don’t give up- The worst thing that could happen in life is not getting knocked down; it’s getting knocked down and then staying down. Commitment is when you refuse to give yourself an excuse. Turn your defeats into triumphs- the greatest opportunities in life are the ones that test us the most. Dream- If your mind can conceive it, you can acheieve it. Hope- In order to come back after a disappointment and accomplish something great, you have to believe in something bigger than yourself. Be flexible- coincidence is usually God working anonymously. See adversity as an opportunity. Don’t be afraid of taking a few steps back- a step back is not necessarily a setback. Sometimes you have to take a few steps backward before you can get the momentum to jump over a chasm in your life. Don’t spectate- be ready. Remember who you are- God created each one of us for a purpose. You will find that purpose in doing the small things well, in taking things one day at a time. Finish strong- it’s not where you start in life, but rather how you finish. Keep it simple: in everything you do, make your last rep your best rep.
pg 303- If you take away only one thing from this book, never forget that sometimes your greatest victories can come from your greatest defeats. The next time adversity knocks on your door, stand up tall and do the right thing. You can do more than just survive. You can come back- stronger.
January 15, 2013
Coming back Stronger
Drew Brees
Memoir NF
303 pages 2 books
1-4 to 1- 13
Drew Brees is a current quarterback for the New Orleans Saints who was born in 1979. He has faced adversity so many times in critical situations. From childhood to now, Drew grew up competing with his younger brother and also his best friend, Reid. He was from a very competitive family. At family reunions they played sports. At the age of seven his parents split and they were very possessive of the children. Reid and Drew would often cry themselves to sleep. They both joined sports, in spite of all the hardship. In high school, Drew who was an elite baseball player and only a bench warmer in football wanted to quit football. This would never happen to Drew now. Quit is not a word is his vocabulary. His mom,who was very happy then very sad at times actually gave him good advice. That is one of the few pros Drew remembered after her death in 2009. His mom told him that if he quit then and then wanted to go back and play , he would regret it. This was Drew’s second year of riding the bench, and football was not his sport. It was baseball. Then luck stuck. The quarterbacks in front of him either did baseball or quit. The other quarterback tore his ACL in the scrimmage. Drew got the next 2 years of starting QB and set records and got into the playoffs. Then Drew tore his ACL and college football seemed shaky. So did spring baseball. Drew decided to play football and get nursed back to health. Drew healed and miraculously he was ready to play in college. All of the schools quit on him except Purdue-this is where he met his wife- In Purdue Drew played pretty well, he even led the team to the rose Bowl after beating OSU. He was drafted by the chargers. He only had one good year out of the five he spent here. Many times he was on the verge of being replaced. In 2005 a horrible shoulder injury occurred. Drew dislocated his shoulder. The chargers let him go. Luckily he was picked up by the Saints and the Dolphins. Drew ended up going to New Orleans because he felt like they believed in him even with the injury more than the Dolphins did. Drew had a good year leading the Saints to the playoffs and two mediocre years followed. The next year in 2009 his son Baylen was born in January. Then Drew gave his team a motivational speech. He said that if they took one game at a time and finished well they could win. Drew was happy going into the season with a motivational team and his newborn son. His mom was coming to visit Baylen and then before she reached she died. It was suicide. Drew was sad but then he realized that those mood swings she always had was caused by a mental illness. Some players would retire football for a while, but not Drew. He needed to clear his mind of it so he practiced and played hard. They went 13 wins and 3 losses that season. Then they went into the Playoffs and won 2 games. Then in the first time in Saints history they were in a the super bowl. That is the power of adversity coming back from an injury and making it to a super bowl. In the hotel room he was living in waiting for the Super Bowl he was talking about how he always wants to spend time with his family. He does not want to miss out just because of his career. Drew lead the saints to a win and held up his son at the end. The city had a 4 hour parade with many people. Drew got on many shows and found out his wife was pregnant with another kid.
I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. While it shows the power of adversity and resilience through tough times and the power it gives to come bang stronger, it harped on things a lot. For example when Drew says he cares about his son Baylen, he wrote like pages about him being the perfect miracle of life. He also said things like he was the best gift in the world. I am all for showing love towards family, but he kept on harping about it and it made me tune out of the book. He also harped about how he argues in a mature way with his wife, and it is normal. At the age of 12 I think I understand people argue. It was sad that he talked about how he cried himself to sleep with his brother many nights. It was because he was 7 his brother was 5 and his parents split. It was sad but also motivating that he was able to make it to the playoffs with his high school team years later. It showed me that even with that ditch in the way he accomplished something great. He also came back from adversity after he tore his ACL and only one college would pick him. I also liked the part where he mentions that he fails all the time and that nobody is perfect. This shoed me that even our superstar model athletes are not flawless. I changed my opinion about Drew Brees during this book. I thought oh he is a guy who has talent and got lucky to be picked by a good team. Now I think that he struggled to even be a starter once. The guy who threw for 5000 yards in 2012 (not mentioned in the book just background knowledge), was almost replaced by a rookie. It showed me that once again after going down he came up and won a Super bowl. This book really gave me a better look of who Drew Brees is. Anyone who reads this book will agree that Drew Brees is an athlete. This know makes me wonder what is Tom Brady like is he arrogant or is he a good person. Drew Brees said the media is always on you. So I think that it is very easy to make somebody look bad. One thing I did not appreciate about him is, that he said the Saints were the hope for New Orleans, and the people from the city looked to them after Katrina. I think more often then not, the people of New Orleans were thanking the officers who went out and picked up civilians. The only way the saints helped during Katrina was that the superdome (where the saints play) was a shelter to the people. I think it was good though even with practice and the workouts, Drew got time to right this memoir to us. I also like the way he prays deeply for god and has religion. I am a Hindu but I also find time to pray and believe everything that happens will be countered by Karma as by the force of God. I think that Drew dislocated his shoulder but instead of ending his career he became super bowl MVP. I also love how he added pictures of the important events of his life. It gave me a good picture of what the sense in the air smelled like. I like to visualize, but having pictures help. Another thing I liked about Drew was his respect for the military. He put pictures of them with him, and told us how hard just one session was. The last thing I liked about this book was how in the end of the book his wife tasks how did you win a super bowl and get another baby. He stares at her and realizes he is having another kid. It was a happy ending. I guess they do not just happen the movies.
Drew Brees
Memoir NF
303 pages 2 books
1-4 to 1- 13
Drew Brees is a current quarterback for the New Orleans Saints who was born in 1979. He has faced adversity so many times in critical situations. From childhood to now, Drew grew up competing with his younger brother and also his best friend, Reid. He was from a very competitive family. At family reunions they played sports. At the age of seven his parents split and they were very possessive of the children. Reid and Drew would often cry themselves to sleep. They both joined sports, in spite of all the hardship. In high school, Drew who was an elite baseball player and only a bench warmer in football wanted to quit football. This would never happen to Drew now. Quit is not a word is his vocabulary. His mom,who was very happy then very sad at times actually gave him good advice. That is one of the few pros Drew remembered after her death in 2009. His mom told him that if he quit then and then wanted to go back and play , he would regret it. This was Drew’s second year of riding the bench, and football was not his sport. It was baseball. Then luck stuck. The quarterbacks in front of him either did baseball or quit. The other quarterback tore his ACL in the scrimmage. Drew got the next 2 years of starting QB and set records and got into the playoffs. Then Drew tore his ACL and college football seemed shaky. So did spring baseball. Drew decided to play football and get nursed back to health. Drew healed and miraculously he was ready to play in college. All of the schools quit on him except Purdue-this is where he met his wife- In Purdue Drew played pretty well, he even led the team to the rose Bowl after beating OSU. He was drafted by the chargers. He only had one good year out of the five he spent here. Many times he was on the verge of being replaced. In 2005 a horrible shoulder injury occurred. Drew dislocated his shoulder. The chargers let him go. Luckily he was picked up by the Saints and the Dolphins. Drew ended up going to New Orleans because he felt like they believed in him even with the injury more than the Dolphins did. Drew had a good year leading the Saints to the playoffs and two mediocre years followed. The next year in 2009 his son Baylen was born in January. Then Drew gave his team a motivational speech. He said that if they took one game at a time and finished well they could win. Drew was happy going into the season with a motivational team and his newborn son. His mom was coming to visit Baylen and then before she reached she died. It was suicide. Drew was sad but then he realized that those mood swings she always had was caused by a mental illness. Some players would retire football for a while, but not Drew. He needed to clear his mind of it so he practiced and played hard. They went 13 wins and 3 losses that season. Then they went into the Playoffs and won 2 games. Then in the first time in Saints history they were in a the super bowl. That is the power of adversity coming back from an injury and making it to a super bowl. In the hotel room he was living in waiting for the Super Bowl he was talking about how he always wants to spend time with his family. He does not want to miss out just because of his career. Drew lead the saints to a win and held up his son at the end. The city had a 4 hour parade with many people. Drew got on many shows and found out his wife was pregnant with another kid.
I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. While it shows the power of adversity and resilience through tough times and the power it gives to come bang stronger, it harped on things a lot. For example when Drew says he cares about his son Baylen, he wrote like pages about him being the perfect miracle of life. He also said things like he was the best gift in the world. I am all for showing love towards family, but he kept on harping about it and it made me tune out of the book. He also harped about how he argues in a mature way with his wife, and it is normal. At the age of 12 I think I understand people argue. It was sad that he talked about how he cried himself to sleep with his brother many nights. It was because he was 7 his brother was 5 and his parents split. It was sad but also motivating that he was able to make it to the playoffs with his high school team years later. It showed me that even with that ditch in the way he accomplished something great. He also came back from adversity after he tore his ACL and only one college would pick him. I also liked the part where he mentions that he fails all the time and that nobody is perfect. This shoed me that even our superstar model athletes are not flawless. I changed my opinion about Drew Brees during this book. I thought oh he is a guy who has talent and got lucky to be picked by a good team. Now I think that he struggled to even be a starter once. The guy who threw for 5000 yards in 2012 (not mentioned in the book just background knowledge), was almost replaced by a rookie. It showed me that once again after going down he came up and won a Super bowl. This book really gave me a better look of who Drew Brees is. Anyone who reads this book will agree that Drew Brees is an athlete. This know makes me wonder what is Tom Brady like is he arrogant or is he a good person. Drew Brees said the media is always on you. So I think that it is very easy to make somebody look bad. One thing I did not appreciate about him is, that he said the Saints were the hope for New Orleans, and the people from the city looked to them after Katrina. I think more often then not, the people of New Orleans were thanking the officers who went out and picked up civilians. The only way the saints helped during Katrina was that the superdome (where the saints play) was a shelter to the people. I think it was good though even with practice and the workouts, Drew got time to right this memoir to us. I also like the way he prays deeply for god and has religion. I am a Hindu but I also find time to pray and believe everything that happens will be countered by Karma as by the force of God. I think that Drew dislocated his shoulder but instead of ending his career he became super bowl MVP. I also love how he added pictures of the important events of his life. It gave me a good picture of what the sense in the air smelled like. I like to visualize, but having pictures help. Another thing I liked about Drew was his respect for the military. He put pictures of them with him, and told us how hard just one session was. The last thing I liked about this book was how in the end of the book his wife tasks how did you win a super bowl and get another baby. He stares at her and realizes he is having another kid. It was a happy ending. I guess they do not just happen the movies.
July 29, 2024
What a great read. Drew Brees covers his life from child hood to his days playing for Purdue to getting drafted by the San Diego Chargers, the injury that almost cost him his career to the decision to play for either the Miami Dolphins or the New Orleans Saints
December 11, 2017
Coming back to read it. No this is not the proper title of the book, but Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees will always be a book you look back to for advice when dealing with adversity. One of my biggest role models in my life is the man responsible for writing this outstanding book. Drew’s journey is one that will inspire you to get back up when you’re knocked down and help someone else when they get knocked down. Going from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, Drew has experienced it all, making this a must read book.
Writing books is not very similar to taking big hits from the Defensive Lineman. Drew Brees is an NFL Quarterback, that has spent time playing for the San Diego Chargers and currently the New Orlean Saints. In 2009, Brees lead his team to a victory in the Super Bowl and won his first Lombardi Trophy. As a first time author, Drew did a good job getting his message across. A lot of athletes nowadays turn to writing books to share their story. Drew did get some help from advisors, but when reading it I could feel that it was all him. I can’t tell you that Drew uses metaphors or synonyms as well as any author because there is non of that in there. However, Drew used what he learned on the field and through life to write his first book. Not only will he be proud of being a First Ballot Hall of Famer, but he will also have a New York Times Best Selling Book to join his trophy case.
If you look as Drew Brees today, you would think he is one of the best Quarterbacks to ever play. But in reality, Drew was dominated by adversity his whole life. Growing up in Austin, Texas, Drew had a passion for the game of football. His prolific career at Westlake High School earned him a spot on Purdue’s football team. Many college scouts never thought Drew would step on the field in college due to his small stature. Barely 6 feet tall, Brees was not the prototypical QB. But Drew managed to lead the team to a few league championships and a Rose Bowl appearance. When it came to the NFL draft, no one believed in him. Again his small stature was brought center stage on why he could not be an NFL QB. Despite all those negative comments, Drew was picked in the Second Round by the San Diego Chargers. He had a few good seasons for the Bolts, until a life-changing injury would question if he could ever throw again. After falling on his shoulder after a big hit, his labrum was severed badly. This left him with not knowing if he could play football again and left the Chargers searching for a replacement. San Diego would let go of Brees after the injury. Drew was able to rehab his shoulder back to the strength he felt comfortable to play with, but he still needed to find a team to play with. The only teams that wanted him were the Miami Dolphins and New Orlean Saints. Drew picked the Saints. Why he did that was shocking because New Orleans had just experienced Hurricane Katrina. Drew was trying to rebuild his career in a place that was just destroyed after a natural disaster. Yet, Brees took this challenge head on. Head Coach Sean Peyton grew a close bond with Drew and believe they could be the guys to turn this team around and the city around. In 2010, Brees and the Saints were crowned Super Bowl Champions. Coming from a small town in Texas where no one believed the small QB could do anything to be a World Champion. From New Orleans being destroyed by Katrina to a new found city of hope with a championship team. Drew came back stronger for himself, his team, and his city.
This inspirational book it told through the eyes of Drew Brees himself. It’s a journey through his life. You feel the stadium lights of Westlake High School when he talks about his games, and you see the lights in the OR after his surgery. Drew would be on top of a peak during a point in his life, then would be down in the valley when things got hard. Drew takes us through times in his life when he was on Cloud 9, like right after winning the Super Bowl. But he also takes us into the depths of his failures, like being told he was too short to be an NFL QB. “But my prospects look bleak. I was coming off the ACL injury, plus I was a little shorter than most Quarterbacks— Not the Prototype Quarterback a lot of schools are looking for”(15). By being written in the first person it feels that Drew is in the room reading the book to you. It helped inspire me in many ways since I see comparisons to what Drew went through and what I am going through right now. Drew was personally giving me all his advice while telling it through this inspirational book. My biggest take away on the elements Drew used was that he made you feel like you were a player on the field with him because the use of words to create imagery. Remember he is a first-time author and really is just an athlete. There aren’t many metaphors or deep dark secrets. But when Drew recalled his injury, you can just imagine the action and the way he got hurt. “Twisted my arm in a direction it is not supposed to go. The collision was ferocious, happened in a matter of milliseconds”(Prologue).That is a little gross to picture, but that scrunching of the face makes the book so much better. “ With no regard for my own safety or future, I committed the cardinal sin for a quarterback. I jumped into the pile for a loose ball”(74). As a QB myself it gets a little gruesome to read because the same thing could happen to myself if I dived for a ball. It may be hard for readers to feel the same way if they have never played before, but they will still get the imagery of Drew getting injured. For a football junkie like me it’s pretty cool to feel like I am in the field. Imagery is key in this book and helps me see the book more clearly.
Drew’s purpose for this book was to use the life experiences he has had so far to influence and motivate people like myself. People that are facing adversity and need a role model to help them see a path. When the book really starts in my eyes is when Drew gets injured. “I’d been around football long enough to know that this injury has the potential to shatter not just my shoulder but also my dreams for the next season or possibly even my entire career”(75). By not knowing if he would ever strap up his helmet again, Drew had to grind to get back to the player he was. Readers might face adversity. It could be an injury like Drew, not making the team, or maybe not getting the job we want. But as we learn it does not matter what happened to you, it’s how you respond. Drew responded by over coming the doubters and becoming a Super Bowl Champion. When he won the Super Bowl, he lifted his son Balen into the air and proclaimed, “We did it, little boy, We did it”(120). Drew went from an injured worthless Quarterback of the Chargers to a reason why the Saints won the Super Bowl. This book may be non-fiction but when he raises his son it almost feels like the climax of the book. From being in the bottom of the ocean to on top of Mt. Everest, Drew learned a lot. Anybody that gets knock down has the choice to either get up and try again. If people do not try when they will never know what could have been. Imagine if Drew called is a career after his injury. So why should you call it after a setback? This book was a tool to help others learn how they can do the same.
If I were to build a library Coming Back Stronger would be one of the first books that I put into it. Drew Brees is one of my biggest inspirations, so when I saw this book it was a must read. I’m not saying this because I am biased towards the NFL QB, but this book is outstanding. The raw emotion you feel as he takes you on how and why he was able to succeed is a reason why this was a best seller. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Because no matter if you like it or not we are all going to get knocked down, but it matters how you get back up and how you make your Come Back.
Work Cited
Bress, Drew. Coming Back Stronger. Tyndale House Publishers, 2011.
Writing books is not very similar to taking big hits from the Defensive Lineman. Drew Brees is an NFL Quarterback, that has spent time playing for the San Diego Chargers and currently the New Orlean Saints. In 2009, Brees lead his team to a victory in the Super Bowl and won his first Lombardi Trophy. As a first time author, Drew did a good job getting his message across. A lot of athletes nowadays turn to writing books to share their story. Drew did get some help from advisors, but when reading it I could feel that it was all him. I can’t tell you that Drew uses metaphors or synonyms as well as any author because there is non of that in there. However, Drew used what he learned on the field and through life to write his first book. Not only will he be proud of being a First Ballot Hall of Famer, but he will also have a New York Times Best Selling Book to join his trophy case.
If you look as Drew Brees today, you would think he is one of the best Quarterbacks to ever play. But in reality, Drew was dominated by adversity his whole life. Growing up in Austin, Texas, Drew had a passion for the game of football. His prolific career at Westlake High School earned him a spot on Purdue’s football team. Many college scouts never thought Drew would step on the field in college due to his small stature. Barely 6 feet tall, Brees was not the prototypical QB. But Drew managed to lead the team to a few league championships and a Rose Bowl appearance. When it came to the NFL draft, no one believed in him. Again his small stature was brought center stage on why he could not be an NFL QB. Despite all those negative comments, Drew was picked in the Second Round by the San Diego Chargers. He had a few good seasons for the Bolts, until a life-changing injury would question if he could ever throw again. After falling on his shoulder after a big hit, his labrum was severed badly. This left him with not knowing if he could play football again and left the Chargers searching for a replacement. San Diego would let go of Brees after the injury. Drew was able to rehab his shoulder back to the strength he felt comfortable to play with, but he still needed to find a team to play with. The only teams that wanted him were the Miami Dolphins and New Orlean Saints. Drew picked the Saints. Why he did that was shocking because New Orleans had just experienced Hurricane Katrina. Drew was trying to rebuild his career in a place that was just destroyed after a natural disaster. Yet, Brees took this challenge head on. Head Coach Sean Peyton grew a close bond with Drew and believe they could be the guys to turn this team around and the city around. In 2010, Brees and the Saints were crowned Super Bowl Champions. Coming from a small town in Texas where no one believed the small QB could do anything to be a World Champion. From New Orleans being destroyed by Katrina to a new found city of hope with a championship team. Drew came back stronger for himself, his team, and his city.
This inspirational book it told through the eyes of Drew Brees himself. It’s a journey through his life. You feel the stadium lights of Westlake High School when he talks about his games, and you see the lights in the OR after his surgery. Drew would be on top of a peak during a point in his life, then would be down in the valley when things got hard. Drew takes us through times in his life when he was on Cloud 9, like right after winning the Super Bowl. But he also takes us into the depths of his failures, like being told he was too short to be an NFL QB. “But my prospects look bleak. I was coming off the ACL injury, plus I was a little shorter than most Quarterbacks— Not the Prototype Quarterback a lot of schools are looking for”(15). By being written in the first person it feels that Drew is in the room reading the book to you. It helped inspire me in many ways since I see comparisons to what Drew went through and what I am going through right now. Drew was personally giving me all his advice while telling it through this inspirational book. My biggest take away on the elements Drew used was that he made you feel like you were a player on the field with him because the use of words to create imagery. Remember he is a first-time author and really is just an athlete. There aren’t many metaphors or deep dark secrets. But when Drew recalled his injury, you can just imagine the action and the way he got hurt. “Twisted my arm in a direction it is not supposed to go. The collision was ferocious, happened in a matter of milliseconds”(Prologue).That is a little gross to picture, but that scrunching of the face makes the book so much better. “ With no regard for my own safety or future, I committed the cardinal sin for a quarterback. I jumped into the pile for a loose ball”(74). As a QB myself it gets a little gruesome to read because the same thing could happen to myself if I dived for a ball. It may be hard for readers to feel the same way if they have never played before, but they will still get the imagery of Drew getting injured. For a football junkie like me it’s pretty cool to feel like I am in the field. Imagery is key in this book and helps me see the book more clearly.
Drew’s purpose for this book was to use the life experiences he has had so far to influence and motivate people like myself. People that are facing adversity and need a role model to help them see a path. When the book really starts in my eyes is when Drew gets injured. “I’d been around football long enough to know that this injury has the potential to shatter not just my shoulder but also my dreams for the next season or possibly even my entire career”(75). By not knowing if he would ever strap up his helmet again, Drew had to grind to get back to the player he was. Readers might face adversity. It could be an injury like Drew, not making the team, or maybe not getting the job we want. But as we learn it does not matter what happened to you, it’s how you respond. Drew responded by over coming the doubters and becoming a Super Bowl Champion. When he won the Super Bowl, he lifted his son Balen into the air and proclaimed, “We did it, little boy, We did it”(120). Drew went from an injured worthless Quarterback of the Chargers to a reason why the Saints won the Super Bowl. This book may be non-fiction but when he raises his son it almost feels like the climax of the book. From being in the bottom of the ocean to on top of Mt. Everest, Drew learned a lot. Anybody that gets knock down has the choice to either get up and try again. If people do not try when they will never know what could have been. Imagine if Drew called is a career after his injury. So why should you call it after a setback? This book was a tool to help others learn how they can do the same.
If I were to build a library Coming Back Stronger would be one of the first books that I put into it. Drew Brees is one of my biggest inspirations, so when I saw this book it was a must read. I’m not saying this because I am biased towards the NFL QB, but this book is outstanding. The raw emotion you feel as he takes you on how and why he was able to succeed is a reason why this was a best seller. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Because no matter if you like it or not we are all going to get knocked down, but it matters how you get back up and how you make your Come Back.
Work Cited
Bress, Drew. Coming Back Stronger. Tyndale House Publishers, 2011.
May 28, 2012
“In the aftermath of one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history, the city of New Orleans needed a hero. WHAT THEY GOT WAS A SAINT.”
Wow! And that’s just the back cover.
The story of Drew Brees, the Saints and the city of New Orleans is inspiring. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a movie about this someday. I’m glad God chose Drew Brees to be a part of that story. He’s a good guy with a great heart.
Brees preaches that God uses adversity for our good. However, you don’t have to be a Christian to believe in Brees’s god. Having a job that requires him to win it back every day, and having parents who are human, have set Brees up as a case study in idolizing people’s approval. He frequently acknowledges his motivation: the people who believe in him, and fear of failing them. “I’ve got to prove myself every time I step onto the field. I know how hard I’ve worked, and I know how many people believe in me” (190). That must be a hard way to live.
Most of the book is a sola-boot-strapia message (see note below). “Adversity equals opportunity. The only way to believe that is to lift yourself up from the ground. Getting up is always the first step” (149). Only in chapter 15 does Brees hint at the gospel, but even then he doesn’t mention the name of Jesus. I have a feeling, though, that Brees is about to discover Jesus. Maybe chapter 15 (the best part of the book) is the first step in finding the gospel that is stronger than his boot straps.
[I stole the term sola-boot-strapia from Brian H. Cosby, who discusses Moralistic Therapeutic Deism in student ministry: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/t.... This is a tongue-in-cheek, Latin-like term that mirrors Martin Luther’s five solas from the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), Sola Fida (by faith alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), Solo Christo (through Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone).]
Wow! And that’s just the back cover.
The story of Drew Brees, the Saints and the city of New Orleans is inspiring. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a movie about this someday. I’m glad God chose Drew Brees to be a part of that story. He’s a good guy with a great heart.
Brees preaches that God uses adversity for our good. However, you don’t have to be a Christian to believe in Brees’s god. Having a job that requires him to win it back every day, and having parents who are human, have set Brees up as a case study in idolizing people’s approval. He frequently acknowledges his motivation: the people who believe in him, and fear of failing them. “I’ve got to prove myself every time I step onto the field. I know how hard I’ve worked, and I know how many people believe in me” (190). That must be a hard way to live.
Most of the book is a sola-boot-strapia message (see note below). “Adversity equals opportunity. The only way to believe that is to lift yourself up from the ground. Getting up is always the first step” (149). Only in chapter 15 does Brees hint at the gospel, but even then he doesn’t mention the name of Jesus. I have a feeling, though, that Brees is about to discover Jesus. Maybe chapter 15 (the best part of the book) is the first step in finding the gospel that is stronger than his boot straps.
[I stole the term sola-boot-strapia from Brian H. Cosby, who discusses Moralistic Therapeutic Deism in student ministry: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/t.... This is a tongue-in-cheek, Latin-like term that mirrors Martin Luther’s five solas from the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), Sola Fida (by faith alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), Solo Christo (through Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone).]
January 9, 2017
This book is about Drew Brees coming back stronger from a shoulder injury. And after hurricane katrina hit, he was without a team until he signed with the Saints who had faith in him. He was also going through hard times in his career, such as his shoulder injury and his mom dying. But his rehab and all of the help from not only his team mates but the whole city of New Orleans. They all gave him hope and that leads him to taking his team to the Super Bowl and winning his first Championship. That made the whole city of New Orleans happy and faithful that the Saints gave them hope.
One part of the book that I really liked is how he came back stronger than ever and won the superbowl for the fans of New Orleans. One other part is how they rebuilt the superdome and how it was used as a refugee camp. It said there was a kid running down the sideline and that just made his day that someone still has hope! Lastly how their first game back in the Superdome was remembered vastly among all fans. They were playing the falcons, and they muffed a punt which won the game for them! It really sounded like you wanted to be a part of it! One more is how Drew said you Focus 1 game at a time not 2 or 3 just 1 at a time.
I would widely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a sports read, and anyone who is down. Because is shows how someone like Drew changed all of New Orleans for the better and giving them so much Faith. FAITH stands for : Fortitude Attitude Integrity Trust Humility. It was my overall favorite book that i have read. So i recommend it to everyone. Just because it shows not only 1 but a whole team can make a whole city faithful and can give them hope again.
One part of the book that I really liked is how he came back stronger than ever and won the superbowl for the fans of New Orleans. One other part is how they rebuilt the superdome and how it was used as a refugee camp. It said there was a kid running down the sideline and that just made his day that someone still has hope! Lastly how their first game back in the Superdome was remembered vastly among all fans. They were playing the falcons, and they muffed a punt which won the game for them! It really sounded like you wanted to be a part of it! One more is how Drew said you Focus 1 game at a time not 2 or 3 just 1 at a time.
I would widely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a sports read, and anyone who is down. Because is shows how someone like Drew changed all of New Orleans for the better and giving them so much Faith. FAITH stands for : Fortitude Attitude Integrity Trust Humility. It was my overall favorite book that i have read. So i recommend it to everyone. Just because it shows not only 1 but a whole team can make a whole city faithful and can give them hope again.
October 4, 2012
1. This book was a biography about Drew Brees football career. It gave the ups and downs of his career such as him getting injured in high school to winning a Superbowl. On his path to making it in the football world he learned hard work and found help from church.
2. I gave this book 5 stars because I like football. It also is a good story how he went to a town that was hit by disaster hurricane Katrina and won the people of the town a Superbowl.
3. "When I came to New Orleans in 2006, I saw a lot of T-shirts that had the word Faith on the front. It was a buzzword for the people of the region, signifying that they believed in the city, that it was possible to rebuild. A lot of people took that word and applied it to our team that year too. In many ways people saw the Saints as an extension of the city and everything in the community was going through." (134, Brees). I think that quote is important because since the town didn't have much excitement in it they needed something to believe in, so they believed in football. The Saints didnt have good seasons years before the hurricane, but when Drew came to town to play it was something for them to believe in, and show the city could still be good.
4. A connection to something we talk about in class is this book is a memoir and we are going to do another memoir soon.
5. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sports. It is a inspirational sports story that showed how hard work pays off.
2. I gave this book 5 stars because I like football. It also is a good story how he went to a town that was hit by disaster hurricane Katrina and won the people of the town a Superbowl.
3. "When I came to New Orleans in 2006, I saw a lot of T-shirts that had the word Faith on the front. It was a buzzword for the people of the region, signifying that they believed in the city, that it was possible to rebuild. A lot of people took that word and applied it to our team that year too. In many ways people saw the Saints as an extension of the city and everything in the community was going through." (134, Brees). I think that quote is important because since the town didn't have much excitement in it they needed something to believe in, so they believed in football. The Saints didnt have good seasons years before the hurricane, but when Drew came to town to play it was something for them to believe in, and show the city could still be good.
4. A connection to something we talk about in class is this book is a memoir and we are going to do another memoir soon.
5. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sports. It is a inspirational sports story that showed how hard work pays off.
August 9, 2011
If you're a diehard Saints fan, chances are you've already read this book, and therefore you can skip the rest of this review if you like. If you're a Saints fan who's just now getting around to reading this book (like me), or just a fan of football in general, you're in for an entertaining and insightful read. Drew takes his fans on a pretty good tour of his football career and personal life, leading up to the memorable Super Bowl win. He's always struck me as a pretty humble and grateful person, and the narrative in this book is no different. Not once during quite a few missteps did Drew ever say "poor me;" instead, he turned the experiences into positive ones, by way of his faith in God and perseverance. We can all learn something from that. Additionally, Drew discusses several key elements of the Saints franchise, including the history of the "Who Dat" chant(which I didn't know), his predecessors such as Archie Manning, and the close relationship the team has always had with the city of New Orleans. Also, it's pretty cool to see the bond that Drew and his family have formed with New Orleans themselves, and especially how dedicated they are to helping the city continue to recover by way of their charity work. All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves football-yes, Dirty Bird fans, that includes you too.
September 12, 2014
Great book. Is about Drew Brees quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and he's road to New Orleans. First in his junior year of high school he tears his ACL and only 3 colleges offer him a scholarship Purdue, Kentucky, and, Brown. He Commits to Purdue but has to sit out till his sophomore season to get off the bench and play football. Also while he was at Purdue he met his now wife Brittany. When he first saw his wife he was nervous so he didn’t talk to her for a while. When he finally talked to here he drank a little too much and left a bad first impression. The next morning he felt bad and didn’t talk to here for a while again. He finally saw her at a party. He offered to drive here home and they were friends. They started to get to know each other in his junior year. They later got married in the offseason of 2006. After his senior season at Purdue was over he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd round 1st pick but in a blowout against the Broncos in the last game of the season he suffered a dislocated shoulder. It was his last game in a Charger uniform. He was a free agent witch mean not on a team. Two team were after him the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints. He chose the Saints and he had a decent first year with them now he is a Super Bowl champion and a Super Bowl MVP. He now has a son named Baylen Brees.
February 2, 2016
I loved this book! I am not what most would consider a religious person. Thankfully, even though Brees is what he calls a "man of faith", this book is not preachy. There is so much that can be taken away from his story. None of us are perfect. Most of us face adversity (of various degrees) every day of our lives. My favorite idea that he brings up several times is that we can't win every game. I tell our boys this constantly. What Brees adds to this statement, I often fail to mention. It is okay to lose if we are willing to learn from our losses. I admire his love for his family, his team and the place he calls home. Despite who he is, he knows that it is not all about him. He really is a class act!
** I also greatly appreciated his shout-outs to certain players. It was nice to hear how much respect he has for many of the guys he has shared the field with... and against! **
** I also greatly appreciated his shout-outs to certain players. It was nice to hear how much respect he has for many of the guys he has shared the field with... and against! **
September 16, 2010
When I first opened the book, I was unsure of what to expect. With the first few chapters, I was able to settle in the couch, thinking that it was just like any other autobiography- it was still interesting though! But it was about a football player growing up wanting to play baseball. I already knew the outcome; he would go on and lead his team to win the Superbowl. Little did I know Drew Brees would start discussing his faith with passion, sharing who was ultimately responsible for his success- Jesus. I became engaged as I read the play by plays, how he came up with chants to encourage his team, and most of all how vital God was to his life, not just on the playing field, but off as well. As a husband, father, son, brother and more. I've already recommended this book to others WHILE I had a few chapters left to go! Now I've completed it, I'm ready to throw it to the next receiver!
February 12, 2013
I rated this book because i thought that there was a great flow of words and context in the book. With telling about Drew Brees's younger life i thought there was a lot of the questions that were answered that i asked myself before i even read it. If you are going to read this you have to like sports novels with a little bit of drama or in words "adversity" with Drew Brees and his football career.
My favorite part of the book was when Drew won the Championship and he had his boy in his hands. I just thought that had to be one of the greatest moments of his life no doubt.
The Worst part of the book was when he had dislocated his shoulder playing with the San Diego Chargers. He went for a fumbled and then some linemen dove on him and that is how the injury that probably could have changed his career forever! I am not saying it was bad, it was just nerve-wrecking to read it...
My favorite part of the book was when Drew won the Championship and he had his boy in his hands. I just thought that had to be one of the greatest moments of his life no doubt.
The Worst part of the book was when he had dislocated his shoulder playing with the San Diego Chargers. He went for a fumbled and then some linemen dove on him and that is how the injury that probably could have changed his career forever! I am not saying it was bad, it was just nerve-wrecking to read it...
January 1, 2013
This is a memoir of the experiences Drew Brees had leading up to the Saints' Superbowl win and what motivates him as a quarterback. I enjoyed the parts where Drew described his motivation prep as leader of the football team; how he met his wife and what they have experienced as a family; what he went through when his shoulder was injured and the recovery process; his move to New Orleans. What I didn't enjoy were the descriptions of the football games. I'm not much of a football fan, don't really understand a lot of the details of the games, so those parts were a bit lost to me. Overall, I have come to like and respect Mr. Brees a lot from this memoir. This is a great book for anyone interested in football.
December 21, 2011
snoozefest.
interesting when he talks about his family and childhood, but only a few short bits with few explanations. the first chapter about his childhood and the chapter about meeting his wife were good.
he repeats himself a lot and finds 10 ways to say the same thing in the same paragraph. and i get it that you should "find the negative into a positive" and that "God has a course for him" but hearing those phrases over and over in the previously mentioned form was annoying. i got it!
if you love drew or the saints or want to relive the 2009 saints season in excrutiating detail from DB's point of view you might love this book. otherwise i'm not sure who i'd recommend this to.
interesting when he talks about his family and childhood, but only a few short bits with few explanations. the first chapter about his childhood and the chapter about meeting his wife were good.
he repeats himself a lot and finds 10 ways to say the same thing in the same paragraph. and i get it that you should "find the negative into a positive" and that "God has a course for him" but hearing those phrases over and over in the previously mentioned form was annoying. i got it!
if you love drew or the saints or want to relive the 2009 saints season in excrutiating detail from DB's point of view you might love this book. otherwise i'm not sure who i'd recommend this to.
October 5, 2016
This story is about adversity. Drew Brees has fought and fought and fought to get where he is right now. Drew Brees had to have a humongous surgery on his shoulder and was dropped by his team the San Diego Chargers. Can Drew Brees come back from this devastating surgery? What I liked about this story was that it was very engaging and had a really good feel to it. What I didn't like about it was that it didn't have a great storyline... Lots of switching back between Adult and child life. I can connect this book to a lot of the sports books but especially Mike Lupica books specifically qb1. If you like sports books I really recommend this book to you.
January 6, 2017
Coming back stronger is about a NFL quarterback named Drew Brees who's has to over come many tough obstacles through out his life. When he was young he had to overcome family problems. The thing that help him most was his brother and his Christianity. He had to overcome many injuries through his career which he had to overcome and late became one of the most successful players in the NFL. I think if your into sports and wanna hear about a heart warming story I think this book would be a great choice.
January 23, 2011
I love Drew Brees; he's my #1. His framed front-page from SB44 is on my mantle, his SI Man of the Year on my coffee table. I love the Saints. And I loved that season and it was great remembering everything that had happened since 2006. All those games that I was with them every pass, every rush. Wish the writing was a little stronger or it had been in 3rd person. Some parts were just a bit hard to get through due to the "eh" writing, but a nice read. Who Dat!
February 8, 2013
full of platitudes and cliches. I'm a Christian, but I felt like I was reading a book of Christian cliches. State problem/adversity, insert Christian cliche. Found the book very repetitious. I did enjoy his story, but the book could have been much shorter. Very quick read
August 18, 2013
Mr. Drew Brees got my emotion in this book. A very inspiring story indeed, he really truly made a remarkable comeback that started in his life and transcended to the whole community in the city of New Orleans.
December 30, 2014
Wow, have had this on my kindle for over a year, finally read thanks to a great friend, for recommending me to read it.
What is amazing is when you read a book at the
Right time in your life.
Highly recommend it!
What is amazing is when you read a book at the
Right time in your life.
Highly recommend it!
November 20, 2017
I was suprised how much I liked this book. Of course I love watching Drew Brees play football, but was a little scared this would be too much of a religion book as well. It does talk about his faith, but it doesn't go over the top with it. Basically I came away thinking Drew Brees is just a solid person, just as good as he is playing football. He's had to really face some difficult obstacles in his life, I almost forget he was a San Diego Charger and a pretty good player until he got hurt. Then after his injury he signed with the New Orleans Saints after nobody wanted to play there because of the wreckage from Hurricane Katrina. A lot is written about Katrina in this book as well, and some parts will make you pull out a tissue. I also like that Brees talks about his birthmark on his face and how he could have gotten it removed, but didn't because it's who he is. I have a birthmark on my neck and used to be very, very embarrassed about it, but now I just accept it as part of me. So I liked that chapter on the book too. And of course, the stuff on his football days, especially the 2006 season and 2009 season with the Saints were fun to relive. I forgot all about the Monday Night football game, the first game back at the Superdome in 2006. It was also fun to relive the 2009 season were the Saints were so good. Good stuff, and very inspirational.
April 29, 2019
I really liked this book because it was about my favorite NFL player. I learned many new things about him like how he broke/dislocated his elbow. I also like him because he went to a BIG Ten school. He also worked really hard to get to the NFL. I never thought Drew would right a book about his life. Most of this book was about how he was always told that he wasn't good enough. He was told at a very young age that he would find something else to do with his life because football wasn't going to get him anywhere. He was motivated more than ever at a very young age to prove them wrong. I really liked this book because it proves that everyone can do what they want. It also proves that if you really want something go and get it and don't look back and that hard work pays off.
Read
March 15, 2018It is a great book about Drew brees of the new orleans saints and his career and overcoming adversity and powering through. The theme is to not give up and push through things like injuries, etc... This book is a great inspiration to people who play sports. The sport doesn't even have to be football, it's inspirational to all people of any sport. Drew brees is a quarterback for the national football league and will go down as a hall of famer and best QB in all of football.
September 20, 2023
Being a Saints fan, it was inspiring to hear Drew's story of his recovery to leading the Saints to their very first Super Bowl in 2009. Highly recommend this to any sports fan or anyone in a leadership position.
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