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

I saw and loved the movie. So, I read up a little on Michael Oher, and have always been impressed with him. The Blind Side is more like an outline of Michael Oher’s life, but this book was the real meaty part of his life story. It was so believable and touching. Hard work, dreams and aspirations, and good people can often lead to great results. I cried too many times while reading this book…what more can I say?

I think Michael Over will chuckle at me for calling it a masterpiece. But I believe this not only a book that many young people should get their hands on and read it. Also, adults, parents and even grandparents should read it. There are so many of us that want to help but either don't know where to start or even how to start looking. This book of Michael's experiences is eye opening to the needs out there.Thank you Michael Over for giving us an insight into your life.

Loved the book! Very impressive life story and should inspire many people from teens to adults to work hard and keep eying the prize. Good, worthwhile goals always payout in some way.

Michael Oher has had so many other people tell his story that he must have felt he finally had to tell his own story in his own words.Michael Oher may be the most well known offensive lineman in the history of the National Football League after the movie, The Blind Side, based on the best selling book of the same name by Michael Lewis. The Blind Side tells of an inner city Memphis kid who grew up virtually homeless but rose to become the first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.Anyone who read or saw The Blind Side knows the basics of Oher's story. He grew up in drug infested neighborhoods in Memphis with an indifferent mother addicted to crack cocaine, who often left her many kids to fend for themselves and was at times homeless.Oher grew up often not knowing where his next meal was coming from or even where he would sleep. In an out of foster care, sometimes homeless, always destitute in if not the basics, direction and care, his character and work ethic, along with a lot of help from some very generous people, eventually landed him at a private school in well to do part of Memphis.The amazing aspect of Oher's success beyond people like the Tuohy family who took him into their home and made him part of their family, is his work ethic and perseverance through severe disadvantages.Yes, Oher got lucky that there were enough people to help him along the way achieve his dreams. But it takes more than being huge and athletic to take those opportunities and turn them into success. While there are many, many, better off, less disadvantaged athletes that never graduate from college or achieve any level true success in professional sports, Oher graduated and had had success as a pro. Regardless of talent and background, that takes a lot of hard work. And despite the unbelievable disadvantages, Oher took the opportunities in front of him and made a success of his life.In this book Michael talks about his life growing up, his love for his siblings and his adopted family, the Tuohys, but he also has a message. And that message is to those in similar circumstances not to give up, work hard, and take the opportunities afford and make the best of them. While not all kids in Oher's situation will be quite as lucky, and probably not have quite the perseverance, Oher's success creates a model and gives hope to others.And another amazing thing about Oher is how self aware he is. He notes that the life of a professional football player is short, so he doesn't live lavishly and plans to save and have a plan for the future. He understands that he doesn't know everything about football and the professional game and understands he has to continue to learn and improve. It's a rather refreshing perspective.This book is readable, interesting, and while it will not really tell much that is not basically known about Oher's life and success, it is his message of hope and perseverance that makes it a worthwhile read.

I got the Kindle version of this on a whim, and I didn't expect much because these "written by a famous person" books are generally ghost-written exercises in self-aggrandizement. Every now and then, however, you come across a really good and meaty memoir...and this is one of those. Mr. Oher clearly wrote this book himself. It is written in a conversational style not typical of professional authors, and it personalized the book in such a brilliant way. You can tell that you are reading this young man's own words and thoughts. It's totally endearing. The substance of the book is wrenching and lovely and funny all at once. Mr. Oher's sense of humor and his ability to tell stories of terrible sadness mix together into something really special.I loved learning about Oher's irritation at certain parts of The Blind Side film's depiction of him. I loved hearing the confidence and awareness in his self-evaluation. He has a remarkably observant estimation of his own gifts and shortcomings that I found inspiring. Some of the reviews I consulted before buying this book said they felt Oher's tone was unappreciative, dismissive, or even snobby. I didn't sense that in any part of the book; in fact, he spends a great deal of time talking about everyone in his life--other children, select teachers, neighbors, social workers, and coaches--who showed him a kindness. He leaves out no one. He stresses the importance of not just the Tuohy family, but each of the others who helped him, fed him, sheltered him, or taught him. How anyone got ingratitude from this book is beyond me. This is a man who knows where he came from, knows what his mistakes were, and knows how hard he worked personally to gain what he's now received. He shows gratitude, but does not spend half the book gushing about how he'd be nothing without this or that person because the simple truth is: there was no way Michael Oher was ever going to allow himself to be "nothing."You get honest truth in this book about what it felt like to be Michael Oher as a child, how he views the people who formed his childhood now that he's grown up, and what he thinks people who come from a similar background should focus on to achieve their potential. At the end of the book, Mr. Oher talks about the charities he is familiar with himself and offers a long list of ideas about how individuals can make a difference for children in distress. It was wonderful getting to hear the voice of the real Michael Oher, and I highly recommend this for a nice weekend read.I loved every paragraph of this book, and I couldn't put it down. Well done, Mr. Oher. Very well done, indeed.

This was such a wonderful read. My heart broke for Michael and his siblings. For him to come out of such a terrible situation and be so successful warms my heart.

Michael Oher is an inspiration to do many. I'm a mother and grandmother who has seen the movie and read the books, I can't stress enough how important Michael's words are. His dedication and hard work got him to where he is today, and he should be so proud!!!!

I loved Michael's honesty and transparency. It was good to hear his story that wasn't the Hollywood version. He is someone who inspires us to strive for better. I like that he included ways to help others at the end of the book.

The book fills the gaps left out in the film.It showed Michael’s real struggles until he met his adopted family.Also, it tells the reader how his mother and all his siblings were still apart of his life which the filmdoesn’t show.

Story is heart warming the man incredible and the support around is awsome

I saw the film first, and it was wonderful to hear Michael's own words afterwards when I found there was a book he'd written, for me it was the best way round. He has a truly inspiring story to tell and I feel privileged to have shared it

I bought this book after watching the film "The Blindside" and it really is an even greater look into Mr. Oher's life. It's also really interesting to see just how different the film is from his actual life and his opinions on all this.Most of all it is a very inspiring against the odds story.

An inspirational story well worth reading. Having also read "The Blind Side" and "In a Heartbeat" I do, however, get the impression that Michael has chosen to omit incidents which did not fit well with his message to young readers trying to overcome their own problems in life.