*The Break-Down:
A vivid account of life in the NFL-- and an inspiring story of everything that comes after.
Against seemingly impossible odds, Sean Conley became the starting kicker for the University of Pittsburgh in his senior year. A year later, he suited up for the Detroit Lions. But when he joined the New York Jets soon after, Conley's injuries caught up to him, and his lifelong dream came crashing down in a crisis of denial and fear.
The Point After is an all-access look at the NFL, one of the most intense workplaces in sports. Conley describes pushing through pain at NFL training camps, surrounded by rookies, All-Pro veterans, and long-shot undrafted free agents, all hell-bent on staying in the game. He recounts the insecurities he dealt with on and off the field and the despair that overtook him when his career ended.
But while Conley thought life was over, it was just beginning. Transcending football is the story of an ex-football player who discovered the true meaning of sports and life and found happiness in the most unexpected way. Embodying the spirit of the underdog, this is a moving tale of strength, determination, and spiritual grit.
*Book synopsis provided by By the Book VBP*
Review:
I never thought I would relate to someone's work ethic and determination so much. I believe I am strongly dedicated to my schoolwork and this blog. I probably overwhelm myself without realizing it. Once the pressure and stress take over, that is when I am aware of my productivity habits. As a college senior, I have trained myself to use any free time I have to focus on the assignments and I picked up the same practice with my book reviews. I now have to remind myself that I should not consider it as work, but more as a hobby I enjoy doing. Conley and I are similar in this way; we put pressure on ourselves to strive for what we want, to accomplish our dreams and goals without realizing it's okay to slow down during the process in the midst of the pressure we think is there.
You do not have to be a dedicated sports/football fanatic to appreciate this book. It's about more than just having a huge dream of becoming an NFL athlete. There are themes of working hard to achieve your goals, having strong ambitions, and accepting that it is okay if there is a slight change in the direction you are going. It may lead to something ultimately greater!
I admire Conley's determination greatly. Despite his injuries and rejections, he pushed and persevered to make his dreams come true. His story is inspiring and demonstrates that hard work pays off if you put your mind to it. At the same time, it is important to know when your body and mind need a break. Rest does not stop the process; it's a temporary pause we need to get to where we are going. Although Conley's dream did not pan out exactly how he wanted it to be, he found and learned something greater than playing football and his meaning of being happy and successful.
"I'd been unwilling to recognize the physical limitations of my body. It was time I did. When we returned home, I thought back to the moment when we couldn't find the exit door. And then I thought, maybe I'm not locked in at all. Maybe an open door was always there, and all I had to do was gather the courage to move on."
- Sean Conley, "The Point After"
This memoir was a little difficult for me to read at first because the football lingo was a little confusing, but I got through it by telling myself that it's not necessarily a football book, it's a person telling their story about this profession coming into fruition. Conley's storytelling is simply filled with some moments of laughter and sadness. I loved the names of each chapter the most; I thought it was smart to name them within the theme of football and how certain scenarios resonated with that specific chapter, "Kickoff" and "Hail Mary" to name a few. I also appreciated Conley's black and white photos of his life he added to the book.
I recommend this book to high school and college students who enjoy sports and who may want to fulfill the same dream! Anyone who likes memoirs and football will enjoy this book too.
Rating: 4 stars
Enjoy and happy reading!
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