Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood

by Jeffrey Marx

Book Overview

The bestselling inspirational book in which the author reunites with a childhood football hero, now a minister and coach, and witnesses a revelatory demonstration of the true meaning of manhood. Joe... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743269748
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

You don't have to love football to love this book!

Loved SEASON OF LIFE by Jeffrey Marx . . . it is the author's account of the Gilman High School football team that is unlike any sports book that I've ever read, in that it is more about how Gilman's coaches use the game to teach such principles as love, empathy, integrity and living a life of service. The 2001 Gilman Greyhounds did not go undefeated; in fact, they barely had a winning season (having previously been one of the top teams in the country) . . . however, their record was never the important thing. As the head coach noted when a mother asked him how successful did he think the boys were going to be, he replied, "I have no idea. . . . I won't really know how successful they're gonna be till they come back to visit in twenty years. . . . Then I'll be able to see what kind of husbands they are. I'll be able to see what kind of fathers they are. I'll see what they're doing in the community." Marx often quotes Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL football star and volunteer Gilman coach . . . now also an ordained minister, Ehrman devotes his life to teaching the Gilman team the precept of his Building Men for Others program: Being a man means emphasizing relationships and having a cause bigger than yourself. It means accepting responsibility and leading courageously. In addition, it means players saying "I love you" to each other and coaches professing their love for their players. There were several memorable passages; among them: * [Erhmann] "And I think the second criterion-the only other criterion for masculinity--Is that all of us ought to have some kind of cause, some kind of purpose in our lives that's bigger than our own individual hopes, dreams, wants, and desires. At the end of our life, we ought to be able to look back over it from our deathbed and know that somehow the world was a better place because we lived, we loved, we were other-centered, other-focused." * "I expect greatness out of you," Biff [Poggi, the head coach] once told the boys. "And the way we measure greatness is the impact you make on other people's lives." * Ultimately, Biff said, the boys would make the greatest overall impact on the world-would bring the most love and grace and healing to people-by constantly basing their thoughts and actions on one simple question: What can I do for you? . . . "Because in case you haven't noticed yet, we're training you to be different," Biff said. "If we lose every game of the year, go oh-and-ten on the football field, as long as we try hard, I don't care. You learn these lessons, and we're ten-and-oh in the game of life." Toward the end of the book, there's a thrilling account of Gilman's last game of the year . . . yet I was even more moved by the author's last chapter . . . at the conclusion of the season, he visited his father and took some of the lessons that he had learned during the season to help revitalize that relationship.

Boys to Men

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR!! There may not be a more importat issue in todays society. We often talk about how athletics is an important training ground for life. It has been never been better demonstrated than by these coaches and this writer. Mr. Marx follows one season of a very special high school football team and the life lessons the team's coaches impart to their athlete's. This book is special. It should be read by every coach , parent and athlete.

amazing teacher and story

Read the book in one sitting. The lessons are for all.Western culture has not helped the maturity of males.This book goes a long way to assist boys in bettering themselves and the world around them. I played High school football with Joe Ehrman and followed his career. After reading this book I have never been prouder of my friend.

A must read!

Not only have I read this book but I was able to go to a seminar that had Jeffrey Marx and Joe Ehrmann as guest speakers. Joe's life story is one that every person should read. Not just Fathers or Coaches. Everyone can learn from this book. I feel blessed to have heard their story in person and then blessed to be given the gift of this book. I have gained so much wisdom and more love from my children by using these methods. I have two boys of my own and as a mother, I needed help in raising two boys to become "Men built for others."

Relationships and boys into men

When I first approached this book, I had the initial impression that it would be just another banal "feel-good" book about football. As I began to read the book and reflect upon "Rev. Joe's" messages, I found myself frantically flipping back pages to reread a passage, or see that quote just one more time. What began as a quick afternoon read, developed into a multi-day affair of taking notes, rereading, and reflecting! The format of the book is deceivingly simple; Mr. Marx is able to convey the warm camaraderie of the Gilman Football team in a very moving, very honest lesson about what it means to love and to be compassionate. Far from being commonplace, the powerful lessons of this book will sit well with young men, people struggling in difficult times, or anyone hoping to read an inspiring story.