Fury: Inside the Life of Theoren Fleury

by Andrew H. Malcolm

Book Overview

On one level, this is the personal story of Theoren Fleury, the diminutive captain of the NHL's Calgary Flames. On another level, this book examines how a pro athlete comes to be famous, and what it means. It is a story about commercialism fed by adulation, about power and riches and the presumed and real virtues of the star players who acquire them. On yet another level it is about what Ken Dryden called simply "The Game." Theoren Fleury received...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0771056559
• ISBN13: 9780771056550
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
• Length: 326 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

You'll love Theo, after you read this book!(if you're human)

I bought this for my husband, for Christmas. I read it out of curiosity. Theo's story will not just warm your heart. It will make you love him, and respect him. So many who have his difficult background use it as an excuse to walk around with a chip on their shoulder. Theo doesn't, he only has a chip on his shoulder on the ice, where it belongs. The author included a lot of other stuff, that sometimes made the book a difficult read, but I'd just turn the pages until he picked up Theo's story again. I liked him to begin with, now I root hard for him, this little dynamo paid his dues, and earned his success. If you only read one book this year, you have to read this one.

A Gretzky pal

I bought FURY a while ago and hadn't gotten around to reading it. But then I saw Wayne Gretzky at his retirement news conference say how he would have liked to play with Theoren Fleury. I got out the book and spent all night reading it. It was one fun book about sports, about an interesting guy and what it is really like inside a real pro sports team. Now that Fleury is playing for an American team it's easier to follow his play--another 40 goal season. Thanks to whoever wrote this book for an interesting read. I learned so much. And it was fun doing it.

More than just a one-person story

Thank goodness, finally a book about a real person and what it's really like inside pro sports. Theo is a fascinating success story. And this writer has a keen eye for the human details that illuminate Theo's life and drive. But I was most appreciative that this very readable book also took me inside the world of pro sports to find out lots of interesting things even about each game, which is really a show involving many more people than just the players. Like those TV shows or movies that include some of the outtakes during the credits. I had a real feeling I was right there with the author and now I understand more when I watch TV. The book moves almost as fast as the game. Now that Theo is playing for an American team his story is even more relevant. More sports books like this one about real people please.

Theo, Theo and some other stuff

The book in general is great. The author tells all about Theo. The one draw back is he tells you just about everything else to know. I feel like I know the whole Flames organization. He'll start talking how Theo had a nerve injury when he was little and then he switches to something like how the team mascot go his job. Seening as how I love hockey I don't mind the extra stuff. But for those expecting pure Theo you have been warned. Anyway just reading this book is very insperational. The author does do a good job of telling people that this little guy does not give up. After reading I applied some of what Theo does to my own game. It literally made me want to go out and play some hockey and just have fun and try my hardest. Theo is a truely inspiring character and the author doesn't do a bad job doing that. Overall it's a great book with a little extra, which you may or may not like.

If only it was JUST about Theo!

I greatly admire Fleury's perserverance. He has made what most would think is an impossible dream a reality and has enjoyed tremendous success doing so. I am a hockey player myself and, at 5'0", the smallest one on the ice most of the time. Therefore, I have a special appreciation for his accomplishments and fearlessness. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Theo's personal journey to the NHL, but was distressed by the disjointed manner in which the story was told. I entered into the book thinking it would be a narrative exclusively about Theo, but the book was as much about the makeup of minor league and NHL hockey as about Theo himself. Not that I'm not interested in the extensive hockey detail - I just thought the attention given to it was inappropriate in this forum. It's not as if THEO'S life didn't have enough richness to it without having to look elsewhere to find stuff to fill the pages. Theo's story is such a remarkable one that it seemed a shame to me that it couldn't have stood on its own. I loved the subject matter, but disliked the way in which the author presented it. If I hadn't though Theo's story was so remarkable, I would have definitely given this book fewer stars.