Barry Sanders Now You See Him: His Story in His Own Words

by Barry Sanders, Mark E. McCormick, John Madden (Introduction)

Why did Barry Sanders, one of the game's most exciting and explosive running backs, suddenly retire just as he was closing in on the all-time NFL rushing record? At the height of his career, he walked away without explanation. In this amazing book, Sanders reveals for the first time how he came to make the biggest decision of his life.

Genres: Sports, Football, Biography

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2003

About the author

American football player Barry Sanders as running back for the lions of Detroit rushed for more than one thousand yards in each of his ten seasons of professional play from 1989 to 1998.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_S...

Reviews

[SpicySenor]

Barry had always been apparently distant from the media. I was never able to get a grip on his personality other than what was voiced by his playing. I began this book in hopes of stepping inside the mind of my childhood hero. As I began, his accounts of childhood were remarkably relatable. Big family, parent pressures, playing in the front yard, it really brought me back.
I am happily surprised to have picked up so many insights from the read, especially the analogy of his gradual loss of interest in playing to a sunset’s indefinite ending. Furthermore, his rationale for retirement which has been cluttered with rumors is made clear. I supported his decision to leave, though abrupt, and now I respect it.
I wish I enjoyed this read as a child while my fandom was highest and it could have impacted me significantly. Today however, decades later, the excitement of his career is still there. In his words.

[Jeff Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in 1999 Barry Sanders was having an awesome career, so why would he want to leave the game with many endorsements and a new 36 million dollar contract. Well many people had their speculations as I did which were wrong. Barry tells of Disappiontments, loses and betrayals as key points as to why he simply just walked away with no regrets. Walter Payton once said "If you can`t play the way the game was meant to be played, you shouldn`t play the game at all" Disappointment came when the lions came within one game to the Super Bowl. Loses when the lions players took some big hits to players that ended their career and key players weren`t given new contracts. And betrayals of fighting for a new contract when you were simply the best player around.

[Anup Sinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a huge Barry Sanders fan, I loved reading this pictorial autobiography and it reminded me of what a unique athlete he was. Not only was his style of running unprecedented but so was his modesty and refusal to celebrate or taunt. Though it is not a definitive biography, it is quite revealing of this most quiet superstar and his inner thoughts. I was struck by his struggles to get college offers and how many dismissed him for being “too small” and “avoiding contact”.

Well, he made a Hall of Fame career as a running back who was too small and avoided contact!

Strongly recommended for fellow Barry Sanders fans.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little long but a great read

[Mathew Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly inspiring to me, i mean, too be honest who would ever of thought that Barry Sanders, one of the best running-backs in the history of football, would ever have trouble starting or even getting playtime in his career as a minor? This book really showed me that "Hard work really does pay off". until i read this book i didn't know that Barry Sanders had trouble with Colleges accepting him for being "Too Small", but now all those coaches that didn't want him are ashamed they didn't pick him, because now Barry Sanders is in the hall of fame.

Barry Sanders is one of my favorite athletes besides Terrell Davis, in which i read both there books. But Barry's story is very interesting because he did everything like he wanted to do it. He had some minors here and there for example when Ron Chismar the coach from Wichita state university said "We don't need another midget on our team". But eventually Barry signed to Oklahoma State were he shined and eventually got the Heisman trophy and then graduated to the NFL draft.

This was a very great book and whoever plays sports will be one-hundred percent interested in this book. It shows athletes how to be Humble and caring for the people around you and for the people who never thought you would make it.

[Bert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barry's own words? Whew! Tough to take! It comes with a dvd of highlights from his great running career that is ruined by a crazy rock soundtrack. The book is pretty ridiculous, with Barry giving out simple statements about growing up and his experiences. "My father was hard on me. He pushed me to be the best. I didn't like his way."
on and on. I loved Barry's skills and magic on the field, but someone else should have stepped into this shit and done him justice!

[Chase Granlund]

This book was very interesting. I never knew how many things Barry Sanders went through and how good of a player he really was. Many of the other players in the NFL respected him very much because of his skill level and how small he was. He was underestimated often but proved everyone wrong. He was truly an amazing running back.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm never reading a book written by an athlete again.