What do you think?
Rate this book
Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness
Based on years of in-depth reporting and sources from every corner of his life, Brady is the definitive biography of the life, career, and retirement of one of football’s most legendary figures, Tom Brady.
New York Times best-selling author and Sports Illustrated journalist Lars Anderson plunges into Tom Brady’s childhood to discover the origins of what Brady would later describe as his “sickness”: His category-five obsession with the game. The obsession dictated every choice Brady would make in his life, from what foods he put into his mouth to how he managed his day-to-day schedule to how he viewed his role as a father and husband to supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
From over 350 original interviews with people who knew Brady both on and off the field, Anderson paints a detailed psychological portrait of Brady, a self-described loner whose life was defined by discipline, resilience, a fascination with preparation, an intolerance for wasted time, a relentless pursuit of the extraordinary. What he found was a man riddled with contradiction and a man defined by both a prolific career of unmatched successes on the field, and the agony of realizing the true cost of greatness in his personal life.
Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness is a comprehensive view of the life of the most accomplished player in the history of America’s game. Anderson digs deep behind the headlines to provide a richly detailed answer to one of the most vexing questions in sports: Who, really, is Tom Brady?
New York Times best-selling author and Sports Illustrated journalist Lars Anderson plunges into Tom Brady’s childhood to discover the origins of what Brady would later describe as his “sickness”: His category-five obsession with the game. The obsession dictated every choice Brady would make in his life, from what foods he put into his mouth to how he managed his day-to-day schedule to how he viewed his role as a father and husband to supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
From over 350 original interviews with people who knew Brady both on and off the field, Anderson paints a detailed psychological portrait of Brady, a self-described loner whose life was defined by discipline, resilience, a fascination with preparation, an intolerance for wasted time, a relentless pursuit of the extraordinary. What he found was a man riddled with contradiction and a man defined by both a prolific career of unmatched successes on the field, and the agony of realizing the true cost of greatness in his personal life.
Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness is a comprehensive view of the life of the most accomplished player in the history of America’s game. Anderson digs deep behind the headlines to provide a richly detailed answer to one of the most vexing questions in sports: Who, really, is Tom Brady?
432 pages, Hardcover
Published September 29, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From almost the first page, you can tell that this biography is a little different, and not in a good way. Lars Anderson admits in his acknowledgements that he didn't have Tom Brady's cooperation for this work and it shows. His "sources" are all various interview and article tidbits from over the years and the book reads more like a gossip rag than an actual informative look into Brady's life and psyche. I just watched an interview with Brady on the podcast New Heights and it was way more informative and eye opening to how he ticks. He shows examples of how he's perfected his craft over his career and how hard he worked to become the best of the best. This book talks about Brady's "bedroom eyes" and Gisele Bundchen's zodiac chart at the alleged time of some of their marital problems. The contrast is way too startling to ignore.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm going to start by mentioning the thing that would have kept me from requesting this book but I didn't find out until I got to the acknowledgements: the people who spoke with the team regarding this book were NOT Tom's family, Gisele, Bridget Moynahan, or even Tom himself. Several of the book's sources were anonymous and with those people already excluded, I question how well those people can speak on his life.
Brady is a biography about Tom Brady, from his childhood to early on in his broadcasting career. As a huge Patriots fan, I spent the majority of my adult life rooting for him. Was I mad when he left for Tampa and his goodbye post said that he was "forever a Patriot" - yes because I know what forever means. With time and the arrival of Drake Maye, I'm less resentful. I knew going into this book that I would have to relive some bad times, but the good times far outweighed them. When the book starts with his blind date with Gisele, it didn't start off on the right foot with me. First, this isn't 2021 - that blind date isn't going to end with a happily ever after. Second, I suspect that the people who will pick up this book know that football proved, time and time again, to be his true love. The second chapter goes back to his childhood and works more chronologically from there. Still, the book didn't feel insightful or special in any way. There was a lot of flowery, colorful language to talk about his intensity. The underdog grudge and how he immersed himself in the sport was really the main focus. Which, again, is something we know. So I wasn't surprised when I got to the acknowledgements and the information I mention in my first paragraph. I was; however, disappointed. When I had started the book, I had highlighted another he wrote about Aaron Hernandez but after finishing this book, I'm less sure that I want to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Lars Anderson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Brady is a biography about Tom Brady, from his childhood to early on in his broadcasting career. As a huge Patriots fan, I spent the majority of my adult life rooting for him. Was I mad when he left for Tampa and his goodbye post said that he was "forever a Patriot" - yes because I know what forever means. With time and the arrival of Drake Maye, I'm less resentful. I knew going into this book that I would have to relive some bad times, but the good times far outweighed them. When the book starts with his blind date with Gisele, it didn't start off on the right foot with me. First, this isn't 2021 - that blind date isn't going to end with a happily ever after. Second, I suspect that the people who will pick up this book know that football proved, time and time again, to be his true love. The second chapter goes back to his childhood and works more chronologically from there. Still, the book didn't feel insightful or special in any way. There was a lot of flowery, colorful language to talk about his intensity. The underdog grudge and how he immersed himself in the sport was really the main focus. Which, again, is something we know. So I wasn't surprised when I got to the acknowledgements and the information I mention in my first paragraph. I was; however, disappointed. When I had started the book, I had highlighted another he wrote about Aaron Hernandez but after finishing this book, I'm less sure that I want to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Lars Anderson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 27, 2026
I grew up in New England and lived in Boston during the Brady era so I was already familiar with his story and many of those big games. Anderson did a good job giving details of Brady's adolescence that was already common knowledge and filling in details about the demise of his marriage. I was most interested in how Brady coped with the big losses. Was he difficult to be around? Did he have trouble getting out of bed? I am also curious about how his kids feel about him. Do they resent him for moving them from Boston to Tampa? For not being more involved in their childhood?
It was a well researched book, but I personally would have preferred less game day recap and more insight into Brady's private life and relationships.
It was a well researched book, but I personally would have preferred less game day recap and more insight into Brady's private life and relationships.
September 7, 2026
Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness
by Lars Anderson
Celadon Books, Expected Release September 29, 2026
★★★★★ (5/5)
My 8th grade English teacher, Ms. Grubbs, told me my mind was going to turn to mush if I didn't start reading more serious subjects — all I read as a kid was sports books. Well, she'd be happy to know I've expanded my subject matter since then. But at the risk of getting mush mind again, I just read this outstanding new biography on Tom Brady. I'm a 49er fan and a Joe Montana fan. I considered Montana the GOAT, and I'd argue his case. That was until Brady won his 5th Super Bowl. Then his 6th, that incredible second-half comeback win over the Falcons. Then his 7th, in his 40s, with a new team, the Tampa Bay Bucs. There was no longer a doubt, even for this die-hard Niner fan — Tom Brady is the greatest football player of all time. And this book tells you why. In one word: obsession.
Lars Anderson does an incredible job describing the life story of Brady and his obsession with being the best football player possible. It begins when he first started playing the game, as a backup quarterback on his freshman high school team. He always had to prove himself. He was never considered the best, even on his own team, until he became an established winner in the NFL. In college he started out as the 7th quarterback on the depth chart, running the scout team at Michigan. Even when he became a starter his junior and senior years, he had to split time with a local freshman phenom who the alumni and fans loved and wanted to start over Brady. In the pros, he slipped to the late rounds, where he was finally chosen by the Patriots, who had just made Drew Bledsoe the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
He overcame all of these doubters, not because of great physical ability, but because of an unbelievable work ethic and obsession with the game. It's hard for me to describe just how obsessed he was, but Anderson does a great job with it, so I'll just say: read the book, and I'm sure you'll agree Brady is not normal, to say the least. Football drove his entire life — from eating, to sleeping, to parenting, to being a husband. In fact, his obsession led him to lose his wife, the supermodel of supermodels.
I could go on about this book, but I'll leave it at this: Brady got everything he ever wanted from football, and this book makes painfully clear exactly what it cost him to get it. Not just for sports fans — I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see what real obsession looks like up close.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.
by Lars Anderson
Celadon Books, Expected Release September 29, 2026
★★★★★ (5/5)
My 8th grade English teacher, Ms. Grubbs, told me my mind was going to turn to mush if I didn't start reading more serious subjects — all I read as a kid was sports books. Well, she'd be happy to know I've expanded my subject matter since then. But at the risk of getting mush mind again, I just read this outstanding new biography on Tom Brady. I'm a 49er fan and a Joe Montana fan. I considered Montana the GOAT, and I'd argue his case. That was until Brady won his 5th Super Bowl. Then his 6th, that incredible second-half comeback win over the Falcons. Then his 7th, in his 40s, with a new team, the Tampa Bay Bucs. There was no longer a doubt, even for this die-hard Niner fan — Tom Brady is the greatest football player of all time. And this book tells you why. In one word: obsession.
Lars Anderson does an incredible job describing the life story of Brady and his obsession with being the best football player possible. It begins when he first started playing the game, as a backup quarterback on his freshman high school team. He always had to prove himself. He was never considered the best, even on his own team, until he became an established winner in the NFL. In college he started out as the 7th quarterback on the depth chart, running the scout team at Michigan. Even when he became a starter his junior and senior years, he had to split time with a local freshman phenom who the alumni and fans loved and wanted to start over Brady. In the pros, he slipped to the late rounds, where he was finally chosen by the Patriots, who had just made Drew Bledsoe the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
He overcame all of these doubters, not because of great physical ability, but because of an unbelievable work ethic and obsession with the game. It's hard for me to describe just how obsessed he was, but Anderson does a great job with it, so I'll just say: read the book, and I'm sure you'll agree Brady is not normal, to say the least. Football drove his entire life — from eating, to sleeping, to parenting, to being a husband. In fact, his obsession led him to lose his wife, the supermodel of supermodels.
I could go on about this book, but I'll leave it at this: Brady got everything he ever wanted from football, and this book makes painfully clear exactly what it cost him to get it. Not just for sports fans — I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see what real obsession looks like up close.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.
Read
September 27, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First off, let’s clear the air. This is not an authorized biography of Tom Brady. There are no official interviews with Tom Brady, his family, or close friends. When there are original quotes, it’s usually given by an anonymous source. This meticulously researched biography of the GOAT of pro football is all based on secondary sources. Despite that, I believe that this is the first full-length biography of Tom Brady, and for fans of pro football, that might mean something. Culling quotes and stories from already published material is definitely not unheard of, but die-hard New England Patriots fans might not like the regurgitation.
Beyond the NFL aspect, the book focuses on the cost of extreme discipline and what happens when you have public success but private struggles. Tom Brady is a legendary figure on the football field with an enormous list of achievements, but that came at a cost. As I listened to this biography of Brady, I got a distinct impression of Brady that tracks with someone that touched greatness: great professional achievements, crappy human being in real life. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a Green Bay Packers fan.
What I really appreciated about this book on Tom Brady was there isn’t a lot of play-by-play breakdowns of his various important games. I don’t want that in a football biography. It’s boring. I can read the stats anytime. Football is Tom Brady’s passion, family and friends be damned. I’ve seen that sort of ego and laser-focus in Green Bay a few times, and it never ends well. This biography was just okay to me.
First off, let’s clear the air. This is not an authorized biography of Tom Brady. There are no official interviews with Tom Brady, his family, or close friends. When there are original quotes, it’s usually given by an anonymous source. This meticulously researched biography of the GOAT of pro football is all based on secondary sources. Despite that, I believe that this is the first full-length biography of Tom Brady, and for fans of pro football, that might mean something. Culling quotes and stories from already published material is definitely not unheard of, but die-hard New England Patriots fans might not like the regurgitation.
Beyond the NFL aspect, the book focuses on the cost of extreme discipline and what happens when you have public success but private struggles. Tom Brady is a legendary figure on the football field with an enormous list of achievements, but that came at a cost. As I listened to this biography of Brady, I got a distinct impression of Brady that tracks with someone that touched greatness: great professional achievements, crappy human being in real life. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a Green Bay Packers fan.
What I really appreciated about this book on Tom Brady was there isn’t a lot of play-by-play breakdowns of his various important games. I don’t want that in a football biography. It’s boring. I can read the stats anytime. Football is Tom Brady’s passion, family and friends be damned. I’ve seen that sort of ego and laser-focus in Green Bay a few times, and it never ends well. This biography was just okay to me.
October 15, 2026
Lars Anderson's Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness is as close to a perfect sports biography as you will read.
The book is a perfect blend of family upbringing, the psychological study of a Type A high achiever, the intricacies of the craft, the relentless pursuit of mastering the craft, on-field exploits, on-field failures, professional scandal, the rivalries and relationships that define a career, the pressures of fame, and personal life struggles that we all endure (just not under the microscope of fame).
I really enjoyed the way Anderson breaks down critical plays from Brady's career, as he knows how to build drama, even when you know the outcomes. He even provides an entertaining breakdown of a pickup charity basketball game that highlights Brady's insane competitive nature.
I've read some reviews that rate the book lower because of Brady's lack of participation and the reliance on anonymous sources. That criticism seems overblown, as I imagine if Brady can't control the message, he wouldn't participate. This allows Anderson to do a nuanced portrait, showing the good and the bad while allowing the reader to make up their minds on if the price Brady paid for the pursuit of his dreams was worth the price he eventually paid in losing his marriage.
Highest recommendation.
The book is a perfect blend of family upbringing, the psychological study of a Type A high achiever, the intricacies of the craft, the relentless pursuit of mastering the craft, on-field exploits, on-field failures, professional scandal, the rivalries and relationships that define a career, the pressures of fame, and personal life struggles that we all endure (just not under the microscope of fame).
I really enjoyed the way Anderson breaks down critical plays from Brady's career, as he knows how to build drama, even when you know the outcomes. He even provides an entertaining breakdown of a pickup charity basketball game that highlights Brady's insane competitive nature.
I've read some reviews that rate the book lower because of Brady's lack of participation and the reliance on anonymous sources. That criticism seems overblown, as I imagine if Brady can't control the message, he wouldn't participate. This allows Anderson to do a nuanced portrait, showing the good and the bad while allowing the reader to make up their minds on if the price Brady paid for the pursuit of his dreams was worth the price he eventually paid in losing his marriage.
Highest recommendation.
October 30, 2026
Full disclosure, I am a New England girl and huge Tom Brady fan, so will read any book about him, but this was a very long book for little new content. The new material was a lot of quotes from more obscure players or unattributed people in his circle. The ending was good because there is less published on his tampa time or divorce, and really emphasized the toll the divorce took, so the author should have focused on that rather than rehashing all of the Patriots time which has been written about a lot. There were a lot of anecdotes and game moments that have been told over and over, I found myself skipping paragraphs when I knew everything in it. While I got more of a sense of the obsession Tom has with the game, it was repetitive. And I was disappointing because the authors Season in the Sun, by this author, I quite liked but that was more limited to the move to Tampa and the Super Bowl. If this was more focused, and went deeper on themes less explored, that would have made for a great book.
October 18, 2026
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. As arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, Tom Brady has certainly earned his place in sports history. But what I found most interesting was learning more about the person behind the legend—what shaped him, what drove him, and the sacrifices and challenges that came with his relentless pursuit of greatness.
Don’t get me wrong, I still find him a bit insufferable. But I came away with a greater appreciation for his discipline, determination, and the complexities of his life. Turns out, even Tom Brady is human, just like the rest of us. Who knew?
Don’t get me wrong, I still find him a bit insufferable. But I came away with a greater appreciation for his discipline, determination, and the complexities of his life. Turns out, even Tom Brady is human, just like the rest of us. Who knew?
October 1, 2026
Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the copy. Tom Brady is one of the most exciting figures in sports. This is not an authorized biography of Tom Brady, and it shows through its interviews with sources. This book delves into his life and shows the flaws he has. I, however, can do well without reading about his looks in almost every chapter. This is also crafted well, and no mention of the many plays in each of his important games.
September 12, 2026
“I love Tom, who do you love?” should be the title of this bio. Page after page of gushing depictions of Bradys’ looks, regimented life, and his talent and drive. Still, it begs for better editing. That being said, it’s a glimpse of the GOAT with a conclusion about the price paid to achieve that status.
October 11, 2026
I found this interesting, because I like Tom Brady. Would it have been better if Brady and his family had participated, absolutely. I don't know if framing a large portion of the book on his marriage was necessarily the right choice, but you get the idea of a driven man who can't step away from the game, even after it costs him a marriage.
October 19, 2026
As a long time Brady fan and supporter, I have to say this book did not offer me anything I hadn’t already heard or read somewhere else. We know that Brady intensely loved and studied the game like no other. We know it cost him his marriage. I’m not sure there were any facts in this book that a Brady fan wouldn’t already know. Disappointed.
November 4, 2026
great read for the casual sports fan / new to the NFL fan. truly couldn’t express to you how little I knew and understood about TB prior to reading this book. despite being an unauthorized bio, I felt it was fair storytelling behind one of the greatest athletes of our time.
Review of advance copy
Dude we have GOT to kill Tom Brady.
I am not a sports person at all, so this was a bit of a tough read, but there’s no denying that this is incredibly carefully and artfully crafted.
I am not a sports person at all, so this was a bit of a tough read, but there’s no denying that this is incredibly carefully and artfully crafted.
October 8, 2026
Excellent deep dive into Tom Brady’s life that people haven’t seen before. Shows the true nature of what it takes to become that dominant over such a long span. And how much it cost him personally
October 13, 2026
Disappointing. Like reading a tabloid newspaper. The author makes it PERFECTLY clear whose side he is on. Waste of time.
October 15, 2026
All I have say , “ Money does not buy happiness!”
October 1, 2026
Overcomes all doubters, with a competitive drive extraordinaire, powers to ten Super Bowls and six Lombardi trophies! Post- career as broadcaster equally impressive with many pro team biz interests to steer toward championships. GOAT. Go Blue!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews