Gunslinger: The Remarkable, Improbable, Iconic Life of Brett Favre

by Jeff Pearlman

 “Over two decades, Brett Favre was as compelling a figure as any in the National Football League. He alone was 'Must-See TV.' In Gunslinger, Jeff Pearlman provides an extraordinary look at every facet of the life of a man who performed on sport's grandest stage and who had one helluva time along the way.”—Al Michaels   In Gunslinger, Jeff Pearlman tells Brett Favre’s story for the first time, charting his unparalleled journey from a rough rural childhood and lackluster high school football career to landing the last scholarship at Southern Mississippi, to a car accident that nearly took his life, and eventually to the NFL and Green Bay, where he restored the Packers to greatness and inspired a fan base as passionate as any in the game. Yet he struggled with addiction, infidelity, the loss of his father, and a fraught, painfully prolonged exit from the game he loved, a game he couldn’t bear to leave.   Gritty and revelatory, Gunslinger is a big sports biography of the highest order, a fascinating portrait of the man with the rocket arm whose life has been one of triumph, fame, tragedy, embarrassment, and—ultimately—redemption.   “The compelling, complete story of his legend, and his faults.”—Chicago Tribune

Genres: Sports, Biography, Football, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Memoir

662 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

Jeff Pearlman is an American sportswriter. He has written nine books that have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list: four about football, three on baseball and two about basketball. He authored the 1999 John Rocker interview in Sports Illustrated.

Reviews

[Carol Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best football biography I've read in many, many years -- Jeff Pearlman writes about Brett Favre with unmistakable affection but he never, ever turns a blind eye to his mistakes. The interviews with the Favre family are incredibly candid and poignant. I'm only a casual fan of the game and I can't believe how much I learned, especially about the offensive side of the game and how quarterbacks and receivers work together under pressure. Now I want to read everything by Jeff Pearlman!

[Nathaniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with the rating. but 2.5 is about as generous as I get with this.

Sports biographies are notoriously easy reads, and this is no different. I skipped 100+ pages about Brett's childhood and college, and skimmed about another fifteen percent. I don't read fast at all, and yet I read the book in roughly 24 hours. The issue with the book is I knew, or had heard about most of the racy bits about Favre's career. I remember hearing rumors about his womanizing, I remember hearing about his alcoholism and drug-addiction before the rehab stints. So Pearlman had an uphill climb with me., and the review reflects that more than a problem with Pearlman's narrative or information.

The stuff Pearlman added to my brain about Favre, I probably didn't want to know. It was fun to romp down memory lane, and the tidbits added to the games I remember vividly or vaguely were very good. I appreciate the research and the interviews Pearlman put into this book, but ultimately I only sort of enjoyed myself.

An aside: NFL Films have produced a Greatest Games DVD set for many NFL franchises. For reasons I'm not sure why, the Packers is 10 discs, primarily being a Brett Favre collection. Pearlman's book details at least five games on the Packers collection...Favre's first Packer game vs. Cincinnati; a game vs. the Bears; the NFC Championship Game vs. Carolina, the Super Bowl vs. Patriots, and Favre's incredible game after his father's death vs. Oakland. It's not the worst thing in the world to read Pearlman's book and then throw in one of those games.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to rate this 3 1/2 stars, but I'll just round it up to 4.

As a lifelong fan of the Vikings, I was definitely interested in reading this book to learn more about the life of Brett Favre. This seems to be a pretty complete overview and not just limited to on-field situations. This is my first time reading a sports-related biography, so I was unsure of what to expect. I did like the human interest pieces a lot more than the play-by-play that was inserted throughout, but I did often remind myself about who makes up the intended audience and why the play-by-play was likely included so often.

Content
Although this was a sports biography, I was not expecting quite so much rehashing of past play in a detailed manner. I was more interested in the human side, and thought that less attention to the play-by-play aspect would have been just fine. I would have also liked to have seen a few more specific stories about his time as a Viking (again, Viking fan here). I would have liked to have seen more on what made Favre a great teammate in general (such as when he sang ‘Pants on the Ground’ for Percy Harvin following a Vikings victory, or gifting the team with Wranglers after the 2009 season). I also did not notice a mention of the fact that with Favre’s first win over the Packers, he became the first NFL quarterback to have a victory over all 32 teams.

Style
I often found myself having to re-read sentences in this book, as they seemed to have been written to be humorous. For whatever reason, I feel that many of those sentences would be great if read aloud – they just come across as odd in the written format.

Summary
Overall, this book is a good and enjoyable read. I learned some interesting tidbits, and my husband had to put up with me mentioning some of the better tidbits the entire time I read the book. I think this book would be enjoyable for anyone who likes NFL football or interesting people in general.

[Brian Eshleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might be the best sports biography of a single figure I have ever read. It's a tough format into which to breathe life and can easily descend into a desiccated recitation of statistics. The reader really gets to know Brett Favre, to hear the laces ripping through the air on his throws and, between those, too since the beat of his flawed warrior's heart.

[Preacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spelling errors , I did learn a lot about a qb I grew up with and at times I hated him and at times I understood how he acted. I think his wife is an angel especially with all the shit he put her through. It's funny at times as well.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book

4 1/2 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. I am a football fan but not a huge Packer supporter.

This book is full of fact and is very well referencedbfor a sports book.

[Nick Penzenstadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up idolizing Brett like every other 90s kid in the Fox Valley so this was fun. I didn't know a lot about the early days and year in Atlanta and this filled in the gaps. Glad Pearlman dug deep to fill in the dark details-- but I still felt the evidence and anecdotes to support his constant drumbeat of Favre as substance-abuser and womanizer ended up a little thin. That's not to say those aren't both true. Also wanted to hear more about Brett's recent dabbles into triathlon-- I'd love to get on a bike ride with him some day! This is required reading for any fan of the team from the 920.

[Marc Gerstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve often thought that mainstream sociologists miss the boat by failing to recognize how much of what goes on in and around pro sports, from the perspective of participants, chroniclers and fans, can be seen, appreciated and studied as archetypes for life in general. Such issues are very much present, albeit not necessarily appreciated (possibly not even by the author) in “Gunslinger.”

Presumably, those who read this review (aside, perhaps, from Goodreads friends wondering what the heck I’m babbling about this time) knows Brett Favre is a famous Quarterback and although not necessarily the absolute greatest in any single category, was one of the most impressive and significant in the era in which he played (pretty much the 1990s-2000s). What’s most noteworthy about him was captured by the title; in the context of the way pro football is played in this generation, Favre was notorious (for better and/or worse) as just that, a gunslinger.

Modern football is an incredibly disciplined regimented endeavor with the greatest success in the game being achieved by New England Patriots head coach and grand high exalted mystic poobah Bill Belichick and his well-known manta “Do your job.” As admirable as it may be to understand and see the big picture, what really counts with him is a player’s willingness and ability to consistently do exactly what he is told to do. If a wide receiver is supposed to run at a 45 degree angle to the line of scrimmage until he’s traveled 12 yard from the scrimmage, stop, turn and face the Quarterback, then that’s what he is supposed to do. If he does it consistently and holds onto the ball if its thrown to him, he can have a good career. If he sometimes runs 40 degrees, sometimes turns at 11 yards instead of 12, he’s not likely to last long. Even the process of improvisation is regimented, how and under what circumstances the quarterback can change the play at the scrimmage and the parameters of potential changes. Compare all this with how football is played among kids: “Everybody go deep. I’ll throw to whoever I can find who’re open.”

Brett Favre excelled in the regimented world of pro football despite the fact that his in his heart, he always remained the kid who wanted to just tell team mates to go deep and that he’ll figure out how to get the ball to somebody. That he lasted at all at the pro level is somewhat amazing. So much, much, much, more so that he became a legend and a Hall of Famer, despite the fact that hos coaches often wanted to wring his neck for all the gunslinging he did.

Maybe it’s just a matter of me empathizing with a guy like that because of my own gunslinging tendencies, where, when I worked at a mega-size corporation (Reuters) I often irritated people I wanted to talk to by walking up to them and asking if they could spare a minute rather than having gone on Outlook to reserve a conference room and schedule a meeting, or when I was asked regarding a new product I was trying to develop what revenues would be after five years and I answered “Damned if I know. Can I get back to you in five years?” (Not my fault; I went to work for a tiny dot-com that had pizza eating and hot dog eating contests but we were acquired, and then the company that bought us was acquired by Reuters.)

There are Brett Favres everywhere in the world, some we love and some we hate, some who succeed and some who fail. Some are obscure. Others are famous and revered (Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett). Others are famous and reviled (Travis Kalanik, Donald Trump). Others make you scratch your head and go “WTF?” (see, e.g. baseball player Manuel Puig).

I love reading biographies and books that focus on people like this. In today’s world with more information and procedures than we’ve ever had (I’m sure many a medieval monk would look at us today and say “Hey, can you guys just Chill!”), it’s important that we not lost sight of our gunslingers, who they are, how they get to be the way they are and what makes them tick. Favre is not the only gunslinger who has been written about and I’ve read (and reviewed on Goodreads others from other areas of life), but in terms of sports generally and pro football particularly, this book is a must read.

[Pat Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished the third of three books that Colin Cowherd recommended on his sports talk show. I think I enjoyed this one the best. The other two were "Boys Will Be Boys" about the Dallas Cowboys super years and "Football for a Buck" about the rise and fall of the USFL football league. I think this story was more compelling because it stays close to Favre through his entire life and his life is a very interesting one. Pearlman doesn't pull any punches as far as making Favre look like a saint, which he wasn't, but I still found that I was pulling for him throughout the book. Books about sports and sports figures have been a favorite of mine my whole reading life so that and the plug by Cowherd made me read these books. I learned a lot about Favre and where he comes from, kind of what makes him tick, and his personality traits, as well as a lot about his family while he grew up and on into his adulthood. I think if you a Green Bay Packer fan you will probably enjoy this book tremendously if you haven't already read it. I know I became more of a Favre fan after reading it.

[Jeff Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how you write a modern sports biography! The only thing that keeps this from being 5 stars is the fact the author did not speak to Favre himself for it. That's not Pearlman's fault - Favre had his personal reasons that he told Pearlman later why (not revealed in the book) he didn't speak on the record for it, but still it would have made the work complete. As it stands, it's still quite readable, and reveals how complicated Favre could be. He could be both an incorigible partier, goof, drinker, and adulterer (!), but also sensitive, generous, and willing to sacrifice himself countless times to give his team a chance. Seriously, Favre might be one of the toughest QBs of all time.

(Pearlman did speak to much of his family for the book, which provided important details and background.)

I read this book soon after I had finished Kerry Eggers' Jailblazers book. Most of the issues I had with that book are nowhere to be found here. Highly recommended to anyone who's a fan of football. Or from Wisconsin.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I heard "this is a book Brett Favre doesn't want you to read." I knew a lot about his philandering in college because I had friends from Green Bay who talked about seeing him in the bars and all the rumors that flew around. I LOVED Brett when he was a Packer, and I have so many good memories of watching the games and Super Bowl seasons when I was in college. He really became dead to me when he unretired, and especially when he went to the Vikings. This book really made me angry during the chapters he was there, and now that he's been caught stealing welfare funds to build stadiums at his alma mater, well. We'll miss you, Brent.

[William (Bill) Fluke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Good author. Brett Favre is a legend. I feel sad though how he hung around the game too long and took too many chances. The fact that he now suffers from Parkinson’s disease is no doubt due to his style of play (reckless) and hanging on too long. Interesting to learn more about him. I will now want to check out some of the other books by Ron Pearlman.

[Scott Tappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough to read a lot of what’s written here about my boyhood idol, but still glad I did.

[Daly O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this author. I also love Brett Favre, but boy was he a dick.

[Dave Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearlman is today's gold standard for book research.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable is the perfect word to describe the life of Brett Favre. Improbable would be someone managing to survive a career of that length under the most pristine circumstances! Favre's approach and lifestyle choices were the opposite of pristine, nothing what you would expect from a top level athlete. But, what success he did have. Iconic. Hard to imagine being more successful than he was. But, what if he had not been in a car accident in college? Or not become a drug addict, nor slept with an abundance of women, or consumed the amount of beer that he did? What if he had rested and not stayed out all night partying? Brett Favre could have been even more successful! Mind blowing isn't it? We often forget that these athletes are real people. The author (Jeff Pearlman) does a great job pointing out the fact that athletes have flaws and struggles too. Although this book makes you long for football season, its quite an entertaining read. I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway (Thank You) and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the sport of football.

[C Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Pearlman has written several books that peel the varnish off and gives us a glimpse at the real lives of sports stars. This book about the life of Brett Favre is no exception. It reveals the great, the good, the not so good, and the bad. It’s all here.

This biography of Favre does a great job of filling in his childhood, high school, and college days which many people are not as aware of. Brett started out as a prankster and living life hard (or to its fullest) and he never really quit. The book details his rise in the National Football League and offers many anecdotes about his behavior, both good and bad, but also about his unbelievable play on the field.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Brett Favre is his almost Jekyll and Hyde nature. He can be unbelievably kind to young fans and those in need, but unbelievably cruel to some family members and teammates. His practical jokes sometimes went a little too far bordering on meanness. He is a good family man but also a philanderer. He basically behaved, even as a superstar, like a juvenile with too many hormones and too little brains. He also became addicted to alcohol and painkillers while in the NFL.

Another interesting aspect of the book is Farve’s father Irv and how he really latched onto Brett’s fame and fortune and started living out his own dreams through his son. He also was a philanderer and spent a lot of time around the team, in bars, and bragging about who his son was. I didn’t know much about Irv until this book.

Finally the book of course talks about Favre’s incredible Hall of Fame football career. Despite the prankster attitude he took football seriously and clearly loved playing the game. He had one of the best arms in NFL history but his biggest downfall, as the title of the book suggests, was he was a gunslinger. He often took chances he shouldn’t have so in addition to the many passing records he holds, he also holds the record for most interceptions in a career. I would argue that Green Bay would have won more than one Super Bowl had Favre not had a tendency to throw interceptions in the playoffs.

The details about his move to the New York Jets and then the Minnesota Vikings after Green Bay Packers got fed up with the uncertainty of whether Brett really would retire or not is well told here. There was a lot of drama in Green Bay around Brett’s departure and he didn’t help matters by playing into the drama with his coy indecisiveness for a few years.

The only fault I have with the book overall is there really isn’t much that is new here except some of the interviews conducted during the book. But a lot of what is chronicled here is mostly already known. The book does a nice job of pulling it all together go and weaving together the narrative of Brett’s life on and off the field.

[Dumb Guy Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more than just a look at the iconic life of Wisconsin's favorite pill popping philanderer it's also an indictment of the weak ass players of today. One hell of a good time. Check out our full review at: https://soundcloud.com/dumbguybookclu...

[Chuck Slack · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I have to say I am a huge Packers fan. One who enjoyed watching Brett Favre play. His field presence and obvious love of the game was easy to see and very well presented in this no-holds barred biography of the football legend. This is an enjoyable read. It is not a fluff piece or a tribute. It is a well researched, presented biography. Recommended for the sports fan.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative read. I grew up watching Favre play, and to hear some of the things that went on off the field, was a bit shocking to me. Of course, he's no saint, never thought he was. This book I think does a fair job of telling his story. You get the good with the bad. Pretty much all the major events are covered (that I'm aware of). If you are a fan of Favre's or your just looking to read an interesting sports Biography, this is a good choice. Very well written and doesn't pull punches..

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “ANOTHER PEARL (man) OF A POWERFUL SPORTS BIOGRAPHY”
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As a voracious reader of hundreds upon hundreds of sports biographies over the years… one thing this “Fan-tastic” book on Brett Favre made me realize… is that Jeff Pearlman has become hands down my favorite current sports (and team) biographer. I have read and loved (that means more than enjoyed)… his book on Walter Payton… his book on the steroid-cheating Roger Clemens… the reign of the Showtime Lakers… and the domination and debauchery… of the 90’s Dallas Cowboys. And with the addition of this biography of the all too human… indestructible… cannon armed… Brett Favre… as I read the last few pages… and actually earlier than the last few pages… Jeff once again has me hoping and praying… that he’s already doing his leg work on his next epic biography.

One of his greatest talents… is the honesty he puts into his writing process. Pearlman truly holds nothing back in writing… THE GOOD… THE BAD… AND THE UGLY… of his subjects… and Brett Favre is another classic example of the author’s technique… AND… honesty. Most biographers either put a subject on a pedestal throughout the book… when they haven’t truly earned such an eternal resting place… other author’s… entire goal is to lambast… embarrass… and destroy… the subject. Pearlman… tells it like it is… and paints the characters as the true human beings they are. At times blessed… with the Lord’s natural gifts… and at times… putting a mirror up to the behavior that’s akin to them constantly flushing those gifts down life’s toilets. The author also does his work with an obvious goal of the truth… based on minute intricate details… honed… from exhaustive first hand interviews of people involved. In the case of this book… that entailed FIVE-HUNDRED-SEVENTY-THREE people.

Favre’s life is chronicled from before birth… to growing up in rural Kiln (The Kill), Mississippi… and the impact of his Father Irvin Favre. Interestingly enough… “Big Irv”… was a high school coach… that eventually coached Brett… and due to his old-school… run the ball at all costs philosophy… is the reason that Brett only got one last minute scholarship offer from Southern Mississippi. Irv had Brett do nothing but hand off the ball for ninety-five-per-cent of the offensive plays. No college scout truly knew what Brett’s magical cannon of an arm could do.

Any true football fan… having even a cursory knowledge of Favre’s career… know the addiction problems Brett had… but they might not know that Brett didn’t drink in high school… but he sure made up for lost time when he got to college. Early in his college career Brett became used to being a bench warming clipboard carrier… so one night before a game… he finished off his EIGHTEENTH BEER… FOUR-AND-A-HALF-HOURS-BEFORE-GAME-TIME. Pale white and vomiting… he got the surprise start.

The Favre legend was just getting started. Scouts and players… from here on out… from college to the pros… would rush just to see him warm up… and in practices and games… he literally… would break the fingers on his receiver’s hands with his scorching fast ball. There are innumerable anecdotes… from both players and coaches… that the first time they ever ***HEARD*** the unheard of sound… of a football whistling through the air… was the first time they heard AND saw Favre throw!

When drafted by the Atlanta Falcons… Favre was not wanted by the coach Jerry Glanville… and rode the bench… so he stopped studying the playbook… and partied… partied… gained weight… and partied. And so the reputation was created. Then Ron Wolf (who helped build the Raider dynasty) became an executive for the Green Bay Packers and he traded for Favre. And a once proud moribund Packer franchise had the key piece in rebuilding the once proud franchise.

From there Pearlman does what Pearlman does best… takes you inside the subject’s heart and soul… and puts every angelic halo… and every human wart and frailty… on a table under extremely bright lights. From championships… to drug and alcohol abuse… from the carefree camaraderie… of a puppy like child… to caring about dying children… without the spotlight on. And perhaps… one of the things I like… and respect about the author’s work… is that inevitably… THE GOOD… THE BAD… AND THE UGLY… are surrounded by the actual names of the people that are making the statements about Brett Favre. There’s none of this… “the source didn’t want to be quoted” crap.

By the way… you’ll find out one of the main reason’s the all-time great Hall of Famer Reggie White… signed a free agent contract with Green Bay… was that he “couldn’t shake Brett Favre from his mind. The cockiness. The spunk. The toughness. Most quarterbacks took punishment and wilted. Not Favre. He bounced back up, patted opponents on the rear ends, whispered, “Nice hit” and “bring it harder, big boy”, White had separated Favre’s shoulder, and the quarterback returned on the field as if nothing had happened. Later on, White praised Favre as the fiercest quarterback he had ever seen.”

To me… the most unbelievable record that defines Brett Favre… is the record he set for most consecutive regular season starts TWO-HUNDRED-NINETY-SEVEN (321 counting playoffs)… and that’s for a guy who played the most vulnerable position on the field. After reading this book… you will know… what made the man… capable of such a feat!

[Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this a lot. I had a few issues that would've given this a little less than a four star if I could but Pearlman did do a great job. Excellent journalist. Amazing job finding and presenting the facts.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't understand football, but a very little brother wrote a very good book. I didn't know Favre played until he was over 40. It was very engrossing.

[Justin Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting timing to getting around to read this. I bought this one about a year or so before Brett Favre got caught stealing millions from the citizens of Mississippi (which this book wasn't able to address as it came out a few years before). however even before that crime came to seemingly put a final dark cloud over the Aura of one of the nfl's unique qbs, Favre played a big role in me becoming a fan of the sport.

as Jeff Pearlman's energetic biography notes, Favre went beyond his sport in his prime to become a household name to kids like me who didn't event watch football. still I knew of the cocky, country-ish gunslinger holding court in the town of Green Bay, Wisconsin - enough to eventually, when I began to dip my feet deeper into the sport, rent a copy of Madden 10 with Favre on the cover (at this point a reflection of his one year stint on the New York Jets). from there, my love and disdain for the sport and the New York Jets blossomed, with Favre being the player that started it all.

all that to say, I was excited to do a deep dive into his life (warts and all). Pearlman certainly gathers a vast group of family, players, reporters, and more to pull the picture of Favre together. the end result is probably what one expects, a humble, nonetheless cocky kid from some small town in Mississippi who rises to fame and falls into the trappings of massive stardom and his own personal demons. there's a bigger sadness and humility to seeing yet another true tale of a rise and fall - a perpetual cycle that comes to all who bite into the forbidden fruit of excess wealth and fame.

on a more literary note, Pearlman makes for a good Favre guide, covering his childhood all the way up to his true true (this time for real retirement - an area I wish Pearlman tapped into a little more). the writer displays it all with a humor and assuredness that seemingly reflects its subject, at its best reading as if the famed QB is telling us his story. on that same vibe, GUNSLINGER at points gets a little too close to hagiography, showing an obvious eagerness to cover the star with most his warts but noticeably shying away from his darker moments (particularly the rather light coveting of Favre's infamous nude photos he sent to a Jets reporter during his time there).

of course, maybe Pearlman had to work with the former qb at one point or another to get this made so the need to hold back at points makes sense in that case. either way, GUNSLINGER is enjoyable enough to get your football and icon fix (I loved Pearlman's retelling of certain games in Favre's career, successfully capturing the brutality, triumphs, and failures that happen quarter to quarter in a game). it doesn't fully bend the knee to its subject, but, especially as this recent news of his latest crime emerges, it doesn't dig deeper into an athlete who seemingly can't (or won't) get out of his own way

[Mike Ginocchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a typical sports biography, keep looking. This is Jeff Pearlman, after all, who has made a career out of humanizing his subjects (for better or for worse). But Pearlman is also exceptionally good at what he does, and he's brave in how he approaches his subject matter: he had the guts to portray Walter Payton as something less than a demigod in his book "Sweetness", angering legions of Bears fans and, apparently not satisfied with angering part of the Midwest, he's written something that might anger the entirety of Wisconsin in his full biography of Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

Growing up a Bears fan, I *hated* Brett Favre. First, I hated him in that petty way you hate a player on another team who is simply better than anything that your team can throw against him. But as I got older, I hated him for different reasons. I hated how the media fawned over him, how breathlessly they covered him and how they romanticized him as this sort of Hollywood "gunslinger", the type to duel with John Wayne. But mostly, I hated how he strung everyone along for AGES about whether or not he was actually gonna retire. "Brett Favre retiring" jokes covered the pop cultural spectrum.

Now, years removed from that time, comes "Gunslinger." Pearlman doesn't pull any punches in his book. Brett's accomplishments on the football field are indisputable, and Pearlman gives them the narrative weight they deserve. But he also throws considerable narrative punch at Favre's shortcomings: his addiction to painkillers and alcohol that nearly derailed his career, his infidelities that make his wife Deanna the most sympathetic figure in the book, and his complex relationship with his father Irv Favre. He also spends considerable time showing that, when it came time to step aside, Favre had no interest in supporting the guys that were coming to take his job and behaved like a grumpy jerk towards his heir apparent in Aaron Rodgers (not that Rodgers comes across as 100% saintly in this book, either). One comes away with the notion that Favre was a magical football player, but also a selfish, boorish, and ultimately self-absorbed figure who didn't know when to quit until he was very nearly killed in what would be his final games. There is no hero-making here.

But it's also a fantastic book, and Pearlman's attention to detail is spectacular. Anecdotes abound, the narrative jumps back and forth amongst wild and exciting characters and stories, and above all? the fact that he is able to draw copious details and stories from Favre's family (Favre himself politely declined to participate in the making of this book, a move Pearlman respected) lend this tome a sense of credibility and finesse to it.

It's wild, fascinating, frustrating, and ultimately a thrill ride of a book. Kinda like watching Favre play, to be honest.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Pearlman has become my favorite sports historian, not that I read a lot of sports books, but when you grow up in the shadow of Lambeau Field, you have a tendency to at least follow pro football.

I had the pleasure of working at a local TV station in the early 1990's, when Brett Favre and Reggie White would come to our station and do exclusive interviews every week. There were times when Favre failed to show up because he was too hungover, or arrive at the last minute, looking like he'd just gotten out of bed. Of course, in a city of Green Bay's size (approximately 100,00o people), it's still very much a small-town feel. And there were tons of stories about Favre and other Green Bay Packers that never made the news.

Pearlman peels back the Gunslinger facade and reveals Favre's life escapades on and off the football field. He was erratic on the football field, and he played with pure joy most of the time, which made him exciting to watch. After DECADES of mediocre teams playing in Green Bay, a whole new generation of fans like me got a taste of what it was like for the Glory Years of the Packers. Yet, as this book, and Favre's actions the past few years have revealed, he can be a pretty crappy human. The whoring, the drinking, the drugs, the much-publicized trip to drug rehab, the not-so-publicized continuing to drink and cheat on his lovely wife, Deanna. Blech.

I got to relive those 4-5 YEARS of retirement speculation that gripped our city and was the talk around the NFL. I went to many of Favre's signature games, including the 1996 NFC Championship and the 2007 NFC Championship, Favre's last game as a Packer. I remember the hour-long retirement announcement like it was yesterday. When he went to the Jets, the fans were divided: some, like my husband, blamed the front office, while some blamed Favre himself for the "divorce." Then he went to the Vikings, and fans became feral. But a few years after retirement from football, Wisconsin welcomed Favre back to retire his number. He was a once-in-a-lifetime player, and the Packers were lucky to have him. But as is true with any public figure put on a pedestal and then revealed themselves to be less than perfect, Favre's reputation has not fared well with his antics off the field.

Pearlman interviewed hundreds of people for this book. Many I know or know about because of their ties to the community, the media, or the team. The extensive research and cohesive story makes for a great read or listen to anyone who likes a good sports story.

[Brendan Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve written before of my fondness for Jeff Pearlman’s books and recently reviewed his new excellent USFL book. But unknowingly, I’ve only read his books that cover a group of people – a team or a league but not read any of his biographies. So I picked up Gunslinger hoping it lived up to the other Pearlman books I’ve read and loved despite having a narrower focus.

Not living in the US, my engagement with NFL varies year on year – in college, and my heavy gambling phases after college, I watched loads but some years I’d see very little. The three years I watched the most NFL coincided with Favre’s amazing last year at Green Bay, his temporary time at the Jets and his incredible first year at the Vikings. So I’m much more familiar with the end days of Favre rather than his origin story and Superbowl success.

Favre’s story is the classic sports narrative of the overlooked kid nearly didn’t make it but the right coach/scout believed in him and took a chance. After spending his high school career handing off to a star running back, Favre very nearly didn’t get a Division 1 college scholarship. After a pretty successful collegiate career – where the relatively tame high-schooler turned into a party animal – Favre was overlooked in the first round of the NFL draft.

After an uneventful year on the bench of the Falcons, he was traded to Green Bay where he very soon became a legend. Setting all sorts of NFL career records, and leading the Packers to two Superbowls (winning one), Favre was adored by Packers fans and seemed to have a home their for life. Despite hard drinking, womanising and stays in rehab, he never missed a game and had many more successful seasons than bad ones.

After seeming to be on the downhill slide, Favre’s form improved remarkably and he cam agonisingly close to getting back to Superbowl. While flirting with retirement, he forced his way out of the Packers and, after a poor year in NYC, did the one thing guaranteed to piss off his former fans and sign for Green Bays greatest rivals.

Pearlman, as is his trademark, interviewed an astonishing amount of people for the book. The level of detail in his research is reflected in the incredibly comprehensive nature of the book.

Favre comes across as a man who is both likable and dislikable in almost equal measure. For long parts of his career he put his own addictions, desires and career well ahead of his family life. However, his wife ultimately stayed with him and he seems to have somewhat mended his ways in later years. The intro to the book sums up Favre very well by highlighting conflicting stories that show both the good and the bad. It feels like an objective account of a complicated man who will long be remembered as one of the great NFL quarterbacks.

Overall, Gunslinger is a really enjoyable read. Pearlman’s ability to take a huge volume of information and condense it into a fast paced and gripping narrative is on full display. It’s an interesting, fun and really good book that I’d recommend for anyone with even a passing interest in NFL.

You can read all of my sports book reviews at http://allsportsbooks.reviews/reviews...

[Jeff Mauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very in depth look at a talented, but flawed individual. Growing up watching Favre weekend after weekend here in Wisconsin, you couldn't help but see him on a pedestal, particularly after the Super Bowl win. The truth is that Favre was extremely selfish and cared about only one thing, being a starting quarterback in the NFL. On the surface, this is somewhat expected of a diva quarterback, but the exploits of Favre, the womanizing, drinking, partying, were hidden by a local small town/state press that protected its sacred football player. While we all know about the publicized addiction to pain pills, that really only one incident among many. Favre had women in many other football cities and was a womanizer for much of his career and his wife knew it and gave him chance after chance. Some see the Jets texting incident as a weird stand alone thing, but really it was just another incident among many. Reading of his treatment of Rodgers via interviews with many other players on the team paints the picture of an extremely insecure asshole. It's not surprising he didn't embrace Rodgers, but the cruelty of his treatment is eye opening. Lastly the drama of his final years, particularly the will he/won't he retirement stuff and his eventual move from the Packers to the Jets is very interesting. Again, a lot of the picture painted by the media is a glossed over caricature of what actually happened behind closed doors. This is one of the most interesting biography's I've ever read and if you watched Favre and follow his career at all, its a must read.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's quite a few Brett Favre biographies out there. But Gunslinger has got to be the definitive biography on Favre. This book dug DEEP into Favre's life on and off the field. After you finish this book, you're either gonna love Favre all over again or have contempt and love for him all over again.

I enjoyed the entire book. But I really couldn't put this book down when his NFL career and his relationship with his wife Deanna were explained. I like how author Jeff Pearlman ran down EVERY year of Favre's NFL career from 1992 to 2010. He gave you stats, commentary from various teammates of Favre, and more as far as the quarterback's career was concerned.

As for Deanna, you're gonna have to read the book in order to help you understand why she stuck with Brett after all he put her through, which included all the way from his days at Southern Mississippi to near the end of his NFL career.

Pros of this book: The objectivity that Pearlman put on the pages of Gunslinger was what got me to really, really like this book. I HATE it when authors and sports journalists kiss sports stars' behinds in books and in articles. Pearlman made sure that he gave the reader an evenhanded look at Brett Favre's career on and off the field.

Cons of this book: What cons?

In conclusion, if you didn't like Gunslinger then you don't know Brett Favre at all. You must think people are perfect and without flaws, or you can't recognize good journalism when you see it.

[issac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a die-hard, life-long Packers fan. In 2007, the only quarterback I'd known for the Green Bay Packers was Brett Favre. I had done a report on him once for school work. My dad and I share few common interests, but the Packers are one of them. I read this book, because I wanted to forgive a man who hurt my dad. Betrayed an early version of himself. I wanted to see into the life, and maybe the mind of the man I had spent several hundred hours rooting for.

As such I can't give an unbiased review of this book, but I did find an explanation, and was worth purchasing and reading.

I would have given it five stars, except for the following. Brett Favre wasn't willing to be questioned for the book. The ending seems hurried and lacks the same attention to detail as is present in the beginning of the book. In the Kindle edition the last 30% of the book is citations, footnotes, an index, and an excerpt from a different Pearlman book. I got to the afterword and was dismayed that it ended seemingly so abruptly. Which I guess is fitting considering this is the story of a man who believed he had more to give, so it is only fitting that the book leaves the reader wanting a little at the end.