The Boz: confessions of a modern anti-hero

by Brian Bosworth

The highest paid rookie in NFL history tells his own story--from his aggressive childhood, to his high school and college football tenure, to the present--with outspoken candor

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

252 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1988

Reviews

[Chris Q. Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this shit was my bible as a teenager. poorly written by bosworth himself and equally poorly quasi-ghost-written by rick reilly of SI, this book answered every question i had about myself when i was thirteen and asked me a few i hadn't yet thought of.

this self-aggrandizing autobio chronicles the life of a then 20-something, already-ex NFL disappointment, steroid using, athlete-cum-actor-cum-media whore who pre-dated paris hilton by 15 years. weaved into this boast-laden narrative is the over-riding philosophy that got bosworth to where he was that day (for better or worse). some of his "ten boz commandments" still ring true with me today (especially no. 1: "be yourself of be dead").

i have spent my life precariously sitting on the line between hippie and punk and it is in no doubt due to my having read this book alongside Something Good for a Change during my second set of formative (ages 11-16) years.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one way back in the day, He was the main character in the movie I really loved back in the early 90's called Stone Cold, where he played a tough Alabama cop, who is blackmailed by the FBI into going undercover in a violent Mississippi biker gang, from that movie led me to want to know more about him, in his autobiography, I had to buy this book and learn all about the life of Brian Bosworth, very good book, one of my favorites back then !!!!,, Known as The Boz of course, from his long time career in Oklahoma college football, he had issues with NCAA, his claims confirmed, and led to Switzer being forced to resign, The Boz signed a 10yr contract with Seahawks NFL for
11 Million, one of the biggest contracts in NFL history at the time for a rookie, he stayed with em for 3yrs, after an injury he left football for Hollywood Acting, he was inducted in the College Football Hall Of Fame, you get to know more of him on a personal level going through college and life afterwards.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who followed the prolific career of one of our countries most beloved athletes. What an incredible writer and competitor. A tour de force! If you loved Leviathan or Ulysses but never thought it was in depth enough this is the book for you. This is of course a tough read, and keep a dictionary on hand to understand his vast vocabulary.

[Tai Kaku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Bosworth was pretty much a WWE character in his days at Oklahoma (and to a lesser extent Seattle). I was surprised that he was quite candid in this book about himself. The stories are hilarious. I expected him to be egomaniacal but he talks about his own shortcomings. It focuses mainly on his time at OU, especially his relationship with Switzer. If you're looking for some information on his time in Seattle, it's pretty limited since the book came out after he was drafted by the Seahawks.

[Chase Parsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and full of insights - the Boz is more interesting than expected!! Some priceless insights include stuff about being recruited by Barry Switzer, how he loves sex, and going to the NFL.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

To get to know someone you either have to interview them, live with them, or read a book about them. The Boz: Confessions of a modern anti-hero, was former college superstar and NFL washout Brian Bosworth's attempt at letting you know what he was about. And guess what? The book hit its target.

Within this book I learned that his dad was hard on him when he was a kid, which I believe fueled his obsession with being a great inside linebacker in college and in the pros.

I also learned in this book that Bosworth was actually a solid student at Oklahoma, but no one really cared about that because of what he did on the football field at OU and because of his party animal lifestyle off the field.

Yeah, this book came out at the end of the 1980s and much has changed in Bosworth's life since the book's publication. But the book is a good read on a man who was misunderstood, controversial (self-inflicted much of the time though), and who at the end of the day wanted to live his life to the fullest.

[Jason Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

a scary insight to the OU football machine in the 80's.

[Rob Rains · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this in one evening. Bosworth needlessly runs down teammates, family, friends, coaches and suggests that he is a complete sociopath.

[George Noland II · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read as a Sooner fan, but I believe Bosworth admitted later that some of his wild stories were fiction.

[David White · Rating 1 out of 5]

Save your time from reading this book. He only talks about how great he is and he is very boring and he’s got the ego the size of Oklahoma

[Jack Trone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining behind the scenes of a star college football player. This book really shows the insight of what goes on for players like the Boz

[Xon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading this book as a kid. Saw it and had to revisit it after 3 decades. Wow, it’s pretty terrible.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

My mother and sister were huge Seahawks fans (I was ten years old and a Raiders/Bo Jackson fan) and had this book. It wasn't until the late 90's/early 2000's where I was in a weird mood one night and thought it would be really funny to dig this out of storage in the garage and actually read it.

I stopped giggling once I started reading it. Pukeworthy. Maybe if I got stoned beforehand that would have amplified the amusement a little but I doubt it.

Maybe the Boz can get into acting again. If he just had a sense of humor about himself, I think he could do well with that, actually. I could see him appear out of nowhere on one of those bizarre Adult Swim shows. That would kind of be amazing?

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another one of those "reading because I'm afraid to sleep" things--I don't know why my dad bothered with this, I, at least, have an excuse for reading such crap.
Anyway, loud-mouth, self-centered, arrogant, ignorant jock dictates his vapid life and observations to some sportswriter. You got to love his attempt to make it as an action hero, though, in Stone Cold (which comes well after the events described in this book).

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book itself may not be literary gold, but The Boz was one of first colorful characters that the media followed in college and pro football. There were lots of stories of his college years and some versions of the story about his steroid usage. He is pretty forgettable now unless you're talking about over-hyped busts in the NFL. At the time i read it in the early 90's i had to admit i bought into the hype, so I enjoyed the book.

[Amy Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched "Brian and the Boz" and just had to read the book. It was an interesting, entertaining, easy read. However, Bosworth certainly comes across as an immature, petulant man-child. He was only 23 when the book was published, and it ruined his relationship with Oklahoma football for decades -- understandably so, after reading all the prurient details in this book. I'm certain if he could go back, he would run far, far away from Rick Reilly.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

For what it was, I found it very entertaining. I am not a college football fan but I had read some of the book in the bookstore and found it interesting. A disturbing glimpse into some of the hypocrisy of NCAA, Division-I football. Bosworth candidly admitted he was outrageous in order to market himself and make money.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book ruled when I was in sixth grade (that's why I had to give it more than one star). I cut my hair just like his, but I could never find the sunglasses. Also, some jerk on my football team took the number 44, so I couldn't copy The Boz there either. The one thing that's stuck with me over the years is one of his ten commandments: Only people I care about have opinions I care about.

[Davidswriting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, I love this book, and quoted it in as many college papers as I possibly could during my film studies days.

To the average reader: It's kind of funny but appeals to a very narrow pool of readers. He talks about Bob Dylan asking for his autograph, and tells a tall tale of one of his roommates shooting 150 machine gun rounds out of his dorm room.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly animated stories from an interesting character from the late '80s. He's probably considered a cultural joke now, and his NFL career was a bust, but it's still better than 90% of sports books out there.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time.

People made a big shit when he came out of college making $11 million over 10 years. How funny is that?

I used to read this to get ready for football season.

[Heather Hulscher]

Picked this up off my dad's bathroom floor. Boz at times is so very spot on, but ruins it by being a complete tool who is exactly like the people he hates. He said he'd hate his nfl career if he never went to the superbowl and I worry about him

[Jenny]

Don't ask me how, but I have numerous copies of this one. Or, I did anyway! Sorry Jeff!

[Randie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Brian Bosworth and his life leading up to professional football for the Seattle Seahawks. I found it to be very enjoyable reading.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the 80's...who can forget the attitude era? This is an interesting look into one of the more interesting players of the game at that time.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about a famous character in Norman at the time. He tended to repeat, "Nobody understands the real me."

[Patrick Fiorill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hilarious

[James Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read. very entertaining.

[Shawn Sandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I ever read cover to cover.

[gunwitch72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in high school. Loved it then. Need to re-read.