Publishers Weekly
07/29/2019
Sportswriter Anderson (The Storm and the Tide) draws on his decades of experience writing about the Alabama Crimson Tide football team in this fascinating dual biography of two legendary college football coaches. Anderson tells the story of how Bear Bryant and Nick Saban created college football’s most successful dynasty, but rather than provide a season-by-season account, he illuminates the uncanny similarities in character between the two men who created the titan of Alabama football. In chapters that alternate between Bryant arriving at Alabama in 1958 and Saban in 2007, Anderson shows how the two men—both from small-town, working-class families—felt drawn to the University Alabama and how their work ethics bore similarities, such as Bryant making football “a year-round activity” with a “torturous off-season” and Saban’s legendary emphasis on discipline (Anderson recalls Saban’s first comments to his new Alabama team were for them to sit up straight in their chairs). Anderson discusses their similar drive as coaches to uncover “what they were going to do tomorrow to get better.” This is a must-read for devotees of college football, Crimson Tide fans or not. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"This isn't just a great football book; this is a beautiful piece of literature that reveals the secrets of the two greatest college football coaches of all-time. The parallels are stunning. Lars Anderson has given us another narrative masterpiece here."—Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of My Southern Journey
"I covered Bear Bryant and I know Nick Saban. I'm telling you: Lars Anderson, in his usual lyrical style, has achieved something remarkable in these pages: He's shed new light on these coaching giants. A must read for anyone who wants to know about leadership, the molding of character, and what it takes to succeed in life. A brilliant book that transcends sports."—Paul Finebaum, ESPN Radio host and New York Times bestselling author of My Conference Can Beat Your Conference
"Bear Bryant shaped me as a coach and Nick Saban has been a friend for years. No writer in the country could have written this book with the perspective and grace of Lars. Every football coach in America — and every parent — will learn about what it takes to win in these pages."—Bruce Arians, two-time AP NFL coach of the year and current head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"A must-read for devotees of college football, Crimson Tide fans or not."—Publishers Weekly
"For college fans looking for insight beyond the field, this investigation of a great program's success will make a fine start to 2019's college-football literature."—Booklist
"Anyone wishing to better understand leadership, the molding of character, and what it takes to succeed in life should read these exceptional books."—Bookreporter
"A captivating comparison of two legendary figures in college football that will draw interest from all football fans."—Library Journal
Library Journal
08/01/2019
In 1982, Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913–83) retired having won the most games in college football history. He still holds the record for the most national championships in the modern era with six, all won at Alabama. At age 68, current Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban is chasing the Bear's tracks, tying Bryant with six championships, five in Tuscaloosa. This joint biography from Anderson (journalism, Univ. of Alabama; The Storm and the Tide) takes a fresh look at their lives and careers, with alternating chapters describing the coaches at comparable points in their careers and stressing the similarities of these two very different men. Bryant is portrayed as a powerful man who commanded complete respect from his players but also exuded a warm, human touch. By contrast, Saban is pictured as a leader who also demands respect but who is brusquer and more businesslike in his personal interactions. What they share in Anderson's view is dedication to their coaching methods and a flexible approach to the game itself. VERDICT A captivating comparison of two legendary figures in college football that will draw interest from all football fans.
