Bringing the Heat - by Mark Bowden (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"An ambitious, remarkably frank" chronicle of the Philadelphia Eagles' bid for the NFL championship by the #1 New York Times-bestselling author (Kirkus Reviews).

In 1992, the Philadelphia Eagles--a team assembled in the image of their iconoclastic, controversial former head coach, Buddy Ryan--were known for their ferocious defense led by Reggie White, Seth Joyner, and Andre Waters, and for the otherworldly talents of quarterback Randall Cunningham.

Now was the time for the Eagles' campaign for the championship. But as the season progressed, it disintegrated into an ugly flurry of greed, racism, violence, personal and professional feuds, one tragic death, and a very wild face-off in the stands between a player's wife and mistress. By midseason, the sentiment of both fans and press was the same: "shut up and play."

Told through the personal stories of the teammates themselves, as well as the coaches, managers and owner, Bringing the Heat spares nothing--and no one--in "a phenomenal feat of reportage, perfect for football fans coast to coast" (H. G. Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights).

"Overflows with stories of pro football dreams, of bravery in the face of injury. Yet it also unflinchingly tells of the darker side of life in the NFL: uncontrollable egos, ruined families, marital infidelity." --The New York Times Book Review

"There are now four mandatory books on football: Dan Jenkins's Semi-Tough; George Plimpton's Paper Lion; H. G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights, and the hilarious, incorrigible son of them all, Mark Bowden's Bringing the Heat." --Michael Bamberger, Sports Illustrated

Review Quotes

"A phenomenal feat of reportage, perfect for football fans coast to coast." --H. G. Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights

"A gigantic celebration, written with so much humor and energy you are left laughed-out and breathless . . . There are now four mandatory books on football: Dan Jenkins's Semi-Tough; George Plimpton's Paper Lion; H. G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights, andthe hilarious, incorrigible son of them all, Mark Bowden's Bringing the Heat." --Michael Bamberger, Sports Illustrated

"Bowden employs a muscular, brazen writing style. . . . His book overflows with stories of pro football dreams, of bravery in the face of injury. Yet it also unflinchingly tells of the darker side of life in the NFL: uncontrolled egos, ruined families, marital infidelity." --The New York Times Book Review

"Among the best football books ever." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Mark Bowden is the author of fifteen books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Black Hawk Down. He reported at the Philadelphia Inquirer for twenty years and now writes for the Atlantic and other magazines.