Michael Lewis's The Blind Side is a nonfiction book about the life and early sports career of Michael Oher, as well as the evolution of the game of football.
The book interweaves two stories. It chronicles Michael's journey from an impoverished neighborhood in East Memphis to his astounding feats as a left tackle at Briarcrest Christian School and the University of Mississippi. In doing so, it recounts how Michael was taken in by the Tuohy family. As they became increasingly involved in helping him improve his performance on the football field and in the classroom, they also grew very close to him, learning the details of his difficult upbringing and eventually adopting him as legal guardians. The book gives particular weight to Michael's relationship with Leigh Anne Tuohy, who treated him with fierce love and protectiveness. In parallel, Lewis also writes about the quiet revolution in football strategy, catalyzed by the rise of linebacker Lawrence Taylor. He describes the increased emphasis on the role of the left tackle, as teams sought to better protect their quarterbacks from Taylor and players like him. Lewis observes how this led to NFL coaches seeking out large and fast players to fill this role as well as a massive rise in pay for this position. These two stories intersect when Lewis notes how recruiters' interest in Michael was significantly driven by the rise in demand for players fitting his exact skill set.
The book was published in 2006 to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, both of whom commended Lewis's writing style, the story's emotional pull, and the book's formal structure. The book was adapted into a film of the same name, released in 2009, written and directed by John Lee Hancock, starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron. It was nominated for several Academy Awards.
