The Game of Our Lives [Paperback]

Peter Gzowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

In this best-selling timeless classic, Peter Gzowski recounts the 1980-81 season he spent travelling around the NHL circuit with the upstart Edmonton Oilers. These were the days when the team was on the edge of greatness and about to take it all and become the hockey dynasty of the '80s. It's amazing to look back at 1980-81 and consider that some of the game's greatest players came together on a young team and quickly blazed their way into the record books and the consciousness of a nation. This is also a book about hockey's magnificent history, about Morenz, Richard, Howe, Orr, Hull . the men whose rare and indefinable genius on the ice exemplified the speed, grit, and innovation of the game. The Game of Our Lives is unlike any book ever written in the annals of hockey. It weaves together the elements of the game, both past and present, and presents an intelligent and moving account of why hockey means so much to so many.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The much-loved, long-time host of CBC Radio's Morningside, Peter Gzowski was one of Canada's best-known and respected journalists. He was a Companion of the Order of Canada, the winner of a Peabody and seven ACTRA awards, and the recipient of honorary doctorates from 12 Canadian universities. In addition to The Game of Our Lives, Gzowski wrote many best-selling books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Heritage House Publishing (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894384598
• ISBN-13: 978-1894384599
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,191,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Collector's item for hockey fans, May 29, 2009

By 

C. Mayfield (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Game of Our Lives (Paperback)

Despite being written in the early 80s, The Game of Our Lives is still a fascinating, and relevant, book about a season in the NHL. As a young kid at the time, I followed Gretzky and the Oilers as much as one could growing up in central Pennsylvania. But this is a hockey book for all hockey fans; not just a story about the pre-championship Oilers, but an engaging insight into the history of the Canadian game. I highly recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Game of Our Soul, February 13, 2001

By 

"fatmoot" (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Game of Our Lives (Hardcover)

I first read this book when I was 11 years old and once again 12 years later. Both times it made me realize that hockey in Canada is a right of passage that is one of the few threads holding our nation together. It also helped me to understand that for those of us who love this fast graceful and violent game happiness is only a frozen pond away. The book follows the trials and tribulations of the 1980 pre champion Edmonton Oilers. The team is a group of young unproven players with a few cagey veterans mixed in for guidance. Under the helmanship of Glen Sather the team rises above their lackluster regular season performance. Gzowski travels with the team and becomes a trusted companion which allows him a rare look at the inner workings and social power structure of a professional sports team. Led by the pasty faced 18 year old Wayne Gretzky the Oilers eventually gell into a close knit team which will eventually dominate in the future but must first learn some valueable lessons. I found myself caring for the players and I stopped viewing them as helmeted thugs who compete more for money then for their team. The book enabled me to realize that a successful team can only succeed if it has a good supporting cast of grunts. It's a refreshing read in this day and age of spiralling salaries and inflated egos. Gzowski also includes insights from his childhood growing up in rural Ontario which are very effective. A great read.