In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Leigh Anne Tuohy (Author), Sean Tuohy (Author), Sally Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 13, 2010

For the first time, the remarkable couple depicted in The Blind Side tells their own deeply inspiring story

First came the bestselling book, then the Oscar-nominated movie—the story of Michael Oher and the family who adopted him has become one of the most talked-about true stories of our time. But until now, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy have never told this astonishing tale in their own way and with their own words.

For Leigh Anne and Sean, it all begins with family. Leigh Anne, the daughter of a tough-as-nails U.S. Marshal, decided early on that her mission was to raise children who would become "cheerful givers." Sean, who grew up poor, believed that one day he could provide a home that would be "a place of miracles." Together, they raised two remarkable children—Collins and Sean Jr.—who shared their deep Christian faith and their commitment to making a difference. And then one day Leigh Anne met a homeless African-American boy named Michael and decided that her family could be his. She and her husband taught Michael what this book teaches all of us: Everyone has a blind side, but a loving heart always sees a path toward true charity.

Michael Oher's improbable transformation could never have happened if Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy had not opened their hearts to him. In this compelling, funny, and profoundly inspiring book, the Tuohys take us on an extraordinary journey of faith and love—and teach us unforgettable lessons about the power of giving.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Those familiar with the film The Blind Side, or Michael Lewis's best-selling book, will likely already know the inspiring story of how the Tuohys took future-NFL star Michael Oher into their home and adopted him. For anyone wondering what more there might be to say about it, the answer is: plenty. In a Heartbeat finds the Tuohys attempting to determine what it was that made them reach out to the homeless African-American boy they saw walking down the street in a t-shirt and shorts on a winter's day. Leigh Anne and Sean had known tough times themselves and had put themselves on the lookout for troubled kids in need of help. As a white, southern, church-going family, they defy red-state/blue-state stereotypes (for instance, by sending their teen-age daughter to a seminar fostering racial and social justice); though Leigh Anne has been described as a "gun-toting Republican Christian," and admits to carrying weapons, she also claims to cross "party lines all the time." With Jenkins's help they write with humor about their quirks and the joy that Michael brought to their family, finally arriving at the belief that "we can all change people's lives by investing time in individuals."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“If you saw the movie The Blind Side, you saw a family that is quite honestly the most amazing family I think I have ever, ever seen… Remarkable, remarkable people.”—Glenn Beck

 

“In The Blind Side I did my best to describe the full force of Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, but there is only so much one writer can do. In A Heartbeat picks up where I left off, and gives the reader a much fuller portrait of these extraordinary people.”—Michael Lewis

 

“All I can say is, if there were more Leigh Anne Tuohys, the world would be a better-run, more harmonious, and more productive place . . . She’s such an amazing person.”—Sandra Bullock

 

“Sean is an all-around good guy, and the inspirational story of what he and his family did for this kid—the time, the effort, and the love he put out—is pretty incredible.”—Tim McGraw

 

“Their book aims to bring the Michael Oher miracle off the big screen and back down to Earth—and make sure that its message won’t get lost here.”—The Baltimore Sun

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (July 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427210985
• ISBN-13: 978-1427210982
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leigh Anne Tuohy grew up in Memphis and attended the University of Mississippi, where she met her future husband; she now owns an interior design company. Sean Tuohy grew up in New Orleans and for several years played professional basketball; he now owns more than seventy restaurant franchises. The Tuohys live in Memphis but travel all over the country speaking to thousands of people about their family, their faith, and how each of us can make a difference.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic., July 14, 2010

By 

Holly (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving (Hardcover)

Oh. My. Goodness. I loved the film The Blind Side, but I really loved In a Heartbeat. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy share their story, in their words. The chapters alternate between Sean's voice and Leigh Anne's voice, as well as several chapters they write together. All three Tuohy children: Collins, Michael and S.J., as well as Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw each write something as well.

Sean and Leigh Anne share a strong faith in God and a strong belief in making a difference. I love Sean's Popcorn Theory about noticing others: that, "you can't help everyone. But you can try to help the hot ones who pop up right in front of your face." The Tuohy's didn't plan on stopping to pick up Michael Oher, they didn't plan on giving him a home and they didn't plan on adopting him. They are very open about the fact that their decision to stop and pick him up changed their lives, in a heartbeat.

The Tuohy's share their stories; how they each grew up and the experiences that shaped them. They believe in being cheerful givers and in raising their children to be cheerful givers. In a Heartbeat is an inspiring story about a remarkable family.

I loved the humor. I loved the honesty. The little asides, like the one where Leigh Anne says she doesn't actually wear skirts as tight as the ones Sandra Bullock wore in the film, simply make this book more personable.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Encouraging!, July 14, 2010

By 

Jennifer (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving (Hardcover)

I watched The Blind Side three times in one night. Each time I watched the movie, I walked away with something new: a vision, a call to action, a new-found respect. I laughed at Leigh Ann Tuohy's straight-forward, no-holds-barred manner (as played by Sandra Bullock) and rejoiced with Michael as he crossed each new hurdle on his way to his future, to success. And so, when this book by "The Blindside Family" was offered for review, I jumped at the chance to read more about the Tuohys, the love they gave so easily, and the difference they made in the life of one young man: Michael Oher.

The book reads with the same ease and straight-forward thought that made the movie a blockbuster hit. It is full of Leigh Ann-isms that will cause you to chuckle and sometimes outright guffaw, but it is also full of wise observations, persuasive encouragement, and plenty of ideas for action. It will give you a glimpse inside the Tuohy family and the Tuohy philosophy, and that in itself is certainly entertaining, but the Tuohys aren't just another wealthy family who can afford to give and so they do; they are a family that gives generously because it is who they are and it is what they believe. They give with a cheerful heart, and they encourage their reader to do the same, no matter how much or how little you may be able to give at this time.

In a Heartbeat will entertain, encourage, and call you to action. It will show you that becoming a cheerful giver is something we can all do, no matter what our current financial situation, and it will admonish you to go out and do something: to give your time, your knowledge, your talents, and/or your money to help even one person, that one person who "pops up" right in front of you, as Michael did.


In a time when our nation is facing its worst financial crisis in decades, it is all too easy for us to pull into ourselves and to become focused on our own situation. In this book, the Tuohys will encourage you to look around to see how you can help someone who is struggling, and will demonstrate how, in doing so, you will find your own struggles lessening their hold on you.

I received this book from The B&B Media Group in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Family Sets a Great Example of Giving That We Can All Learn From, July 14, 2010

By 

C. Janes "southernsassygirl" (TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving (Hardcover)

When I first heard that the Tuohys would be writing a book, I was so excited. I remember seeing The Blind Side at the theater, and was an immediate fan of the movie and what this family did. I was very eager to read their side of the story, and find out how much from the movie was true, or if the truth was just stretched a bit.

Let me tell ya, these people know what it means to give of themselves without asking for anything in return. What's even more laudable is that they don't want a big spectacle made of their generosity. It's all about giving of themselves cheerfully like the Bible teaches. They've also passed this trait down to their children....all 3 of them.

While a lot of folks around Memphis have literally bashed them for their giving spirit toward Michael Oher, they don't really know the whole story. Now, I'm not an expert on the subject, but I've lived in the Memphis area for most of my life, and I know what the majority of people are like in this city. It's very racially divided, and a huge hotspot of crime. Most people around here, whether black or white, don't readily reach out to a stranger. That's what makes what the Tuohys did so special. As a well-to-do white family living in a nice area of Memphis, they reached out and gave of their love to this one black kid. They didn't do it to get any special recognition, and they didn't do it to raise eyebrows or to get people gossiping. They did it because they realized a need was there, and they acted upon it--plain and simple.

Their example is one that we can all learn from. While they are a very comfortable family, and are able to give financially to various charities and causes, they make a point of saying that money is not the only way you can give. Sometimes, a kind smile or even saying hello to someone may be just the pick-me-up they need for that day. Or it may mean giving of yourself at a soup kitchen or a shelter. Their point is just that even though you may think you've got it good, there's plenty of people out there that have it worse than you do. That's when you have to stop and thank God, and then ask Him how you can reach out to someone in need.

If you get the opportunity, definitely get your hands on a copy of this book. If you've seen The Blind Side, awesome. It's a great movie with a great message. If you haven't seen it, read the book first so you can get the whole story. Sometimes, it's just not possible to fit a family's whole story into a 2-hour movie, especially one as crazy as the Tuohys. :o)