In Playing With Fire, Theo Fleury takes us behind the bench during his glorious days as an NHL player, and talks about growing up devastatingly poor and in chaos at home. Dark personal issues began to surface, and drinking, drugs, gambling, and girls ultimately derailed a career that had him destined for the Hall of Fame. Fleury shares all in this raw, captivating, and honest look at the previously untold story of one the game's greatest heroes.
Playing With Fire
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Theo Fleury won a World Junior title, a Turner Cup, a Stanley Cup as a rookie with the Calgary Flames, and later a Canada Cup and an Olympic gold medal. A former player with the Colorado Avalanche, the New York Rangers, and the Chicago Blackhawks, he is now a motivational speaker and businessman. He lives in Calgary, Alberta. Kirstie McLellan Day is an author whose screenplays and books include the true-crime novel No Remorse: A Father's Murderous Rage; Under the Mat (the Diana Hart story); and Above and Beyond, a biography of cable magnate J. R. Shaw. She writes two weekly entertainment columns for the Calgary Herald and is the CEO of Pyramid Productions Inc., a film and television company. Wayne Gretzky is a former professional ice hockey player generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By B. Beazley
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Actually, it's one of the best books I've ever read. I've read a lot of memoirs and biographies, and this one is brutally honest -- heartbreakingly so.
Theo Fleury's book contains many stories. It's the story of a Canadian who grew up poor on the prairies and clung to his dream like a lifeline. It's a story of a broken, lonely childhood plagued by demons and abuse. It's a story about the drive to be the best at a particular sport. It's a story of addiction to booze, drugs, and sex. It's a story of both dizzying success and financial failure. But most of all, it's a story about what it means to be human and what it's like to live in constant pain...and to find relief in things that only make matters worse.
Anyone who loves hockey (especially the Calgary Flames) will love this book. Ditto anyone who's been abused or anyone who struggles (or struggled) with substance abuse and suicidal impulses. Theo has written a book for both sports fans and those who don't care about sports. His story is painful, but it deserves to be heard. And hopefully it will help anyone who struggles with the same issues that affected him.
Thank you, Theo, for writing this book.
Theo Fleury's book contains many stories. It's the story of a Canadian who grew up poor on the prairies and clung to his dream like a lifeline. It's a story of a broken, lonely childhood plagued by demons and abuse. It's a story about the drive to be the best at a particular sport. It's a story of addiction to booze, drugs, and sex. It's a story of both dizzying success and financial failure. But most of all, it's a story about what it means to be human and what it's like to live in constant pain...and to find relief in things that only make matters worse.
Anyone who loves hockey (especially the Calgary Flames) will love this book. Ditto anyone who's been abused or anyone who struggles (or struggled) with substance abuse and suicidal impulses. Theo has written a book for both sports fans and those who don't care about sports. His story is painful, but it deserves to be heard. And hopefully it will help anyone who struggles with the same issues that affected him.
Thank you, Theo, for writing this book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By T. Durden
Format:Hardcover
I have a lot more respect for Theo after reading what he was going through. I followed him since his rookie year, this book helps answer a lot of questions at to what was going on behind the scenes. Its actually a really good read and Im happy to see Theo where he is today. It says as much about abuse and addiction as it does about hard work and determination. Im a hockey, Flames and Theo fan so for me this book was a 5 out of 5.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By John Leak
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
While I have NEVER been a real fan of Theo Fleury nor a fan of the Flames, I got the book because I always had respect for the little man that chose to play hockey like he was 6 foot 2. (plus the Flames were my dad's team since they were in Atlanta). It has given me alot of insight into why he played the game the way he did. I may not have liked Fleury, but I still respected him.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable
A great read and pager turner. I did not want to put it down. It is amazing how much talent some people are blessed with and yet they still choose to throw it all away. Read more
Published 3 days ago by tirichards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Written with Emotional Honesty
A must read book for a better understanding of the old school hockey culture and what sexual abuse does to the human spirit from a male perspective. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Lisa J
4.0 out of 5 stars
Breaking Free!
I didn't know really anything about Theo Fleury until of course the Graham James Trial came to be! A client of mine last week told me that he was here about a week ago at Standing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Wendy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courage on Ice
Theo Fleury was an NHL All Star, and a very exciting player to watch. Little did a lot of us realize how much suffering, pain and the resulting addictions he kept hidden from the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Madeline
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good read
As a child I loved him as a player, as an adult I can now admire what he overcame in life. This was a book I could not put down. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jason Dellamater
4.0 out of 5 stars
Straight forward and frank.
Theo was one of my favorite hockey players when we lived in Calgary and had season tickets. Little did I know of all the demons he was dealing with.
Published 4 months ago by stampederus
2.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, sad, immature, and stretched truths
This is a very strange book. While there are some interesting parts, Theo writes about the amount of cocaine he was doing as if he was reminiscing about better times. Read more
Published 5 months ago by SLF
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Inner Furnace
I have to admit about having very mixed feelings about this book. This is, in many ways, a scary story..
Theo fleury has lived, In many ways, the American Dream. Read more
Theo fleury has lived, In many ways, the American Dream. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Scott A. Kallick
4.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD READ!
Okay so I am sad that there is not hockey this year because my HUSBAND is the biggest Philadelphia Flyers fan ever!! That being said... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs P.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing man!!!
I had the pleasure if meeting this man at a speech he had given, this book is truly amazing, for one person to be tested over and over and become Victor!!!
Published 5 months ago by T Roy
