Manning: A Father, His Sons and a Football Legacy (Hardcover)

by Peyton Manning (Author), Archie Manning (Author), John Underwood (Author), Peydirt Inc (Author) "From as early as I can remember, I played every sport available to me in school and on the playgrounds, which in Drew meant four:..." (more)
Key Phrases: state playoffs, offensive coordinator, best quarterback, Ole Miss, New Orleans, Coach Vaught (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
It seems somehow fitting that the first pass Peyton Manning, the $48 million man, threw as a professional went for a touchdown. His father Archie Manning, in this team effort from two of football's more interesting quarterbacks, stresses that "My only hard rule [with his sons growing up] was that they finish what they start." Peyton, the All-American Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tennessee, obviously listened to his All-American from Ole Miss father, whose strong right arm almost made the Saints competitive over 12 seasons in New Orleans.

Though both father and son get equal billing, this is really Archie's book, his story, and the story of his family that he wants to tell. He gets the first word and the last in this hybrid joint first-person memoir with chapter intros and structural transitions provided by Sports Illustrated veteran John Underwood. Like most sports biographies, it's rife with inspiration, decisions to be made, challenges to face (Peyton's older brother had to cut short his career when he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal spinal cord disease), tragedy faced (Archie's father killed himself while Archie was in college), and expectations exceeded. But it also has a lot of straight talk from Archie about family and football, and he's not above throwing a few penalty flags on the game. He's loud and clear on college recruiting abuses--as is Peyton. He worries about youth leagues putting pressures to succeed over fun in playing, hates all the taunting and celebrating in the NFL, and thinks there's just too darned much money and too little team loyalty in football's veins these days. The fire still smolders in his belly, and Manning is at its most interesting when he stokes up the flames. --Jeff Silverman

From Publishers Weekly
The Manning familyAArchie (All-American star quarterback who played for Ole Miss and later for the New Orleans Saints); his wife, Olivia (Archie's college sweetheart and homecoming queen); their sons Cooper (whose career ended with a diagnosis of spinal stenosis), Peyton (a former star quarterback for Tennessee whose determination has led the Indianapolis Colts to an incredible turnaround) and Eli (the even-tempered starting quarterback at Ole Miss)Ahas enjoyed a life of success and love based on faith, family and football. Archie and Olivia Manning raised their sons with the philosophy that "it's the right thing to do, so do the right thing." The result, which Archie and Peyton capture so clearly, is a tribute to the values Americans hold in high regard: work hard, stand up for what you believe in, treat each person with respect and be grateful for what you have and for what you have achieved. With the assistance of Underwood (Death of an American Game), the narrative seamlessly flows from Archie's voice to Peyton's as they discuss everything from the meaning of football and Archie's career ups and downs to raising three sons and the game they all play. Besides the celebrations, the Mannings also comment on life in the South ("The stereotyping is repulsive... both ways. All black men aren't noble, all white men aren't swine") and the flip side of fans' fervent partisanship (for example, the slew of hateful letters and calls Archie received when Peyton turned down Ole Miss). Whether or not one is a fan of the gridiron game, the Mannings' book makes for a terrific read about an all-American family.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061051365
• ISBN-13: 978-0061051364
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #211,383 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional story of the importance of football in the South, October 18, 2000

By	R. Spell "raspell" (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When I tell people I read this book they are very surprised as I attended a competing school and would not allow my children to attend Ole Miss for race issues. But that would be small minded to not enjoy the history of an exceptional Southern American family.

I throughly enjoyed reading this memoir from Archie about his life and journey to sports. He is an exceptional human being with many fine qualities. It's all here: 1. His feelings of the college game, 2. Inducements he may have received at Ole Miss, 3. His feelings of race, 4. life in the NFL, and 5. the good and bad of Southern passion for football and how it effected the recruiting of his sons.

Peyton also wrote some sections and did an excellent job. It's interesting to read his perceptions on such subjects as confrontations with coaches as well as his Tn freshman competition with Brandon Stewart. The story shows his passion and obsession with football and reading some of his stories, you can see where he probably generated some enemies amongst his teamates. He closes one chapter with thoughts of the college game and whether eventually there will be minor league pro teams.

Cooper Manning comes off as the star. What a great guy. You can see Cooper knew how to charm parents, classmates and his parents.

Eli is projected as a quiet, shy kid much like Archie and Olivia is the rock of the family.

I strongly recommend this book if you like football, southern culture, or stories about inspiring American families.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific inside look at the world of football, September 14, 2000

By	"honey99" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I grew up watching Archie Manning play for Ole Miss and now cheer for his son, Peyton, with the Colts. Although I knew a lot of Archie's story, this book gives a detailed insider's look at the world of football at all levels and all the changes that have occurred over the past 30 years. It is also a heart-warming story about the Manning family and how they've dealt with everything from Archie's frustrated days playing with the Saints, raising a family in New Orleans (not the easiest place to raise kids!), Peyton's college recruiting process and dealing with Cooper's (their oldest son) life-threatening illness. I always knew that Archie was a humble competitor -- I saw that when he played at Ole Miss -- and it's obviously influenced the way he and his wife raised their sons. In a world where so many kids disrespect authority and eschew hard work, it's refreshing to learn about the Manning kids in another light. And I loved learning all about the behind-the-scenes gyrations of pro football and the college recruiting process.

A fantastic book by two fabulous athletes who also happen to be men of integrity and honor.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK ! GREAT STORY!, March 16, 2007

By	T. J. SHOCKLEY "wheellady" (Morristown, TN. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Manning (Mass Market Paperback)

PEYTON AND ARCHIE AND COOPER AND ELI. THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER! ARCHIE AND OLIVIA SHOWED HOW BEING GREAT PARENTS CAN BREED GREAT CHILDREN! THIS BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF FAITH , FAMILY ,FOOTBALL, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSEVERANCE AND PURSUIT OF EDUCATION. PEYTON MANNING SAID THIS BEST!