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Peter Gent

North Dallas Forty (Hall of Fame Edition) Paperback – September 4, 2003

by Peter Gent (Author)

141 ratings

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This book is a fictional account of eight harrowing days in the life of a professional football player.

Print length

314 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Sport Media Publishing
Publication date

September 4, 2003
Dimensions

5.44 x 0.98 x 8.24 inches
ISBN-10

0973144335
ISBN-13

978-0973144338
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sport Media Publishing (September 4, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 314 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0973144335
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0973144338
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.44 x 0.98 x 8.24 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,848,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,782 in Football (Books)

Customer Reviews:
141 ratings

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Customer reviews

5 star		47%
4 star		28%
3 star		14%
2 star		6%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Frank Maddox

Well written and absorbing.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 31, 2021

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I like this book, but I can't say I liked the main character. I have to agree with the head coach - it's his childish attitude. At the end of the novel, the scene in the owner's office is sort of a FU to football, but the very final scene was sort of a FU to the reader. Really? Who advised you on an ending like that after what was such a great novel? Well written and absorbing, but he treats the reader the same way the football industry treats the main character and visa-versa. You want to get hooked into this character, but the walls are up, even in a novel. Still, I couldn't put it down.

Helpful

Relistic portrayal of the NFL in the 1970s with few redeeming characters

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 25, 2016

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The semi-autobiographical novel about the NFL in the 1970s is quite an education about the game in that era. It seems to be aimed at shocking the reader, but Jim Bouton had already accomplished much the same task with his baseball memoir Ball Four. And we all know that football had to be worse. The difference is that Jim Bouton is always likable because he has such a sense of humor about the foibles of players and coaches. Bouton also gives you people to root for. You come away convinced Johnny Sain is smartest coach ever bottled, for instance.

In North Dallas Forty, Phil Elliott is not likable and his misanthropic behavior and point of view makes everyone else seem pretty insufferable too. It's really an existential crisis book about a guy who likes playing football but hates everything else about the system in which he plays. He lets you know that he is smarter than everyone else, but they are sinister enough that it doesn't matter. Even characteristics that make typical heroes sympathetic like befriending underdogs and misfits seems like a symptom of rebellion here rather than a spark of human connection.

The main problem that Elliott has is that he's an individual in a collaborative sport. He plays wide receiver and can do nothing if the coach won't put him in or the QB won't throw him the ball. Luckily the closest thing he has to a friend in the story is the team's QB, Seth Maxwell. Seth is every bit the narcissist that Elliott is, but he hides it behind a charm that makes him beloved by fans and players. The character arc is slight which makes the novel much more realistic than genre fiction although the ending is arguably contrived to stunt potential growth.

The parts that dealt with football head-on were the strongest parts of the book. Gent describes in detail how they tape up his body and how he dresses for a game. He talks about pre-game meals, nerves, pain killers, and all of the other rituals. The other parts of the book are his pot smoking and drinking and womanizing. That becomes redundant. And it's probably for the purpose of showing the reader how easy it would be to slide into an existential crisis when you have no ethos outside of hedonism.

2 people found this helpful

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David Southworth

Good, but with a weird, out of place, ending

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 11, 2020

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This book, published as fiction, but written by a former Dallas Cowboy, gives a great picture of how things were for football players in the late 1960s. Physical therapy appeared to be nearly non-existent, so the author shows many instances where players seem to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. There is also a raucous party scene surrounding the team, with the normal coterie of groupies and other hangers-on. The struggle for the main character to impress coaching staff echoes many memoirs by other players who struggle with injuries and the constant influx of new blood that can run faster, hit harder, or throw farther. The surprise twist at the end really throws you for a loop, and I wonder why it was included at all. All in all though, a great read.

3 people found this helpful

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Chewycat

Not what I thought it was

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 11, 2021

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I didn’t know it was used. It said used but good shape but when I got the book it had stains on cover and last couple pages was gone. I found another one in newer shape. This was a birthday gift. Oh well, until next time.

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Jim Lester

One of my all time favorite books

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 7, 2020

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Although it was written many, many years ago this books holds up remarkably well. Peter Gent was a seriously good writer and even though the book is regarded as a great football novel, I find it to be a great novel period. It's well written and thoughtful and has a cast of memorable characters. My only word of caution is that drug abuse is no longer a laughing matter and consequently some of the scenes in the book fall a little flat in 2020. But overall, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes football or good writing or both.

One person found this helpful

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KMORELAND

This Story Resonates

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 7, 2021

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A very engrossing book. I really got a vivid idea of what pro football players go through in their lives, especially in relationships even more than the playing games on the field.

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BG

Read the book for what the movie doesn't show you.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

Always liked the movie and finally read the book. If the book is true depiction of an NFL players lifestyle, then sign me up!! Sex, drugs, and football! Interesting to see the rest of the story the book left out. Pete Gent's writing is easy to read and there is some good humor in it. If you are a football fan or just curious about Dallas around 1970 I recommend picking this up. I found the book for .01, just paid some shipping.

2 people found this helpful

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Carlos

A classic sports novel

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 22, 2011

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This book differs from the movie somewhat in that it concentrates more on Gent and the character reportedly based on Don Meredith. The book details Gent's existential angst, his copious use of drugs, and his obvious fascination with watching the exploits and hedonistic behavior of his teammates, especially the team's libidinous quarterback (Meredith?).

As some reviewers have noted, Gent is not very nice, to say the least, of Tom Landry and the team's management staff. I'm not sure if Gent is exaggerating in the way he depicts Landry as a machiavellian, hypocritical, ruthless, yet extremely talented coach. Still, Landry's character in the book, like most of the book's characters, is compelling and interesting.

The book is well-written, funny, entertaining and held my attention throughout. The book also provides an interesting view into American and East Texas culture of the late-1960s, including insight into racial integration and the pro football community. I recommend it.

9 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Robert Walker

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 11, 2017

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Really good book, told by a former player, it's insightful, funny and depressing all at once.

Ms. K. Van Deere

A great sports novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 6, 2013

Verified Purchase

A seminal, semi autobiographical sports novel which still has an impact the year after Peter Gent's death. I can only imagine the reaction on the professional American Football circuit upon first publication.

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North Dallas Forty (Hall of Fame Edition) Paperback – September 4, 2003

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