28
A Memoir Of Football, Addiction, Art, Masculinity And Love
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A brutally honest memoir that completely rethinks what it means to be a man.
'Like Andre Agassi's Open, this is a transformative book; it is going to change our way of seeing' Malcolm Knox
'Brandon Jack is a force for good' Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald, hosts of the Shameless podcast
Continually told he was born with footballing blood, Brandon Jack has spent his life uncertain of the relationship he holds with the games he's played.
Now a writer and musician, he sits in his apartment and reflects upon the years spent pursuing what felt like an inevitability - the footballing life.
This is a unique and darkly poetic fly-on-the-wall account of a world that is usually shown in bright lights. Filled with relentlessly driven diary entries, vivid details of life at the fringe, and memories of binge-drinking into oblivion as an escape during his playing days at the Sydney Swans, 28 is a portrayal of the sporting psyche in a way that has never been done before.
But the true beauty of this book lies in the space outside football. Laid bare on these pages is a searingly honest deep dive into sport, addiction, art, sexuality, masculinity, love, family and identity.
'Searingly honest, unflinching' Peter FitzSimons
'Brandon Jack has talent and daring in abundance' Christos Tsiolkas
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Former Sydney Swans player Brandon Jack reckons with both internal and external pressure in this bracing memoir. Now a journalist and musician, he shied away from the subject of football in his first draft, before discovering old journals that prompted him to explore the sport’s ingrained culture at length. Raised with multiple footy stars in the family, Jack recounts his feelings of dislocation as he climbed through the AFL ranks while falling prey to escalating drinking and drug abuse across his five-year career. His writing crackles with kinetic energy as he poetically renders his experiences on and off the field. Not just for footy fans, this is a deeply personal, yet widely accessible, interrogation of toxic masculinity—and an inspiring story about finding salvation in love and the arts.
Customer Reviews
Perspective from the other side!
Deep insight into the life of a footballer who was always on the peripheral. Showing for majority of players, the struggle is real with the money, glitz & glam only reserved for those very few at the top. Thoroughly enjoyed this honest memoir.
Brilliant, insightful read
Highly recommend
Honesty
Very good.. I am not a big reader but this got finished in 4 days. It seemed to me to be a very honest read... warts and all included.