This book was one that while I received it before its publication before its 2024 publication date, I just never got around to reading it as I also placed newly received books on top of it in the TBR pile. Thanks to a reading challenge in an online group this month, I finally got around to it and really enjoyed it. Even this Vikings fan had to read about a Packers legend - the author made it a great book.
Review: Aaron Rogers will
certainly be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as he was an
outstanding quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He often makes headlines for comments and
actions outside of the football field as well. This makes him a polarizing and
complex individual and this excellent biography by Ian O’Connor makes a valiant
effort to understand Rogers better.
O’Connor has written other excellent sports biographies
on complex people, most notably Bill Belichick.
He does the same thing here with Rogers, and it goes far beyond the better-known
controversies around Rogers such as his stance on the COVID-19 vaccines. O’Connor
covers just about every question or topic one might have about Rogers, on and
off the field.
For football related items, O’Connor covers Rogers’
entire career, from his high school accomplishments at Pleasant Valley High
School in California to hie devastating Achilles injury four plays into his
time with the New York Jets at the star of the 2023 season. For just one
excellent example of O’Connor’s work, reading about how Rogers left the
University of California early and was expected to be a top 5 draft pick to
sliding down all the way to near the bottom of the first round where he was
selected by the Packers. Like in the
rest of the book, O’Connor does much research and conducts as many interviews
as he could to tell the complete story.
The same approach is done for the more
controversial aspects of Rogers’ life, especially off the field. These include his lengthy self-estrangement
from his family, a comment linking late night television host Jimmy Kimmel to
convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and his views on religion after being
raised by religious parents. This was quite a contrast to the person that
Rogers was portrayed as by teammates and coaches (even those with whom he often
clashed such as former Packers coach Mike McCarthy). This adds layers to the
complexity that is Aaron Rogers and why telling his complete story in a very
balanced manner makes O’Connor one of the best writers of sports biographies in
the business today.
I wish to thank Mariner Books for providing a review
copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are
strictly my own.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Darkness-Mystery-Aaron-Rodgers/dp/006329785X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
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