This is one of the best books I've read. I know allot of hockey fans who are reluctant to read this book because they are squeamish about what they might have to read about. To them as well as all others I say - read this book. Fleury has done a good job of telling his story while at the same time being mindful of his reading audience and their sensitivities. The language is straight forward hockey talk - written the way many professional athletes speak. The narrative is compelling and follows Fleury from his early childhood through his junior hockey teen years and into his professional career. Fleury tells the reader frankly about how the demons of his past haunted him through a stellar professional career and ultimately led to the end of that career. That Fleury was able to persevere through all the challenges and continues to work forward as he now helps others is a testament to the strength of the human spirit when faced with seemingly overwhelming odds. The positive contributions of family and close friends are also highlighted. A truly human story of triumph over tragedy and quite simply a great read both for hockey fans and for those who don't know the game.

I used to think Theo Fleury was a bully. Reading this biography has changed my opinion greatly. What Theo went through was truely brutal, and nobody deserves that. It's amazing that he's overcome so many obstacles to become the amazing Canadian that he is today. A great read, even if you're not a hockey or sports fan!

This book full of intense and very descriptive parts the early years of the disturbing early years of Canadian sports icon in Theo Fleury. But throughout this book we can understand why he went down that road of drugs and alcohol. He was confused, scared and pressured by his coach Graham James which sent in that downward spiral. He gives us that sense of exactly how he felt with his coarse wording and raw depictions of each of his life changing experiences throughout his Junior hockey career right on through his career in the NHL. He reveals so much to us readers and by doing so it gives us the true understanding of his troubles that truthfully ended his NHL career and nearly ended his life. The story is scary in that its true and I thank him for being brave in getting his story out to the world.

www.hockeybookreviews.com

2009 Hockey Book Of The Year
by Joe Pelletier
It should come as no surprise that the HockeyBookReviews.com 2009 Hockey Book Of The Year is Theoren Fleury's tell-all autobiography Playing With Fire.
Tell-all is right. Fleury talks about all of his demons - the drugs, the alcohol, the gambling, the promiscuity - and finally reveals the sad truth behind it all. He was sexually abused by infamous junior coach Graham James.

In a weak year for hockey books, nothing really came close to Fleury's book. It has been a Canadian best seller for weeks, drawing the most attention from media across North America. No book rivaled that attention.

Fleury has won over fans all around the world, which was not easy given he was one of the most hated hockey players of his era. He has earned everyone's respect for the bravery he has shown with this book, and with the progress he has made in his life. Once again we are all cheering for the little underdog in the biggest fight in his life.

Co-author Kirstie McLellan Day deserves full credit for her role writing the book, keep the darkness of Fleury's life very evident in the pages of this book. Her expert touch gives the reader an idea of the emotion and anger of Fleury's life.

This is the most fascinating book I have read in a long time! Theoren lays it all out...raw...sensitive. He should be applauded for what he came through and what he has become as a person! My hat is off to you Theoren!

Theo Fleury was during his time one of the most skilled hockey players in the world. A long shot a 5'8'' to make the NHL Fleury set himself a goal as a child to do just that and he did. However, there were demons in his closet that he he did just about everything to keep from coming out. As we now know, Fleury was sexually abused as a teenager by his hockey coach. This is his story of how that act shaped his life, how he coped and finally came to terms with what what stolen from him by a pedophile.

A great story. Buy it or borrow - read it twice.

My husband is cousins with Stu Grimson, my parents are great friends with Lyle Odelein and his parents, my brother in law played hockey with Barry Trapp's grandson, and my home town is only a few hours away from Russell Manitoba, all these reasons to check out this book as recommended to me by my mom. but once I got into it, it turned out to be an amazing story.
The ups and downs that Theoren Fluery has made throughout his life, and how he is using his experiences, both good and bad, to help others is incredible.
Kudos to Theoren for writing such raw, emotional, and bare all story.
If you are not into hockey, the detailed hockey stats, and all the players mentioned can get a little confusing, but otherwise a good read!

I can not believe how revealing this book is it takes alot of guts to write what fleury did

awesome book

This book is as honest as they come. Although his thought process can be scattered at times, the book provides candid insight into the horror Theo experienced at the hands of his former coach (and subsequent substance abuse), but also all the good times that the game of hockey provided him. It is great to see how far Theo has come, and how much the sharing of his story has helped those in similar situations. Good on him.

I have always been a Theo fan so I got the book right away. It is a difficult story to read for sure. You get a few little breaks from the difficult parts when he describes many of the best hockey games he has been in and of course, he comes through it all at the end. However, tons of swearing in it and when my 13 year old wanted to read it, I wasn't sure about it. He read the first chapter and then decided maybe he wouldn't read it after all. Theo is certainly an amazing person and his story will help alot of people but you do have to brace yourself to read this journey as it certainly is a very difficult journey. I am glad to have read the book though and I have alot of respect for Theo.

Theo pulls no punches as he weaves the readers' minds through a shocking, and exciting life. The book is a must read for any hockey fan and would entertain even those who aren't. The story begins with an un-spectacular childhood and continues on to follow the rise and fall of the carreer of one of the best players to ever play in "the show" (pound for pound).

The book contains many amusing stories about various NHL superstars, and includes deep a look into the life of an alcoholic, cocaine addicted hockey player who struggles to hide his many demons while being one of the best players in the league. Theo bares all and this book really is one that is hard to put down.

"Playing With Fire" written by Theoren Fleury, far exceeded my expectations. Once I picked it up it was very hard to put back down. Whether you are a sports fan or not, you will enjoy this book. It provides a detailed look into Theo's life and both the positive and negative experiences that he encountered. It also outlines his experiences with sex, drugs, alcohol and abuse. It is also a story about an individual who fought back, an individual who dedicated his very existence to being the best he could be (both on and off the ice). For those of you interested in reading "Playing with Fire", you won't be disappointed!

If you are looking for a book written with lots of emotion and honesty, this book has it all...

I have rolled my eyes at Theoren Fleury may times in recent years... after reading this book I regret each and every time I did.

What Theo went through is something I would never wish upon anyone, not even my worst enemy. He had his childhood innocence stolen by a man he trusted and for that I truly feel sorry for him.

But for as much as this person (who's name I refuse to even type) is responsible for much of Theo's troubles... Fleury also pulls no punches when it comes to accepting responsibilities for his actions and the negative affects they had on not only his life but the lives of those closest to him... and for that he deserves a round of applause.

Thankfully... for all the struggles he had to overcome (undersized, serious injuries, abuse, addiction, public scrutiny) he found a way to get through it all and create a new start for his life.

This book is not just a must read for Fleury fans (like myself), Flames fans (like myself), or even hockey fans... but for anyone who has ever thought that their struggles are too much to overcome. Fleury almost didn't... but did!

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.