I very much enjoyed reading this book. Mr. Brunt was able to weave together both facts and analysis that felt genuine and informative. It is not easy for young NHL fans to understand how professional hockey functioned before the amateur draft or when there were only 6 teams. Through Brunt's description, I felt I started to understand the control that owners and the teams had over hockey. Alan Eagleson is a key player in this book, and I was not aware he had such an important role in Bobby Orr's career. The book was overall an easy read but also included a few deep thoughts that made you think or rethink about changes in professional sports. I especially enjoyed the passage about how sports heroes are held to different standards than movie or rock stars, because they are seen a role models. I agree and found it captivating that the trust between sports reporters and athletes has become nonexistent. Brunt proposes that Orr has a role in shaping the current environment. Being from Northern Ontario, I appreciated the Parry Sound portrayal and felt like I understand where Bobby came from, even if I am more than 30 years his junior.
The only two weaknesses in my opinion is his constant reminders that Orr was amazing (a bit over the top) and I found the early-to-mid chapters a little jumpy, moving from junior to professional then back to junior.
But overall, I felt this is a must read for any fan of professional hockey or hockey in general. Highly recommended!

One has to give credit to Mr. Brunt. Bobby Orr! There are not many sports hero's that are so untouchable and secretive than Mr. Orr, yet an admirable effort to bring the essence of the mystic legend to light.. Brunt gave us a good understanding of Orr's formative years and a sence of the time and challenges the Orr's faced. Brunt's writing brought you to the rinks, the punishing games, the injuries, the politics and a sence that Orr had a dark side. We became privy to a more intimate person and the dynamics of the NHL. I feel that there is a great deal more we may one day know of Mr. Orr, in some ways, I'm just fine with knowing what I know from Mr. Brunt and this book. I enjoyed this book, I hope that you do too.

. I originally passed on it based on the few reviews ; however, I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the "up and down" reviews, I thought this book was interesting and well written. One reviewer wrote, "In the course of researching this book, author Stephen Brunt was not able to talk to Orr or any of his close knit circle of friends and family. As a result, Brunt's account is superficial and, ultimately, disappointing and unsatisfying." I disagree. Because Orr was, in the reviewer's own words, a "secretive, introverted man", I do not believe that he is inclined to reveal any more of his private life than was shared in this book. The book provides an objective account of the best and most exciting hockey player ever to lace a pair of skates. Included are Bobby's battle with knee problems that robbed him (and all hockey fans) of a lengthy career and his financial difficulties linked to his association with Alan Eagleson.

I found this book to be full of insinuations of Bobby's personality, character and private life ect. It wasn't backed up by any facts just presumptions, for most stars or famous people you could probably get away with this (to write a book and make a few bucks) but not with Bobby Orr, by the time I finished this book I despised the author and his writing style. Just another person making money off of Bobby's career...