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Nine Lessons I Learned from My Father
A GLOBE AND MAIL BESTSELLER
As a child, Murray Howe wanted to be like his father. He was an adult before he realized that didn't necessarily mean playing hockey.
Gordie Howe may have been the greatest player in the history of hockey, but greatness was never defined by goals or assists in the Howe household. Greatness meant being the best person you could be, not the best player on the ice.
Unlike his two brother, Murray Howe failed in his attempt to follow in his father's footsteps to become a professional athlete. Yet his failure brought him to the realization that his dream wasn't really to be a pro hockey player. His dream was to be his father. To be amazing at something, but humble and gracious. To be courageous, and stand up for the little guy. To be a hero. You don't need to be a hockey player to do that. What he learned was that it was a waste of time wishing you were like someone else.
When Gordie Howe passed away in 2016, it was Murray who was asked to deliver the eulogy. Nine Lessons I Learned from My Father takes the reader through the hours Murray spent writing the words that would give shape to his father's leagcy--the hours immediately after his hero's death, as he gathers his thoughts and memories, and makes sense of what his remarkable father meant to him. The result is nine pieces of wisdom, built out of hundreds of stories, that show us the man behind the legend and give us a glimpse of what we can learn from this incredible life.
As a child, Murray Howe wanted to be like his father. He was an adult before he realized that didn't necessarily mean playing hockey.
Gordie Howe may have been the greatest player in the history of hockey, but greatness was never defined by goals or assists in the Howe household. Greatness meant being the best person you could be, not the best player on the ice.
Unlike his two brother, Murray Howe failed in his attempt to follow in his father's footsteps to become a professional athlete. Yet his failure brought him to the realization that his dream wasn't really to be a pro hockey player. His dream was to be his father. To be amazing at something, but humble and gracious. To be courageous, and stand up for the little guy. To be a hero. You don't need to be a hockey player to do that. What he learned was that it was a waste of time wishing you were like someone else.
When Gordie Howe passed away in 2016, it was Murray who was asked to deliver the eulogy. Nine Lessons I Learned from My Father takes the reader through the hours Murray spent writing the words that would give shape to his father's leagcy--the hours immediately after his hero's death, as he gathers his thoughts and memories, and makes sense of what his remarkable father meant to him. The result is nine pieces of wisdom, built out of hundreds of stories, that show us the man behind the legend and give us a glimpse of what we can learn from this incredible life.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2017
24 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 13, 2018
Wow! Where to begin.
My niece and nephew got me this book for Christmas (I’ll be honest....it was not on my radar). Whoever picked the title gets huge bonus points. This book was an absolute joy to read. Murray Howe (Gordie’s youngest son) writes with such care, passion, love and generosity that the messages and stories within flow - and flood with emotion.
Part eulogy, part love story, part tribute and part scrapbook, this title literally gushes with messages and examples of what made Mr. Hockey not only one of the greatest hockey players of all time, but an even more incredible man. I smiled so many times as I flipped through the pages, hearing the incredible stories of life in pro hockey and as a family man, humanitarian and just an overall positive role model for everyone. No wonder he is revered by so many people. I felt privileged to be invited into this part of Gordie Howe’s life.
I really enjoyed the way this book was written. Murray Howe has a fantastic way with words....shaping and crafting them into a voice that I could listen to for hours. Honest and truly from the heart, I knew this would be a quick read after only a few pages in.
It’s gushy at times....maybe to some a little overboard with the stories, but not to me. I could’ve read another book’s worth of anecdotes. It was that well done.
Highest recommendation. Possibly the best “sports” book I’ve ever read (although I would argue it’s less about hockey and more about life).
My niece and nephew got me this book for Christmas (I’ll be honest....it was not on my radar). Whoever picked the title gets huge bonus points. This book was an absolute joy to read. Murray Howe (Gordie’s youngest son) writes with such care, passion, love and generosity that the messages and stories within flow - and flood with emotion.
Part eulogy, part love story, part tribute and part scrapbook, this title literally gushes with messages and examples of what made Mr. Hockey not only one of the greatest hockey players of all time, but an even more incredible man. I smiled so many times as I flipped through the pages, hearing the incredible stories of life in pro hockey and as a family man, humanitarian and just an overall positive role model for everyone. No wonder he is revered by so many people. I felt privileged to be invited into this part of Gordie Howe’s life.
I really enjoyed the way this book was written. Murray Howe has a fantastic way with words....shaping and crafting them into a voice that I could listen to for hours. Honest and truly from the heart, I knew this would be a quick read after only a few pages in.
It’s gushy at times....maybe to some a little overboard with the stories, but not to me. I could’ve read another book’s worth of anecdotes. It was that well done.
Highest recommendation. Possibly the best “sports” book I’ve ever read (although I would argue it’s less about hockey and more about life).
December 23, 2017
“He inspired because they saw that they could be like him... we can’t all be the best hockey player in the world, but we can all be great people.” A very warm and wonderful tribute the love and life of Gordie Howe. Murray writes about Mr. Hockey with such reverence and tenderness that shows a different image than the giant on the ice. Just what I needed!
September 1, 2019
Gordie Howe was one of those special athletes who was well recognized by people who don’t follow the athlete’s sport but still know about that person. He was known as a fierce competitor on the ice during his legendary hockey career with the Detroit Red Wings. He even got to play professional hockey in the World Hockey Association with two of his three sons, Mark and Marty. His third son, Murray, didn’t play professional hockey but nonetheless still had a special connection to his father. That connection and the lessons he learned from Gordie are captured in this excellent book.
The audio version is narrated by Murray Howe as well and this makes it even more authentic and heartfelt. Throughout the book, the reader or listener will learn a lot about Gordie Howe’s compassion and care for other people, especially for women (Gordie would always rise when a woman entered the room and stay standing until she was seated) and children. The same was true if Gordie saw someone, any age, man or woman, with his assistance if someone was having difficulty with a task – anything from chopping wood (one of the more entertaining stories) to carrying bags of groceries. If there is one takeaway from the book, it is that each of the nine lessons Murray describes – they are the titles of each chapter – illustrates the kind of man his father was to him.
There are passages that are about Gordie’s childhood in Saskatchewan, memories of Gordie’s parents and of course, significant room for Gordie’s hockey career as well. But his on-ice accomplishments are not the point of the book, nor the reason that Murray wrote a moving eulogy for his father’s funeral in 2016. The love and care that Mr. Hockey (which is what Murray called his father very frequently throughout the book) is what he talks about, including the stories shared by other family members at the time when they gathered for the funeral. It should be noted that thousands filed to pay respects to Mr. Hockey at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena and many of those respects were about the man more than the player, including President Barack Obama. For any reader who wants to learn more about Gordie Howe the man, this is the book to read.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
The audio version is narrated by Murray Howe as well and this makes it even more authentic and heartfelt. Throughout the book, the reader or listener will learn a lot about Gordie Howe’s compassion and care for other people, especially for women (Gordie would always rise when a woman entered the room and stay standing until she was seated) and children. The same was true if Gordie saw someone, any age, man or woman, with his assistance if someone was having difficulty with a task – anything from chopping wood (one of the more entertaining stories) to carrying bags of groceries. If there is one takeaway from the book, it is that each of the nine lessons Murray describes – they are the titles of each chapter – illustrates the kind of man his father was to him.
There are passages that are about Gordie’s childhood in Saskatchewan, memories of Gordie’s parents and of course, significant room for Gordie’s hockey career as well. But his on-ice accomplishments are not the point of the book, nor the reason that Murray wrote a moving eulogy for his father’s funeral in 2016. The love and care that Mr. Hockey (which is what Murray called his father very frequently throughout the book) is what he talks about, including the stories shared by other family members at the time when they gathered for the funeral. It should be noted that thousands filed to pay respects to Mr. Hockey at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena and many of those respects were about the man more than the player, including President Barack Obama. For any reader who wants to learn more about Gordie Howe the man, this is the book to read.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
October 24, 2017
I'm not a hockey fan but this is the third book I've read about Gordie Howe ... I'd read one by him and one by his son, Mark, in June 2016 shortly after Gordie had passed away. This book is by his youngest son, Murray, who was not a hockey player but a doctor.
This book came about right after Gordie had passed away and Murray was writing his eulogy. It is less about Gordie that hockey player and more about Gordie the father and friend. Gordie was living with Murray and his family when he died and Murray is honoured to have spent his father's last days with him.
There are nine lessons (which are chapters) that Murray and others had learned from Gordie:
1. Live honourably
2. Live generously
3. Play hard but have fun
4. Patience, patience, patience
5. Live selflessly
6. Be humble
7. Be tough
8. Stay positive
9. Friends and family are live gold - treasure them
Along with the lessons are lots of stories to support the lessons.
Gordie Howe was nicknamed "Mr. Hockey" and is considered the most complete player to ever play the game and one of the greatest hockey players of all time. A 23-time NHL All-Star, he held many of the sport's scoring records until they were broken in the 1980s by Wayne Gretzky.
Gordie was born in rural Saskatchewan as one of nine children born during the Depression to poor parents. Though he eventually moved to the States and raised his family there, he never forgot his humble roots. Though a tough guy on the ice, it sounds like Howe was a nice guy. He was friendly and giving to everyone, even up to the end.
Whether you are a hockey fan or not, I think you would enjoy this book.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/10...
This book came about right after Gordie had passed away and Murray was writing his eulogy. It is less about Gordie that hockey player and more about Gordie the father and friend. Gordie was living with Murray and his family when he died and Murray is honoured to have spent his father's last days with him.
There are nine lessons (which are chapters) that Murray and others had learned from Gordie:
1. Live honourably
2. Live generously
3. Play hard but have fun
4. Patience, patience, patience
5. Live selflessly
6. Be humble
7. Be tough
8. Stay positive
9. Friends and family are live gold - treasure them
Along with the lessons are lots of stories to support the lessons.
Gordie Howe was nicknamed "Mr. Hockey" and is considered the most complete player to ever play the game and one of the greatest hockey players of all time. A 23-time NHL All-Star, he held many of the sport's scoring records until they were broken in the 1980s by Wayne Gretzky.
Gordie was born in rural Saskatchewan as one of nine children born during the Depression to poor parents. Though he eventually moved to the States and raised his family there, he never forgot his humble roots. Though a tough guy on the ice, it sounds like Howe was a nice guy. He was friendly and giving to everyone, even up to the end.
Whether you are a hockey fan or not, I think you would enjoy this book.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/10...
February 23, 2018
I've read books about Darren McCarty, Bob Probert, and Bobby Orr so it was only natural to read about the King himself, Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe. This book is different from his biography in that it's written by his youngest son, Murray Howe.
It is well written story, told from the heart, more about the man than the hockey player. Trying to explain one without the other would be impossible in the case of Gordie Howe. Hockey and family were equally important to him, but even more than that Murray explains how the respect Mr. Hockey earned was a result of how he treated everyone else in the same way.
Don't worry sports fans, there's enough hockey action to keep you interested.
It is well written story, told from the heart, more about the man than the hockey player. Trying to explain one without the other would be impossible in the case of Gordie Howe. Hockey and family were equally important to him, but even more than that Murray explains how the respect Mr. Hockey earned was a result of how he treated everyone else in the same way.
Don't worry sports fans, there's enough hockey action to keep you interested.
Read
June 18, 2020I'm getting personal with this book...
Unrated.
Paperback, 240 pages.
Read from August 2019 to December 2019.
Review at the Pluviophile Writer: https://bit.ly/2YDOuP2
I will not rate this book. It is not a book a chose to read for myself and one that I didn't get to finish as it should have. This book means far too much to me now to rate it. I bought this book almost a year to the day for my dad on Father's Day 2019. It was a day that I couldn't physically be present for since I live halfway across the globe from my family currently. It had also just been, at the time, just over a month since my dad was given 6 months to live.
My dad with the book I sent him on Father's Day 2019 eating his favourite cereal and wearing his old-timer team's shirt. We would often get this cereal for him on father's day as a treat because he would always share with us and it wasn't something we were regularly allowed to eat.
My dad was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in August 2018. His cancer had spread to his bones despite him doing all the right things like getting regular doctor's check-ups. Even with the late-stage diagnosis, we all thought my dad would breeze through treatment and we would have a good and solid two or three years with him, especially considering how young and healthy he was, it's what all the doctor's told us too. Unfortunately, after a variety of failed treatments that nearly killed him, twice, he opted to enjoy the remaining time that he had left. Sadly, that time was short, a mere 6 months.
Anyone that has lived with someone who has cancer or has had cancer knows the difficulties. It's something that can't be explained if you've never experienced it. The utter exhaustion, the despair of not being able to do more or relieve the loved one's pain or take their cancer away, the frustration of unfairness, the denial of how bad things will be or are going to get to shelter yourself and the cancer sufferer, and for myself, the guilt of living so far away. I lost count how many times I flew home to support my family between August 2018 and November 2019. Some of those times were terrifying, having almost lost my dad then, while others were wonderful, albeit still difficult as my dad declined. I planned my wedding in two weeks so that my dad could be a part of it in the spring of 2019 and spent a month and a half over that same summer with my family.
It was during that summer I spent with my family that I started to read this book aloud to my dad. He rested while I read and sometimes my sister would come and sit and listen too. I had never read aloud to anyone, I can't even remember what gave me the idea to do it. As I read this great story of Murray Howe recapping his childhood and talking about what a legendary man his father was, I couldn't help but make associations with the qualities of Gordie and my dad.
My dad loved hockey and most team sports. He played football growing up, was even a quarterback despite his small stature. For most of his adult life he played baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter, he was also a runner. We ran our first marathon together. My dad was a leader who had a sense of justice and fairness that couldn't be taught. He was passionate and caring about people so it was no surprise that he was a leader in nearly everything that he did. He was a manager of a credit union for nearly 40 years, he was the president of my swim team when I was a kid, he coached my sister and I baseball and soccer, and he would eventually come to run the old-timers hockey team that he played on for more than 20 years. Past his professionalism, he also had an endearing and absolutely goofy sense of humour that followed with a kindness that is hard to come by. My dad would help anyone.
My dad and I at the Kelowna Marathon, October 2012.
Gordie Howe wasn't only a good hockey player, he was a man of honour and he lived his life by his own code. Each chapter in this book is an example of a lesson that Gordie taught his son as he exemplified it in his own life. As I read the remarkable story of Gordie Howe's life to my dad and the impact Gordie had on so many people, I couldn't help but think of the lives that my dad also touched throughout his life and how my own dad lived honourably. Some passages were beautiful and really struck me, to the point where I had to swallow tears to continue reading. Sadly, I only made it to page 98 before my dad passed away, a page that will forever be bookmarked.
My dad at The Heritage Classic in 2011.
My dad passed away at the age of 58 in November 2019. All the people he loved most in the world were present in the room when he passed. It was peaceful. It was beautiful. We were lucky. Murray Howe wrote an amazing tribute to his father. Murray may not have been the hockey player his dad or brothers were but he is a fabulous storyteller. This book came to be while Murray was writing his father's eulogy and it was a source of inspiration for me when I also wrote my own father's.
My dad; happy, handsome, and healthy. As he should be remembered.
I wasn't sure I wanted to but in December 2019, I decided to finish this book. Not only did it help remind me of happier times with my dad but it also helped to remind me of the lessons that my own dad taught me and process some of my own grief. It's only been seven months and this is my first Father's Day without him. I saved this review just for Father's Day in hopes it would help bring me back to better times when he was still here and to make the day a bit more bearable for me.
My dad was too young to pass. I am too young to be without my father. However, I am still thankful as many are not as blessed to have what I did or that I was able to be loved and love so deeply. No one deserves to die from cancer or to be taken before their time. I feel robbed in so many ways. For myself, for the children I may yet have, for my mom, my sister, and especially for my dad. Grief is ridiculously complicated, and in this instance, also prolonged. Grieving started from the moment of my dad's diagnosis. Reading has often provided me answers and so it was one of the things that I turned to. While I received no answers this time, it was books like this one that has helped to ease the sorrow.
You don't have to love hockey to appreciate and enjoy this book. Despite the circumstances that made start reading this book I'm glad that I did. The story is light, full of love, and really about the man that Gordie Howe was both on and off the ice. Even for those of us who know little of hockey, this book is still an enthralling read as it's a story that is showcased in such a concise and loving manner while also breaching the topics of life, love, death, dying, old age, and grief. Gordie Howe was one hell of a character and it was a pleasure to read his story. Especially with someone who mattered so much to me.
Unrated.
Paperback, 240 pages.
Read from August 2019 to December 2019.
Review at the Pluviophile Writer: https://bit.ly/2YDOuP2
I will not rate this book. It is not a book a chose to read for myself and one that I didn't get to finish as it should have. This book means far too much to me now to rate it. I bought this book almost a year to the day for my dad on Father's Day 2019. It was a day that I couldn't physically be present for since I live halfway across the globe from my family currently. It had also just been, at the time, just over a month since my dad was given 6 months to live.
My dad with the book I sent him on Father's Day 2019 eating his favourite cereal and wearing his old-timer team's shirt. We would often get this cereal for him on father's day as a treat because he would always share with us and it wasn't something we were regularly allowed to eat.
My dad was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in August 2018. His cancer had spread to his bones despite him doing all the right things like getting regular doctor's check-ups. Even with the late-stage diagnosis, we all thought my dad would breeze through treatment and we would have a good and solid two or three years with him, especially considering how young and healthy he was, it's what all the doctor's told us too. Unfortunately, after a variety of failed treatments that nearly killed him, twice, he opted to enjoy the remaining time that he had left. Sadly, that time was short, a mere 6 months.
Anyone that has lived with someone who has cancer or has had cancer knows the difficulties. It's something that can't be explained if you've never experienced it. The utter exhaustion, the despair of not being able to do more or relieve the loved one's pain or take their cancer away, the frustration of unfairness, the denial of how bad things will be or are going to get to shelter yourself and the cancer sufferer, and for myself, the guilt of living so far away. I lost count how many times I flew home to support my family between August 2018 and November 2019. Some of those times were terrifying, having almost lost my dad then, while others were wonderful, albeit still difficult as my dad declined. I planned my wedding in two weeks so that my dad could be a part of it in the spring of 2019 and spent a month and a half over that same summer with my family.
It was during that summer I spent with my family that I started to read this book aloud to my dad. He rested while I read and sometimes my sister would come and sit and listen too. I had never read aloud to anyone, I can't even remember what gave me the idea to do it. As I read this great story of Murray Howe recapping his childhood and talking about what a legendary man his father was, I couldn't help but make associations with the qualities of Gordie and my dad.
My dad loved hockey and most team sports. He played football growing up, was even a quarterback despite his small stature. For most of his adult life he played baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter, he was also a runner. We ran our first marathon together. My dad was a leader who had a sense of justice and fairness that couldn't be taught. He was passionate and caring about people so it was no surprise that he was a leader in nearly everything that he did. He was a manager of a credit union for nearly 40 years, he was the president of my swim team when I was a kid, he coached my sister and I baseball and soccer, and he would eventually come to run the old-timers hockey team that he played on for more than 20 years. Past his professionalism, he also had an endearing and absolutely goofy sense of humour that followed with a kindness that is hard to come by. My dad would help anyone.
My dad and I at the Kelowna Marathon, October 2012.
Gordie Howe wasn't only a good hockey player, he was a man of honour and he lived his life by his own code. Each chapter in this book is an example of a lesson that Gordie taught his son as he exemplified it in his own life. As I read the remarkable story of Gordie Howe's life to my dad and the impact Gordie had on so many people, I couldn't help but think of the lives that my dad also touched throughout his life and how my own dad lived honourably. Some passages were beautiful and really struck me, to the point where I had to swallow tears to continue reading. Sadly, I only made it to page 98 before my dad passed away, a page that will forever be bookmarked.
My dad at The Heritage Classic in 2011.
My dad passed away at the age of 58 in November 2019. All the people he loved most in the world were present in the room when he passed. It was peaceful. It was beautiful. We were lucky. Murray Howe wrote an amazing tribute to his father. Murray may not have been the hockey player his dad or brothers were but he is a fabulous storyteller. This book came to be while Murray was writing his father's eulogy and it was a source of inspiration for me when I also wrote my own father's.
My dad; happy, handsome, and healthy. As he should be remembered.
I wasn't sure I wanted to but in December 2019, I decided to finish this book. Not only did it help remind me of happier times with my dad but it also helped to remind me of the lessons that my own dad taught me and process some of my own grief. It's only been seven months and this is my first Father's Day without him. I saved this review just for Father's Day in hopes it would help bring me back to better times when he was still here and to make the day a bit more bearable for me.
My dad was too young to pass. I am too young to be without my father. However, I am still thankful as many are not as blessed to have what I did or that I was able to be loved and love so deeply. No one deserves to die from cancer or to be taken before their time. I feel robbed in so many ways. For myself, for the children I may yet have, for my mom, my sister, and especially for my dad. Grief is ridiculously complicated, and in this instance, also prolonged. Grieving started from the moment of my dad's diagnosis. Reading has often provided me answers and so it was one of the things that I turned to. While I received no answers this time, it was books like this one that has helped to ease the sorrow.
You don't have to love hockey to appreciate and enjoy this book. Despite the circumstances that made start reading this book I'm glad that I did. The story is light, full of love, and really about the man that Gordie Howe was both on and off the ice. Even for those of us who know little of hockey, this book is still an enthralling read as it's a story that is showcased in such a concise and loving manner while also breaching the topics of life, love, death, dying, old age, and grief. Gordie Howe was one hell of a character and it was a pleasure to read his story. Especially with someone who mattered so much to me.
March 7, 2018
Murray Howe's book contains the kind of personal memories I wish were apart of every biography I've ever read. I know not every person, hockey player or other sports star has the career and life that Howe did and couldn't possibly compare to an all time great, but everyone has got their own stories that if presented properly would make the standard sports biography much more enjoyable. Gordie's own biography would be interesting to read in comparison, but I suspect it will be mostly hockey related (standard) and won't contain the kinds of stories found here. Likely because Gordie seemed to be such a modest man. He wasn't the kind of guy who would be rushing to point out his accomplishments and thousands of good deeds. Especially from a non-hockey perspective. This book made that clear. Still, I am more curious to check it out now. By reading this book I've discovered that my knowledge of Gordie was far too superficial.
But, back to Murray Howe's book. It's filled with anecdotes and stories that truly warm your heart. It's got its share of hockey, but that is just a piece of Gordie's life and it is presented as such. There's just as much, if not more, family stories. It's not perfect. There's some repetition here and there, but nothing that really hurts your enjoyment. Is Murray Howe remembering his father a little too fondly or putting him on too high a pedestal? Probably. Or maybe Gordie was a God among men. Either way, I didn't mind it at all. That is the way he saw his Dad. He wasn't alone judging from Howe's fans. He saw his father just as most of us see our fathers or someone else we love. And it was incredible to see Gordie from his perspective.
In closing, this book makes me want to be a better person. I don't think I can give it higher praise than that.
But, back to Murray Howe's book. It's filled with anecdotes and stories that truly warm your heart. It's got its share of hockey, but that is just a piece of Gordie's life and it is presented as such. There's just as much, if not more, family stories. It's not perfect. There's some repetition here and there, but nothing that really hurts your enjoyment. Is Murray Howe remembering his father a little too fondly or putting him on too high a pedestal? Probably. Or maybe Gordie was a God among men. Either way, I didn't mind it at all. That is the way he saw his Dad. He wasn't alone judging from Howe's fans. He saw his father just as most of us see our fathers or someone else we love. And it was incredible to see Gordie from his perspective.
In closing, this book makes me want to be a better person. I don't think I can give it higher praise than that.
February 5, 2019
A GoodReads GiveAway
I don't watch hockey but I enjoyed this book. It is not about hockey; it is about a great hockey player. There is a difference.
I don't watch hockey but I enjoyed this book. It is not about hockey; it is about a great hockey player. There is a difference.
January 29, 2022
I have no doubts that Murray Howe loved and worshiped his father, the famous Gordie Howe. This book presents as an attempt to say all the things that maybe he wished he had said or that he didn't get a chance to say to his dad or about his dad when Mr. Hockey was still alive. It's a very personal bit of journal writing and I appreciate how cathartic it must have been putting this together. Unfortunately, it doesn't make for a compelling read. You'd think it would pull at the heartstrings but it meanders too much. One minute Gordie Howe is alive and well and celebrating life but with a turn of the page he is gone only to revive a few pages later and on it goes. I kept imagining an interminable and unedited old-timely slideshow that you have been hoodwinked into watching for an oblivious and self-centered host. I don't smoke but I sure felt like ducking out of this slideshow the moment it was over for a quick fag or two. No disrespect to Murray Howe because we all will lose our fathers one day or have already faced the sad news but think of what Mr. Hockey would have said if he had a chance to read the manuscript of this before he passed. Based on how he has been described and how he described himself in his own works, I think he would snapped it shut and get "Get over yourself, Muzz!" He keeps mentioning the eulogy that he was in charge of writing. Strange that he didn't include it hear. I probably would have sufficed in place of this book. In fact, the 9 supposed lessons could have been summed up in a magazine article. Why did the brothers Mark and Marty get so many mentions but the sister Kathy barely a word. And what about Mr. Howe's bodyguards who appear and disappear and are merely referred to a "his bodyguards"? Don't they have any insights into living with Gordie Howe? Don't they have names (we find out their names in the acknowledgements but we don't know much else about them). I really do wish Murray Howe and his family the best and I would spare him the pain and grief if I could. But this book honestly won't stay with me like I hoped it would.
August 11, 2017
Note: I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
What an incredible book! As a hockey fan, and a sports fan in general, I grew up knowing who Mr. Hockey was and he seemed so much larger than life. While my dad always talked a lot about Bobby Hull and what an amazing player he was, there was never any doubt for me that he was no Gordie Howe. Nobody would ever, or could ever, be quite the player that he was.
Reading stories about Gordie through the eyes of his son Murray was nothing short of incredible. It brought humility and understanding to a guy who seemed so much larger than life. I loved all of the personal memories, the childhood tales, and the lessons that Murray learned from his father. He wasn't just Mr. Hockey, but he was a dad trying to bring his kids up the right way and do good by his family. It was just fantastic, and I can't wait to buy a hard copy of this!
What an incredible book! As a hockey fan, and a sports fan in general, I grew up knowing who Mr. Hockey was and he seemed so much larger than life. While my dad always talked a lot about Bobby Hull and what an amazing player he was, there was never any doubt for me that he was no Gordie Howe. Nobody would ever, or could ever, be quite the player that he was.
Reading stories about Gordie through the eyes of his son Murray was nothing short of incredible. It brought humility and understanding to a guy who seemed so much larger than life. I loved all of the personal memories, the childhood tales, and the lessons that Murray learned from his father. He wasn't just Mr. Hockey, but he was a dad trying to bring his kids up the right way and do good by his family. It was just fantastic, and I can't wait to buy a hard copy of this!
August 3, 2017
A lovely book beautifully written. A wonderful eulogy by the son of Mr Hockey, the Great Gordie Howe which sets out exactly what sort of man the legend was.
Without lapsing into sentimentality or hagiography, Murray Howe makes it perfectly clear just how wonderful a man his father was. Dedicated, honest, modest - a good man.
Divided into nine sections each dealing with a specific character trait this is a wonderful and humbling read.
Highly recommended.
Without lapsing into sentimentality or hagiography, Murray Howe makes it perfectly clear just how wonderful a man his father was. Dedicated, honest, modest - a good man.
Divided into nine sections each dealing with a specific character trait this is a wonderful and humbling read.
Highly recommended.
September 16, 2017
Not sure why this book was sent to me. I don't remember entering a contest for it. Maybe it was mixed up with the book I did win from GoodReads? Maybe I liked a page on facebook? Not sure. Oh well... It's not my usual style, but I like hockey! Let's read about the legendary Mr Hockey!
This book is like listening to Dr Murray Howe. We're re-living his memories of his father. There are happy memories, sad memories, funny memories and serious memories. But it's light-hearted and easy to read. There are lots of hockey references (as Gordie Howe lived/breathed/died hockey) but even if you don't like hockey, this book is still a good read about a son remembering his father and all that his father taught him. There are personal stories, popular/famous stories, stories from fans, from Dr Howe's siblings, from family friends.
Murray Howe writes this book as he recounts the night his father died and how he spent the night working on the eulogy. The story rambles at times and takes a few side tangents that don't seem to connect (hence the idea of sitting there talking with Murray as he recounts stories of his father) but the book moves quickly from story to story to story to story.
I didn't know much about Gordie Howe (other than he was a legendary hockey player), this book isn't a timeline or a biography in the strictest sense, it's a quick look into his character and personality more than the records he broke or the hockey players he elbowed/hit/played with or against. It's a special look from the eyes of a child at a sports hero that was recognized where ever he went. It's a quick and easy read. Like I said earlier, you don't have to love hockey to get something out of this book.
This book is like listening to Dr Murray Howe. We're re-living his memories of his father. There are happy memories, sad memories, funny memories and serious memories. But it's light-hearted and easy to read. There are lots of hockey references (as Gordie Howe lived/breathed/died hockey) but even if you don't like hockey, this book is still a good read about a son remembering his father and all that his father taught him. There are personal stories, popular/famous stories, stories from fans, from Dr Howe's siblings, from family friends.
Murray Howe writes this book as he recounts the night his father died and how he spent the night working on the eulogy. The story rambles at times and takes a few side tangents that don't seem to connect (hence the idea of sitting there talking with Murray as he recounts stories of his father) but the book moves quickly from story to story to story to story.
I didn't know much about Gordie Howe (other than he was a legendary hockey player), this book isn't a timeline or a biography in the strictest sense, it's a quick look into his character and personality more than the records he broke or the hockey players he elbowed/hit/played with or against. It's a special look from the eyes of a child at a sports hero that was recognized where ever he went. It's a quick and easy read. Like I said earlier, you don't have to love hockey to get something out of this book.
February 2, 2020
So the conceit of 9 lessons for number 9 is a bit precious and predictable...and some may think the same of the lessons imparted here. However, although the lessons aren't startling in their newness, they are foundational and important. Gordie Howe was a once in a lifetime player. I won't get into an argument over which player is better than which other player but it's clear that Gordie was the real thing. He was a hard-working man who didn't let fame displace his values and lived a life that shows us that you don't have to be a professional athlete to be a role model; you don't have to be famous to be an example to others; you don't have to be renowned to be a good person. The lessons are positive ones and the interspersing of amusing anecdotes are a pleasure to read, especially for those who, like me, are huge fans of Mr. Hockey. May his legacy continue in hockey and in life.
December 6, 2017
This book was much more personal to me than many others. First it is book about my personal boyhood hero written by his son. The book was given to me by my son making it even more special. While I only met Gordie twice as a child, I watch him play from 1960 until his retirement. He was always an example for me as I perceived from afar what he appear to be as a person based upon what I learned from his interviews and articles about him. Recently, I have become friends with one of his former teammates and others who knew him from the NHL. Their stories upheld my perceptions of the man they called "Mr. Hockey." This book puts the exclamation point on the greatness of the man as family man and a friend. As my hero, he never let me down.
March 10, 2018
I'm not much of a sports fan, but Gordie Howe is more than just a hockey player. This is a touching book, based on the eulogy his son, Murray, gave at his funeral. Bigger than life, Mr. Hockey sounds like an extraordinary person, as a dad, a husband, and a human.
Lessons:
Live honorably
Live generously
Play hard, but have fun
Patience, patience, patience
Live selflessly
Be humble
Be tough
Stay positive,
Friends & family are like gold - treasure them
Good for someone who doesn't care much about sports, but likes to read character building stories.
(My reason for not rating it higher was the repetition of some of the stories - could have used a bit more editing. But this is often an issue for me with books. "I just read that anecdote" I often say while reading books!)
Lessons:
Live honorably
Live generously
Play hard, but have fun
Patience, patience, patience
Live selflessly
Be humble
Be tough
Stay positive,
Friends & family are like gold - treasure them
Good for someone who doesn't care much about sports, but likes to read character building stories.
(My reason for not rating it higher was the repetition of some of the stories - could have used a bit more editing. But this is often an issue for me with books. "I just read that anecdote" I often say while reading books!)
October 22, 2024
I listened to this on Spotify vs. reading which I think helped me to enjoy it more through the voice of Murray. It definitely felt like something he wanted to do as a son, which gave him some closure which is understandable. I did think the book meandered a bit, but it gave us a great look into the life of an early pro hockey player with simple values that lives for his family. Gordie seemed like a person who cared very much for his family, but at the same time it also was clear he wanted others to live by his rules.
November 25, 2017
Dr. Howe lovingly details his relationship with his famed father with stories and anecdotes from their lives together, all framed within the network of the nine lessons. The picture he paints of his dad is of a humble, helpful gentleman who was simultaneously one of the great athletes of his day. An essential not only for Red Wings/Gordie Howe fans but for anyone who wants insight into the personal life of a legendary athlete.
July 17, 2018
Well written by one of Gordie Howe's sons who idolizes him. Talks about the impact and the lessons Murray learned from his Dad and Mom. Focuses mainly on Gordie's later years outside of hockey but recalls the various experiences Gordie shared with Murray and various other people. It shows just how loving his parents were and how very approachable and friendly Gordie and Colleen were with just about everyone they met. An inspiring book to enjoy.
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April 21, 2021I am not a hockey far; I know little about the game and the players. I had never heard of Gordie Howe. I picked up this book for $1.00 and thought it might be interesting. It was great! Murray Howe writes about his father, his mother, his family. Woven among the many stories of hockey games are the nine lessons Murray says he learned from his father--powerful book and well worth the time it took me to read 232 pages. (I even read the acknowledgements).
January 30, 2018
A big thank you to the publisher for sending along a finished copy for review.
3.5 stars. A lovely tribute to a hockey legend. Even though I'm not a big fan of the sport, I enjoyed this memoir far more than I expected because the lessons and anecdotes touch upon so much more than hockey. Definitely a must-read for Gordie Howe fans and all hockey lovers.
3.5 stars. A lovely tribute to a hockey legend. Even though I'm not a big fan of the sport, I enjoyed this memoir far more than I expected because the lessons and anecdotes touch upon so much more than hockey. Definitely a must-read for Gordie Howe fans and all hockey lovers.
January 31, 2018
Certainly if you are a hockey fan you are aware of Gordie Howe and I count myself fortunate to having seen him play on several occasions. This book is more about the man that Howe was than about the game of hockey. Still there are enough hockey anecdotes and stories to satisfy most sports fans. Really the book is an expanded eulogy authored by Gordie Howe's son Murray.
December 1, 2018
I’m not much of a reader of sports biographies, but this one made the cut. It’s about hockey, one of the most demanding sports and most unique communities ever.
But the book’s perspective is what makes it a great draw. It’s about what a parent means to a kid, and a kid to a parent, more than anything else.
A good, light read, with some good lessons for us all.
And a little hockey lore to boot.
But the book’s perspective is what makes it a great draw. It’s about what a parent means to a kid, and a kid to a parent, more than anything else.
A good, light read, with some good lessons for us all.
And a little hockey lore to boot.
April 16, 2020
Wow what a wonderful read. Such a nice tribute of a son to his father. Full of family stories, trips, humour, oh ........and stories about hockey and fans. But mostly it is a story about love and lessons learned. An inspiring read and lessons we all could use in this game of life and don’t be surprised if you have a few laughs as well as tears💕🙏
March 20, 2021
A very warm and heartfelt tribute from a son to a father who happened to be a great athlete but (by all accounts) was an even better person. There is no way you could not read this book and not end up with a healthy respect for Mr. Hockey himself. It's an easy and joyful book to read. Great title and very well laid out too ! Nicely done.
June 25, 2024
I love that Murray Howe honored his father through this book, no son could have shown more reverence. As a read it sometimes got long winded and could have been edited down to half the length with as much impact. While I don’t whole heartedly recommend the read, I am glad I got to know a man I never would have otherwise.
November 19, 2017
I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the sponsors of this contest. I really enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful memoir, and should be on every hockey fan's must read list.
February 26, 2018
I have been a life long red wings fan and read the book because of that. I actually enjoyed this book more from the aspect of being a good person than I did from any hockey point. I will read this again when I am expecting a child.
June 30, 2018
Mr. Hockey is Michigan’s sports icon....always will be! Murray Howe, Gordie’s 3rd son (the non-athletic academic son) does a wonderful job mixing stories and virtues for life. Each chapter had me crying then laughing. Great read for Father’s Day!
November 9, 2018
Nice story. Most folks would give this a 3 start but being from Detroit and having even watched Grodie play, this brought back many memories. Murray does a very nice and Preston job or relating what it was like to grow up with this guy as a dad and had many happy memories.
November 27, 2020
This book was a surprise. While I was familiar with Gordie Howe as hockey player (actually saw him play), I didn’t know much about him as as person. This book shed a lot of light on his personality. This book was well written and informative.
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