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All Things Possible

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NFL sensation Kurt Warner tells the incredible story of faith and perseverance that captured the hearts of millions and rocketed him from obscurity to become MVP and Super Bowl champion.

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 2000

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Kurt Warner

16 books6 followers

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5 stars
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202 (42%)
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106 (22%)
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15 (3%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
12 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2016
All Things Possible by Kurt Warner was an excellent book. The book is an auto biography that follows the amazing life of Kurt Warner, a super bowl MVP quarterback. Warner faced a lot of adversity on his journey to NFL stardom. Whether it was working at a grocery store making five dollars an hour or trying to establish himself as a legitimate quarterback to NFL teams he went through it all. He teaches a overarching lesson in the book that as long as you keep your faith strong there will always be a good outcome. He worked his entire life to make it onto an NFL roster. When he was signed to the Saint Louis Rams he felt like the world was against him, but he stuck it out carrying a positive mindset into every practice. Eventually he was given his chance and took the NFL by storm. A quote I enjoyed from the book is, "Whether I'm a Super Bowl Champion or a regular guy stocking groceries at the Hy-Vee, sharing my faith and glorifying Jesus is the central focus of my time on this earth"(258). I'd like to relate the quote to the essential question, what turning points determine our path to adulthood? He started his career off with very few offers coming out of high school and had to settle with playing at a non division one school. He basically had to go with what life gave him and sometimes taking the best looking opportunities didn't benefit him in the long run. His football career was subpar until he made it to the starting role in the 1999 season. This is when he made a statement in the NFL and took advantage of the opportunity given to him. I'd recommend this book to football fans, no matter what team you like or represent. I would also recommend this to people who enjoy reading about overcoming adversity and watching someone succeed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
22 reviews
July 25, 2020
It’s an inspirational story, but something about it was off putting to me. I think that writing an autobiography is extremely difficult, but Warner had trouble toeing the line as to how much to talk about his own accomplishments (spoiler alert: he threw 41 touchdown passes and won the MVP) and ended up giving the impression of false modesty throughout.

The writing itself was unimpressive. The way in which it was written made it come off as though written by a 12-year old, with little complexity and many idiosyncrasies. I would have thought that Silver would have been able to put a finer touch on it. Although it is probably intended for younger audiences, the writing left a lot to be desired.

I didn’t mind the focus on Warner’s faith, but at times it felt like a pedestal for him to stand on. The combined credit between hard work and God’s will enabling him to throw a perfect seam route was a bit overplayed. Additionally, his affinity for celebrity pastors made his faith seem like too much of a shtick at times.

I also acknowledge the difficulty of talking about other players and coaches, but it wasn’t done as well as it could have been. There was a lot of name dropping, quite a bit of surprise at how others treated him, and such thinly veiled criticisms that you’d wish he’d just phrase it how he felt.

Overall, it’s tough to write a story like this, especially in the midst of an athlete’s prime. Warner certainly overcame long odds and has many valuable lessons to teach. Yet there are better sources with superior communication of these morals that would be better worth your time. A good read for your kid who you’re trying to influence with Christian morals; one that leaves quite a bit to be desired for all other readers.
383 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2021
A pleasant and somewhat informative book for those Kurt Warner fans who want to know how he "came from nowhere" to lead the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory. His pre-NFL experiences were the most interesting aspects of the book for me. Once he earned a spot on the Rams, his descriptions become very superficial. His descriptions of teammates, faith, family, etc are fine but not very informative. Mostly, I gathered that he was confident in his game day abilities, had a mild chip on his shoulder that others did not previously recognize those abilities and that he was somewhat uncomfortable with the public response to his celebrity. Kurt Warner fans who enjoy his personality and/or his Christian lifestyle will like this book. Those fans who want more insight into his football skills/NFL experiences will likely feel short-changed.
Profile Image for Tyler.
242 reviews6 followers
January 7, 2022
After seeing the movie American Underdog last week, I took a look at the entire book on which it's based. Kurt Warner and Michael Silver worked together on this book, All Things Possible, in 2000 after Warner led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl championship. He does a decent job here of explaining all the tribulations that he faced, from the lack of playing time he received at the University of Northern Iowa, to his barely touching the ball during a brief tryout without the Green Bay Packers in 1994 (after which the Packers quickly cut him), to his brief breakup with Brenda, to the death of his in-laws in a tornado, to his working in a Cedar Falls, Iowa Hy-Vee for $5.50 an hour but refusing to give up on his ability. In considering all that he went through, he quotes a Bible verse about the value of taking joy in tribulations. This attitude helped sustain him through days with little money and the feeling that he had lost his chance to prove his talents. He then explains his success playing for the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena league, followed by his MVP season in 1999 after the Rams' starting quarterback Trent Green suffered an injury during a preseason game. The season culminated in a thrilling Super Bowl win over the Tennessee Titans (and the end of the book leaves me wanting to read his reflections on the rest of his career through 2009), but Warner considers the outcome of the game and season as secondary to the joy and peace he feels in his life after embracing his faith.

The detailed play-by-play of the games may turn off some readers who are not football fans. Yet as Warner explains, his story should resonate with readers in all walks of life who have experience being counted out and need to find the strength to find fulfillment in their lives. Warner definitely believes that his own strength came not from him alone, but from the faith and family that sustained him.
Profile Image for Bill Pence.
Author 2 books1,039 followers
January 17, 2022
The recent film "American Underdog" was based on this 2000 book about the incredible story of Kurt Warner. While I was somewhat disappointed that the film did not emphasize Warner’s Christian faith, that is not the case with this book.
The book tells the now well-known story of Warner, from being the starting quarterback at Northern Iowa University only his senior year, not being drafted, playing in the Arena Football league with the Iowa Barnstormers, stocking shelves for minimum wage at Hy-Vee to make ends meet, and playing in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals. He was eventually signed as a backup quarterback with the St. Louis Rams and when the starter was hurt in the preseason, Warner got the chance he had been waiting years for, and he made the most out of it leading the Rams to the Super Bowl, where Warner was named Most Valuable Player.
Warner’s parents divorced when he was four. He was raised in the Catholic church, and though he doesn’t remember having much passion for his religion back then, he was an altar boy, and went to confession and Sunday school.
The book tells of his meeting his future wife Brenda, then a divorced mother of two, at the Wild E. Coyote bar. It was Brenda who was a Christian at that time, with Kurt becoming a Christian later on.
The book shows how his faith grew to the point that he now wants to be a role model for Christ in everything that he does. He writes that sharing his faith and glorifying Jesus is the central focus of his time on this earth.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed "American Underdog", and would like to know more of the Warner’s story.
1 review
January 14, 2022
My parents gifted me the book All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and the Miracle Season by Kurt Warner and Michael Silver for Christmas. To say I connected with Kurt Warner’s journey is a huge understatement. I enjoyed how the authors walked you through Kurt’s experiences both on the football field and off; how he faced adversity and never gave up on his dream of becoming an NFL quarterback.

Through all the setbacks and tribulations Kurt faced, including not starting until his collegiate senior year at Northern Iowa to going undrafted in the NFL and having to stock shelves at the local grocery store in Northern Iowa, he never lost his faith in who he believed he could become. Through hard work and dedication to his craft, Kurt went on to not only be picked up by the NFL but to lead the St. Louis Rams to a Superbowl win in 2000. Kurt believed his strong faith and support system helped him achieve the success he finally enjoyed on the field.

There is a lot of in-depth football content in the book, however I would highly recommend it even if you aren’t a football fan. It is a great story of perseverance, determination and having faith in yourself
1,051 reviews22 followers
January 25, 2022
As an Iowan, I am aware of Kurt Warner and his career trajectory. I saw the film American Underdog, based on this memoir, and wanted to read more.

Like the film, All Things Possible is very low-key, almost matter-of-fact. Kurt and Brenda Warner have had amazing lives with great ups and downs. Their faith has helped them through everything.

A nice bonus: early on, Kurt talks about visiting UNI as a high school senior and being shown around by a former high school teammate, Mike Schulte. Later, while playing arena football in Des Moines, Kurt decides to propose to Brenda and enlists friends Mike and Mary Pat Schulte to set the scene. Mike and Mary Pat are my oldest niece's godparents, and I met Kurt and Brenda Warner when they came to The Des Moines Playhouse to see Mary Pat in Evita.
Profile Image for Carl.
9 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2020
There are lots of biographies from various sports stars over the years, and among these books Warner's book will easily rate in the top percent. What makes this book so much more is the details of Kurt's life, especially those tales of turmoil and strife, that he brings to the table. A strong faith sustained Warner in many ways, but he was also tested. I enjoyed the football portion, but I think I enjoyed the story of the man himself even more.
65 reviews
February 28, 2023
engaging and stimulating

Of the books I have read by people who are not writers, this one is easy to read and engaging. Warner does share his faith a lot, but it is not a hindrance to the story in my opinion, nor does it come across as heavy handed. He is an amazing individual who has come a very long way against huge odds, and although the book is now dated, the narrative is still worth the time.
Profile Image for Mitch Nelson.
1 review2 followers
December 31, 2023
My last book in 2023 and first review.

I grew up in the St. Louis area and it was nice to reminisce about the amazing season the Rams had in 1999. All Things Possible is about Kurt Warners journey from childhood to the Super Bowl and his Christian faith. It was interesting learning of the hardships he faced before becoming a star quarterback and the determination he had to succeed.
It’s not the best written book but it’s an easy read with a decent story. I’d definitely recommend this book to any fan of Kurt Warner.
Profile Image for Angela.
478 reviews9 followers
December 28, 2024
3.5 stars.
Such a great story. He really rose through incredible odds, from the lowest on food stamps and working the night shift at a grocery store, to winning the Super Bowl and MVP.
Through it all he's not proud or bragging. His Christian faith shines through. I appreciated that he didn't gloss over or leave out mistakes he made. He was honest about things he would do differently.
This was written right after his amazing year to the Super Bowl.
396 reviews11 followers
August 3, 2025
I picked this book because I wanted a sports book for summer reading program and I liked "American Underdog" movie but I never expected to like the book so much not being a sports fan. What a wonderful story about a dedicated family man and man of God in addition to an excellent athlete. I loved that he set priority on his family and shared his love for Jesus boldly. He admitted his mistakes and learned from them. What a role model for everyone - athlete or not.
Profile Image for Anthony .
172 reviews
June 14, 2021
I enjoyed the behind scenes view into Kurt Warner's life and NFL career. The message of hanging in even when it's rough is resounding especially when coupled with his faith. I don't know if he intentionally left his career stats section blank, but if he did it supports his God first message even more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
8 reviews
June 1, 2022
A true story of what faith and hard work can accomplish!

Kurt Warner 's story is so unbelievable it would not be accepted by Hollywood. But true it is! He played only one year at Northern Iowa as a starter, was undrafted by the NFL, was cut quickly by Green Bay as a walk on ... yet eventually became the league 's NOV leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win!
4 reviews
April 3, 2023
Amazing Book. Various Kindle Issues Though.

The book is a 5/5 but the Kindle edition is riddled with spelling errors. “Was” is often spelled “weis” and “after” is often spelled “elfter”. It’s still readable and it doesn’t really detract from the story but it’s disappointing to see the Kindle version so neglected.
Profile Image for Julie Heitland.
336 reviews
June 12, 2023
I enjoyed reading about Kurt Warner's life and his football journey. He also takes about how his faith kept him on track and humble. He talks about his college, arena league, Europe league, and NFL football journey.
Profile Image for Oscar Turtle.
96 reviews
December 13, 2024
Kurt Warner, NFL star, Super Bowl champion, Hall of Famer, CHRISTIAN!

A nice telling if the man’s climb to fame, in his own words. You may not agree with what he says, but he’s earned the right to speak.

A Very Good read
10 reviews
March 1, 2018
This book was amazing!!!!!! I love sports so this book was perfect for me. Kurt Warner is a really amazing person I wish I could be like him he is such a great role model for kids and adults.
53 reviews
April 1, 2022
Loved the America Underdog movie and had to read his book after. Definitely a great and inspirational read!
Profile Image for Jim Swike.
1,821 reviews21 followers
September 20, 2022
I thought I would learn more. Mybe you will feel differently. Enjoy!
15 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2023
Not what I was told by friends

I was told it would be more about religion than football but the balance was really good and it was a good football book.
Profile Image for Joab Cohen.
Author 2 books
July 21, 2016
Plot summary
This book tells the remarkable story of Kurt Warner, who somehow managed to become a wildly successful NFL quarterback (from 1998 to 2010) despite being undrafted and overlooked at every stage of his career, beginning from high school till the NFL itself, and despite many other hardships and obstacles he endured in his private life. The book plays on three separate themes: Kurt's faith, his relationship with Brenda (his outspoken and brash wife), and his football career. The three themes are intertwined, because as Kurt understands his life, he would not have succeeded without his faith, and he would not have acquired such a strong faith without the help of his girlfriend and later wife, Brenda. The book is laid out in chronological manner, describing Kurt's life from his childhood and up to winning the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams in 1999, with a significant section in the middle devoted to his relationship with Brenda, her family, and her children during the tough period when he had no job, no money, and no realistic hope of realizing his dream of making the NFL.

My opinion
I will begin by admitting that I really like Kurt Warner. I had seen him on TV as a quarterback and he always struck me as a very nice, humble guy who came across as extremely authentic, a value I cherish, perhaps above all others. When I learned about his background, I knew that I had to read this book and I was not disappointed. This is a very inspirational story, a true "rags to riches" tale: Warner grew up in a divorced family, with barely enough money to buy clothes and eat food, and his path to success in the NFL was extremely tortuous. Kurt is also very outspoken about his faith and his relationship with Jesus. Personally, this does not bother me. I am a believer myself, and I completely understand the role of faith in overcoming the suffering and hardships that life throws at us. About a quarter of the book describes his first year as a starter with the St. Louis Rams and this part will probably be interesting only to football fans – there is some amount of football jargon and explanation of routes and schemes that only knowledgeable fans will understand and enjoy. Of course, I loved it.

Pros: A very easy read, with a quick pace and excellent prose ( I would expect no less from the co-author, Michael Silver), a true inspirational story, and you also get an inside look at the NFL and particularly the Ram's Super Bowl run.

Cons: I'm not sure I really needed to know so much about his wife and children.

Who should read it: People who need inspiration - especially if they're football fans - Kurt Warner fans, and of course Ram's fans. I think football fans in general will also enjoy this book.

Bottom line: I read this when I need inspiration, and it always helps.

Excerpt: I am providing three different excerpts, which reflect the three different themes of the book.

1. Relationship with Brenda: "I asked her if she wanted to dance later, and we ended up spending the rest of the night dancing and talking. During the last dance of the night she dropped the bomb on me: "I want you to know I'm a divorced mother of two." I paused, not sure how to react. "If I'll never hear from you again, I'll understand," she added.

2. Faith: "I embrace my status as a role model big time, and it has nothing to do with athletics. I want to be a role model for Christ in everything that I do. Living my life for him and showing people the beauty of that reality, is my mission in life. It's my agenda, the reason why I felt it important to write this book and share my story. Whether I'm a Super Bowl champion or a regular guy stocking groceries at the Hi-Vee, sharing my faith and glorifying Jesus is the central focus of my time on earth"

3. Football:"Sure enough, when we took over on our 23-yard line with 9:13 remaining, I got the look I wanted from Minnesota's defense. The first thing I did is to read the front-side safety, Robert Griffith, to make sure he was playing two-deep. We had seen on film that the Vikings often blitzed their front-side corner in that situation, leaving Griffith as the only person to cover our front side receiver..."

Profile Image for Zach Koenig.
763 reviews8 followers
February 26, 2017
I picked this book up for two reasons: First, I remember Kurt Warner leading the St. Louis Rams to the Superbowl after the 1999 season; and 2. I like faith-based memoirs. I wasn't disappointed on either front.

This book tells the story of Kurt Warner's early life through that early-2000 Superbowl. Mr. Warner certainly lived an interesting, even extraordinary life (not everyone goes from nighttime stocker at Hy-Vee to winning an NFL championship), and this is the story in his own words. Because it is kind of one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" stories, it never gets boring and will hold your interest all the way through.

Three caveats for possible readers:

1. This is the definition of an autobiography, so make sure to keep that in mind while reading. It would be interesting to get an "outsider" perspective on Warner, which obviously this book does not provide.

2. The book quite literally stops after that miracle Superbowl win for Warner. This does not go into any later years or his years with the Arizona Cardinals (not a "total biography").

3. The "football" parts of this book are, generally speaking, more interesting than the "faith" parts. It is a good book for all to read, but I would recommend it more to the football audience than those in it purely for the spiritual reasons.

Overall, this was an interesting read about a guy I remember very well (he tore up my MN Vikings teams on a season-by-season basis!). If you remember seeing Warner play, you'll probably feel the same way. If you are in it purely for the "spiritual memoirs", though, you might have to skim over a lot of the football stuff.
Profile Image for Imran Razack.
21 reviews
September 15, 2015
All Things Possible By: Kurt Warner

All Things Possible by Kurt Warner was an enjoyable book. In recent years, the players of the NFL have gotten a bad reputation. From Ray Rice punching his girlfriend, to Adrian Peterson whipping his child, the NFL does not have many role models. Kurt Warner’s story is a breathe of fresh air. His against all odds rise to being a NFL quarterback was very interesting to read about.

Initially, I was drawn to Kurt’s story because I am an NFL fan. I like hearing about the players and learning more about the people behind the facemask. Secondly, I like to hear stories about how people overcome the odds. To think that Warner went from stocking grocery shelves to being a pro quarterback is helpful to me. It gives me hope that with hard work, amazing things can happen to people. Also, it is interesting to hear about people who credit their faith to helping them achieve great things. Warner lets the reader know how important his faith is to his success. Its interesting to see what motivates people to succeed. People draw inspiration from so many different areas.

Although I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t perfect. It had some flaws. Warner’s writing is not really great. It can be very simple at times. Also, since its an autobiography, there were times when I read it that it felt like Kurt Warner was kind of bragging about himself. I realize its hard to be humble when you are writing a book about your own greatness, but at times I thought it was a little much. Also, I thought the book ended a little early. Kurt Warner went on to have a great career, why not talk about his life after he made it big and had success. I would think that would be as interesting as his climb to success.

To conclude, All Things Possible by Kurt Warner is a good book. It has a positive message that is uplifting and hopeful. There were times in the book when I felt inspired, especially when he reflected his journey. The book is an interesting story about a good guy who through hard work and never giving up on his dream, accomplished his dream! Although at the end though I could only give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars because even though it tells the amazing journey of Kurt Warner's life story up to being the Super bowl MVP, this book was written way too early in his career as it doesn't detail how he finished his career with losing a Super Bowl with Arizona and how he spurned the NFL early with a shocking retirement.
3 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2015
This is a great book I think that the author wrote this book for many reasons. The first reason I think he wrote this book is because he is trying to let people know that anything is possible and that if you are a kid and you have a dream go after it. He is writing this book for all of the people he has inspired in his life, he is an all time pro and he wants all people that want that dream to achieve it. He tells people that it is not easy to be a pro in football but it will be easier if you work everyday for it until you achieve your goal.

I would say the theme and the main point in the story really is all about hard work. If I had to choose a work I would say leadership. The reason I would say this is because if you sit at home and do nothing and then go to practice and expect you to be the best its not going to happen. Because while you are being lazy there is another kid working harder and harder to be better than you. The main point is that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best and to beat the best you have to work to be the best.

This story is written to be narrated because it describes a certain place at a certain time and try's to make the reader feel like they are in his life. He tells the reader how it feels to be in the pros and that he was nervous the first time he went out there and he wants the reader to know that being nervous is a good thing. The reason it is good is because with out being nervous everyone would be really selfish and only think about them. Part of being on a team isn't to make you better individually but to make you a better person and a better teammate. He also talks about what it feels like the have a Miracle happen.

I think that this is a good book to any age because it teaches you to be a better person and everyone in the world can improve their attitude or even the way they think about things. There isn't anything I would change about this book because I feel if I made a book about my life I would make it very similar because he tells us what he feels not what the reader feels. I think that this is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.
1 review
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October 22, 2014
Josiah Blandin
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Book Review
First off, I would like to state that this was one of the more interesting and greater books I have read over the course of time. From beginning to end it was everything I wanted out of this book. As an individual I like learning about inspirational stories and life changing moments so it was key for me to read about Kurt Warner’s outstanding moments throughout his journey. I know for myself that I don’t like reading books to often and it’s hard to gather my full interest amongst a book so finding a relatively interesting topic was key market. As mentioned in one of my IRP, I think what was important was how the book was formatted as well. Kurt Warner wanted to inform people and he felt the best way to catch people’s attention was from the jump discussing one of his greatest moments as a successful individual which was breaking down some energetic times in his super bowl experience that he won. Then he explained his journey step by step and it was a quite appealing one. There were a lot of things compelling about this book because of the fact that it’s about someone’s life changing voyage. Every little detail counted in this book because it meant something and it put everything together page by page. Kurt explains and embraces the things he had to overcome to get where he is and how he did it. Something that I will never get over is the fact that he had to work at a grocery store on nightshifts just to take care of the family for the time being. To have the courage and ability to understand that you have to do whatever it takes through that is inspiring. You have to be submitted to a deal of faith and that’s what made this book even better is that Kurt gives you ways and ideas on how to go through a challenge. His emphasizes abilities to work through it all no matter and that there will always be chance. Everything is to like about this book and I recommend it to everyone, specifically athletes.
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