A Life Impossible

Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence

By: Steve Gleason, Jeff Duncan

Narrated by: Daniel Cummings

From NFL player Steve Gleason, a powerful, inspiring memoir of love, heartbreak, resilience, family, and remarkable triumph in the face of ALS

"Gleason is a symbol of resilience, hope and optimism.”—The New York Times • "Steve Gleason has changed the world."–Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner • "An extraordinary book...A Life Impossible will change the way people cope, think, and live."–Mike Lupica, co-author with James Patterson of 12 Months to Live

In 2011, three years after leaving the NFL, Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal disease that takes away the ability to move, talk, and breathe. Doctors gave him three years to live. He was thirty-three years old. As Steve says, he is now ten years past his expiration date.

His memoir is the chronicle of a remarkable life, one filled with optimism and joy, despite the trauma and pain and despair he has experienced. Writing using eye-tracking technology, Gleason covers his pre-ALS life through the highs and lows of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, where he made one of the most memorable plays in Saints history, leading to a victory in the first post-Katrina home game, uplifting the city, making him a hero, and reflected in a nine-foot bronze statue outside the Superdome. Then came his heartbreaking diagnosis. Gleason lost all muscle function, he now uses Stephen Hawking-like technology to communicate, and breathes with the help of a ventilator. This book captures Gleason and his wife Michel’s unmatched resilience as they reinvent their lives, refuse to succumb to despair, and face his disease realistically and existentially.

This unsparing portrait argues that a person's true strength does not reside solely in one’s body but also in the ability to face unfathomable adversity and still be able to love and treasure life.

©2023 Steve Gleason and Jeff Duncan (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Steve and Michel Gleason have helped ease suffering and restore hope for countless families grappling with ALS. In the face of unrelenting adversity, they’re teaching us all what it means to show up and fight for others."—Bill Gates

"Steve Gleason stands for hope, and he stands for infinite possibilities.”–Drew Brees, former New Orleans Saints quarterback

“Steve Gleason has proven to be a great man, a great partner and father, and a truly great competitor. . . . His battles are daily and his victories are to be celebrated. . . . The same goes for this book. It is not written by a mere mortal, but a true hero whose wisdom is hard-earned and his generosity a public service. I love and admire him, deeply.”—Eddie Vedder

Worth it

Having a brother who died of ALS, it was tough to read, but well worth diving in and plowing through to the end. Many valuable life lessons to be gleaned from Gleason’s story

The honesty of the raw emotions of the Author makes this book so great.

This book is takes you into the darkness of living with a progressive condition without pretending that everything works out. It also offers you a lot to think about when you are faced with something which questions your whole identity. It explains how true acceptance is not defeat but is the real triumph.

The good the bad and the ugly

I enjoyed the book and found the deep thinking that Mr Gleason shared healing and satisfying. I felt he was very revealing and that took a lot of courage! A lot of courage. I am so thankful that you, Mr Gleason, decided to take a spin on our planet. We are all better because of you and your loving family and friends. Thank you for sharing.

Brutally Honest

Steve, while in the process of dying from an incurable disease, provided a blueprint on how to live.

Can’t say enough

If you work in health care and/or are seeking to renew your purpose this book is for you. Steve, you are the most resilient, loving person & I thank you for sharing your life experiences with me. I am changed for the better.

Gleason's story is inspirational

The performance by the person reading while book phenomenally brought all the emotions Steve was trying to express to life.

Courage

An inspiring, intelligent, and well written memoir A must read for any sports or music fan.

Simply Beautiful

Thank you Steve for living a life of significance and meaning. God Bless You and your family.

Genuine, Raw, Heartfelt

I could not have loved this book any more than I did. Steve is such a beautiful soul. He poured his heart out and shared his most personal thoughts and feelings in this book.

My mother had ALS and I was one of her caretakers for several years. She lived with this awful disease for 4.5 years. She passed on 12/1/24, and I’m still reeling with grief. She received a feeding tube in 2022, but opted not to get a trach. The feeding tube extended her life for an additional two years for which I am very grateful.

Reading Steve’s book brought back so many memories of all of the struggles as we navigated a disease we knew nothing about, but were forced to learn very quickly. Listening to all of the mental, physical and spiritual struggles that Steve shared made me feel closer to my mom. I always tried to understand how she was feeling but I could never fathom the nightmare she was living each day. I know first hand, what caregiver burnout feels like and could relate so much to Michel’s feelings. It’s an awful feeling to pray for an end, because you feel like you just cannot live in the chaos of ALS another moment. Watching your most loved one wither away to nothing is pure hell on earth, it’s torturous beyond words. Yet, when my sweet mother’s life came to an end I swore I’d do it all over again to have my her back with me one more day. Reading this book made me feel so close to my mom for some reason. I felt deeply connected to the entire story. The good memories, and the bad.

If you’re looking for another good book to read, No Pressure, No Diamonds by Teri Dillion was excellent. She also wrote her entire book using her Tobii eyegaze. Like this one, it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. I have so much love, respect and admiration for Steve Gleason and his entire foundation, who help so many people with ALS. I love you Steve!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful soul with the world. You have left such a lasting imprint on my heart.

Steve Gleason’s remarkable life with adversity

This story is a testament to Steve Gleason’s ALS journey. Well written, incredible. I am truly humbled to know Steve, Michel and their families. We humans don’t know how we would handle being diagnosed with a disease such as ALS until it actually happens. Steve and Michel’s journey is heart wrenching at times but as they grow through it, they find the strength to carry on with the support of each other, their families and friends. I am in awe.