QB

My Life Behind the Spiral

By: Steve Young, Jeff Benedict

Narrated by: Steve Young, George Newbern

In the most candid and compelling sports memoir since Andre Agassi's riveting bestseller Open, former San Francisco 49er, Super Bowl champion, NFL MVP, and Hall of Famer Steve Young gives listeners an unprecedented and stunning inside look at what it takes to become a super-elite professional quarterback.

Steve Young was not expected to become one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. A devout Mormon, he had a perfect GPA in school, studied Latin and calculus, and was blessed with a photographic memory. His mother pleaded that he not play football. But Young was determined to become the next Roger Staubach.

QB tells the story of a boy with a gentle demeanor who overcame personal fears and his teammates' and coaches' indifference to reach the pinnacle of America's most violent game. Football was a test and a quest: listed eighth on the depth chart at Brigham Young University, Young was told he'd never play quarterback in college. He went on to endure intense media scrutiny as the highest-paid player in sports history before he ever stepped on the field as a professional. As a 49er, he went head-to-head with the legendary Joe Montana in what became the NFL's greatest quarterback controversy.

But Young's biggest hurdles were invisible to the public: the physical pain that comes with being an ordinary-size man in a league of giants; the loneliness of playing sixteen seasons as a bachelor; and an undiagnosed case of separation anxiety that made him dread getting out of bed and caused him to vomit in locker room bathrooms before games. Through sheer grit, Young put on a helmet week after week, season after season, leading his team to a Super Bowl championship, endearing himself to both the city of San Francisco and football fans everywhere.

©2016 J. Steven Young. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

A great read...jammed with life lessons

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I honestly believe that whether your a sports fan or not you will love this book! It's not just book about a sports legend trying to relive his glory days it has much more depth then that. Rather it takes you on the journey of Steve's life and how he got there. From an outsider looking at Steve bio I always thought he was anointed to be a great QB and didn't face many struggles but this book takes you through struggles that he overcame that pale in comparison to the greatness he achieved. As he entered BYU as a Freshman walk on QB he was 8th on the depth chart and a coach even told him he wouldn't ever play QB in college. Jeff Benedict and Steve Young masterfully capture life lessons that will help all who read it. If you are looking for a positive boost of motivation to raise your life to the next level this book will help you do that.

Good Read/listen

Appreciate this honest and open narrative, it’s a inspiring and motivating bio. Really great work!

Inspirational

Loved the book! A great example of how friends and family can help overcome some of life's difficulties.

An Inspiring Journey of Being True to Oneself.

Would you consider the audio edition of QB to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version, but the audio version was great!

What was one of the most memorable moments of QB?

One of the most memorable moments is when Steve is diagnosed with anxiety and the reaction his doctor has.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when Steve decided not to go on a mission and the reaction his Bishop had.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was very moved by the vision that Steve had in practicing to throw at BYU.

Any additional comments?

This is a fantastic book and a must read for anyone interested in learning how to motivate oneself or how to deal with a mental illness.

very open about personal struggles,

I was shocked how open he was about anxiety issues. I'll have to listen to it again as I kept feeling surprised by the uniqueness of the story and the openness.

I have listened to 100s of audio books and felt this was in the top 20.

I felt I got an inside look at the NFL, aspects of Mormonism, and the experience of anxiety disorder sufferers.

oh and I'm not a big football buff.

thank you Mr. Young.

Insightful and inspiring

A lot of details about football games and injuries, but through it, one gains a deep appreciation for it's author and his personal difficulties and triumphs. You can listen to it quickly and skim the game details.

Great book

Got this book for free, honestly the best book I’ve read in forever. Truly an inspiration

Great story with 1 hiccup

The person reading butchered many of the players names. It would have been better if they took the time to get those right. The book was very good and uplifting.

One of the Best to Ever Do It

What a fantastic listen. I always admired Steve Young when I was a child. I felt bad that he spent so much time being a backup to Joe Cool, but it all worked out for #8 in the end. I learned so much about his journey in life, I admire him even more. An excellent book if you're a fan of Young. I love the way he talked openly about his bouts with nearly crippling anxiety and the myriad of injuries he overcame throughout his Hall of Fame career. I highly recommend this book.

Incredible and inspiring

Full disclosure - I went into listening to this knowing Steve Young is my favorite QB of all time. But it's one thing to have a favorite sports hero that you idolize - it's another thing when you listen to that hero's autobiography and become even more impressed and enthralled with the type of humble, kind, generous, and genuinely moral human being that he/she is. In each chapter I learned fascinating things about the trials and tribulations he faced trying to become a star QB in all phases of his schooling and career. There are some truly humbling excerpts in here (i.e. imagine being a millionaire - both fiscally and morally - and choosing to live in a relative's closet under the stairs). That's some Harry Potter stuff right there, and this book is nothing short of magical and inspiring.