Rating: 
Summary: The Rise of a Star
Review: All Things Possible is the autobiography of football star Kurt Warner. Though in the media his story is often related as a meteoric rise to stardom, we learn that it was only through time, perseverance and God's grace that Warner ever got a chance to live out his dream.
I was drawn to Kurt Warner's story for several reasons. First, I am a fan of the St Louis Rams, the team with which Warner has had his success. Second, I love stories about underdogs, and Warner's story is just that. Third, I love to read about other Christians and the experiences that shaped them.
Kurt Warner was an underdog and no stranger to rejection. For years he faced rejection as he tried to live out his dream of playing professional football. He was turned down by the major colleges, eventually ending up at the University of Northern Iowa where he spent three years being a backup and only one year leading the team. When he graduated he went undrafted in the NFL entry draft and was passed up by every professional league. This went on for several years until finally he accepted a position as quarterback in the lowly Arena League. After two seasons of leading the Iowa Barnstormers, he was given a chance to play in NFL Europe and finally, at the age of twenty seven, was picked up by the St Louis Rams. He spent his first season in the big leagues as a third string quarterback and saw action in only one game. By the 1999 season he had moved up to the position of backup quarterback, and after an injury to the primary quarterback, found himself right where he wanted to be. He was untested, unproven and no one believed he would make an impact.
Who could have foreseen the season Warner would have? Warner's 1999 season was one of the most successful seasons ever for a quarterback and the most successful for the Rams as Warner led the team to a Superbowl victory while picking up the league's Most Valuable Player award.
Kurt Warner is a Christian and credits his faith for his success. He never misses an opportunity to tell others about his faith and is probably the most vocal Christian professional athlete.
Though I enjoyed the story, I found the book poorly written. It used many colloquialisms and it is not unusual to read sentences such as, "They were like, `Yeah right.'" He also speaks about being "totally bummed out." Warner also comes across as a tad pretentious and proud. I believe he is a humble man who is well aware of Who is responsible for his success, but does not always convey that as accurately as he might like.
All-in-all this is an enjoyable book and represents what is hopefully only the first chapter of Warner's career. He is a man who has faced countless hardships and has persevered in faith. If sports figures are to be role models in our society, I am glad that there are men like Warner who proudly proclaim their faith.
Note. The book ends at the end of the 1999 season. The next season Warner was very good, but missed several games due to injuries. In 2001 he again led his team to the Superbowl but lost the big game when New England scored a last-second field goal. In 2002 he missed more than half the season to injuries and looked very bad when he was playing. In 2003 he won the starter's job, but played terribly and was benched after the first game. It is expected that 2004 will find him on a new team where he will have the change to be a starter once again.
Rating:
Summary: The Rise of a Star
Review: All Things Possible is the autobiography of football star Kurt Warner. Though in the media his story is often related as a meteoric rise to stardom, we learn that it was only through time, perseverance and God's grace that Warner ever got a chance to live out his dream.
I was drawn to Kurt Warner's story for several reasons. First, I am a fan of the St Louis Rams, the team with which Warner has had his success. Second, I love stories about underdogs, and Warner's story is just that. Third, I love to read about other Christians and the experiences that shaped them.
Kurt Warner was an underdog and no stranger to rejection. For years he faced rejection as he tried to live out his dream of playing professional football. He was turned down by the major colleges, eventually ending up at the University of Northern Iowa where he spent three years being a backup and only one year leading the team. When he graduated he went undrafted in the NFL entry draft and was passed up by every professional league. This went on for several years until finally he accepted a position as quarterback in the lowly Arena League. After two seasons of leading the Iowa Barnstormers, he was given a chance to play in NFL Europe and finally, at the age of twenty seven, was picked up by the St Louis Rams. He spent his first season in the big leagues as a third string quarterback and saw action in only one game. By the 1999 season he had moved up to the position of backup quarterback, and after an injury to the primary quarterback, found himself right where he wanted to be. He was untested, unproven and no one believed he would make an impact.
Who could have foreseen the season Warner would have? Warner's 1999 season was one of the most successful seasons ever for a quarterback and the most successful for the Rams as Warner led the team to a Superbowl victory while picking up the league's Most Valuable Player award.
Kurt Warner is a Christian and credits his faith for his success. He never misses an opportunity to tell others about his faith and is probably the most vocal Christian professional athlete.
Though I enjoyed the story, I found the book poorly written. It used many colloquialisms and it is not unusual to read sentences such as, "They were like, 'Yeah right.'" He also speaks about being "totally bummed out." Warner also comes across as a tad pretentious and proud. I believe he is a humble man who is well aware of Who is responsible for his success, but does not always convey that as accurately as he might like.
All-in-all this is an enjoyable book and represents what is hopefully only the first chapter of Warner's career. He is a man who has faced countless hardships and has persevered in faith. If sports figures are to be role models in our society, I am glad that there are men like Warner who proudly proclaim their faith.
Note. The book ends at the end of the 1999 season. The next season Warner was very good, but missed several games due to injuries. In 2001 he again led his team to the Superbowl but lost the big game when New England scored a last-second field goal. In 2002 he missed more than half the season to injuries and looked very bad when he was playing. In 2003 he won the starter's job, but played terribly and was benched after the first game. It is expected that 2004 will find him on a new team where he will have the change to be a starter once again.
Rating: 
Summary: This Story Has The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Review: After reading this book, I truly do believe that all things are possible. Kurt Warner has a truly remarkable story to tell. In All Things Possible, I knew the final outcome. Unless you live in a cave, eveyone knew that Kurt Warner had a super season, capped off with a Super Bowl victory, picking up the game's MVP award. However, this book did more than go behind the scenes of that incredible season. It introduced us to Kurt Warner, the person. He has had one incredible life. In this book, he touches upon everything, from his personal life struggles to being cut by the Green Bay Packers and having to work at a supermarket. We also meet his family, including his wonderful wife, Brenda. His story is one of overcomming seemingly unbeatable odds. Warner was constantly having to battle serious problems that always seemed to be hurled at him at the most difficult times. He never gave up, and his faith in the higher power is one that should not be taken lightly. In this book, Warner is incredibly candid and does not hold anything back. He is straightforward and always honest. He hides nothing, and that is what truly makes this book an inspirational and enjoyable read. The personal stories add feeling and sometimes humor to the wonderfully written account of him and his family. All Things Possible has something for everybody, including a nice romance in the background. His marriage proposal still brings a smile to my face. Kurt Warner tells his interesting story in a straightforward, yet nicely detailed language that allows you to keep turning pages as fast as he racks up passing yards. This book is more than just another athlete's story. It serves as an inspiration to keep pursuing your dream, whatever that may be, by believing in yourself. Any, if not all, things are possible.
Rating:
Summary: Nice guys finish first
Review: An easy and enjoyable read; not a Hemmingway or Vonnegut by any stretch but it certainly tells a compelling story. I told people to draft Kurt Warner for their fantasy teams when he became the starter for the Rams because I had seen him play (in person) for the Iowa Barnstormers and his accuracy was unreal. I already knew a lot of his background but the book really examines in detail the hardships Kurt faced and the perserverance and faith he possessed on this wild ride. Simply put, Kurt Warner's story is a story for the ages and possibly the greatest underdog sports story of all time. What he did in 1999 and early 2000 is almost incomprehensible but he did it, and the NFL will never be the same. Plus, he is a genuinely nice guy. Sometimes nice guys do finish first.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Anyone who's trying to succeed in any thing in life faces adversity and doubt. Even those people who are close to you seem to lose faith in goals that you're trying to achieve. Sometimes it's just you against the world. Kurt Warner describes how he turned rejection into triumph. Even when his dream seemed unattainable, Kurt took whatever positives he could squeeze out and used it as fuel for his fire. A fire that burns inside like a volcano. I haven't been motivated like this since Rocky. I can hardly wait for the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Slightly Above Average Athlete's Autobiography
Review: I generally dislike autobiographies in general, and athletic autobiographies in particular. I just believe it takes a really unique individual to convey their story as objectively as possible. But, my wife's best friend, Sarah, gave this book to me about a year ago (she loves Warner and the Rams) and I've finally gotten around to reviewing it. To his credit, Warner is very upfront about a lot of things, notably his religion. He is a very devote Christian and it is nice to see someone stand up for their beliefs in an age where a lot of people literally hide their beliefs. And his story is rather compelling; a quarterback who came from nowhere to lead his team to an NFL championship. But, there's a recurring problem with these books. They always seem very rushed and it seems that either the winning coach or the winning quarterback from the Super Bowl each year is expected to hurry their life story onto the market. The problem is, these guys generally still have a lot of life left to live, so why not wait until they are retired (as in retirement age, not just retired from their sport) to tell us their life story? I know, I know, in fifty years no one may even rember Kurt Warner, so I guess you strick while the iron is hot. But I would almost much rather read about how he is dealing with his current struggles in the NFL, rather than culminating with his crowning moment. Like most of these type books, it's relatively short on intropestion. But it is a bit above average for an athlete's autobiography, made more interesting by the struggles Warner and his wife faced before he finally made it in the NFL. If you are a fan of Warner, you'll love it. Otherwise, its an okay read on a day at the beach.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT AMERICAN story, rags to riches? It's beyond that....
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. I love Kurt's humor, and his confidence in himself. It is written very well and gives the reader a sense of confidence as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Lame and boring
Review: If you expect a book about football you will be utterly disappointed, actually the title itself says a lot about the content of the book, which is mainly faith. Mr. Warner is not shy about making his beliefs public and he stresses many times that he has his priorities in the right order. Fine, no problem with that, but then why is he wearing his Rams uniform on the cover instead of some church paraphernalia? Why does he have to come up with God every two sentences? If you're looking to read a nice compelling story about football you don't want to buy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: MVB (Most Valuable Book)
Review: In general,I don't review biographies of athletes, because they are what you'd expect them to be, self-serving. So, other than Deion Sander's book, this is the only one I've reviewed.
The reason for this review is simple...I highly respect Kurt Warner, and his book is actually pretty darn good. Is the fact that I respect and admire him the reason I rate this book so highly? Perhaps, but I'd like to think it's more to do with the actual story than the man.
This book isn't self-serving to the degree that one would anticipate, largely because I think Kurt was a little overwhelmed with what he accomplished in the miracle season (this book was written just after the Ram's Super Bowl victory, so I believe Kurt was still under the afterglow). Having said that, however, I do believe if the book was written now that it would be quite similar, due to the fact that Kurt's faith has kept him humble.
The background on his life and his days in the Arena League were surprisngly interesting, but the highlight of the book is his time with the Rams during the 1999 season. If you are a Rams fan, it's a great way to re-live a monumental moment in St. Louis history that, at the time of this writting, looks more and more like it will not be duplicated.
I would, in light of the last few seasons which have seen Kurt hurt, benched, waived, and in a new uniform in New York, like to see Kurt write ANOTHER book, detailing how his faith has helped him through those ordeals that took him from the King of the Hill in St. Louis to baby-sitter for Eli Manning in New York. THAT would be a hard read, because as I mentioned before my fondness for the man, but it would be MUCH more interesting, and I think would have a larger impact in terms of people looking for faith inspiration in the midst of turmoil.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT AMERICAN story, rags to riches? It's beyond that....
Review: Just a great book. The message of never giving up should be carried out by all who have dreams! From getting cut time and time again to stepping in after Trent Green got hurt..Warner had one of the most productible and amazing seasons a professional athlete could ever have! Yup, it's true, he's not a heisman winner, no first round pick, worked at a grocery store while playing semi-pro ball just so he could pay the bills! His love for his wife and her son was compelling, this guy is noble and it's to bad there are not more athletes out there like him! All things possible...Kurt Warner took the impossible, ate it up, spit it out, kept on truckin, and ended up going all the way to being regular season and Super Bowl MVP. That superbowl was one of the greatest ever, a nail biter in which Kurt never waivered, taking his team to victory! Read this book!!
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