I’ve seen and heard about Dale Earnhardt Jr- “Jr”- ever since I started watching NASCAR. There is no way any fan hasn’t. I saw the hit that gave him that concussion. I watched his final season. But, this book gave me such insight into how he was feeling and the Jr that we didn’t really get to see. I was not a Sr fan and while I liked Jr well enough I didn’t consider him my favorite. After reading this book and the words straight from him I have much more respect and admiration for the man he is now. Great, Great look at Dale Jr.

This is Dale Jr. A story about a crash at Michigan and how that would lead to his eventual retirement from racing. His concussion from that race and then from others would also at times affect the way he raced as well when he came back for he would see cars bunching up and could see an accident happen. One time it did not and he and the team finished poorly which he would later apologize to his fans and to his team. He is very honest about the racing, and the difficulties he had in coming forward, but first with the support of his wife and then others he was able to make the decision to retire. He takes you through his doctor’s visits and he talks about what he was feeling personally being the son and grandson of two race car legends and the words that he had been hearing since he was a little boy. Now he wasn’t so sure about getting inside of a race car even though he wanted to. This book is not about his family’s history in racing but his own family today his wife and daughter, wanting to be there for the two of them. Also about the strength of his wife who after listening to different interviews he gives her a lot of credit helping him to be strong and even before this got him to quit smoking. It was sad to see him leave the track but the reason why is understandable. A very honest book about concussions and the damage that can be caused by them. An outstanding book.

This book was not at all what I thought it would be. I thought this was going to be a memoir of his life and career, and in a way, it was, but there was a bigger purpose to this book. Jr wrote about his horrible concussions. I was blown away in the first couple chapters at how long it’s taken racing to have such minimal racing standards but happy to know toward the end of the reading, that things are changing. He writes about how he was encouraged to race, even when he knew he wasn’t feeling well.
He has always been one of my favorite racers and knowing he went through all of this and came out a better person all-around, makes me like him even more. Please read this and have a discussion with your kids about concussions and to not “tough it out” if they feel something is wrong with their body!
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Having grown up watching his father race, then becoming a fan of his, I was looking forward to Jr.'s book a great deal. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. He's notoriously private, so to see how completely open he was with this was quite a surprise. It's raw, deep, and makes you feel things right along with him. It's a must for racing fans and anyone who loves a well-written memoir that goes deep.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

I loved watching Jr in his racing days, and I loved reading his story from the perspective of a fan in the passenger seat of his life.

This story was so well written, weaving his thoughts in amongst the races. Thoughts through the process of dealing with his concussions, as well as his thoughts through the process of retirement.

Enjoyed so much!

This is a great book written by a man who has first hand experience with concussions. He details his experience after wrecking his race car and suffering head trauma. He talks about how his family helped and the slow but steady progress he made. Would be a great book for anyone who has had a concussion or who knows someone who has. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a wonderful book. Written by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with Ryan McGee I was expecting a book about the racing life and times of Junior (as his fans call him). While we do get to see glimpses of NASCAR life, the main focus is on Junior’s struggles (public and private) with concussions.
This is a must read for any who is in a position where concussions are possible. It also shows the determination of a top athlete who wants to remain in the game.
In writing this book, Junior has certainly given back to the sport he loves.

This short book isn't really a biography, but is more of a personal account of Dale Jr's experiences with concussions and the process of eventually retiring from racing. There were biographical aspects of the book, but the main point of the book was to trace his concussions, the resulting symptoms, and the struggle to make the decision to retire. The book was written in an honest, simple style. I'm not a huge NASCAR fan, but I found the book very interesting.

This is an eye-opening book about the problems that come when you have a concussion. Thank you Dale,Jr for writing this book. I've heard so many people say "it's just a concussion". Well read this book and see how a concussion affects every part of the body and the problems it causes if not treated properly. This is a book everyone should read so that when you or someone you know has a concussion you will be able to understand it's not something you can just put a band aid on and it's better. Best of luck to Dale,Jr and his family! Thank you Thomas Nelson- -W Publishing for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. I highly recommend this book.

When one thinks of concussions and sports, American football immediately comes to mind, but athletes other sports have risks of concussions and the long term effects as well. One of these sports is auto racing, as drivers may suffer concussions from crashes or even bumps against the wall or other cars. This was the case for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he first exhibited these symptoms in 2012. His memoir explains what happened that day in Kansas and what he went through for the next five years, leading to his decision to retire from racing in 2017.

This is far from the typical sports memoir. Earnhardt focuses exclusively on the time period from 2012 to 2017 and focuses on his concussion, his treatment and how that affected his personal and racing life. What makes this book so different than others on concussions in sports is that the effects are explained in plain language without a lot of medical jargon. The writing is heartfelt and personal as the reader will feel like he or she is right there with Earnhardt, not only in the car or in the garage with his crew but also a the doctor office or doing the exercises he had to do to recover.

While there is some material about Earnhardt in his car on the track and stories about other racers such as Martin Truex Jr. and of course his father, the book is less about racing or NASCAR and more about the personal struggles he endured. He talks about crying (he says he only did so three times in his life), his decision to retire and the personal relationships he had with many people – not just his wife but other family members, his physician and the manager of Hendrick Motor Sports, the team he was racing for at the time of his retirement.

This book deserves a high rating for not only the personal touch of the writing, but also the message that is tells about concussions. While readers may very well have heard this message before, it is one worth repeating and if even if the book helps one person through his or her struggle with this injury, then Earnhardt’s reason for writing the book will be fulfilled.

I wish to thank Thomas Nelson-W Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dale Jr. talks about the crash that changed the course of his life in this book. He goes on to explain how his concussion(s) affected him on and off the track.

I am a huge fan of Junior and was extremely thrilled to receive a copy of his book to read and review. I, like many fans, did not fully understand what he was experiencing on a daily basis. I knew very little about concussions going into this book. I was not prepared to learn how repeated, untreated concussions could affect your mood and temper.

I applaud Junior for being brave and realizing if he came forward and shared his experiences he could help others. He understood he had the perfect platform to reach many people who otherwise may never have sought treatment.

I would recommend this book to anyone with children in high contact sports such as wrestling, football, rugby, and soccer. It is written in a plain and simple writing style that should be easy for anyone to read and understand. As you are reading you feel like you are sitting across the table from Junior sharing a drink.

I have nothing but high praise for this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

First of all, I have been a longtime fan of Dale Jr's. I was disappointed when he announced his retirement. However, after reading of the distress and dangers he went through dealing with multiple concussions I am happy he retired so he can live a normal life with his lovely bride Amy and daughter Isla Rose. His candor in telling his story makes me wary of watching races any longer as I don't want anyone to suffer as Dale did. I think any parent with a child wanting to get into sports that have the potential for concussions should read this book. I am proud Dale has spoken out on this subject and wish him much happiness in life!

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Well-written, informative, and deeply personal account of the struggles Dale Earnhardt, Jr. endured as the result of concussions and the lingering symptoms. Football seems to get all of the headlines in regards to concussions, but they are a real threat in various sports. This book does the best job of humanizing the issue that I have seen thus far.

Every coach/sport team/educator should read this book!! Not only did it finally give answers to the NASCAR community as to why one of the most popular driver retired so young, but it gave a human face to the issue of concussions in sports. Everyone has their own take on what the "normal" concussion indicators are but reading this book gave the reader a better understanding of the idea that not all concussions are the same as well as no two recoveries will be the same. Thank you Dale Jr. for this emotional and well written account of what you went through and I wish you only the best in all endeavors and travels your life takes you on.

This book is well written and the pages ran smoothly. I'm a Dale Jr. fan and these book was honest and what he went through in his life. Thank you Dale, and the Publisher, NetGally for this ARC exchange for honest review.

Ok, I admit I have ALWAYS been a Dale Jr. fan. I cheered every time his car went around the track, was sorely disappointed when he didn't finish a race for whatever reason. When he had to sit races out, I was one of those fans that thought, oh, he'll be back and things will be back up to par again. Racing has always been a "tough guy" sport. You don't think of concussions affecting them when they walk away from crashes at close to 200 mph without a scratch. But seeing the sports most popular driver being practically disabled by repeated concussions opened everyone's eyes. It isn't only athletes, and yes, NASCAR drivers ARE athletes, that suffer concussions. You, in your everyday life, can suffer a head injury. Dale's story lets others know that they aren't alone, there are multiple types of concussions and there IS help available and you can get better! I am so thrilled to see Jr. enjoying his life with his wife and little girl and that he is doing so much better healthwise from his injuries.