The Game

by Ken Dryden

Book Overview

At times funny and melancholy, always insightful and revealing, The Game is full of vivid stories of one of hockey's greatest teams, and some of its greatest players. * A reflective and provocative look at a life in hockey and at the game itself. * A commemorative, 20th anniversary edition of this timeless classic.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470835842
• ISBN13: 9780470835845
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A very special book...

The combination of a person who is both highly educated and a 6 time Stanley Cup Winner can only produce an extraordinary book that goes beyond other sports biographies. Here we deal with a person who is consciously making an end to a very successful career and upon doing so reflects on his personal past, but also the experience of being part of a team and playing hockey in a legendary hockey town, that is unique in its own political and linguistic division. He then proceeds to review the history of the game, explaining the difference between European style hockey and Canadian and ultimately in the new edition comparing his perspective at the time to the current state of the international and expanded NHL. Particularly with regard to the recent lockout this new epilogue is extremely interesting. This is a really unique book, but what makes it most attractive is that any hockey player will recognize the description of locker room and team behavior, no matter what level you play at. Canadiens fans will love the stories about his legendary team mates and goalies will recognize his views on being a goalie. This is a very special book...

More than just hockey

I read this book expecting to read the standard sports book, what I found was a book that was not only about hockey but about life. Even those who are not hardcore hockey fans can appreciate many of the messages and opinions on life. From the beginning to the end I was caught in the words, it made me think and feel. Reading The Game somehow enriched my life, and I recommend it to all. Ken Dryden was not your average hockey player, he was an intelligent man who will always be known as the man who wrote the greatest book about the game of hockey.

The greatest hockey book ever written

Ken Dryden has written was many would say as the greatest hockey book ever written. Written during the latter stages of his career he reflects and gives insights on some of the greatest hockey legends that we have ever seen - Scotty Bowman, Guy Lefleur, Steve Shutt, Bobby Orr and others. Any hockey fan would appreciate what he writes, something he does better than almost anyone else!

One of the best sports books on the planet

I could not put this book down because this book symbolized what it takes to succeed in life. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for what it takes to be successful at whatever you want to do with your life.

An intelligent sports book.

Dryden may be the Canadian hockey equivalent of basketball's Bill Bradley. I wouldn't be surprised if Dryden becomes Prime Minister of Canada in 20 years.Dryden studied at Cornell and took a year off playing hockey (after winner a playoff MVP award and Rookie of the Year)to complete his law degree at McGill. He won a fistful of trophies and Stanley Cup rings during his brief Hall of Fame career as a goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens. The rare combination of scholarship and athletic brilliance results in an very well written book.The book is a diary of the last part of his final season. While light on anecdotes, it delves into the heart of what is right and wrong with hockey. Is is most likely the best book ever written by an athlete.