In the book behind the Academy Award–winning film, wefirst meet Michael Oher as one of thirteen children by amother addicted to crack. He does not know his real name,his birthday, or how to read or write. He takes up football,and school, after a rich, white, evangelical family plucks himfrom the streets. Then two great forces change him: the family’slove and the evolution of professional football itself intoa game in which the quarterback must be protected at anycost. Oher becomes the priceless package of size, speed, andagility necessary to guard the quarterback’s greatest vulnerability:his blind side.