“I just can’t live with this pain anymore.” These were among the final words in the diary of Zac Easter, a young man from small‑town Iowa who decided to take his own life in December 2015 rather than continue his losing battle against the brain injuries he had sustained as a no‑holds‑barred high school football player. On one level, Zac’s story is a devastating tragedy suffered by one family. On another, Zac’s story is a cautionary tale for parents of young athletes as well as an investigation into what manhood means in 21st-century America. Deeply reported and powerfully moving. Love, Zac allows us to hear from Zac’s family, friends, and coaches, and from Zac, himself, whose diary is raw and emotional. Award-winning journalist Reid Forgrave also explores Zac’s tightly-knit, football-obsessed Midwestern community; he interviews cutting-edge brain scientists, psychologists, and sports historians; he takes a deep dive into the triumphs and the sins of the sports entertainment industry while grappling with what Zac’s life and death means for a society addicted to the thrill of a sport that can be beautiful and character-forming but also violent and often tragic for those who play it. Forgrave shows us how the game mirrors America itself and how it became our most popular sport. And he tells the story of how one boy’s obsession led him and many of those entrusted with his care to ignore the warning signs of CTE until it was too late. And he recounts the remarkable heroism of people who loved Zac, including his girlfriend, Ali Epperson, who stood by his side until the very last moment. Love, Zac challenges us to think carefully about what ideals and values we as a nation want to instill in future generations, whether in small towns across America or in large urban centers.
“I just can’t live with this pain anymore.” These were among the final words in the diary of Zac Easter, a young man from small‑town Iowa who decided to take his own life in December 2015 rather than continue his losing battle against the brain injuries he had sustained as a no‑holds‑barred high school football player. On one level, Zac’s story is a devastating tragedy suffered by one family. On another, Zac’s story is a cautionary tale for parents of young athletes as well as an investigation into what manhood means in 21st-century America. Deeply reported and powerfully moving. Love, Zac allows us to hear from Zac’s family, friends, and coaches, and from Zac, himself, whose diary is raw and emotional. Award-winning journalist Reid Forgrave also explores Zac’s tightly-knit, football-obsessed Midwestern community; he interviews cutting-edge brain scientists, psychologists, and sports historians; he takes a deep dive into the triumphs and the sins of the sports entertainment industry while grappling with what Zac’s life and death means for a society addicted to the thrill of a sport that can be beautiful and character-forming but also violent and often tragic for those who play it. Forgrave shows us how the game mirrors America itself and how it became our most popular sport. And he tells the story of how one boy’s obsession led him and many of those entrusted with his care to ignore the warning signs of CTE until it was too late. And he recounts the remarkable heroism of people who loved Zac, including his girlfriend, Ali Epperson, who stood by his side until the very last moment. Love, Zac challenges us to think carefully about what ideals and values we as a nation want to instill in future generations, whether in small towns across America or in large urban centers.
Love, Zac: Small-Town Football and the Life and Death of an American Boy
288
Love, Zac: Small-Town Football and the Life and Death of an American Boy
288
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781616209087 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill |
| Publication date: | 09/08/2020 |
| Pages: | 288 |
| Sales rank: | 666,600 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d) |