by Denis Leary
First published 2016
George Plimpton signs a waiver that releases the Boston Bruins from responsibility if he gets hurt or killed. He pulls on the goalie gear for his favorite team and takes his position between the pipes. The Philadelphia Flyers skate toward him in an exhibition match. What follows are five brutal minutes that feel like they will never end. Plimpton faces down one of hockey's most aggressive teams while trying to protect the net. The ice becomes a testing ground where he confronts not just flying pucks and charging players, but his own limits. This story captures both the beauty and violence of hockey while exploring what drives a man to put himself in harm's way for the sport he loves.
Genres: adventure, sports, memoir, non-fiction
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
Setting: Boston, Philadelphia
Period: 20th-century
273 pages · Kindle Edition · Little, Brown and Company