Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile
*Starred Review* Nate Jackson played six seasons for the NFL Denver Broncos. He was, at various times, an extra wide receiver, a third-string tight end, and a special-teams regular. He didn&#x2019;t get a contract that will support multiple generations of heirs; failed to assemble an adoring, self-interested posse; never signed an endorsement deal. But he lived his dream for six years, never quite sure if he&#x2019;d survive the next cut&#x2014;until he didn&#x2019;t. Somewhere along the way he learned to write, not just link words together to form a coherent narrative, which would be more than enough for most sports bios, but really write. There is a bit of the artist in Nate Jackson. For anyone who wants to experience the NFL player experience, this is the book to read. The highs are here: scoring touchdowns (well, only a couple); moving from the practice squad to the game-day roster; those years (well, only a couple) when you felt kinda, sorta secure; and experiencing the camaraderie with teammates, a bittersweet pleasure given the uncertainty of who will be around tomorrow. Then there are the lows, led, of course, by injuries&#x2014;lord, the injuries&#x2014;the rehab, the pain, and the realization that one&#x2019;s body has been completely misaligned. And the tragedy that Jackson endured with the death of two teammates&#x2014;young, seemingly invincible warriors. This is Jackson&#x2019;s first book, but he&#x2019;s honed his skills at Slate, Deadspin, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Don&#x2019;t miss this one; it could very well be the best book about pro football you will ever read. --Wes Lukowsky