North Dallas Forty

by Peter Gent
North Dallas Forty cover
Good Books rating 4.05
Sports Fiction
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  • ID: 9296
  • Added: 2025-12-23
  • Updated: 2026-01-28
  • ISBN: 9781453220719
  • Publisher: Open Road Media
  • Published: 2011-06-28
  • Reviews: 4

North Dallas Forty is a gripping exploration of the hidden side of professional football, written by former Dallas Cowboy Peter Gent. The novel offers a stark contrast to the glamorous image of the sport, delving into the personal struggles and vices of the players. It follows Phil Elliott, an aging receiver for a Texas team, as he navigates the final days of his career, fueled by a dangerous cocktail of painkillers and cortisone. The story is a raw and unflinching look at the physical and emotional toll of the game, as well as the hedonistic lifestyle that often accompanies it. /n/n Gent's firsthand experience in the NFL lends an authenticity to the narrative that is unparalleled. The novel is not just a story about football; it's a commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of mortality, identity, and the pursuit of pleasure in the face of inevitable decline. Adapted into a film in 1979, North Dallas Forty is widely regarded as the definitive football novel, offering a unique perspective that transcends the sport itself.

Reviews
ThriftBooks · 2026-01-28
forceful 4.20

The novel is a forceful and prescient exploration of the football world, standing out among Peter Gent's other works. It is praised for its impact and relevance.

This review highlights North Dallas Forty as a forceful and prescient exploration of the football world, standing out among Peter Gent's other works. The reviewer appreciates the novel's impact and relevance, noting its ability to capture the essence of the sport and the personal struggles of its players. The story's authenticity and emotional depth are particularly commended, making it a compelling read. The reviewer also notes the novel's lasting impact and its ability to resonate with readers even decades after its publication.

Quick quotes

    Peter Gent wrote other books after North Dallas Forty, but none of them were as forceful, or prescient, as this one.

    It is praised for its impact and relevance.

    The story's authenticity and emotional depth are particularly commended.

Apple Books · 2022-04-20
bleak 3.50

Despite its bleakness, the novel is a recommended read for football fans and those who enjoy a taste of the sport's darker realities. The story is compelling, even if it can be overwrought at times.

This reviewer finds the novel to be a compelling and bleak portrayal of professional football. The story is filled with moments of darkness and despair, but also moments of levity and humanity. The reviewer appreciates the novel's unflinching look at the sport's underbelly, even if it can be a bit overwrought at times. The characters are well-drawn and complex, making their journeys both engaging and thought-provoking. The reviewer recommends the novel to football fans and anyone who enjoys a taste of the sport's darker realities, finding it to be a memorable and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    A bit overwrought at times - the bleakness can be unrelenting- it's still a recommended read for football fans and anyone with a taste for the darker realities of the sport.

    The novel is a compelling and bleak portrayal of professional football.

    The story is filled with moments of darkness and despair, but also moments of levity and humanity.

Read Think Football · 2012-05-22
brutal 4.50

This novel is a gritty and unflinching look at the NFL, capturing the brutal reality of the sport and the personal struggles of its players. It is considered one of the best sports books ever written.

This novel is a raw and unfiltered portrayal of the NFL, delving into the dark side of professional football. The author, a former player himself, provides an insider's perspective on the corruption, abuse, and personal demons that plague the sport. The narrative is intense and gripping, offering a stark contrast to the glamorous image often portrayed in the media. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the darker, more human side of professional sports. The characters are complex and flawed, making them all the more relatable and compelling. The novel's unflinching honesty is both its greatest strength and its most challenging aspect, as it forces readers to confront the harsh realities of the sport.

Quick quotes

    North Dallas Forty is considered one of the best, though, and it came in twenty-fifth on Sports Illustrated's list of the top 100 sports books.

    The novel is a gritty and unflinching look at the NFL, capturing the brutal reality of the sport and the personal struggles of its players.

    It is widely considered the best football novel of all time.

Care's Books and Pie · 2010-07-15
powerful 4.00

This novel is a vivid and unvarnished portrayal of the NFL, capturing the savagery and pain of the sport. It is a powerful and unforgettable read that exposes the dark side of professional football.

This novel is a powerful and unvarnished portrayal of the NFL, capturing the savagery and pain of the sport. The narrative spans eight days in the life of a pro football team, providing a raw and unfiltered look at the brutal reality of the game. The author's insider perspective adds a layer of authenticity that makes the story all the more compelling. The characters are complex and flawed, making them all the more relatable and engaging. The novel's unflinching honesty is both its greatest strength and its most challenging aspect, as it forces readers to confront the harsh realities of the sport. It is a powerful and unforgettable read that exposes the dark side of professional football.

Quick quotes

    Eight days in the life of a pro-football player. Eight days of savagery, pain, drugs, drinking, laughter, raunchy sex, and haunting love between ...

    The novel is a vivid and unvarnished portrayal of the NFL, capturing the savagery and pain of the sport.

    It is a powerful and unforgettable read that exposes the dark side of professional football.

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