• Madden

  • A Biography
  • By: Bryan Burwell
  • Narrated by: Mark Moseley
  • Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (186 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Madden  By  cover art

Madden

By: Bryan Burwell
Narrated by: Mark Moseley
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.95

Buy for $17.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Several years after his playing career was cut short by injury before it had a chance to really begin, John Madden was hired as an assistant coach by the Oakland Raiders, one of professional football's most iconoclastic franchises. Two years later he was named the team's head coach and proceeded to lead the Raiders to five championship games in his first seven seasons. Following years of heartbreaking losses in some of history's most memorable games including the Immaculate Reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972 Madden and the Raiders finally reached the mountaintop, winning Super Bowl XI and giving Oakland its first title. One year later, Madden abruptly left the game he loved, retiring with the second-best winning percentage in NFL history. Had John Madden's football career ended there, his life would still be remarkable. The fact that it was only just beginning has made him an American icon and a beloved legend to millions of fans across the globe.

In Madden, longtime sports columnist Bryan Burwell has written the first comprehensive biography of this living legend. From his days as a star athlete in Daly City, California, Madden was driven to succeed, a trait that helped him persevere during his tumultuous years with the Raiders under Al Davis and compelled him to try his hand at broadcasting after his coaching career was over. Madden's incredible football knowledge, down-home sensibilities, and tireless work ethic made him arguably the most popular sports analyst in any sport and led to a long and storied career as a TV pitchman. In the third stage of his public life, the Hall of Fame coach became known to new generations of fans through his eponymous line of groundbreaking video games, which are among the best-selling titles of all time.

Madden is an entertaining, enlightening, and often poignant look back at the life of one of the greatest coaches, broadcasters, and beloved ambassadors the game has ever known.

©2011 Bryan Burwell (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Madden

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    148
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    123
  • 4 Stars
    28
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    139
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Essential For Raider And Madden Fans

I'm not going to lie, this book is pretty flawed in many ways. It doesn't seem to be that well researched. In particular the coaching years don't seem to be covered that well, and I was pretty disappointed with the coverage. Also the narrative structure is deeply flawed. When talking about particular, notable football games in Madden's life, the writer first starts with the outcome (why?) and then describes the game (ugh). And the writing, in general, leaves a lot to be desired.

That said... there is still a lot of really great stuff in there, that Madden and Raider fans really can't afford to pass this up. There's a little bit about him and John Robinson growing up together, there's some stuff about Madden and his college years as a student and football player, and then of course his years as a coach, and finally as a broadcaster. The broadcaster years are actually pretty in-depth and insightful and probably the highlight of the book.

I'm still hoping that someone will come out with a better biography of John Madden, but until they do, this book is worthy of a listen. I'm very glad that I got it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable

A fun book for any fan. The old Raider stories make me relive my early childhood. When I liked that team with the pirate on their helmet.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read for Raider fans

I couldn't stop listening, it put me right in the middle of Raider history from my youth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I never knew he was such a great coach I know that sounds crazy but I didn’t

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Author

Loved the author’s impersonation of John Madden. It added to the story. Made Madden’s comments come to life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and good narration

Kept my attention from start to finish. If you like football you should listen to this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a great Book!

I thought all aspects of this audio book were great! The book itself is very well written with such a great look into the life of a Football Legend! Narration is spot on as well. It’s not easy to impersonate a verse that most people listening to this book, have actually heard in real life. Yet the narrator does a great job of just that. Highly recommend for any fan of Madden or someone wanting to learn who he was.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator Needs to know the names

Great book - enjoyed immensely, but can we please make sure the person reading the book knows how to pronounce the names. Mun OZ? Come on.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fascinating life story

I could not put it down. From his fortunate encounter with Norm van Brocklin or his new approach to coaching - just 3 rules. And the deeply touching story with Darrel Stingley. Then his reshaping CBS sports team by forcing the whole broadcast team to study films every week. .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a wonderful listen.

Great listen to a wonderful larger than life legend. I learned so much about the game from him. which I passed down to my five children

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!