Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire is the raw autobiography of NHL star Theoren Fleury, co-written with Kirstie McLellan Day. The book chronicles Fleury's journey from his early days in hockey through his successful NHL career with the Calgary Flames and other teams. The narrative covers his achievements on the ice, including winning the Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal, while simultaneously battling personal demons. Fleury speaks openly about his struggles with addiction and the events that shaped both his professional career and personal life. The book gained immediate commercial success upon its 2009 release, coinciding with Fleury's attempted NHL comeback with the Calgary Flames. It topped Amazon.ca's non-fiction charts and sold over 80,000 copies in its first six weeks of release. At its core, Playing with Fire is a story of resilience and survival, examining how one athlete managed to achieve professional success while carrying profound personal trauma. The autobiography stands as both a sports memoir and a document of personal transformation.

Readers describe this hockey memoir as raw, honest, and emotionally intense. Many note they finished it in one or two sittings due to the compelling narrative style. What readers liked: - Unflinching accounts of both hockey career and personal struggles - Clear, conversational writing that feels authentic to Fleury's voice - Integration of hockey stories with personal revelations - Powerful message about overcoming trauma What readers disliked: - Some hockey fans wanted more focus on NHL career details - A few readers found parts repetitive - Graphic content warnings needed for sensitive topics Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (500+ ratings) Reader quote: "This isn't just another hockey book. It's a story of survival that happens to feature hockey." - Goodreads reviewer Quote: "Brutal honesty that makes you uncomfortable but impossible to put down." - Amazon reviewer

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✦ Despite his small 5'6" stature, Theoren Fleury scored 455 goals in his NHL career, making him one of the most successful "undersized" players in hockey history. ✦ The book reveals Fleury's survival of sexual abuse by his junior hockey coach Graham James, who was later convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault against young players. ✦ Fleury battled cocaine and alcohol addiction throughout his NHL career, spending an estimated $1.6 million on substances and partying during his playing days. ✦ After its release in 2009, "Playing with Fire" spent several weeks as #1 on the Canadian bestseller lists and helped inspire changes in hockey's approach to player mental health. ✦ Co-author Kirstie McLellan Day has written several other successful hockey biographies, including books with Bob Probert, Ron MacLean, and Kelly Hrudey.