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  • The Game

  • 20th Anniversary Edition
  • Written by: Ken Dryden
  • Narrated by: Ken Dryden
  • Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (169 ratings)

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The Game cover art

The Game

Written by: Ken Dryden
Narrated by: Ken Dryden
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Publisher's Summary

Widely acknowledged as the best hockey book ever written and lauded by Sports Illustrated as one of the Top 10 Sports Books of All Time, The Game is a reflective and thought-provoking look at a life in hockey. Intelligent and insightful, former Montreal Canadiens goalie and former President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ken Dryden captures the essence of the sport and what it means to all hockey fans. He gives us vivid and affectionate portraits of the characters - Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, and coach Scotty Bowman among them - that made the Canadiens of the 1970s one of the greatest hockey teams in history. But beyond that, Dryden reflects on life on the road, in the spotlight, and on the ice, offering up a rare inside look at the game of hockey and an incredible personal memoir. This commemorative edition marks the 20th anniversary of The Game's original publication. It includes black and white photography from the Hockey Hall of Fame and a new chapter from the author. Take a journey to the heart and soul of the game with this timeless hockey classic.

© 1983, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2005 Ken Dryden (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about The Game

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  • Overall
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  • SA
  • 2022-11-05

absolute best book about hockey ever written.

so good, really good, I'm forced to write 15 words, but so good is all that is needed

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

It's the story you're hoping it will be and more

As a lifelong hockey fan whose parents were just kids when Dryden was playing, I wasn't sure how much I would be able to get into this book. Add to that the fact that I'm a die-hard Leafs fan and you doubly understand my uncertainty. But wow. Dryden is a beautiful writer; his memories of his last NHL season are bright and vivid, his characterizations of his teammates are delightfully life-like, and his observations on the history and future of hockey are undeniably poignant. I'm so glad I decided to press play in spite of my reservations, and for any Canadian interested in a nostalgic, critical, but hopeful story of this great game, I highly recommend you do the same.

(Also audiobooks read by the author are always special; Dryden's accent is charming and his French is terrible--except for when he swears, then he sounds perfectly francophone--which makes the audiobook feel even more sincere)

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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

I grew up in Montreal in the 70s and early 80s. I lived on the West Island. Mom would make dad take us downstairs to watch the games because there was always too much yelling, so much excitement. The old black and white was just fine for us. Cup after cup, yes, it's as though it was expected. Guy Lafleur was my favorite to watch with all that long hair. As a little girl dreaming though, it was Ken Dryden that I was going to marry someday haha. Good memories of my dad who would make us a little Stanley Cup with the silver paper out of his large du maurier regular cigarette pack. Thank you Ken, I enjoyed listening to this book. I learned some things I never knew about the history of hockey. It was nice to hear what went on in the dressing room before and after games. Mostly though, it took me back to my childhood, the late nights playing hockey at Brook Park or playing in front of our house at the dead end of the street. My brothers would tell me, you're so good in net, you should be a goalie. I was never a goalie, I was always a forward player. They just liked taking shots on me with that frozen orange ball in the dead of winter, my legs were so cold I didn't feel it till I went in the house and had red circles on my legs. I remember dad telling me about the up-and-coming Wayne Gretzky, I said who is that, and he said, that's the next Lafleur and I said no way, that can't happen. Montreal was special. It still is. I have a different feeling walking around Montreal then I do in Toronto. Anyway, I enjoyed this book, thanks for the memories.

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    4 out of 5 stars

The Classic

I read this book as a kid, thinking it was a right of passage to my hockey life. Now, decades later I'm hearing it from Ken's own voice. He is a fantastic write with amazing description.

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Excellent.

A great hockey book. Interesting read for any sports fan. Dryden provides great detail into what it's like to play in the NHL.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Not an endorsement of the game

An interesting perspective on the game that captivates us. At times critical at all points of the compas. A tough game to break into, a tough game to percevear and to finally leave after a few short years.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen to how the game developed

This was an interesting listen, really learned a lot more about how the game and sport developed. Not much about being a goalie but rather his life and the world around hockey and the fast changing development of the professional sport hockey. Some of Ken's stories seem to ramble on like your grandpa may do on occasion, but overall was good.

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    5 out of 5 stars

I very poignant account for the casual hockey fan.

This book had it all, good stories about such a great franchise, thoughts on the changing areas of the game and what it was like to be a hockey player in Montreal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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great book

this book was a great read for any sports fan not necessarily even if you like hockey it's just a great read about sports how an athlete feels.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Didn't know what I was in for

Enjoyed the stories. Was a new look at the way hockey has changed over the years. I would recommend to people who are interested in hearing Dryden talk about his thoughts on the game of hockey both on the ice and the changes that have come from how different factors over the years influence it. Examples being certain players, or the money and its effect over the years and some fun stories about his time in the game as well.

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