Nine Lessons I Learned from My Father

September 25, 2017
Love and respect fill the pages of this eloquent tribute to “Mr. Hockey,” Gordie Howe, written by Murray Howe, the youngest of his three sons and the only one who did not follow his father into professional hockey. It’s a moving, insightful look into the entire family (which also includes one daughter), a family that Murray says was remarkable for the “unhesitating positivity” of his parents. “I am still in awe at the thought that Gordie Howe was my father,” he writes. Murray shares anecdotes illustrating how Gordie was both feared on the ice and adored by fans, including stories of him nearly taking an opponent’s ear off with his stick, and yet patiently staying late after every game to sign an autograph for every fan who asked. As a doctor, Murray’s perspective on the controversial stem-cell treatment that Gordie received to extend his life prior to his death in 2016 is fascinating. Murray shares a an account of how a stem-cell treatment made almost miraculous improvements in his dad’s condition following a stroke, allowing him to walk again after being mostly confined to a wheelchair. Though Murray writes that “this book is not about me,” the best bits are a son’s special memories of his father, whether it’s learning to play hockey as a kid or holding his octogenarian parent to keep him from going overboard on a rough fishing trip. Such stories of “how precious every moment is” give the book broad appeal for a readership beyond Gordie Howe’s fans.