December 7, 2011

At five feet ten inches tall, running back Walter Payton was not the largest player in the NFL, but he developed a larger-than-life reputation for his strength, speed and grit. Nicknamed "Sweetness" during his college football days, he became the NFL's all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards, capturing the hearts of fans in his adopted Chicago.

Crafted from interviews with more than 700 sources, acclaimed sportswriter Jeff Pearlman has produced the first definitive biography of Payton. SWEETNESS at last brings fans a detailed, scrupulously researched, all-encompassing account of the legend's rise to greatness. From Payton's childhood in segregated Mississippi, where he ended a racial war by becoming the star of his integrated high school's football team, to his college years and his 13-year NFL career, SWEETNESS brims with stories of all-American heroism, and covers Payton's life off the field as well. Set against the backdrop of the tragic illness that cut his life short at just 45 years of age, this is a stirring tribute to a singular icon and the lasting legacy he made.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

Headed out to do some holiday shopping? Before you go, check out our What to Give, What to Get feature with ideas in six categories.

This year's featured categories are:

- Accessories for Book Lovers: Accessories for books and eReaders
- eReaders for Book Lovers: eReading devices for book lovers
- Eat, Drink & Be Merry: Cookbooks, Entertaining Guides and Culinary Tales
- Faces & Places: Biography, Memoir and History
- Great Choices for Book Lovers: Fiction and Nonfiction Highlights
- Holiday Spirit: Perfect Selections for Holiday Reading

Throughout this holiday season, a number of authors will be sharing their favorite memories of giving or receiving a book at the holidays on our Holiday Blog.

Here are links to some recent posts from authors who already have shared their stories:

Keep an eye out for reader favorites like Susan Wiggs, Sarah Addison Allen, Nancy Jensen and John Connolly, who will be posting on the blog in the weeks to come!