PLAYING HURT My Journey from Despair to Hope

John Saunders was a well-liked longtime ESPN personality. Off camera, he dealt with a host of demons, all of which are detailed with raw honesty in this posthumous autobiography. Dion Graham narrates with just the right touches of emotion to get across the gravity of Saunders's story, one of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and clinical depression. The voices of different people are delivered without imitation--this is Saunders's story through his own eyes. Something about Graham's reading evokes Saunders--his steady on-air presence and likable personality. His is a sad story, but one that never asks for pity, just understanding for those with mental illness. Graham delivers a strong narration of this gripping book. M.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2017]