The Blind Side

From the first chapter, Lewis shows that systemic change has identifiable turning points but is also a complex process that cannot be entirely broken down. Creative individuals who bring fresh insights or approaches can trigger small-scale changes. As those small-scale changes are more widely adopted, the momentum may snowball into systemic changes. The evolution of football strategy is an example of this, Lewis contends. It began with Bill Walsh devising a new kind of passing game that elevated the play of both mediocre and exemplary players. Lawrence Taylor threatened that new kind of play with his ferocity and passion, and Walsh’s system had to adapt to the new threat. Meanwhile, Taylor inspired other young players to follow his lead as Walsh inspired coaches to adopt his West Coast offense. As these changes gained momentum over time, a new need emerged: a left tackle who could meet the pass-rushing threat and allow the West Coast offense to flourish.

The convergence of changes that took place over some twenty-five years paved the way for Michael Oher to become a highly coveted player: He embodied the skills and talents offensive coaches coveted.

Lewis applies a similar complex view to human motivation, partly by maintaining a reporter’s tone—occasionally wry but rarely expressing overt opinions, when it comes to unpacking motives. Lewis instead presents anecdotes heavy on description and exposition. For example, he describes the various ways Leigh Anne took control of Michael’s life but does not theorize about what motivated her, or impose meaning on her and Michael’s relationship. He does the same when describing the ways Sean helped Michael, from before the Tuohys adopted him through the aftermath of Michael’s fight with Antonio Turner, while an Ole Miss student. By presenting readers with the facts of Sean’s childhood and the way he achieved his success, Lewis implies Sean identified with Michael. By quoting Leigh Anne saying she believed money should be used charitably, Lewis implies helping Michael was an extension of her belief system. At the same time, Lewis leaves open the possibility that a complex interplay of forces created a bond between the Tuohys and Michael, and not all of those forces can be itemized into neat categories.

In social terms, Lewis sees Michael’s case as significant because the white community helped him succeed. Given the region’s racist past, and the persistence of it in the present, Lewis finds the help extended to Michael worth noting. He says members of the white community were “haunted” by Michael’s success, the implication being that his success showed whites that they could and should be doing more to support the growth and development of all members of their communities (261).