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By the Grace of the Game
By the Grace of the Game

By the Grace of the Game

The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream
By Dan Grunfeld, Foreword by Ray Allen

SPORTS & RECREATION

288 Pages, 6 x 9

Formats: Trade Paper

Trade Paper, $20.00 (CA $27.00) (US $20.00)

ISBN 9781637270974

Rights: WOR

Triumph Books (Feb 2022)

Price: $20.00
 
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9781637270974
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Overview

A multi-generational family epic detailing history's only known journey from Auschwitz to the NBA
When Lily and Alex entered a packed gymnasium in Queens, New York in 1972, they barely recognized their son. The boy who escaped to America with them, who was bullied as he struggled to learn English and cope with family tragedy, was now a young man who had discovered and secretly honed his basketball talent on the outdoor courts of New York City. That young man was Ernie Grunfeld, who would go on to win an Olympic gold medal and reach previously unimaginable heights as an NBA player and executive.  In By the Grace of the Game, Dan Grunfeld, once a basketball standout himself at Stanford University, shares the remarkable story of his family, a delicately interwoven narrative that doesn't lack in heartbreak yet remains as deeply nourishing as his grandmother's Hungarian cooking, so lovingly described. The true improbability of the saga lies in the discovery of a game that unknowingly held the power to heal wounds, build bridges, and tie together a fractured Jewish family. If the magnitude of an American dream is measured by the intensity of the nightmare that came before and the heights of the triumph achieved after, then By the Grace of the Game recounts an American dream story of unprecedented scale. From the grips of the Nazis to the top of the Olympic podium, from the cheap seats to center stage at Madison Square Garden, from yellow stars to silver spoons, this complex tale traverses the spectrum of the human experience to detail how perseverance, love, and legacy can survive through generations, carried on the shoulders of a simple and beautiful game.

Reviews

"Through a series of remarkable stories about his family and his own personal experiences, Dan Grunfeld shines a light on basketball's unique ability to unite people of all backgrounds. Prepare to be moved and inspired by the powerful reflections he shares in this book." —Adam Silver, NBA commissioner

"Ernie Grunfeld and I did special things together on the basketball court. I now know how truly extraordinary his journey was on and off the floor. This book is a profound and inspirational reminder of why you should never give up." —Bernard King, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, four-time NBA All-Star  

"Once I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. It's a true story that showcases the best of America and the human spirit. I highly recommend this book." —Wolf Blitzer, CNN anchor and host of The Situation Room

"Ernie is a hero to the Jewish community and basketball fans worldwide. I'm sure basketball saved Ernie in many ways, as it did for me. His legacy will always be about family and a will to succeed no matter what was in front of him." —Nancy Lieberman, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, two-time college player of the year

"This story is the embodiment of the American Dream. It shows why we should never stop fighting and never give up."  —Ray Allen, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, two-time NBA champion

"Multisensory descriptions, as of the pain of torn ligaments, the sound of fans yelling, and the all-encompassing delight of Grunfeld's grandmother's Hungarian food, help to make the prose beautiful and nuanced. Grunfeld weaves his Jewish heritage and linguistic understanding into the book with a strong grasp of historical context." —Foreword Reviews

"This heartfelt debut is a sincere reflection on the Jewish experience." —Booklist

Author Biography

Dan Grunfeld was a two-time Academic All-American as a member of Stanford University's men's basketball team. He played eight professional seasons in top leagues around the world, including a year in Germany, three in Spain, and four in Israel, with a brief stint in the NBA for the New York Knicks. Grunfeld received his MBA from Stanford, and his writing has appeared in outlets including Sports Illustrated, Huffington Post,Jerusalem Post, and SBNation. Ray Allen played 18 seasons in the NBA, earning 10 All-Star designations and two NBA championships.

Book Signings

Past Events


Jun
07
By the Grace of the Game ›
Port Washington, NY
3:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Port Jewish Center in Port Washington, NY.
Mar
28
By the Grace of the Game ›
Stamford, CT
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Stamford JCC in Stamford, CT.

https://bit.ly/3XSCyWq
Mar
20
By the Grace of the Game ›
Overland Park, KS
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at the JCC of Greater Kansas City in Overland Park, KS.

https://bit.ly/3YSVg1z
Mar
15
By the Grace of the Game ›
White Plains, NY
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Temple Israel Center.

https://bit.ly/3xJ9rdk
Mar
05
By the Grace of the Game ›
Dayton, OH
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton in Dayton, OH.

https://bit.ly/3SoK0qY
Mar
02
By the Grace of the Game ›
Boca Raton, FL
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with B'nai Torah.

https://bit.ly/3lV2pQe
Feb
27
By the Grace of the Game ›
Bayside, NY
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with Commonpoint Queens.

https://bit.ly/3YUDKcz
Feb
13
By the Grace of the Game ›
Woodbury, NY
7:30pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center.
Nov
30
By the Grace of the Game ›
Naples, FL
12:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.
Nov
20
By the Grace of the Game ›
Irvine, CA
4:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at the Merage Community Jewish Center in Irvine, CA.
Nov
19
By the Grace of the Game ›
Monrovia, CA
7:30pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at the Jewish Federation of San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Monrovia, CA.
Nov
17
By the Grace of the Game ›
New York, NY
8:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Sutton Place Synagogue in New York, NY.
Nov
16
By the Grace of the Game ›
Ann Arbor, MI
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI.
Nov
14
By the Grace of the Game ›
Sylvania, OH
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at Jewish Community Center of Greater Toledo in Sylvania, OH.
Nov
13
By the Grace of the Game ›
St. Louis, MO
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at Jewish Community Center of St. Louis in St. Louis, MO
Nov
10
By the Grace of the Game ›
West Bloomfield, MI
6:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at JCC of Metro Detroit in West Bloomfield, MI.
Nov
02
By the Grace of the Game ›
Virginia Beach, VA
6:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at United Jewish Community Federation of Tidewater in Virginia Beach, VA.
Oct
30
By the Grace of the Game ›
Lancaster, PA
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with Jewish Community Alliance of Lancaster.
Oct
22
By the Grace of the Game ›
Houston, TX
8:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for an event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' at Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston in Houston, TX.
Oct
20
By the Grace of the Game ›
San Antonio, TX
7:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with Barshop Community Jewish Center.
Sep
20
By the Grace of the Game ›
Rancho Mirage, CA
4:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Jewish Federation of the Desert.
Sep
20
By the Grace of the Game ›
Rancho Mirage, CA
4:00pm
Join author Dan Grunfeld for a virtual event for his book, 'By the Grace of the Game,' with the Jewish Federation of the Desert.