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“A monumental achievement of deep reporting and expert storytelling.” —Michael Sokolove author of The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino“I just cant live with this pain anymore” were among the final words in the diary of Zac Easter a young man from small-town Iowa. In December 2015 Zac decided to take his own life rather than continue his losing battle against the traumat“A monumental achievement of deep reporting and expert storytelling.” —Michael Sokolove author of The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino“I just cant live with this pain anymore” were among the final words in the diary of Zac Easter a young man from small-town Iowa. In December 2015 Zac decided to take his own life rather than continue his losing battle against the traumatic brain injuries he had sustained as a no-holds-barred high school football player. In this deeply reported and powerfully moving true story award-winning sportswriter Reid Forgrave speaks to Zacs family friends and coaches; he explores Zacs tightly knit football-obsessed Midwestern community; he interviews cutting-edge brain scientists psychologists and sports historians; and he takes a deep dive into the triumphs and sins of the sports entertainment industry.Forgrave shows us how football mirrors America from the fighting spirit it has helped inscribe in our national character to the problematic side effects of traditional notions of manhood that it affirms. But above all this is a story of how one young mans obsession with football led him and many of those entrusted with his care to ignore the warning signs of CTE until it was too late. What do Zacs life and death mean for a society addicted to a sport that can be thrilling and character forming but also dangerous and sometimes tragic for those who play it?Eye-opening important and ultimately inspiring Love Zac challenges us to think carefully about the ideals and values we as a nation want to instill in future generations.(less)