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The Agent: My 40-Year Career Making Deals and Changing the Game Paperback – August 25, 2015

by Leigh Steinberg (Author), Michael Arkush (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 229 ratings
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A New York Times bestseller!

The real-life "Jerry Maguire," superagent Leigh Steinberg shares his personal stories on the rise, fall, and redemption of his game-changing career in the high-stakes world of professional sports

Leigh Steinberg is renowned as one of the greatest sports agents in history, representing such All-Pro clients as Troy Aikman, Bruce Smith, and Ben Roethlisberger. Over one particular seven-year stretch, Steinberg represented the top NFL Draft pick an unheard of six times. Director Cameron Crowe credits Steinberg as a primary inspiration for the titular character in Jerry Maguire, even hiring Steinberg as a consultant on the film. Lightyears ahead of his contemporaries, he expanded his players' reach into entertainment. Already the bestselling author of a business book on negotiation, the original superagent is now taking readers behind the closed doors of professional sports, recounting priceless stories, like how he negotiated a $26.5 million package for Steve Young―the biggest ever at the time―and how he passed on the chance to represent Peyton Manning.

Beginning with his early days as a student leader at Berkeley, Steinberg details his illustrious rise into pro sports fame, his decades of industry dominance, and how he overcame a series of high-profile struggles to regain his sobriety and launch his comeback. This riveting story takes readers inside the inner circle of top-notch agents and players through the visionary career of Leigh Steinberg, the pre-eminent superagent of our time.

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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 25, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.72 x 8.25 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    125006774X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1250067746
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“NFL crazies will eat this like snack food.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“As detailed by super-agent Leigh Steinberg...possibly the most successful sports agent in history…the business of signing top sports talent is fraught with eccentricity.” ―The New York Post

“A memoir by arguably the most influential agent in NFL history… the star power of Steinberg and his clients should create a healthy demand for this title.” ―Booklist

“It's fashionable now, after the movie, for a lot of agents to talk about heart, but Leigh was the only one talking like that in 1993, when I began research.” ―Cameron Crowe, director of Jerry Maguire on Leigh Steinberg

“Leigh Steinberg was the greatest sports agent in history.” ―Forbes on Leigh Steinberg

“There really is a Jerry Maguire. Only he's not some schlumpf struggling to make it on a wing and a prayer like Tom Cruise in the movie. . . . His name is Leigh Steinberg, and [he] also happens to be the pre-eminent sports agent of our time.” ―San Francisco Examiner on Leigh Steinberg

“Many sought out Leigh and he easily could have concentrated his attention elsewhere, but he so believed in me and my future that he stuck with me…A man of integrity and foresight, Leigh emphasized empowering his clients in order that they not be manipulated nor taken advantage of, thereby transcending and supplanting the 'agent' stigma of the time. ” ―from the Foreword by Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon on Leigh Steinberg

About the Author

LEIGH STEINBERG founded his sports law practice in 1975 and has since represented over 150 professional athletes. Currently President and CEO of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment and an advocate for player safety, he contributes a weekly column to Forbes and The Huffington. The author of the bestselling books Winning With Integrity and The Agent, Steinberg lives in Newport Beach, CA.



MICHAEL ARKUSH has written several books, including The Fight of the Century, I Remember Payne Stewart, Tim Allen Laid Bare, Rush! and The Last Season.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (August 25, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 125006774X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250067746
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.72 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 229 ratings

About the author

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Leigh Steinberg

Leigh Steinberg

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Leigh William Steinberg is an American sports agent. During his 30-year career, Steinberg has represented over 150 professional athletes in football, baseball, basketball, boxing, and Olympic sports. He has represented the No. 1 pick overall in the NFL draft a record eight times, a milestone unmatched within the sports industry. His client list has included Steve Bartkowski, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Ben Roethlisberger, Myron Rolle, Matt Leinart, Mark Brunell, Ricky Williams, Howie Long, Eric Karros, Dusty Baker, Lennox Lewis, Oscar de la Hoya, and John Starks. Steinberg is often credited as the real life inspiration of the sports agent from the film Jerry Maguire.

@Leighsteinberg

https://www.facebook.com/Super.Agent.Leigh.Steinberg

http://www.forbes.com/sites/leighsteinberg/

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/leigh-steinberg/5b/188/647

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
229 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and quick to read, with great insights into sports management and player agent work. Moreover, the story quality receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting specific player negotiation stories. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with some customers finding it boring. Additionally, the authenticity of the book receives mixed reviews, with several customers noting the author's reluctance to reveal intimate details.

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38 customers mention "Readability"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, describing it as a quick read.

"Very insightful book and story. If you're at all interested in the Sports Industry you would enjoy the story of Leigh Steinberg...." Read more

"...Agent who controlled the QB position. This book is very interesting in providing the backstory to his rise to fame, his philosophy on running the..." Read more

"This book was extremely interesting and would be a great read for anyone interested in the business of sports...." Read more

"...This is a great read and you'll be glad you bought it." Read more

18 customers mention "Insight"18 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights, particularly about player agents and sports management, with one customer noting how it reveals the inner workings of football.

"...to read about Leigh's rise to the top and how he truly reinvented the sports agent industry...." Read more

"...rise to fame, his philosophy on running the agency, his many relationships with athletes and specific stories of player negotiations...." Read more

"...The in depth look into contract negotiations, the life of players and agents and the personalities of owners and GMs was fascinating...." Read more

"Steinberg has lived an incredible life. So it is really interesting and it gives us a glimpse into what life as a big time sports agent is like...." Read more

9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories in the book, with one review highlighting specific player negotiations and another noting it as a great historical account.

"Very insightful book and story. If you're at all interested in the Sports Industry you would enjoy the story of Leigh Steinberg...." Read more

"...the agency, his many relationships with athletes and specific stories of player negotiations...." Read more

"While there certainly are interesting stories, hardly a few pages go by without the author talking about how great he is...." Read more

"...I thought it was ok. I liked the in depth stories no one knows about...." Read more

9 customers mention "Authenticity"6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the authenticity of the book, with some noting that the author is afraid to reveal more intimate details, while one customer finds it very honest.

"...He's not only a great interview but a fantastic person...." Read more

"...part is that the author was way too cautious and was afraidto reveal more intimate details." Read more

"I expected more. Steinberg is honest about his addiction and those are the best sections of this book...." Read more

"...I greatly enjoyed Jackson's book and its up and personal feeling. Steinberg's book felt much more impersonal and distant...." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it boring, while one customer describes it as a fascinating behind-the-scenes look.

"It became a bit boring. Too much "I am great" hidden in a humble way. Started off good but by the end I lost interest" Read more

"...But Steinberg is a very classy guy and he doesn't really give a lot of gossip and go into some of the dirty things I am sure he has seen in his..." Read more

"Disappointed. Felt largely was simply self promotion by author. Would not recommend...." Read more

"...This book reads more like a diary, not at all entertaining." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Nick Fatcat
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you're at all interested in the Sports Industry you would enjoy the story of Leigh Steinberg
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Very insightful book and story. If you're at all interested in the Sports Industry you would enjoy the story of Leigh Steinberg. I had the pleasure to attend his traveling seminar program, "The Agent Academy" and his career is beyond comparison. I learned a lot from him and this book can give you a glimpse into the Sports Agency industry. Its fascinating to read about Leigh's rise to the top and how he truly reinvented the sports agent industry. The Hardcover version is great, it makes a cool addition to my bookshelf as well.
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  • Rick Spell
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Legend. But Still the Legend?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is a solid book. Leigh Steinberg revolutionized the sports agency business. From the mid 70s with his first client UCal QB Steve Bartkowski who was only slightly younger than Steinberg to the 2000s, Leigh Steinberg was the Go To Guy. Agent who controlled the QB position. This book is very interesting in providing the backstory to his rise to fame, his philosophy on running the agency, his many relationships with athletes and specific stories of player negotiations. He eventually transcended player representation bridging into multimedia and ownership.

    But this book is at it's best just recounting how he got in the business, how he grew it and how he negotiated it. I had some dealings with his agency. As a CPA I interviewed to handle the finances for Walter Lewis, an AL QB who signed a million dollar contract with the USFL in 1983. We were selected by Steinberg's partner, Mike Sullivan. I specifically remember a year later when Mike called announcing he was leaving. That period is covered well in this book and needless to say, Steinberg felt mistreated by his former partner. Mike was a real pro I enjoyed meeting but I had no involvement with Leigh.

    If you are interested in pro football and the agency business, grab this book and read it! But there is another part of Leigh's story and there have been newspaper articles that go into further detail of his alcoholism which broke Steinberg completely and ruined his reputation with many clients. But as you would expect of a marketing person, that is somewhat glossed over. Yes, it's covered. But relatively quickly and always with an angle to make him the hero. That's my only complaint with this book. Steinberg is a shell of his former self in the agency business but you would never know it form reading this. In some respects I wonder if he wrote this because he needs any money he can get.

    Irrespective to my ramblings and guesses, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and with the caveats mentioned can definitely recommend it.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Jordan O.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read about a great man
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book was extremely interesting and would be a great read for anyone interested in the business of sports. The in depth look into contract negotiations, the life of players and agents and the personalities of owners and GMs was fascinating. The best thing about Mr. Steinberg was that even though he was the biggest and best agent he wasn't in it for the money. He was interested most in helping others, improving lives and making a difference in his community. He is a role model and his perseverance through his alcohol problems further demonstrate that. I couldn't put this book down!
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  • Kyle
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read, but it leaves out the gossipy stuff
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Steinberg has lived an incredible life. So it is really interesting and it gives us a glimpse into what life as a big time sports agent is like. But Steinberg is a very classy guy and he doesn't really give a lot of gossip and go into some of the dirty things I am sure he has seen in his career. He does it a little bit with Ryan Leaf, but for the most part he talks about the clients he likes and a few negotiations and leaves out the clients I am sure made him earn his commission.
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  • Debra Ann Cruz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Giant Who Lives From His Heart Space
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I met Leigh Steinberg recently at a PowerTeam International Rainmaker Summit hosted by #1 Business Mentor, Bill Walsh, that is an entrepreneur’s dream. I was amazed at how giving Leigh was in sharing his story & struggles of becoming sports agent for many more of the top professional athletes. I wanted know more about his life and how he came to advocate for his clients as though he was a trusted family member. Reading this book filled in a lot of the blanks in how he came to live life operating from his heart space & not just in the sports industry for the money. His charitable work in various organizations is further testimony to gifts of his time & energy as he keeps giving back to heal humanity.
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  • DP
    1.0 out of 5 stars Should be called "The Agent: An inside look at the biggest ego in sports!"
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    While there certainly are interesting stories, hardly a few pages go by without the author talking about how great he is. I obviously knew when I bought it that it was going to contain many stories about his successful negotiations. What disappointed me was him constantly either taking credit for people's successes or explaining people's failures resulting from him not being involved. Heck, he even tells a story about his intellect being compared to Einstein's. Everything in this book is "look what I did," or "look who I know." On the Kindle version, almost 5% of the book are photos of him with athletes. Who cares!! I don't want to see pictures of Leigh. While reading it, I actually started to mark the pages where he puts another plug in for himself or talks about how awesome he is. It became quite comical. I actually quit doing that when I reached 50. I would pass on this one.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Chris Mascaro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I've had the privilege of interviewing Leigh Steinberg twice on our show Thursday Night Tailgate. He's not only a great interview but a fantastic person. His new book "The Agent" gives you great insight and detail into how he got started and the inside stories into what it was it like on the way up and the way down. This is a great read and you'll be glad you bought it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Foodie Explorer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Leigh Steinberg is the original Jerry Maguire. He tells some really interesting stories and sometimes, i wish he didn't try so hard to repair his reputation and show what a straight shooter he was. Maybe he was. I wish there were more stories about the side dealings in professional sports and the shadiness of the sports business. Overall, a great read, and it's cool to see some of the iconic names like Warren Moon, Steve Young, etc. be mentioned in the book.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Marcelo Claudino
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Inspiring with lot of interesting facts in Athletes management. Very successful professional in the Sport Business since 1970's :) .
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  • jlmax
    5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome in the NFL..
    Reviewed in France on October 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book who inspired some people who made the Jerry Maguire's film. It show you the life as an agent. I recommend this book.
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  • Ronan Murphy
    2.0 out of 5 stars ... bit too much of this book talking about how great he is and what great deals he did for ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    He spends a bit too much of this book talking about how great he is and what great deals he did for clients. There's not much insights into the world of an agent and he really breezes over anything that went wrong (Ryan Leaf)
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  • pittgolfer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    very interesting read
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