The popular 1993 movie Rudy told the sentimental, but true, story of Rudy Ruettiger, a working-class kid from a family of 13 children who aspired to play football for Notre Dame despite having little physical ability, and who beat the odds to do so. Rudy just barely graduated from high school, served in the Navy, then attended community college before reaching Notre Dame in his mid-twenties. In 1975 at age 27, he appeared in the Fighting Irish's season finale for 27 seconds, even sacking the quarterback in one of his two plays. He spent the next 18 years struggling to turn his 27 seconds of fame into a movie. VERDICT Ruettiger is now a motivational speaker; this book is his story and his message (no mention of the 2011 SEC complaint against him for alleged stock scamming), but most readers have long since moved on. His book may appeal to some Notre Dame fans.