Eagles’ AJ Brown Sparks Book Sales Boom with Sideline Reading

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver AJ Brown inadvertently turned a self-help book into an overnight sensation after he was spotted reading it on the sideline during Sunday’s NFC wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Brown’s choice of reading material, “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy, surged to the top of Amazon‘s best-sellers list by Monday morning, jumping from a ranking of 523,497 to No. 1.

“I was not expecting that. A real gift,” Murphy told The Associated Press on Monday. “I just looked at Amazon last night, and it got to No. 1, so that was a surprise. It had probably never been higher than 8 or 9,000.”

Brown, who finished the game with just one catch for 10 yards, clarified that his sideline reading was not a sign of frustration but rather a way to stay focused. “I wasn’t frustrated at all. I figured that’s what y’all probably thought,” Brown said after the Eagles’ 22-10 victory. “Why do you always think I be frustrated? Dang. I like to read.”

The book, which emphasizes mental resilience and focus, resonated with Brown, who described football as “90% mental and 10% physical” for him. He shared a photo of the book on social media, highlighting several passages that he found particularly impactful. “If I score a touchdown or drop a pass, it’s something how I refocus,” Brown said. “I always revert back to the beginning of the book.”

Murphy, a former minor league outfielder turned mental skills coach, said his phone “started blowing up” with texts after Brown’s sideline reading went viral. “I spent five years full-time writing and researching the answer to that question,” Murphy said, referring to his book’s focus on confidence under pressure. “That became the book ‘Inner Excellence.'”

The book’s sudden popularity was fueled by Eagles fans, who left 375 reviews on Amazon, giving it a 4.7 out of 5 rating. One reviewer wrote, “AJ Brown recommended this book, so I’m looking forward to reading this. Fly Eagles Fly.”

Despite the attention, Brown remained humble about his influence. “Me personally, I’m very humble,” he said. “Sometimes I forget who I am in a sense of how big stuff can get blown out of proportion. Because to me, I’m just being myself.”

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni defended Brown’s sideline reading, calling it “lazy” for critics to jump to conclusions. “I’m going to continue to be myself,” Brown added. “I’m not pretending, it’s not a facade or anything. Who cares who don’t like it? I’m a three-time All-Pro.”

Brown’s season, though limited to 13 games due to injury, was still impressive, with 67 catches for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns. His sideline reading moment, however, may be his most unexpected contribution to the Eagles’ playoff run.