This book is about a poor boy who makes it through sport to the highest levels of academia. The dice were loaded when he was born, and it appeared he had no chance at success with an alcoholic father and grandfather. Determined to get ahead, he used a freakish ability in sport to work his way out of the impossible situation he found himself in. Max Howell was one of the youngest to play rugby for Australia, touring New Zealand in 1946 and the British Isles, France, Canada and the United States in 1947-48. He was 19 years-of-age, one of the youngest to ever play for Australia. He was certainly the youngest to retire, at 20, after playing some 32 games for his country. He felt that rugby success did not lead to greater opportunities, and decided to place a high degree of energy and motivation into academia. He became the first Australian to obtain to obtain a doctorate degree in physical education/sport sciences/human movement studies, at the University of California at Berkeley, and then did another doctoral degree at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. He was later to receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree at the University of Alberta. He also had four fellowships, and published 50 plus books and over 300 research articles, He became President Of the North American Society for Sport History (NASSH), The Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (CAHPER) and The Canadian Association of Sport Sciences(CASS). He held distinguished academic posts at the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, San Diego State University, the University of Ottawa and The University of Queensland. An outstanding teacher, one international and one national address are presented annually in his honour. Emeritus Professor Max Howell is a unique example of an individual who has worked his way from poverty to both sporting and academic success, with motivation and good humour as the keys to his success. He was honoured with an Order of Australia (AO) for his contribution to graduate study and sport history in Australia and overseas.