Available July 2018

The Tropic of Football

The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL

Reviews & Interviews Public Appearances

Public Appearances


Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures: Made Local
July 26, 6 p.m.

South Wing Reading Room
Carnegie Library Main (Oakland), 2nd Floor
4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15213
Tickets: Free, with registration.
For more information, contact: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures at 412-622-8866 or info@pittsburghlectures.org


Penguin Bookshop Table Signing with author Rob Ruck, Tropic of Football
Saturday, July 28, 2018 — 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Penguin Bookshop
417 Beaver Street
Sewickley, PA 15143
More info

Tropic of Football book cover

Pre-Order on New Press

Pre-Order on Amazon


Early Praise for The Tropic of Football

“Rob Ruck has connected beautifully how I as a Samoan and a Polynesian football player in college and the NFL represented my culture. God and family are first, respect and humility are how you represent your people and your culture. The new millennials through today’s culture of social media have lost that foundation of our identity. This is a great read for them.”

—Jesse Sapolu, San Francisco 49ers, winner of four Super Bowl rings, and co-founder of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

More Books by Rob Ruck

  • Tropic of Football book cover
  • Raceball book cover
  • Rooney book cover
  • Tropic of Baseball book cover
  • Sandlot book cover
  • Nelson book cover

Films by Rob Ruck