New Memoir by Dr. Bennett Omalu to Be Released, 2017

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ In a new book set to release in fall 2017, Dr. Bennett Omalu, who was recently portrayed by Will Smith in the film Concussion, will share his life story, what led to his discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and how he was uniquely positioned to take on the NFL.

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Dr. Omalu's remarkable story has been partially told in the film and the media blitz surrounding its international release, but his book will share never-before-told insight into CTE, along with his deeply personal stories and the important role his faith has played in his work. Dr. Omalu is represented by Steve Ross of Abrams Artists Agency.

"There is more to his story than what viewers saw on movie screens," says David Morris, vice president and publisher of Zondervan books. "Dr. Bennett is a man of deep faith and conviction. He wants to share how his faith carried him from a young boy suffering from malnutrition in Nigeria to becoming a highly recognized doctor courageously fighting for victims of CTE. This is a story of overcoming around one of today's most fascinating topics."

The book will open with Dr. Omalu conducting an autopsy on Mike Webster and not realizing what he had discovered or its lasting implications. His personal journey will unfold as he remembers his turbulent childhood in Africa and how his faith prepared him, an outsider to American culture, to stage an impossible battle.

"This is a man whose dramatic life journey deserves to be told," says Steve Ross, Director of the Books Division at Abrams Artists Agency. "Dr. Omalu is driven by an insatiable hunger for truth and a divine calling to speak out for that what he believes to be right. This book will make a lasting impression, and we are thrilled to partner with Zondervan and HarperCollins Christian."

Dr. Omalu continues to research CTE, an important social and medical issue that is not bound by one sport. Readers will learn more about the disease and how Dr. Omalu's research can help adapt contact sports, especially those played by children, to be safer.

New York Times bestselling author Mark Tabb is set to co-write the book. His past projects include Mistaken Identity, Running for My Life, Sacred Acre and the upcoming memoir Not Forgotten with former North Korean prisoner Kenneth Bae.

Dr. Omalu is signed with Greater Talent Network Speakers Bureau and is currently among its most in-demand speaker.

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company's products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

SOURCE Zondervan