PHILADELPHIA — Move over, Oprah; there’s a new contender for book recommendations in town. A.J. Brown, a standout receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, has unintentionally propelled self-help author Jim Murphy to the top of Amazon’s best-seller list. Instead of concentrating on the playbook during a recent playoff game, Brown decided to delve into Murphy’s motivational book, “Inner Excellence,” ignoring the action occurring on the field.
By Monday morning, Murphy’s work had skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Amazon best-sellers list, a remarkable leap for a title that was virtually unknown before. “I was not expecting that. A real gift,” Murphy expressed in a phone conversation. He recounted checking Amazon late Sunday evening only to discover his book had jumped from an obscure ranking—previously estimated at around 523,497—to the pinnacle of sales for the entire platform.
The sudden surge in popularity earned the book a place on the marketplace’s movers & shakers list as well. However, it had yet to break into the top 100 sales for 2025, where prominent authors like Mel Robbins and Kristin Hannah continued to dominate.
Boosted undoubtedly by fervent Eagles supporters, “Inner Excellence” had garnered 375 reviews with an impressive average rating of 4.7 out of 5. In comparison, “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden, which has a total of 431,491 reviews and a slightly lower rating of 4.5, was ranked lower on the best-sellers list. “AJ Brown recommended this book, so I’m looking forward to reading this. Fly Eagles Fly,” said one enthusiastic reviewer.
Murphy, who transitioned from a minor league outfielder with the Chicago Cubs to a mental skills coach, shared during a recent interview that his phone lit up with messages after Brown was seen reading his book on the sidelines. After retiring from baseball, he became interested in teaching players how to cultivate confidence in high-pressure situations. “I spent five years full-time writing and researching the answer to that question,” Murphy noted, explaining how this journey led to the creation of “Inner Excellence.”
Brown, who achieved 67 receptions totaling 1,079 yards along with seven touchdowns this season, remarked on the profound lessons he derived from the book, emphasizing that for him, football is “90% mental and 10% physical.” He also took to social media, posting a picture of the book with several highlighted and underlined passages.
The receiver expressed surprise at the viral nature of his sideline reading as he often peruses books during games; however, he admitted, “Y’all caught me that time.” Reflecting on the insights gained from the book, Brown stated, “If I score a touchdown or drop a pass, it’s all about how I refocus. I always return to the beginning of the book, where it emphasizes having a clear mind. It teaches that nothing else matters, whether it’s negative or positive. If you’re humble, you cannot be embarrassed.”
His commitment to these principles appears to have paid off, as the Eagles triumphed over the Green Bay Packers, securing their advancement in the NFL playoffs.
