It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

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Summary: It provides me with Hope
Review: My step-mother was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Hip Cancer. It's been a little over a week since we heard the diagnosis. On that night, I was not in good shape; upon hearing about this, my good friend walked to my house and gave me the book for me to start immediately. The book holds nothing back. There are details in there regarding Chemotherapy that make one cringe, but for some odd reason I respect the honesty. Because through this honesty came a way of educating. The book rollercoasts you up and down - from the bottom of Chemo, to the tops where he celebrated the birth of his child and winning "the Tour." I reccommend this, and I now look to the book for Inspiration.

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Summary: It's Not About the Bike
Review: The # 1 New York Times bestseller, update with new material on the Tour de France & the Olympics is the story of one man's journey through triumph, tragedy, transformation, & transcendence. It is the story of Lance Armstrong, the world-famous two-time winner of the Tour de France, & his fight against cancer.

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Summary: The ride back home.
Review: Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" is a remarkable story. Armstrong doesn't pull any punches or paint himself as a hero. He offers insight into the mind of a world-class athlete and opens up the thrilling world of bicycle racing for those who would never otherwise have any knowledge of it. He shares his life with the reader in a way that is honest and at the same time not self-critical. He shows us his best and his worst, and there were certainly times in his life where he felt horrible and it seemed to get the better of him. In the end, though, it is apparent that it has been in his nature since childhood to give it his all.

...It caused him to see the mundane as miraculous and view each day as a gift. This is not an unusual experience to have for people with life-threatening diseases or that have had near death experiences, but few realize they can have this experience right here and now. If you would like to learn how, I recommend "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane. In it they describe the secrets to living in the moment that can start you on your journey back to life.

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Summary: Awesome book!
Review: This is an incredible book--"How do you like them apples!" :-) A thought-provoking, profound, compelling story that evokes every emotion imaginable--I laughed, I cried, then I read it again.

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Summary: Why this is my favorite book
Review: About six mnonts ago I read It's not about the bike: My Journey back to life. Since then I have devoloped such a deep appreciation for Lance and the sport of cycling. I did not know much about Lance or cycling before I read the book, but now I feel that I truly know Lance. It is my favorite book, and Lance is my hero as a human and also as an athlete and cyclist. I think of him as such a hero. So many children and adults alike have heros because they score a lot of touchdowns or score a lot of homeruns. But it's not only about that with Lance Armstrong. It is all that he overcame and proved to everyone. He not only broke records, but he broke them as someone who went through hell on earth! In reading the book, I learned, to sum up something indescribeable, how terrible chemotherapy really is. For Lance to not only survive, but to come back and win four Tour De France races, makes him, in my eyes, and ideal hero for everyone. I would recommend this book to anyone in this world who wants a heo.

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Summary: Amazing
Review: From beginning to end, this book kept me hooked. I learned so much from it and from Lance's story. I highly recomend this book.

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Summary: Everyone should read this book
Review: While most people are probably somewhat familiar with the Lance Armstrong story, assuming he's like other professional athletes who have encountered adversity would be such an underestimation of this incredible man. His story, written in first person style sounding very much like he probably speaks, is awe-inspiring. He doesn't gloss over those years when he acted a bit like a jerk, or ignored coaching advice. He's honest with his readers when he speaks of past mistakes which are probably rooted in an unclear vision of who he really is. The cancer that almost killed him he now describes as "the best thing that ever happened to me". He doesn't spare any detail when describing how sick he was, nor does he try to make us think he was some big tough guy cancer patient, putting on a happy face through countless days of torture. His cancer story is very real, and this is a person that could not have come much closer to death. But he chose to embrace life, and it was this choice that brought about all the changes that made him who he is today. Anyone who is procrastinating about anything in life needs to read this book for that kick in the butt that will get them moving. Need to lose a little weight? Change jobs? Run that first 5k? Get out of a bad relationship? READ THIS BOOK. You will realize how soft your life is, and how choosing to LIVE, rather than exist, will make you the best person you can be. Oops, did I make this sound like a self help book? It's not at all, just an inspiring account of one person's life and how he fought back to become, in my humble opinion, the world's greatest athlete, and an amazing person. He is on the verge of winning his 4th Tour deFrance. Listen to what he says when he does, it will tell you what kind of person Lance Armstrong really is.

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Summary: Lance's Story Is Mezmerising
Review: I first read the book last summer. My stepsister was reading it and I picked it up when she set it down and we fought over who was going to read it for the next day or so. Only that long becuase by then we had both finished it. Enthralling...Tantalizing...leaves you wanting to know more. One of the best modern biographical writings. Can't wait until he writes another one to follow up on the this years tour and the last two as well.

A must read for all athletes. Inspiring and motivating. Lance Armstrong writes nearly as well as he rides a bike. It does him great justice to have this fine book to his name.

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Summary: As Great as Ali and Jordan
Review: Ali. Jordan. Armstrong. There are a few names in athletics that define a sport, and, in a bigger sense, define all sports. Lance Armstrong, in what is a relatively small sport in America, has succeeded to be able to able his place among the greatest ever.

Had Armstrong not had cancer, it would not have made him a lesser athlete. He might have more victories behind him. But with his struggle with cancer, he has been vaulted beyond being a great biker, winner of several Tour de France yellow jerseys. He has become a great man.

As a biker, I know any Tour de France victory is extraordinary. These guys are as tough as any rugby player. To win it multiple times seem impossible, but Armstrong has the bragging rights. However, this book is not filled with self-congratulating phrases or business book mantras. It is a challenge to reach the top of your game.

Furthermore, he has been unafraid to exercise his free speech. He has opinions, and does not cater to the media. Yet, unlike too many athletes, he has something to say. Armstrong has not let his victories be stained by drugs or crime. He is that quintessential All American Good Guy.

If kids watch Armstrong, they can want to be like him. Parents will not be ashamed of him. High school kids can read this book (even nonbikers) and feel a sense of drive to press onward, to get the job done, to not lose hope no matter how dire things seem. Armstrong pressed on, and now, as I write, he is on his way to winning another yellow jersey.

I fully recommend "It's Not About the Bike" by Lance Armstrong.

Anthony Trendl

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Summary: Ride for the Roses
Review: This is truly the most inspirational book I've ever read. I've read it twice in three months. And I plan on reading it many more times.

I knew of Lance as the young, cocky cyclist with attitude. And I know of him now--someone who cares about the sport, and, above all, people. I did the Ride for the Roses for the first time this past April, and I will participate for sure in the future. People came from all over the nation to participate, and after reading this book, I know why. If you have a chance to take part in it (the next one is in October 2003), I suggest you do so.

For someone to take time off of his professional career to take part in something he feels so strongly about, I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for this man. And if his wife and mother are 1/10th of how he describes them, wow.

Go Lance-a-lot!