Rating: 
Summary: speedy story
Review: This book is truly interesting and inspirational. I picked it up one Saturday evening and was finished by Monday morning. Armstrong's honesty is refreshing and, at times, shocking as he tells the story of his past, his fight with cancer, the grueling road to recovery, and his many journies. He captured my attention and my heart as he described his rides through the European mountansides, US plains, his love, marriage, and fear of never being able to ride again. A must read for all who need a pick me up, or a reminder of how wonderful and fragile this life is. Guaranteed to please!
Rating:
Summary: Motivating
Review: This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. Even though I don't know a thing about Lance Armstrong nor cycling, it is certainly easy to get "into" the book. Lance Armstrong traced his childhood, how he became an athlete, how he was exposed to cycling and how he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was very amazing to me when he said at the beginning of the book that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to him. I couldn't believe that but as I continue reading his book, it seem unbelievably true. It was also interesting to read how cancer changed his perspective on life, his priorities and just getting a second chance to live again. His endurance, persistance to live and win the Tour De France was inspirational. I think what impresses me was no so much that he won the title but the way he fought to win it. I think Armstrong also accomplished an unintentional aim - that is to tell his readers that cycling is not as easy as it look. It takes a lot of patience, endurance and strategies to beat your competitors. In addition to that, it was very touching to see Armstrong's friends and family members stood by him and how their moral support helped him through the most difficult time of his life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about survivorship.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable Insights Presented
Review: Lance Armstrong presents insights about his struggle with impossible adversity which clearly demonstrate a miraculous overcoming unimaginable odds. As a scientist and an endurance cyclist, my skeptical response changed shortly after swallowing whole the first few chapters as though they were but a page in length. Besides the respect most cyclists share for the 3-time Tour de France Champion, like prose set to motion, this book generated an exponential respect for Mr. Armstrong as person of heroic proportion. Very well done, indeed...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Inspirational Book
Review: Lance Armstrong's auto-biography with Sally Jenkins, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, is an inspirational story anybody could enjoy. In It's Not About
the Bike, Lance Armstrong is a hero for anyone to look up to, since not only is he an amazing world renowned cyclist, he is also a normal person, who was forced to overcome many hardships to prove his heroism. I think the title itself symbolizes the
problems Lance was forced to go through, and the hardwork heused to overcome them because it states that it was his strength and ability that got him through, not the equipment or luck he had. Since he was forced to grow up fatherless in a lower class
family, had to endure going through cancer while at the peak of his career, and then fought his way through recovery to becoming the great cycling entity he was before, he was well tried before finally accomplishing dreams like winning the Tour De France
three times in a row and ever even being able to perform again in his career of cycling at all.
Lance Armstrong at first sight would seem like a very privileged man for all of his accomplishments and his amazing strength and physical ability, but that wouldn't be true.
Lance grows up in a poor family with just him and his part time working mother after his father left him at a very early age. Along with school, Lance was forced to work at a country club to keep bringing money into the family, along with his mothers income from her two part time jobs. Lance owes much of his life lessons to his mother, since she worked two part time jobs, still went to school and studied, and took care of her son
while he was growing up. Lance grew up cycling in the small amount of spare time he had, working very hard and training on his own. Lucky for him, he lived near the local bike shop, and soon became friends with the owner, Jim Hoyt, who would later help him to get into races and purchase bike equipment. Even though he did not have the best living situation, along with hard work and a little luck, Lance was able to start riding
early, and eventually was noticed as a natural athlete, especially at endurance.
Cancer is a problem not many have experienced, so not many know the pain and suffering it causes, especially on a person who's career is based on athleticism. At the
time before his diagnosis, Lance had just broken into the rank of one of the top five cyclists in the world. Lance Armstrong's case of cancer was a severe form of testicular cancer which was diagnosed extremely late and spread quickly into his lungs and brain. To fight through the cancer, Lance has to undergo serious and painful chemotherapy along with many surgeries. Continually Lance repeats the phrase "You have to fight" in his book and it is a strong belief of his. He says that if he wouldn't have fought and been optimistic, he would not have survived. Armstrong never gives up, even though the doctors tell him his chances are less than 50% and that his career is almost definitely over. Lance shows strength and bravery all through his cancer episode and throughout his life, since it is one of his most possessed traits.
Armstrong claims that the time after his cancer went into remission was worse than when he still had cancer in his body and he was undergoing painful chemotherapy.
When cancer goes into remission, there is nothing patients can do except wait to see if it returns, and once it returns, there is basically no way to treat it and it is a death sentence.
During remission, Lance found extreme pain and psychological problems, because he knew he had no power over treating the problem. This problem test's not only Armstrong's bravery and strength, but his wit also. While he is waiting in his first year of remission, he starts training again, and attempts to get back into his life. He does so with the help of his friends and his newly-wed wife. This trial tests another of Lance's traits,
wit, proving his ability finally as a hero, and allowing him to win.
Lance Armstrong's auto-biography is a brilliant story. With the help of Sally Jenkins, the writing in the book keeps the reader hooked, talking about cycling, the disease of cancer, the problems faced by everyday person and how Lance overcame them. It's a complete cover of life, and shows everybody that anything can be accomplished, if your strong and willed. Lance Armstrong fought and beat many problems, and passed
them all to win himself hero status, by finally winning the Tour De France. The story of Lance's life can be enjoyed by a cycling enthusiast, cancer survivor, or the everyday person looking for a good read.
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Summary: If you ever get a second chance in life ....
Review: Phenomenal! One of the best books I have ever read. Not only extraordinarily inspirational, but also extremly informative and interesting. I don't think you can walk away without a thirst for more after reading this book. Lance is a winner in the truest sense of the word, and the writing is straightforward and honest. No punches are pulled - the good, the bad and the ugly are all dealt with. His triumph is truly exhilarating, and can serve as inspiration for us all in trying times. "If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way."
Rating: 
Summary: Good writing/story, but bad publishing
Review: I loved the story. But I was frustrated with the amount of errors in the book. Many times the paperback bounced around, you would turn the page and the story would be either further advanced or re-visiting previous chapters. The page numbers were all correct, but I'm sure parts of the story are missing. I went to the publishers website. It said to return the book to them and they would replace it. I called their customer service and asked if they would pay for the shipping. They said "no". I said I didn't think that was a good way to do business - after all, my reading pleasure was ruined by their mistake. They said "sorry, it is our policy".
This is the first book I've bought with this type of problem.
So beware of Penguin Putnam Inc. (formerly Berkley Books)
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, inspirational book
Review: This book is a definite page-turner that starts with his childhood through his first victory at the Tour de France. I now feel a renewed sense of admiration for the sport of cycling, which has been marred by blood doping and other scandals. To read a book about someone who was nearing the top of his sport before being stricken down and then coming back to reach a higher level of performance will certainly inspire hope and growth in its readers in some way or another.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: This is the most incredible book I have ever read. Throughout the entire book I was in total awe. It shows how low someone who is on top of the world can really go. Armstrong draws in around of any age no matter what he does, biking or writing. He uses personal situations that everyone can relate to, even if the haven't experienced them first hand. Like when he describes having testicular cancer, he describes it with such detail one can only cringe with astonishment.
This book is not set out there for any one specific group but more of a book for anyone who will listen to his story. This is not a book that will preach about how to be successful or how he became famous. It's simply about a man that found the true meaning of life.
He sets up the autobiography very nicely starting off with his disadvantages even before he was born. Although his mother was young when he was born he and she both overcame the odds and lived their lives how the wanted too. Next he moved onto his early stages of riding, his first steps to stardom. Then out of the blue he was struck with this life threatening disease. He felt his life was over. His sense of true character came out and he came through. This is not just something that people just snap their fingers and their body is cleansed of viruses it is a time consuming process that is very mentally and physically exhausting. The chemotherapy drains the body completely.
How the book was written it felt like I came out knowing him as a person that great competitive nature that almost made him succeed not only in racing but simply living.
This book is so inspirational that it will keep anyone's mind on track even when they're having the darkest times.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiration to us All!!
Review: Lance Armstrong certainly is an inspiration to us all I found this book very profound. Lance Armstrong shows us his journey. He deals with his entire life like a champion. He shows his human side, that he is not always perfect, and that things are not always easy. The one thing he show us the best is that he never gives up no matter how much he may want to. He takes each day as it comes and does his best not to get ahead of himself.
Another book I really enjoyed is "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel & Shya Kane It is about living in the moment and I found it simply delightful.
Rating:
Summary: Nathan
Review: Great Book. Shows the motivation and determination of this man, just a great book.
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