Rating: 
Summary: It's All About The Bike
Review: I AM A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS GIVEN THE ASSIGNMENT OF READING A NOVEL ON A CONTEMPORARY ISSUE; CANCER BEING ONE OF THE MANY LISTED. I CHOSE TO READ LANCE'S BOOK AND READ IT COVER TO COVER IN ABOUT 2 HOURS. THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST ABOUT 8 WEEKS. OOOPS! THE BOOK WAS VERY POWERFUL TO ME SEEING AS HOW MY MOTHER HAD CANCER, MY STEP-FATHER MOUNTAIN BIKE RACES, AND I LOVE READING. THE BOOK IS GREAT AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL WHO READ THIS!!! :)
Rating: 
Summary: Inspirational
Review: It was a good read and gave me a lot to think about.
Rating:
Summary: I could not put this book down
Review: First of all, I wasn't sure about buying this book. I'm an avid cyclist and therefore felt obliged to buy this book as Lance had just won the third straight championship of the Tour de France.I ordered this book from Amazon along with few other books in different genre--beat poetry, real estate, investing, etc. I figured I'll read this book last, becasue I was never sure whether I should have really bought this book or not. I flipped though some pages as I took break from reading other books, and I just couldn't stop. I ended up reading this book in one sitting, before I finished reading any other book. This book really grabbed me by the heart. As the subtitle suggests, this book "is not about the bike". I must admit that my interest in cycling helped me get into this book right at the onset. But as I read on, I really enjoyed this book as a "story" of one man. In that, I would like to send accoladates to Sally Jenkins, the co-author. The underlying story of Lance is definitely an excellent material for a book; however, Sally took the story to a higher level and made this book more novel-like, an excellent read for just about anybody. If you are a cyclist, you will definitely enjoy it. If you aren't, I THINK you'll also enjoy reading a wonderful story written in such beautiful verse. Oh by the way, I deducted one star because Sally's writing is so sensitive that it definitely downplayed the true jock-like character of Lance Armstrong. (OK, nothing is perfect.)
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful surprise
Review: I bought this book to find out more about this brave person.
I wanted to have an exceptionally brave role model in these trying times. At first, I was disappointed because the style of writing interfered with the content. It is choppy with very short declarative sentences. Then, as I continued, I realized that the confrontive style is a reflection of how he lives his life: focused and confronting the overwhelming adversities he faced.
This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you've finished it. Don't be put off by the STYLE in which it is written. It is wonderful. He is so admirable. I'm glad he shared his perspective with us.
Rating:
Summary: This is About so Much More Than a Bike...
Review: I don't read a lot of books. Typically, I limit my reading to newspapers, political journals, and magazines. But when I saw "It's Not About the Bike" in the bookstore, something told me I had to read it. And am I ever glad that I did! This book is probably one of *the most* inspirational stories that I have ever read. It is a book about hopes, dreams, challenges, defeats, determination, and triumphs. Lance and co-author, Sally Jenkins, do a masterful job in describing how Lance grew up. You get a very clear idea of how his childhood and teenage years were spent -- what he liked to do; what he did not like to do; his interests; etc. You follow Lance as he comes a world-class cyclist in his early 20s. Then, in his mid-20s, cancer strikes him. As a cancer survivor, I feel that Lance's description of the disease -- how he felt at the time of diagnosis; during treatment; and in the years that have followed -- is the most vivid and accurate that I have ever seen. Following the battle for his life (and his career), you then follow Lance as he experiences his greatest victories yet, both professionally and personally. Thanks to terrific writing, you will "live" these victories with Lance. And when you are done, you will be as excited as if they had been your own victories! "It's Not About the Bike" touched me deeply. If you have any interest whatsoever in Lance Armstrong, cancer, and/or cycling, then I strongly recommend that you read this book. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!!
Rating: 
Summary: Both Armstrongs need a dose of reality
Review: While i commend anyone who fights cancer, regardles of if they beat it, I was simply aghast at Armstrong and his wife. Pity poor Lance--he has to sell his Porsche! At one point, he moans that a sponsor is "only offering $180,000 a year"--and this not to do anything, but simply as a gift while he trains. His wife, she's the real kicker here: she must ...
Lance's sexism (he refers to his wife as "a skirt"), his wife's vanity, all conspire to undermine the essentially valiant story of a man beating cancer and winning the hardest race on earth.
I think his story deserved a biography; as autobiography, I simply found his persona too icky to root for. Maybe I am not "stud".
Rating:
Summary: It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
Review: In Lance Armstrong's autobiography, realism is a major point. Lance puts the reader in his shoues in every situation. Even if the reader has not had an experience such as Lance had, the reader gets the feeling of going through the same circumstanceswith Lance, and at the same time as Lancedid. Lance has a graphical way of describing situations to the reader that captivate the reader with wonderment and awe. Lance wants the reader to understand and be interested in the facts of life such as cancer. Lace gives detaild discriptions of the process of chemotherapy and how it effects the body. He also describes his struggle to get back on the bike and the conditionsof his body through the entire process.
The authors tone throughout the book is blunt but sincere. Lance states exactly how he is feeling at every moment that he discusses. Lance also seems to think that telling something to some one straight, they will be more interested or the point would be better understood. Lance uses his tone to express realism through the book. Tone is a way that Lance gets his point of view across while allowing the reader to expressfeelings for themselves.
Complications made this book a book. Without the complications and struggles to survive them, Lance would be a normall professional athlete. Because of the trouble he went through to survive cancer and win the Tour de France, he becomes a hero and role model to many people of today's society. Lance uses his complications to help him thrive to a more meaningful life. Complications are what make Lance who he is today and without his tough times he would be like many people know, famous or not, in our world.
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Summary: It's Not Just About Cancer
Review: This is the autobiography of Lance Armstrong, now three time winner of the Tour de France, quite arguably the most grueling athletic event in the world. This is the story of how one man fought cancer and became "the first American, riding an American-made bike, on an American team ever to win the Tour," catapulting the sport of cycling, before, a primarily European sport, into the awareness of Americans. In short, Lance was a promising biker when in 1996 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He went through brain surgery and difficult chemotherapy to eventually lick the disease, and then returned to biking to win the 1999 and 2000 Tour de France. (He's also won the 2001 Tour, but the book doesn't go that far.) But the book is not just about the cancer. For a reader who is new to bicycle racing, it makes a fairly good primer on racing, explaining the different events, the terminology, and the tactics; and introducing the reader to the big names in the sport. It is also a love story of how he met his wife, Kik, and goes almost as in-depth into the in-vitro fertilization process necessary to have their son, Luke, as it does into the cancer treatment. The book charts Lance's transformation from a young, brash competitor who usually angered the other racers, to a more disciplined, thinking stategist. It's also interesting to note that Lance, now considered the man to beat in the climbs, used to be a sprinter before the cancer transformed his body. The only thing that I found disappointing about this book is that Armstrong neither depends on a faith in God nor develops any through his ordeal, so it fails to be the inspirational story that I had hoped it would be. Despite that, I found the book very interesting, informative, and difficult to put down.
Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary story, well told
Review: Lance Armstrong's life is a fascinating tale and Sally Jenkins tells it very well. The basic outline is well known. From a tough background in Texas, Armstrong entered the world of professional cycling and won the world road racing championship. It appeared that he had a great career ahead of him but in 1996 he was struck by testicular cancer. By the time that he visited a doctor, the cancer was advanced and had spread to his lungs and brain. Despite the poor prognosis, he recovered from the disease and went on to return to the highest levels of professional cycling and win the Tour de France, the sport's blue ribbon event. Sally Jenkins is an accomplished sports writer and she has done a fine job to render Armstrong's story into a gripping and fluid read. I finished this book in one sitting and I think that many readers will do the same. In terms of gritty detail, there is more about cancer treatment than about the Tour de France and the detail is explicit. Reading this book will give you a vivid picture of what it is like to face a course of chemotherapy. I do not want to make a judgment on the man himself. Some readers will be in awe of his achievements while others will be exasperated by his faults. I cannot recommend this book as an inspirational read either. Anyone who can complete the Tour de France let alone win it posesses levels of physical and mental toughness that are so far beyond normal experience as to seem superhuman. Rather than being inspired, a cancer sufferer given this book to read could just as easily see the message that if you are superman, you can fight cancer. Seen instead as a fascinating tale the book is a compelling read. Even if you have no interest in cycling, this book is still worth reading. I am very glad that I read it and I think that most people who pick it up will feel the same way. You will probably want to buy one of the later editions as they contain additional material relating to Armstrong's second tour win in 2000.
Rating:
Summary: Very Nice....Inspirational beyond words...
Review: I was not a Lance Armstrong fan, until I read this book. I was influenced by (pre-cancer) media-driven statments about his arrogance and attitude, but this was before Lance became LANCE. He has changed the American perspective of professional cycling, and also given hope to people's fear of hearing "I have cancer". Throughout the book, you can see how the 'old' Lance becomes 'new' through this personal attack on cancer. I enjoyed seeing his transformation into a mature and genuine human being though the thoughfulness of the other people in his life, namely his wife 'Kik' (what a stud). Whatever your physical limitations may be, this books speaks inspiration and in "Rocky-eisque" fasion, motivates all who are willing, to conquer the 'hills' that we overcome throughout life. Way to go Lance, you are a Hero.
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