Rating: 
Summary: What a ride.....
Review: Like a lot of Americans, I didn't have a clue about The Tour de France until Greg LeMond won it in 1986. After that, I became a fan. Before he won his first tour in 1999, I knew more about Tyler Hamilton and George Hincapie than I did Lance Armstrong. I watched in amazement as Lance rode, amid the swirl of publicity about his triumph over cancer. He became the embodiment of the underdog....cocky young man, cut down in the prime of his power...has doubts...finds love...tries to return...quits only to dig deep and find something extraordinary inside. I disagree with reviewers who say Armstrong is overly arrogant and self-centered. He gives all credit for his tenacity to his nurturing mother. He says he only deserves the zipper in his yellow jersey...that his team mates own the front, back and sleeves. He even gives credit to the mountains in North Carolina for helping him finds his way back to competitive cycling. In creating the Lance Armstrong Foundation, he's put his substantial profile and his checkbook where his passion lies.....in cancer research. How many other elite riders have given back like that? Professional athletes can't survive without egos. It's part of what makes them so competitive. Lance has ego to let. But, remember one thing....he has four yellow jerseys and a clean bill of health to back him up! As for his temper, I think he showed remarkable restraint when he crushed the competition in the first time trial of the 1999 race and then got to walk by members of the team who had dropped him when he was in the fight of his life. Oakley, Nike and Giro hung tough with Lance. Confidis caved. Personally, I wouldn't have just said "That was for you," when he passed members of the Confidis team...the men who Armstrong felt "...had left me for dead in a hospital room." I woulda decked 'em. Sally Jenkins did a terrfic job of getting Lance's story down on paper. In fact, her style was so compelling that I read the book in one sitting, not even noticing the time flying by. I can't wait to read their second collaboration, EVERY SECOND COUNTS in October. Ride, Lance, Ride. It's what you were born to do. Live, Lance, Live.
Rating: 
Summary: A Telling Tale of Survival
Review: Lance Armstrong is a man of character and integrity. But it took a chronic illness to change him into the human being he is today. His story about his bout with cancer is not one of great inspiration or motivation but of survival. I finished the book the same day I started it. It is a quick read and an invigorating tale of one man's struggle not only with a physical illness but a mental battle to overcome all obstacles.
Rating: 
Summary: Seeing his true colors
Review: For years, I've been proud that Armstrong represented the U.S. and Texas, being that I live in the Metroplex area in North Texas where Lance grew up. After reading his book, I can honestly say I dont think I've heard of a more arrogant, self centered, childish jerk. Ever. He's a hothead, and has no concept of how to treat other human beings. Although he may not be involved in any sexual assaults or homicides(like other athletes in the news), he exhibits zero class, much less maturity. I know this not from some unauthorized biography or news account, but from HIS book, his OWN words. Considering what he's been thru, it's truly shocking. And he's completely oblivious.
As for the structure of the book. It's good. It's a quick read. One may get somewhat beaten down by the lengthy details of his cancer treatments. Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, but after all that is the subject of the book. Needless to say, his recovery was remarkable.
I enjoyed learning of his early riding experiences and his meteoric rise to international stardom in such a short period. However, now I'll never be able to look at him the same again...or cheer for him. He is not a good man. Although Lance will tell you otherwise. Instead of "Its Not about the Bike", it should have been titled "Its Not about being Considerate of Others"
Rating: 
Summary: Seems a bit to big for cycling shorts
Review: I was excited to read this book as I am an avid cyclist and triathlete. I was very disappointed. Lance describes his journey through his career in an almost cavalier, " I deserve it all" sort of manner. He lacks an attitude of appreciation, humility, and respect that I believe other elite athletes have shown (e.g. Mike Singletary, Arnold Palmer, Joe Montanna, etc.) I must admit his experience with cancer was horrific and I am glad that he can be an inspiration to others that face the same trials. Unfortunately, the predominant theme that I took away from the book was his attitude of arrogance, pride and self-indulgence. Before reading this book, I was prepared to root Lance to his fifth Tour de France Victory. Now I hope he looses, it would do his tremendous ego some good.
Rating:
Summary: A very Inspirational book
Review: This was an outstanding book. You don't have to like sports to enjoy this book it's also a book about life, and how to deal with adversity. Lance talks about his cancer treatments, you really get a feel for what he went through and how close he came to dying. He talks about his mom and how much of an inspiration she is to him. The part of the book where he talks about his comeback after surgery was awesome. All the hard work and training leading up to it was unbelievable. It is a fine book that will teach you about never giving up in life, and will help you to understand the affects of cancer on those who experience it.
Rating:
Summary: Very inspirational, you have to read.
Review: If you are thinking your life is the greatest or the worst, you have to read this book. This case is about the cancer, about the triumph, about the way with better things than others.
Lance Amstrong, no doubt, is a shining case in the cyclism history and a proof of life.
Rating:
Summary: A great book in spite of recent news
Review: Up front, I am a father, husband and athlete. I say that so that my comments below do not get dismissed as being from a female perspective. Unlike many of the reviewers, I did not read this book until May, 2003. First of all, this is a great and fast read. It is very entertaining and educational. It is an uplifting story of a son raised by a single mother, who did not fit in with the popular groups in school and who chose cycling as a way to escape, both physically and emotionally. It is a great story of the American Dream come reality. He literally worked to get where he is today, a champion and millionaire. It is also a great account of combat with a deadly disease, complete with excrutiatingly detailed descriptions of the horrific battle cancer patients fight. Simply put, there is much about the book and Lance Armstrong to admire. That said, I agree with many of the negative comments about Armstrong being self-absorbed and self-centered, although that is not relevant to a review of whether this is book worth your reading. After reading a recent magazine article which revealed that he now has been separated from his wife I found the book to contradict reality, at least as it goes to his loyalty to her. There is no doubt that Armstrong suffered and had to fight for his life through cancer, and that his subsequent 4 straight victories in the Tour are a remarkable achievement. But I now find myself questioning some of the things he states in his book. I think the reader will come away with one distinct impression that perhaps Armstrong himself cannot even realize: He has been able to do what he has done due to the love and support of two women, his mother and his wife. Another thing that he seems blind to and takes for granted are the many friends who seem to bend over backward to support him. One disturbing example is his repeated accounts of his previous girlfriend's love and support during his cancer battle. She repeatedly appears at all places, then when he goes into remission, she is dismissed from the book with one or two lines about the battle having burned her out on the relationship. He never mentions her again. Then when he writes about meeting his future wife, he makes it a point to state, "I know I am supposed to say the light changed when I first saw her, but it didn't." Some of the sacrifices made by his wife to support his return to cycling are almost unbelievable. But the fact that he seemingly now has chosen his bike over his family is not surprsing if you read between the lines of the book. That said, he tells a poweful story and is a role model for athletic work-ethic and drive, if not for being a great human being. He is the kind of person you'd want your son to emulate if he is going to be a world-class athlete, but for any other role, I'd avoid his example.
Rating:
Summary: A very good life lesson
Review: This book is a great lesson of ambition, strong will and determination that can be useful to anybody. First, it's about fighting and beating cancer and then on a second level it is about the world of cycling. I am not and have never been a competitive cyclist or even a fan of the sport, but you don't have to be a fan to read this book - it's just a wonderful and emotional testimony of a very dedicated cyclist fighting a deadly disease. It is not a literary masterpiece, but there is a very good lesson about survival on almost every page of it. You will find this book very easy to be read, with a style that is simple and concise. But most importantly, you will find out what is like to become sick and unable to do something once taken for granted, from a very active and hard working athlete and then return to the stage and win one of the most difficult contests in the world: Tour de France. You will find that the best way to win in life is to turn a serious obstacle into an opportunity and make a negative become a positive. I think these are ideas that should guide us all the time.
Was the hero's survival a miracle? Or just determination? Lance wonders himself: "The question that lingers is, how much was I a factor in my own survival and how much was science and how much miracle?...[P]ersonally I'm content with simply being alive to enjoy the msytery." I recommend you to buy this book: I think it will change your vision of things a great deal and I promise you, you won't put it down until you finish it.
Rating:
Summary: What Life is All About
Review: Lance touches your heart with the real details of his life...he is honest about being an amateur cycling cocky Texan; he is honest about his motives to win; he is honest about what he went through mentally and physically with cancer. He intimately describes the fear, the uncertainty, the determination to recover from his diagnosis and the cancer treatments. Lance opens the door to his life to help others understand the reality of being diagnosed with cancer and the mission to overcome the fear and get on the path to life again....A path to a better life...a more successful life than he would have had or REALIZED if he had not had to take a new perspective because of his cancer diagnosis. Thank you!!
Rating:
Summary: Breakthrough
Review: FANTASTIC book!!! I received this book as a gift right after my first chemo treatment last Christmas- December 2002. It has been my key inspiration over the past six months of chemo, radiation therapy and cranial irradiation. What is "breakthrough" about Lance and his experience is what he has achieved since. Now all Cancer patients (and people worldwide) can reset the bar for what is possible after successful Cancer treatment. My only caution to patients entering treatment is that there have been great advances in preventing the nausea associated with chemotherapy. Nausea during treatment is not as severe these days due to the addition of steroids to increase the effectiveness of nausea medicine given along with chemo IVs. I had the same chemo and very minimal/treatable nausea in 2003. When you read about Cancer, always note the copyright of the material. Treatment advances are coming daily.
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