Every Second Counts

Rating:
Summary: Big disappointment
Review: I'm a Lance Armstrong fan and LOVED "It's Not About the Bike." This book, however, seemed more a vehicle for self promotion and bank account enhancement. The story line was disjointed, making it seem as if the book was thrown together in a few days without much editorial oversight. Having loved his first book so much, this one really disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A Book For The Fans
Review: I've been a fan of Lance Armstrong's since his first Tour de France victory in 1999. How could you not be? The man came back from testicular cancer which spread to his brains to win possibly the most grueling sporting event on the planet. You think that's a hyperbole? Have you tried riding a bike six hours non-stop? For three consecutive weeks? Somedays scaling over 15,000 feet of French mountains?

Oh yeah, do that after you grapple with, and narrowly defeat, a cancer that made him a sterile 'uni-baller'. A cancer that required a chunk of his skull popped open for brain surgery. A cancer that was cured by, literally, poison coursing through his veins.

But what cemented my sentiments was reading his first book, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE. Lance Armstrong, in spite of all his super human feats, is as human as you, me, and uncle Joe. That's what won me over for good.

His second book w/ the venerable Sally Jenkins cannot possibly match IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE. I don't think that's the purpose of EVERY SECOND COUNTS, either.

EVERY SECOND COUNTS is the happily ever after part of the end, and how there really isn't such a thing as happily ever after, nor is there really an end to begin with. The book is heavier on the philosophical side--namely, Lance's cancer-shaped philosophies on life and living. He discusses, in the familiar, Jenkins-molded candid manner, struggles of repeating victories and how when you're at the top, you've got nowhere to go but down. Everyone is gunning for you, including the French bureaucracy, which spent 21 months digging for proof of illegal enhancing substances and then grudgingly admitting Lance was as clean as the pope's robe on Sunday Mass.

The highlight of the book are the behind-the-scenes peek at his four other victories since his 1999 comeback, with this summer's victory number five tacked on the very end, barely making it for publication. Lance spends most of those pages selflessly praising his teammates, and telling anecdotes about the USPS team's experiences during training and on the Tour. "When I wear the yellow jersey, I figure I only deserve the zipper. The rest of it, each sleeve, the front, the back, belongs to the guys," he says.

Some of the dialog and taunts Lance trade with consumate teammates like George Hincapie and manager Johan Bruyneel are side-rippingly hilarious. When he talks about his son and daughters, there is a genuine tone of wonder and love in the words. When he talks about his wife Kik, there is flat out respect, and admist the marital trouble, a little regret. EVERY SECOND COUNTS skims this subject, preferring to keep the details in strictest confidence, and I respect that.

The book reads like a journal, held loosely together by chronology. It's a lighter read, and like IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE, I finished it in an evening. I realized this book was written for the fans. Fans who wish to revisit their old friend Lance, who has since won five consecutive Tour de Frances. How has he been doing? We see his stoic interviews on TV and emotion-less press releases, but we want to know more, what he really thinks. How are his kids? Luke must be starting pre-school soon. Are Grace and Isabelle, beautiful twin daughters, aware of their father's colossal status in the sports world yet?

Lance didn't have to write EVERY SECOND COUNTS, but he did anyway, for his fans. More specifically, his cancer-riddled fans who count on him for hope. His cancer foundation raised over $7 million in 2002. He makes personal visits to patients chained to hospital beds by an IV drip pole. He doesn't enjoy being a conventional celebrity ("...the main thing I know about it is that it's not good for you"), but he'll bend over backwards and play Twister if a Leukemia-striken kid asked him to. "I will never get tired of befriending people with cancer, and I'll always say, 'Come on over here, get right up next to me.'"

Now, how can you not be a fan of that?

Rating:
Summary: A huge Lance fan...cycling fan that is....
Review: My family and I have been following Lance's career since well before his public battle with cancer. We have been avid watches of the Tour since the mid 80s and our July revolves around that schedule.

I was very disappointed by this book. I, too, was shocked by the profanity after turning the first page. Not that I think strong models like Lance don't ever swear, I just don't think it needed to be within the first 100 words! There seemed to be no logical information flow - more random thoughts as I found myself skimming to re-find a plot line. It was almost like the book was not edited for content and structure.

Stick with Lance's first book - It's Not About the Bike - to get an inspiration. Read this new book if you want to understand the collapses in his life (family), but Lance's accomplishments are still amazing despite his challenges.

If you want details about the racing side, visit his web site or other USPS team member's web sites where they write the ins and outs of racing in the Tour.

http://www.uspsprocycling.com/

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: I liked Every Second Counts better than Lance's previous book. I think everyone can gain something from this book as Lance describes his struggle with juggling lifes tasks. At times its a bit contrived how Lance relates his problems with "every man's" but I thought it was an inspiring read nontheless. The race coverage is excellent. Although I am a bike fan, rider, and racer, I find "race tactics" to be rather boring even when riding my bike. Lance's description of the last few Tours focuses on his relationships with his teammates, overcoming adversity, suffering, and key points in various stages. His struggles with married life and his racing career are also highlighted frequently and break up the bike/cancer talk.

I felt that the book flowed fine (contrary to a previous review) and it was a very quick read.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: Every Second Counts is an honest and interesting narration about Lance's life after cancer. After cheating death, Lance is determined to get as much out of life as he can. Along the way he has encountered both triumph and personal loss. That's really what makes this book interesting. At times the book is obnoxious, at times it's humorous, and at times it's powerfully emotional. Every Second Counts may not be as cohesive or compelling as its predecessor, but it is still fun to read. As a fan of cycling, I wished it had more focus on his training and experiences in the tour. However, the book is about life, and how cycling is in many ways like life - and how Lance is learning that in many ways it isn't. People may view Lance as selfish and egomaniacal after reading Every Second Counts, and I don't think that is unfounded. However, these people are missing the amazing qualities that Lance does have. They are missing the unique perspective on life that he has been given. Both Lance and his new book deserve a chance.

Rating:
Summary: You don't have to be a cycling fan
Review: You don't have to be a cycling fan to enjoy this book. If you aren't one, you will be by the time you finish the book.

This book is written in a very clear voice. There are great examples of teamwork and trying to balance work and home.

Lance is a physical phenomenon while being just an ordinary guy at the same time.

My favorite parts of this book are the detailed descriptions of what was going on during the five tours de France, in the mind of Lance Armstrong.

We watch the tour and see him appear to be suffering, but he has been known to play oppossum every now and then.. so we laugh at the dramatic reporters and wonder if they are "falling for it" as well.. but then we begin to doubt whether Lance is acting or actually in trouble.

This book points out that sometimes, he is in trouble.

If you have watched any of his Tour wins and wondered what he was thinking at the time, this is a great book.

If you are interested in topics like competition and teamwork, this is also a great read.

Rating:
Summary: No yellow jersey for this one
Review: If you have read the first book go ahead and skip the first 100 pages or so of this book. Then you get to read about how his marriage is breaking up. Lance can not figure out what went wrong, but anyone who reads these two books are bound to figure it out. This book took, a person with a truly inspirtational story, and dissolved it all away. I do not think that I care for Lance anymore. It is lucky that he can get specially made equipment, because it is the only way he will get a helmet to fit over his enourmous head. Do not buy this book. Do not read this book if you want to respect Lance Armstrong.

Rating:
Summary: I took someone's advice, I went to the library
Review: I am a huge fan of "It's not about the bike" but I think he missed the mark here. I agree with others who reviewed the book that he is all over the board. The book leaves me with a satisfaction that I am glad it is not overdue at the library. I read it in 2 days and do not really feel moved or enlightened much, just educated about what happened in the races that I did not catch on TV or the news. I think he really could have done better.

Rating:
Summary: Boooooooo
Review: This book is HORRIBLE. If Mr. Armstrong feels the need to defend himself against the drug charges Europe was holding against him (which nobody believes anyway!), why didn't he just hold a press conference instead of publishing the worst book of all time? And why didn't his journalist co-author put into practice all her copy editing skills? I think my brain would have exploded if I had found one more typo in this book. Seriously.

Rating:
Summary: An off-the-cuff-style retrospective
Review: This book won't win any literary awards but its an entertaining read. Lance gives his first person account of what life has been like for him since attaining his dual icon status as cancer surviver and multiple Tour de France winner. If your a fan and you've kept up with him throughout his cycling career then you'll enjoy the glimpse into the chaos thats behind his machine-like rides. Its light reading and will be most appreciated by his fans. This is not a continuation of "It's Not About The Bike". The theme's from his first book are visited but only with their relevance to his life since his first Tour de France victory.