Every Second Counts

Rating:
Summary: Every Second Counts
Review: I read this book from the perspective of a keen recreational cyclist and avid professional bike race fan. It sat on the bookshelf waiting for an appropriate time when I felt in need of inspiration, and in this respect the book is a useful read. Although Armstrong writes,"If some people want a revelatory experience, I can't answer the request," his book still provides a wealth of anecdotes and philosophical musings to create a worthwhile source of motivation.
Overall, however, I was disappointed with this book. The book features Armstrong's accounts of his Tour de France victories between 2000 and 2003. I was rather horrified to note that these accounts are consistently inaccurate! The narrative is littered with factual inaccuracies, from the minor, such as who placed where on certain stages, up to major exaggerations of how certain races were played out. In recounting stage 10 of the 2001 race to L'alpe D'huez the book states, "The stage leader up to that point was a Frenchman, Laurent Roux, and just behind him was (Jan) Ullrich. I was more than seven minutes behind." Armstrong then details how he overturned Ullrich's advantage to win the stage. This is quite simply untrue, the only advantage Ullrich had over Armstrong was that they were repectively at the front and back of the same group on the road. In cycling terms this is virtually no advantage at all!

Armstrong's accomplishments are extraordinary in the extreme, there is no need to over-inflate the detail. As a huge admirer of Armstrong, I desperately hope that the hyperbole is that of his co-author and not his own.

"Its not about the bike," is the most riveting biography of a cancer survivor I have ever read. (Indeed, it may be the most thought provoking biography I have ever read, period). As the continuation of Armstrong's story as a cancer survivor, "Every Second Counts" is a worthy read, but it left me thinking if there is so much inaccuracy in reporting the bike races, what else may have been over-emphasized?

Rating:
Summary: REALLY happy to be alive...
Review: Given all that he's been through and accomplished, I think that Lance Armstrong should be allowed to expand on his previous work "It's Not About the Bike" without criticism nor regret. Obviously, he still had much to say on the cancer survivor front and I for one enjoyed these perspectives while also enjoying his unique musings on his and his team's role in the 2001 through 2003 Tour De France.

Lance gives the reader some interesting and indeed inspiring accounts of his further survivorship while not neglecting how this "new" life fits into his Tour preparedness and I for one enjoyed this work almost as much as the previous best-seller. I especially appreciated his devotion to his children in the face of a failing marrige and have come to realize that regardless of his occupation, his family comes first. That being said, it's almost impossible for most people with normal domestic occupations to realize the commitment and need to be away from family while trying to be a world class cyclist. Add in the almost "rock-star" atmosphere that Armstrong participates in and it's any wonder how he's able to commit to anything else outside of cycling at all. This book, then, allows Lance to step back and collect his thoughts about how his life has turned out and how his magnificent talent is balanced with his everyday life. Again, I came away from this work as or more-so impressed with Lance's character and intensity as I did after "It's Not About the Bike".

True, there is less pure cycling discussion here and that may be a valid criticism for those who are looking for that type of book...I'd submit that this work shows that there is more to Lance than pure cycling and this should be looked at and read with that perspective in mind. I give this book a high recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Looking for a little balance
Review: Straight up, I am a huge fan of Lance Armstrong. I am thrilled he won the TDF for the sixth time. I wear my LiveStrong bracelet proudly... and he is still as handsome as ever....

However, after reading "It's Not about the Bike", this edition was a bit of a letdown. Perhaps my question is this... how do you write about yourself and your accomplishments without inserting some level of self-aggrandizement? Further, how do you square the miracle births and lives of three glorious children with trotting around the world "like a rock-star?" I now understand how Lance's marriage suffered. And that saddens me... if only for the fact that I want this real-life fairy tale to have a happy ending where the children get to have a father who is really there for them.

I did enjoy his narratives that describe the teamwork and commraderie of U.S. Postal. I do believe this is a group who really does enjoy the pleasures of each other's company; that is so important in any working organization.

And I do believe he is committed to the Foundation that bears his name. I guess I am waiting for the installment that speaks to life after the glories of the TDF and all the endorsements. He is correct: every second does count... and as his children grow and change each day... he needs to charter that jet to get back to Austin, as soon as possible, and as fast as possible to be a part of three "Tours de Life."

Rating:
Summary: It depends on what you are looking for...
Review: All the other reviews are true! From one star to five star, each one is true. The book does ramble a bit, it is a very easy read. A person can take away so many things from it, or can become totally discusted with Lance.

I read the book soley and purposefully to see how much information I could get on how the US Postal team became such a dominant force in cycling. The book lets Lance's devotion, dedication, and ability to focus on goals, discipline shine, it gives more in depth conversation between Lance and Floyd Landis on what it takes to succeed at that level of sport. So I found what I was looking for. I am a diehard cycling fan and a die hard US Postal fan. The message is hard work, working when others are slacking, sacrifice and attention to detail come thru strong. These are all traits I can look up to and admire.

If you are looking for marital details you will be dissapointed. If you are looking for how he overcame the bad christian example he saw as a child and now is a believer, you won't find it here. He beleives this life is all you have, does not believe in God and yet maintains he is a spiritual person. If you want to have a happy ending for the family, and for Lance to realize that his career is taking too much time away from the family, think again. You will not find it here.

If you are looking for details on the doping scandal, there are plenty. There is also a lot of details on cancer and his struggle, and what drives him to do what he does.

I will not make personal judgements on his personality, I have never met him. Some say he is egotistical, thinks more of himself than he should. If so, it would not surprise me. Name on fighter pilot who isn't the same way. I think to compete at that elite level and do well, some people are that way.

I found a person who has overcome a lot, done a lot, is not perfect, yet is an inspiration in some ways. He is different shades of a regular person, just like the rest of us.

Rating:
Summary: Borrow it - don't buy it
Review: In his first book, "It's Not About the Bike", Lance detailed his battle with cancer and his roaring comeback to a TdF victory in 1999. The writing, although not stellar, gave a compelling account of his struggles and triumphs on and off of the bicycle. In reading his first book I concluded that I probably would not like Armstrong much if I knew him personally - but I still admire him. And so I bought "Every Second Counts". I was hopeful that he would give attention to his road racing tales; they were an enjoyable and compelling close of his first book. Alas, in book two the racing stories, while enjoyable, are interspersed with self serving and boring tales of his dissolving marriage, his frustration with drug testing and the endless "non-investigation" of his non-drug use. (would you like some cheese with that whine?). While this did give some insight to the life of Lance Armstrong I get the impression that celebrity has caused him to think that his mundane moments are interesting because he races a bicycle well. They aren't. Read it if you would like, but borrow it rather than spending your money.

Rating:
Summary: A little scattered, but still a good look into Lance...
Review: I recently got Every Second Counts by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins at the library. Seemed a timely read with Lance winning the Tour de France. I'm not sure this is a great book, but it was interesting in a number of ways...

The book picks up after the end of his first one It's Not About The Bike. There is less of the cancer struggle in this one, but more of the drive and fight to win the Tour race. The underlying theme here is that you aren't guaranteed anything in life, and life is precious. So you should live life to the fullest and make each second count (and hence the title).

There's a certain "rambling" element to the book. You'll start a chapter with one story that illustrates some point he wants to make. Before you get to the end, you're someplace else entirely. Not that it's a good or bad thing, it's just seemingly a little scattered at times. There are some excellent points to make you think, such as what it's like to be "thrown back" into life after being at death's door.

While I can admire what he's done and his drive and accomplishments, I don't know that I'd like Lance as an individual. I think the book gives you a good sense of who he is and what drives him, but I'm not sure I could exist long around a person who is that intense and driven.