Rating: 
Summary: This book has it all
Review: It's a fascinating historical account of Pre World War II/ Depression Era America and the popularity of horse racing as a national sport. It's also an interesting view into the difficult lives of jockeys and racehorse trainers during that time. It's exciting as well- I was on the edge of my seat reading about the match race against War Admiral and the final run at the Santa Anita handicap. And last but not least it's a touching story about heart, spirit, determination and loyalty.
Rating:
Summary: The Amazing Seabiscuit.....
Review: A racehorse I was vaguely familiar with as I was growing up in the '50s, but never truly knew or appreciated until I read this fascinating book. A heartwarming saga about one of America's most successful racehorses and the men that helped make him famous. A horse with the physique of a cowpony, Seabiscuit continued winning races at well beyond the age where the majority of horses retire. Laura Hillenbrand has a winning book here. She embraces the reader and takes him on a wild journey inside the world of horseracing. She focuses not only on the horse, but the unlikely mix of individuals responsible for his success. The owner (Charles Howard), the trainer (Tom Smith) and the jockeys (Red Pollard & George Woolf) all fatefully come together in the mid-1930s to purchase and turn around the fortunes of an erratic horse given up on by knowledgeable others. If this wasn't enough of a storyline ...it gets even better !!! The plot slowly develops around the ultimate match up of Seabiscuit, the pride of the West Coast, and War Admiral, the Triple Crown winner from the east. This all important stakes race will once and for all determine "Horse of the Year" honors for the eventual winner. This book is not merely your ordinary powder puff story....thanks to the author's obvious knowledge, and extensive research, she delves into the nuts and bolts of horseracing including several chapters devoted to the wretched life of a jockey .....and all the hardships endured in order to manage body weight and stay healthy long enough to eke out a meager existence. For the most part...this is a light and fast pace read...very entertaining...very informative.....and truly unforgettable. J.B. Kruz
KruzKontrol
Rating:
Summary: A Superlative Ride
Review: If I have to choose one book for 2001, it is this one. And I haven't even BEEN to a race track, let alone watched a race on the telly. This book was a moving story with character development, pathos, excitement, romance, history, and a wealth of intelligent research that gave the book depth and substance. What a joy to read! I tried to get my husband to read it and he waved me off until, out of boredom, he picked it up and then he was hooked and riveted, looking for any opportunity to read a little more, on the train, during lunch, at the doctor's office. It's been a year since we read it and we STILL talk about it. Now, that's a book worth reading!
Rating:
Summary: D-lightful
Review: I enjoyed this more than any book I've read in a long time. It's beautiful, wonderful and well-written. You fall in love with all the characters and become immersed in the time and place. "His history had the ethereal quality of hoofprints in windblown snow." It doesn't get any better than this!
Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary story
Review: I've never been to a race track and gambling is not for me. I don't know the basics about horses and avoid equestrian articles in the sports section. Seabiscuit, however, takes us on a fascinating ride: We experience the great fire that demolished San Francisco, we have house seats during the battle between horses and cars for transportation supremacy (the parallels between the early days of cars and the current cell-phone age are unavoidable and unsettling), and we stroll the streets
of Tijuana during its heyday a refuge from Prohibition.
The protagonists are recognizably human and, in different ways, heroic. Even the moody and stubborn Seabiscuit is described with empathy. The narrative style is friendly and conversational, and the ending is unexpectedly moving.
Seabiscuit has presided over the New York Times Bestsellers List for a while now, and there are plans for a movie. Maybe the film version will be effective. But do yourself a favor, treat yourself to this extraordinary tale before your first impression of Seabiscuit is a compromised, one-step removed film version.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Knowing little about horses and horseracing, and in general being antipathic towards those who value animals above human beings, I approached this well-reviewed book with a large measure of trepidation. Boy was I wrong. Ms. Hillenbrand has written a story that manages to capture the spirit of an America that is now lost. Written in sharp, clear prose, Seabuicut is one of the great underdog stories of all times, all the more poigniant for being true. Humans come alive here as much as horses. The characters involved with the cultivation of this horse are larger than life, and Ms. Hillenbrand makes them jump off the page. Jockeys trainers, and owners swirl, regional differences leap off the page, and the race between Seabuscuit and War Admiral is one of the best moments I've ever read. I actually came to care for a horse. Well worth your time, and one book deserving of all the praise lavished on it. Add my good opinion to the top of the heap.
Rating:
Summary: Totally Captivating and Synchronous
Review: The eloquently stated reviews already written I'll agree to wholeheartedly with one additional commentary. The synchronicity that Laura Hillenbrand should write THIS story having battled her own adversity is remarkable. I'll be anxious to see what she has planned for the future and I'm looking forward to seeing the film that is supposed to be in production.
Rating:
Summary: Truly a Legend
Review: This is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read. Ms. Hillenbrand perfectly illustrates how looks can be deceiving. After reading this book, I am amazed that I never heard of this amazing horse or his trainers before, nor will I ever forget the stunning details on racetrack practices such as weight reduction...or the pure importance of a single pound, for that matter!
This is a must-read for horse people and non-horse people alike.
Rating:
Summary: Could Not Put The Book Down-An Amazing True Story
Review: I must admit that I chose this book because I grew up around horses. But I was not ready for such a well crafted novel. Hillenbrand paints such a vivid picture of Seabiscuit and his entourage that it is almost like watching a movie. She weaves history of race horses with the history of the nation during the 1930's. What jockeys went through to win and the politics of the sport are amazingly told. It is also amazing how Hillenbrand makes you feel like you knew Seabiscuit--an intellegent horse with charisma and a heart of gold (a true life ugly duckling story). This book is interesting, smart, funny, remoresful and mostly hard to put down once you start reading it (my husband who is not a "horse person" read it in 2 days and loved it). The only negative thing I can say is that I did not want it to end. Bravo! I hope Ms. Hillenbrand writes about Secretariat next!
Rating:
Summary: I'm no horse fan, but . . .
Review: Seabiscuit is quite a tale of one of the most impressive race horses ever. I agree with the common comments that this book is an inspirational and very emotional story. However, I liked this book a lot more for the other harsh aspects of horse racing that it details. For example, Seabiscuit does an amazing job of really showing what it was like to be a jockey in those times. I found it fascinating to learn the extent to which a jockey would push his body just to be the right size and weight. When I thought of the 1930's before reading Seabiscuit, the first thing that popped into my mind was the extreme poverty and stagnation of the Great Depression. After reading Seabiscuit, I now think of the 1930's in a completely different light. I realize that even through those difficult times, there remained some activities around which many Americans rallied. In this respect, Seabiscuit changed the way I look at the history of this country, and as such, can be awarded no less than five stars.
| 
