Rating: 
Summary: Great writing, fun story, heartbreaking, too
Review: The sad part is about the treatment and lives of the jockeys.
As another reviewer said, a sequel devoted to that subject
would be welcomed, at least by me. The jockeys were little more than indentured servants, nearly slaves, and got paid relatively little for their pains. And pains they all had! Most
had near-death experiences, and were so devoted to their calling that, like Red Pollard, they lived to ride again despite the most hideous accidents.Charles Howard, Tom Smith and Red Pollard were men of character. You don't see that much these days. Talk about risk-takers! And, of course, the horse, of course...and we're not talkin' Mr. Ed. Seabiscuit truly was one for the ages. I have never been interested in horse-racing before reading this book...but I am now.
Rating:
Summary: A beautifully written book.
Review: This book was one of the most interesting new books I have read. It could be subtitled "Three men and a horse".: a narrative history of the racing culture during the decade of 1930-1940.
Rating:
Summary: Seabiscuit
Review: This is the best horse story I've read since National Velvet by Enid Bagnold or Black Beauty by Anna Sewell! But more than just a great horse story, Seasbiscuit is a tale of the human devotion and strength which guided this amaxing horse to icon status during the 1930s when America was reeling from the Great Depression and feeling its way into the age of the automobile and mass communication. Seabiscuit is a symbol of courage, team work, and the miracle that can happen when you have faith in your dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Union Busters
Review: SEABISCUIT grabs you and takes you for the ride of your life, exposing you to the dreams and passions of the rich and famous, then plunging you into the desperate behavior of the bug boys as they try to survive in the ice cold terror of the jockey world. Author Laura Hillenbrand has done her homework, and shows you the little horse with the big heart, Seabiscuit, as he trains, eats and frolics, keeping his focus when each race begins. And it's not that she omits the terror of the jockeys, their bravery, their bulemia, their near-death accidents. No, Hillenbrand shows you all of these horrible coping strategies of the jockeys and we are duly horrified. But you still want more. You want to see how the owners kept the jockeys from organizing into a union. You want to hear the rich owners plotting against the jocks. You want to see their goons threaten the jockeys. You want to find out what kind of men can mistreat other human beings in this manner when they pamper their horses with extra-special care, food and doctoring. SEABISCUIT needs a sequel, UNION BUSTING AT THE RACES, but this time telling us the inhuman strategies the rich used to keep the jockeys so subservient. Maybe Hillenbrand can write that book next.
Rating:
Summary: I cannot say enough good things about this book!!!!!
Review: It was a great story. I love horses but know little about horseracing. This story was touching and well written. You can't help but root for this funny little horse. This story crawls into the minds of the owner, trainer and jockey and shows you how luck and determination can make a champion. Very inspiring story even if you aren't into horseracing.
Rating:
Summary: Breathless Storytelling in a Dazzling Historical Wrapper
Review: Laura Hillenbrand will make Seabiscuit lovers of everyone who reads this book. Seabiscuit (An American Legend) is a wonderful slice of American sports history that uses the legendary horse of the title to lead the reader through a part of the 1930's rarely glimpsed by most books of history. The author fills in the details of this horse racing world with colourful anecdotes and touching, telling details. The historical aspects of this books are all handled with delightful aplomb. The most amazing part of this book, though, is the way in which the author describes the races themselves. Her writing is fast and breathless, like the horse race being portrayed, and this narrative will grab the reader in a way most history books never could. For somebody with no interest in horse racing, but bought the book for a love of history, I was surprised at how anxious I became while reading the parts about the races and could not wait until the next one. This is a very well put together book that will educate and excite in one rollicking package.
Rating:
Summary: BETTER THAN FICTION
Review: The author brings the people and the times to life. Funny, sad, suspence. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: Not for race fans only
Review: I purchased this book after listening to an interview with the author that piqued my curiosity. I never expected it to grab and hold my attention throughout. Not being a huge follower of horse racing, I thought I would have to "slug" through parts to get to the interesting story. What a marvelous surprise to discover a fascinating tale on all fronts! Not only do we learn about Seabiscuit, we learn about the owner, trainer and jockey....and about the unique culture surrounding this sport. I started it while on an airplane and I actually looked forward to the layover!
Rating:
Summary: A perfect combination - horse + jockey + trainer + heart
Review: The intertwined stories of the jockey, trainer, and owner set against the improbabilities of chance contribute to a very compelling read for the horse racing enthusiast as well as the not so inclined. At first glance, I might have dismissed the book as sports trivia and fluff, but it is definitely not that at all. Seabiscuit, the Depression horse, was a ray of hope for the nation -- who would have thought such an unattractive horse could capture hearts like he did! I especially enjoyed the historical references so that I could get a clear picture and understanding of the times that they were dealing with. Detailed descriptions of the tracks, the terminology (i.e., what exactly is a claiming race?) were helpful to make the uninitiated feel at home with this book. I've recommended this book to others as a "must read". In fact, my husband and I were in a race to see who could finish it first! The only thing I would have liked to have seen was a different picture of the horse on the dust jacket -- The horses face not his hind quarter would have been better!
Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: This is the best biography I have ever read. I can't believe I love a book about a horse! I am not an animal person. I've never really cared that much for horses. Prior to reading this book, I didn't know the first thing about horse racing. But this book is so well written, I was captivated from the first page. I would give it six stars if I could!
| 
