Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: A wonderful and beautifully written story about a remarkable and funny horse, its talented trainer and gutsy jockey. All parts pull together into a cohesive whole. The races have one the edge of their seat and Seabiscuit's antics reveal a sense of humour and intelligence which surprises and entertains.
Rating: 
Summary: DAYTON SAYS: BUY THIS BOOK
Review: Have you ever read a book that you could not put down, even if it cost you sleep from staying up late at night? SEABISCUIT is one of those books. Instead of wasting time reading my humble words, may I suggest that you buy SEABISCUIT...NOW and read the words of a great author, Laura Hillenbrand, as she takes you back to the time of the great horse, Seabiscuit, and lives he touched? You will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Hoof-Tromping, Heart-Thumping Thrills as an Underdog Wins!
Review: If you only read one book about sports this year, make it Seabiscuit. This book deserves many more than five stars for its superb portrayal of the underdog horse whose career captured the nation's heart during the depths of the Depression. In fact, the less you know about thoroughbred racing in the 1930s the more you will probably like this book. Similar to its subject, the underdog Seabiscuit, the book, Seabiscuit, constantly surprises in many multi-dimensional ways. The best books about sports transcend sports and teach us about life. Seabiscuit is a fine example of that success. Ms. Hillenbrand is a brilliant story teller, a fine writer, and has an eye for detail that brings you into the scenes she describes. You will feel yourself on Seabiscuit's back, looking for an opening to the rail, as you read the accounts of his most famous races. If you do not know about Seabiscuit, this horse was an unlikely candidate for racing greatness. He was built all wrong, had a weird personality, and required unusual handling that few would provide. His career was heading nowhere when he was bought by the wealthy Charles Howard, a legendary automobile dealer in the western United Sates, on the advice of his obscure trainer, Tom Smith. Finding ways to encourage Seabiscuit provides all of the intellectual excitement of a puzzle. Part of solving the puzzle required finding a very special jockey, one whose intelligence allowed him to be flexible. No one could have seemed less likely to play the role of top jockey based on his career track record than Red Pollard, who became the most effective jockey on Seabiscuit. The triumverate combined to take advantage of Seabiscuit's "blistering speed, tactical versatility, and indomitable will." All of that training and work led up to a monumental match race against Triple Crown winner War Admiral in 1938. During that year, more inches of newspaper space in the United States were devoted to Seabiscuit than to FDR or Hitler. The book has so many dimensions that they cannot all be addressed in this brief space. There is a lot of history. The biographies of the three main human characters tell you a lot about the development of the automobile, horse training, and the careers of jockeys. The colorful side stories are priceless, especially the ones in Tijuana around the old track there (where western racing migrated after betting was made illegal in California). The tales about the manure pile there are hilarious. Each of the three main characters could have been the subject of his own very interesting biography, and much interesting detail is included here. There is a lot of humor. You will especially like the cat-and-mouse games that Tom Smith played with the media so that they could not find out how fast Seabiscuit was running in his workouts. The stories also involve a lot of diplomacy. The background leading up to the match race with War Admiral will remind you of the peace negotiations to end the Vietnam War. Finally, there is much tragedy. Horseracing is dangerous (especially for the jockeys), and many paid the price is a variety of ways. I cannot remember a sports book that captures so many dimensions of fine book writing and story telling. I was reminded of Death in the Afternoon by Ernest Hemingway as I read this book, but I think that Seabiscuit is the better book. After you finish enjoying the book, look around you. Where is there hidden potential waiting to be tapped? Do you have a Seabiscuit-like opportunity you can develop? Probably. Be flexible in looking for great potential!
Rating:
Summary: Extremely well written acount
Review: Hillenbrand has recreated a time and a place, another world, and she has done it beautifully. This is a wonderful book and whether you are a racing fan or just a fan of good writing, I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Out of the Past ....
Review: What a wonderful book, we have pictures of Seabiscuit and Wolfe at training. How my husband's brother Raymond Allen from the liitle town of Irrigon, Oregon managed to follow his dream of working and being with horses has always been a mystery to us the family. Raymond worked with Wolfe and Seabiscuit and loved every minute of it. He wrote many letters home.The understanding that Ms. Hillenbrand shows for this wonderful champion 'Seabiscuit' did our hearts good. Thank you Laura Hillenbrand.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars PLUS*****
Review: This is truly a great book...the best I've read in months. Hillenbrand's descriptions of Seabiscuit's races are just as emotional as watching the real thing--the anticipation, excitement, and triumph of a winning race, as well as the crushing disappointment of a loss or injury. Even if you aren't a horse/horseracing fan, the historical aspects alone are fascinating.
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the horse??
Review: The cover tells it all. You only see the horse's rump. If the book is called Seabuscuit, put the horse's FACE on the cover. And no race stats either!?
Rating:
Summary: I've Never Been to a Horse Race
Review: And so, when my wife recommended this book, I was skeptical. Horse racing has never interested me. But wow, what a book. Hillenbrand can really tell a story. It inspires, entertains and amazes. I love it when she says, after introducing the characters and bringing them together, "Their crowded hour had begun." Terrific. If you like history with some passion mixed in, you'll love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Outstanding book. Very well written. Great story of Seabiscuit and an excellent "history" or inside information of horse racing in the early 90s.
Rating:
Summary: The little horse that could
Review: I grew up reading horse books, anything written by Walter Farley , Margurite Henry and one of my all time favorites, "Come On Seabiscuit" by R. Moody. "Seabiscuit, An American Legend" by Laura Hillebrand offers a story of group of men and an amazing horse. These three men, Red Pollard, a not too successful jockey, Tom Smith, a loner with an unmatched touch with horses, and Charles Howard, a risk taker who was a self made man. These three men shared a common belief in a stubby, bandy-legged, horse with no real grace or style. Despite being the progeny of the great Man O'War, Seabiscuit had little promise as a race horse. Only these three men recognized the potential, and the raw speed within the odd shaped package. The horse became the talk of the western race scene. Time after time, the little horse fought back from poor starts and injury to astonish racetrack spectators. When challenged to race against the cream of the eastern race circut, Seabiscuit seemed to be hobbled by bad luck, scratched from almost every race he entered. Even more cruel, the series of injuries to Red Pollard, the jockey are seemingly unsurmountable. This is not just a book about a horse, it is about the late 1930's. This seemilgly undistinguished little horse managed to capture the hearts and the imagination of the public. This is a glimpse into the racing subculture, the grueling ordeal jockeys went through to make weight, the rivalries between stables and the east and west coast. If this was a script for a movie, there would be accusations of melodrama, the continuing injuries and struggles and adversity. At times this book is a bit overwritten but in truth, these personalities are larger than life and the horse is a true champion.
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