Rating: 
Summary: It motivates you to be better
Review: This past holiday I was looking for a real life story. I wanted to read a true story on drugs, AIDS, drinking, smoking, or some other issue that is current. But when I found Lance Armstrong's biography entitled "It's Not About the Bike, My Journey Back to Life" by Sally Jenkins, I had found what I was looking for. From the first sentence of the book, to the last one I couldn't stop reading. In the end of every chapter I wanted to keep on reading, until I finishing it. This is a book for all ages and genders. No matter who or what you like, you'll relate to his life. It'll inspire you to make your dreams come true, let your inhibitions out and not care about anyone else. Although these terms are overused, I have three other people I know that have read this book and can agree with me. This book is a flashback starting when Lance Armstrong was born, taking us through his beginnings, through his battle with cancer, to when his baby is born. It narrates every detail, every thought or feeling of him, how he started riding the bicycle, about cancer, his wife, his mother, his friends, and his life. He explains how his life changed after cancer, how everybody turned their backs at him, and had to prove to them and to him how much stronger, and valuable he was now. If you really want to read a book about a soul survivor, and his amazing life, this is the book you have to read.
Rating:
Summary: Admirable
Review: Have you ever seen a miracle before? Do you want to see another one? In this admirable book written by Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins you will read the most interesting and amazing story of fighting against odds. It is about the Lance's courageous life: his survival of cancer. You will see how the devastation of cancer changes Lance's life physically and emotionally. The disease itself brings his ego from 100% to 0%. During his disease he gets to a point of not moving because of the effects of chemo, riding another bike again wasn't important for him, he just wants to live. He goes from having everything he desires to having less material things and to really valuing the things he has. His personality also changes. He goes from being a bully in the racetrack to being a real gentleman and respecting everyone on it. During his cancer, to make matters worse, Cofidis, his main sponsor, retires and his family finds out that he doesn't have a health insurance.
One day, after his five cycles of chemotherapy are done, LaTrice Haney phones him and gives him the good news "You are clear, cancer free" but the risk of still coming back was there. Lance gets strength and starts training to compete at a professional level and he does. He finishes 14th and in another similar positions in some tours. When he was riding the Vuelta (a race) he decides no to compete again he was done.
With this mentality, he moves back to his home in Austin with his wife (they were living in Nice) and doesn't ride on a bike in some time. A coach, Chris Carmichael convinces him to try the bike again. He trains hard and all his training pays off when he swept the 1999 Tour de France. Training for the 2000 Tour De France wasn't a walk in the park. He had several crashes in the Pyrenees and hurt his head, but he recovered. In the 2000 Tour, he proves that he is the best cyclist when he beats his closer competitor, Jan Ullrich in a time trial in Metz.
In my opinion, this is a must read book for every athlete or for everyone who would like to see how a man can change. The two main themes are: love and survival. This is not another biography; this is a life changing one.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: Inspiring book for anyone living with cancer or as a gift for anyone that is. I Have Recurrent malignant brain cancer and this book was given to me by the parents of one of my best friends who himself is a cancer survivor. I will treasure this book always!
Buy it today! everyone could use a new hero to look up to!
Rating:
Summary: A tour de force
Review: This book is a tour de France, I mean, a tour de force. While reading, it was like he was right there talking to me. I enjoyed the book so much that when it ended I felt sad that I would no longer be able to listen to Lance speaking to me. His last sentence was like poetry: "I keep riding, into the highest peering hills..." I know nothing about biking, but his descriptions made it fascinating. And his description of his battle with cancer held me glued to the book. What a nice experience to be able to spend time with this great man! Thank you, Gutenberg.
Rating:
Summary: speedy story
Review: This book is truly interesting and inspirational. I picked it up one Saturday evening and was finished by Monday morning. Armstrong's honesty is refreshing and, at times, shocking as he tells the story of his past, his fight with cancer, the grueling road to recovery, and his many journies. He captured my attention and my heart as he described his rides through the European mountansides, US plains, his love, marriage, and fear of never being able to ride again. A must read for all who need a pick me up, or a reminder of how wonderful and fragile this life is. Guaranteed to please!
Rating:
Summary: Motivating
Review: This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. Even though I don't know a thing about Lance Armstrong nor cycling, it is certainly easy to get "into" the book. Lance Armstrong traced his childhood, how he became an athlete, how he was exposed to cycling and how he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was very amazing to me when he said at the beginning of the book that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to him. I couldn't believe that but as I continue reading his book, it seem unbelievably true. It was also interesting to read how cancer changed his perspective on life, his priorities and just getting a second chance to live again. His endurance, persistance to live and win the Tour De France was inspirational. I think what impresses me was no so much that he won the title but the way he fought to win it. I think Armstrong also accomplished an unintentional aim - that is to tell his readers that cycling is not as easy as it look. It takes a lot of patience, endurance and strategies to beat your competitors. In addition to that, it was very touching to see Armstrong's friends and family members stood by him and how their moral support helped him through the most difficult time of his life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about survivorship.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable Insights Presented
Review: Lance Armstrong presents insights about his struggle with impossible adversity which clearly demonstrate a miraculous overcoming unimaginable odds. As a scientist and an endurance cyclist, my skeptical response changed shortly after swallowing whole the first few chapters as though they were but a page in length. Besides the respect most cyclists share for the 3-time Tour de France Champion, like prose set to motion, this book generated an exponential respect for Mr. Armstrong as person of heroic proportion. Very well done, indeed...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Inspirational Book
Review: Lance Armstrong's auto-biography with Sally Jenkins, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, is an inspirational story anybody could enjoy. In It's Not About
the Bike, Lance Armstrong is a hero for anyone to look up to, since not only is he an amazing world renowned cyclist, he is also a normal person, who was forced to overcome many hardships to prove his heroism. I think the title itself symbolizes the
problems Lance was forced to go through, and the hardwork heused to overcome them because it states that it was his strength and ability that got him through, not the equipment or luck he had. Since he was forced to grow up fatherless in a lower class
family, had to endure going through cancer while at the peak of his career, and then fought his way through recovery to becoming the great cycling entity he was before, he was well tried before finally accomplishing dreams like winning the Tour De France
three times in a row and ever even being able to perform again in his career of cycling at all.
Lance Armstrong at first sight would seem like a very privileged man for all of his accomplishments and his amazing strength and physical ability, but that wouldn't be true.
Lance grows up in a poor family with just him and his part time working mother after his father left him at a very early age. Along with school, Lance was forced to work at a country club to keep bringing money into the family, along with his mothers income from her two part time jobs. Lance owes much of his life lessons to his mother, since she worked two part time jobs, still went to school and studied, and took care of her son
while he was growing up. Lance grew up cycling in the small amount of spare time he had, working very hard and training on his own. Lucky for him, he lived near the local bike shop, and soon became friends with the owner, Jim Hoyt, who would later help him to get into races and purchase bike equipment. Even though he did not have the best living situation, along with hard work and a little luck, Lance was able to start riding
early, and eventually was noticed as a natural athlete, especially at endurance.
Cancer is a problem not many have experienced, so not many know the pain and suffering it causes, especially on a person who's career is based on athleticism. At the
time before his diagnosis, Lance had just broken into the rank of one of the top five cyclists in the world. Lance Armstrong's case of cancer was a severe form of testicular cancer which was diagnosed extremely late and spread quickly into his lungs and brain. To fight through the cancer, Lance has to undergo serious and painful chemotherapy along with many surgeries. Continually Lance repeats the phrase "You have to fight" in his book and it is a strong belief of his. He says that if he wouldn't have fought and been optimistic, he would not have survived. Armstrong never gives up, even though the doctors tell him his chances are less than 50% and that his career is almost definitely over. Lance shows strength and bravery all through his cancer episode and throughout his life, since it is one of his most possessed traits.
Armstrong claims that the time after his cancer went into remission was worse than when he still had cancer in his body and he was undergoing painful chemotherapy.
When cancer goes into remission, there is nothing patients can do except wait to see if it returns, and once it returns, there is basically no way to treat it and it is a death sentence.
During remission, Lance found extreme pain and psychological problems, because he knew he had no power over treating the problem. This problem test's not only Armstrong's bravery and strength, but his wit also. While he is waiting in his first year of remission, he starts training again, and attempts to get back into his life. He does so with the help of his friends and his newly-wed wife. This trial tests another of Lance's traits,
wit, proving his ability finally as a hero, and allowing him to win.
Lance Armstrong's auto-biography is a brilliant story. With the help of Sally Jenkins, the writing in the book keeps the reader hooked, talking about cycling, the disease of cancer, the problems faced by everyday person and how Lance overcame them. It's a complete cover of life, and shows everybody that anything can be accomplished, if your strong and willed. Lance Armstrong fought and beat many problems, and passed
them all to win himself hero status, by finally winning the Tour De France. The story of Lance's life can be enjoyed by a cycling enthusiast, cancer survivor, or the everyday person looking for a good read.
Rating:
Summary: If you ever get a second chance in life ....
Review: Phenomenal! One of the best books I have ever read. Not only extraordinarily inspirational, but also extremly informative and interesting. I don't think you can walk away without a thirst for more after reading this book. Lance is a winner in the truest sense of the word, and the writing is straightforward and honest. No punches are pulled - the good, the bad and the ugly are all dealt with. His triumph is truly exhilarating, and can serve as inspiration for us all in trying times. "If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way."
Rating: 
Summary: Good writing/story, but bad publishing
Review: I loved the story. But I was frustrated with the amount of errors in the book. Many times the paperback bounced around, you would turn the page and the story would be either further advanced or re-visiting previous chapters. The page numbers were all correct, but I'm sure parts of the story are missing. I went to the publishers website. It said to return the book to them and they would replace it. I called their customer service and asked if they would pay for the shipping. They said "no". I said I didn't think that was a good way to do business - after all, my reading pleasure was ruined by their mistake. They said "sorry, it is our policy".
This is the first book I've bought with this type of problem.
So beware of Penguin Putnam Inc. (formerly Berkley Books)
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