Rating: 
Summary: The Real Survivor
Review: Although not a literary masterpiece, this book will leave you inspired if not teary eyed. It is easy to pass judgement and call Lance Armstrong arrogant, self absorbed and self centered(descriptions I noticed that other reviewers used to describe him) How can we truly judge anyone unless we have walked a mile in their shoes? I can't fathom how I would react to the news that I have cancer. I don't know for sure that I won't get it. I just pray I have as much strength as Lance Armstrong does. This book reminds us that we need not get cancer to truly LIVE. The only way you will be disappointed with this book is if you come with preconceived notions, and a judgemental attitude. Lance Armstrong may be an agnostic but who are we to criticize him for his beliefs. Anyway, cancer doesn't care what religion you follow.
Rating:
Summary: You won't want to put it down.
Review: I am not a cyclist, and I do not follow sports or athletes on television. My fiancee is an avid cyclist with an injury that has prevented him from riding for the past 12 months, so some of the terminology in Lance's books was somewhat familiar. However, I can honestly tell you that this was one of the top books I have ever read. I do not generally read autobiographies, I generally read fiction, brain-candy type books. The only reason I read it is because my fiancee purchased it. He didn't encourage me to read it, he didn't suggest that I read it. I simply picked it up one afternoon and could not put it down. I finished this book in just a few days and I will be recommending it to many people and will be purchasing it for friends. Lance's story is so honest, raw, inspirational and real. It is incredibly well written. Thank you to Lance Armstrong for sharing his deeply personal and inspirational story with us.
Rating:
Summary: "Some Pig"
Review: One must honor this guy. And you have to love this book. Here's the story of a teenage smart aleck who transformed himself into an authentic human being. Basically, that echoes every kid's journey into adulthood. But not everyone becomes a first rank athlete and gets cancer along the way. Testicular cancer transformed Lance Armstrong into a mentsh. Thank god, luck, chance, and science he survived. His are the lessons for being a better man.Bikes are for kids but this isn't a kids' book. It's difficult, even excruciating, when we witness the physically weakened cyclist -- in the company of his mother and his devoted friend Lisa -- seeking and then enduring the medical torture that supported his survival. Yet it's part of an uplifting lifestory. Armstrong was secretly given a 2% chance of survival. To his credit he had a child's ability to ignore the odds and percentages. "I had two options, medically and emotionally: Give up, or fight like hell. I had no other choice but to hope." Although I've made it clear this isn't a children's book, I can't resist thinking that writer Sally Jenkins does for Armstrong what E.B. White's Charlotte did for Wilbur. Charlotte "wrote" in her spoked web the saving words that hailed Wilbur to the world as "Some Pig." Jenkins introduces the reader to the sensibility of a world-class human being who is some man: A caring, responsible, and brave adult. Lance Armstrong isn't a saint. But, as you will discover by the last page of this life enhancing sports biography, he knows how to offer comfort in the dark. Picture a teenage boy pedaling his bike out into the Texas countryside -- under open skies, hope rising off the ground. In a few days, we will have the opportunity to see that kid's adult incarnation competing with his Amerikan teammates in the 2000 Olympic Games. Good luck to him, them -- and all of us.
Rating:
Summary: You'll Like Lance a Lot
Review: Lance Armstrong fits the prototype of a typical jock, but he's an honest jock. This well-written account of his battle with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain is noteworthy not only as a "I beat cancer" story, but as a straight-shooting portrayal of a rather arrogant young man who faced the very real possibility of death, survived, and became a better human being. Mr. Armstrong certainly doesn't try to canonize himself, and that's what's refreshing about It's Not About the Bike. He's completely up front about his weaknesses such as a nasty temper, impatience, and tendency to be brash. There are interesting and honest accounts of his bitterness toward his real father and stepfather, and the complete devotion of his mother. And while, like most Americans, you may not be a bicycle racing fan, the story of how he regrouped and eventually won the sport's crown jewel - The Tour de France - is exciting and inspiring. Mr. Armstrong has the wisdom to know that his victory over cancer had as much to do with the Gods of good fortune as it did his own determination and fortitude. He says, "Some of it is not easy to tell or comfortable to hear. I'm asking you now, at the outset, to put aside your ideas about heroes and miracles, because I'm not storybook material. This is not Disneyland, or Hollywood . . . Good, strong people get cancer, and they do all the right things to beat it, and they still die. That is the essential truth that you learn. People die. And after you learn it, all other things seem irrelevant. They just seem small." There is also a relevant section about the difficult process of in-vitro fertilization that his wife, Kik, went through. (Mr. Armstrong became sterile after his cancer surgery and treatments.) Happily, the procedure was a success that culminated with the birth of a healthy son, Luke David Armstrong. The candid and sometimes graphic description of IVF is of value to any couple who would like to consider this option. Kudos also go to Sally Jenkins, the co-writer who did a beautiful job of organizing the book and capturing Mr. Armstrong's voice and personality.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate race!
Review: Lance holds nothing back, in "It's Not About the Bike". Relationships, (both good and bad) throughout his life, vivid descriptions of healthy life and competition, and of course gut wrenching detail of cancer treatments are presented throughout the book. The final chapters put the reader in the tour, exposing the strategy behind the race, as well as the battles fought in the mind, and against the other competitors. It's the ultimate comeback story of a world class athlete, young and on the rise, who is faced with his own mortality when cancer intervenes. Lance begins with his early days, competing and winning with brute force, no strategy just an all out attack. Like any competitive athlete, he expresses his feelings of invincibility, and continues this belief until cancer just can't be ignored. The medical procedures, the chemo, and it's sickening effects are described in vivid detail. Cancer becomes the opponent, and ultimately Lance wins. It's a book about growing, maturing, and pushing on in the face of adversity. Following the battle with cancer, Lance battles himself, when making a comeback to the competitive circuit. On several occasions the decision is made to throw in the towel, to retire from competition. With the support of those around him, Lance is able to dig deep within himself and find the courage and determination to come back and win the Tour. Truly and incredible autobiography, about living, learning, growing, and maturing. An amazing book!
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Summary: KEEP PEDALING
Review: This book is full of inspiration in creating and maintaining a meaningful and rewarding life. Lance's story of his physical and emotional struggles and triumph over them is a true motivation. I am an investment banker living and working in New York, and have a great life which at times has disappointments. I particularly found encouragement in how Lance chose to see his illness as part of his life and not as a departure point from living and enjoying his life, bicycling, family and friends. If you enjoyed this book, I recommend you read another great book called "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane. This book has facilitated a consistency in all areas of my life as being rewarding and satisfying. Both these books are full of insights into how to enjoy the uphill as well as the downhill on your bike ride, where you are the winner over the finish line of your life! ps If you like audio tapes check out the Kanes' "The Roots of Satisfaction" it's great.
Rating:
Summary: It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
Review: If you thought you liked Lance Armstrong before this book, you will fall in love with him after you read this book. If you want to be inspired, truly inspired, read this book. It's not about bicycles, it's about life and what can happen to you, to me, to anyone. It's about survival, failure, truth and identity. You will also not put it down. Run, do not walk to the nearest bookstore, (or online store) and buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: It's about "THE MAN"
Review: I've read many biographys about many athletes. This is without a doubt the best one yet!!! I couldn't put it down. I'm not a tremedous cycling fan, but you don't have to be to enjoy this pageturner because "it's not about the bike". It's about courage, determination, strength, and perserverance. When he crosses the finish line at the 1999 Tour de France, you'll get chills up and down your arms. Lance will inspire you to get off the couch and get on a bike. He'll inspire you to make the most of your life. A Great read.
Rating:
Summary: The fastest read I've ever experienced
Review: This true story of a young champion cyclist's struggle in the sport of professional cycling and his struggle with cancer which had spread to his brain and lungs from his testes is totally gripping on every level.It is eye-watering in its honesty and frankness.It is a tribute to the single mother amongst other tributes.Friendship,the medical fraternity and their dedication, the psychology of serious illness as well as the physical effects are all vividly described . The shocking truth that even if you have a positive nature,you don't necessarily beat cancer makes one realise life is truly a lottery.How he rode that bike in between bouts of chemo I will never know.The best bio I have read,ever.(I read it in one day.)
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Summary: A Hollywood Story With a Hollywood Ending
Review: This book was too much! I mean, a Hollywood script could not have been written any better (I'm sure they're all over Lance about making a movie already). Talk about a comeback. Lance was written off by his doctors after his late prognosis for cancer. But to come back and do what he did is remarkable. This is a rags to riches to rags to riches story. His determination to beat cancer is what every reader should focus on, whether they have the disease or not. And for him to decide that he would race in and win the Tour de France after all of his suffering is incredible. I almost thought that drama was added to the book - this couldn't be a true story. But you're riveted over the pages sharing his pain and his joy over his comeback and the birth of his son. Lance is very graphic in his descriptions of chemotheropy and invitro treatments. But you want to know about. He gets so much credit for letting us into his private life and teaching us that life is so much more than what we all think it is. I must say, this is the first book that I actually cried reading, right at the end of the book (and it had to be on a crowded commuter train no less!).
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