Rating: 
Summary: Is there a Grand Scheme?
Review: This book is raw, candid, and often moved me to tears. I knew Lance in name only before the book. I admire his honesty in this book.Lance (and his wife) experienced seemingly more Miracles in the shortest amount of time than most people experience in a lifetime. He is blessed to have had so many people (including his wife) who "put it on the line" for him, yet I can't help but wonder if he truly appreciates it. Lance is a "take charge" kind of guy and we get to see that at its depth as he takes us through his cycling and cancer challenges. Both of which, in his case, are extremely amazing feats. When that much is demanded of you, or demanded of yourself, is something lost? Lance Armstrong seems torn throughout the book about his role in his life. Never discount a Miracle or Who it came from.
Rating:
Summary: Read it
Review: Having never really been interested in cycling I bought this book since I wanted to know about Lance's fight with testicular cancer which killed my best friend three years ago in his early 30s. I was not just positively surprised but literally stunned and finished the book in two days. Lance's life from his upbringing to early achievements, his fight with cancer to becoming the King of the Tour de France are written honestly and interestingly. Reading the book took me along the entire emotional spectrum and I enjoyed every minute of it. With a less than 3% chance to survive I am convinced that contrary to the title, his survival is about the bike. It tought him to fight, to personalize the challenge and to give it everything he has got. Being German, I wanted Jan Ullrich to win the tour this year but having read what Lance has overcome and seeing him on the crucial day after falling due to spectator involvement, I now hope that he will win his sixth (and final?) Tour in 2004 to take his rightful place as the best rider who ever lived. I felt compelled to write this review since I read some of the other reviews. While I understand some of the comments about him being egoistic, that is part of him too. He is not claiming to be perfect, far from it, and I do not judge the man but simply recommend his book as an uplifting and interesting read.
Rating:
Summary: Breakaway into reality
Review: In the opening chapters we are introduced to an athlete driven by success. Someone with an inflated self-serving ego who was obstinate, insulting and ruthlessly competitive. His mouth had no gatekeeper to prevent the insolent, unkind remarks he hurled at others. Then came a diagnosis of cancer. It jolted him into a new reality; one where other people shared an importance that he held exclusively for himself. Reading about his cure and transformation were both encouraging and inspiring. After the cure he expressed his gratitude by serving others unselfishly and magnimously. On a different, more entertaining note, I really enjoyed reading about the Tour de France. At the book's conclusion, I felt Armstrong should be awarded an honorary degree in philosophy from a distinguished university. His learning experience, which he shares through his candid autobiography is anything but abstract. It is life altering. Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins have written a tour de force. I give it high marks for content and style. Reading each page felt like having a personal conversation, except my comments to Lance went unheard. I look forward to a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: It's Not About the Bike
Review: An inspirational book. Not just for the bicyclist. My wife started it as soon as I was finished. She couldn't put it down either. A look at Lance Armstong's inner make-up. What he wants you to know about anyway. A great book.
Rating:
Summary: Scrappy and Refreshingly Frank
Review: I have always been a cycling fan. In college we would periodically ride 50+ miles on a Saturday and each week my bony backside reminded me of everyone one. Given that, and watching the Tour de France, I committed to read Lance's bio. In a word, I'm a fan; now, more than ever. Initially, what jumps out is Lance's scrappy writing style. It's refreshing; I loved that he was unafraid to identify the "father figures" in his life for what they were and were not. His devotion to his mom is pure and true. You can hear it in his narrative. His mom should think about writing a book about her own strength, tenacity, and dedication to being a great mom under very difficult circumstances. The second striking aspect is the man's amazing anatomy. His physiology and his tolerances for pain are unique. It doesn't hurt that he seemingly manufactures less lactic acid than the rest of us poor sods. However, I was struck by his quest for pain as a pure way to leave all the peripheral interruptions behind and to really focus on his job. That is the one aspect that has stayed with me. One can program one's thinking to see pain as focal point rather than a debilitating distraction. What a powerful and liberating feeling. His frank and story of the surgery and chemotherapy are gut wrenching (literally!) As well, the reader definitely wants the happy ending and is thus rewarded in this biography. His personal reflections of his emotional, physical and spiritual transformations after the cancer motivate this reader to cheer all the more. Good on ya Lance! You make July mornings at 6:00am (PDT) must see tv in this household.
Rating:
Summary: Lance, good-guy and hero
Review: It's sad. I am a cynical consumer of the electrnic and mass-market media is many forms and yet, when I spent an evening with this book I got past my jaded experiences with popular publications. I got past all of the hype, marketing and flattening of humans conveyed through the media. I got past all of that by the words on these pages and within the covers of this book found a man struck with fear to the core of his very being and yet defiant and remarkably brave as he struggled to cope with not only the adversity of serious illness but the diffculty in waking and owning up to the real prioroities of life. Lance is all to human here and it's truly touching watching him fall and rise. Read the book, get to know this guy and you cannot finishe without not only liking him, but you'll really admire him for his heroic will and incredible spirt. I know it is trite to say this , but this is a nice guy that finishes first. Lance--I toast you with my nitely beer! You inspired me.
Rating: 
Summary: TOO ARROGANT
Review: You know, I've always cheered for Armstrong in the races. I've always thought that he was a decent guy. Until I read this book. Lance Armstrong is a very, very cocky guy that seems to have some kind of anger deep inside that he keeps pinned up until he explodes. His comeback was amazing, his careeer is amazing, his cycling is amazing, but I don't care if he has won the Tour 5 times, he is still to arrogant for my liking.
Rating: 
Summary: Viva Lance
Review: Read this book in a few hours during a trip to Europe this summer. Lance is a competitor and it comes through loud and clear through his book. I especially enjoyed reading about his training regimens and how much time he has to put in to win races. The majority of this book however, focused on how Lance battled and beat Cancer. I think Lance is very inspirational and causes everyone to not live like they have no tomorrow. This book is entertaining, inspiring, and a great portrayal of the greatest cyclist in history. Thanks Lance!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This book was one of the most inspiring books that I have ever read. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Rating:
Summary: LANCE RULES!
Review: I've been following Lance from his first Tour de France win. Yes, I am one of those people who didn't know who he was until then. This year, while he was after win #5, I thought I would pick up this book and hear his story. And what a magnificent story it is! He doesn't go into detail about his childhood. He tells you about the stepdads that he had, and the father that he didn't. But he doesn't dwell on it. He and his mom are a team working together to support each other. He goes into detail about his cancer diagnosis, and the treatment. He doens't plow you over with big medical terms, he puts it so every one understands. He goes into detail about his recovery, both emoionally and physically, and his comeback to the podium. He tells his story, and doesn't hold anything back. He doesn't want you to feel sorry for him, he just wants you to know what exactly he went through. This is a great story for everyone, not just the cycling enthusiast.
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