Breaking the Surface

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Summary: One of the most heart-felt and sincere books yet.
Review: Greg has written a book that is touching the hearts of so many people. As a young college student, I myself have had to overcome my sexuality and my HIV status. I finally met Greg on February 15th at the University of Miami, and it reinforced the idea of what a wonderful person he is. Greg's book is definitely one in a million. It's a must read for gays and straights, and people who are HIV positive and negative. His strength is capable of helping all of us live a more productive life... and to be happy with ourselves.

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Summary: Breaking Ground in "Breaking the Surface"
Review: Here is one great book about a great man. Greg Lougainis reveals a lot about himself...feelings of guilt, strength, weakness, hope, fear. This is a touching read.

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Summary: the most inspiring and bittersweet book I've ever read
Review: I didn't know much about Greg Louganis before I picked up the book. I figured he was just some diver who wanted to talk about his accomplishments. But Mr. Louganis makes it clear right from the start that he wants to GIVE his knowledge and not GET more admirers (although it is hard not to feel a little admiration for such an amazing person). As he states in his autobiography, he wants to make a difference in other peoples lives. After reading about all he's been through- perservered through- and seeing that he's still HERE, still going strong, he has greatly inspired me and the choices I make in my life. Read it if you want to get a deep sense of inspiration.

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Summary: Hallelujah
Review: I love this book so much that I cant stop reading it I even got a personalized autograph from Greg Louganis. It is so good to know that there are gay people who write books about themselves.

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Summary: Heart-stirring
Review: I purchased Greg's story the minute it hit the stands because Greg was my #1 sports hero as I was growing up. When I read his story, he affected my life in an even greater way. I have a brother who is gay, but he had not come out to his family yet. After reading Greg's story I knew that I needed to help my brother by supporting him now, instead of waiting until it was too late. A few days after finishing my read, I told my brother that I knew he was gay and that I loved him, supported him, and was proud of him. I got the best hug of my life. I only wish that I could've given Greg the same hug when he really needed it the most. I'm proud of the fact that he was, and still is, one of my heroes. Read the book. It is a heartbreaking and frank look at humanity.

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Summary: To The Winner
Review: I read this book only months after I came out. It helped a lot. This book helped me see many sides of the gay community and how difficult it can be for anyone to come out of the closet.

I also used this book to help my parents understand why I feel the need to come out. They didn't want me to tell many people, they wanted me to keep it under wraps. I read a few passages from this book to help them understand why I can't continue to hide. They didn't understand at that moment, but over time they have grown to understand the pain that I and many other gay people feel when they have to remain in the closet.

I am very grateful that I bought this book. It helped me find a new, higher lever of self-esteem that I never thought I could have before. Also, it has helped my family be more comfortable with my being gay.

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Summary: The most amazing autobiography I've ever read
Review: The first time ever I heard about Greg Louganis was when a friend of mine told me he had bought Greg's autobiography back in 1995. Early this year I learned more about him on the Discovery Channel during a documentary about the Olympics. I could say I was impressed by his achievements, other than getting to know that he was a diver and the best of his kind (hey!...I was 12 at the time of his retirement and in my country diving is not much of a hit). Later on I got to see the movie based on his book, which really struck me. My interest grew so much that the first time I surfed by at Amazon, "Breaking the surface" was the first book I decided to pick up. This opus is not only another ordinary autobiography, because it's at the same time a learning about human life and qualities. The book starts describing that well-known accident he had on the springboard back in 1988 and goes on with his childhood up to his current days. Each chapter is a challenge because each one not only narrates an achievement, in some way, in his life, but also an amalgam of feelings all of which relates the reader to the writer. The book is far beyond a recount of Greg's accomplishments as a diver, but it's a story that digs deeply into his personality revealing the most traumatic episodes of his life. It's not only a story about AIDS and homosexuality, since it also deals with discrimination, dyslexia and Greg's so impeding moodiness. This biography is hard to get through, not because it's boring or flat, but because there are so much emotions involved. "Breaking the surface" is a book destined to make changes, changes in your look at valuable things that will help you to cast prejudices away. "Breaking..." is unforgettable as well as a book worthy of reading. An enjoyable experience that will make you love Greg because of who he is rather than what his celebrity means. Oh, by the way, tears tend to drop.

Rating:
Summary: Very Movitional
Review: This book is the best in my library of gay related books. I read a lot and this one I think is the one that I read most. I read it over and over and it keeps getting better every time. It seems that I missed something the first time I read this and then I read it again and picked up on other things and then I keep reading it and keep picking up on things that I missed. It's a good story of life of a gay man in the publics eye at all times.