It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
by Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Lance Armstrong, Sally JenkinsEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2001-09-01
ISBN: 0425179613
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Berkley Trade
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Book Reviews of It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
Book Review: Informative and Inspiring, but too much Ego
Summary: 3 Stars
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life is an entertaining read that gives the reader insight into what it's like to live with cancer and lose a dream. Lance's journey back to the bike is inspirational, and it showcases his love of his sport. Lance's determination to race even after a life-threatening disease makes this a worthwhile read for anyone who is facing a significant obstacle in life.
One positive feature of this book is its description of cycling races. Not only does Armstrong inform the reader of the competitive nature of the sport, such as the insults exchanged while cyclists are racing, he also describes how a team works together during a race. Before reading this book, I believed that each racer's goal was to win. In reality, racers are part of teams, and each team member works for the good of the whole so that one person from their team can be victorious.
While this book is a stirring read, it has numerous faults. I agree with Bryan Castro's review when he stated that Armstrong is often annoying. While his wife and friends make huge sacrifices for him and are very supportive before, during, and after his battle with cancer, Lance does nothing to alert his reader to the ways he is equally supportive in his personal relationships.
For example, Lance and his wife, Kristin, moved to France so Lance could get back into cycling after he recovered from cancer. His wife had to quit her job, give up her dog, her friends, and her entire life. They spent a few weeks in France before Lance decided to quit biking and moved back home. He then lived like a bum, while Kristin had to find a way to get her life back. This selfish act is one of many which has lowered my opinion of Lance Armstrong.
In the beginning of the book, Lance describes how he excelled as an athlete from a young age by competing with older, more experienced athletes. While part of the mindset of being a professional athlete is being confident in one's own abilities, his cockiness is often overwhelming. I had hopes that after his illness he would become more humble, but that voice did not come through in his writing.
Lance accomplishes his goal of telling the story of living with cancer, and how he overcame this challenge to get back on the bike professionally. Unfortunately, his egomania and cockiness subtracts from the message of the book.
Summary of It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
The #1 New York Times bestseller with legs as strong as its author's.Lance Armstrong is one of the most talked about- and inspirational-sports figures of all time. He was Sports Illustrated 's 2002 Sportsman of the Year-and now, after his record-shattering string of Tour de France victories, some are proclaiming him the greatest athlete of all time.
This is the book in which he shares his journey through triumph, tragedy, transformation, and transcendence. It is the story of a world-famous cyclist and his fight against cancer.
People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong--a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multiday bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. Armstrong is a thoroughgoing Texan jock, and the changes brought to his life by his illness are startling and powerful, but he's just not interested in wearing a hero suit. While his vocabulary is a bit on the he-man side (highest compliment to his wife: "she's a stud"), his actions will melt the most hard-bitten souls: a cancer foundation and benefit bike ride, his astonishing commitment to training that got him past countless hurdles, loyalty to the people and corporations that never gave up on him. There's serious medical detail here, which may not be for the faint of heart; from chemo to surgical procedures to his wife's in vitro fertilization, you won't be spared a single x-ray, IV drip, or unfortunate side effect. Athletes and coaches everywhere will benefit from the same extraordinary detail provided about his training sessions--every aching tendon, every rainy afternoon, and every small triumph during his long recovery is here in living color. It's Not About the Bike is the perfect title for this book about life, death, illness, family, setbacks, and triumphs, but not especially about the bike. --Jill Lightner
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