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It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life |  | Author: Lance Armstrong
Publisher: Yellow Jersey Press
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
Buy Used: £0.01
as of 25/11/2009 02:25 GMT details
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Seller: C M Books
Rating:  105 reviews
Sales Rank: 1107
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 0224060872
Dewey Decimal Number: 796
EAN: 9780224060875
ASIN: 0224060872
Publication Date: May 3, 2001
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 gruelling 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 training sessions--every aching tendon, every rainy afternoon, and every small triumph during his long recovery is here in living colour. IIt's Not About the Bike /I is the perfect title for this book about life, death, illness, family, setbacks, and triumphs, but not especially about the bike. I--Jill Lightner, Amazon.com/I
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 105
Great Reading for Cancer Patients, as Well as Athletes! May 13, 2004
Professor Donald Mitchell (Boston)
33 out of 36 found this review helpful
This book clearly deserves more than five stars! This is one of the most inspirational biographies I have ever read, and comes from the truly remarkable life experiences of a determined young man. I loved every word!pEarly in the book, Lance Armstrong says ". . . that cancer was the best thing that happened to me." He goes on to say, "When I was sick I saw more beauty and triumph and truth in a single day than I ever saw in a bike race."pOvercoming cancer and becoming an athletic champion in the grueling sport of bicycle racing require a toughness of spirit, mind, and body that is hard for most of us to imagine. This inspirational book portrays beautifully how one can start with the right spirit and overcome enormous obstacles.pAlthough his doctors told him he had a 40 percent chance of surviving stage three testical cancer, this was mostly to keep his morale up. After he had recovered, his doctor admitted that is chances were around 3 percent, instead.pWhile he was being treated for the cancer, no one thought that he might ever race again. He did decide to go through treatments that would leave open the possibility that his lungs (affected by the cancer) would still be functional and his coordination (through delicate brain surgery) would be unaffected. Within two years, he had won the Tour de France, a grueling race he had never done well in before he had cancer.pGrowing up, Lance Armstrong had little reason to suspect that he would become one of the world's greatest athletes. He was well into high school, still trying pretty unsuccessfully to make the football and swimming teams, before it became clear that he could become a significant cyclist. Pleased with the money that success brought, he had a tough time building the attitude of a champion to go with his remarkable endurance skills. Overcoming cancer helped him with that, as well as seeing the beauty around him.pHe met his wife at the press conference to announce the beginning of his foundation to fight cancer. They were married during his recovery, and recently became parents through the miracles of modern medicine.pOf such wonderful stuff are role models made, something we have too few of these days.pThe story is told in a very open and matter-of-fact way. He is not trying to make himself into something that he isn't. Clearly, his purpose in writing this book is to help all of us fulfill our potential rather than to glorify himself.pPlease share this book with people who need this inspiration and encouragement to take on the pain of giving life all you've got.
An engrossing, emotional, uplifting story of human triumph August 13, 2000
31 out of 34 found this review helpful
As the title suggests, this book is not just about cycling, and it would be a terrible shame if only cycling fans, or for that matter sports fans were to read it. This is truly an inspirational read, not in a sacharine, all American hero way, but as the story of a man who went all the way to death's door with cancer and fought his way back not merely to life but to the summit of one of the world's toughest sports. Armstrong's story is told in a frank, engaging and totally engrossing way that at times makes painful reading but is equally hard to put down. The ultimately triumphant conclusion is not a fairytale cop-out, but shows how life can be transformed both despite, and because of, personal suffering. Armstrong tells of the struggle undergone by both him and his mother to reach the pinacle of sporting success, world champion at only 21, only for testicular cancer to threaten to end his life. Since he wrote the book you know he survived, but the miracle of how he went on to even greater professional heights is breathtaking - even more so in the context of his second Tour de France victory. No strong-arm tale of sporting toughness, the honest recollection of personal struggle, even once cancer was beaten brings tears to the eyes. This is simply a great read, anyone who follows sport, who has been touched by cancer should take a look. The positive message of determination and hope make it a captivating book.
Inspiring, frightening,uplifting account of inner strength. November 29, 2000
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought the audio taped version of the book because like most people I am very busy and dont always find the time to read as much as I would like. I listened in the car during journeys to and from work and found the tape easy to the ear . The story is inspiring , uplifting and at times frightening . I admired Lance before I ever heard these tapes but afterwards that admiration turned to wonderment. The story is well narrated and you feel as though Lance is talking to you ( even though the story is not self narrated). You soon forget it isnt Lance talking and the story grips you from the start. All Le - tour followers will love this story and understand more than most his courage and determination to kick life in the teeth and stamp his name all over the record books of not only the Tour de France but life itself. BUY IT NOW.
the most powerful book I have read in years January 5, 2001
28 out of 32 found this review helpful
I read the book in two days flat. Potential readers must not think it is only about Lance Armstrong's battle to overcome cancer, remarkable though that journey is. There is much to interest the cycling enthusiast: training regimes of top professional cyclists, how the peleton works, what its like to ride in the middle of the peleton, how the teams work together to protect their top rider and enable him to win stages. There were times when I felt I was with Armstrong on his bike, battling up the hills in the freezing cold and felt the emotion and elation of winning. His fight against testicular cancer is a moving, painful, brutally honest and incredibly up-lifting account of what he went through at every stage of his treatment. A close student friend of my daughter was recently diagnosed as having testicular cancer - he is 21. We have sent him this book in the hope that he will gain courage and determination through reading it. I can't recommend this book too highly.
courage personified August 23, 2005
22 out of 25 found this review helpful
This book is what Lance Armstrong is all about. Grit, determination, courage and passion, the man shows them all on the bike and in the pages of this book. brIf you have been living on planet Earth in the last 10 years you will know about the plight of Lance Armstrong. This is a guy who snatched life out of the jaws of death. To get back on his bike and complete a Tour De France after that shows the depts of his strenght courage but to win it a record seven times beggars belief. This June he left the group of people know as sporting greats to join a small select group that have achieved sporting immortality.brThis book will have you in tears, you can feel his pain but you can also feel his elation in victory. brAn amazing man, who should be an inspiration to all, from those who just want to improve their training times to those unfortunate to be in the same or similar position as Lance was in. Read this book, it spills inspiration. As Lance says, pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 105
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