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 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
From AudioFile:
Lance Armstrong is a world-class cyclist and winner of the famed Tour de France the past two years. But he nearly died from cancer, and this book explores his grueling trip back up the figurative mountain, not only to life, but also to championship riding. He includes a section on his youth in Texas and how he started in bike racing. His illness taught him the patience he needed to become a winner. But the bulk of the book is about his battle with cancer. The book is conversational, which makes for an excellent adaptation to audio. The reader, Oliver Wyman, does a solid job. In fact, he reads with such emotion that listeners might swear they were hearing Armstrong himself--without the Texas accent, though. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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