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It's Not About the Bike

My Journey Back to Life

By Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins

(60)

| Paperback | 9780425179611

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Book Description

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 deContinue

8 Reviews

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Encouraging message

I love cycling. I love bike. I love Lance Armstrong! His life experience and messages are very encouraging to me. In his fight against cancer, he believed that life and health are the most important, it seems that other things used to trouble in his heart then becomes very tiny...
It also stro ... (continue)

I love cycling. I love bike. I love Lance Armstrong! His life experience and messages are very encouraging to me. In his fight against cancer, he believed that life and health are the most important, it seems that other things used to trouble in his heart then becomes very tiny...
It also strongly remind us not to take it for grant in life. Treasure every moment, every people around us.

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Corine... said on Jul 15, 2006 | Add your feedback

Learning how to face something as terrible as Cancer is not easy. You have to read this book to understand what happens to people that have to go through that hell.
Still, Lance was famous and rich and extremely fit. Even though, this book gives several examples that to survive you need someth ... (continue)

Learning how to face something as terrible as Cancer is not easy. You have to read this book to understand what happens to people that have to go through that hell.
Still, Lance was famous and rich and extremely fit. Even though, this book gives several examples that to survive you need something else!

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Nka said on May 19, 2009 | Add your feedback

Who Knew?

I never knew the sport of cycling was so interesting. Armstrong does a great job explaining the tactics of the sport and the reason it is one of the most grueling and difficult of them all. I am no sports fan but this book opened my eyes to the excitement of the Tour de France.
His story abou ... (continue)

I never knew the sport of cycling was so interesting. Armstrong does a great job explaining the tactics of the sport and the reason it is one of the most grueling and difficult of them all. I am no sports fan but this book opened my eyes to the excitement of the Tour de France.
His story about his cancer is painfully straightforward - he bares all here. It is written in a very clear and simple English, a clean prose that is a pleasure to read (thanks no doubt to his professional co-author). Several of my friends have also enjoyed this story - it transcends an autobiography or sports narrative and is something uniquely special to read.
I sadly bought it for my mother who was diagnosed with cancer and it proved inspirational to her - I am glad she got to read it and be shored up a little bit by its positive message and practical advice on seeking second opinions, choosing doctors, etc.
Armstrong's "exposé" of the rigours of in vitro insemination was also an eye-opener and a must-read for any woman considering the procedure.

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Ramnagel said on Apr 22, 2009 | Add your feedback

It is as good as everybody says it is. Inspirational.

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Alixta said on Jan 12, 2009 | Add your feedback

Inspirational read

Lance Armstrong's autobiography It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life is co-authored by him and sports writer Sally Jenkins. I'd been meaning to read this book since I started running last year. It follows his life from his childhood with his divorced mother, his belligerent early success ... (continue)

Lance Armstrong's autobiography It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life is co-authored by him and sports writer Sally Jenkins. I'd been meaning to read this book since I started running last year. It follows his life from his childhood with his divorced mother, his belligerent early successes at cycling, his diagnosis of testicular cancer, his cancer treatment, the fight back to life and finally his methodical training and success at Tour de France. Lance makes no bones about the fact that since he was born he only had a mom and she was solely responsible for his early success. In his early 20s he was a very good cyclist, but only at short races. Due to his short temper he had no chance at winning a multi-day multi-stage race like Tour de France. Then he's diagnosed with testicular cancer which quickly metastasizes to his brain and lungs. He undergoes brain surgery to remove the cancerous tumours in his brain, surgery similarly for lungs and loses one of his testicles. After that comes months of chemotherapy which pushes him to the edge of his life. His doctors give him a 3% chance of survival, but he wins those odds. Back clean from cancer, he skips the other races and trains methodically for the Tour de France, the most gruelling endurance event on this planet. Though dogged by rumourmongers about doping, he wins the 1999 Tour de France in spectacular fashion. The first ever win by an American on an all-American team in this European dominated event. The book ends with the birth of his son Luke and his followup 2000 win. He would later go on to win every Tour de France† from 1999 to 2005, making him the event's most successful cyclist ever. His Lance Armstrong Foundation has also become very popular in raising awareness about cancer and funds for cancer research through its yellow wristband.
The book is a Tour de Force of a read (forgive the pun)! It's very light and quick. Lance goes into detail on his fight over cancer and the 1999 TdF. He insists to the reader that it was his win over cancer that gave him a new perspective on life and that was more important than the wins that came after. The book is (as you can assume) very inspirational. Having taken a bit to running recently, I could understand and empathise with Lance especially when he described how patience and temper is necessary in a long endurance event. In that aspect, endurance events are a metaphor for life (and that's what most people including me feel when running). I can't think of a single reason why anyone shouldn't read this book, please do.

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Ashwin Nanjappa said on Sep 22, 2008 | Add your feedback

THat is an inspiring book. Iam in awe.
This guy has courage, drive, and motivation

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Barriepm said on Sep 15, 2008 | Add your feedback

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Book Details

Rating:
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English Books
Paperback 304 Pages
Edition: Rei Rep
ISBN-10: 0425179613
ISBN-13: 9780425179611
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pub date: Sep 01, 2001
Dimensions: 1484 mm x 968 mm x 129 mm Just how big is that?
Also available as: Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette, School & Library Binding and Others