5 comments about Sports Illustrated: Brett Favre: The Tribute (Sports Illustrated).

1. The book arrived on time, packed very well and at a fair price.
   The only problem is that the pages are not flat-we have had the book beneath several others to try + flatten the pages but to no avail,
   they are still "wavy". I think it's the book itself, as I said it was packed + shipped very well.



2. An excellent collectors book! A compilation of SI, over the years. If you love Favre as the typical FAN does, why wouldn't you want this book? Excellent photo's, great articles and a nice B&W shot on a solid hard-covered edition. It's a keeper!



3. The book was put together to fast and only had old information. I think an interview of Brett afler he retired would have been the touch it needed to be a very good book.



4. Gave as a gift, it was a big hit! Nice photos and hardback book.



5. FANTASTIC.A MUST FOR ANY PACKER FAN.ALL PHASES OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER ARE COVERED IN DEPTH AND UNBIASED.A GREAT READ.COLLECTORS ITEM IF THERE EVER WAS ONE.

5 comments about Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster.

1. Personally, Jon Krakauer is my all time, hands down favorite author. I am an adventure junkie. This was the second book i ever picked up of his and i seriously could not put it down. I am in college, normally college students have tons of other things to do than read, but i put things off just so i could read this book. I LOVE IT! If you are an adventurist, adrenaline junkie, a climber, a camper, a hiker... read it...



2. This story is a page turner which I read in a single night. It's the gripping tale, told in a powerful way of how too many climbers and competing agendas led to a major disaster on Mt. Everest. I saw the story as one of power and control run amuck leading to the loss of too many lives. Of one man who sat down to die, and of another who refused to die even when left for dead three times. The story takes many twists and turns and involves dozens of key characters, so it would be hard to read over too long a period of time since there are a lot of details to track. Never the less, it's a great adventure story that illustrates the dangers of miscommunication at the top of the world.



3. Krakauer doubtlessly is a great story-teller who can keep you engrossed in every detail he delivers at each turn of the story. My only complaint is that he sprinkles difficult vocabulary not only without any added effect, but clunkily, making certain words stand out from the rest of his prose. Take, for example, the following sentence:
   
   "Now, four days later, Nukita warned us that a similarly PREDACIOUS swarm of print and television reporters lay in wait for us..." (280, emphasis added)
   
   Um... why not just "predatory"? Is it just me, or is the word "predacious" as common a word as "predatory"?
   
   Or take another sentence:
   
   "But such moments were tempered by the long PENUMBRA cast by Everest..." (282, emphasis added)
   
   Again, why not infinitely more understandable and easy-to-imagine "SHADOW"? Why "PENUMBRA"? Why go so poetic and abstract all of a sudden? I was literally thrown off balance when I came across the word in midsentence because it's so out of place. Besides, it hazards leaving the reader wondering what the word means rather than sympathizing with the author's plight. My complaint is based on the fairly commonsensical belief that when a word is not adding anything - whether it be impact, image, style, etc. - it should be ruthlessly cut and/or replaced with another. PENUMBRA seems to fall pat into this sort of instance. Unfortunately, I didn't keep detailed note of every instance in which the author slipped in flashy words tragically to the detriment of his own otherwise lucid prose, I can't say for certain how often he did it, but as far as i remember, there were numerous similar occasions where I thought the word he chose was definitely working against his writing.
   
   But my quibbling ends here and I only have kudos for the book. It's an awesome adventure story about people with astounding willpower under the worst and extremest of environmental conditions imaginable. Highly recommended.



4. As with his other ode to ego versus nature, "Into the Wild", Mr. Krakauer makes it clear with "Into Thin Air" that nature is best seen as a test bed for the elite and ego inflamed to examine their will and inner mettle or, um, die. As a result "Into Thin Air" leaves the old school of respectable and fearful examination of man living WITH nature (see the books of Ernest Seton among many others as an example) into a new school of nature writing dedicated to exploring the various ways a man or woman must overcome nature or perish in the attempt. Which, let's face it, is just plain silly. There is very little to recommend in this viewpoint, it is narcissistic and sophomoric and ultimately degrading to both nature and man; so goes the book, and for that matter, so goes the Nepal Everest base camp, which has become, at my last visit, an open dump/sewer.
   
   If you really must read about the dangers of Mt. Everest, you are much, much better off reading "Mountain without Mercy" by B. Coburn, T. Cahill and D. Breashers. Better yet, pick up the book In Highest Nepal; Our Life Among the Sherpas by Norman Hardie. Norman doesn't conquer Mt. Everest or even care to, in fact he never even attempts the summit. Instead he lives among the Sherpa and discovers the various means they've discovered to live with the most extreme that nature has to offer. Which, in my view, is what nature writing should be about.



5. When I was very young, I believed my purpose in life was to climb Mount Everest. I was fascinated by the idea of hiking through the snow and eventually reaching the highest piece of land on earth. Walking to school, I would imagine myself climbing the mountain. Every road I crossed was a vast crevasse, thousands of feet deep. But, like most childhood dreams, I eventually grew out of it. So, Recently when I saw a book captioned: "The Mount Everest Disaster," the old ashes were rekindled and I naturally had to read it.
   
   Into Thin Air is Jon Krakauer's recollection of the "Mount Everest Disaster," as the cover phrases it. He gives background information of every climber on his team as well as general facts about Mount Everest and climbing itself. Krakauer's style is excellent, and afterwards it feels as if you were there on the mountain beside him.
   
   The book was a little slow at the beginning, unfortunately. Maybe it was the fact that none of the names meant anything to me, or the fact that everything is described in great detail, sometimes seeming very long and drawn out. Eventually I got used to it, and it ultimately was necessary for understanding all of the character's actions later on. One great aspect of the book is that Krakauer names who died right off the bat. Not only did that make me immediately interested, but it also became nerve wracking later in the book, knowing which characters were destined to never return home.
   
   Krakauer is a born storyteller. Most storytellers do just that. They tell stories. But unlike most storytellers, Krakauer had his own story to tell. It was a life-changing story at that. Many authors could have barely made up such a great tale out of thin air, but this actually happened. That is the most haunting fact of the story, it is true.
   
   Regardless if you like climbing, hiking, or snow, this is a great book. Even if reading isn't enjoyable, this book is. In short, this is the best book I have read in a very long time.

5 comments about Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life.

1. I'm writing this on behalf of my husband. He LOVED this book. He is not a church-going man, but Tony's sentiments really moved my husband, and he found it a very interesting read. He couldn't put this book down (which is amazing since the remote control usually takes up that space, ha ha)



2. I am a young person trying to break into the field coaching. I currently work for a division one program and some times I get discouraged. Coaching is a difficult profession to break into and some times my life gets discouraging. My father got me this book and told me to read it. It was after a particularly bad week that I decided to read this book and it lifted my spirits. Coach Dungy has the right idea in a profession full of wrong ones. Knowing people like him have made it gives me strength to keep going.



3. Tony has a great testimony! Makes a great gift or a great read, football fan or not!



4. Whether you are a parent, a coach or both this book is absolutely captivating. I have been reading it with our 12 year old son and found myself reading ahead after he went to bed. Tony Dungy is an inspiring man of God and his wisdom and experience will certainly give adults and young readers a new perspective on life.
   
   I am in the process of purchasing other copies of the book to give to clients and friends. It is a great story and is the best book I have read in years!
   
   Brett Morey
   Brentwood, CA



5. Tony Dungy's autobiography, "Quiet Strength" is a terrific book that contains a message that should appeal to any reader (not just football fans). Dungy speaks of leadership without intimidation, confidence through religious conviction and success through perseverance. The book has a religious tone, but Dungy gets his point across without being preachy. He draws from a stable upbringing by his parents and shares his thoughts about life, football, parenting, dealing with adversity, and being a man.
   
   There's a lot of football references so football fans and those who have followed Dungy's playing and coaching career will certainly enjoy "Quiet Strength". The book should play well in Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Indy because so much of the book deals with Dungy's career as an NFL football coach.
   
   The book is a testament about doing things "right" and treating people with respect in order to gain the same in return. And...as evidenced by the 2007 Super Bowl, nice guys CAN finish first!

5 comments about The 33-Year-Old Rookie: How I Finally Made it to the Big Leagues After Eleven Years in the Minors.

1. Very well written, loved the beginning dream sequence, story of grit and determination.
   
   I would recommend it to any baseball fan - or anyone else who needs a review lesson in "how to catch your dream".



2. every body should read this book about life about never giving up in life in hard time and good time



3. I am currently still reading the book, but so far it is very good. I am a true Chris Coste fan and can now appreciate his story.



4. This is a wonderfully entertaining book. It is great to read about people like Chris who work hard trying to reach their goal, and then to actually make it. Well-written. This book, along with "Working at the Ballpark" by Tom Jones, and "We Would have Played for Nothing" by Fay Vincent, are the top baseball books of the year because they provide truthful and poignant stories of what it's truly like to work in major league baseball.



5. Philadelphia Phillies catcher Chris Coste has written an inspirational account about what it takes to get to the major leagues. Coste, a backup catcher, shares the heartaches, self-doubts and physical injuries he had to endure during his 11 years in the minors. He gives the reader an interesting look at life in the minors and with independent teams. Although Coste was determined to make it to the majors, there are hundreds of others who are just as talented and as determined who don't achieve their dreams.
   
   Coste's book is refreshing in that he's a player who appreciates everything he receives as a major leaguer. He vows not to complain about how much taxes he pays on his major league minimum salary of $370,000. He's a down-to-earth guy who hasn't been jaded by the major league life, and hopefully will never succumb to the pitfalls.
   
   You can't help but to root for Coste and cheer for him when he does well in the book. Any one who reads this book will be a Chris Coste fan. The book is thin at 196 pages and easy to read. While adults will enjoy it, I believe younger readers who don't know much about what it takes to get to the majors will also find it interesting and enjoyable.

2 comments about Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other.

1. Hello friends,
   
   I started this book in March, finished it in April, and now it belongs to May!! If you are looking to "come out of hibernation" after a long winter, this is your book. It is as grand as it gets!! A book for the ages!!
   
   Doug Riddell



2. Sitting down watching the Master's over the past few years, we have noticed little change in the way Jim Nantz has called the action from the tower over the 18th green. The steady, calm voice would tell the story unfolding for the audience. Ever steady, his voice made you confident that that you were indeed watching a special event. However, things were not really so steady in his life as he has had to grapple with personal tragedy in his life, but who outside of a small circle of people knew.
   
   This year, I was not watching the final round of the Masters. Instead, I was sitting on an airplane headed for Los Angeles. But I could still here Jim's voice in my head as I read his new book, Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other (Jim Nantz with Eli Spielmen,Gotham Books, May 2008, 273 pages, ISBN-10: 1592403611, ISBN-13:978-1592403615). To me, the measure of a good book is not the words that are printed on the page, but the pictures they paint and the emotions they evoke. And as I finished the book, I sat there crying as I thought of the relationship I did not have with my now-deceased father and as I thought of my own mother battling dementia in a nursing home.
   
   You see, Jim's book is a not a typical sports memoir. It is a story of deep love and respect for his father, and the pain of not being able to be with him as Alzheimer's disease stole the father Jim loved so much. It is the story about not being able to celebrate the high point of a career with the man you know guided and nurtured you to that point.
   
   You will notice that I refer to the author of this book by his first name. This is because I first met him when he was starting out on CBS Sports Golf Coverage and was surprised by how he treated everyone with open arms and kindness. I did not know him as Mr. Nantz, just Jim. He probably does not remember me at all, nor would I expect him to. I have not had the pleasure of seeing him since I the Washington, DC area over 14 years ago, but this new book opened a floodgate of memories that I had not thought of in a long time.
   
   The book is at its absolute best when he is is telling the story of the relationship he has lived with his father, and of how specific people have been father figures and role models to him over the years. The book, thankfully, is not written to be a manipulative tear jerker. But when you read what he has written and weaved throughout the book, a reader would have to be lying if they say they were not moved in some way. Without giving away the ending, all I can say is that I was hit in the gut as much by the closing as I was with his personal disclosures in the first chapter.
   
   The book is at it weakest when some things seem to be written just for the sake of getting names into the book so nobody would be forgotten. At one point, he quickly rattles off the names of a number of CBS Sports producers and directors in one sentence, without going into more detail of his relationship with them or how they fit into the whole growth of his career. At another point, he briefly mentions "research maven John Kollmansperger." Outside of anyone at CBS Sports or elsewhere that has worked with John (also known as JK), this has absolutely no meaning to ayone reading the book. Don't get me wrong, a lot of information readers of this book have seen presented on CBS Sports startiing back in 1987 came from JK's attention to detail. Without adding additional background on JK, readers will be left to scratch their heads.
   
   There are also a couple of areas of the book that left me, as a reader, wondering. Very little is written about the relationship between Brent Musberger and Jim. Musberger's professionalism is noted, but nothing is said about the relationship between the two men and what Jim was REALLY thinking on April 1, 1990 when the axe fell.
   
   And then there is Billy Packer. Jim refers to Packer as a good friend, but I can't help but feel he is throwing Packer under the bus in describing an incident when Packer was on his knees and knees picking up shards of broken backboard glass so that he could use them to cash in and make money. While Jim may have felt he wrote that to help explain what makes his longtime broadcast partner tick, it only shows a side of Packer that I have heard from many people who know him personally and drives their distaste for him.
   
   Putting these things aside, or perhaps even considering them, readers will not be disappointed by this book. Who knew that Clint Eastwood made adult films, as described by Nantz? Does anyone really know, or remember, who besides Fred Couples he shared a room with in college? And who knew that the calm person we see in Jim Nantz really has enough chutzpah to walk up and ask for what he wants, without apology?
   
   So if you should chose to read this book, and I really think you should, enjoy the stories from the sports world that Jim tells. More importantly, reflect on the relationship you have or had with your parents, and the relationship you want to have with your children. For make no mistake about it, Jim is hammering home how important it is for children to have a strong father in their lives. I do not know if I will be able to make it over to Sugarloaf next week for the AT&T Classic, but if I do, I will make it a point to seek out and thank Jim for this book and for this oh so important message.

5 comments about Deep Drive: A Long Journey to Finding the Champion Within.

1. In the fall of 2005 when the Red Sox announced that they would be acquiring Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in a trade with the Marlins, I like most in Red Sox Nation, was skeptical about the abilities of the 3rd Basemen nobody seemed to want. After the 2006 season, I became a fan of Mike Lowell the player. I truly admired the way he played the game. After reading this book, I am now an even bigger fan of Mike Lowell the man. The book provides an intimate look into the rise of Mike Lowell to 2007 World Series MVP. His candor about his battles trying to achieve his goal of playing baseball in the majors, with cancer, and with the everyday life of being a professional athlete are not only inspiring, but truly illustrate what makes Mike Lowell so great on and off the field. His determination to succeed is evident through out the book, he remains positive and optimistic even through the nightmare of testicular cancer. A true role model and inspiration. Even if you are not a Red Sox fan you'll find this book entertaining, as it doesn't dwell on his time in Boston.



2. I had no expectations about this book when I started to read it. As a huge Mike Lowell fan, it wouldn't have mattered what it contained - I knew I would like it. But, I have to say, this book was much more than I thought it would be - kind of like Mike Lowell himself.
   
   The style of writing was very familiar - I felt like I was sitting talking to Mike as he shared his and his family's experiences with Castro, breaking into the big leagues and his battle with cancer. As someone who has also dealt with the "C" word, his positive attitude and approach was something I appreciated hearing about.
   
   The overall message of the book for me is that how things affect you in your life all has to do with how you react to them. Mike's experiences and his message is something that everyone can apply to their own lives. My only complaint was that the book ended! It left me wanting more! I highly recommend this book - it's much more than just a story of a great baseball player.



3. I was delayed in Logan airport and picked up the book just to kill the time. I bought the book thinking I would get a recap of last years World Series run and some inside perspective from the MVP of the series. But this book is much more than just baseball. Its a book that you SHOULD buy for your son and you SHOULD buy for your father. For your son so he can see what it means to do things with integrity and for the love of the game and for your father so he can see a real throwback player that does things like his heros did. I loved this book and just bought two more copies one for my son and one for my dad. ps I am a huge Yankee fan but a player and person like Mike Lowell is why I love this game. If you see a guy in Yankee stadium with a Yankee hat a Mike Lowell jersey come up and say hello.



4. This is sooo much more than your average baseball book. If you're interested in statistics alone you can always buy baseball cards. This is a powerful personal story of Mike Lowell: a son, a brother, a husband, a Father, a man who has never, and will never, forget where he and his family have come from and gone through, a CANCER SURVIVOR, and a Major League Baseball player. I can relate to him 100% on everything but being a Major League player. Mike calls this his "FOUNDATION". He unabashedly and with rightful pride details his family's history of fleeing from Castro's Cuba. His Father-In-Law spent fifteen years in a Cuban prison as a political prisoner. His memories of his "Mother having to sew her family's valuables into her dress as a little girl to circumvent the rule limiting a human being's life to one suitcase," is part of what is Mike's "FOUNDATION". This is a great deal more important than hitting and catching a baseball, which of course Mike does quite well as his record indicates via a Gold Glove for fielding, two world championships and four all-star teams. But that is not the true essence of this book.
   
   When Mike was eight-years-old, for the first time in his life he hit a game winning home run and life couldn't be sweeter. But on the way home in the car with his Dad, his Dad turned to him and said: "Doesn't it feel great to get that hit?" "I told him it sure did, still reveling in my new role as a third-grade-star." He then added, "If you want to do that more often, you have to WANT to be the guy that's in that situation-because a lot of people say they want to be in that situation, but they don't want to be in that situation." "Unbelievably, the glory of my home run had suddenly taken a backseat to these words. Even at that impatient age, listening to Dad was always the priority, and this was no exception." Twenty-five years later in the 2007 World Series after he hit the clinching seventh-inning home run he had heeded his Dad's advice again."
   
   But in between the childhood home run and the home run on the world's greatest stage, Mike faced life's largest and most deadly opponent: testicular cancer! The date was February 19, 1999. It's funny the way certain dates loom larger and more important than any others in your life. They make birthdays, anniversaries, graduation days seem inconsequential in comparison. I know! MY DATE is February 13, 2003; that's the day I almost died during brain tumor surgery. Mike hadn't even played one full season in the Major's. He describes what is was like driving by himself with tears streaming down his face with a possibly deadly secret, that only he and his Doctor knew, on the way home to tell his bride of four months. I took the same ride wondering how to tell my son. His loving strong family rallied around Mike and he made it through the surgery. He now chants and prays the exact same mantra I pray, every year I go in for my MRI (like Mike the frequency of these possible life altering tests have become less frequent as the positive results add up.) "PLEASE DON'T COME BACK," "PLEASE DON'T COME BACK. His five year anniversary was February 19, 2004... mine was February 13, 2008. As Mike and I know, these tests make facing a big at bat in a pennant race (or for me trying to close a big sale) akin to a walk in the park on a beautiful spring day.
   
   Yes, Mike has never forgotten where he came from, never forgot the core of his "FOUNDATION", nor have I. Like Mike, my Dad was my idol, and twenty-eight years after his death still is.
   
   Midway through Mike's first season in Boston when Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was reportedly very ill, Mike was quoted on the front page of the "Boston Herald" as saying : ** "I HOPE HE DIES!"** People who didn't know his "FOUNDATION" thought the quote was blown out of proportion, but the truth was that it wasn't. "The truth was that it was more real than most could comprehend." "He explained to the reporters where my anger came from. You have to understand, this was a man who had killed a family member of mine, imprisoned numerous other family members, violated human rights left and right, and forced people to become so desperate to escape his reign that they would go into an ocean knowing only one of four would make it, while the other three would most likely be eaten by sharks. There are tens of thousands of brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husband, and wives who have suffered atrocities at the hands of this man. So that's where my hatred came from. It might not have been the right thing to say, or something easily understood, but it was from the heart."
   
   Personally, I went looking for a baseball book, and I wound up finding a brother in arms in the fight against cancer, and instead of a baseball book I found a "BOOK OF INTEGRITY!"



5. The angle that is played in many sports (auto)biographies in straight out of pop culture; the formula goes that the bigger the controversy, the bigger the boasting and naming names, the "better" the read.
   
   Mike Lowell is not one of those players who is a wannabe playa.
   
   This is truly a journey around the diamond of life, where there are roadblocks to hurdle before touching each base. Lowell chronicles his battle with cancer, the hard work it took for him to become a major leaguer and the family values that has kept him on the right path, no matter what the odds.
   
   Not simply a chronicle from a baseball dugout, Lowell provides insight and inspiration for anyone who is willing to meet the challenges in the roller coaster of life.

5 comments about All for a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora.

1. I have read many biographies of famous surfers, but this book is my favorite. Miki Dora lived an enigmatic and mysterious life and probably no book could do justice to such a larger-than-life character, but Rensin's book will be hard to top. Filled with classic stories and epic tales, I didn't want the book to end. Whether you hate Dora for being such a jerk, or love him for being the ultimate soul surfer, this book will not disappoint.



2. A worthwhile read, especially for anyone who grew up with the mythic figure of Miki Dora looming large ('Dora lives' is, at last look, still graffitied on the seawall at Malibu). It is nearly shocking to see that Dora was, in fact, contemporary with the great Phil Edwards, largely because Dora remained relevant for so long -for his image as much as his surfing. Dora was the original poster boy for the rebel surfer, the anti-Gidget, who gathered together all the anti-social impulses of the solitary soul surfer. Keep surfing evil.



3. Rensin's a good writer and he's clearly fond of his subject. But the real Dora story isn't nearly as epic or heroic as he asserts. Mickey Dora was a great surfer, it's true. But how well we surf isn't ultimately as important as how well we treat each other. Dora was a thug, a juvenile delinquent, a criminal con-artist, an identity thief (long before the term was invented) and a violent dirt-bag Malibu local. He had no close friends, betrayed virtually everybody who tried to get close to him, had no partner, wife, or children. At best, his humanity was severely limited by his personal ethos of individual-uber-alles. At worst, he was a stone sociopath. Ultimately, he failed the only real test of goodness: the people around him did not grow or flourish. And he defined the model of socially irresponsible, reckless beach culture that would last decades.
   
   This is not a life I would have celebrated. He may have been a cat on a longboard, but in life he was a pig. In surf parlance, he got left behind on the section called Adulthood.



4. David Rensin has written an excellent life story of our old Malibu friend Mickey (as he was then known to us in the late 50's and early 60's). My friend Toni Donovan and I still, to this day, use our favorite Mickey quote: "What are friends for but to use" and David's book certainly makes it clear that Mickey took this adage to heart. I always wondered what happened to him after the mid 60's and now I know his unique life story. Great book from start to finish. Couldn't put it down!



5. Just finished the book "All for a few Perfect Waves", It was a excellant read! As a surfer my whole life, being the younger brother of a Malibu surfer Butch Yellich from the 60's who died young I can identify with the need to go on the journey for one's soul. It is a journey only taken alone, although many will cross paths. Miki burned alot of people, but eventually learned to trust. It was a very simple time, and today everything is in a hurry only to make money, no other reason than that, and that is too bad. Miki at least taught us to stop and pay attention, and that you need to appreciate the simple things. That you do not have to follow the masses, but instead can lead and create. The Oceans waves teach us that everything has a beginning, middle and ending. Everything is temporary. Life will end one day, so enjoy it with a good heart and clear consciousness! Thanks, Thomas Yellich

5 comments about My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse.

1. His last comment is "I hope I've done him justice." He most definitely has! This was a truly heartwarming story of the magnificent rapport between a jockey and a wonderful horse. They shared a kinship, and throughout the book, the reader is able to feel and rejoice in their bond. Sadly, Barbaro had to ultimately be euthanized, but you never doubt that he really felt the love that surrounded him.



2. My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse Horseracing is a sport in which the horses are too often regarded by their connections as nothing more than commodities. Not so with Barbaro. Edgar Prado's love of this great champion was tangible in his moving account of their relationship, especially as he wrote of the months that followed Barbaro's ultimately fatal injury. If we thought the only time he visited Barbaro was when the cameras were rolling, we were wrong. It is especially gratifying to learn that Barbaro's tragedy has led Prado to become a vocal advocate for the welfare of thoroughbred horses. In addition to raising money for veterinary research, Prado works with groups that rescue unwanted thoroughbreds who would otherwise end up dying under appalling conditions in foreign slaughterhouses. His efforts to improve conditions for Barbaro's breed does honor to Barbaro's memory.



3. This is the best book I have ever read. Mr. Prado brought such beauty and feeling to Barbaro. I followed the horse and was crushed when he was injured, then more so when he died. This book brought him into your heart and into the place of this great jockey. I hope he will write more.



4. It was hard for me to read this book, knowing the sad ending. I'm nuts about animals, and stories about the death of one invariably makes me tear up. I read the ending of Good Dog. Stay., for example, with tears streaming down my face, although it was the story of an old dog that had lived a long and pampered life. Barbaro, on the other hand, dies in pain at the peak of his life.
   
   Author Edgar Prado, Barbaro's jockey, tells this heartbreaking story with skill and compassion. From the moment Prado first sees Barbaro, he is impressed. "He wasn't a sleek and slender classic beauty. He was all jock."
   
   Prado successfully petitions the owners to let him ride the big colt. After a thrilling win in the Kentucky Derby -- with the largest margin of victory since 1946 -- Barbaro is the favorite for the Preakness. But in this second leg of the Triple Crown, the horse sustains an injury, a terrible fracture. By quickly stopping Barbaro, Prado prevents the racehorse from damaging his leg further.
   
   Although at first it seems to go well, the recovery effort does not work. At the end Barbaro is suffering and losing weight. The big horse is put down.
   
   Prado includes 33 color photographs, most of them of Barbaro in his glory days, racing around a track. He seems to be flying, with his feet barely touching the ground. A shot of him the day before the Preakness shows Barbaro in his stall, reaching out his long neck and nuzzling the horse next door.
   
   That one got to me. I cried.



5. This is a beautifully written book. It must be very difficult for two people to collaborate on a book and come out with a single cohesive voice and style, but this book has that. Edgar Prado is a brilliant jockey and a fine man with a loving heart. This book conveys that and adds a unique new perspective to a remarkable story.
   
   The first time he saw Barbaro, Edgar was riding another horse in the Laurel Futurity. As Barbaro broke away from the pack to win by eight lengths, Edgar says, "My horse had basically stopped running when he saw Barbaro pull away. I swore the sight had depressed him. But it had thrilled me. When you see a horse accelerate and finish like that,... you know you're seeing something special."
   
   He describes his feelings after a phone call in which he and trainer Michael Matz agreed that Edgar would be Barbaro's new jockey: "I smiled as I hung up. I was being handed the keys to a Lamborghini."
   
   Edgar talks about the significance of Barbaro starting out as a turf horse and switching later to dirt. Previously, Barbaro had been saddled on hard concrete floors in paddocks before racing on dirt tracks. However, preparations for the Preakness were different. "Now he was being saddled on grass, which excited him. He was a turf horse at heart,... He was never happier than when he was running on grass. The longer he stood on the grass, the more excited he became. He breathed harder. His muscles tensed. He was noticeably pumped up by the time I got on him." Barbaro was "agitated, impatient, a little too eager to get going" in the post parade. Edgar implies that this might have been a factor in the subsequent tragedy.
   
   I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, but I cannot give it a five-star rating. Throughout this book, Barbaro's magnificent groom, Eduardo Hernandez, is repeatedly and inexplicably called "Jose" (no last name). A quick Google during the book's editing process would have identified Eduardo so that he could have been properly acknowledged as the person who had given Barbaro such excellent and loving care.

1 comments about My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon.

1. It's a story of redemption - the kind any person can appreciate. It's a story of world-wide adventures any runner can enjoy. It's an honest story of a man who found his deepest meaning and achievement in running. It made me laugh; it made me cry. It made me want to achieve more in running and in life. Through Bart's life on the run I came to understand the world-wide appeal of running and the support in the world-wide community of runners. I hope Bart gets to run that last race!

5 comments about It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life.

1. A frank and honest portrait of one mans struggle. This is not a 'wow, aren't I great' book, but one that shows the awful journey people have to take and what gets them to "over come the odds".
   
   The achievement of the subject of this entertaining read is his amazing recovery from cancer which was followed shortly afterwards by spectacular sporting success. The book is undoubtedly compelling, and was simply, clearly and strikingly written.
   
   Even if you're not into cycling you will love this book.



2. Quite good. The compelling part of the book is to hear Lance tell how he overcame advanced-stage prostate cancer, with treatments that fully debilitated him. Only then did he come back to win the Tour de France for the first time! (And the only time in this book.) He is frank about the rougher sides of his personality, but does go beyond his illness to learn how to be a better person. You are cheering for him all the way. Although written with a ghost writer, it is his voice that comes through loudly and clearly. The book ends with him quite in love with his wife and first child, projecting a family life into the future. Sadly, as we know, it was not to be, nor did he stick it out with Sheryl Crow who had yet to appear in his story.



3. The story of Lance Armstong's life up until 2001 will be a challenge to put down for even those who are not fans of cycling. This story unfolds as an enthralling voyage taken alongside one of the greatest athletes in history from his very low points facing apparent death by brain cancer to the high points of full recovery and winning the Tour de France.
   
   Lance is extremely strong willed, bold, determined, and presents a story for the ages with his first autobiography. His story is so compelling that I highly recommend this book to anyone.



4. This is a great book for his fears, fight, hope and established interest in cancer. It is an inspirational story for those with cancer as well as their friends, for information and support. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it is a little bit about the bike, but it is an excellent book to give hope to those with cancer to be cured and survive.



5. Don't get me wrong, this book is GREAT. But reading it in 2008 will give you the feeling the end is missing in this book. No Sheryl Crow and no seven tour victories. This book covers Lance's dealings with cancer and his bike up until his second tour victory.
   
   What I really admire about this book is the way it has been written. No subjects are pushed to the back and the man Armstrong really comes forward. His battle with testicular cancer has been known throughout the world, but when you read about it in great detail you can actually grasp his battle for the first time.
   
   This book can be a great gift. Ever catch a person whining about something trivial? Then make him humble by reading this book.