Thought of Picking up some book for motivation. "Its not about the Bike" was lying in to-read section for a long time. After my refound love for bikes this became the obvious choice.
Here are my 2 cents, The book starts off very well. Armstrong love for bikes and journey on the saddle is well narrated. Armstrong's fight against cancer is the most interesting and touching part of the book. This gives insight into a persons psyche suffering with cancer and lying on a death bed. Out of Armstrong's literacy about the cancer book gives good knowledge about the symptoms, course of treatment and how it is mentally, physically and emotionally challenging. One learns that a sportsmen not only fights against the disease or injuries but also faces issues like team support, sponsors and reporters mis-interpreting the situations.
His journey back on the bike is not very well written, it appears that he fought back just because of his sheer ability and good people around him rather than his willingness to do what he loved the most. His wife (Kik) come out as a real hero through her personality. How she backed him just after recovering from cancer, how she became the source of inspiration to him, how she sacrificed her personal life to let Armstrong achieve his dream to win the tour and be the father after diagnosed with testicular cancer and tumors in his brain and lungs.
Final journey to the tour is written with fine details but does not attract a "sportscenter" fan like me. The books grabs the attentions through initial section and the cancer part, it becomes tame in-between (which i anticipated to be the most interesting sections of the book), and in the end the tour part of the book good. Over all book is interesting only in patches, Kik's character stands out among all. Book also paints classic American family, where Armstrong refuses to talk to his real father, having issues with stepfather, having to live with his step-siblings, etc.
Couple of days back I stumbled on the Lance Armstrong's wiki page. Got to know Lance and Kik filed divorce in 2003. And that's how disappointing the book is.
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3 comments:
The book wasn't too impressive the first time I read it either. I read it when it first came out and then again a few years back. I understood a lot more of it the second time around.
I first thought it was his new book. But from your description I remembered the story. I've read that book in Dutch a few times, many years ago. I remember that it really inspired me.
Yet I am in doubt these days about what to think of Armstrong. For one part he is an inspiring person and a magnificent strong guy.
However parts of this book and other factors make me believe that Lance must not be an easy fellow to life with and oh man if he really has been doing secret stuff during his tours, that would certainly be the final break of my pro-cycling loving hart.
Thanks for sharing the info. The book seems like a nice read. Infact i am thinking of getting it for my husband. He is always looking for motivations videos, quates etc.
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