Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Tour de Force - Tour de Lance
By now all of Europe and the Americas know of Lance Armstrong, the Texan who beat cancer and went on to win the leader's jersey of the Tour de France three consecutive years in a row - something never accomplished by an American riding in the European peloton. In part one of his book Armstrong presents a biographical tour of his life from childhood, the relationships which shaped him and the natural abilities as an athlete. He is honest about himself, his character and subsequent flaws. He places a lot of emphasis on the deep and meaningful relationship with his mother. In part two the book deals with the discovery, diagnosis, battle and remission of cancer. Armstrong is once again very open and honest in sharing his emotional state with the reader. He writes in detail about the disease, the process of chemotherapy, and the many professionals, friends and family who supported him through very dark and uncertain times. The third and final part of Armstrong's book is actually too good to be true. In it he describes his recovery or remission, if you will, the fact that he also gets the girl and goes on to prove the entire cycling establishment wrong by winning the 1999 Tour de France as a member of the USPS team. Of course none of the pages are sugar coated. Lance describes in detail what it feels like to be dropped by sponsors, to struggle back into racing shape, and how to cycle arguably the most grueling race in the world. Anyone can clearly profit from reading the book and perhaps even receive an education in sheer courage and determination. Of of the finest quote from his book is this: "If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way." Lance Armstrong certainly did.
Rating: - Cancer as a tool for transformation
Lance Armstrong in his book recounts the transformation that happened in his life out of finding out at age 25 that he had very advanced testicular cancer. Incredibly, he was able to beat very unfavorable odds and come through cancer free. The cancer in his case seems to have worked as a tool that helped him transform and wake up to the richness of his life. He discovered how loved and supported he was by his family and friends, he discovered and was able to appreciate the dedication and incredible talent of others who collaborated to save his life, he discovered his inner resources and his passion for living, he rediscovered his love for the Bike which he was taking for granted... Out of this experience he won the Big Price: Huge professional success and a very fulfilling and loving marriage. If you are interested in transformational experiences and in discovering the state of being where success, love, satisfaction, self expression and aliveness reside, I highly recommend that you also read the book WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK by Ariel and Shya Kane. This book is a gem and it delivers all the keys to personal transformation and enlightenment. I highly recommend it to anybody who, like Lance Armstrong, is willing to challenge the limits of what we think it is possible to make happen in our lives.
Rating: - A great book in spite of recent news
Up front, I am a father, husband and athlete. I say that so that my comments below do not get dismissed as being from a female perspective. Unlike many of the reviewers, I did not read this book until May, 2003. First of all, this is a great and fast read. It is very entertaining and educational. It is an uplifting story of a son raised by a single mother, who did not fit in with the popular groups in school and who chose cycling as a way to escape, both physically and emotionally. It is a great story of the American Dream come reality. He literally worked to get where he is today, a champion and millionaire. It is also a great account of combat with a deadly disease, complete with excrutiatingly detailed descriptions of the horrific battle cancer patients fight. Simply put, there is much about the book and Lance Armstrong to admire. That said, I agree with many of the negative comments about Armstrong being self-absorbed and self-centered, although that is not relevant to a review of whether this is book worth your reading. After reading a recent magazine article which revealed that he now has been separated from his wife I found the book to contradict reality, at least as it goes to his loyalty to her. There is no doubt that Armstrong suffered and had to fight for his life through cancer, and that his subsequent 4 straight victories in the Tour are a remarkable achievement. But I now find myself questioning some of the things he states in his book. I think the reader will come away with one distinct impression that perhaps Armstrong himself cannot even realize: He has been able to do what he has done due to the love and support of two women, his mother and his wife. Another thing that he seems blind to and takes for granted are the many friends who seem to bend over backward to support him. One disturbing example is his repeated accounts of his previous girlfriend's love and support during his cancer battle. She repeatedly appears at all places, then when he goes into remission, she is dismissed from the book with one or two lines about the battle having burned her out on the relationship. He never mentions her again. Then when he writes about meeting his future wife, he makes it a point to state, "I know I am supposed to say the light changed when I first saw her, but it didn't." Some of the sacrifices made by his wife to support his return to cycling are almost unbelievable. But the fact that he seemingly now has chosen his bike over his family is not surprsing if you read between the lines of the book. That said, he tells a poweful story and is a role model for athletic work-ethic and drive, if not for being a great human being. He is the kind of person you'd want your son to emulate if he is going to be a world-class athlete, but for any other role, I'd avoid his example.
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