Jamie's Reviews > It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

A friend of mine loaned me this book years ago; he enjoyed it and recommended that I read it. This friend had never loaned me a book before, and since he's a bit more of a jock than me, I thought I might not get the same satisfaction as he did. So I put it on my shelf and considered it from time to time over the years, but finally picked it up when there was nothing else of interest on the shelf.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I have never read any sports books before, and didn't know what to expect. I also thought Lance Armstrong would come off as a cocky overachiever, but after reading the book I have a different level of respect for him and his career. I also have much more respect for cycling as a sport, and the Tour de France as a challenge I will probably never understand.

Of course you know how the book ends and most of the story throughout (amazing cyclist wins many races, fights and beats testicular cancer, comes back to win the Tour de France numerous times) but it doesn't feel like you're reading a story you already know. It's much more personal, insightful, and exciting than that. It's an easy read, and I found myself eager to go to bed at night to read it. I would recommend this to anyone - you don't need to be a sports or cycling enthusiast to appreciate this book.