IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE by Lance Armstrong

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Armstrong, Lance. 2001. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 9780425179611

PLOT SUMMARY/CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This nonfiction book tells the story of Lance Armstrong from childhood to adulthood.  Armstrong faced many challenges throughout his life.  He was raised by a teen mother who made many sacrifices in order for Lance to have a better life.  He struggled to fit in as a young child since he grew up in a town where football was a favorite among the town.  Lance began riding and racing bikes.  He went on to win a multitude of races, triathlons, and the Tour de France seven times.  His struggles became even greater when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and this is when the battle for his life began.  Today he is a cancer survivor…he beat the cancer the cancer did not beat him. 

This book is told in first person from the perspective of Lance Armstrong.  Since he is tell his own story it makes the reader relate to him on a different level.  He is an expert on cycling therefore he gives the reader real insight into the sport.  However he tells the stories and explains the topic to where the reader is able to completely understand.  His expertise and deep knowledge of the sport provides the reader with accurate information.  The use of photographs also allows the reader a greater understanding.

The story of his struggle with cancer and survival is the main theme of this book.  This biography lets the reader deep into the secrets of his life and just how low his odds of survival were.  This story of survival will touch the hearts of all who read this book, and will feel as if you are going through this with him all over again.  Against all odds Armstrong was going to fight until he won his battle with cancer.  "Winning my life back would be the biggest victory."  This is a book where Armstrong shares his journey through victory, tragedy, and survival with his readers.

  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, January 2001

*LIBRARY JOURNAL, June 2000

*PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, May 2000

*BOOKLIST, March 2001

EXEMPLARY OR FAVORITE LINES

*“During our lives...we experience so many setbacks, and fight such a hand-to-hand battle with failure, head down in the rain, just trying to stay upright and to have a little hope.”
*“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
*“My mother told me...if you're going to get anywhere, you're going to have to do it yourself, because no one is going to do it for you.”
*“Hope that is the only antidote to fear.”
*“For most of my life I had operated under a simple schematic of winning and losing, but cancer was teaching me a tolerance for ambiguities.”
*"Winning my life back would be the biggest victory."