Great read. Michael Phelps has experienced being at the ...
922658
Great read. Michael Phelps has experienced being at the top and near the bottom. He learned and grew into the great person he is now.
387321
Being a rower myself, I felt that the description of the difficult training and the feeling of being in the boat was quite accurate.  The story is compelling and enjoyable, even if you already know the eventual outcome before you start reading the book. It's a great, inspiring story of how the West Coast rowing program not just came into its own, but also reaching the Olympic level.  Non-rowers will get an opportunity to peer into the window of this sport and feel some of the excitement.
2337928
Being a swimmer myself I  already I knew I'd love this book. And looking up to those who do great things in sports, I was thrilled to lay hands on this book! Lundgren takes you on an incredible journey of not just him doing his favorite sport, but he invites you on his journey and into his lifestyle. I love the personal accounts and the parallel between his life journey and his training. Truly inspirational, heartwarming, and brave! It's a must read!
1350399
This was a very good although tragic read.  The author did a fantastic job keeping things interesting and moving the story along. Well done Mr. Phelps, I will be looking for more of your books.
996486
Classic Phelps! Deep background, waited 5 months for it to drop....read it in 2 nights. Most important ; MWilliam Phelps gets the truth out for the families and helps the family of the victim get their justice! We love M William Phelps!!!!
4857194
I love the writing of M. William Phelps. Seeing his new show on the cold case files of serial killers peaked my interest in purchasing this book. The content was more raw, almost stream of thought writing. I loved this change from the usual writings. The book is short, a quick read and worth the time if you are a fan.
4763424
I read this & really liked the way Phelps tells a true story full of facts, but it's not just facts. He is a very thorough fact finder & the man he writes about in this is a very interesting read. There are pages of photographs from the scene which make it very real, which it is. I REALLY enjoyed this. If you like true crime, you'll love this.
3321733
Great read and fun. Helps to understand what shaped this marine to become a coaching legend.
669330
Author Mike Wien knows what he's talking about.  He is a world-class competitor and Ironman Triathlete, and a respected business consultant who worked for Pepsi, Frito Lay, Citibank and Deloitte.

He's "been there, run that."

The book is a fast, insightful read because Mike shares his personal experiences and recommendations on how to distinguish yourself - in whatever you do - by developing the endurance, discipline and concentration to break out instead of blend in.

Highly recommended.
3932172
The book, Pipe Dreams is a biography of the six-time world champion Kelly Slater. From the moment you begin to read his story, you are drawn in. The way the book is written, it makes you feel like your right there every step of the way and witnessing history being made. It gives you a mental image of the goals and dreams that he achieved. Slater is now known as one of the World's Greatest Surfer's. Kelly has earned the respect and crediblility from his peers and idols, and made friends with people he thought he would never get a chance to meet. This book was very well written and helps you understand who Kelly really is.

  I truly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  It gives you a better understanding of Kelly's life and what it was like for him growing up. You will see where Kelly's smooth, creative, and unique style comes from. I like this book because Slater helps you feel the rush of the wave. Although Slater sruggled in life, he is very successful and for that he is an inspiration to me. I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in surfing.
4924702
superb book. Easy read. I am 52 years old from Brooklyn and it brought back many memories of the names that the Shark recruited. great book!!
919576
This is a great read for triathletes as well as anyone who is trying to better themselves at life. Many great takeaways to live by.
2921676
If you have even the slightest affection for the water, this is a great fun read.  The book is partly Lynn's story and partly a light history of swimming, but mostly an attempt to share with the outside world a small glimpse of why we crazy few love the water.

From a swimmer's perspective, the book really resonated with me (how many women haven't thought about passing up a swim because it was too much work getting your hair wet!) but I also appreciated how it stayed light enough to be a non-technical read (minimal discussion of stroke technique but a lot of fun cameos from various famous swimmers over the ages).  Finally someone who appreciates what it is to feel like you often smell vaguely of chlorine!

This isn't meant to be a huge life-changing book, but it is definitely a fun light read for swimmers and non-swimmers alike.
2189788
I am a Marine Corps and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and I gotta say Kevin Site's experiences dictated in his book "In The Hot Zone" was truly a great read. During my time overseas and in the military I can admit I was a bit brainwashed and deemed everyone who wasn't friendly to the Marines in the press as enemy sympathizers. Now that I have been out nearly 6 years I can see it from a less bias perspective. I remember when the video was recorded of the Marine's execution of an unarmed insurgent in Fallujah. Though I don't remember what ever came of it, probably because I was more worried about keeping my head down and staying alive. It was disturbing to read that General Richard Natonski, a general I recall meeting and served under, took no action against the Marine who was caught clearly on tape executing an unarmed and injured opponent. It was embarrassing to me, my Corps, and my country. One should not let their own patriotism blind them to what's right and what's wrong. I thank Kevin for showing me that through his book. Simply a great read!
4715932
I don't believe this has been published yet. At ant rate I have not received it yet. I do love Phelps and have every book he has written. A super writer who really cares about the victim and their families. Keep those books coming. Please!
725347
Well written.  I am old enough to fully appreciate insights about sports stars referenced in the book. I have followed the teams Bob Ryan covered.  Book was well organized. An unexpected benefit of the book was the author's sharing his many experiences in a number of the Olympic Games,
.
1255000
Terrific story of three great men from different continents who are more than just athletes but are men with academic responsibilities that come first but they found time to train under unique circumstances while trying to break the four minute mile barrier on cinder tracks. Banister is well know as the 1952 Olympian who is racing against his own personal time knowing his completion of medical school will end his career soon as he tries to break the barrier before anyone else. John Landy is the modest Australian somewhat isolated who trains virtually at when he can and he has a break through after leaving Cerutty's unique Stoatan training program that may have given him the necessary base to perform at a high level. Wes Santee is the Kansas miler whose coach puts the team above individualism that seems to cost Santee the opportunity to run fresh against major competition. All three come to a head in 1954, as it is virtually a race of opportunity since either of the three appears to be able to break it. Bannister literally streaks ahead with his training partners in a controversial but legitimate first sub four-minute mile. Landy roars back weeks later with an amazing front led 3:57. The second climax of the book is the great show down between the two sub fours at the Vancouver games. Santee cannot be there due to his commitment to the Marines. Landy runs in spite of an injury, keeps it secret but runs another sub four after leading virtually from the start but is cut down by Bannister at the end. Terrific book about three great men that you have to admire and you feel for Santee who has limited individual opportunities and is handcuffed by the rigid AAU officials who also limit his opportunities seemingly in pay back for his free spirit. Wonderful book that will charge up any former or current track athlete particularly when you think how just rain could ruin any attempt by making ruts and lakes in the cinder track and even after rolling off the water and repaving the track, the dampness would remain making the track heavy to run on. The author also fills you in on what else was going on in the 50's and punctuates the book with quotes from classical writers such as Lewis Carroll that have some metaphorical relationship to the chase for the record. The racing passages are so exciting, you can literally feel the lactic acid building up in your legs while reading of their attempts to run those last 200 yards in those gallant attempts at the record.