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Lance Armstrong's War: One Man's Battle Against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, and a Few Other Rivals on the Road to the Tour de France
: I was excited to see another book about Lance. But before I would read it, I wanted to know what Lance was saying about it himself. I couldn't find anything by Lance, but I found one comment by the author from an interview. He said he sent Lance a draft of this book so Lance could correct and clarify. Lance never responded. I probably won't waste money on this book until I hear Lance approves the story and its publication.
 I was disappointed in the product because the pages were out of order. I don't have the book with me now, but it started around page 30 and went thru page 50, then began page 1.
 I don't say Armstrong is inspirational solely based on the fact that he beat cancer. That is certainly a part of it and it gives hope to people battling that dread disease. But what is really inspirational is his incredible drive to succeed. Drive? No, drive is not the correct word. Rather what comes through in this book is Armstrong's obsession to succeed. As Armstrong prepares to try an win his sixth straight Tour de France, Author Daniel Coyle gives us a look into what makes Armstrong tick. If anything, the fact that he's won five straight times already even seems to drive him more because of the detractors who think he can't do it. He's older now, competing in a rigorous event that totally taxes the body and yet tell Armstrong he can't do it only seems to make him more determined.
Coyle shadowed Armstrong throughout his training and preparation for the 1994 Tour de France to give the world insight into a guy who despite his success, is still largely unknown to the world at large. We think of Armstrong for this one period of the year and then he disappears from our thoughts until the next race. Coyle also brilliantly focuses the spotlight on some of Armstrong's chief rivals so we can try and view him through their eyes, and what the feel about this man. It's quite a fascinating story, and most of it all new to me.
 What I found most interesting about this book was the insight it gives the reader on what life is like in the pro peleton. The sacrifice and pain that a pro cyclist goes through is greater than any other professional sport. This book gives one an idea of what it takes to compete at the highest level and how close the margin is between winning and losing. Coyle's book offers a glimpse at Armstrong's mental and physical state in the build up to the Tour de France. I found the book both enjoyable and informative.
Mr. Coyle has written an outstanding book that offers a view into the world of the peleton, and into Lance Armstrong's intense world on and off the bike. I could not put the book down. As for the peleton and professional cycling, we learn about sports physiology, the brutal sport that cycling is, the various and hilarious things that go on before, during, and after training and racing, and we obtain insight into Lance's main competitors - and a tough ex-teammate of Lance's by the name of Floyd Landis. In the end, however, I was conflicted. Armstrong's greatness as a cyclist and cancer survivor and advocate is somewhat tainted by a dark side emphasized near the very end of the book. This is OK, however. No one is perfect, and lilly-white reads are often as boring as they are untrue. Mr. Coyle's presentation - in my view - is without bias or an agenda; it is not a tabloid piece, but a well-balanced presentation. This likely took some cajones on Mr. Coyle's part because Armstrong, according to many accounts, including some in the book, can be vindictive against those who write or say unflattering things about him, or imply same. Time will tell as to whether Mr. Coyle will be on Armstrong's s*&! list. In any event, Mr. Coyle's book allows the reader to draw his/her own opinions as to the epic man - Lance Armstrong.
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