After reading a synopsis in the Aug. issue of Readers Digest, I went out and bought the book. It's an absolute MUST read!

Ten times better than the Christopher Reeve book. I laughed. I cried. I wished it would never end. It's hilarious, touching and absolutely riveting. By the end of the book, you feel like a totally new person.

I've never written a book review before, so you've got to know how much I loved this book. Buy it, read it and pass it on to a friend. It's truly transformational.

Zoe Koplowitz bursts out of the pages of her book like the marathon runner she is. Diagnosed with MS in her 20s, she started participating in the NY Marathon in her 40s. Its a dead last finish every time but with wry wit and the spirituality of one with a chronic disease Zoe illustrates her incredible spirit. Ice, gale winds, street gangs, threats of drive-by shootings and the race run on crutches in the dead of night are some of the events she has experienced. The NY Marathon on crutches? Yes indeed and thats only the beginning of Zoe.She unfolds sometimes like a tender flower and other times like a bamboo spike growing in some steamy SE Asian jungle. Her warrior spirit is infectuous even if one isnt coping with slings and arrows, A must read for those heavily involved in a pity party. A definite must read for those who explode in the joy of life.

This book is hysterical! I laughed so hard that I nearly wet my pants. (And I was in the waiting room at the dentist's office at the time!) Zoe reminds us that the attitude that she takes into each marathon, and the one that Multiple Sclerosis patients and others should take into the daily marathon called life, is not the importance of winning, but the importance of doing our best with a smile on our face and a song on our lips.

While written about twenty-two people, the stories told here could have been written about any one of us. The authors' concept of a "moment of truth" is a familiar one,one of which we all need to be aware. A small crisis or a devastating event that finally changes our life for the better,but only if we let it. The book chronicles the hardships these "moments" can bring and how each person (some celebrated, some not) turned tragedy into triumph. It invites you to be awake to your life. It reminds you of the commonality of the human spirit. It compels
you to reach out to others: you may be part of their "moment of truth". A small treasure - not to be missed!

Authors Celizic and Wainwright offer stories of courage. They believe that everyone has a moment of truth, that is, a major crisis which results in a life changing experience. The stories are inspirational and are about people from all walks of life, not just celebrities. The universal thread in the book is the discovery of inner strength within each person and the qualities they developed; each confides that they became a "better person". A motivational collection of pain, hardships, courage and finding the blessings inherent in change. In its tone and scope, this book is reminiscient of Mary Carroll Moore's, "How To Master Change in Your Life. Both are practical, insightful, well researched, informative and timely.

A must read! Well written, inspiring and heartfelt, it reads like a diary you happen to find ... except it's a celebrity diary! After reading this book, I felt that even though I had not experienced the notoriety of these people, they were just like me - flawed, scared, and struggling to find their way sometimes. I never thought I'd have something in common with Celine Dion! What a wonderful way to show how much the human spirit can endure and succeed. Can't wait for the next one.

I found this book to be very interesting as I compared the times detailed here (mid-1960's) to today. Society has changed in many ways, but the intense competition on the field is nothing new!

The author, as a Notre Dame alumnus, tends to bring the Irish point of view into his narrative, especially in regards to the fallout of Ara's decision at the end of the game, but this is a minor flaw and I enjoyed the book very much. If you are at all interested in the history of college football, and historic moments, this book is for you.

Courage has many faces and countless meanings. For some it may be pursuing your goals against all odds. Others may define it as standing up for your beliefs. It may even be as simple as waking up each morning to face the challenges of a new day. Author, Mike Celizic, defines courage through the stories of thirteen extraordinary men and women. People he believes have earned the right to be called "heroes". Some like George Foreman, Joe Montana, Billie Jean King and Scott Hamilton are virtually household names. Others like Jim Abbot, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Gary Carter and Bernard King are well recognized within their respective fields. Two of them (Tess Hyman and Bart Giamatti) while intimately involved with sports exemplified "courage" through other than athletic prowess. Don't expect the ordinary view of sports and the people who play them from Celizic. He has been a renowned sportswriter since 1983 and has a gift of showing the intricate details of each "square" and not just the overall design of the "quilt" in telling each story. His style stems from knowledge, insight and compassion. The book was well worth the read alone for the chapter on A. Bartlett Giamatti (the commissioner who banned Pete Rose from baseball).This work imparts knowledge to the reader of some popular and also some lesser known sports. It profiles several dedicated and accomplished human beings (most just happen to be athletes). It chronicles the obstacles they faced and the triumphs they savored. Most importantly, it proves Celizic's point, "that it is possible to be honorable and decent and still be successful".

A wonderful book for the baseball enthusiast. I was fascinated by the outlook he had towards the game and how difficult it was for him to make it into the Major Leagues.

His love for playing the game was equal to Ty Cobb's and Pete Rose's and he played with the same dedication and determination.

The determination he showed during the days of "colored only" hotels, stores, and sections in the ballpark, when Jackie Robinson was just opening the door was "eye opening." His innovative way of thinking, and refusal to accept things for what they are just because "it's always been that way" changed the game of baseball forever and made this an excellent reading experience!

He also shows his vulnerable side and how his addiction to coccaine cost him his career, his fortune, and almost cost him his life.

A very interesting man, and a story worth telling.

Yes, you will find lots of stats and an inside look at the game of baseball. Maury will tell you how he stole the 104 bases, sized up the pitchers and what drove him to be the best. He will even give you insights into other players of his era. If the book had stopped here, It would have been a great sports biography. Lucky for You (the reader) there's more. It is one of the most touchingly human true stories you'll find. Maury recounts his life from his childhood in The Projects, in Washington, D.C., through 1988. He will let you feel how racism, romances and the sports media affected his life on and off the field, The payoff begins, however, in what happened to his life after he was fired, as a manager, from the Seattle Mariners. Yes, this gifted athlete, this deeply moral person who didn't even believe in smoking in front of his young fans became an alcoholic/addict. This book, then, was not written to be a simple sports autobiography. It was written to give hope to the addict who still suffers, it was meant to be of service. Maury wants to let you know that it can happen to anyone but also wants you to know that you can recover. He tells you what was true for him in each of these situations. Maury Wills speaks with courage, truth and conviction from a very tender heart. Mike Celizic writes the story with honesty, compassion and a style that makes it a great read.