Ultimately this book is about cancer, what it did to his life, and what he had to do to survive. The chapters in which Armstrong talks about the disease, his treatments, and the effects are unflinching in their honesty. There were parts which I actually had trouble reading, not because of graphic details (which are virtually absent), but because of the empathy I felt. The language employed is simple, but manages to communicate the pain and sheer hell of living with cancer. I had no idea just how widespread the disease was in Armstrong. It wasn't just his testicle; it spread to his his lungs and brain with a frightening rapidity. Likewise, I was completely clueless on the level of toxicity employed in chemotherapy. The doctors are poisoning the patient with some of the most vile substances around in a desperate attempt at salvation. Some of the chemo parts were difficult to read, but they helped me develop an appropriate respect for anyone forced to undergo such treatment. There are no euphemisms employed here, only the bare truth. That includes, mind you, the occasional smiles and human connections which foster strength and endurance. The lone fact that such desolate ground was covered without a whiff of hyperbole or sensationalism makes this a book worth your time.
It's not all doom and gloom. He does live, and he does win. Indeed, once the cancer goes into remission and he begins to ride, the narration becomes some of the best sports writing I've ever read. The comeback was not easy, either emotionally or physically, but it did happen and is a great story in and of itself. In the telling, Armstrong provides the reader with a primer on the world of competitive cycling. If you've ever watched any bike races, you already know more than you think. The politics of it, however, were entirely new to me, as were the dynamics of races and racers, with his discussion of the peleton something I found especially enlightening. The coverage of the Tour itself was impressive in that the book reduces a three week race to a manageable chapter without losing anything in the process. There were times the writing had me all but standing in my chair, cheering him to the finish line like it was a live race.
Article comments