Biography

Background

Published in 2021, “Pele” is an autobiographical look at the remarkable life of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pele. With a balanced narrative, Pele shares his humble origins in impoverished Brazil, his rapid ascent to international stardom, and his accomplishments both on and off the soccer field.

My Thoughts

It’s always humbling and thought provoking to read an autobiography from someone who was born poor outside of the United States. We are so very blessed in this country and it’s a shame so many people aren’t aware of how many advantages we have. Pele or Edson wasn’t really born poor by the standards of those around him but it is a world of difference to the average family in the US.

There were so many things I didn’t know about him outside of the soccer field. I found the persona he crafted to be likable despite the occasional Latino machismo-like feel. He comes across as basically a good person who is doing his best in a world of corruption. However, the book was slow and I feel like I had to push myself to finish it.

Recommendation

If you are a fan, I’d bet you’d love it. For the rest of us, you could skip this one without too much guilt.

Background

Published in June of 2012, “Eat & Run” by Scott Jurek is a memoir that documents his rise to become one of the most well known ultramarathon runners of all time and his transition to a plant-based diet. Jurek recounts his childhood in a Minnesota logging town, his early days as a struggling runner, and his eventual success in some of the world’s toughest races, including the Western States 100 and the Badwater Ultramarathon. Throughout the book, Jurek provides practical advice on training, nutrition, and the mental toughness needed to succeed in long-distance running.

My Thoughts

I remember 2012 and that, like many, I had adopted the barefoot running craze that swept the country with the book “Born to Run.” It was interesting to read something from that time period but from the angle of an Ultra Marathoner. The author was a fan of some cushion in his soul…

I’ve heard the name Scott Jurek in a few places. More recently in the book, “In Pursuit of Endurance” which I read a few weeks back. He definitely made a name for himself but I didn’t know much about the vegetarian thing. I can’t say I care a great deal about that but I was interested to hear about some of his ideas on how to cook.

Recommendation

I won’t be reading it again but I was glad I finished it.

Background

Published in March of 2009 “The Long Run” is a memoir by Matt Long, a New York City firefighter and Ironman triathlete who survived a horrific bus accident that left him with life-threatening injuries. The book details Long’s harrowing road to recovery, which included dozens of surgeries and years of physical therapy. Along the way, Long reflects on his love of sports, his career as a firefighter, and the importance of perseverance and mental toughness. Through his story, Long also sheds light on the selflessness and bravery of first responders, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Overall, “The Long Run” is an inspiring and uplifting tale of one man’s remarkable journey to overcome incredible odds and reclaim his life.

My Thoughts

The book started and sounded like any number of Firefighter/Police/Military conversations I’ve heard where one person is trying to posture themselves above everyone else. I wasn’t impressed. However, as the book went on, the author didn’t quite seem to be such a blowhard. Then he slowly takes you on the ride he went through bit by bit. It isn’t quite chronological but he did a good job stringing things together. Also, I loved the name of his bar. That seemed to be perfect!

Recommendation

Worth the time.

Background

Published in March of 2020, Spirit Run is a autobiographical look into an annual 6000 mile run down North America and into Central America. The author explores what it means to be a Native American as he learns about himself.

My Thoughts

This book is full of many things I know nearly nothing about. It rang true in my experiences with Natives or Indians as they have always called themselves when I’ve been around them. I think it is too easy for most people to lump them all together in one group but there are many peoples and so much history and culture has been blended together. No wonder the author seemed to consistently be trying to find himself and wonder if he was “enough”.

Recommendation

It was ok. I won’t be reading it again but I did enjoy it.

Background

Published in April of 2018, The Pursuit of Endurance is a book about the pursuit of the Fastest Known Time (FKT) of various long distance hikes such as the Appalachian Trail. She also tells the story of several other record holders.

My Thoughts

This was a hard book to get through. I was looking for something to keep my motivation up and this failed miserably. While Jennifer Pharr Davis (or JPD as she is known in trendy hiker circles) did some pretty impressive feats of endurance, her motivation, reason, impetus, or whatever was so muddled that it seemed like she just “Forest Gump’d” her way through. The book was laced with millennial-era BS judgements about religion, gender, lack of resiliency and so on. At the end of it all, I wasn’t impressed.

Recommendation

Nothing of value here. Skip it.

Background

Published in October of 2021, The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family is the autobiography of both Ron and Clint Howard.

My Thoughts

A very interesting read as they switch back and forth from Ron to Clint and back again. They really had a life that was very different than most of us yet they tried to keep it as normal as it could be.

Recommendation

I enjoyed it!

Background

Published in November of 2020, No Time Like the Future is a autobiographic story of how Michael J. Fox found out about his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and how it has changed his life.

My Thoughts

I didn’t really know what to expect from the book but I found it hard to get through. It is his experience and there isn’t much I can relate with to his life. It was interesting to see how he reconciles decisions and events and what he thinks about life in general. On the whole, I wish him the best of luck and am thankful I am not in the public eye as much as he has been.

Recommendation

I found this book to be an easy read but a depressing subject.