A Lifetime In A Race

Finished this in about three days. Could hardly put it down. Interesting structure that combines chapters on Pinsent's career, from boyhood to man, with diary entries covering the year or so leading up to the 2004 Olympics. Not sure it works as well as the storylines converge, but overall still effective. Pinsent's insights into the development and growth of the GB rowing program, sponsorships, his relationships with Redgrave (and other rowers), and other great details about what it takes and what it is like to row at a world-class level through four Olympics makes this, in sum, one of the best books on rowing I have read, though I am sad to admit that the field of competition is neither broad nor deep. All the same, I'd put this on the must-read list of rowing books, up there with The Amateurs, The Shell Game, Boys in the Boat, and possibly Assault on Lake Casitas (though I can't say that for sure until I read that one).

Excellent book. Great motivation.

This book isn't a biography at all. It covers Pinsent's career of rowing from his teenage years where he first began to his 4th Olympic Gold. Considering it was a decent sized book I got through it in about a week or so. A very enjoyable read and something rowers will love. Right up there with Assault and the Amateurs.

I made the mistake of reading Boys in the Boat first. It was so well written that when I purchased A Lifetime in a Race to follow up on my interests the quality of the book only held my attention for about 30 pages and I couldn't stand to read any more.

There are some very good segments in Matthew Pinsent's autobiography, A Lifetime in Race, particularly his rower's-eye-view of the Olympics. Unfortunately, while these bits made for an interesting excerpt in Rowing News, they don't really justify a whole book. The pacing and style of the prose bothered me enough that I probably wouldn't recommend the book to someone who didn't already have an interest in British Olympic Rowing.

Only met him occasionally, but we had a coach in common with the great Mike Spracklen, with Sir Matthew at the beginning of his career and many years before I also at the start of my attempt at medals and I most enjoyed the read, with its insights into the Jurgen Grobler Modus operandi and how competitive international rowing in GB was lead by him and Sir Steve. Only really for those interested in sport at the highest level but not limited to oarsmen. I bet a few current cyclists and swimmers would benefit from leaning the difference between amateur and professional motivations. Should be mandatory reading for all aspiring professional footballers to appreciate the difference of approach to a post match Sat evening's activity!

Bellissimo libro, lo consiglio a chi pratica e ama questo sport per conoscere al meglio uno dei piu grandi di sempre.

The book I am want to read repeatedly

I’m really enjoying the book but it’s really expensive for a kindle book that was released years ago. They could have at least made the cover available on kindle. I know it’s a little thing but for the cost of the book it seems like they could have had some attention to detail.

I found this a really engaging and entertaining read, as well as interesting on a factual level. Like some of the other reviewers, I'm an oarsman too, but I still believe it's a very accessible book for a non-rower interested in learning more about makes elite athletes tick. It has some laugh-out-loud moments, complemented by some genuinely humbling accounts of the peaks and troughs of top-level competition. The book is a masterclass in understatement at times, and as said by other reviewers, it's oddly lacking in some really crucial detail about Pinsent's career.On balance, I recommend the book heartily, yet I wish Pinsent would expand this volume.