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Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life
 
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Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life (Hardcover)

by James Blake (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £16.99
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins (3 Sep 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0061343498
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061343490
  • Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.5 x 3.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 208,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #32 in  Books > Biography > Sport > Tennis
    #78 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Racket Sports > Tennis

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Product Description

Review
"[James Blake] has inspired young people everywhere with his story of courage and determination." -- -former president George H.W. Bush

Product Description
The evocative story of James Blake, the higest-ranking American tennis player, who broke his back on the court in May 2004 and shortly thereafter lost his father to stomach cancer, only to return to tennis and become one of the world's top players. In the spirit of Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike" and Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking" comes this remarkable tale of strength and determination from one of tennis' biggest stars. A story of passion, willpower, and the unbreakable bonds between a father and a son, "Breaking Back" is one athlete's account of finding hope in the bleakest of times.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life
84% buy the item featured on this page:
Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£16.14
Wimbledon The 2008 Mens Final - Nadal vs Federer: Rafael Nadal's Triumph at Twilight [DVD]
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Wimbledon The 2008 Mens Final - Nadal vs Federer: Rafael Nadal's Triumph at Twilight [DVD] 5.0 out of 5 stars (6)
£11.08
Winning Ugly
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Quest for Perfection: The Roger Federer Story
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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Fire it up one time...BAM!", 26 Sep 2007
By Sebastian Fernandez (Tampa, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
There are many cases in which professional athletes have come back from devastating injuries and personal problems to regain their place in the spotlight. However, there are only a few of these stories that are as inspiring as the case of James Blake. A series of events in 2004 changed the life of this tennis player forever. He broke his neck in a practice session, lost his father to cancer and then became ill with zoster, a stress related disease that among many drawbacks, affects equilibrium. And then, just when things could not get worse, the love of his friends and family catapulted James back to his rightful spot in the tennis world and in life.

Generally, when I read books of this kind, I cannot help feeling that the athlete is sharing only what the public expects, holding back facts that they may consider a little embarrassing. We usually see somebody struggling, but that also has a kind of bravado to face the situation. This could not be further from the truth in this case though. I felt that James is not holding anything back and is spilling his guts trying to get us to understand every detail of his struggle. Andrew Friedman definitely helps, displaying a proficient writing style and not letting the book get boring at any point.

Besides containing a fair amount of personal aspects related to the fight against adversity and the importance of friendship, this book has some very interesting insights into the mind of a tennis player. Blake shares with us the process by which he became a professional tennis player, but also what goes through the mind of a pro during a match and at the end of the year when it is time to take stock. There are many snippets of information about players on the tour and these keep us engaged and at times help lighten up the mood.

Blake is the kind of pro that plays from the heart, and you can see that passion in his storytelling too. It is no surprise that his mentor and idol is Andre Agassi, who also displays similar traits in the court. Or that Blake is amazed by the talent of Fernando Gonzalez, who plays without a safety net and goes all out in every point, looking for impossible winners. James Blake lives like this, fighting adversity and going for the break right after his serve has been broken, and he has proven he knows how to do this. Granted, he got some help along the way.

This is a story that can be appreciated by anyone. It does not matter whether you are a tennis player or not. In this regard, the author included a glossary of tennis terms to help the novice, and allow them full enjoyment. I hope that if you read this book you will love it as much as I did, and I wish James every success in his future tournaments. So far 2007 has been a pretty good year for him!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Blake is Back, 1 Feb 2009
By Eilis (Kilkenny, Ireland) - See all my reviews
Great book. The personal point of view makes it interesting and readable. You can't but feel that Blake is a superhero or something. To come back from so many setbacks and make it to the top ten is an unbelievable feat. He's almost superhuman!!:)
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