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Graeme Obree
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The Flying Scotsman: The Graeme Obree Story Paperback – 1 Sept. 2004

by Graeme Obree (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 470 ratings
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"Deeply moving. His determination and single-mindedness was and still is a true inspiration to me". (Sir Chris Hoy). "This is a book that must have taken great courage to write, is a harrowing reminder of how little the public know about sportsmen, no matter how brightly the spotlight shines on them." (The Guardian Number 10 in Cycle Sport's Best 50 Cycling Books of All Time). It includes a foreword by Sir Chris Hoy. Graeme Obree's story begins with a tough upbringing in the Ayrshire valleys, where he found his escape by taking to the roads on his bike. He would emerge from total obscurity to smash Francesco Moser's World Hour Record, controversy hard at his heels for his unique riding style and pioneering construction techniques - famously using parts from a washing machine to build his bike, 'Old Faithful'. But amidst the record attempts, media feeding frenzy and thrilling head-to-head duels with Chris Boardman, Graeme was fighting another battle. With searing honesty, he recounts his biggest battle against depression which drove him to attempt suicide.
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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Birlinn Ltd
  4. Publication date
    1 Sept. 2004
  5. Dimensions
    15.6 x 2.4 x 23.4 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1841583359
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1841583358
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
470 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book surprisingly tough and emotional. They also find the content insightful and humbling. Readers describe the story as honest, amazing, and immersive. Opinions are mixed on the writing style, with some finding it honest and inspiring, while others find it hard and boring.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Mental healthStoryContentDifficulty levelEmotional impactWriting style
16 customers mention ‘Mental health’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, humbling, and honest about the struggle with depression. They also mention that the author writes in a down-to-earth and honest way.

"This is a harrowing, but ultimately uplifting, story of one person's ability to rise above more "slings and arrows" than most of us see in a lifetime..." Read more

"...What he has written is a brutally honest account of mental illness as much as a story about a world champion's rise from obscurity to brief fame and..." Read more

"...Flying Scotsman is a dark, but fascinating insight into the mind of a disturbed athlete...." Read more

"...I found this an incredibly moving book.As a recreational cyclist I can only marvel at the ability Graeme Obese demonstrated...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Story’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the story honest and amazing, which results in an immersive reading experience. They also say it's the honest truth.

"Wonderful autobiography of one of Scotland’s greatest athletes. Not very lauded in his home country which is utterly obsessed by football...." Read more

"...A very interesting read about a very complex man." Read more

"...or consultant, just what Graeme thought and I really think it's the honest truth. There doesn't seem to be much hyperbole...." Read more

"Fantastic book based on a true story. Also made into a film worth a read" Read more

12 customers mention ‘Content’12 positive0 negative

Customers find the content interesting, compelling, and humbling. They also appreciate the fascinating insight into an unusual and troubled character.

"...It was absolutely fascinating. From his childhood and the challenges he had until the the last page i was hooked and found it hard to put down...." Read more

"...Very humbling when you consider his constant lack of funding and his determination which led to him developing and building his own bike...." Read more

"...A great book about a remarkable man - essential reading for any fan of cycling." Read more

"Fascinating insight into a brilliant but troubled cyclist...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Difficulty level’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book surprisingly tough and emotional, with no punches pulled.

"Brutally honest account of Obree's life and cycling career. No punches pulled as he talks about the demons and depression that have haunted him, and..." Read more

"A wonderful, extremely truthful evocation of human frailty and driven ambition...." Read more

"A surprisingly tough and emotional read..." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Emotional impact’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational and moving.

"...It's very moving at times and you can't help but have the utmost respect for him. A brilliant book." Read more

"Really good read. A moving and at times quite disturbing account of a bullied schoolboy who conquered the world of cycling, albeit having to fight..." Read more

"Inspirational and very moving..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Writing style’5 positive3 negative

Customers are mixed about the writing style. Some find the book startlingly honest and enjoyable, while others say it's hard and boring.

"...Refreshingly honest about his mental health issues." Read more

"...I liked him, the book was difficult to read, chapeau to Mr Obree." Read more

"...Well written and engaging." Read more

"...Amazingly frank and startlingly honest...a very enjoyable book." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

S. Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2007
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Wow! What a story that for the most part was hidden from view in the perhaps ultimately thinner shadow of Chris Boardman and his Tour antics. Even the cycling press depicted Obree as slightly odd, thankfully for the sanity of of the rest of us he is clearly a highly intelligent yet almost fatally flawed person, and that combination yields an autobiography of such compelling passion and roller coaster emotion that transcends cycling, or even sport.

Lance's book(s) not about the bike? Pales beside this. Obree is a person that many more of us can relate to and in that his achievements are so much more inspiring.

This book will make you laugh, cry, shout in anger and frustration! Bit like time trialling then. Way to go Graeme, let's hope you keep on riding old faithful's offspring for years to come.
13 people found this helpful
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DPDPDP
4.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2024
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Wonderful autobiography of one of Scotland’s greatest athletes. Not very lauded in his home country which is utterly obsessed by football. Refreshingly honest about his mental health issues.
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A. Fitzpatrick
5.0 out of 5 stars (the highest of) Highs and (heartbreaking) Lows
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2019
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This is a harrowing, but ultimately uplifting, story of one person's ability to rise above more "slings and arrows" than most of us see in a lifetime. The fact that he's able to triumph at all is a near-miracle. To do so again, after plumbing the depths marks Graeme Obree out as one of the rarest talents ever to grace two wheels.
DON'T read this book to hear about cycling, as that's almost beside the point. READ IT to be astonished at one human's ability to conquer mental health problems and emerge the other side, against all the odds.
I laughed,.... I cried,.......almost in equal measure, but I defy anyone to read this book and not decide to disregard whatever their current problems are, as trivial in comparison !
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AB
5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking the mould (again)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2003
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Graeme Obree delivers exactly what you'd expect from a man who broke the cycling mould; an autobiography that breaks the well set mould of sporting biographies which too often seem to be ghost written half truths containing snipes at past colleagues and competitors. None of that in this book. Quite simply, Graeme Obree just tells his life as it has been. The bad times aren't accompanied by finger pointing, apportioning of blame or bitterness and the good times are reported with the modesty of a true sportsman. In my view, the greatest strength of this book lies in the absence of the author trying to influence the reader's emotions and opinions. He just gives you the facts of his astonishing life and you react. This book richly deserves the widespread acclaim and success of Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike".
25 people found this helpful
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Kafavian
3.0 out of 5 stars Its good book, reminded me of Prozac Nation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2015
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Its good book, reminded me of Prozac Nation, by a relentless diatribe of emotion, alchohol and substance abuse Mr Obree gives us a look into his troubled soul. The segments where he describes his feelings and subsequent actions are hard to read in the sense that he is in despair whilst seemingly trying to get ahead, succeeding sometimes with spectacular results. I liked him, the book was difficult to read, chapeau to Mr Obree.
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Alan Mac
5.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly tough and emotional read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2017
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I only knew of Obree from past news stories about his home made bikes and world record attempts. What he has written is a brutally honest account of mental illness as much as a story about a world champion's rise from obscurity to brief fame and then back. I felt a huge amount of sympathy for him as well as awe of his bloody-minded refusal to conform. I can only guess how far he could have gone if he had been given the psychiatric help he so obviously needed as a child and younger man. I do hope his demons are behind him and he's learned to enjoy life. A very interesting read about a very complex man.
One person found this helpful
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n j f baker
4.0 out of 5 stars Brutally honest and inspiring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2015
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Sometimes it's just plain honest writing that you need to tell a great story and Graeme delivers this in spades. No ghost writer or consultant, just what Graeme thought and I really think it's the honest truth. There doesn't seem to be much hyperbole.

There's a true sense of his rivalry with Chris Boardman and a frank assessment of it. I might have areas of Boardmans book next to get the other side but I suspect that Chris didn't see it the same way as his career did do more overall for obvious up us reasons.
On that it is sad to read of the battle with mental health Graeme forged alone. Another lesson for us all to help see it in others and help them to seek help. And in ourselves for that matter. As he says in the epilogue, he gained so much comfort from hearing the plight of others and they did from him.

There is a little irony that a man could understand his physical self as well as anyone in history but his mental self was a mystery. A lesson for us all there.

Most of all he's a gosh-darned LEGEND!
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Brian M
5.0 out of 5 stars Flying Scotsman
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2003
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I read this book in about two days, could not put it down. Graeme Obree always grabbed the attention with his amazing record breaking efforts, and competing at the highest level, whether successful or not. He is unique, and fired up interest and opinions from followers of cycling in his unconventional approach to training, preparation and competition. There was however always something that did not seem quite right about the 'roller coaster' results that he produced. Fantastic acheivements were often followed by disappointments. This book explains all, and gives the reader an insight into just what a struggle it was at times for someone with so much ability but many demons in his life. I wish him every success with the book, and the film if it is made, but most of all with his life.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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SophieB
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Reviewed in Canada on 19 March 2019
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Perfect and fast delivery
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Carlos
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy real
Reviewed in Spain on 6 December 2019
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Apasionante y duro, la vida de Obree con un estilo muy directo, si habéis visto la película esto es mejor
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J. makar
5.0 out of 5 stars Flying Scotsman
Reviewed in the United States on 22 April 2014
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A very good read about the life of Greame Obree. I saw the movie and had to read this for more detail. Enjoyed it very much.
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Suzanne G
5.0 out of 5 stars The flying Scotsman
Reviewed in France on 11 July 2012
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Gives a real insight the challenges and training required to become a cycling champion. We follow his interest in cycling from an early age and the effects his childhood had on his cycling career.
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peter kompter
5.0 out of 5 stars life is crazy
Reviewed in Canada on 9 September 2013
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its good to read about how others have troubles with there head and I'm not alone and all the possibilities so I better pay attention to it all
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