Lance Armstrong's War - by Daniel Coyle (Paperback)

About the Book

"A velvety mix of vivid, sophisticated prose, Raymond Carver's unerring eye for nuance, and John Irving's irreverent, unflinching humor....An intimate look inside the maelstrom of professional cycling."--Boston Globe Daniel Coyne's New York Times bestseller Lance Armstrong's War takes a fascinating, in-depth look at a staggeringly talented yet flawed sports hero as he faced his greatest test: a record sixth straight Tour de France victory. Now with a new epilogue covering Armstrong's quest to win an 8th Tour de France, this "intimate, insightful, unflinching look at the greatest athlete of our time" (Jon Krakauer) explores the remarkable drive and accomplishments of a controversial champion--a must read for fans of John Feinstein and David Halberstam, as well as readers of Lance Armstrong's own It's Not About the Bike and Every Second Counts.

Book Synopsis

"A velvety mix of vivid, sophisticated prose, Raymond Carver's unerring eye for nuance, and John Irving's irreverent, unflinching humor....An intimate look inside the maelstrom of professional cycling."
--Boston Globe

Daniel Coyne's New York Times bestseller Lance Armstrong's War takes a fascinating, in-depth look at a staggeringly talented yet flawed sports hero as he faced his greatest test: a record sixth straight Tour de France victory. Now with a new epilogue covering Armstrong's quest to win an 8th Tour de France, this "intimate, insightful, unflinching look at the greatest athlete of our time" (Jon Krakauer) explores the remarkable drive and accomplishments of a controversial champion--a must read for fans of John Feinstein and David Halberstam, as well as readers of Lance Armstrong's own It's Not About the Bike and Every Second Counts.

From the Back Cover

Lance Armstrong's War is the extraordinary story of greatness pushed to its limits; a vivid behind-the-scenes portrait of perhaps the most accomplished athlete of our time as he competes in the toughest sporting event on the planet. The incomparable will to win that famously lifted Armstrong beyond his humble Texas roots, beyond cancer, and to unparalleled heights of success is revealed by acclaimed journalist Daniel Coyle in new and startling dimensions. It is the true story of a superlative sports figure fighting on all fronts -- made newly vulnerable by age, fate, fame, doping allegations, a painful divorce, and an unprecedented army of challengers -- while mastering the exceedingly difficult trick of being Lance Armstrong, a combination of world-class athlete, celebrity, regular guy, and, for many Americans, secular saint.

A fascinating journey through the little-known landscape of professional cycling, Lance Armstrong's War provides a hugely insightful look into the often inspiring, always surprising core of a remarkable athlete and the world that shapes him.

Review Quotes

"Coyle, with a velvety mix of vivid, sophisticated prose, Raymond Carver's unerring eye for nuance, and John Irving's irreverent, unflinching humor, lays bare the European peloton during the 2004 season. An intimate look inside the maelstrom of professional cycling." - Boston Globe
"Absorbing." - New York Times
"Lively and insightful...The Armstrong that emerges from this book...may come as a bit of a shock to supporters accustomed to seeing him air-kissed by podium girls or chumming it up with Oprah." - Sports Illustrated
"Superbly written [and] deeply researched. A complete portrait of Armstrong." - VeloNews
"Fueled by superb reporting and built-in suspense...Lance Armstrong's War is the equal of its distinguished and very complicated subject." - Booklist (starred review)
"Prodigious in its depth, detail and accuracy... an inside look at what it takes to win the Tour, and an all-access pass into the life of the race's largest champion." - Bicycling Magazine
"Compelling, highly detailed [and] shocking.... Coyle dissects cycle racing with a master observer's eye." - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"An intimate, insightful, unflinching look at the greatest athlete of our time. Daniel Coyle has given us a hugely entertaining, nuanced portrait of a larger-than-life figure and his turbocharged world. I couldn't put it down." - Jon Krakauer, author of Under the Banner of Heaven and Into Thin Air