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A Lifetime in a Race | 
 enlarge | Author: Matthew Pinsent
Publisher: Ebury Press
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.06
You Save: £7.93 (99%)
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Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 25509
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 352
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 4.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0091903386
Dewey Decimal Number: 797.123092
EAN: 9780091903381
ASIN: 0091903386
Publication Date: June 2, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Disappointing January 10, 2007
spudman (London)
Compared to his famously taciturn team mate Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent always came across as a very bright, engaging, and much more gregarious Olympic and World Champion. So I had high hopes for his autobiography, but when I finished reading it I have to admit to a feeling of great disappointment.
The problem is that this book is essentially just a (broadly chronological) narrative about his time as a rower; about how hard he trained (very hard), and how much it hurt towards the end of a race (a lot). All you really get is this same basic story repeated four times - once for each of his incredible four Olympic gold medals - paddded out with a few (not very interesting) stories about his colleagues in between.
When I read an autobiography like this, I don't really want to know too much about Matthew the rower - I've seen him plenty on the telly, and I can well imagine he trains very hard and puts himself through lots of pain on the ergo. That much is a given.
I do want to know about Matthew the man - and about the man behind the rower there is almost nothing in this book. One brief passage about meeting his wife, and another very brief bit about his brother who died young - but he mentions this only to make a point that he was NOT motivated to row by his brother's death. And that's all you get about what sort of person he is before the book moves back to such-and-such training camp, 5am starts, etc.etc. blah blah blah.
He just doesn't give away anything at all of himself in this book. I can appreciate he may be a private person, and I can appreciate he wanted to make a bob or two after a lifetime dedicated to one of the world's least well paid sports, but judged purely on its own merits this is a very poor autobiography.
 Well written and thoroughly enjoyable June 12, 2006
C. L. Stone (Slough England)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A truly fascinating book, which I did not expect to be 'unputdownable', but read it in a day and a half! I think one of the better aspects of it is that although it was written sometimes diary form, it was not in chronological order and that was part of its charm. It was very well written and I enjoyed being taken through all the highs and lows and the discomfort that competitive sport brings.
A couple of times he over-emphasised his emotions, in a assuming no-one felt that emotion more than he (how would he know?)which was annoying, but his descriptions of his relationships were moving and I was surprised at the depth of the rivalry with the Searle brothers (whatever happened to them?).
Certainly a wonderful read that kept me captivated, and although Matthew is clearly, and rightly, a private man, I hope he doesn't become a stranger to the world of writing. Yeah, I am a fan!
Adrenaline drive January 9, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
After having made such an impact on the world of rowing and with his recent retirement I felt compelled to read Matthew Pinsent's autobiography. It's not just a book about rowing but almost like a guide on how to achieve your goal whatever sport it is. It is such a well written and witty autobiography. I read the book in one sitting and could be heard laughing aloud and also crying (I never knew that he had a brother who died from Leukaemia). I now have nothing but respect and admiration for that gentle giant. Forget all those trashy autobiographies out there, this book will give that New Year adrenaline drive needed.
Interesting but......... January 4, 2005
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
Enjoyed the insight the book gave into the long hard slog to achieve the ultimate.
However...
The book seems to have been prepared in haste with poor continuity and factual errors.
You are left at times wondering if you missed something but on checking it is the narrative that is lacking.
In particular it gives the impression that the last section of the book was rushed as the level of detail diminished.
A great read! October 24, 2004
Iceni Peasant (Norfolk, England)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is a fascinating book for all rowing fans and indeed all sports fans with an interest in how things work behind the scenes of rowing.
Matthew Pinsent guides the reader through his career, from the first moments in a rowing boat as a teenager, selection in the Junior World Championships, life on the Oxford Boat Race team through to his partnership with Steve Redgrave and the formation of the coxless four, ending with a nice diary entry format of his experience leading up to and through to the Olympic final in Athens.The only disappointing aspect of the book is there isn't really a great deal of autobiographical detail, not even when the great man's birthday is or much about his experiences off the water; such as involvement with the IOC etc... However after reading a little way into the book you soon appreciate that Matthew is a very private man and by the end of the book you will have nothing but utter admiration and respect for him as a supreme athlete and ambassador for British sport and also as the person he is. (I am a little biased as I'm a fan and also got to meet him a few days ago!) Unless you are involved with rowing at some level you will be surprised and shocked at the tenacity, courage and willpower a rower of Olympic standard needs to achieve their dreams. It certainly makes you think of how few people there are whom could endure the training required. The book also gives some interesting insights on dynamics and relationships within rowing clubs, teams and between rival nations. All in all, a great read!
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