Helpful Score: 8
I don't especially like horses, don't know anything about horses or horse racing, but this was one of the best books I read in 2006!
Helpful Score: 7
It's been awhile since I read Seabiscuit, but I remember being struck with this: The author researched, wrote, and edited the book while confined to her tiny Wash.D.C. apt.while afflicted w/some kind of chronic fatigue syndrome. She literally had to drag herself across the floor at times to do her work. Juxtapose this with the story of a horse who had practically risen from the dead and beaten all odds, a horse who represented "every man" during the dark days of the nation's depression and beat out all the thoroughbreds, a horse who just wouldn't quit no matter how bleak things got...and you've got one heck of a story. This book drew me in right from the beginning and didn't let go. I grew up riding horses but realized I didn't know didley. I learned a whole lot about horses, jockeys, the race track set, circuit, and way of life that I had no idea existed. Great book.
Helpful Score: 5
For a non-fiction book, this one reads like a novel. Very engrossing. I throughly enjoyed reading about Seabiscuit.
Helpful Score: 3
Love....Love..... Love... this book and story. I did not want it to end. What an amazing little horse!
Helpful Score: 3
"Seabiscuit" is a compelling story about a connection between a horse, his jockey, and the entire nation. Laura Hillenbrand's narrative contains the best of everything that makes any book, great: a touching storyline about a remarkably determined horse with as much of a personality as his fiery, red-headed jockey; a collection of fascinating and horrifying details of horse racing that blend right into the story and are just as captivating as the plot itself; and grand descriptions of Seabiscuit's worst and finest hours on the racetrack that transport any reader from the sofa to a front row seat on the metal bleachers of Santa Anita. Simply put, this book is a masterpiece.
Helpful Score: 2
Great book! The author takes you through each race and you feel as though you are right on top of the horse. The story of the men involved make this an exciting and inspiring read.
Helpful Score: 2
This is not the type of book that I normally read but it was recommended to me by my brother. I was truly impressed by the research and presentation of this book. It drew me in and I felt like I was part of the story. I felt that this was an excellent book and didn't want it to end. I would recommend it to anyone regardless of what type of book you "normally" read. A truly good read.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this to be quite the page turner, enjoyed is first to last page.
Helpful Score: 1
This is so much better written than 90% or more of today's books. It is really beautiful even if you know the whole horse, jockey, trainer, and owner story. I feel it is a must-read. I could not believe how beautifully it was written. It is the classic page turner.
I read the book first and then watched the movie. While the movie was awesome, the book was even better! Isn't that always the way it is? Enjoy!
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book a while ago, but still remember it as an all time favorite. I loved the detail and the historical events. I remember thinking that if history books were written like this, everyone would want to major in that subject! I give this book more that two thumbs up!!!
Helpful Score: 1
This is a wonderful tribute to a spunky horse and the people who used, trained and loved him. I had no idea about who Seabiscuit was until this book and the movie. Highly recommended to horse lovers.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book much better than the movie
Helpful Score: 1
He was a cultural icon. A world-class athlete. A champion who triumphed over terrible handicaps to become a legend of the racetrack. No other racehorse has rivaled Seabiscuit's fame or his sway over the nation's imagination. This spellbinding story of this marvelous animal, the world he lived in, and the men who staked their lives and fortunes on his dazzling career. A riveting tale of grit, grace, luck, and an underdog's stubborn determination, Seabiscuit is an American classic.
Helpful Score: 1
A detailed account of Seabiscuit and of all the people who helped him be one of the greatest horses.
Helpful Score: 1
A wonderful story of a champion horse.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful author who thoroughly researched her subject for many years before writing Seabiscuit. Great history of horse racing. Interesting comparison of Seabiscuit and the Great Depression! "Everyone deserves a second chance."
Helpful Score: 1
He was a cultural icon, a world class athlete, a champion who over came terrible handicaps to become a legend of the racetrack. The author tells the spellbinding story of this marvelous animal, the world he lived in, and the men who staked their lives and fortunes on his dazzling career. A riveting tale of grit, grace, luck, and an underdog's stubborn determination!
Helpful Score: 1
Beautifully written account of an incredible story.
Helpful Score: 1
Very beautiful, moving story about one larger than life little horse. The author does an excellent job of really bringing you into the story, you will definitely empathize with the people involved in bringing this horse into his star role.
Not bad, if you like horse racing.
Book was better than the movie.
The same as the movie. An inspiring tale!
Not only a great read, but the end notes and index add immeasurably to the book.
a very entertaining book - even if you already know the story
Great story-enjoyed it very much. Has a bit of wrinkling due to being packed and recently moved.
This ugly little knock-kneed little horse who looked more like a cow pony than a thoroughbred went on to win America's hearts by being one of the best racers ever.
Along with Man-O-War and Ruffian, this is one of my favorite horses, I loved this book and highly recommend it.
Along with Man-O-War and Ruffian, this is one of my favorite horses, I loved this book and highly recommend it.
This was a great read. Much better and fuller than the movie which couldn't possibly have covered all of this horse's remarkable life. Did you know Seabiscuit slept lying down? See, lots to learn & enjoy here.
Fantastic book, one of the best I've read of a true, larger than life story of a horse.
Excellent, well researched and moving! Best writing about horses since Beryl Markham wrote her book The Splendid Outcast. If you love horse stories you have to read that book. Not all the stories in the book are horse stories but they are all wonderful just the same.
I would never have thought to buy this one, till I saw the movie. If you saw "Seabiscuit", give this one a read.
This would have been an excellent book at half the length. I really didn't need every hoof-beat of every race Seabiscuit ran. I ended up skimming those parts.
The under-dog, or -horse in this case, strikes again. A story of a hopeless-looking horse and his owner, trainer and jockey who believed in him. I enjoyed it.
a real sleeper I would never have bought this book for myself but someone gave it to me and said read. so I did and i found it to be very heartwarming
He was a cultural icon. A world class athlete. A champion who triumphed over terrible handicaps to become a legend of the racetrack. No other racehorse has rivaled Seabiscuit's fame or his sway over the nation's imagination. Now Laura Hillenbrand unfolds the spellbinding story of this marvelous animal, the world he lived in, and the men who staked their lives and fortunes on his dazzling career. A riveting tale of drit, grace, luck, and an underdog's stubborn determination, Seabiscuit is an American classic.
I love this book. Anyone who loves horses will too. I cried so hard I had to put the book down. The relationship between the jockey and Seabiscuit is heart wrenching. So sad but a great look into the world or horse racing.
I have not seen the movie yet, so I'm not sure how the 2 compare, but I thought the book was great. It's very descriptive about horse racing, but still stays very interesting. I would for sure reccommend it!
Very well written and interesting. I love reading books where I learn new things.
You saw the movie now read the book, it is even better.
Absolutely fabulous book.
I am not a horse race fan. This book was given to me otherwise it never would have occurred to me to read it. And I loved it! A great read for anyone.
So much better than the movie!
heartbreaker and then a triumph!
A true story, about a horse who loved to win.
Very good uplifting story.
Very good insight into all the lives involved with Seabiscuit. If you have seen the movie, it will fill in all the blanks.
The movie doesn't hold a candle to the book. Reading about the lives of the jockeys was one of the most riveting and heartbreaking experiences I've had as a reader.
HGifted sportswriter Hillenbrand unearths the rarefied world of thoroughbred horse racing in this captivating account of one of the sport's legends. Though no longer a household name, Seabiscuit enjoyed great celebrity during the 1930s and 1940s, drawing record crowds to his races around the country. Hillenbrand, a contributor to Equus magazine, profiles the major players in Seabiscuit's fantastic and improbable career. In simple, elegant prose, she recounts how Charles Howard, a pioneer in automobile sales and Seabiscuit's eventual owner, became involved with horse racing, starting as a hobbyist and growing into a fanatic. She introduces esoteric recluse Tom Smith (Seabiscuit's trainer) and jockey Red Pollard, a down-on-his-luck rider whose specialty was taming unruly horses. In 1936, Howard united Smith, Pollard and "The Biscuit," whose performance had been spottyDand the horse's star career began. Smith, who recognized Seabiscuit's potential, felt an immediate rapport with him and eased him into shape. Once Seabiscuit started breaking records and outrunning lead horses, reporters thronged the Howard barn day and night. Smith's secret workouts became legendary and only heightened Seabiscuit's mystique. Hillenbrand deftly blends the story with explanations of the sport and its culture, including vivid descriptions of the Tijuana horse-racing scene in all its debauchery. She roots her narrative of the horse's breathtaking career and the wild devotion of his fans in its socioeconomic context: Seabiscuit embodied the underdog myth for a nation recovering from dire economic straits.
(amazon.com)
(amazon.com)
Tough to get through, but a pretty good read all the same.
He was a culteral icon. A world class athlete. A champion who triumphed over a terrible handicap to become a legend in the racing world. No horse ever has rivaled Seabiscuit's fame or his sway over America's imagination. This is a story about the world he lives in , the men who staked fortunes on his career. A tale of grit, grace, luck and stubborn determination.
A+++ Book The spellbounding story of a marvelous animal and a world class athlete..a wonderful racehorse and touching story,I enjoyed it : )
Story of the famous racehorse, Seabiscuit, the horse that depression era America fell in love with, along with his owner and his trainer.
This is a wonderful book. It is better than the movie and a very interesting examination of a time in history. You do not have to be a racing fan to enjoy this well-written tale.
Way more detailed than the movie.
This was really great reading enjoyed it a lot
Despite all the publicity, etc. I just couldn't get my head around it. I know I'm in a minority but so be it!
Great historical view of horse racing industry.
I learned so much about horse racing, and -- oddly enough -- the history of automobiles. A very enjoyable read.
Inspiring true story. Great for horseracing and animal lovers - about overcoming adversity. Heroic!
Thrilling!
Seabiscuit is an American classic character. This book entails the spellbinding story of this marvelous animal, the world he lived in, and the men who staked their lives and fortunes on his dazzling career.
This book gives you a great insight into horse raising. This is far more detailed than the movie and creates a great story that the movie doesn't come close too.
I enjoyed the book even more than the movie.
Excellent book, as was the movie. Author Hilenbrand was also consultant on movie.
Truly an inspiring sports bestseller.
Truly an inspiring sports bestseller.
inspirational and exciting, compelling page-turning nonfiction.
Fantastic book -- even better than the movie!!!
The story behind the movie -enjoyable read.
Great and amazing story! Jockeys had a tough life!
Absolutely fascinating!
Great story about a race horse. It will make you cheer and cry.
Movie Tie-In
A WONDERFUL TRUE STORY OF TRIAL AND TRIUMPH OF A FAMOUS RACE HORSE AND HIS OWNER AND HANDLERS.
Excellent!
It's such a great read, that I'm reading it for the second time.
Some say it's better than the movie.
Even better than the movie.
One of my favorite books ever
The research that has gone into this book is incredible. Truly an example of how history, well-told, can be more exciting than fiction. This is a story for everyone who has ever been told "It can't be done" - whether you like horseracing or not!
The story of the underdog's triumph: the racehorse Seabiscuit who became a legend.
Lovely story. Great for horse lovers.
This is a great story.
great book, enjoyed book more than movie
He was a cultural icon. A world-class athlete. A champion who triumphed over terrible handicaps to become a legend of the racetrack. No other racehorse has rivaled Seabiscuit's fame or his sway over the nation's imagination. Now Laura Hillenbrand unfolds the spellbinding story of this marvelous animal, the world he lived in, and the men who staked their lives and fortunes on his dazzling career. A riveting tale of grit, grace, luck. an an underdog's stubborn determination, Seabiscuit is an American classic.
Better than the movie!!!
I never got through the whole book. Kinda slow to me. But other people who I know that have read it,said it was real good.
A great story
Great story about a champion on the racetrack.
