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Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life
by
James Blake
In 2004, James Blake's life was getting more perfect by the day. A rising tennis star, with each passing year his game seemed to improve. In 2002, he was named Sexiest Male Athlete by People, and along the way he continued to gain in the rankings and earn respect on the court. Each day seemed to offer a new milestone, a new achievement; he was leading a charmed life and lo
...moreHardcover, 263 pages
Published
July 1st 2007
by HarperCollins Publishers
(first published 2007)
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Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life By: James Blake is very interesting autobiography about a tennis player and what he had to accomplish to get where he is today. I gave this book four stars because I found it really inspiring in how the author has all these bad things happen to him and yet he manages to bounce back instead of letting the bad things tear him down. Another reason I liked this book was that it wasn’t all about tennis like I thought it would be instead it...more
Count me among the few who did not know James Blake's backstory. After being a tennis fanatic from the mid-'90s through the early part of this decade, my fandom faded, even though I attended some US Open matches in 2004 and 2006.
This was a very breezy, compelling story and it only took me a few hours to get through. Blake's story is surely inspiring, a story about perseverance and staying positive. The buildup to and including his father's death were very difficult to read because of...more
This was a very breezy, compelling story and it only took me a few hours to get through. Blake's story is surely inspiring, a story about perseverance and staying positive. The buildup to and including his father's death were very difficult to read because of...more
This book was given to me as a gift; I hadn't heard of it and didn't know James Blakes' backstory, but once I started reading it I flew through it. It is a good story about a very challenging time in his life, but I thought it could have been better written. He mentions a lot of people but doesn't expand too much on anybody in his life besides his father and his coach, so it's hard to get a full picture of who these people are. Overall though it's an uplifting story and I will definitely reme...more
Another really good tennis book...I wasn't as engrossed by this one as I was with Andre's, but I appreciate this book for very different reasons. Blake's career high occurred after I wasn't playing/watching tennis nearly as much, so I didn't feel as close to him as I did to Andre. But his attitude about tennis was completely different than Andre's --- really positive, and that came as the result of his father's influence. His dad was a great guy/mentor, and I learned a lot about how the attit...more
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I am a huge fan of all of the American Tennis players. But after reading Blakes book I am now a huge fan of him and everything he does. From being in the top 10 then nearly losing his life, and then working his way back up into the top 10 is amazing. He talks a lot about how much of a mental sport tennis is, and how he struggled in matches due to lack of confidence or letting something else get in his head. Which is something only a tennis player can appreciate. Overall great book if you are a f...more
I was hoping for fast-paced look into the tennis world, one that would take readers right into the action of tennis matches with some of the great players in the world. The second-to-last chapter was just that, with descriptions of matches with Federer, Roddick, and most notably, the 2005 U.S. marathon match with Andre Agassi. But the rest of the book was far different. I guess I should have read the title closer. Here Blake is out to explain what went wrong in that disasterous 2003-2004 year, i...more
"I was never supposed to be a jock."
It's quite possibly that James Blake isn't even supposed to be walking still. But he is -- and he's writing -- and we're all the richer for it.
Now here is an unusual sports autobiography. Precious little attention is given to the sport on the court and in his head. Life and adversity take center stage instead.
And there's no shortage of those things herein: During his 2004 pro tennis season, Blake suffered a broken ...more
It's quite possibly that James Blake isn't even supposed to be walking still. But he is -- and he's writing -- and we're all the richer for it.
Now here is an unusual sports autobiography. Precious little attention is given to the sport on the court and in his head. Life and adversity take center stage instead.
And there's no shortage of those things herein: During his 2004 pro tennis season, Blake suffered a broken ...more
Ok, yeah this is a book about a professional tennis player - James Blake. It is a really good book, but it can really apply to several things other than tennis. When you read this book, you see the stuff that this man went through and how he overcame almost impossible odds. It really makes you think "If he could do that and had to deal with all that, what am I complaining about?" I recommend this book to everyone who thinks they're having a tough time & anyone who likes to read.
I really enjoyed this book. Jame's great secret that he reiterates over and over again is that you have to just keep trying to improve in whatever you do and the results will take care of themselves. I was also touched by how much he loves his family and friends. You may not know it but James has been through some great challenges and he recognizes how blessed he is to be where he's at in tennis as one of the top players in the world.
I'm a huge tennis fan, and I've followed James Blake's career pretty closely. It's one thing to hear about his story, breaking his neck, losing his father, his battle with shingles, but it's another to read about the situation from his point of view. James is an inspiration, and after reading his book, I honestly admire him more as a man than as an athlete. He is a remarkable man, and his story is one of the best "real life" stories of redemption that I've read.
This was the first book I read on a Sony Reader and I enjoyed it. As a former college tennis player I could not put it down. James Blake has made a remarkable comeback from a fractured neck and a serious infection that nearly killed him and that is truly amazing. What is even better is that he is a grounded, down to earth person that will carry him far after he finishes his tennis career.
I love me some JB, so it pains me to rate this book as simply OK. There were moments of eloquence. However, much of the text read like a play-by-play. While interesting in the context, I would have liked to see more self-reflection. The lessons distributed were repetitive to the point where they became less effective. I felt JB didn't take those lessons to heart b/c he still beat himself up about matches. Watching him play after the book came out, I can still see the man who gets down on himsel...more
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Blake has never been one of my favourite players, but after reading his biography, I've got new respect for him. Not because of all the hardships he's gone through, but because of his tenacity and attitude. As lame as it sounds, this is a really heartwarming biography.
I liked this memoir better than any other I have read in recent years. James Blake went through a year of injury, death and illness that nearly knocked him off the tennis tour forever. His account of his experiences, high and low, and the attitudes that lifted him back into the Top 10, are deeply moving.
How can you not like James Blake? Besides being a great sport, he is super-sincere, and given to yelling 'gosh darn it' on the tennis court.
This book is surprisingly thoughtful and introspective, as he covers The Worst Year of His life. First his beloved dad died, then james' face becomes paralised by shingles, then he falls on a tennis court and in a freak accident hits the net, breaking his back and putting his future tennis career in jepoardy. Instead of being your typical 'triumph ov...more
This book is surprisingly thoughtful and introspective, as he covers The Worst Year of His life. First his beloved dad died, then james' face becomes paralised by shingles, then he falls on a tennis court and in a freak accident hits the net, breaking his back and putting his future tennis career in jepoardy. Instead of being your typical 'triumph ov...more
A wonderful book! It is amazing to see how James overcame all of his difficulties to reach the top-and I don't just say this because I'm a tennis fan :) It lacks, however, the strength one can find in Christ during circumstances, which keep it from being my favorite.
I did enjoy this book although James Blake had not been a particular favourite player of mine. Life on the tour is really tough but he is grateful to be there playing tennis.PersonallyI thought he looked far better with the dreads !!
I think my actual rating for this book would be a 2.5. I like James Blake too much as a person and player to only give his book a two, but for some reason I think three is a bit high.
Unfortunately for James, ever since his return to the tour, commentators talk about his amazing story. That left me knowing most of the major details of this book so much of it was not a surprise. It was good however to hear additional information and reflection.
James Blake is definitely...more
Unfortunately for James, ever since his return to the tour, commentators talk about his amazing story. That left me knowing most of the major details of this book so much of it was not a surprise. It was good however to hear additional information and reflection.
James Blake is definitely...more
Great, fast book! I became obsessed with tennis in high school. Its such a psychological game coupled with strength and endurance. I was able to attend Wimbledon in 2004 and sit atop Henman Hill to watch the final game. The next year, James Blake sets everyone afire with his story. He is such an intelligent guy and I respect him more after reading his book. He overcame so many obstacles in order to persevere and make a comeback in tennis and his lessons learned can be applied to anyone that ha...more
A brief memoir by ATP tennis player James Blake, concentrating on his recovery from a freak neck injury and stress-induced zoster, which left his face partially paralyzed and his balance shot. James' own health issues occurred at the same time as his father's death from cancer. Blake writes of his family and friends as much as he does of tennis, and this is a thoughful account of a tumultuous period in a world-class athlete's life. Blake emerges as a class act both on and off the court, battli...more
Amazing story about how Blake was able to make a great comeback in his tennis career. He's up there with my other fav tennis players, Pete Sampras and Pat Rafter.
This was a very good biography about all the things he couldn't control that happened
to him. It showed how he dealt with things and persevered
to him. It showed how he dealt with things and persevered
Tennis player + Harvard Education + attractive + good writer= how could you go wrong?
This book was recommended to me as an aspiring pro athlete...I was doubtful of the crossover between mtn biking and tennis, but I trusted the recommendation and went with it. By the final thee chapters I couldn't put it down. I understood the mental battle he dealt with, the feeling of getting down in a match and self-sabatoging rather than keeping your chin up for a come back. I found new motivation for my own athletic endevors having read this book. For that reason I found it to be a...more
Absolutely loved this book. Huge James Blake fan!
Blake has had a remarkable journey few know about.
Kim
added it
an inspiring read for anyone, especially tennis buffs
Not too bad. He is a little full of himself.
just have to keep moving. truly a moving story.
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