My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
Breaking the Surface
This is a new edition of Greg Louganis's 1995 #1 New York Times bestselling autobiography and Literary Guild Selection. It is the unflinchingly honest first-person account of a man breaking free of a lifetime of silence and isolation.
Born to a young Samoan father and Northern European mother, and adopted at nine months, Greg began diving at age nine, and at sixteen won a ...more
Born to a young Samoan father and Northern European mother, and adopted at nine months, Greg began diving at age nine, and at sixteen won a ...more
Paperback, 306 pages
Published
March 1st 2006
by Sourcebooks
(first published 1985)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
313)
I imagine writing this book must have been a cathartic experience for Greg Louganis. I heard Greg speak in person last week during an LGBT event and he likened his secret of being gay and HIV+ to someone isolated in a remote island cut off from communications with the rest of the world. His story of depression, insecurity, equating performance with acceptance, and a deep hunger for unconditional love is the universal story of the human condition; gay or straight. But, struggling with one's sex...more
AMAZING!!!! Also I kinda can relate a lot to his struggles with his emotions and relationships and the causes of that. It just hit a chord. And his diving is like watching an angel fly -- breathtaking!! Reading about the work behind it is both incredibly helpful and also something I can understand. :) I just adore his story!!! People who can't relate to him (either his devotion to diving and the work he put in, or the emotional journey he has taken over the course of his life) might not like the...more
This was a great book....Greg Louganis is now one of my personal heroes........he had such an extraordinary life yet he suffered so much inside.......it took him years to deal with all the angst and I'm sure he is still dealing with it.......but he proved he had strength and integrity by doing what he felt was right for him and by putting for the effort to help others who struggle as he does. What a great person he is......I am profoundly touched by him and his valiant fight for what he believes...more
I remember watching the Olympics when Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board. I remember feeling nauseated on his behalf, wondering what the outcome would be, and then watching him come back to triumph. It was a tremendous experience.
I read "Breaking the Surface" last night and this afternoon, wanting to know more about this athlete I remember from my childhood. It was saddening to hear about the abuse he suffered growing up, both at school and from his father, a...more
I read "Breaking the Surface" last night and this afternoon, wanting to know more about this athlete I remember from my childhood. It was saddening to hear about the abuse he suffered growing up, both at school and from his father, a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Either Eric Marcus wrote most of this book, or Greg Louganis is even more amazing than I thought. Athletes just aren't supposed to write this well. Seriously - one of the most engaging autobiographies (if not works of non-fiction in general) that I've ever read.
This book is an autobiography of Greg Louganis. He told of hitting his head at the 1988 Olympics and his fear since. At that time, only he knew that he was HIV+. He told his story very sincerely.
I read this book not too long after it came out, recently read it again, Greg's story is one that can inspire and encourage the next generation of olympians and athletes, and help break down barriers
I'm happy he had the courage to come out and all, but not everyone with a coming out story needs to write a boring book. At least he had the Olympic stuff which made it somewhat engaging.
I love this book. I used this book to help in coming out to my parents. Greg Louganis is one of my heroes.
Read this in high school because Kyle knew him through diving.
Greg Louganis was truly an amazing athlete. His story of his struggles with an abusive childhood, depression, HIV, and his sexuality was very saddening but humbling. His ability to overcome all of these things along with hitting his head and battling back to win an Olympic gold medal is something that only a few people in the world could manage.
I re-read Louganis' biography after having done so right after its itinitial publication. I was so young when it was first published, I didn't fully understand the trials and tribulations of this star athlete. I discounted his lack of self-esteem and his fear of living with HIV. Reading this book now (at age 37)has had a much more profound effect on me. Greg is truly one of my heroes and I am glad he is still with us today.
This book is riveting, heartbreaking, inspiring! Louganis is amazing and his book is a generous personal look into his life, love, heartache and freedom! This is a must read for everyone! There is absolutely no way you could continue to be prejudice after reading this book! The sad things is those who should read it will probably never pick it up!
Thank you GREG!!!
Thank you GREG!!!
This book was really interesting. I like it because I was interested in the story of Greg Louganis. (I also read it cuz it was one of the books Allyson could find quickly for me to read just after we'd moved and I was bored.) But, I found the book kind of simple - it's all told in first person and there wasn't much I don't know...depth? to it.
Great book...the life story of Olympic diver Greg Louganis. It broke my heart to read what he went through growing up and how it affected his adult life, but also refreshing to know how he found his true self. This is so well written and a book that I had a hard time putting down.
I read this when it first came out, enjoying it immensely. Having struggles in his youth and with his gay lifestyle, he ov ercame a lot with his diving. Having hit his head on a dive, it was great and very inspiring to have him come back to win the Gold medal.
I used to love him so much when I was little so I have a signed copy. Don't really remember much about the autobiography except the obvious things but it definitely holds a place in my heart.
I wanted to care. Really. I did. But this book did nothing to encourage me.
Fascinating story - insight into worlds I will never know.
Touching. Interesting person and amazing athlete.
good.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
