Customer Reviews

About Life & Motorcycles

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author didn't write this book to become a famous writer or to make it on Oprah's book list. He wrote this to hold on to all the memories that he holds so dear. Some readers may comment that they think it is dull or grammatically challenged, but it's a book, written by a normal guy in his forties, trying to find a way to remember his youth and to share his stories with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This was only for pleasure, and I admire his perseverance and his choice of living life to the fullest. I'm a teacher, and although there are a few words I had to leave out, I read this aloud to my students. This was one of the only books I have ever read where my students, mainly the boys, were completely attentive and excited about the story. They loved it because they could relate to his stories. If you enjoy sitting by the campfire and sharing old stories with one another, you will love this book!!!

For any of you who are avid motorcyclists, with a passion for the open road and the comraderie of riding with friends, this book is for you! What a great and refreshing journey and what a good read! The author knows how to describe the thrills and passion of motorcycling with being over technical or boring.
I recommend this to anybody who has ever been on a cross country ride or who dreams about going on one!

I was disappointed with this brief but vapid little book. But for the author's rather pleasant tone, I would have given it 1 star. He has little to say about either life or motorcycles in the end. The best parts of the book are his memories of youthful motorcycle adventures. The rest is just plain dull....not worth the time.

This is a book about what happens when you come to a crossroads in life, when the kids grow up, a divorce happens, you retire, or you just decide to make more time for yourself (and less for your job). This is what the author writes about when, like many people in their 40's and above he found his girls grown up and himself watching too much TV. He returned to the hobby of his youth (motorcycling) and along the way tells us a little about his life, his philosophy and his view on the Discovery Channel show American Choppers (The author refers to it as a "soap opera for men"). Like all books with philosophy in them, there might be one or two things you don't agree with, but in general, this is a great book for those of us who are 40 and over, because the kids will grow up, you will retire someday, and you will end up wondering what to do with the next phase of your life. Puts the phrase "Mid-life crisis" (The author is NOT going through one) in a whole new light.
P.S. The stories from Jeff's road adventures are equally as entertaining as the stories of his lifes adventures.

I ordered the book.
Got the book.
Read the book!
Once I started reading this book I could not put it down!
As Jeff was told by one of his friends, it is not literary art. However any book that has ever held my attention was not literary art. This is my kind of book!
It got my attention right off with the dedication. I was brought to tears as Jeff talked about his Dad.
Jeff seems to be about 5 years older than I am so I can relate to the time period he is talking about through out this book.
I will try not to give too much away, as he needs to sell books.
It open with a boys first bike. How he got it and the anticipation of getting it home and getting it into motion. My first bike was a Honda QA50 and moved to the Honda CT70, same color as Jeff's with the 4-speed transmission and the manual clutch. Later moving to a XR75, YZ125. It put me right back into my childhood days and the freedom of first experiences on 2 wheels.
We ran through all the old wooded paths from the local law enforcement, we raced, and we just rode and hung out. Man those were great memories.
I too took on a family and all the responsibilities that followed and took a short break from bikes.
Like Jeff I have 2 girls (oldest also named Mandy).
I also had to start a new life with a new wife.
I was back on the road on 2 wheels with a Kawasaki LTD 750, then an old Goldwing, then to the rocket (still have it) Suzuki RF900R and beside it is the Kawasaki Concours.
I also fell in love with the Connie and have ridden it from coast to coast.
I remember the sight of the huge cross he talks about in Groom Texas. We did stop and tour the area and get some pictures.
The wind he writes about in N.M. been there on the bike and felt that wind too.
This book just brought back so many 2 wheeled memories it was definitely worth the cost!
I recommend this book highly as a great read for this up coming winter.
On freezing wet days in winter I like to read about riding when I can't actually be out there and this book is perfect for those days.
Beware, you will not be able to put it down!