Customer Reviews

Amped: How Big Air, Big Dollars, and a New Generation Took Sports to the Extreme

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

David Browne's book "Amped" is a horrible book written by a man from an outside perspective. There are "extreme" amounts of bias in his book. If you want a book about skateboarding (or extreme sports in general) this book is NOT for you; buy Tony Hawk's autobiography if you need that. In Browne's book, he claims to be an expert about a lifestyle he knows little to nothing about. He discriminates against other sports, offering poor examples and support for his arguments. It is clear that he is influenced by hate. He goes on tour with skateboarders and bikers, and claims to be an expert after that. This is a poor example of the life of an average "extreme sportman."

I am sorry to say that I spent the time reading Amped. [...] Further more, the writing is just plain boring. His language is elementary and doesn't compell the reader to turn the page in the slightest. It was a struggle to make my way to the end of this trash. If you're looking for a good read on action sports try reading Tony Hawk's autobiography. Its a good read by a man who obviously knows what he's talking about. Amped is the exact opposite.

This book just so happens to be written by a man with little knowledge on the sport of skateboarding. Let me explain. Browne traveled alongside a group of mainstream skateboarders taking notes on the business aspect of the mainstream skateboarder. In the book he explains how these rollerbladers make money through sponsorship and corporate ownership just like athletes in golf, baseball, nascar, etc. If you want a book on the business aspect of skateboarding this may be for you, but if you're looking for a book about the real sport of skateboarding then look elsewhere [...] his comments about the sport of rollerblading in an EXPN interview.)

I picked this book up for a quick read because ive been a participant in skateboarding and rollerblading since i was 12. I was surprised about his objective views on the topic but i gave it a chance. Some of the facts were flat out wrong and i think he may need to go back and check some of his sources. I dont believe he is the best person to write a book like this and i think he is just trying to ride the wave of skateboarding's popularity. I'd recommend skipping over this book.

Basically Mr. David Brown decided to try and get a slice of the pie of extreme sports by writing a [...] version of how cool being 'X'-treme is.

This guy has no idea what he is talking about and his views on inline skating show that. Maybe he should do some research into a broad range of sports instead of focussing on skateboarding and beating it like a dead horse. I would rather watch TV than buy this book. I especially like how Mr. David Brown hopes to make a quick buck off of kids who skateboard, watch the X-games, and envy Tony Hawk. The publisher of this book should be ashamed for allowing such (...)to filter into the marketplace.

I have been skateboarding for several years now and can honestly say that "amped" gives a faulse impression not only of my sport but of extreme sports in general.
There are many books out there of a simular nature to "amped" writen by people who know what they are talking about, i suggest you buy one of those instead.

Im not a skater, bmxer, or rollerblader. I am a critic and was told to review this book honestly. Honestly it is very bland. It leaves you hoping the next chapter is the final chapter. I dis-like publications that leave me bored throughout each sentence. I would only compare this to my 5th grade social studies bible I so desprately wanted to burn in my fireplace.. Give it a chance and know that you will probably feel the same way..

Well written and informative, relates all the information about extreme sports in an objective and even-handed matter. A must-read for anyone interested in extreme sports and their history and culture!

This book is a badly written (very melodramatic, lots of inexplicable switches to the past tense, and choices in diction based apparently on using as many syllables as possible on every topic ... reads like an AP English essay) explanation by an outsider to outsiders of something that's essentially an insider phenomenon. Imagine a 300 page book by Bob Costas on punk rock. Humorous at first, then grating, and ultimately not useful for understanding what's actually going on.

This was a really great read. I rarely venture far from fictional books but I'm lucky I did this time. Amazingly insightful with a great insiders perspective on the evolution of extreme sports. Having been into extreme sports my entire life I can say this is a brilliant and honest representation of these great activities.

Having read some of the previous reviews I am genuinely confused. Although I can understand a difference of opinion this doesn't seem to be the case. Most of the reviews seem to be from people who haven't read the book so I am forced to conclude they have other motives. Either way I certainly suggest purchasing this book and making your own minds up, really is worth it.