Beneath the Surface [Paperback]

Michael Phelps (Author), Bob Costas (Foreword), Brian Cazeneuve (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2008

Eight Olympic medals, including six gold and two bronze in Athens in 2004, Michael Phelps is the current holder of six world records, and seven gold medals at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships. Phelps is well on his way to his ambitious goal of "changing the sport of swimming." But despite Michael's pre-eminence in the pool, his story is not a swimming diary but a tale of adversities overcome and redemption through persistence. This new softcover edition contains a substantial update, as Phelps reflects on his life since his record-setting performance in Athens. The Olympic star reflects on his November 2004, DUI arrest. He recalls his experiences as a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Phelps also takes readers poolside for his record-setting 2007 performance in Australia and shares his thoughts heading into the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Phelps is the most accomplished U.S. swimmer since Mark Spitz. Phelps has broken numerous world records, including an astounding seven in 41 days. MichaelÂ’s success in the 2004 Summer Olympics has made him a household name. Michael hails from Baltimore.

Brian Cazeneuve is a staff writer at Sports Illustrated and has been the magazineÂ’s full-time Olympics journalist since 1995. Before joining SI, he worked as a freelance writer for Time, People, The New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Reuters and NBC Sports. In 2003, he won the Jesse Abramson Prize, a national award for excellence in track and field writing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC; 2nd edition (August 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596703520
• ISBN-13: 978-1596703520
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Swimming
  • #74 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Olympic Games
  • #88 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Water Sports > Swimming

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Olympic Superstar, June 3, 2005

By 

DodgyUSA (Jamaica Plain, MA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Michael Phelps: Beneath the Surface (Hardcover)

Michael Phelps, the Olympic champion whose goal is to bring swimming to the forefront of the sports world-not just during Olympic years-tells his story in a candid, straightforward approach.
With the assistance of Brian Cazeneuve, staff writer for Sports Illustrated, he lays out the events leading up to his triumphs at Sydney, Barcelona, and culminating in his shining victories in Athens.
In between, he talks about his personal accomplishments over such things as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, family difficulties, and his initial stubbornness towards the coaching of Bob Bowman-the man who would "work him" and "work with him" to bring Michael to his full potential.

Swimmers will revel in Michael's persistence, training, and competitions along side such athletes as Aaron Peirsol, Ian Crocker, and the "Thorpedo" Ian Thorpe of Australia, whose superior timings drove Michael's competitive nature to go that extra step in his training.

An enjoyable read which takes some of the mystery off the life of a superstar, and proves that patience, endurance, hard work, and believing in yourself can only bring success.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiasm Dominates Phelps' Style, September 5, 2005

By 

John F. Jebb (Newark, Delaware United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Michael Phelps: Beneath the Surface (Hardcover)

Age 19 seems too young for an athlete to present his autobiography, yet Michael Phelps and co-author Brian Cazeneuve correctly gauge that Phelps' current fame makes the project viable. The tone of the narrative captures youthful wonder and enthusiasm for swimming; had the book come later, Phelps might become too jaded or overly analytic.

The authors let the chapters read like recorded oral narratives, with tangents, informal diction, corny jokes. The effect is enjoyable, as if we are listening as Phelps gushes over the aspects of his career. The book has almost no surprising revelations, but Phelps' views of races and competitors enhance our understanding of him and his accomplshments. He remains admirably respectful toward rivals who needle him. His comments (embedded in Chapter 21) on why he sought out races against Ian Thorpe reflect the best values of athletic competition and could be part of locker room pep talks in any sport. Even though we know the results, the eager style makes the narrative of the Olympics become exciting reading.

The book is thus more about personal enthusiasm than athletic insight. We do not learn much about the theories behind training methods, nor about race strategies, nor about the special aspects of certain swimming events. (For this sort of depth analysis of Olympic swimming, readers should see "Gold in the Water" by P. H. Mullen [2001] and "Champions" by Daniel Chambliss [1988].) And Phelps downplays subjects that he may see differently when he is older. One is his easy dismissal as inconsequential of periods when he did not see his father. Another concerns his hyperactivity; he admits the problem (as he has in news profiles) but avoids the thorny issue of treatments.

The final page, appended after his November 2004 driving while impaired incident, is a model of crisis communication. For its candor and blunt acceptance of responsibility, it is an example that older and younger athletes should emulate when they get into trouble.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, October 16, 2006

By 

Nicholas A. Ziinojr (ridge, new york United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Michael Phelps: Beneath the Surface (Hardcover)

This is one of the best sports autobiographies I've read in a long time.
Yes,it's obvious that he had help with the book,but Michael comes across
as very mature,intelligent,and articulate.He tells his story very honestly and quite eloquently.Moreover,his love and enthusiasm for his sport,as well as his desire and efforts to raise its recognition in the
United States,are evident.And yes,he discusses his DWI arrest on the last page.To his credit,Michael is honest and apologetic about it.An excellent book that everyone will enjoy.