Breaking the Surface [Paperback]

Eric Marcus (Author), Greg Louganis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

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 silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. But despite his astonishing athletic skill, Greg struggled with late-detected dyslexia, prejudice toward his dark skin coloring and anguish over his homosexuality, which he felt compelled to hide. Being in the spotlight intensified his difficulties with relationships and substance abuse.

However, Louganis went on to win double gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. His triumph at the 1988 Olympics came several months after he tested positive for HIV. This is the haunting, searingly candid story of the world's greatest diver. This new edition includes a new foreword.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Greg Louganis won back-to-back double gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, and his amazing physique and handsome face should have made him a media superstar. Yet Louganis's struggles with self-doubt lack of confidence held him back personally and professionally. He only achieved real happiness after coming out as an HIV-positive gay man. This is a thoughtful, sensitive portrait of a man whose insecurities nearly destroyed him, but who found the love and inner strength to save himself. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Four-time Olympic diving champion Louganis's memoir, acknowledging that he had tested HIV-positive several months prior to the 1988 Olympics, was a PW bestseller for nine weeks.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402206666
• ISBN-13: 978-1402206665
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Biographies & Memoirs > Gay
  • #94 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Water Sports > Swimming

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most heart-felt and sincere books yet., February 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking the Surface: (Hardcover)

Greg has written a book that is touching the hearts of so many people. As a young college student, I myself have had to overcome my sexuality and my HIV status. I finally met Greg on February 15th at the University of Miami, and it reinforced the idea of what a wonderful person he is. Greg's book is definitely one in a million. It's a must read for gays and straights, and people who are HIV positive and negative. His strength is capable of helping all of us live a more productive life... and to be happy with ourselves.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tale., March 21, 2000

By 

Richard Engelhardt (Boca Raton, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breaking the Surface: (Hardcover)

I read this book only months after I came out. It helped a lot. This book helped me see many sides of the gay community and how difficult it can be for anyone to come out of the closet.

I also used this book to help my parents understand why I feel the need to come out. They didn't want me to tell many people, they wanted me to keep it under wraps. I read a few passages from this book to help them understand why I can't continue to hide. They didn't understand at that moment, but over time they have grown to understand the pain that I and many other gay people feel when they have to remain in the closet.

I am very grateful that I bought this book. It helped me find a new, higher lever of self-esteem that I never thought I could have before. Also, it has helped my family be more comfortable with my being gay.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and interesting., August 24, 2005

By 

Desiree Troy (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking the Surface (Paperback)

The reason that I first read this book was that I wanted to read a book written by a gay author. I knew nothing about Greg Louganis or the fact that he smacked his head during the Olympics. All I knew was that he was gay and was a swimmer. I checked it out from the library and ended up reading it in two days, which is a record for me because I procrastinate.

Greg and Eric put together Greg's story very well, never once causing me to wonder what was going on. From the very beginning I was amused by Greg's thoughts and concerned although he was talking about something that had happened over a decade ago (seven years ago when the book was written). Greg did not tell his story from a casual perspective. He was upfront with his emotions and I felt like I really got to know who this guy was and I came to care a great deal about him.

Greg Louganis is the sort of person that should be admired and respected not only for his athletic and acting (let's just think about Jeffrey here...) accomplishments but for his strength and courage. For someone who used to have such a distorted self-perception he grew into a rather wise and very beautiful man. He tells his life story with such compassion, humour, and care that it's difficult to believe he used to think so poorly of himself.

This man is one of my role models and I highly suggest that anyone and everyone read this book.