Customer Reviews

Breaking the Surface

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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.

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.

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.

It took a lot of guts for Greg Louganis to reveal his gayness to his family and to the public. I remember when it happened, how surprised I was. A little angry too- I didn't approve of such a lifestyle at the time. Reading these memoirs made me appreciate the struggle he and other gays go through. As an African-IN-America, I have my own struggle, so I could certainly relate. The book is inspiring because with all the hardships, Greg Louganis has found happiness. All struggles should yield such results! Power to you Greg!

This book was about an Olympic diver that overcame many life difficulties such as is sexuality, depression,ect.. As an athleate Greg Louganis was the best diver ever in U.S. history. I thought this book was very interesting because i got to see how homosexual people view life. This book is easy to read and i think many people could relate to this book such as athletes or just people.

Breaking the Surface is an autobiography of Greg Louganis's life. Louganis talks about the problems he encountered throughout his life and how he had to overcome them. He also talked about his accomplishments. His friends and family were there along the way, to protecting him from the world and the ones who tried to manipulate him. In this book Greg Louganis displays acts of courage and a true sense of self.
Louganis did a nice job writing his autobiography because he discussed his ups and downs. He didn't try to make himself look better than what he was. He just told the truth even if it was dissatisfying. Breaking the Surface has its flaws, like reading points of his life that maybe you didn't want to know about. Many people can relate to this book and Louganis was a one of a kind athlete that should be honored and held high. After reading Breaking the Surface you will appreciate your life and have more respect for other people and what they go through.

I remember watching Greg Louganis in 1988 and his last dive that gave him his fourth Olympic gold medal. I was only 7 years old and had no idea about what a struggle he had. When I found out that he was HIV-positive and gay, I was shocked. I don't know why. I read the book during my junior year in high school and enjoyed it. The information on diving was informative and I enjoyed that part. The part that surprised me the most was the way he talked openly and frankly about his lovers and his feelings for them. It was the first time I had ever read anything like that and it shocked me but then I got used to it. Sure, I've seen "Philadelphia" and the dancing scene but I always figured that they're actors and it was part of their jobs to do stuff like that. Call me naive; I was. But this, the things in the book, happened to a real person, one who is a vivid part of my childhood memories. In many parts, I was crying, trying to picture what Greg's life must have been like all those years and how it hurt him-all the teasing, taunts, rumors and other things he must have endured. I think he has a lot of courage to come out and write this book; to me it shows a person who is confident of where he is now in life and wants others to accept him for who he is.

The first time ever I heard about Greg Louganis was when a friend of mine told me he had bought Greg's autobiography back in 1995. Early this year I learned more about him on the Discovery Channel during a documentary about the Olympics. I could say I was impressed by his achievements, other than getting to know that he was a diver and the best of his kind (hey!...I was 12 at the time of his retirement and in my country diving is not much of a hit). Later on I got to see the movie based on his book, which really struck me. My interest grew so much that the first time I surfed by at Amazon, "Breaking the surface" was the first book I decided to pick up. This opus is not only another ordinary autobiography, because it's at the same time a learning about human life and qualities. The book starts describing that well-known accident he had on the springboard back in 1988 and goes on with his childhood up to his current days. Each chapter is a challenge because each one not only narrates an achievement, in some way, in his life, but also an amalgam of feelings all of which relates the reader to the writer. The book is far beyond a recount of Greg's accomplishments as a diver, but it's a story that digs deeply into his personality revealing the most traumatic episodes of his life. It's not only a story about AIDS and homosexuality, since it also deals with discrimination, dyslexia and Greg's so impeding moodiness. This biography is hard to get through, not because it's boring or flat, but because there are so much emotions involved. "Breaking the surface" is a book destined to make changes, changes in your look at valuable things that will help you to cast prejudices away. "Breaking..." is unforgettable as well as a book worthy of reading. An enjoyable experience that will make you love Greg because of who he is rather than what his celebrity means. Oh, by the way, tears tend to drop.

I purchased Greg's story the minute it hit the stands because Greg was my #1 sports hero as I was growing up. When I read his story, he affected my life in an even greater way. I have a brother who is gay, but he had not come out to his family yet. After reading Greg's story I knew that I needed to help my brother by supporting him now, instead of waiting until it was too late. A few days after finishing my read, I told my brother that I knew he was gay and that I loved him, supported him, and was proud of him. I got the best hug of my life. I only wish that I could've given Greg the same hug when he really needed it the most. I'm proud of the fact that he was, and still is, one of my heroes. Read the book. It is a heartbreaking and frank look at humanity.

I didn't know much about Greg Louganis before I picked up the book. I figured he was just some diver who wanted to talk about his accomplishments. But Mr. Louganis makes it clear right from the start that he wants to GIVE his knowledge and not GET more admirers (although it is hard not to feel a little admiration for such an amazing person). As he states in his autobiography, he wants to make a difference in other peoples lives. After reading about all he's been through- perservered through- and seeing that he's still HERE, still going strong, he has greatly inspired me and the choices I make in my life. Read it if you want to get a deep sense of inspiration.