Customer Reviews

Iron Heart: The True Story of How I Came Back from the Dead

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Up front I should say I am Brian's (much older) cousin and admit to some bias, I was able to follow this adventure closely the first time around.
The book is well written, flows and is an easy read....except for the time taken to cry. My tears ranged from terror to joy, and there were plenty. Brian's recounting of this journey is crystal clear and makes you feel you are in the "movie", although this isn't fiction but very real life.
The book is a very personal insight to an incredible young man, his passion and determination and the effect he has had on family and friends in a relatively short life. It also is a story of that family and the strength and commitment of his parents, the support of his network and the person they have helped mold.
I told Brian that this story can't help but work to achieve his goal of helping others through their difficult, seemingly impossible times. I know for a fact that is already happening as I have passed the book to someone close who is now dealing with their own challanges.
A tough first chapter grabs you and the rest don't let go...you may never say "I can't" again!

It is simply flabbergasting that one could overcome tragedy with a death-defying recovery like Brian Boyle. This story is amazing and inspirational. Recovery is one thing. To recover and complete the Kona Ironman? Unbelievable! Read it yourself!

Impressively written by Brian and esteemed author Bill Katovsky.

Aloha!

There are 3 reasons why this book should be read by anyone wanting to be inspired or motivated: First, it is incredibly well written; second, the story is nothing short of a miracle; and third, the the central person in the story (the author) is one of those rare individuals that leads you to believe in the phenominal power of the human spirit.

This is not a story of a car accident and the recovery. It is an exploration into the mind of an incredible athlete who draws the reader into experiencing everything the he experienced. The reader feels what is like to come out of a coma and see the blinking of an eye or the slighest smile as huge achievements in communication. And the reader also feels the pain and exhiliration of completeing the swimming, biking and running of an Iron Man Triathlon. The book centers on the person, the struggle and the success rather than on the details of a tragedy.

Miraculous healing, everpresent parental support and intense athletic drive seem to be the formula that led Brian Boyle to not only recover from this horrific accident but to defy medical science and go from a 2 month coma the a 14 hour IronMan triathlon in under 2 1/2 years. Read the book, share it with your friends, give it to someone needing to overcome struggles in their own lives.

THE QUALITY IS VERY GOOD AND THIS BOOK IS REALLY CHEAP! LIKE IT! THE AUTHOR IS VERY INSPIRING! AND HE IS GONNA COME TO MY SCHOOL NEXT WEEK! CAN'T WAIT HAHA!!

I loved this book, everyone should definitely read it! It's so inspiring and truly is an amazing story. It is an easy read and the pictures in the book help you put a picture to the story and makes it more personal.

If you are looking for a great Christmas present for important friends and family in your life I recommend "Iron Heart"!!

This inspiring story on Brian Boyle will certainly motivate them and encourage them to get a move on in their lives and accomplish anything they set out to do - 'anything is possible' - will become something they can believe after reading this moving account. 'Anything is possible' is also the motto of the Ironman Kona Triathlon and that is what he accomplished. What is extraordinary is that Brian should not have survived a horrific car crash. He simply shouldn't have made it, but he did. He had amazing support from his family and physicians and therapists. And he had an amazing inner drive. He recovered and set out on a challenge to accomplish the ultimate endeavor in sport and he became an Ironman!

I first read "Iron Heart" in January of 2011. I had done one triathlon in September 2010 and was pondering my New Year's Resolutions. I was questioning whether there was another, a second, triathlon in my future. So shopping on Amazon I was looking for inspiring sports stories, motivators and topics on Triathlon. This book kept coming up as a suggested title after I would do searches, so I ordered it and waited for its arrival in the mail.

Throughout his book I found myself crying and smiling at the same time. As a mother I cried at the awfulness of the accident and what had happened to his body. There was no way that he should have recovered. I smiled because he did. But he did more. His journey was not easy, but he never stopped. His story never ceased to amaze me. I had to share this wonderful book. I lent my copy to my girlfriend (who now does triathlons with me) and she too found herself inspired. When she returned my copy, I read it again. His story reminds me that I can do whatever I set out to do, that 'anything is possible', and I met and exceeded my own goals I set last January.

This wonderful book should be required reading for collegiate physical education majors, nursing majors and personal coaches. I personally am going to re-read it for the third time this month as we move into the New Year. His story will help me set my mind for my goals for 2012. His story is a spark that bursts through to successful triumph. His story will show you by example that indeed 'ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE'.

This book blew my mind. I cannot believe how the human body and human will/determination/toughness allowed Brian to not only survive, but to once again be competitive. I first heard about Brian from Bart Yasso when he spoke at the QC Marathon pasta dinner. Then another teacher/runner read the book and I just had to read it as well. This book tells an amazing journey. It serves as a great reminder to never give up and that anything is within grasp if you want it bad enough.

When you turn eighteen years old, you are an adult, right? I do not think anyone could be prepared for the tragic event that changed Brian Boyle's life. When he was faced with adversity, Brian Boyle took life by the horns and would not accept defeat. His story is one of courage beyond your wildest dreams. This story takes you through the hardest years of his life. You feel the emotions that Brian feels as you read through his incredible story. His positive attitude and optimistic outlook make you want to smile and cry at the same time. This book is great for children and adults alike. I am a teacher and am using it as a tool to show my students the importance of believing in yourself and never giving up. You will not be able to put the book down, as you find yourself cheering Brian on throughout the novel. He makes a choice to accept the cards he was dealt and make the best of it. In doing so, this story motivates and encourages others going through a tough or impossible time in their own life. Brian shows us to believe in ourselves, our dreams, and in the beauty of life.

Brain Boyle does an excellent job telling his real-life story about his car accident and the recovery that follows. What a great story As an avid triathlete, I know haw hard these races can be, but to read what Brian went through to become an Ironman finisher keeps me inspired as I train for my first Ironman race.
As a career firefighter, I have seen horrific accidents, its nice to see that our work done on emergency incidents can lead to a story like Brian's. Brian has gone on to represent the American Red Cross, leading blood drives and fundraisers all over the US.

Iron Heart, a TRUE INSPIRATION.

my coach is in this book so i guess this may be a little bias but i love this book because every time i have a hard practice or have a difficult time with a set i just go home and read this book and it motivates me to push myself beyond what i believed was physically possible. one day my friend read the book and showed my coach his name in it and he just smiled because he was remembering Brain. His story was so inspirational we had a poster of him in our pool. He is truly an amazing athlete and i think every athlete should read this book.