It's Only a Mountain: Dick and Rick Hoyt, Men of Iron [Hardcover]

Sam Nall (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 331 pages
• Publisher: Southern Heritage Pr; 2 edition (January 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941072517
• ISBN-13: 978-0941072519
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, open view of life with Cerebral Palsy, July 9, 2006

By 

Deborah L. Niemann - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's Only a Mountain: Dick and Rick Hoyt, Men of Iron (Hardcover)

As a mother of a child with cerebral palsy, I can say personally that the account of Dick and Jan Hoyt's rollar coaster of emotions is quite accurate. Their struggle and battle with the hardships of a child trapped in his own body is real and honest. It is enlightening to read that even as involved Rick is, he lives in his own apartment. It gives me hope that some day, my daughter (who is 2.5 years old) will live a life independently. I am fortunate to live in a time when policies are in place requiring equality for disabled people--and Jan Hoyt is to thank for paving the road for this luxury. Excellent book that openly and honestly portrays the injustices persons with disabilities face, the ignorance and cruelty of many in our society, and the sweetness of watching one's child successfully perform some of life's most basic and simple activities.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT!, November 22, 2008

By 

THOR - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It's Only a Mountain: Dick and Rick Hoyt, Men of Iron (Hardcover)

We recommend this book to every person in the human family!
Thank you Team Hoyt!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dad, when I'm running, I don't even feel handicapped., November 14, 2008

By 

Steve Shepard (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's Only a Mountain: Dick and Rick Hoyt, Men of Iron (Hardcover)

I've been aware of the remarkable story of Dick and Rick Hoyt for years. They almost always rate coverage during the Boston Marathon, which they have done each of the last 24 years, captured on camera as shots of a middle-aged man pushing his son in a wheel chair through the marathon. In addition to the remarkable nature of just being out there, I was always impressed with how fast they went.

Move forward to the Expo at the 2004 Boston Marathon, and Dick and Rick have their own booth! Dick is selling his book and DVD, and Rick is nearby but silent and motionless. Dick is 64 years old but built like Charles Atlas and appears much younger than his years. Although they appeared to be totally at ease with the situation, I wasn't. Was Rick taking any of this in? Should we talk to him? What does one say? Finally we purchased the book, which Dick autographed, I stammered "good luck Monday" to Rick, and we pushed on.

Well, I wish I had read the book before our encounter! Rick is a non-verbal quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, and has been since birth. However, his mind and senses are totally normal. He is able to communicate extensively although non-verbally with his family including two able-bodied brothers. Otherwise, he makes painstaking use of a communications machine that he taps with his head. This he does well enough to have earned a degree from Boston University, one of the few people in history with his handicaps to have done so. He is characterized in the book as being extremely patient but also possessing remarkable endurance, and is a very cheerful person with a keen sense of humor.

Dick has a low key personality but otherwise there is nothing low key about this remarkable man. He takes obsessive to new levels in his approach to training, racing, and goal setting. Dick has done Boston 24 times with a PR of 2:40 set at age 49 while pushing his 100 pound son. That wasn't enough, so they got into triathlon. Dick pulls Rick on the swim using a parachute harness tied to a rubber life raft, then cycles on a specially built tandem, then pushes him on the run in a wheelchair. Triathlons weren't enough, so they got into Ironmans, and have completed Ironman Canada, Ironman Hawaii twice, and Ironman Germany. Ironmans weren't enough, so they completed a bike/run trip across America from California to Massachusetts. All they while they've averaged at least one race per weekend over the last 20 years, and are tireless in their efforts and speaking engagements in support of the handicapped.

As you can imagine this all makes for compelling reading. Author Sam Nall takes us through Rick's childhood and then chronicles their remarkable athletic career in great detail. Family matters get a lot of coverage including his often-difficult relationship with his wife Judy. The book is a very fast read and comes with lots of action and family photos. Strongly recommended.