Customer Reviews

Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While written in standard un-memorable "as-told-to" style, the book provides not only a great deal of information about Scott's life and times on the ice and off, but fascinating glimpses of many other skaters. For the knowledgeable fan, the book will evoke many memories of competitions and skaters past (and current.) I enjoyed the accounts of some of the wonderful friendships and support, and particularly his moving tribute to Sergei Grinkov and Katia Gordeeva. A good holiday gift for lovers of the sport.

I have just finished reading Scott's book and feel as if he were sitting across from me having a long conversation....this is a great book. Any fan of ice skating, Stars on Ice, sports commentary, Winter Olympics, and/or overcoming numerous adversities--BUY THIS BOOK! Scott gives the insiders view to training for the Olympics and the politics of skating. He also devotes a touching chapter to Sergei Grinkov and Katia Gordeeva the former pairs skaters (Sergei died unexpectedly from heart problems, leaving his partner in skating/wife Katia and their young daughter.) A truly WONDERFUL book. I am looking forward to later years when Scott Hamilton writes a sequal!

SCOTT HAMILTON SHARES HIS LIFE, HOPES, DREAMS AND MISTAKES WITH ARTFUL CANDOR. THE DETERMINATION AND HUMOR WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT OF SCOTT SHINES CLEARLY. HIS CHOICES TO REVEAL OR KEEP PRIVATE ARE APPLAUDABLE. SCOTT TAKES YOU WITH HIM IN HIS LIFE JOURNEY, AND ONE COMES AWAY KNOWING THAT THIS MODERN DAY "HERO" IS ALSO QUITE HUMAN. SCOTT SHARES SOME OF HIS PRIVATE THOUGHTS ABOUT SKATING AND ON SOME OTHER STARS THAT PROVOKE THOUGHT AND RE-APPRAISAL OF ASSUMPTIONS. WE ALL WILL FACE CHALLANGES IN OUR LIVES, AND SCOTT'S LIFE, SO FAR HAS BOTH INSPIRATION AND TOOLS WE CAN ALL UTILIZE. LOVE, HUMOR, FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY AND FAITH ARE WOUND INTO OUR LIVING AND SCOTT GIVE US GLIMPSES OF SUCCESS AND FAILURES. THIS BOOK IS VERY READABLE, AND ONE THAT YOU WILL OPEN AGAIN AFTER THE FIRST READING!

Scott Hamilton has written a heartwrenching and yet very positive autobiography. With all his energy and personality, Scott provides "hungry-for-detail" fans an exclusive ringside seat to what it must be like to be famous--and yet private. I think the only thing I regret is that he and Karen have not married and started having children. Not many significant others (much less married spouses!) will stay with someone who is diagnosed with a possibly incurable illness. Scott has always been my favorite entertainer on the ice, and it is so nice to see that he cares about the average "joe". You don't find that quality in stars--but in humans that are decent and sensitive. Thank you for your story Scott. God bless you.

This is by no means a self-serving autobiography, it is a journey that Scott Hamilton takes his readers through. Scott has somehow managed to be an objective spectator of his own experience and takes the reader on a tour that is both revealing and refreshing in its honesty.

Here is the history about a common, everyday person facing hardships, obstacles and losses juxtaposed with fame and fortune. This is a story about the yin and yang of tradegy and triumph.

In this book, Scott reveals some of the politics of the Olympics and his feelings about the rules governing figure skating. He wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the book. The emotions (good or bad) that he has experienced are all in there for you to read. He, also reveals some of his love interests. I was surprised by one of them!

This book is a MUST read for Scott Hamilton fans, friends and anyone facing challenges. This book is a MUST read for any figure skating fan! For Scott Hamilton to have authored this book must have taken a great deal of soul searching. I applaud him for this book, as I have everytime that he has taken the "ice" since I first saw him in 1979.

Kudos to you Scott, wherever you are!

I have never really known much about Scott Hamilton (or any make skater for that matter) and this books demonstrates the immense sacrifices that he made to be where he is today. Though recommended for readers that have an appreciation for the sport, it is an easy read and completely heart-felt. Scott has an incredible gift for touching many lives and this book tells you about how he uses this gift on and off the ice. Telling the story about one of the most genuine and pure people you will ever read about, "Landing It" brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion as well as giving me a new outlook on the skating world that I so admire. It was a true privilege to learn more about this incredible person.

This book was probably one of the best books I've ever read...it only fell a little short in the beginning of the Epilogue (which I thought was a little off track). I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever even heard of Scott Hamilton (or who hasn't) because we can all learn so much from reading it about life. This book was very thought provoking for me and I came away from it with a great deal. It was everything I expected and more. From the autographed cover to the last sentence this book was made with Scott's fans in mind and I can really appreciate that. Read the book, learn about Scott Hamilton, and you'll come away richer for it. I guarantee it!

This is a good read. Anyone who has seen Scott Hamilton perform should read this book. He has to be one of the best entertainers in the business today and he always comes across as sincere and personable. This is a good read because it allows you to get to know Scott a little bit and he doesn't pull any punches while telling his story. He's also overcome adversity in his personel life but still remains a down-to-earth person. My only criticism would be that at times he gets a little too technical for us weak-ankled skaters. I have seen him perform personally five or six times and he never fails to come through; he's terrific. He has done this again in writing this book.

Scott Hamilton takes the lid off of the figure skating world, weaving in his own incredible triumphs and tribulations. He writes candidly. He is no hero, but a regular guy. He tells of his insecurities and doesn't hesitate to poke fun at himself. Partucularly fascinating was the story of the hard work and sacrifice of his family AND himself to get to the 1984 Olympics and the gold medal. My biggest criticism is that we all know that Scott has "seen it all" in the somewhat insular figure skating world--I wanted to know MORE insider stuff. . . more about Stars on Ice . . . more about the eligible and ineligible ranks . . . more about the politics in this subjective sport. Scott lets you have it truthfully when he does "spill the beans:" his once rocky relationship with Dorothy Hamell, judging debacles and a couple of romances. Descriptions of both his childhood illness and his recent bout with cancer are told almost as a matter of fact. You've got to admire that! All in all a great read from and about a very courageous human being.

A truly wonderful read - Scott has shared his love for the sport - and his spirit lives in the pages of this book. While I found some of the "skating politics"to be a bit dull in some parts, the book truly captured the image of the energetic, personable entertainer I've loved to watch over the years.

I appreciated his candor and ability to know just how much to share with his public. I respect his decision to keep some of the stories off the pages of the book. His life so far has been a true inspiration.