Customer Reviews

Ski to Die: The Bill Johnson Story

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm not a skier and am not much of a sports fan either, but I heard about "Ski to Die" and thought I would give it a try. I was amazed by the story. This is one of the few books that I couldn't put down. The author does a fantastic job weaving Johnson's early years and current situation to further grip the reader. This is a compelling story of the complexities of human nature. What I liked most about the story was the honesty with which it is told. I read that it was written with Johnson's full cooperation and I admire that neither he nor the author try to sugar coat his life. I highly recommend this book, even if you are neither a sports fan nor a biography buff you will enjoy this frank and true story and the life lessons in it. This book is every bit as interesting as any fictional story; it's a modern day Greek tragedy!

I am an avid skier and a lover of biographies. What an amalgamation of the two!!! Growing up in Colorado, skiing was in my blood...much like Bill Johnson. This book is not only a compelling story of his life but also a story of tragedy that draws you in immediately. You wish for Bill's confidence in your own life's ventures but dread that it would come with the price of cockiness and heartbreak that inevitably follows. I couldn't put it down!!!! Well written and gripping!

Very much in the style of Krakauer and Junger, the book adeptly juxtaposes Bill's early years with his current plight and in doing so provides the reader an intense perspective and the means for compassion for this troubled and immensely talented man. It was a great read. I realized I had never seen Bill as a hero, but having finished the book, I certainly do now. I really recommend this book!

This book succeeds at the very difficult exploration of both the factual achievements of a sports legend, and the psychological traumas and demons that may, or may not, have driven him to those achievements. The author lets the reader draw their own conclusions while weaving a thoughtful, interesting and compelling tale of one man's life, his compulsions and dreams, his self destructive actions and momentus ability to survive against all odds.

A tremendous read. Highly recommended!

When a friend suggested "Ski to Die" for our book club, I was skeptical. We often stay away from biographies as they tend to be dry and merely a recitation of facts. But I enjoy skiing and live in the Tahoe area, so I thought I'd give it a try. The book arrived Friday afternoon and I was done by (late) Friday evening. The story was not only riveting but also insightful. It fell into one of those rare categories of books, whether fiction or non-fiction, that makes you feel that when you wake up in the morning, your life could be different. That it could be different because you were provided with insight and understanding by the author. In this case, Woodlief offers a rare level of insight into rebellion and motivation, into success and despair. It is an amazing roller coaster ride through the ups and downs in Johnson's life. It is an experience that should not be missed, one that I would highly recommend to anyone (including my book club).

I found "Ski to Die" to be terrific - far more than a typical sports biography. It is the tale of a neglected child who becomes a ski circuit renegade and, against all odds, an olympic champion, only to fall from grace and, in a final attempt to regain his footing, ultimately fall further than anyone could ever have imagined. It's quite a story and, in the telling, the author touches on themes that eclispe the ski world's seemingly narrow universe, including how the sins of parents are visited on their children, and their children's children. Johnson - an Icarus who literally fell too hard to the earth - is a compelling figure for a biography, at once admirable, unlikeable, compassionate and uncaring. I would highly recommend this very informative and moving book.

Great read! A near perfect accounting of one of the most colorful people in the professional sports world during the height of his career. As a friend of Bill Johnson it is difficult to fully describe his person and his life during the early eighties and more difficult now to understand his personal plight and the depths of what his memory loss truly has meant to him. This book really pins down both. Woodlief really gets into the meat of why Bill Johnson is who he is and the reprocussions of having such a colorfull personality in a group like the olympic ski community. I am really looking forward to reading her next creation. Enjoy!

I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend, not knowing who Bill Johnson was, yet I was immediately engaged. Despite of my lack of prior knowledge about Bill and his sport, the book quickly taught me the ins and outs of the ski racing world and placed me in awe of the enormity of Bill's achievement. Moreover, I found the book extremely compelling on a human level. The book does not paint Bill as an untouchable national icon, but rather as a fallible human being. Here was a guy who had nothing, rose to the pinnacle of his profession, then proceeded to lose it all again. I found myself cheering for him, chastising him, and feeling sorry for him all at the same time. Mostly, I found myself wondering why. Bill Johnson would say, "why not." You don't have to be a skier to enjoy this book. It is a great read for anyone. I highly recommend it.

I saw the story on HBO Real Sports and it looked really interesting. I was disappointed with the writing. It didn't seem to flow. The author would go from childhood and progress, but along the way, she would skip from age 13 to 15 to graduating from high school and then back to 14. It just didn't flow and I found it frustrating to read.

This book offers a very interesting, compelling story of a complicated person. It pursues the question of what one does after winning Olympic gold at an early age. It demonstrates how difficult it can be to follow up and move on from early success. I would like to see more books from this author, who provides great insight into the background and motivations of Bill Johnson. I highly recommend this book.