One Man's Leg: A Memoir (Paperback)

by Paul Martin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Martin writes with brutal honesty and wicked humor in this heartwarming account." -- Ian Adamson, Two-time Winner of the EcoChallenge

"Martin’s story is a testimony to the human spirit. Read this book and your own trials won’t seem that bad." -- Scott Tinley, Two-time Ironman Champion, Author, Lecturer

"ONE MAN’S LEG is a remarkable story about a remarkable life." -- Chris Carmichael, Conditioning Coach to Lance Armstrong

Forthright and uplifting." -- Rex Burns, Recipient of the Edgar Allan Poe Award

Martin writes with brutal honesty and wicked humor in this heartwarming account. --Ian Adamson, Two-time Winner of the EcoChallenge

Martin's story is a testimony to the human spirit. Read this book and your own trials won't seem that bad. --Scott Tinley, Two-time Ironman Champion, Author, Lecturer

ONE MAN'S LEG is a remarkable story about a remarkable life. --Chris Carmichael, Conditioning Coach to Lance Armstrong

Product Description
As a kid, athletic competition provided some relief from an otherwise difficult childhood. Later, living in a foster home, it was the stage on which to gain attention that didn't seem to be available elsewhere. But it was only at the age of 25, when he had lost a part of the very thing he relied on most to compete (specifically, the lower half of his left leg), that Paul Martin made his commitment--and went on to become a world champion triathlete and Paralympic competitor.

ONE MAN'S LEG is the story of Paul Martin's life to date--and what a life it has been. Whether the passage is laugh-out-loud funny, fiercely heartbreaking or gently thought provoking, few readers will fail to be captivated by Paul Martin's adventures--and misadventures! Things just happen to Paul: storms form out of the blue when he is sailing; culprits steal his bike when his back is turned, and they break into his car while he is ensconced in his highest moment--completing his first ever marathon. While insurance companies are willing to help him acquire a leg to stand on, they balk every time he needs one to run on. And he seems to be accident prone--even after the accident that claimed his limb. As one observer puts it, "There are two kinds of people in the world--those who like to dance with gravity and those who don't."

But Paul Martin has a very special gift--and it is in addition to his athletic prowess and his ability to write honestly, fluidly and at a pace that makes it impossible not to want to turn the page: when life hands Paul Martin lemons, he makes lemonade. Reading ONE MAN'S LEG, the reader can't help but want to make lemonade too. And though the book is never didactic, the recipe is there for anyone who wants it, lurking between the lines, evident in Paul's good humor and in every choice he makes.

Paul's endurance and determination are off the charts--as are those of the "badasses" he runs (and swims, skis, bikes and plays hockey) with. To read ONE MAN'S LEG is to experience the life of an athlete vicariously, to learn to redefine "disability" (or is it "this ability?"),to learn the true meaning of team spirit, and to come to love the finish line, as it applies to each of us and no matter how far off we fear it might be. What an inspiration! What a celebration of life! What a pleasure it is to get to know Paul Martin intimately in these pages!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: GreyCore Press (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967185157
• ISBN-13: 978-0967185156
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! : Inspirational story; Inspirational author, December 31, 2002

By	"tpriesmeyer" (Palm Beach Gardens, FL USA) - See all my reviews

"One Man's Leg" is Paul Martin's story, and what a story he tells.

After what can best be described as a "challenging" childhood and adolescence, filled with too many excesses as well as a disproportionate share of family issues, Martin rights his ship enough to graduate from college with an Engineering degree and land a good job with a major manufacturing firm. However, while in his initial job training, he suffers a catastrophic car accident in which he eventually would be forced to lose the part of his leg just below the knee.

A decent hockey player in high school, Martin decides that this life-altering event was truly a message to him from above, and he decides to forego a business career to pursue a career in athletics. Martin, however, chooses the extra-ordinary challenges: marathons, triathlons, cycling and, for good measure, Olympic downhill skiing. And, as "fairy tales" go, he succeeds.

As any part-time, weekend warrior athlete would tell you, running an occasional 5k or the annual 10k is a pretty big accomplishment. Martin, however, not only runs the marathons and triathlons, but he wins them, beating many able-bodied athletes in the process... He also holds the American records in the half-marathon and the 5k.

Martin, who wrote the book without the assistance of a seasoned co-author (typical hard-headed athlete, as am I), writes with humor, sometimes brutal honesty and an easy conversational tone that makes the book a great read.

As an "athlete," One Man's Leg has motivated me and has me thinking of an attempt at triathlons; as a person, Martin's story makes me proud and inspires me... Our country and our world needs to hear more about the Paul Martin-type stories that exist. These stories are what the human spirit is all about.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational..., January 28, 2003

By A Customer

I usually don't get into books like this but I read a review on this one and had to check it out...and I was not disappointed. This is a great book for non-athletes and athletes alike. It really shows how someone can change their lives and become great in whatever they decide to focus their energies on regardless of the barriers in the way.

At times the book seems somewhat self-indulgent...but if it was my book I'd do the same...overall it's a great book and recommend it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Man On a Mission, March 18, 2003

By	Frank Christofferson (Broomfield, CO United States) - See all my reviews

One Man's Leg shows the strength of the human spirit, and the determination of one man in particular. But rather than bludgeon us with a tale of dark adversity and eventual triumph, this book delights in its accessibility and humanity. Paul leads us through his life and evolution with humility and honesty, and writes in a natural prose that inspires genuine identification with him as a person first, and an amputee secondarily.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone at any stage of life, for both a delightful read and a reminder that humans are capable of great things if we only rise to the occasion.