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Beneath the Surface (Paperback)

~ Michael Phelps (Author) "The night before my first Olympic race in Athens, I could see myself in a movie..." (more)
Key Phrases: free relay, one gold medal, practice pool, Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe, Long Beach (more...)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Eight Olympic medals, including six gold and two bronze in Athens in 2004, Michael Phelps is the current holder of six world records, and seven gold medals at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships. Phelps is well on his way to his ambitious goal of "changing the sport of swimming." But despite Michael's pre-eminence in the pool, his story is not a swimming diary but a tale of adversities overcome and redemption through persistence. This new softcover edition contains a substantial update, as Phelps reflects on his life since his record-setting performance in Athens. The Olympic star reflects on his November 2004, DUI arrest. He recalls his experiences as a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Phelps also takes readers poolside for his record-setting 2007 performance in Australia and shares his thoughts heading into the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.


About the Author

Michael Phelps is the most accomplished U.S. swimmer since Mark Spitz. Phelps has broken numerous world records, including an astounding seven in 41 days. MichaelÂ’s success in the 2004 Summer Olympics has made him a household name. Michael hails from Baltimore.

Brian Cazeneuve is a staff writer at Sports Illustrated and has been the magazineÂ’s full-time Olympics journalist since 1995. Before joining SI, he worked as a freelance writer for Time, People, The New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Reuters and NBC Sports. In 2003, he won the Jesse Abramson Prize, a national award for excellence in track and field writing.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 282 pages
  • Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC; 2nd edition (August 20, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1596703520
  • ISBN-13: 978-1596703520
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #126,831 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #23 in  Books > Sports > Miscellaneous > Olympic Games
    #28 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Swimming
    #44 in  Books > Sports > Water Sports > Swimming

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4.3 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Olympic Superstar, June 3, 2005
By DodgyUSA (Jamaica Plain, MA United States) - See all my reviews
Michael Phelps, the Olympic champion whose goal is to bring swimming to the forefront of the sports world-not just during Olympic years-tells his story in a candid, straightforward approach.
With the assistance of Brian Cazeneuve, staff writer for Sports Illustrated, he lays out the events leading up to his triumphs at Sydney, Barcelona, and culminating in his shining victories in Athens.
In between, he talks about his personal accomplishments over such things as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, family difficulties, and his initial stubbornness towards the coaching of Bob Bowman-the man who would "work him" and "work with him" to bring Michael to his full potential.

Swimmers will revel in Michael's persistence, training, and competitions along side such athletes as Aaron Peirsol, Ian Crocker, and the "Thorpedo" Ian Thorpe of Australia, whose superior timings drove Michael's competitive nature to go that extra step in his training.

An enjoyable read which takes some of the mystery off the life of a superstar, and proves that patience, endurance, hard work, and believing in yourself can only bring success.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiasm Dominates Phelps' Style, September 5, 2005
By John F. Jebb (Newark, Delaware United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Age 19 seems too young for an athlete to present his autobiography, yet Michael Phelps and co-author Brian Cazeneuve correctly gauge that Phelps' current fame makes the project viable. The tone of the narrative captures youthful wonder and enthusiasm for swimming; had the book come later, Phelps might become too jaded or overly analytic.

The authors let the chapters read like recorded oral narratives, with tangents, informal diction, corny jokes. The effect is enjoyable, as if we are listening as Phelps gushes over the aspects of his career. The book has almost no surprising revelations, but Phelps' views of races and competitors enhance our understanding of him and his accomplshments. He remains admirably respectful toward rivals who needle him. His comments (embedded in Chapter 21) on why he sought out races against Ian Thorpe reflect the best values of athletic competition and could be part of locker room pep talks in any sport. Even though we know the results, the eager style makes the narrative of the Olympics become exciting reading.

The book is thus more about personal enthusiasm than athletic insight. We do not learn much about the theories behind training methods, nor about race strategies, nor about the special aspects of certain swimming events. (For this sort of depth analysis of Olympic swimming, readers should see "Gold in the Water" by P. H. Mullen [2001] and "Champions" by Daniel Chambliss [1988].) And Phelps downplays subjects that he may see differently when he is older. One is his easy dismissal as inconsequential of periods when he did not see his father. Another concerns his hyperactivity; he admits the problem (as he has in news profiles) but avoids the thorny issue of treatments.

The final page, appended after his November 2004 driving while impaired incident, is a model of crisis communication. For its candor and blunt acceptance of responsibility, it is an example that older and younger athletes should emulate when they get into trouble.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, October 16, 2006
By Nicholas A. Ziinojr (ridge, new york United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This is one of the best sports autobiographies I've read in a long time.
Yes,it's obvious that he had help with the book,but Michael comes across
as very mature,intelligent,and articulate.He tells his story very honestly and quite eloquently.Moreover,his love and enthusiasm for his sport,as well as his desire and efforts to raise its recognition in the
United States,are evident.And yes,he discusses his DWI arrest on the last page.To his credit,Michael is honest and apologetic about it.An excellent book that everyone will enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read in my entire life!
Michael Phelps' book Beneath the Surface was an amazing read! It is one of the best books I've read in my entire life! Read more
Published 2 months ago by KRAZY PHELPS PHAN

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read and a good look at an athlete's thinking
This is a well-written (ghostwritten?) book from a great athlete, and more than a memoir of substance it carries an inspirational message about athletics and motivation and an... Read more
Published 3 months ago by RonAnnArbor

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different World
Growing up as an athlete, I never had - or perhaps took - the opportunity to strive for the heights that Michael Phelps has reached. Read more
Published 6 months ago by John Galluzzo

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Phelps
I bought this for my 13 year old grandson which truly loves it. He has just gotten started reading it when I talked to him but he really liked it as far as he had read.
Published 10 months ago by Vicky M. Sand

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Phelps
Brandon

Beneath the Surface, a Biography about and by Michael Phelps. Reading this book really made me start to think about my life. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Albert

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
This was a very interesting book. I did sometimes find myself day dreaming when reading his pr & wr times. Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. David

5.0 out of 5 stars great read
This is a great read. My swimming granddaughter used this book as a report and she really enjoyed reading about Michael's life from his prospective.
Published 13 months ago by Mary N. Englestead

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read of a Personal Story.
This is a good read. There is a little bit of swimming jargon that the non-swimming fan may get caught up in- but the story so surpasses that - so you don't notice much.
Published 13 months ago by Alicia Bumpus

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful
Started swimming a bit and taking notice of athletes... this one is a bore. Boy starts swimming. Boy is great from the start. Boy gets gold.

Whoopty doo..
Published 13 months ago by TI

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to read!!
As soon as I received the book in the mail, I started reading it instantly. This book talks about his beginnings from a child, to the olympics in Athens. Read more
Published 14 months ago by K. Choy

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