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Home > Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France
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Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France
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By Floyd Landis
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 (81 Reviews)
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Publisher:
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Gallery Books
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Edition:
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First Edition
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Published:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Hardcover
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Pages:
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320
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THE SERIES OF EVENTS surrounding Floyd Landis's 2006 Tour de France was as improbable as anything in the history of sports: He showed up nine seconds late for the race's opening prologue, donned the leader's yellow jersey twelve days later, and lost his lead only to regain it in remarkable fashion just before the Tour's final stage into Paris. Winning the Tour should have been the culmination of a life's dream, but a mere three days later, Landis was accused of using banned performance-enhancing drugs. Released by his team and threatened with the removal of his Tour title, Landis went from winning the most prestigious race of his career to being unfairly labeled as a cheater, a liar, and a doper. Positively False is at once a memoir and a powerful indictment of the unchecked governing bodies of cycling that have compromised theintegrity of the sport as a whole. From leaving the Mennonite community of his youth in order to pursue his passion for cycling, to riding alongside Lance Armstrong for three years -- with whom he shared the same work ethic and competitive desire -- Floyd Landis details the highs and lows of his career with unabashed honesty. It is this same honesty with which he will clear his name once and for all, as he lays bare the inner workings of the cycling world -- a place where athletes are subject to the antiquated science, flawed interpretive protocols, and draconian legal processes of the anti-doping agencies -- and finally lays to rest the scandal that threatened to destroy everything he's worked so hard to achieve....
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Customer Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
 Fiction section, May 20, 2010
By Deryck Payne (Clonskeagh, Dublin Ireland)
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I am guessing that the people who gave Flyod the benefit of the doubt will ask for their money back now.
and please Amazon can this piece of garbage be moved into the fiction section. I really don't know why
anyone would believe a cyclist whenever he claims to be drug free.
76 of 84 people found the above review helpful.
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Well, well, well . . ., June 22, 2007
By vegan dude (Blue Bell, PA)
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Revised review, now one star. I had previously given this book a very favorable review back in 2007, but based on the admission today by Floyd Landis that he did in fact use performance enhancing drugs during the 2006 Tour and for much of his cycling career, I would say this book is essentially an exercise in deception. I always found it curious that Floyd was spending so much time trying to poke holes in the prosecution's case against him, but never recalled any time where he just came out and said "I did not dope" or "I did not use performance enhancing drugs." This has always bothered me, and obviously my suspicions were well founded. He took many of his supporters for a ride, and should be quite ashamed. My autographed copy of this book is going in the trash.
42 of 59 people found the above review helpful.
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 A Three Part Act, May 10, 2009
By snowleopard (Oregon)
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May 2010 Edit - I wrote this review before Floyd Landis confession, but am keeping the review nearly entirely unchanged, as it applies to the book actually written, not what happened since. It was my opinion upon reading the book that the best parts were about his life as a youth, and the weakest aspects of it about his case, which has been proven false in itself.
Whatever the future holds, it's a real shame Floyd had to lie when writing this book, but at least he finally did come clean, and from getting to know the guy who wrote this book, lies and truths, I hope his conscience is now clean and he can move on with his life.
The book isn't written in three parts, but in a sense it is. The first part is about Floyd's early life, growing up in a strict Mennonite upbringing, having an awful lot of energy and love for bicycling, mostly on a mountain bike, but being told he should stay home on the farm. Floyd couldn't do that, so he moved on in life. Not that he completely lost his faith, he just felt he had so much more. This in itself is a terrific story, and it's a shame it's not written in a more detailed, if nostalgic, manner. But it's still a great base for Floyd's story.
The next part Floyd talks about his life as a bike racer. What's good about this part is that he doesn't just repeat the same information in Lance's books, Lemond's books, Hinault's book, etc. He goes into details about how he signed, how much he was paid, how he moved up on the USPS team, then split away from Lance as he wanted to be his own team leader, and how they reconciled. This is interesting, but as one who has followed cycling for many years, and read a great deal about USPS and cycling during this time, Floyd leaves a fair amount out, and this could have been expanded upon. But it's still a quick read and enjoyable.
The third part, and this is what the book is really about, is Floyd's positive test for testosterone in the 2006 Tour de France, and his efforts to fight it, including details on how the USADA works, how the lab (LNDD) worked, and why the odds were stacked against him the first time his test was even reported as positive. And this is where the book, especially in retrospect, gets a little slippery. Because this book is not about a debate, and not from an objective third party, but from Floyd's perspective, it has to be taken with a grain of salt, and cross referenced by the reader to his case, and other reporting, if one wants to truly get to the bottom of it. Floyd concentrates on how the lab made errors in just what determines a positive test (on a technical level, he has a point), and how had he not had the resources, and a high level legal team, he would have had to defend himself in front of USADA and their attorneys. This is partly true. Floyd also questions the lab's handling of the paperwork, and testing procedures, and by now, if you've done your homework, you'll start to feel a little less sorry for him. This is especially the case if you have read the CAS ruling harshly criticizing Floyd and his legal team's efforts.
Let me explain what I think happened. And this is an opinion here that may not be a review of the book but something for you to consider when reading it. My opinion comes from many years of studying cycling, and having been an amateur racer myself at one point, and following Floyd's case closely. It is my belief that Floyd doped during that 2006 Tour de France. But I believe he wasn't doping that much more than anyone else, and subsequent positive tests from among other riders he defeated, cements this. I believe Floyd's entire team may have been doping, along with the majority of other contenders. It's the ugly side of the sport.
Did Floyd win the 2006 Tour because he doped? Partly. But that wasn't the only reason. Floyd rode a smart tactical race, and showed a tremendous amount of grit and a brilliant strategy on the key stage where he sealed victory (Stage 17) and he talks about it in the book. He had riders out in front of him to act as a carrot, he attacked early, the weather was to his liking (hot!) and he kept himself well hydrated and drenched in water. The other contenders waited too long to chase and could be seen bickering with each other. Floyd also descends extremely well, and a solo rider can go downhill faster than a group. Floyd rode a gutsy, brilliant ride that day, one that would make Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault proud.
When Floyd came up positive, it is my opinion (yes an opinion) that all of this entered his mind: That most everyone dopes - it's endemic to the sport; that he rode his heart out and made a great strategic decision. When his doping test results was unfairly leaked to the press, he probably felt that the authorities had the deck stacked against him, and it compelled him to fight harder. In the end he lost. But it's easy to see why when asked about his greatest accomplishment, Floyd's answer is winning the 2006 Tour de France. Believe what you may, you can read about it here.
29 of 33 people found the above review helpful.
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Another sporting fraud............, May 20, 2010
By Rocksinga (Chicago, IL)
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I bought this book. I read this book. I was more than willing to give Mr. Landis the benefit of doubt. As of today, 05/20/10, I am saddened by his admission of guilt. Furthermore, I find the charges he is now leveling at his former team mates, tantamount to the behavior of a feces throwing primate. Sad and pathetic.
25 of 28 people found the above review helpful.
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 Landis takes his case to the public, July 14, 2007
By Paul Allaer (Cincinnati)
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"Positively False: The Real Story Of How I Won the Tour de France" (306 pages) is basically divided in 3 parts: Floyd's Mennonite upbringing in Pennsylvania and his humble beginnings in bike racing; his years in the big time, including his 2 years as a member of Lance Asrmstrong's team and of course his subsequent Tour vicotry; and his battle with the US Anti-Doping Agency.
Floyd on Armstrong: "Lance had his own way of being a jerk in the peloton to get what he wanted. ... He never yielded, so other riders other riders stayed out of his way." Floyd writes openly about how much money he makes over the years, for example his bonus the first time he was on the Armstrong team that won the tour in 2002 was $90,000.
The last 150 pages of the book are devoted to the doping allegation. Lance makes a very convincing case that there were serious errors with the doping test and the subsequent procedures. It is very telling to me that Eddy Merckx, the most successful bike racer of all time, has come out in public in support of Landis, as has Lance Armstrong as recently as last week (but hastily adding that he thinking that the USADA will suspend Landis anyway). In the last chapter, Floyd addresses the public arbitration hearing that took place in May, including the dramatic Gerg Lemond incident.
This is an enjoyable book, and highly recommended for fans of professional bike racing. Landis is a good guy, and what has happened has changed his life (and career) forever. It also has a profound impact on the Tour itself. We are in the midst of the 2007 Tour, and general interest in the Tour here in the US has dropped dramatically, which saddens me as a long-time Tour de France admirer. I hope we'll see Landis again in the Tour some day.
19 of 26 people found the above review helpful.
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Landis is a cheat (proven)! Deal with it!, July 3, 2007
By never look back. It's just propag.. (all around)
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Poor old Landis, gets caught out taking 'enhancing drugs' and cries foul, what a joker!
Drug taking within professional cycling is bloody endemic. 'Le Tour' is becoming a mere shadow of it's former self. Landis wants you to buy his book about him being 'caught out' and try and prove his innocence! What a great guy, I don't think!
My advice is, don't give Landis and his publishers money for this garbage about the poor sap being 'dealt some bad cards'. He knew what he was doing and it didn't come off. Blame who you like Floydie, it's ultimately your responsibility.
Edit:
Now that the truth is out, will Landis be giving refunds? And will his believing followers still be in self denial?
16 of 102 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively Lied, May 20, 2010
By B. Wong (New York, NY)
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In light of the latest news, I hope all the 5 star reviewers out there re-adjust their opinions.
14 of 17 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively Needs A Revision, May 20, 2010
By mwreview (Northern California, USA)
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In light of recent admissions, perhaps Landis can profit again with a revised book that details the REAL Real Story surrounding the 2006 Tour de France--while implicating everyone else along the way, of course.
13 of 15 people found the above review helpful.
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Postively False Indeed!, May 20, 2010
By romance-mystery-scifi-fan and m.. (Springfield, VA)
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How can anyone believe anything that Mr. Landis writes or says at this point? The man is obviously a glory hound. Based on his emails and press activities from May 2010, this book should definitely be moved to the fiction section.
12 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
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If you thought "A Million Little Pieces" was dishonest..., May 20, 2010
By Matthew Lineberry (Tampa, FL USA)
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...you'll despise "Positively False"!
As of May 19 2010, Landis' new story is that he DID dope, big time. So this book is, indeed, positively false.
No point getting this. Good luck getting your money back if you donated to his legal defense fund back in 2006.
12 of 15 people found the above review helpful.
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Book refund, May 21, 2010
By Jim C. (Lemoore, CA)
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Now that Floyd Landis has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs, cheating, and lying to everyone, I think he should have to return every penny he made off this book, or donate every penny to The Livestrong Foundation.
11 of 12 people found the above review helpful.
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 Even if you know the story it's a good read, June 25, 2007
By sharienne2 (Carroll, OH United States)
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I didn't want to believe it when I heard it and we all had reason to doubt the results to begin with because of past "doping" alegations (Butch Reynolds, Lance Armstrong). BUT, beyond all the testing, science and legal info is a good story that's well-written. Mooney knew well enough to stay out of the way and let Floyd talk. Floyd's story is important beyond a good sports yarn. Cheating hurts everyone, but fighting cheaters by cheating only creates tragedy. I hope Floyd is able to ride his bike until everyone who has conspired to get him off it is confined to walkers and wheelchairs!
11 of 15 people found the above review helpful.
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Straight shooting, June 25, 2007
By R. Daniels (California)
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As someone who has closely followed the Floyd Landis story from his stage 17 comeback during the 2006 Tour de France, I found "Positively False" to be a straight-forward account of Floyd's life before and after the 2006 Tour de France. It is an easy-to-read story with surprisingly less rancor than that story deserves and a complete lack of self-indulgence in the telling. Hardly surprising, Positively False is biased in Floyd's favor but, given all I know from publicly available sources, I found his coverage of the case against him to be reasonably balanced. Idiots and the patently idiotic are duly noted (including Floyd as idiot) without resort to hysteria or overblown ranting.
In terms of the doping scandle, Floyd provides enough technical details to enable an understanding by most interested readers of the case's difficulties and complexities without resorting to the mind numbing details of the underlying science (thank you, Floyd, for not going there). He also provides a chronology of the case, how it played out in the glare of the international media and who the players were on that stage. This part is not a pretty story. In fact, it's a very strong indictment against a system where it is common-place for anti-doping officials to increase pressure on the accused by leaking information to favored media outlets before that information has been made available to the athelete. It is a system where the accused is presumed guilty, tried and judged within a system entirely controlled by the accusing agency (in this case, the USADA, which has never lost a case in more than 100 challenges) and, even if that trial establishes that intent to cheat is obviously and clearly lacking, is required to find the athlete guilty and to impose the maximum sanction. The system would strike most U.S. taxpayers (who do, in fact, provide funding for this sytem) as "unacceptably unAmerican", a question that Floyd has been raising with members of Congress.
In terms of Floyd's guilt or innocence, the reader is left to their own judgement; there is no obvious yes or no answer to the question of whether Floyd took performance enhancing drugs. It is part of the tragedy of the story that the question will never be resolved to everyone's satisfaction; Floyd's reputation on the world stage will never fully recover. Floyd knows this and his reaction is typically pragmatic, the same pragmatism he and his wife have regularly applied throughout their topsy-turvy life together.
Aside from the doping issues, I enjoyed Floyd's account of what it is like to train to be a contender on the Tour, what demands winning puts on the different riders on a team, how psychology is used as much as physiology in wreaking havoc on the competition, and, of course, details about the inner workings of the Postal/Discovery Channel team and Lance Armstrong. How Floyd broke his hip and what he had to do when 99.999% of the public in his situation would be in a hospital bed punching the morphine button is a hard to believe story of grit and perserverance.
Bottom line: even for those who have no desire to delve into the question of Floyd's guilt or innocence, the first 2/3rds of the book is a great read about professional cycling over the past 6 years or so. (The last 1/3 drills back into the details of the doping case.)
10 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
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A sad story ...., July 9, 2008
By C. O'Hare (New York City)
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Before reading this book I was quite convinced that Landis was innocent.Before reading this book I was quite convinced that Landis was innocent. Having been an avid cyclist for the last 20 years and spent my childhood years in Bucks County PA I felt that the basic values imparted upon him growing up where he had would have served him better. But reading through this drivel was quote annoying and its mere publication did a great disservice not only to Landis but also cycling in general. It is written in a smug and insolent tone and countless anecdotes of Landis' attitude of "hey you schmucks, you just don't get it do you!". Just who does he think he is anyway? He thought he was someone who got get away with it; you know, just how he was spouting off lines of philosophy at fellows riders but only he "got it". His sob story of how his poor wife breaks down in tears because officials show-up unannounced (or announced) to perform a routine drug test is meaningless (not sure why he had to drag his otherwise seemingly nice wife into the mud as well). If he cannot handle such tests, which he has now aggravated through his own irresponsible actions, then get out of the sport, full stop. His endless (and expensive) efforts to try and exonerate himself have all failed miserably, who's the schmuck now?
Don't get me wrong, I empathetically believe that it's the professional riders who have been dragged through the mud and abused in these drug scandals. As has been seen, if drugs can improve performance in a sport an ambitious athlete will make use of them. Who can blame them? With the amount of money that is on the table for grabs the temptation and likelihood of rationalizing the use of drugs is simply overwhelming. It's the teams that should be held responsible and made to keep their riders on track and bear the financial costs (maybe through posting a bond) if one of their riders tests positive.
10 of 24 people found the above review helpful.
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Landis Admits Drug Use... now POSITIVELY TRUE!!, May 21, 2010
By Angelix (Bogota,Colombia)
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This should be the real title for this book.
After lying for years, Landis finally not also admits the true but implicates others. I can't say if others doped during races, the only thing I can say this guy is a liar and got rich by writing a "biography" book, it's just a vulgar scam.
Give me a break!!
Amazon... pls untagged this title from biographies section.
8 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Revealing Book, June 26, 2007
By Doc Wellness (Orlando, FL USA)
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Initial chapters of the book focus on Floyd's childhood and early beginnings. It is a little slow here and one is tempted to dismiss it outright. However, once the stories and insights about the Tours come forth, it becomes an extremely interesting and entertaining book. His trials and tribulations with Lance and Discovery are quite candid.
Toward the last 1/3 or so, get the medical dictionary out as it becomes a somewhat technical presentation of doping. It is also here that that is extraordinarily revealing.
Believe him or not regarding the reasons or theories as to why so many errors occurred, it is hard to disagree that in fact, something is very wrong with in the world of WADA.
I believe that Floyd is the true winner of the 06 Tour de France. After reading this book, you will as well.
8 of 12 people found the above review helpful.
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A pack of lies, May 23, 2010
By R. Ellington (Texas)
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Now that he admitted doping, it sure makes anyone buying this book look like a fool.
7 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Great title, May 20, 2010
By Go Pack Go (Cincinnati, OH United States)
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At least, the first few words of it. Everything in this piece of trash is positively false.
Even at the "bargain price" shown here, it is not worth it.
Floyd should be made to disgorge every penny he made from the sale of this book from consumers who wanted to believe him, & who he conned.
If those people cannot be located, he should be made to fork over the $ to some anti-doping agency or foundation.
"The Real Story," my ass.
5 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively Innocent...the Words of a Fooled Fool, February 13, 2008
By Mooch (Indialantic, FL)
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July 4th, 2010... Wow! I'm a fool. What a revelation. And I gave the dope (no pun intended) five stars. I wish I could reduce my rating to a zero and put it in the fiction category. OK, given the state of cycling in the world today...everybody is doping...Landis still won the Tour...I still enjoyed the book (as one would enjoy the story of Cinderella)...and the international anti-doping cops are still clowns on a witch hunt. But the fact that I could be so fooled by this book with regard to Landis being so innocent just means that the advice my father always gave me rings louder and clearer than ever...the more indignant you become, the more guilty you are...I should have paid more attention. You suck Floyd.
---Original Post---
"Positively False: How I won the Tour de France, by Floyd Landis w/ Loren Mooney is a well written account of the Life of Floyd Landis leading up his unconventional victory at the Tour de France (TdF) in 2006. His victory was then followed immediately by his fall from grace by the accusations of drug doping from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). There is nothing sophisticated in Floyd's writing, it is conversational in tone and flows extremely well, I finished in a single travel day. His writing competence is no doubt a strong reflection of a Mennonite education with perhaps a helping hand from Loren Mooney. I felt that Floyd was on the other end of the pen talking directly to me.
His story is timeless and the antidotal evidence to support the injustices athletes may suffer at the hands of those with absolute power ring true. It was a witch-hunt for sure and there were many responsible for pushing the inquisitors forward. Unfortunately, with so many athletes actually guilty of the cheating of which they have been accused, it is almost impossible to save the few who are truly innocent. Unlike an actual witch-hunt when everybody is actually innocent. A better analogy would be capital punishment, where on the whole there is sufficient evidence to have a trial, but the outcome is so final that the judicial process has got to work correctly or an innocent person may be put to death. Although in Floyd's case the evidence was so thin there should not have been a trial to begin with and as Floyd's evidence suggests, the judicial process for athletes accused of doping is unbelievable broken. Unfortunately Floyd was practically put to death.
There is no doubt Floyd Landis is innocent. Anyone who followed the TdF and understood his tactics and training, along with a wide-open field, knew that what he did was spectacular, but not so miraculous as to be humanly impossible. Floyd bonked on stage 16 and the inexperienced pelaton blew it on stage 17. Period. I waited a long time to hear Floyd's side of the story, although I instinctively knew he was innocent, very few came forward to help, so I was left with the uncertainty caused by the media hype and continuous bad information. It is a shame he has had to fight so hard to defend himself and it outrageous that he has to continue to fight to clear his name.
My one criticism of the book would be that I would have liked a few more technical details on doping in general, why an athlete would take steroids, EPO, testosterone, or inject fresh blood, and under what circumstances. To me, Floyd's spectacular performance in stage 17 would suggest he injected fresh blood to recover. Not being an expert I am not at all certain how the test he supposedly failed could even contribute to his performance on stage 17, since overall, his testosterone level was actually lower than normal, and it was a ratio that was arguably out of whack. I think the answer is that Floyd probably doesn't know these technical details so it never occured to him to put them in his book - which further defines that he is postively innocence. Read this book and discover why Floyd Landis truly is the 2006 TdF Champion.
5 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Really Enjoyable, August 15, 2007
By A. Valentine (Ardmore, PA)
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I'm usually not one to buy a sports bio, but Positively False is truly an informative and entertaining read. Floyd make his case, and has changed my mind. The TDF incident aside, it was nice to an insiders view at the life of a professional cyclist.
5 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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"Positively True" - May 20, 2010 - Landis Admitted to drug use..., May 20, 2010
By Rafael Gonzalez
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It is now May 20, 2010 and now we have a sad ending to this book, "Positively True" - see today's article:
NEW YORK - Disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis has admitted to systematic use of performance-enhancing drugs and accused seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of involvement in doping, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
[...]
When I saw this book again at the 99. Cent store, I wondered why?
Now I know! Tragic and sad... :-(
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Why would anyone buy this book now that Landis claims it is all a lie?, June 3, 2010
By Sandy D. Scott (Seminole, FL USA)
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When I first read this book, there were certain segments that did not seem to jive with Landis' proclamations of innocence. When I opined on a cycling forum that in my opinion, Landis was guilty as charged, I took a lot of abuse. Now that Landis has admitted to doping after collecting over $1 million dollars ($2 million total) from private citizens wanting to help in his quest to prove his innocence, and totally embarrassed Dr. Arnie Baker who lectured in defense of him, why would anyone buy this book? As one reviewed stated, it should be placed in the fiction section, or better yet taken off the market. Don't be guilty of supporting this derelict by purchasing his book of now admitted lies.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Landis wins, October 24, 2007
By Rico (San Diegotitlan, Califas)
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I read this book recently, even though I knew the results of Landis's appeals to the allegations of doping. I am glad I did. I follow the Tour every year and was glad to see Landis win after serving his time as a doemstique, besides, I liked the idea of another American winning. There are several good reviews here that state the essence of the book. It is a good autobiography, presented in a way that brings out the down-to-Earth spirit of Floyd Landis and his rapid climb in the professional ranks from mountain biker to become the winner of the Tour de France. Unfortuantely the poor discrepencies in testing procedures, like mislabeled sample/lab errors, specimen contamination and unreliable testing were glossed over in the appeal process and Landis now has the dubious honor of being the first and only winner of the Tour de France to be stripped of his title. Besides the aforementioned problems with the horrible testing procedures there is the problem of the USADA and it's unchecked grip on pro cycling. Landis even presented his case to Congress, emphasizing the basic rights denied to professional atheletes in cycling. Landis may have lost his appeal and his title but after reading this book I think you will understand that more than anything, Landis is a victim of the system that exists in pro cycling; he is still a winner. Even though he lost his title I believe this book goes along way in repairing any misconceptions about his "cheating." After reading this book I do believe HE was cheated. Check it out, see for yourself, you be the judge. Regardless of your opinion, it is an interesting story worth telling. Recommended for sports or cycling enthusiasts who want to know what really happened.
3 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Book!, August 4, 2007
By Pug Mom (Denver, CO United States)
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This was a great book and an easy read. The points made are tremendous and one can only hope Floyd can help the sport of cycling. I watched every minute of the tour last year and this year and I'm so over doping. They need to fix the problems and catch the guilty, NOT the innocent. What should have been the best moment of his life was quickly turned to the worst becuase of a process that does not work. Even if found not guilty, the damage has been done to Floyd. I definately recommend this book and the Fairness for Floyd foundation.
3 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Floyd needed a Sally Jenkins, July 26, 2007
By ksteinhoff (WPBFL)
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Disappointing. I've read magazine pieces that did a better job of capturing Landis' personality (as I perceive it) than this book. The sections that dealt with Floyd's falling out with Discovery and his eventual renewing a relationship with Armstrong were probably the most interesting to me. I REALLY want to believe that he rode a clean Tour, but what's been going on in this year's Tour makes me wonder. Floyd, clean or dirty, is a great story. It's just a shame that this book came up a little bit short in telling it.
3 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively excellent, July 3, 2007
By John Connolly
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Positively false tells the story of Landis' upbringing in a small menonnite community in Pennsylvania, through his rise in the ranks of amateur cycling, to his Tour de France victory and subsequent public mauling. It is a riveting and inspirational story, ultimately tainted by the ugly stain of the doping allegations that followed the remarkable victory of July 2006. The book is Landis' response to the sometimes farcical accusations aimed at him and, in the end, it is hard to doubt the man's innocence and integrity. Whatever stance you take on the issue however, one must wonder at the incompetence and lack of and professionalism shown the World Anti-Doping Agency throughout this ugly episode.
Thoroughly recommended.
3 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Lukewarm, August 9, 2007
By gbook (Little Rock AR)
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Attempts to lay out the case for Landis. Not much new in here regarding evidence so the jury is still out for me on his guilt or innocence.
Was an interesting look at his rise to a professional cycling career.
3 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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I want to beleive, August 29, 2007
By Hostile42 (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca)
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i'm a big tour fan, wake up early to watch live, then re watch the tivo'd prime time show. love it, even with scandals. these guys dopers or not are fantastic athletes who are insane. that being said i was sad to see the lance era end. i enjoy nothing more that rooting for americans in sports typically dominated by euro's. floyd winning was just huge and i was devastated when he tested posative. this book did not convince me he was innocent, but it did solidify my belief that he should not be convicted. if half the things he says are true there is no way he should have his title taken away. i'm a firm believer in guilty until proven innocent so im not bothered by the fact that he has to prove he didnt do it. but if the accountability of the testing labs is as bad as he makes it out to be no athlete should every be convicted. im a graphic designer and i have more accountability in my job than it seems they do at these labs. if i screw up no one's career is ruined or a country shamed. i have a set procedure for building layouts, sending proofs, and finalizing the product. sure a lot of what i know was shown to me by the guy i worked for, but i do at least have instruction manuals for the machines i work on. (although macs dont need instructions). i hope it works out for him so he can come back and defend his title, but i dont know if that will happen. this book did convince me that the system doesnt work to keep the athletes in check and that a change needs to be made. there will always be cheating in sport and that gray area is what keeps me coming back. a universal standard for testing would benefit all of sports and this book really shows us non pro guys what is needed to compete at this level, and that the all mighty dollar is the only thing keeping him afloat in this case. hope my $17 bucks helped him out.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Floyd is pretty convincing, March 13, 2010
By James L. Witherell, Author, Bicycle History
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It may be hard to remember that I'm reviewing a book and trying not to take sides. It's easy to get caught up in all this doping stuff about Landis and to forget that the real autor of this book is probably Loren Mooney. She does a great job of letting/helping Floyd tell his story in his own words, and, on that lever it's a very good book -- very readable and the honesty is refreshing.
But is all of it honest? We have to remember that his is Landis' side of the story , and he does make some interesting points, but it's just as important to remember that there are two sides to this matter (the other can be found in David Walsh's From Lance to Landis.
And did Landis just get charged with hacking into the computer of the French antidoping Assn? (March 2010).
Still, I liked this book quite a bit.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Lying scumbag, December 27, 2009
By TomV (Aspen, CO)
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(current edit 5/19/10)
This guy had me fooled completely. Now that the latest news has come out I want to punch him in the face, I don't like being lied to, the book is completely false, this guy is a real sleaze.
Got alot more information out of this book than I anticipated, it provided great info/insight into the workings of the various anti doping associations. To me it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Floyd won the Tour and certainly didn't deserve to have his life destroyed.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Let's Go Apeshit, July 12, 2008
By Lightman (New York)
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This is Floyd Landis, exhorting his legal defense team to let it all hang out on the Internet in what became known as the Wiki defense. Trash talking Mennonite listening to Metallica while plotting to destroy his opponents, Landis comes across as a conflicted and none too sympathetic character.
This isn't to say, however, that the book isn't a good read. For anybody who follows cycling it's a page turner regardless of how you feel about the author and his self righteous efforts to vindicate himself.
There are three main parts to the narrative - Landis' childhood and early mountain bike racing years, his career as a professional road racer culminating with the 2006 Tour de France win, and his battle with authorities in the aftermath of being accused of doping. These parts flow together and complement one another as a convincing portrait of the champion (?) emerges.
Along the way Landis provides a compelling explanation for his remarkable performance in Stage 17 of the 2006 Tour. It's about tactics, teamwork, training, and single minded focus on the readings of a PowerTap meter. Putting it all together it makes sense, and you find yourself thinking, "He just might have done it".
There are also interesting perspectives on teammate Lance Armstrong, the group dynamics of the peleton, and the pageantry and flawed grandeur of the Tour de France.
Cycling aficionados will want to read this book, in spite of its self serving PR perspective.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellant book, October 13, 2007
By Jack H. Kunnen (Grand Rapids, MI)
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Once you read Floyd's book you will realize just how corrupt the French Labs and the French Newspaper Le Equipe are and how bad the USADA needs a personal change before the US government allocates any more tax dollars to them. The book is excellently written and follows Floyd's cycling from the beginning to is fight for justice.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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A Light, Yet Enjoyable Read, September 11, 2007
By Christopher Cischke (Houghton, MI USA)
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In Positively False, Landis attempts, more than anything else, to show the world that he did not dope to win the 2006 Tour de France. This takes two forms: the first is a simple historical review of the days and months leading up to the positive test result during the race, and the second being a brief overview of his whole life. He opens his life up to inspection to show that not only has he clashed with the UCI before, but that his personality and upbringing would not support a shortcut to success. His life has always revolved around copious amounts of hard work, or so he claims. The tone of the book tends to make me believe him.
The work itself is pretty light and easy to read. Landis doesn't put on any kind of false airs, and writes in a very conversational tone. Cycling enthusiasts will be somewhat bored by explanations of basic cycling terminology and tactics, but these things open the book up to a wider audience, and can be read over very quickly. Fans of Lance Armstrong (such as myself) will be intrigued by the new perspective offered as Landis recollects his time on the US Postal cycling team. The writing seems to lack the depth and polish of Armstrong's books "It's Not About the Bike" or "Every Second Counts", but reveal every bit as much about the personality of the respective authors.
Whether you believe him or not, or still haven't decided, the book is a fun, light and enjoyable read from a guy who really has something to say.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Get your pro cycling fix here, you bicycle-crackbaby!, September 7, 2007
By , the author (Atlanta, GA USA)
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Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France, was, in my view, enjoyable reading.
Part I focuses on Landis as a person, and does a good job of making you feel like you understand what makes Landis tick. It is not a fluff job - give the author credit for not trying to make you fall in love with the guy - but seems to play it down the middle. Overall, you'd probably come away thinking that if your twenty year old kid grew up to be like Floyd, you'd probably be pretty content. Part I also gave a good glimpse into the life of a professional bike racer, with very little that would conflict with books about Bob Roll and LA, for example, that afforded similar looks under the covers. If you've been following the sport, there are few surprises here, but hearing it in Floyd's voice is good entertainment.
Part II gets into the arbitration hearing over whether Floyd did or did not dope in last year's Tour. Again, if you've followed the sport and any deeper than, say, whatever blurbs might make it into USAToday (...and god forbid you followed the blow-by-blow on Trust But Verify website as some of us bicycle-crackbabies did), you won't find anything shocking here. Furthermore, if you've leered at Floyd's Wiki defense slideshow until you'd memorized the right and the wrong digits on the French Lab's paperwork, you could probably skim Part II and still pass the quiz with flying colors.
Irrespective of the outcome of Floyd's trial, I think his team's done a yeoman's job of highlighting the fallacies in the drug testing system, the UCI, WADA, and USADA. What they do is equal parts science, magic, and politics, and tell me if that doesn't wreck your confidence in the system. Hint to Floyd: regardless of whether you go back for a final season or two of road racing, give serious thought to becoming a rider's rep in the future and possibly helping to reorganize this mess. You've found the pile of poop, so get out your pooper scooper and help clean the mess up - you're just the man for that job.
In short, buy the book because i) it's a good read, ii) no better way to prep for shop talk about this whole doping hubbub, and iii) Floyd needs the money.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Clarity, September 1, 2007
By M. Patten (Fremont, CA USA)
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It has always seemed that something was wrong with the drug testing across all sports. The first I recall was a swimmer from California who won a gold medal in the Munich Olympics and was already home when they said he had failed a drug test. It came out that there was some tiny amount in an antihistimine that he had disclosed to them prior to the Olympics and gotten approval for. In spite of that, his name was removed from the olympic record. At the time, and a number of times since then, we have had to wonder what is behind the irrational behavior by the official agencies.
In Floyd's case we see WADA and USADA, so obsessed with catching "cheaters" that they justify themselves in cheating. They had been wanting to take down the winner of the Tour for 7 years and are not willing to give this one up just because the test turned out to be invalid. These agencies are doing things that Mike Nifong would consider extreme. If they had to take these cases to a real court, they would not only lose the case, they might do some jail time for their behavior.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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an amazing read, August 26, 2007
By Dan (Cranford, NJ USA)
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I met Floyd this year completely by chance when I was riding the copper triangle in Colorado. We both stopped at an aid station at the same time. Floyd was just hanging around getting some food. It took 5 minutes or so for someone to recognize him.
Once someone did he was very relaxed, allowed people to take a couple of pictures and talked with people for a minute. I was very impressed that someone as famous as Floyd would take the time to just hang out for 10 minutes with all the other cyclists.
Floyd has an amazingly relaxed and calm attitude. I was very surprised. I was expecting someone far more intense.
After meeting him I did some web surfing and read about his tour. It is an amazing story.
This book is far better than the web though, Floyd can really write. Once I started reading I couldn't put the thing down.
Get this book and read it.
Floyd: It was great to meet you on the copper triangle ride. It was amazing to meet a tour winner, that made the copper triangle ride for me. I hope they sort out the mess at the lab and give you your official title soon. Good luck.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Floyd needs to be exonerated now, August 18, 2007
By Fish Handler (Northern California)
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The book (and Arnie's work) speaks for itself. It's a great read and for a layperson I learned a lot about how the Tour works. As a scientist, I am appalled at how the labs and anti-doping agencies are run. I would lose my job for such work.
I had my shadow of doubt in the beginning about Floyd and a lot of athletes for that matter. My doubt has since changed towards the anti-doping agencies. Read the book. You rock Floyd!
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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He Positively Did Not Do It!, August 17, 2007
By Kristin M. Petersen (Heber City, UT)
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I sat glued to the tv, rooting for Floyd Landis in the 2006 Tour De France. I have always been a fan just because he is who he is. Not a prima donna, certainly not someone who takes himself too seriously, but a true competitor.
When I first heard the allegations I just did not want to believe it could be true. I have read so many articles on the subject but could not understand who was telling the truth because everything was so conflicting.
I read Floyd's book in less then 24 hours. It was so humbly written, with tons of humor I could not put it down. It was good to hear his side of the story in his own words. I felt like not only did I learn a great deal about his case, but the world of pro cycling as well.
Floyd has my support and I certainly hope the arbitration board will rule in his favor as he no doubt deserves it.
I look forward to rooting for Floyd in future races!
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Goes by fast., July 29, 2007
By Max (California)
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I enjoyed the book. I'm trying to keep an open mind on whether Floyd was dirty or not. From watching the 2007 tour, it was really obvious that anyone even suspected of doing anything illegal is convicted before the trial. Maybe the Europeans were just tired of Americans beating them? I don't know.
Another reviewer wrote that he'd met Floyd and said that he was a very humble person. Well, since we're reviewing a book here, we'd probably do well not to judge a book by it's cover. From Floyd's own book, he tells how he rebelled against his religious upbringing. Heck, he even cussed out Lance Armstrong. Further, he tells of how he rebelled against authority by wearing his hat backwards on the TDF podium. Humble? I get the impression that Floyd has a somewhat wilder side than what he admits to in the book.
At this point, even if Floyd is cleared of all charges and given the title as winner of the 2006 TDF, he's lost out on millions of dollars in endorsements. He'll never regain the glory that should have been his...if he was clean. I hope he was.
As far as the book goes, if you're interested in professional cycling and the Tour de France, by all means, read this book. It's a quick read, but that's only because you won't want to put it down. I think you'll enjoy it, too.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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The Straight Story from Floyd, July 5, 2007
By book reader (Malvern, PA)
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I got to see Floyd in person at a local book signing this week and just finished the book. The book is a straight story about his life, his early years in cycling, and the 2006 Tour de France and its aftermath. I found it to be a surprisingly good read, even though I already knew 90% of the story. The book reaffirms my belief that Floyd has been royally screwed by the French Lab and WADA. It also reaffirms my opinion of Floyd the person, very very determined, but not in a self centered way. I really admire Floyd. I'm admittedly biased toward his innocence. Everything about this case has smelled bad from the beginning and with every new revelation this case smells even worse. Floyd will eventually get his due. I just hope its sooner rather than later.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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A Positively Good Read About Floyd and the 2006 Tour, July 4, 2007
By Guillermo Cordobva (Los Angeles, CA USA)
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This book is a great read whether you're interested in reading how Floyd won the 2006 Tour de France or in the doping allegations.
I had the great honor of meeting Floyd twice during the 2007 Tour of California: first at the tour's end in Long Beach and then at a "Town Meeting" later that evening. Floyd presented his case well then and does so now in this book. The book is predominantly about riding and training and not all about the allegations. There are many great stories of riding with other top riders. Any cycling fan and anyone interested in learning more about how cycling's governing bodies are (currently) not interested in granting accused riders a fair "shake" will enjoy this book.
Read also about "the hurt stick," UCI, AVN, hand-me-down TT bikes, cortisone, PowerTap power meters, coaching, being a team leader, giving away the yellow jersey (on purpose), psychological tactics, a couple rounds of beer and Jack Daniels, being a jackass during a race, talking to the press, A samples, B samples, USADA, CIR tests, inconsistent testing, testing negative in Switzerland, USA, and Australia, the Floyd Fairness Fund, Town Hall Meetings, and, of course, a horrible day of riding followed by a truly great day of riding.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Inside Professional Biking, July 4, 2007
By Pepe (Madison, WI United States)
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This is a great book if you love cycling and want to learn more about the inside of the Tour de France. I read this book as I re-watched the segments of the tour last year, which made the book even better.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively False is a great book about the politics of pro bike racing, February 17, 2008
By mtbmitch (Boise,Id)
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This is one of those books you can't put down at night. Floyd is a
down to earth guy who tells it like it is about many aspects as a
professional bike racer and everything that goes all with, both
good and bad. You learn the inside scoop on european backward
thinking as well as the policies of the usada-a pathetic organization
at the taxpayers expense.
This book just might enspire you to get out on
your bike more.
2 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Epic, July 5, 2010
By Picturesque Music (In the sky)
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Forgive me now, I've not read this book. Generally I have experience with the products on amazon I review. However, in this case I feel I don't need it. We all know now what a blatant liar Landis was (and likely still is in some ways) about his doping, so when I see a book that is itself an obvious pack of lies, with an Amazon preface holding such lovely tidbits as "[Roid] Landis details the highs and lows of his career with unabashed honesty. It is this same honesty with which he will clear his name once and for all" a single star is clearly the only prudent star.
This book reminds me of another on Amazon "Why the Real Estate Boom Will Not Bust".
2 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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 Unfortunate case of boy calling "Wolf, Wolf", June 30, 2010
By MoabTrekie
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I like giving an underdog the benefit of the doubt. After repeatedly hearing from cycling friends that Floyd had probably cheated, I decided to read the book. I came away from the experience completely convinced that Floyd had been caught in an unfortunate witch hunt and no matter what the results showed, they were going to get him. The evidence for tampering and manipulating the results seemed overwhelming. The book made a very compelling case against the accusations. I was convinced he was innocent and felt I could defend him well (which I did on several occasions).
[Fast forward a couple of years]
I was stunned when I heard Floyd had in deed cheated. What about all the valid points that had been raised? How could he write a book like this if it was actually a big deception? I feel like one of the villagers who has run up the mountain with my pitchfork after hearing someone holler "wolf" only to find it was a hoax. What a disservice this kind of writing does to undermine someone else's legitimate efforts to defend themselves (if wrongly accused). You will only head up the mountain so many times before you disregard the cry for help.
If Floyd was truly desiring to come clean and make things right he would refund everyone who has a copy of his book.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Not entirely believable, September 6, 2009
By delacroix (australia)
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Not the greatest novel one could read. But the early part is of some value. Although there is too much emphasis on confusing figures in the end.No I'm not convinced.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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free floyd landis book review, August 23, 2007
By huntski (little league world series)
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i have to admit that i was skeptical about floyd's case when i first heard about the positive test. but after reading his history, and finding out about how bad the french lab is about following procedure, i am positive that floyd did not test positive in his urine after stage 17. what is really amazing is that the other three labs whose directors testified at the arbitration hearing would have labeled the urine sample floyd gave, and that the french lab tested, as a non-positive. let me say that again: ucla, the swiss lab, and the australian lab all testified that according to their protocols the sample from floyd was not positive. which leads me to this: how many other athletes have had their lives ruined by false positive results? scary.
the book goes through floyd's early life, his start in bicycle racing, and gets to the tour de france at the end. there is an addendum which goes through the case facts in detail. if you were ever scared by big brother possibly labeling you something that you most definitely are not, then by all means read this book. again, scary
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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A great read, August 13, 2007
By Christopher Martin (Philadelphia area, PA USA)
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I bought this book hoping that I'd learn a lot about Floyd and to more about what happened after his win. I have to say that I was far from disappointed and he has another fan now! The stories are well written and very funny at points. The explanation of the case he is now going through is well put - not too in depth but sufficiently detailed to allow a clear understanding. It's sad that everyone has to question the cyclist first when in this case, it would appear that the controlling organizations are far from perfect.
Definitely read this book - you will not be disappointed.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Pure interests, August 1, 2007
By H Kentzler (Cancun Mexico)
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Reading this interesting account written by Mr Landis, I realize that cycling has become a dirty business, where the good guys are tainted by the dirty businessmen greedy for money not caring for the people that work for them as cyclists do. It's a pity that such a great event is tarnished with scandal, as the 2007 Tour is now being filled with gossip as some obscure specialist states that Alberto Contador dopes, now that he just finished the Tour. The same happened with Michael Rasmussen, and so on.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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A great read - especially now, during the 2007 tour, July 21, 2007
By Michael D. Corbridge (Boston, MA)
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I picked this book up, started thumbing through it at 1/2 way, began reading and before I knew it, was finished. Then I went back to the beginning and re-read the entire book. For cycling fans, and especially those who sat on the edge of their seats watching Floyd in the 2006 tour, this book is a must read. The Floyd introduced to us in this book is so very human and sincere, yet his athletic achievements defy what to most of us seem humanly possible. And this brings us to page 181, where Floyd is permitted a brief 72 hours of basking in the glow of his amazing achievement before being dumped into a corrupt world of bureaucratic double-talk, legal stonewalling and character assassination, as he defends himself against allegations of doping. As fast as a Landis turn on a mountain switchback, Floyd is jettisoned from a world obsessed with frame weight and gear ratios, into a world driven by PR appearance, hidden agenda, and T/E ratios. It is inspiring to read Floyd's account of events as he attacks these allegations with the same mixture of ferocity and tenacity that took him over the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The truth is different when viewed from many perspectives, but I will say this: if only part of Floyd's story is true, then then what he was forced to endure is a travesty; if most of it is true, then the incompetence of the USADA and WADA is astounding; if all of it is true, then the actions of the French laboratory and AFLD are simply criminal.
Postscript 2011: A lot of water under the bridge and all we are left with is Floyd's last desperate attempt at character assassination. I read my review from 2007 and I feel embarrassed that I could have been duped by Floyd. I wasn't the only one! I sum it all up in this manner: I wish Floyd was innocent, but they have proven his guilt. And I am sure that *another famous cyclist* is guilty, but *that cyclist* can prove his innocence.
And me? I still love cycling. I know that despite what drips out of those syringes in Europe, I will never lose my own personal love of the purity and beauty of a perfect day on the bike.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Extremely Enlightening, July 17, 2007
By Vicki Dickson (Lawrenceville, Georgia United States)
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Awesome Book. The story of his life as a bike racer is great. The expanations of the tests, the errors, the total lack of credibility and accoutability of the french labs and then the political agenda and dupicity of the USADA made you want to take a stand. At the very least made me write my congressman to try to stop my hard earned money from supporting such an organization. I loved reading about the interworkings of the Grand Tour Teams and the friendships made. A man of integrity!!! SUPPORT THE FLOYD FAIRNESS FUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively SCUM, May 27, 2010
By M Wilson (Santa Rosa, CA United States)
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Go back under the rock, Floyd. The way you have handled yourself tells it all.
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A must read, August 4, 2008
By Ty A. Ketlinski
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This book is a great read, and clearly sets forth what you won't hear in the news. He did not fail the drug test, and the USADA should be ashamed of themselves -- I can't believe my tax dollars supported the USADA garbage.
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A Must Read for Truth-Seekers, August 26, 2007
By Truth-Seeker (St. Cloud, FL USA)
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Whether you believe him or not, read the book and get a clearer picture of his side of things. I always believed he worked too hard to dope, the book sheds a lot of light on that theory. Read it and see for yourself that all things are not as they appear.
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Positively False, August 22, 2007
By Eddie (South Florida)
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I truly want to beleive his is innocent. It was good to read his side of the story.
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Great read, July 26, 2007
By GeoffreyDean (Indy/Boulder)
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I enjoyed the book very much. It was fun to learn about Floyd's early years in the sport and I also found it inspirational in terms of going out and training hard.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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The Floyed I Know, July 20, 2007
By Michael J. Lunsford (San Diego CA)
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The book reads as if you were in conversation with him. I met him after the win but worked for his in-laws for over a year and have come to know him as an honest and sincere man. We followed the race from San Diego on T.V., getting updates on the phone from Floyd and Amber almost on a daily basis. It was surreal to be part of of this story in a very small way, but everything adds up. There are no doubts in my mind that he won the race with sheer determination and should retain his title. When you read the book you will know Floyd as well.
Michael Lunsford
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HC, July 18, 2007
By rider and reader (New York, NY)
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From the start, Floyd was too outspoken for the UCI and it's clear they had to stifle his voice somehow. What better way than to make him out as a cheater?
This book traces Floyd's beginnings as a child drawn to the bike racing world, the sacrifices he made and his astounding victory at the 2006 Tour de France.
Even when Floyd was on the Mercury team and was stiffed by the UCI for his salary, the message to him by the UCI was "keep your mouth shut." He repeatedly refused to play the political game with them and he was clearly punished for it. They needed to shut him up and the realization that his Tour victory would increase his voice and allow him to speak out against the organization made them act against him.
I've met the man. He is a very humble, straighforward man who speaks plainly and quite candidly about everything he does. This comes through in this enlightening book. Highly recommended!
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Floyd Landis Wins the Tour De France, July 16, 2007
By daj207 (Bath, ME)
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I've followed the sport of cycling for most of my life and Floyd's comeback during stage 17 of the 2006 Tour de France was the single most awe inspiring moment in sports. This book takes you on the emotional rollercoaster ride that has been Floyd's (and everyone close to him) life. You will feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. You will experience a wider range of emotion that you have with any other book. In the end, though, you will come to the same conclusion that I did. The UCI, WADA and USADA are on a witch hunt and they are burning innocent people at the stake. There is no doubt in my mind that cycling has a doping problem. But, there is also no doubt in my mind that Floyd won the Tour de France fair and square and like everything Floyd does, he did it with style and panache. This book is a must read for anyone that loves sports and best of all, you don't need to be a cyclist to understand that Floyd was robbed of the accolades he so rightly deserved by becoming only the third American to win the Tour de France.
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Positively False: but not all that great either, July 19, 2007
By Tim (Tucson, AZ)
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I really enjoyed the description of stage 17 of the 2006 TDF. I believe he was falsely accused and I am frustrated at the lack of resolution in his case. This book fell short of my expectations. It was a very quick read (too short). Floyd barely mentions his team mates, other interesting stages in the tour, or time w/Discovery and Mercury teams. I think he should have just presented the lab errors in an appendix and focus more on bike racing. For instance, why mountain bikers tend to go so much faster on descents, etc.
It was cool to read about his breakaway from a fundamentalist family and take up MTN bike racing. I think he should have let the editor embellish the stories more. My $0.02.
1 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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The Real Story, August 13, 2007
By Mr. Karl O. Bender (New York)
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This book gives you the facts on how the real story went down. Read it, and learn how to defend the last American to win the tour de france. This book covers the facts on how they (the french)tried to take away Floyd's win and how the US agency is trying to build the typical bureacratic empire by creating a sensational case against a top athelete.
1 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively False Author Floyd Landis, January 29, 2008
By Mr. William Eaton (Lancs, England)
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This is a book bought as a present for my son and I was pleased with the service provided by Amazon Books that enabled me to buy this copy. The book has proved very interesting according to my son's report.
Signed.
William Eaton
1 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Book review or shipper review?, February 1, 2010
By Hoppygolucky (CA)
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Is this supposed to be a book review, or shipper review? If we aren't writing book reviews for a living, no one has time to write a book review, we're already overloaded with computer work/exposure, and book reviews are really subjective anyway. If its a shipper review, they did an excellent job. Fast shipping, book in very good condition.
1 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Floyd screwed up, but so did most of the rest of them, January 7, 2011
By Lori
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I am buying this book now, post-Floyd confession, because it is one of the only ways I can think of to possibly financially support Floyd, at least a little. He messed up, but I really believe by now that Lance did too (from all the many sources over the years), and it's unfair that Lance gets off scott free with fame and money by lying, and Floyd (and Tyler and others) take a body blow. I still admire them (and Lance) as cyclists, and many others in cycling and other sports have lied first about doping and later confessed. That's just how it is. Floyd, I hope you're able to get past all this at some point. Life is long, and there's more to it than pro cycling. Many others have come back from personal blows worse than this, and you can too. Please keep up your relationships, and work on something (anything!) other than the suit and other than this maelstrom.
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interesting how far someone will go with a lie, December 31, 2010
By Randal Funderburk (Texas)
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My 8 yr old kids bought me this for Christmas (from the 99 Cent Store -- which was the first red flag!! :) So I read it, but didn't really know anything about professional bike racing, and I certainly didn't know anything about Floyd Landis. I thought I would read it first, then found out the rest of the story after finishing the book. Wow! I'm glad I read it, because it taught me just how far someone can try to defend a lie. He had everyone fooled, including it sounds like his closest friends and family. In the end, I guess it was his conscience that couldn't take anymore.
One positive is that his book could be used as a life lesson or an example in an ethics or Bible study. For me it was better to not know the truth, read the book, and then read about his confession in mid-2010. Unfortunately, it destroyed the image of professional cycling and much of professional sports for me.
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They might be Liars, November 19, 2010
By CS
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Two-Thirds of the book has a great back story of Floyd's life and his views and opinions of his life on the USPS/Lance Team. Very enjoyable. The last 1/3 goes into the details of the accusations against him.
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lies, lies, and damned lies, November 19, 2010
By slain (pennsylvania)
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This book is a joke. Anyone who follows cycling knows why, no need to explain it. I do however look forward to Floyd's next book, which I hear has a tentative working title of 'How I Channeled My Hate and Anger by Destroying Cycling, Threatening Victims of Child Abuse, Hacking Websites, and Demoralizing Cancer Patients.' Should be a good read... I hope Floyd makes a few bucks, to heck with everyone else.
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Garbage, August 29, 2010
By David T Chang (Lexington, MA United States)
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I don't usually write reviews, especially for books I haven't read, but as many other reviewers have pointed out, he's admitted to drug use, and this is now a proven book of lies.
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Addendum:, July 6, 2010
By Kenny (US)
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Alright, I never had much belief in Floyd's proclaiming of his innocence and I am sorry he has declared himself to used drugs to win. Most cyclists when caught deny, deny and deny. In fact, those who have not been caught often deny as well.
But what I am concerned about is the often read Smart Cycling: Successful Training and Racing for Riders of All Levels by Arnie Baker. Doesn't Baker set himself up as a sort of expert in the field and Baker helped Floyd with the science and his defense as far as I can tell? I doubt if Landis could have done this without Baker's help and Baker is a somewhat prolific author in cycling.
I never gave Floyd's book a 5 star rating, as far as I'm concerned he must have acted basically like almost every other rider, a sad reflection on the sport.
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150 reasons why he's innocent!, July 30, 2007
By Nonfiction reader (Connecticut)
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I love biographies and this one certainly delivered. Little time was wasted introducing background and establishing niceties. You will feel Floyd's pain and feel nothing but sympathy and support as his supposed happiest time of his life was brought down with faulty allegations. There are over 150 concrete pieces of evidence that his "team" discovered against a system that does not follow basic U.S. law (even though it's American system!!) and allow one to properly defend him/her self. This book really lets you in and opens your eyes. Read it.
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Clears his name, July 23, 2007
By Ken (New York)
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This book gives you a quick overview of Floyd's childhood and how he got into cycling, and then quickly gets into last years Tour de France and the circumstances surrounding his 'positive test.' Landis clearly illustrates the complete lack of competence within the testing process and the French lab responsible for testing all of the riders urine. He also discusses the obvious bullying that goes on with the UCI and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
I came away from this book angry at the process cyclists and other world-class athletes have to go through when dealing with these agencies. In my opinion, this clears his name, and states the case for the much needed change in the checks and balances throughout cycling's governing bodies.
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Awesome, July 23, 2007
By Billy Molina (Nicaragua)
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I think that with this book, Floyd shows us all how the system fails. You can not count on their findings when there are so many mistakes. In my mind I think that they are against American riders spoiling their party.
for a period of 8 years Americans have ruled their own race and apparently they are mad. But until they find a real rider, capable of winning the tour for them, we'll keep on ruling this race. Way to go Floyd, can't wait to see you back on the peloton and kicking some butt like you already did.
Billy
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Get both Sides, July 22, 2007
By The Matt (Orange County, CA)
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When I first picked up this book I expected it to be a heady book, all about a finite facets of cycling minute details, such as scientific jargon about Vo2 max levels and performance attributes so you could get a scientific stance of the "Did Floyd Dope" question that is plaguing his career.
The book is nothing like this, it is a very easy read, one that a cycling fan at any reading level can get through. It explains his life, his training, his tour competitions and victories with Lance and by himself. It does go into his allegations and various other issues, but all of it is written in a very clear and understandable language and tone.
I do not want to be a plot spoiler but one of the issues he brings up that I agree with is this: You can choose to believe him or not believe him, but in either event get both sides of the story and make your decision from that point, do not take just one side and believe it to be the all knowing truth.
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Too bad Floyd had the time to write this book...., June 25, 2007
By G J (Salt Lake City, UT)
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I'm a cycling fan who has followed Floyd's career pretty closely, so Positively False gave interesting insight into what was going on behind the scenes during Floyd's Postal days, his move to Phonak, the 2006 Tour and the whole doping blowup after the Tour. His comments and insight on Lance Armstrong were interesting, too. The book flows well and is paced nicely- it was an enjoyable read, especially for a cycling fan. I think non-cycling fans will also enjoy it as there is enough background information on the sport to make it understandable, and Floyd's story of becoming a pro racer from a Mennonite background while facing many trials is a great one.
I also followed Floyd's arbitration hearing last month very closely. In my opinion, there is no way Floyd should be suspended for doping based on the lab findings and the evidence for doping given by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency). While no one will ever truly know if Floyd used testosterone, I certainly cannot see how the evidence against him would satisfy even the lowest standard of proof, which is simply a preponderance of evidence, much less the higher burdens of proof (clear and convincing evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt). The evidence for doping was simply not very strong, while there was clear evidence of sloppy lab work, misuse of testing equipment, inaccurate interpretation of test results, and inconsistent criteria for a positive test among WADA-accredited labs. The book does a good job of outlining the arguments for Floyd's innocence, although it is obviously one-sided. WADA and USADA's arguments for his guilt, however, are simply that the lab found his samples to be positive, the lab is accredited and the test is proven, so despite the evidence of a major screw-up, the results should not be questioned. Since I followed the arbitration hearing closely I had already heard both sides' arguments before I read the book. I was pleased to see that the book gave an objective account of the proceedings and the evidence presented there. I was also interested to read the information given on the incompetence of WADA and USADA and the unfairness of the system they have set up and the methods they employ in their attempt to catch cheaters. I definitely agree that anyone doping or cheating in any other way ought to be removed from competition and punished. But I also think the agencies given the task to do so should have a fair system in place and should follow their own rules in their work, neither of which is the case with both WADA and USADA. The UCI (International Cyclists Union) also fits into that basket, and is also fairly criticized in the book.
Regardless of whether Floyd doped or not, he is one hell of a rider. The vast majority of pro cyclists could not win the Tour even while fully employing all the available doping methods, so regardless of what
happened he belongs to a very elite group of athletes. Given the shaky case against him, it is too bad that his 2007 season (and possibly more) has been ruined- he should have been out training for the Tour rather than writing this book!!
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Excellent,Informative read, August 8, 2010
By pat
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I think that this book is very informative,well wrote,and VERY TRUTHFUL!!!.And I can't thank Loren Mooney enough for doing such a great job on it.While I read it I could hear floyds' voice-as if he were actually talking,pretty remarkable.(if you've ever heard floyd speak you know what I meen).Let me also point out that I'm typing this on 8/7/2010!!! yes i'm probably the only one who STILL thinks that floyd got F@!$#ED,but I do feel that way,and if you read this and don't,I feel sorry for your ignorance. So, it's a great book read it if you want to know from where floyd landis came from as well as his up bringing,and insight to what he had to do to get where he ended up.On the podium at the Champs-Elysees wearing yellow in 2006,and I still say "Floyd- your the winner of the 2006 Tour De France".
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Compelling, October 23, 2008
By Jim Park (Tennessee)
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Floyd's story is compelling, taking you from his days of riding 400 mile weeks, day and or night, to his term in the professional ranks and being shunned by "team Lance" to go unto lead Phonak. He gives an insider's view into the handling of urine and blood samples that is quite suspect at best, making the reader truly question the objective results of these tests that can literally make and break careers. Because of his strong religious and moral upbringing, one truly begins to question whether Floyd had the mindset to use performance enhancing drugs since he seemed to pride himself on racing under his own steam. What is clear is that he leaves the verdict up to the reader, using compelling prose to communicate a heart rending story.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Fascinating, September 20, 2008
By R. Chastain (NJ)
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I came away feeling there's no way that Floyd Landis doped or cheated. The anti-doping organizations of the world are so desperate to clean up the sport and prove they're worth the funding being given them. Unfortunately, it appears that they and the labs they use are guilty of bad science and sloppy work. Floyd's talented, trained extremely hard, has a single minded determination and focus, and a phenomenal ability to suffer. The story of his upbringing in Farmersville, Pennsylvania and his road to professional cycling is fascinating. Ride on, Floyd!
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively False, August 26, 2008
By Danny L. Sundell
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The book was an eye opener to the world of drug testing - good reading too
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Positively False, August 11, 2008
By D. Cooper (San Diego, CA)
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One of the best books I've read recently, it was very well written. I believe Floyd was falsely accused, in part because of things he said or did before or even during the race. I feel it was a way to get back or get even with him. Sad but true that sometimes happens. We know Dr. Arnie Baker and feel that if he backs Floyd, Floyd must be innocent. I will be passing this book along to friends so they might reach their own conclusion.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great book, July 19, 2007
By sala_mander (CA)
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This is a great book--quick read but full of facts about Floyd's life both before and after the 06 Tour. Especially interesting is the discussion of his rivalry with uber-cyclist Lance Armstrong.I hope that he is vindicated and that the doping allegations are dropped as there is ample evidence presented to prove that he is not guilty.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Alarmed, August 28, 2008
By PS (Saint Louis, MO United States)
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Great stuff. Floyd is such a winner, looking forward to seeing him race again. It's an alarming shame the trial process is such a sham.
0 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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