The Ride of My Life by Matt Hoffman

Price: $24.95
Contact: 212-207-7000; www.harpercollins.com

A book about the life of Mat Hoffman sounds like a can't lose proposition. After all, a glimpse inside the mind of an athlete who helped define the X Games generation sounds compelling enough, and this book definitely delivers. The story of all the risks, all the injuries, and the countless hours of dedication spent redefining the limits of a sport above and beyond the status quo is hard to put down.

From the days long before being an "extreme athlete" was revered in the mainstream, Hoffman describes firsthand the sacrifices necessary to succeed in his given field, and The Ride of My Life delves into the lesser-known story behind a true champion athlete-compelling insight on a world of blood, sweat, tears and countless reconstructive surgeries not often seen on ESPN.

While The Ride of My Life isn't the most well-written biography, once you start turning the pages, it is a difficult monkey to shake from your back. Told from a first person perspective, the narrative of Hoffman's addiction to pushing the boundaries of his sport, and the painful consequences that often follow are described all too vividly.

Even though this isn't a book about a mountain bike athlete, it is a compelling story about a man who has devoted his life to discovering a new frontier on two wheels. The passion and dedication Hoffman displayed over nearly two decades of riding a bike comes through these pages in living color, making this a highly recommended read, whether you consider yourself "Xtreme" or not.--Ron Ige