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One Man's Leg: A Memoir Paperback – October 1, 2002

by Paul Martin (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
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As a kid, athletic competition provided some relief from an otherwise difficult childhood. Later, living in a foster home, it was the stage on which to gain attention that didn't seem to be available elsewhere. But it was only at the age of 25, when he had lost a part of the very thing he relied on most to compete (specifically, the lower half of his left leg), that Paul Martin made his commitment--and went on to become a world champion triathlete and Paralympic competitor.

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

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

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

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    250 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    GreyCore Press
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0967185157
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0967185156
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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

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

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

From the Publisher

ONE MAN'S LEG is the story of world champion triathlete and Paralympic cyclist Paul Martin's life to date--and what a life it has been. Alternately funny, heartbreaking and thought provoking, few readers will fail to be captivated by Paul Martin's adventures--and misadventures! To read ONE MAN'S LEG is to experience the life of an athlete vicariously, to redefine "disability" (or is it "this ability?"), to learn the true meaning of team spirit, and to come to love the finish line, as it applies to each of us and no matter how far off we fear it might be.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ GreyCore Press; First Edition (October 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0967185157
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0967185156
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

About the author

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Paul Martin

Paul Martin

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This particular Paul Martin—there are many men by that name and quite a number of authors also—was born in 1967 and raised primarily in Gardner, Massachusetts, a smallish blue-collar city in the North Central part of the state.

His high school English teacher told him after reading his first book, One Man's Leg, "I always told you you were a good writer."

"Then why'd you give me a D Junior year?" Paul asked.

"I never said you were a good student," she replied.

That poor grade came about the time Paul put himself in a foster home in search of a more peaceful existence. He found his groove soon after, earned an engineering degree from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and lost his leg in a car accident six months later.

That's when he really took off. Paul saw not the loss of a leg but of an opportunity to pursue sports with a vigor he hadn't possessed since middle school. He has since completed 10 Ironman triathlons—setting the world record for leg amputees in the process, has won Paralympic cycling medals and spreads his message of optimism and work ethic whenever he's given the stage.

One Man's Leg was deemed "Irresistible" by the USAToday and his second book, Drinking From My Leg: Lessons from a Blistered Optimist—a celebration of physical abilities, psychological doggedness and spiritual clarity—reached #1 on Amazon in both Sports and Biographies.

He lives in Colorado with his wife, Dr Sharon Wetherall, and three sons, Jack, Luke, and Baby Jaguar...that last one is still in the womb as of this writing.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
13 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Damon Clifford
5.0 out of 5 stars Required for Any Athlete That's Had an Amputation
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2011
Verified Purchase
As a recent BK amputee myself, Paul's stories resonates with any athlete who is facing or as faced an amputation. As he shares stories of other athletes that he's met in his life, this is also true for any sort of physical disability.

His achievements with his disability give hope, inspiration, and motivation for the disabled and shows how just a little courage and determination can take you anywhere you want to go. Dreams don't die with a disability, doors open up for those that want to walk through it.

If you don't have a disability, as a competitor, his story is still remarkable. It will truly challenge the way you look at yourself and how you compete against others. Even if you don't win your race, there's always something you can learn about yourself to become better for your next race.

Every athlete faces obstacles, your attitude and the way you overcome those obstacles are what build your character and athletic spirit.

Read "One Man's Leg" and you will find that Paul is the essence of athleticism and competition.
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Lois Field
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book, I was disappointed in just how much of the book was dedicated to the actual sporting events, but I guess it wouldn't have been his story without them. I would recommend this to anyone who is facing a struggle in life to remind yourself no to give up.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! : Inspirational story; Inspirational author
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2002
"One Man's Leg" is Paul Martin's story, and what a story he tells.
After what can best be described as a "challenging" childhood and adolescence, filled with too many excesses as well as a disproportionate share of family issues, Martin rights his ship enough to graduate from college with an Engineering degree and land a good job with a major manufacturing firm. However, while in his initial job training, he suffers a catastrophic car accident in which he eventually would be forced to lose the part of his leg just below the knee.
A decent hockey player in high school, Martin decides that this life-altering event was truly a message to him from above, and he decides to forego a business career to pursue a career in athletics. Martin, however, chooses the extra-ordinary challenges: marathons, triathlons, cycling and, for good measure, Olympic downhill skiing. And, as "fairy tales" go, he succeeds.
As any part-time, weekend warrior athlete would tell you, running an occasional 5k or the annual 10k is a pretty big accomplishment. Martin, however, not only runs the marathons and triathlons, but he wins them, beating many able-bodied athletes in the process... He also holds the American records in the half-marathon and the 5k.
Martin, who wrote the book without the assistance of a seasoned co-author (typical hard-headed athlete, as am I), writes with humor, sometimes brutal honesty and an easy conversational tone that makes the book a great read.
As an "athlete," One Man's Leg has motivated me and has me thinking of an attempt at triathlons; as a person, Martin's story makes me proud and inspires me... Our country and our world needs to hear more about the Paul Martin-type stories that exist. These stories are what the human spirit is all about.
9 people found this helpful
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Frank Christofferson
5.0 out of 5 stars One Man On a Mission
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2003
One Man's Leg shows the strength of the human spirit, and the determination of one man in particular. But rather than bludgeon us with a tale of dark adversity and eventual triumph, this book delights in its accessibility and humanity. Paul leads us through his life and evolution with humility and honesty, and writes in a natural prose that inspires genuine identification with him as a person first, and an amputee secondarily.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone at any stage of life, for both a delightful read and a reminder that humans are capable of great things if we only rise to the occasion.
4 people found this helpful
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Buggy
4.0 out of 5 stars THE INSPIRATIONAL RISE OF AN ATHELETE
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2012
I started reading this book just after the London Olympics ended because I suddenly had an extra 10 hours a day on my hands and really wanted to read something that captured the spirit of the games. Yeah I love the Olympics, from opening to closing ceremonies, but I'm especially a fan of the marathon, triathlon and all the behind the event, human interest stories. ONE MAN'S LEG seemed to have just what I was looking for.

Paul Martin's story is truly inspirational but as much as this is a story about his leg it's also just the story of the rise of an athlete. Paul's easy and honest writing style plus the fact that he's led a super interesting life make this a real page turner. And as much as I enjoyed reading about his athletic accomplishments I found myself equally engrossed in the early chapters regarding his difficult childhood, time spent as an ironworker, the multitude of accidents he suffered before (and after) the loss of his leg -jeez this guy is accident prone- and the often challenging relationship he had with his father.

At the age of 25 (after his fifth serious vehicular related accident) Paul lost his left leg below the knee and started on his journey to becoming a world champion athlete. He admits that "without his fortuitous accident he probably wouldn't have walked the path of an athlete" adding "that if he could go back in time he wouldn't change a thing."

Personally I have a hard time considering a man who swims, bikes, runs marathons, plays hockey is an Olympic competitor and world champion athlete disabled at all. Through strength of spirit he is in my mind, super-abled.

Within a couple of years of his accident Paul's life has taken on new meaning. He has completed the New York Marathon, joined the Paralympic ski team and a disabled cycling team. He is competing in triathlons almost every weekend and working his way up to an Iron Man. Speaking of which the chapter entitled "The Hawaiian Ironman" would have to be my favourite in the whole book. His descriptions left me exhausted and with a feeling that I was right there with him at the Energy Lab and throughout the entire 2.4 miles swim! 112 mile bike ride! And 26.2 mile run!

With a sense of humour Paul affectionately names his amputated leg "Stumpie" and throughout the many miles we get to know Stumpie and its assorted prosthetics pretty well.
"I chose not to walk in the parade of nations because I didn't want to give Stumpie any unnecessary aggravation before the race."
"Stumpie was having a bad day"
This line also stayed with me "Pain free running, I have discovered, may very well remain theoretical"

So if you need some inspiration or maybe you're just feeling a little lazy, like oh I don't have the energy to work out today or maybe you just miss the Olympics give Paul Martin's bio a read, it'll get your ass off the couch. Cheers
317jb3.5
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