Book Review - No Excuses

Watching a second feature about Kyle Maynard, the congenital amputee (born without arms and legs), on the Oprah show spurred me to buy this book. As expected Kyle adeptly chronicles his journey through the course of his 19-year life via his experiences growing up, especially through his participation in organized football and wrestling. In his autobiography Kyle spreads the inspirational message of his “No Excuses” attitude and philosophy towards life– an attitude that has helped him to reach a sense of normalcy in life as an amputee with obvious physical challenges. Through Kyle’s eyes we get a glimpse of how one person overcomes challenges, like learning to eat with silverware, putting on clothes, making friends, or striving to make the high school varsity wrestling team. Kyle says over and over again that it was the love of his family and the love of his God and savior Jesus Christ who have helped him become a “champion in wrestling and in life”.

Each chapter of No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life begins with an inspirational quote from Kyle. These quotables will challenge you to reflect and strive to become a better person, not to take things for granted, and most of all, not to complain about trials in life. One of my favorite quotables is from Chapter 3:

I look everyone straight in the eye, as an equal, as God created all of us. We are all created uniquely, but we are all equally precious in God’s eyes. That’s something I believe in my heart, that my faith and my family taught me over and over again.

Through the reading you’ll also get a glimpse of Kyle’s parents. Remarkably, doctors advised them to abort their child if there happened to be anhy complications, but their love and faith preclude abortion. Instead, they chose to believe that a gracious God has a master plan for their child’s life. And they taught this faith and belief in God’s sovereignty to Kyle.

You’ll rejoice with Kyle as he tells of his first wrestling victory after 35 consecutive defeats. You’ll marvel at his determination to be part such a demanding and physical combat sport. You’ll cry when he wrestles his last high school match, and cheer alongside his many fans. But most of all you will catch his fighter attitude, and never-give-up will and spirit exemplified by his slogan: “It’s not what I can do; it’s what I will do.”

The books seems more like Volume 1 as it ends with Kyle as a sophomore at the University of Georgia and a member of the wrestling team. I’m sure there will be more to follow from this remarkable young man as he brings his message to people all across the world.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 16th, 2006 at 4:03 pm and is filed under Book Reviews, Books, Spiritual and Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.