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Name: Amazon.com: Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine: 9780875964577: Jordan, Tom: Books
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (646 reviews)

Tom Jordan

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Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine Paperback – March 15, 1997

by Tom Jordan (Author)

646 ratings

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Looks at the life of the long-distance runner who had 25 consecutive wins for distance races over a mile, and who fought for adequate funding for American amateur athletics

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Written in 1977, this biography was evidently resurrected because of a recent TV special and two planned motion pictures about the Oregon long-distance runner, whose life was cut short in 1975 when he crashed his sports car at age 24. The book gives details of Prefontaine's efforts on the track?where he set many national records, some even while in college?and demonstrates his dedication to running, but it tells readers little about his personal life, perhaps because, as Jordan points out in the introduction, "His pace was so frenetic... that his deep friendships outside of family and love relationships were few." The two major problems Pre encountered as an athlete were his inability to do as well in Europe as at home and his annoyance with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and its demand that amateur athletes accept no formal support, although, the author notes, many meets gave under-the-table payments to top box-office draws. Jordan, who is on the staff of Track & Field News, captures his subject's charisma, but his book seems incomplete. There are six sidebars about Prefontaine by noted runners including Alberto Salazar, Mary Slaney and Frank Shorter. Photos. (Apr.) FYI: The film Prefontaine is playing at theaters now. Disney will release a film on the runner later this year.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

University of Oregon track star Prefontaine finished fourth in the [5000 meter] race at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Beyond that, he set numerous American records. But it was his personality, not his records, that set him apart. Where his opponents were dry and colorless, Pre was brash and cocky. His tragic death in a 1975 one-car accident established him as the James Dean of distance running, and the release of two 1997 motion pictures about him secures this status. Jordan's updated edition of a 1977 biography is acceptable as sports bios go, but there are too many stride-by-stride race accounts. Still, Jordan does create a vivid sense of Prefontaine's driven personality. Peppered throughout are revealing comments from rivals, teammates, and coaches, including legendary Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman. On balance, this is an intelligent glimpse of an athlete who is destined to be more well known today than he was in his lifetime. Expect demand. Wes Lukowsky

Review

"Pre inspired a whole generation of American distance runners to excel. He made running cool. He created the whole idea of training really hard and going for it. Runners setting goals for themselves, wanting to go all out and be really tough. That was his example." --Alberto Salazar, former American record holder in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and marathon

From the Back Cover

Steve Prefontaine

The story of America's greatest running legend.

For five years, no American runner could beat him at any distance over a mile. But at the age of 24, with his best years still ahead, long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine finally lost. Driving alone at night after a party, Prefontaine crashed his sports car, putting a tragic, shocking end to the life and career of one of the most influential, accomplished runners of our time.

More than 20 years later, Pre continues to influence the running world.

From his humble origins in Coos Bay, Oregon, Pre became the first person to win four NCAA titles in one event. Year after year, he was virtually unbeatable. Instead of becoming one of the new breed of professional track athletes, Pre chose to stay amateur and fight for the adequate funding he felt American amateur athletes deserved.

A man of incredible desire and energy, Pre trained relentlessly. In his drive to be the best, he spurred others to do their best. As one racer said, "He ran every race as if it were his last."

But Pre not only touched runners; his exciting technique as well as his maverick lifestyle made him a favorite of the fans. A race with Prefontaine in it was automatically an event.

His brief but brilliant life is the tale of a true American hero.

This is his story.

"Pre inspired a whole generation of American distance runners to excel. He made running cool. He created the whole idea of training really hard and going for it. Runners setting goals for themselves, wanting to go all out and be really tough. That was his example."--Alberto Salazar, former American record holder in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and marathon

"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative."--Steve Prefontaine

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rodale Pr; 2nd edition (March 15, 1997)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0875964575
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0875964577
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #257,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #76 in Track & Field Sports
- #341 in Running & Jogging (Books)
- #351 in Sports History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
646 ratings

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Customers find the book readable and inspirational, with one noting it's a tremendous job in scribing the tale of a legend. Moreover, the book provides great insight into Steve Prefontaine's life and is particularly appealing to runners, with one customer mentioning it's a great read for anyone who enjoys running. Additionally, the storyline receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting the detailed race results chart included in the book.

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Readability Insight Runner value Storyline

39 customers mention "Readability"39 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very readable, with one customer noting it was a quick read.

"A great read, especially for runners. Pre was quite the competitor and driven to succeed...." Read more

"...timely manner and even though not new, it looks in good shape and very readable." Read more

"...This is an a easy read. I finished it in about half of day of airplane travel. Chris Wodke..." Read more

"...It's an easy read." Read more

31 customers mention "Insight"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and inspirational, providing a great biography of Steve Prefontaine, with one customer noting it serves as a solid summary of his early life.

"...However, in doing that, we still get the basic facts of his life, hometown, achievements, a bit on his training habits and his personality...." Read more

"...Pre was quite the competitor and driven to succeed. He didn't have very many close friends because no one could keep up with him!" Read more

"Enjoyed this book about Pre. I didn't know a lot about him, but being a runner, I was very interested. It was a great story about Pre...." Read more

"The prose, kept short in the best way possible, adds foundational support to the skyscraper of quotes and testimonials that build a ferocious and..." Read more

17 customers mention "Runner value"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on running, describing it as a wonderful and great athlete's story, with one customer noting it's particularly appealing to track and cross-country enthusiasts.

"A great read, especially for runners. Pre was quite the competitor and driven to succeed...." Read more

"...Really shows human side of a running legend. Great read for anyone who enjoys running and inspiration." Read more

"...Author did a good job of bringing out the essence of Pre's impact which was significant given the short time he was with us." Read more

"...Very, very good read for anyone unfamiliar with this great athlete." Read more

15 customers mention "Storyline"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, with one customer highlighting the detailed race results chart and another noting how it reveals the human side of a running legend.

"Interesting incites on races less popular in Steve's career. Really shows human side of a running legend...." Read more

"...It was a great story about Pre. Lots of little anecdotes and quotes from people who knew him/spent time around him...." Read more

"...skyscraper of quotes and testimonials that build a ferocious and beautiful story of America's most interesting runner." Read more

"...This book tells the story of his races and of the work many did not know that he did with kids and in prisons. This is an a easy read...." Read more

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Tom Plum
Good for a book that looks like it's made from interviews and press articles
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2009
Verified Purchase

I think this book does deserve a top ranking because it does give us good insight to Pre's life and is inspiring though still a basic overview. With that said, it does seem largely to be based on newspaper and magazine articles and interviews and as someone said, seems to scratch the surface about Prefontaine. However, in doing that, we still get the basic facts of his life, hometown, achievements, a bit on his training habits and his personality. Perhaps there is the need for a more grand examination of this runner but living tragically a short life, this is still a fair summary. Perhaps more about his trip to the Olympics and disagreements with the AAU could have been written about but I'm sure, there was a lot more to come from him. Eventually, I've got to see the movies.

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4 people found this helpful

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bone_minn
What an inspiration!
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2016
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A great read, especially for runners. Pre was quite the competitor and driven to succeed. He didn't have very many close friends because no one could keep up with him!

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Mountaioncat3419
Pre book review
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2022
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Interesting incites on races less popular in Steve's career. Really shows human side of a running legend. Great read for anyone who enjoys running and inspiration.

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One person found this helpful

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mike m
Just Fine
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
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Book arrived in a timely manner and even though not new, it looks in good shape and very readable.

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AC
Good Overview of Pre's Time
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2013
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Enjoyed this book about Pre. I didn't know a lot about him, but being a runner, I was very interested. It was a great story about Pre. Lots of little anecdotes and quotes from people who knew him/spent time around him. Author did a good job of bringing out the essence of Pre's impact which was significant given the short time he was with us.

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Expandatorier
Quality Collection of a Character
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
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The prose, kept short in the best way possible, adds foundational support to the skyscraper of quotes and testimonials that build a ferocious and beautiful story of America's most interesting runner.

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Christine L. Wodke
This is an a easy read. I finished it in about half of ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
I had heard of Steve Prefontaine but do not really remember him. He will Frank Shorter helped to fuel the running boom. Pre was an intense competitor that drew huge crowds. This book tells the story of his races and of the work many did not know that he did with kids and in prisons. This is an a easy read. I finished it in about half of day of airplane travel.

Chris Wodke
Author: Running for My Life-Winning for CMT

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rdr
solid summary of pre's running history
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2015
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This had a solid summary of pre - early, college, and Olympic efforts. And lists his race times and good input from rivals.

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Jack a Roe
Great book about the legendary Steve Prefontaine
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2018
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Really great book about Steve Prefontaine. It is amazing how much of a legend a high school runner can be!

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Ed Scarpari, Jr
Pre!
Reviewed in France on September 5, 2019
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A running legend, and an athlete whose heights we will never know. Being a runner myself, I knew of his legend, and have even seen one of the films about his life.

The book covers the essentials of who Steve Prefontaine was, using interviews of people who knew him and tracing his running life to its tragic end.

4 stars because I feel that the writing could have been better. The story of Steve Prefontaine deserved a better prose style.

But that is a minor point. If you love distance running, read the book. The sadness of an overturned sports car crushing the life out of such potential will move you to tears. It did me.

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Skisportfreund
Love it!
Reviewed in Germany on July 4, 2013
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Prefontaine - das ist eine Name, der bei Sport-Enthusiasten auf der ganzen Welt Gänsehaut-Feeling erzeugt. Das Buch ist ein Muss für jeden, der mehr erfahren will über einen der wichtigsten Repräsentanten der US-Leichtathetik! Spannend geschrieben, versetzt es den Leser in Atemlosigkeit, die dann endet, wenn der letzte Satz zuende und das Buch wieder zugeschlagen ist...

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Uncurtailed
Incredible story, incredible man.
Reviewed in Australia on November 30, 2015
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The simplicity of this book makes the subject matter all the more wonderful. It moved me to tears.

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Vivek Chand
The content might be great but the quality of the book?
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on January 15, 2025
Verified Purchase
Really poor quality print. If I had ever seen this in a bookstore there is no chance I would have bought this. Shoddy print and paper. Really low quality for a book almost $18. What is the publisher even thinking? Why is it that books on Track are such shoddy productions? Not the first from Amazon.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about the legendary Steve Prefontaine

4.0 out of 5 stars Pre!

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible story, incredible man.

2.0 out of 5 stars The content might be great but the quality of the book?

Great book about the legendary Steve Prefontaine

Pre!

Love it!

Incredible story, incredible man.

The content might be great but the quality of the book?