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Ignite: Unlock the Hidden Potential Within
Insightful, practical lessons on life, on and off the track, from an Olympic and world champion Not only is Andre De Grasse blazingly fast on the track, he’s also incredibly popular with his fans. His beaming smile and magnetic personality have won over millions of people around the world. Who could forget De Grasse’s friendly rivalry with sprinting legend Usain Bolt? Or when he became the first Canadian to capture medals in all three sprint events during a single Olympics? His gold medal victory in the 200-metre race at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics captivated Canadians witnessing a feat not accomplished by any other Canadian in close to a century. In Ignite , De Grasse shares important lessons from his improbable journey to becoming an Olympic champion. As one of the fastest humans alive, De Grasse has demonstrated what it takes to perform at your best under enormous pressure and to continue to push the limit of what seems impossible. De Grasse shares inspirational stories and lessons about the determination, resilience and perseverance it takes to become the best. Readers will gain from his insights from the track and beyond to unlock their own hidden potential and stare down life’s challenges whether at work, at home, or in pursuit of their dreams.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2023
20 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 8, 2023
Audiobook: Narrated by Mark Onaba
4.5 Stars
I was fortunate enough to run with Andre de Grasse, the Canadian Gold Medalist. This, of course, was while I was running my usual 5k. We kept at my usual 5k pace. I so enjoyed having Andre de Grasse in my ears, listening to his story, as narrated by Mr. Mark Onaba who did an awesome job.
This is a well rounded and insightful book. Whether you are an athlete or just want to set goals in your life. Nothing came easy to him. Listening to how he persevered, was just so… enjoyable. Andre had to work very hard to get to where he is. Determination, motivation, hard work, family and surrounded by good trust worthy people. He is a well-rounded person and for someone who just turned 29, Andre de Grasse is wise beyond his years.
Inspirational quotes that affected me::
“It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. Worry about executing your race, whatever that race might be.”
“Remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process.”
While listening to Andre winning Gold in Tokyo, I was finishing my 5.8k run. I think we both felt like a million dollars!
A definite must read.
4.5 Stars
I was fortunate enough to run with Andre de Grasse, the Canadian Gold Medalist. This, of course, was while I was running my usual 5k. We kept at my usual 5k pace. I so enjoyed having Andre de Grasse in my ears, listening to his story, as narrated by Mr. Mark Onaba who did an awesome job.
This is a well rounded and insightful book. Whether you are an athlete or just want to set goals in your life. Nothing came easy to him. Listening to how he persevered, was just so… enjoyable. Andre had to work very hard to get to where he is. Determination, motivation, hard work, family and surrounded by good trust worthy people. He is a well-rounded person and for someone who just turned 29, Andre de Grasse is wise beyond his years.
Inspirational quotes that affected me::
“It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. Worry about executing your race, whatever that race might be.”
“Remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process.”
While listening to Andre winning Gold in Tokyo, I was finishing my 5.8k run. I think we both felt like a million dollars!
A definite must read.
January 17, 2024
A mix of a memoir and self help book, Ignite contains great life lessons that I’ll try to use in my daily life. It’s great to read about Andre’s experience at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Championships. Great read especially for an Olympic year (Paris 2024)
August 18, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I wanted to like this more. I think Andre is an exceptional person, very kind & humble. This just didn’t do it for me for some reason. It skipped back and forth in time a lot in a bit of a confusing way. Read more as a self help or motivational book, which may work for you. I felt it dragged at points. I enjoyed Donovan Bailey’s book more.
January 29, 2025
I really liked this book, although I could do without the constant repetition. I think they should have spaced out the events he talked about more. Otherwise, great read.
November 14, 2023
Loved loved loved this book. de Grasse is only 29 years old! Gold medal, world championships, an ambassador to Kids Help Phone. He is a wonderful human!
September 25, 2023
What an inspiring journey to Olympic glory that Andre De Grasse has shared with us. Through his positive outlook on life and overcoming obstacles, he hopes to motivate others to succeed in their dreams. He has also launched a charitable organization to pay it forward for the help he got at the beginning of his career.
Looking forward to continuing to cheer on this wonderful Canadian role model.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for providing an eARC for my honest review.
Release date: 17 Oct 2023
Looking forward to continuing to cheer on this wonderful Canadian role model.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for providing an eARC for my honest review.
Release date: 17 Oct 2023
August 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐️🎧 Canadian Olympian, Andre De Grasse, shared stories about his life so far. The more biographical parts were interesting, but the added self-help talk and attempt to apply his lessons learned to the reader’s life was clunky and over simplistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
Title:
Ignite: Unlock the Hidden Potential Within
Author: Andre De Grasse
Genre: Self-Help
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: October 17, 2023
I received complimentary eARC from Harper Collins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Insightful • Practical • Humble
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Not only is Andre De Grasse blazingly fast on the track, he's also incredibly popular with his fans. His beaming smile and magnetic personality have won over millions of people around the world.
In Ignite, De Grasse shares important lessons from his improbable journey to becoming an Olympic champion. As one of the fastest humans alive, De Grasse has demonstrated what it takes to perform at your best under enormous pressure and to continue to push the limit of what seems impossible. De Grasse shares inspirational stories and lessons about the determination, resilience and perseverance it takes to become the best.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a Canadian and a fan of the Olympic Games, I am well aware of who Andre De Grasse is. He was the first Canadian athlete to capture medals in each of the three sprint events during a single Olympic Games, so of course I was curious when I saw he was publishing a book.
As a memoir reader, I enjoyed the beginning where I got to learn about his journey to becoming a sprinter, much more than the second half which focuses more on advice and motivating readers to becoming the best. I also didn't care much to learn about all his sponsorship deals, which became a bit repetitive. The advice is very surface level and I think could have easily used more detail and anecdotes.
While marketed as a self-help/motivational book, it never fell completely into that category. In my opinion the first 50% definitely felt like more of a memoir than anything else. Overall, i>Ignite doesn't deliver anything new or groundbreaking, but it was interesting getting to know a little more about his backstory and I look forward to hopefully getting to watch him run at the Olympics this summer.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• up-and-coming athletes
• Canadian Olympic team enthusiasts
⚠️ CW: toxic relationship, injury/injury detail, racism, violence
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process."
Author: Andre De Grasse
Genre: Self-Help
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: October 17, 2023
I received complimentary eARC from Harper Collins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Insightful • Practical • Humble
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Not only is Andre De Grasse blazingly fast on the track, he's also incredibly popular with his fans. His beaming smile and magnetic personality have won over millions of people around the world.
In Ignite, De Grasse shares important lessons from his improbable journey to becoming an Olympic champion. As one of the fastest humans alive, De Grasse has demonstrated what it takes to perform at your best under enormous pressure and to continue to push the limit of what seems impossible. De Grasse shares inspirational stories and lessons about the determination, resilience and perseverance it takes to become the best.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a Canadian and a fan of the Olympic Games, I am well aware of who Andre De Grasse is. He was the first Canadian athlete to capture medals in each of the three sprint events during a single Olympic Games, so of course I was curious when I saw he was publishing a book.
As a memoir reader, I enjoyed the beginning where I got to learn about his journey to becoming a sprinter, much more than the second half which focuses more on advice and motivating readers to becoming the best. I also didn't care much to learn about all his sponsorship deals, which became a bit repetitive. The advice is very surface level and I think could have easily used more detail and anecdotes.
While marketed as a self-help/motivational book, it never fell completely into that category. In my opinion the first 50% definitely felt like more of a memoir than anything else. Overall, i>Ignite doesn't deliver anything new or groundbreaking, but it was interesting getting to know a little more about his backstory and I look forward to hopefully getting to watch him run at the Olympics this summer.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• up-and-coming athletes
• Canadian Olympic team enthusiasts
⚠️ CW: toxic relationship, injury/injury detail, racism, violence
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process."
September 10, 2023
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ignite releases October 17, 2023
Ignite is a reflective piece on De Grasse’s journey as an athlete thus far, from his senior year in high school to his wins at the Olympic Games, and everything in between.
All of the chapters are concise and could stand on their own if they had to.
There are so many insightful lessons and just general ways of thinking in terms of achieving goals that a reader could apply to their lives regardless if they’re an athlete or not, which to me, makes this a well-rounded read.
Following along and rooting for De Grasse over the years has always been something to look forward to, and reading his origin story of how he got to where he is now was just as enjoyable.
Something to keep in mind is that this is not presented in chronological order and that may or may not bother you as a reader.
A few quotes that stood out:
“Discomfort is growth, sometimes. Don’t let your fear of it allow your potential to stagnate.”
“There is power in positive thinking. And what’s the alternative, really? What is the point in dwelling on the negative? What is the benefit? It only keeps you in a dark place, mentally—and that does nothing to help you overcome life’s obstacles. It makes the obstacles seem insurmountable.”
“It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. Worry about executing your race, whatever that race might be.”
“I’ll remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process.”
“How you carry yourself matters. The impression we make defines who we are to others. And if you want to make a lasting impression, you need to show people that you value their time and that you take your commitments seriously.”
“When you are given a chance to pursue something exciting, jump at it. Even if it might seem as though there is a very small likelihood that you will succeed. Never let your doubt or apathy stop you from unlocking your potential.”
“Greatness can only be achieved if you take advantage of opportunities when they come, regardless of how unexpected or unlikely they might seem.”
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ignite releases October 17, 2023
Ignite is a reflective piece on De Grasse’s journey as an athlete thus far, from his senior year in high school to his wins at the Olympic Games, and everything in between.
All of the chapters are concise and could stand on their own if they had to.
There are so many insightful lessons and just general ways of thinking in terms of achieving goals that a reader could apply to their lives regardless if they’re an athlete or not, which to me, makes this a well-rounded read.
Following along and rooting for De Grasse over the years has always been something to look forward to, and reading his origin story of how he got to where he is now was just as enjoyable.
Something to keep in mind is that this is not presented in chronological order and that may or may not bother you as a reader.
A few quotes that stood out:
“Discomfort is growth, sometimes. Don’t let your fear of it allow your potential to stagnate.”
“There is power in positive thinking. And what’s the alternative, really? What is the point in dwelling on the negative? What is the benefit? It only keeps you in a dark place, mentally—and that does nothing to help you overcome life’s obstacles. It makes the obstacles seem insurmountable.”
“It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. Worry about executing your race, whatever that race might be.”
“I’ll remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process.”
“How you carry yourself matters. The impression we make defines who we are to others. And if you want to make a lasting impression, you need to show people that you value their time and that you take your commitments seriously.”
“When you are given a chance to pursue something exciting, jump at it. Even if it might seem as though there is a very small likelihood that you will succeed. Never let your doubt or apathy stop you from unlocking your potential.”
“Greatness can only be achieved if you take advantage of opportunities when they come, regardless of how unexpected or unlikely they might seem.”
September 25, 2024
I've been a fan of Andre deGrasse since he came on the scene to me in the leadup to the Pan Am games in Toronto. It's been a pleasure to follow his career. He seems like a humble person who has worked hard to fulfill his goals.
When he first won it seemed like a great come from nowhere story. However it was only a come from nowhere story to me. He had already done a lot of work before entering the public eye. It is fair to say though that he had an untraditional background into entering the sport.
I've categorized this as a leadership book because although he's an individual athlete, he is a leader of a team and must make leadership decisions when running his career.
The book does a great job in outlining the steps that happen outside of the Olympic window. There are a lot of important decisions that are made such as how to train, where to train, hiring and switching coaches, sponsorship and a whole lot of other important decisions that are made.
His athletic career may be wrapping up but I'm sure he will be an important Canadian athlete for years to come like Donovan Bailey.
Outside of the book, one sign that the life of an athlete is short is that I noticed that there was already an Andre deGrasse road in Markham, Ontario during the covid 19 pandemic, that's already 4 years ago.
I recommend this book to Canadians who like sports and like the Olympics.
When he first won it seemed like a great come from nowhere story. However it was only a come from nowhere story to me. He had already done a lot of work before entering the public eye. It is fair to say though that he had an untraditional background into entering the sport.
I've categorized this as a leadership book because although he's an individual athlete, he is a leader of a team and must make leadership decisions when running his career.
The book does a great job in outlining the steps that happen outside of the Olympic window. There are a lot of important decisions that are made such as how to train, where to train, hiring and switching coaches, sponsorship and a whole lot of other important decisions that are made.
His athletic career may be wrapping up but I'm sure he will be an important Canadian athlete for years to come like Donovan Bailey.
Outside of the book, one sign that the life of an athlete is short is that I noticed that there was already an Andre deGrasse road in Markham, Ontario during the covid 19 pandemic, that's already 4 years ago.
I recommend this book to Canadians who like sports and like the Olympics.
January 26, 2024
This was a good book, but not quite what I was expecting. I read a love of biographies and memoirs by athletes. This one didn't quite reach me. It's way more focused on inspiring than on telling. I usually enjoy anecdotes, behind the scene events and such, the aspects of an athlete's life that aren't apparent. This book is more about inspiring, more like a self help book on overcoming adversity, persevering, choosing a good coach, surrounding yourself with the right people etc. which is great, for those who seek that. But personally I would have liked more stories about the Olympics, the races, the families, the friends, the sponsorships and those types of things. All those things are present, but they don't make up the bulk of the book.
August 23, 2024
I enjoyed watching the Olympics of Paris 2024. Especially, the 4x100m men’s relay race with Andre De Drasse delivering with the team a gold medal for Canada. I was intrigued to find out more about this athlete and learn more about his life. De Grasse showed up late into the sport and with discipline and hard work manage to make a mark on 3 top track and field sport: 100m, 200m and the relay. He is really remarkable and down to earth. I enjoyed getting to learn his principles for what brought him success. From being brought up by a single mom to being a top notch athlete in the track world of sprinting to being a family man, he is a great individual and role model. I liked reading this book to get the insights of what it takes to make it to the Olympics and in everything else in life. Great book!
February 17, 2024
Really enjoyable book, especially for those that remember watching Andre’s track successes in Rio and Tokyo.
That being said, I think this book would be great for any young person to read. While it covers Andre’s track career, it really uses that as the basis for the many life lessons he imparts. For any young person that worries they don’t have all the answers in life, I think this book will help them realize that many if not all of us are like that at that age. While an extreme example Andre shows us what can happen when we do find the right situation for us and we work towards accomplishing a goal.
That being said, I think this book would be great for any young person to read. While it covers Andre’s track career, it really uses that as the basis for the many life lessons he imparts. For any young person that worries they don’t have all the answers in life, I think this book will help them realize that many if not all of us are like that at that age. While an extreme example Andre shows us what can happen when we do find the right situation for us and we work towards accomplishing a goal.
May 13, 2025
I'm home sick today and have the time to just listen non-stop to my audiobook, so I was able to finish this in a sprint (ha!). I enjoyed the book, but didn't feel the translation of sport life-lessons to regular life-lessons necessary - I can discover the application side on my own, thanks. I also thought the audiobook editing team missed a really annoying bit, where the chapter is repeated each time. It did make me aware that a chapter may have been skipped when he said "Chapter 22. Chapter 23.", when every other chapter was straight up repeated.
I love a boy that loves his mother. You make us all proud, André. Thank you.
I love a boy that loves his mother. You make us all proud, André. Thank you.
March 3, 2024
It's a cool style of writing. It reminded me of Michelle Obama's most recent book. Each chapter is a different lesson and he breaks down how he realized each lesson.
It was more of a self-help book than a memoir. It was inspiring.
However, it was 100 pages too long. It got repetitive. He is only in his 20s. It seems like he capitalized on his gold medals, which is fabulous. But he hasn't lived much life yet to write a memoir. I also appreciated that he gave a lot of credit to his ghost writer and didn't keep that a secret.
A good book overall!
It was more of a self-help book than a memoir. It was inspiring.
However, it was 100 pages too long. It got repetitive. He is only in his 20s. It seems like he capitalized on his gold medals, which is fabulous. But he hasn't lived much life yet to write a memoir. I also appreciated that he gave a lot of credit to his ghost writer and didn't keep that a secret.
A good book overall!
December 10, 2023
It's a quick read with some surface level advice. I would have loved if he went into more details. It felt like it was meant more for younger readers. This book wasn't meant to be a memoir but I did enjoy the stories from his life, I will pick up de Grasse's memoir if he ends up publishing one.
The book is a VERY repetitive I swear he found a way to say the exact same sentence about Puma twice in two pages. The last chapters were a slog because you had already read the same content earlier in the book. I’d slip this one.
The book is a VERY repetitive I swear he found a way to say the exact same sentence about Puma twice in two pages. The last chapters were a slog because you had already read the same content earlier in the book. I’d slip this one.
January 14, 2024
While I know nothing of track - although I did recognise his name - it was clear he had a fascinating “origin” story - as a track superstar - and I listened long enough to satisfy myself as to that part of his life trajectory.
I could have been convinced to listen further, but this needed to have had a much stronger editorial hand on it… it is frustratingly repetitive.
Notwithstanding that, this would make a good gift for a young budding athlete you might know.
DNF (audiobook)
I could have been convinced to listen further, but this needed to have had a much stronger editorial hand on it… it is frustratingly repetitive.
Notwithstanding that, this would make a good gift for a young budding athlete you might know.
DNF (audiobook)
May 11, 2024
"In writing this book, I've attempted to slow it all down and try to distill the lessons I've learned throughout my pursuit of excellence on and ff the track" (4)
I thought this book had great amount of advice and insights. I did find it a bit all over the place and at times it lacked flow. I enjoyed how humble this book was.
This book was a medium read, as I read it in about 3 days.
I would recommend to any Canadian out there!
I thought this book had great amount of advice and insights. I did find it a bit all over the place and at times it lacked flow. I enjoyed how humble this book was.
This book was a medium read, as I read it in about 3 days.
I would recommend to any Canadian out there!
March 5, 2025
This was a solid book, but hard for me to rate. I enjoyed the balance of Andre’s story and words of wisdom/tips for improving your career, life etc. Some chapters felt too long to me and I had a hard time feeling motivated to read this (mainly because I like reading fiction). I enjoyed the recap at the end to remind us of all the key lessons. If you like Andre, athletes and ways to “up” your day to day routine, this is a book you’ll enjoy.
April 7, 2024
Very inspirational. As someone who ran track, same events as ADG, this put the sport and business of track into perspective. I am only a few years older than Andre and wish I'd known of his story more during my time as a sprinter. Hopefully this book reaches young sprinters, and prepares them, better than I was, to navigate it all.
August 4, 2024
This book couldn't decide what it wanted to be: would have been more successful as a memoir than a mix of autobiography and life advice, seemingly positioned to land speaking gigs after his track career concludes. Repetition lowered this from a solid three-star rating for me, even though his life and career inspired me.
January 8, 2024
Part memoir, part self-help, part inspirational this was a fast and interesting read. I enjoyed watching him race in previous Olympics and now having read a bit of his story and learned some of who he is beyond the race track I’m looking forward to watching him compete in Paris this summer.
January 31, 2024
It was like a whole bunch of little books. Each chapter didn’t flow nicely into one another. It felt halted. It was a good book. Good glimpse into the professional athlete life. But it was also repetitive
February 23, 2024
3.5
It started out interesting but got a little repetitive as it went. I think it would have been better as a memoir as the interesting parts were the parts about his life.
Overall, it's well written and he's certainly a positive role model for young Canadians.
It started out interesting but got a little repetitive as it went. I think it would have been better as a memoir as the interesting parts were the parts about his life.
Overall, it's well written and he's certainly a positive role model for young Canadians.
March 20, 2024
I got this book because this guy is canadian. Its cool to have a canadian compete at the highest level of track like that. But the book is not really insightfull for life advice. Repeats itself a lot and doesnt have alot of life lived to have written a book.
March 26, 2024
Big fan of ADG. The book focuses on his story but is also very much a motivational book. I found parts a bit repetitive and wish it was in chronological order. The chapters were in order of the different life lessons. Overall, easy read and enjoyed it.
August 9, 2024
An interesting structure for an auto-biography with each chapter focused on a life lesson, rather than a fully chronological approach. It was also cool to read about races, high school sports, and places in Canada that I remember/experienced myself.
January 16, 2024
De Grasse's biography is interesting and inspiring.
February 29, 2024
Good life lessons, easy read. A bit repetitive.
March 7, 2024
All over the place
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews