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ReCycled
ReCycled charts Rich Smith’s remarkable recovery from a universally fatal liver disease when his life was saved by a last minute liver transplant, to him becoming a British, European and World cycling champion and the fastest transplant cyclist in the world.
The book takes the reader through the weird and wonderful world of cycling and introduces some of the hilarious pitfalls and odd ball characters encountered along the way. The reader also gets to meet some truly inspirational people who have overcome appalling illnesses and have taken to the bike to demonstrate their recovery.
Funny and poignant in equal measure, the book is a light hearted and irreverent take on the world of cycling and includes some fiendishly tricky multiple choice questions challenging the reader’s knowledge and attitude towards those who take to the road on two wheels!
This warm and insightful book will appeal to anyone who enjoys a compelling human interest story but if you’ve ever ridden a bike you’re sure to recognise some of the characters… you never know, you may even recognise yourself…
The book takes the reader through the weird and wonderful world of cycling and introduces some of the hilarious pitfalls and odd ball characters encountered along the way. The reader also gets to meet some truly inspirational people who have overcome appalling illnesses and have taken to the bike to demonstrate their recovery.
Funny and poignant in equal measure, the book is a light hearted and irreverent take on the world of cycling and includes some fiendishly tricky multiple choice questions challenging the reader’s knowledge and attitude towards those who take to the road on two wheels!
This warm and insightful book will appeal to anyone who enjoys a compelling human interest story but if you’ve ever ridden a bike you’re sure to recognise some of the characters… you never know, you may even recognise yourself…
282 pages, ebook
First published May 25, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 26, 2016
If you read no other book this year, read this splendid, compelling one. I struggled to find adjectives adequate to describe it really, but here's my attempt.
Unputdownable:
I began reading ReCycling (excellent play on words, by the way) in short bursts, alternating it with another book. This is not to be recommended. This book should have your undivided attention, without multitasking. I was greatly relieved when the other book was finished so that I could concentrate on this one, and I then finished it in two sittings.
So very interesting:
A fascinating, sometimes harrowing insight into the world of organ transplantation told from the perspective of someone who’s been there, experienced it, lives daily with its ramifications and can really tell it like it is.
Non-nerdy:
You really (trust me) don’t need to be a cycling fanatic to enjoy ReCycling. Enthusiasm for biking isn’t a prerequisite for enjoyment or empathy. Honestly. I now know more, having hitherto been completely sports-illiterate, about the cunning tactics of the various forms of biking (previously I’d thought you just set off from the start line and pedalled like hell), than I could ever have imagined. This is now the only sport that I can have a halfway-knowledgeable conversation with others about.
Heart-wrenching:
Like blood donation, organ transplantation is not a subject that occupies the consciousness of most of us on a regular basis, because organ failure touches (thankfully) comparatively few. Richard Smith’s entirely non-self-pitying recounting of his near death but chance of a second lease on life thanks to the imaginative, far-seeing altruism of a donor and emotional generosity of that donor’s family is deeply, deeply affecting. As are his descriptions of the fellow-transplantees his interest in cycling has led him to meet.
Rib-tickling:
But when he’s not delivering his very serious message, Mr Smith has you chortling with laughter. He certainly did me, frequently. This boy (as Eric Morcambe might have said) is a born comic writer. I have to confess shamefacedly though that I did very badly in his frequent tests. I think this is the first book I’ve read that’s been part literature and part exam paper.
Inspiring:
Boy; wasn’t it just! R S certainly wasn’t prepared to let a life-changing event like total organ failure and life ever afterwards on immunosuppressant drugs to keep him alive cramp his sports-enjoying style. Like also-admirable Paralympic athletes, he’s achieved far more in terms of not letting the bugger grind him down and striving for personal optimal success than most of us couch potatoes will ever do. And written a brilliant book about his remarkable achievements and the crying need for organ donation too.
Make you laugh/make you cry is a familiar technique used by TV charity appeal shows and this book does that superbly. The final three killer paragraphs (I won’t spoil) had me with eyes wet and throat tight, but that’s fine. Manipulate my emotions all you want. Feel free.
I can pretty confidently predict that ReCycled will win the prestigious John Needham Personal Fave Book Of 2014 Award. Read it, and join the donor register! Seriously.
Bravo for a very fine book, Richard Smith, and good luck with your awareness-raising campaign.
Unputdownable:
I began reading ReCycling (excellent play on words, by the way) in short bursts, alternating it with another book. This is not to be recommended. This book should have your undivided attention, without multitasking. I was greatly relieved when the other book was finished so that I could concentrate on this one, and I then finished it in two sittings.
So very interesting:
A fascinating, sometimes harrowing insight into the world of organ transplantation told from the perspective of someone who’s been there, experienced it, lives daily with its ramifications and can really tell it like it is.
Non-nerdy:
You really (trust me) don’t need to be a cycling fanatic to enjoy ReCycling. Enthusiasm for biking isn’t a prerequisite for enjoyment or empathy. Honestly. I now know more, having hitherto been completely sports-illiterate, about the cunning tactics of the various forms of biking (previously I’d thought you just set off from the start line and pedalled like hell), than I could ever have imagined. This is now the only sport that I can have a halfway-knowledgeable conversation with others about.
Heart-wrenching:
Like blood donation, organ transplantation is not a subject that occupies the consciousness of most of us on a regular basis, because organ failure touches (thankfully) comparatively few. Richard Smith’s entirely non-self-pitying recounting of his near death but chance of a second lease on life thanks to the imaginative, far-seeing altruism of a donor and emotional generosity of that donor’s family is deeply, deeply affecting. As are his descriptions of the fellow-transplantees his interest in cycling has led him to meet.
Rib-tickling:
But when he’s not delivering his very serious message, Mr Smith has you chortling with laughter. He certainly did me, frequently. This boy (as Eric Morcambe might have said) is a born comic writer. I have to confess shamefacedly though that I did very badly in his frequent tests. I think this is the first book I’ve read that’s been part literature and part exam paper.
Inspiring:
Boy; wasn’t it just! R S certainly wasn’t prepared to let a life-changing event like total organ failure and life ever afterwards on immunosuppressant drugs to keep him alive cramp his sports-enjoying style. Like also-admirable Paralympic athletes, he’s achieved far more in terms of not letting the bugger grind him down and striving for personal optimal success than most of us couch potatoes will ever do. And written a brilliant book about his remarkable achievements and the crying need for organ donation too.
Make you laugh/make you cry is a familiar technique used by TV charity appeal shows and this book does that superbly. The final three killer paragraphs (I won’t spoil) had me with eyes wet and throat tight, but that’s fine. Manipulate my emotions all you want. Feel free.
I can pretty confidently predict that ReCycled will win the prestigious John Needham Personal Fave Book Of 2014 Award. Read it, and join the donor register! Seriously.
Bravo for a very fine book, Richard Smith, and good luck with your awareness-raising campaign.
June 2, 2013
I was interested in the transplant aspect of the book as I have long term health problems, but was not relishing the idea of the cycling aspect which runs through the book. However I was pleasantly surprised. It was a thoroughly inspiring book emphasizing what can be achieved even if you have had long-term health problems and major surgery. Put simply if you are determined enough you can achieve whatever you want. My only negative point would be that it wasn't as gripping as I would like however the author makes up for it in his sense of humour. Will definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews