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On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life
Amy Purdy, who inspired a nation on Dancing with the Stars and has been called a hero by Oprah Winfrey, reveals the intimate details of her triumphant comeback from the brink of death to making history as a Paralympic snowboarder.
In this poignant and uplifting memoir, Dancing With the Stars sensation Amy Purdy reveals the story of how losing her legs led her to find a spiritual path. When the Las Vegas native was just nineteen, she contracted bacterial meningitis and was given less than a two percent chance of survival. In a near-death experience, she saw three figures who told her: "You can come with us, or you can stay. No matter what happens in your life, it's all going to make sense in the end." In that moment, Amy chose to live.
Her glimpse of the afterlife--coupled with a mysterious premonition she'd had a month before --became the defining experiences that put Amy's life on a new trajectory after her legs had to be amputated. She wouldn't just beat meningitis and walk again; she would go on to create a life filled with bold adventures, big dreams, and boundless vitality--and share that spirit with the world. In 2014, Amy--the only competitor, male or female, with two prosthetic legs--claimed a bronze medal for the U.S. Paralympic team in adaptive snowboarding. She then became a contestant on season eighteen of Dancing With the Stars, and viewers were captivated as the girl with bionic legs managed to out-dance her competitors all the way to the finale.
Amy's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity we all have to dream bigger, defy expectations, and rewrite our stories. Amy was given a second chance for a reason--to use her life to inspire others. Her powerful memoir urges us to live life to the fullest, because we are all a lot more capable than we could ever imagine.
In this poignant and uplifting memoir, Dancing With the Stars sensation Amy Purdy reveals the story of how losing her legs led her to find a spiritual path. When the Las Vegas native was just nineteen, she contracted bacterial meningitis and was given less than a two percent chance of survival. In a near-death experience, she saw three figures who told her: "You can come with us, or you can stay. No matter what happens in your life, it's all going to make sense in the end." In that moment, Amy chose to live.
Her glimpse of the afterlife--coupled with a mysterious premonition she'd had a month before --became the defining experiences that put Amy's life on a new trajectory after her legs had to be amputated. She wouldn't just beat meningitis and walk again; she would go on to create a life filled with bold adventures, big dreams, and boundless vitality--and share that spirit with the world. In 2014, Amy--the only competitor, male or female, with two prosthetic legs--claimed a bronze medal for the U.S. Paralympic team in adaptive snowboarding. She then became a contestant on season eighteen of Dancing With the Stars, and viewers were captivated as the girl with bionic legs managed to out-dance her competitors all the way to the finale.
Amy's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity we all have to dream bigger, defy expectations, and rewrite our stories. Amy was given a second chance for a reason--to use her life to inspire others. Her powerful memoir urges us to live life to the fullest, because we are all a lot more capable than we could ever imagine.
248 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2014
99 people are currently reading
1816 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
December 31, 2015
“I’d been ripped on and poked so much that I couldn’t take it one more time. I didn’t want her [the nurse] or my parents feeling sorry for me, so I shouted, ‘Just so you all know, I’m not crying because I’m sad! I just don’t want to be touched anymore!’”
The minute I read those words from Amy Purdy’s On My Own Two Feet, I felt the page disappear and the black and white lettering that made up her story morphed into threads that connected her life with mine.
No, I had not contracted bacterial meningitis, almost died, lost my legs, or utilized prosthetics in order to get around. Instead, I had been born with Cloacal Exstrophy, a medical condition that had put me in the hospital (and into the poking, prodding hands of doctors) more times than I could count. Like Amy, I knew what it was like to be touched in places and in ways that made you want to cry, scream, and cower all at once. In a single sentence, I felt a strange spiritual kinship between the two of us, despite the fact that she didn’t (and probably never would) know my name.
But unlike Amy, who emerged out of her depression in a matter of months, my depression had kept me prisoner for several years. Between 2014 and 2015, I had managed to climb out of the massive black hole I had stumbled into, but I still struggled with accepting the colostomy bag that clung to my left side and the plastic catheter that dangled from my front every time I had to relieve myself.
What inspired me most about Amy’s story is her willingness to embrace her prosthetics as a unique addition to herself. Instead of shying away from her new legs, she runs toward them, putting them on even when they cause her great pain and showing them off even when the world might not accept her for who she is.
But the story doesn’t end there.
She continues on, ingeniously devising and creating ways in which her prosthetics can function to manifest her dreams of snowboarding, traveling, and providing various forms of healing therapy. Interwoven within her narrative, Amy discusses how she utilizes tactics such as visualization, positive thinking, energy flow, intention, and gratitude to help fuel her growth toward her dreams.
I’m a long way away from feeling as powerful and beautiful with my physical “additions” as Amy does with hers, but because of her story, and because of this book, I have no doubt that I can achieve that dream and beyond.
August 2, 2024
کتاب در واقع اتوبیوگرافی از خودِ نویسنده است،از زمانیکه به علت یک عفونت پاهایش را از دست میدهد تا زمانیکه فرد موفق و مطرحی میشود و با اعتماد به نفس به زندگی ادامه میدهد.این کتاب سفر پرمخاطرهی زندگی امی هست و همینطور تحولات روحی او.
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ایمی در بخشی از کتاب می نویسد: «من این کتاب را ننوشتهام که همه بگویند وای این دختر را ببین بر ناتواناییهایش پیروز شده است. من داستانم را با شما به اشتراک میگذارم تا ببینید در زندگی شما چه چیزهایی امکانپذیر است. تا قلم خود را بردارید و داستان زندگی خود را آنطور که دوست دارید خلق کنید. کلمات این فیلسوف بزرگ چینی همواره آویزهی گوش من است: سفر به دور دستها فقط با یک قدم کوچک آغاز میشود.»
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اگر به اتوبیوگرافی علاقه دارید،این کتاب خوبیه و میتونه الگویی برای پایداری در برابر مشکلات و شکرگذاری برای نعمتهایی که داریم،باشه.
#روی_پاهای_خودم
#ایمی_پردی
#ترجمه#فرزانه_فیروزکوهی
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ایمی در بخشی از کتاب می نویسد: «من این کتاب را ننوشتهام که همه بگویند وای این دختر را ببین بر ناتواناییهایش پیروز شده است. من داستانم را با شما به اشتراک میگذارم تا ببینید در زندگی شما چه چیزهایی امکانپذیر است. تا قلم خود را بردارید و داستان زندگی خود را آنطور که دوست دارید خلق کنید. کلمات این فیلسوف بزرگ چینی همواره آویزهی گوش من است: سفر به دور دستها فقط با یک قدم کوچک آغاز میشود.»
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اگر به اتوبیوگرافی علاقه دارید،این کتاب خوبیه و میتونه الگویی برای پایداری در برابر مشکلات و شکرگذاری برای نعمتهایی که داریم،باشه.
#روی_پاهای_خودم
#ایمی_پردی
#ترجمه#فرزانه_فیروزکوهی
February 19, 2015
I mainly knew who Amy Purdy was from her competing on DWTS, though apparently I somehow forgot I saw her on The Amazing Race. I remember the tape pieces from DWTS and thought it would be interesting to hear more about her story. I've read a number of celebrity memoirs and her memoir has become my favorite. Amy Purdy shares her story in a way that is informative but in a relaxed way of a friend sharing with a friend.
Her book is also the first memoir where I found myself adding page tabs for quotes I found interesting and inspiring.
Amy Purdy is a person who we can all learn something from and her book is a great place to find those lessons.
Her book is also the first memoir where I found myself adding page tabs for quotes I found interesting and inspiring.
Amy Purdy is a person who we can all learn something from and her book is a great place to find those lessons.
August 18, 2018
جلد کتاب ،، گویای اتفاقات داستان بود،،، کلیشه مثلث امید ، انتظار و موفقیت تکرار شده بود،،
امتیاز من به اینکتاب، به جهت داستان نویسی نیست،، تنها به جهت نیروی باور و یقینی است که ما به کل الان را فراموش میکنیم.
امتیاز من به اینکتاب، به جهت داستان نویسی نیست،، تنها به جهت نیروی باور و یقینی است که ما به کل الان را فراموش میکنیم.
July 9, 2022
«…پیکرههای عجیب و غریب شروع کردند به برقراری ارتباط با من، نه به صورت گفت و شنود صوتی؛ بلکه ذهن همدیگر را میخواندیم. به وضوع متوجه شدم که به من میگویند : تو میتوانی با ما بیایی یا این که بمانی. ناگهان به شدت احساس ناامیدی کردم. متوجه شدم که به من فرصت انتخاب داده شده است: این که میخواهم زندگی کنم یا بمیرم؟
در کسری از ثانیه موجی از خاطرات زمینی بر رویم آوار شد. رایحه خوش باران، صدای برخورد امواج به صخرهها، مزه نوشیدن آب از شلنگ حیاط و احساس فرو رفتن پاهایم در برف پودری کوهستان. صدای خندهی مادر، پدر، خواهر و دخترخاله و پسرخالههایم. تمام تجربیات احساسیای که دوست داشتم.
دوباره به من گفتند تو میتوانی زندگی کنی یا با ما بیایی، ولی این را بدان که اگر بگردی همان زندگی گذشته را نخواهی داشت. با خودم فکر کردم : اگر با شما بیایم چیزهای زیادی را پشت سرم باقی خواهم گذاشت. پس با تمام انرژی وجودم فریاد زدم : نه! من هیچ جا نخواهم رفت! »
این کتاب سرشار از احساسات خوشایند بود. ایمی هم مثل ماست. اگه خودش رو تو احساسات منفی غرق میکرد و اجازه میداد افسردگی زندگیشو فرا بگیره؛ اصلا روند زندگیش به این شکل پیش نمیرفت. اگه جدا شدن دستگاه اکسیژن رو تو بیمارستان تحمل نمیکرد؛ تا آخر عمر باید به اکسیژن متصل میموند. اگه با پاهای مصنوعیش اونقد تمرین نمیکرد؛ باید تا آخر عمر از ویلچر و عصا استفاده میکرد. اگه با پاهای مصنوعیش رانندگی نمیکرد؛ هیچ وقت اعتماد به نفس رانندگی رو پیدا نمیکرد. اگر به دلیل ترس از آسیب دیدن، با پاهای مصنوعیش چند ماه بعد از عمل اسنوبورد بازی نمیکرد؛ شاید هیچ وقت به مدال پارا المپیک نمیرسید.
از این همه انرژی مثبت و پشتکارش واقعا لذت بردم. پیج اینستاگرامش هم انرژی خالصه. ایمی زیبا، سرزنده، کوشاست و خوب بلده مشکلات زندگیش رو به فرصتهایی برای دیده شدن و موفق شدن تبدیل کنه.
کتابش هم واقعا خوب بود. نسبتا کوتاه بود و به وقایع اصلی و احساسات شخصیش پرداخته بود و اطلاعات اضافی و حوصله سربر رو اضافه نکرده بود.
«کلمات این فیلسوف بزرگ چینی همواره آویزهی گوش من است: سفر به دوردستها فقط با یک قدم کوچک آغاز میشود.»
در کسری از ثانیه موجی از خاطرات زمینی بر رویم آوار شد. رایحه خوش باران، صدای برخورد امواج به صخرهها، مزه نوشیدن آب از شلنگ حیاط و احساس فرو رفتن پاهایم در برف پودری کوهستان. صدای خندهی مادر، پدر، خواهر و دخترخاله و پسرخالههایم. تمام تجربیات احساسیای که دوست داشتم.
دوباره به من گفتند تو میتوانی زندگی کنی یا با ما بیایی، ولی این را بدان که اگر بگردی همان زندگی گذشته را نخواهی داشت. با خودم فکر کردم : اگر با شما بیایم چیزهای زیادی را پشت سرم باقی خواهم گذاشت. پس با تمام انرژی وجودم فریاد زدم : نه! من هیچ جا نخواهم رفت! »
این کتاب سرشار از احساسات خوشایند بود. ایمی هم مثل ماست. اگه خودش رو تو احساسات منفی غرق میکرد و اجازه میداد افسردگی زندگیشو فرا بگیره؛ اصلا روند زندگیش به این شکل پیش نمیرفت. اگه جدا شدن دستگاه اکسیژن رو تو بیمارستان تحمل نمیکرد؛ تا آخر عمر باید به اکسیژن متصل میموند. اگه با پاهای مصنوعیش اونقد تمرین نمیکرد؛ باید تا آخر عمر از ویلچر و عصا استفاده میکرد. اگه با پاهای مصنوعیش رانندگی نمیکرد؛ هیچ وقت اعتماد به نفس رانندگی رو پیدا نمیکرد. اگر به دلیل ترس از آسیب دیدن، با پاهای مصنوعیش چند ماه بعد از عمل اسنوبورد بازی نمیکرد؛ شاید هیچ وقت به مدال پارا المپیک نمیرسید.
از این همه انرژی مثبت و پشتکارش واقعا لذت بردم. پیج اینستاگرامش هم انرژی خالصه. ایمی زیبا، سرزنده، کوشاست و خوب بلده مشکلات زندگیش رو به فرصتهایی برای دیده شدن و موفق شدن تبدیل کنه.
کتابش هم واقعا خوب بود. نسبتا کوتاه بود و به وقایع اصلی و احساسات شخصیش پرداخته بود و اطلاعات اضافی و حوصله سربر رو اضافه نکرده بود.
«کلمات این فیلسوف بزرگ چینی همواره آویزهی گوش من است: سفر به دوردستها فقط با یک قدم کوچک آغاز میشود.»
February 26, 2015
I watched Amy Purdy and Derek Hough every week, on Dancing with the Stars. They were truly amazing. I recently read a book by Derek Hough, and read what he said about his experiences with Amy Purdy.
Amy has gone through such life altering challenges. She is an inspiration to many people. She had both of her legs amputated, had her spleen removed, and had a kidney transplant from her father. She wrote that we can take these changes, and make them into stepping stones towards our dreams.
I'm giving this book 5 stars because of it's inspirational content. It gets very emotional at times. She gives hope and love to people, she touches with her story, and example. She is not a professional writer, and I didn't expect her to be one.
Amy has gone through such life altering challenges. She is an inspiration to many people. She had both of her legs amputated, had her spleen removed, and had a kidney transplant from her father. She wrote that we can take these changes, and make them into stepping stones towards our dreams.
I'm giving this book 5 stars because of it's inspirational content. It gets very emotional at times. She gives hope and love to people, she touches with her story, and example. She is not a professional writer, and I didn't expect her to be one.
October 16, 2017
Excellent memoir about overcoming huge challenges and having the grit, determination, and positive attitude to continue looking and moving forward. Highly recommend.
May 25, 2015
Amy Purdy, who inspired a nation on Dancing with the Stars and has been called a hero by Oprah Winfrey, reveals the intimate details of her triumphant comeback from the brink of death to making history as a Paralympic snowboarder.
In this poignant and uplifting memoir, Amy Purdy reveals the story of how losing her legs led her to find a spiritual path. When the Las Vegas native was just nineteen, she contracted bacterial meningitis and was given less than a two percent chance of survival. In a near-death experience, she saw three figures who told her: “You can come with us, or you can stay. No matter what happens in your life, it’s all going to make sense in the end.” In that moment, Amy chose to live.
Her glimpse of the afterlife—coupled with a mysterious premonition she’d had a month before —became the defining experiences that put Amy’s life on a new trajectory after her legs had to be amputated. She wouldn’t just beat meningitis and walk again; she would go on to create a life filled with bold adventures, big dreams, and boundless vitality—and share that spirit with the world. In 2014, Amy—the only competitor, male or female, with two prosthetic legs—claimed a bronze medal for the U.S. Paralympic team in adaptive snowboarding. She then became a contestant on season eighteen of Dancing With the Stars, and viewers were captivated as the girl with bionic legs managed to out-dance her competitors all the way to the finale.
Amy’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity we all have to dream bigger, defy expectations, and rewrite our stories. Amy was given a second chance for a reason—to use her life to inspire others. Her powerful memoir urges us to live life to the fullest, because we are all a lot more capable than we could ever imagine.
Very interesting ...
In this poignant and uplifting memoir, Amy Purdy reveals the story of how losing her legs led her to find a spiritual path. When the Las Vegas native was just nineteen, she contracted bacterial meningitis and was given less than a two percent chance of survival. In a near-death experience, she saw three figures who told her: “You can come with us, or you can stay. No matter what happens in your life, it’s all going to make sense in the end.” In that moment, Amy chose to live.
Her glimpse of the afterlife—coupled with a mysterious premonition she’d had a month before —became the defining experiences that put Amy’s life on a new trajectory after her legs had to be amputated. She wouldn’t just beat meningitis and walk again; she would go on to create a life filled with bold adventures, big dreams, and boundless vitality—and share that spirit with the world. In 2014, Amy—the only competitor, male or female, with two prosthetic legs—claimed a bronze medal for the U.S. Paralympic team in adaptive snowboarding. She then became a contestant on season eighteen of Dancing With the Stars, and viewers were captivated as the girl with bionic legs managed to out-dance her competitors all the way to the finale.
Amy’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity we all have to dream bigger, defy expectations, and rewrite our stories. Amy was given a second chance for a reason—to use her life to inspire others. Her powerful memoir urges us to live life to the fullest, because we are all a lot more capable than we could ever imagine.
Very interesting ...
February 18, 2015
Although the story itself is very inspiring it was not well written at all. I felt like the last couple of chapters were written by someone else (maybe the co-author took over at this point). Amy has defied odds time and time again and is living life to the fullest. She is an inspiration!
January 17, 2019
Inspirational story!
March 15, 2019
I knew of Amy from Dancing with the Stars, and my sister requested the library buy this. I just now got around to checking it out 2 years later because I forgot about it.
It's amazing that the old man at the spa where she worked told her he could tell she was an intuitive person, and she was going to go on and do amazing things. He could tell her life was going to change in a big way. And Amy had a feeling that there was something for her to do, that a big change was going to happen. I've never had feelings like that. But when he asked if she had crossed over to the other side I was like whoa. That's really specific. You don't meet people like that every day.
It was odd to read that her dad was the most handsome guy she'd ever seen. Don't say that about your dad!
It's so cool that her dad was the executive director of the Helldorado rodeo after his dad, that he oversaw the Helldorado days festival and parade.
It was scary/crazy how her mom told her someone had an infection and he had to have both legs amputated and Amy said what she would do if that happened to her, that she wouldn't be able to handle of and that she'd drive over a bridge.
It was so emotional when it came to the infection. The nurse calling her mom and telling her Amy had maybe 2 hours to live, and then the doctor saying she could die and had less than a 2% chance to live. The doctor had left one day and then had a feeling that he better come back, and he got back just in time to give her emergency surgery. She heard him say to think about whatever she believed in during the surgery.
The summary had already shared that she had a near-death experience and started to cross over to the other side, but it was amazing to read it. Stories like that are always fascinating. It's so cool that she experienced earthly sensations, like snow and what she felt around her family, before she decided to go back. And it's so nice that her doctor had his family and friends in Sri Lanka praying for her, and he'd come and pray for her every day and put ash between her eyes. It was so emotional when her mom got paper and a pencil for her to write and Amy said she had a choice and she chose to live.
Hearing about all of the things that went wrong internally was hard to read.
It was unbelievable that she was almost ready to lose her legs, just wanted it over with so she could get out of the hospital. Before surgery she vowed not to feel sorry for herself, that she wouldn't miss snowboarding season and that she'd help others with her story. I couldn't imagine being so brave.
It was so inspiring that she kept looking for a snowboarder with two prosthetic legs but she never would find one, so she decided she would become the first.
I couldn't believe all of the health issues she had that came along with this, that she had to have a kidney transplant after everything she had already been through.
I couldn't believe that she had a picture that one of the camera guys had taken at the Madonna music video and it wasn't included in the book! What a waste, and the fact that it never aired because of the Iraq War.
Her relationship with Daniel was so sweet. It's cool that they both wanted to help others and find a way to help amputees get into sports like she had. They started a nonprofit but Amy didn't like words like disabled and handicapped so she chose to use the word adaptive in the name, so she could focus on capabilities and not disabilities, and it's about finding a way. It's amazing that she wanted to get adaptive snowboarding into the X Games and the Paralympics.
They had other sports as well, and their efforts got adaptive motocross into the Summer X Games, and adaptive skateboarding into the X Games.
It was so cool reading about her acting role for the Kingsman movie and she worked alongside Samuel Jackson and he told her how good she was. I had seen the movie so I knew she wasn't in it, so that was another disappointment.
I was surprised that Dancing with the Stars contacted her but she had to turn them down because it conflicted with her Paralympic training schedule. And then after she had trouble with her new feet, and took 5th place, her competitors were just happy that they'd outraced her and one said they finally got her. How mean!
Once she qualified for the Paralympic team she chose to go to another race even though she didn't have to, and she wrecked. If was funny that her coach said he wasn't even going to show her the video of the crash and to put it out of her mind.
Then they got it figured out with her schedule and she could still be on that season of Dancing with the Stars after the Paralympics. Her partner would fly to her and even go to Sochi so they could dance. I couldn't believe it! And having watched some of that season I think, it's so cool that her sister said she hoped Amy got Derek because he's so cute and won the most trophies.
I was blown away that Derek told her he wasn't even planning to come back to the show that season because he'd won plenty of times and he's at a new place and wanted to be a part of something bigger, to have something more meaningful and fulfilling. But when they told him her story he said he had to come back. He was my favorite on the show and I miss him now that he's left.
He asked her to do a dance move and she did it and he told her it was so beautiful he could kiss her! Wow!
I was glad when she mentioned some of the other contestants, because I couldn't really remember her season. But when she mentioned Meryl and Charlie I knew I'd seen it because I remember Meryl winning, which of course meant that Amy hadn't won.
It's so sweet that Amy gave her extra tickets every week to a family with a kid with a disability.
I was glad that she made it to the finale because I didn't remember that. I remember how exciting that season was with Max and Meryl, so it was something to read Derek telling her that their taped packages were making him think people would be voting for them even more. Amy ended up getting second place.
It was such an enjoyable read, quick to get through and pleasant, with inspiration and chills along the way. I didn't want to put it down, just wanted to keep reading. The medical details were hard to read because they're so scary, and things like that make me nervous. I felt like some details from some of the stories were missing, like more could have been shared. For ex, she talked about the first and last dances on the show, but the rest of the season was brushed over as she just listed some of the dances she did and I wanted more.
It's amazing that the old man at the spa where she worked told her he could tell she was an intuitive person, and she was going to go on and do amazing things. He could tell her life was going to change in a big way. And Amy had a feeling that there was something for her to do, that a big change was going to happen. I've never had feelings like that. But when he asked if she had crossed over to the other side I was like whoa. That's really specific. You don't meet people like that every day.
It was odd to read that her dad was the most handsome guy she'd ever seen. Don't say that about your dad!
It's so cool that her dad was the executive director of the Helldorado rodeo after his dad, that he oversaw the Helldorado days festival and parade.
It was scary/crazy how her mom told her someone had an infection and he had to have both legs amputated and Amy said what she would do if that happened to her, that she wouldn't be able to handle of and that she'd drive over a bridge.
It was so emotional when it came to the infection. The nurse calling her mom and telling her Amy had maybe 2 hours to live, and then the doctor saying she could die and had less than a 2% chance to live. The doctor had left one day and then had a feeling that he better come back, and he got back just in time to give her emergency surgery. She heard him say to think about whatever she believed in during the surgery.
The summary had already shared that she had a near-death experience and started to cross over to the other side, but it was amazing to read it. Stories like that are always fascinating. It's so cool that she experienced earthly sensations, like snow and what she felt around her family, before she decided to go back. And it's so nice that her doctor had his family and friends in Sri Lanka praying for her, and he'd come and pray for her every day and put ash between her eyes. It was so emotional when her mom got paper and a pencil for her to write and Amy said she had a choice and she chose to live.
Hearing about all of the things that went wrong internally was hard to read.
It was unbelievable that she was almost ready to lose her legs, just wanted it over with so she could get out of the hospital. Before surgery she vowed not to feel sorry for herself, that she wouldn't miss snowboarding season and that she'd help others with her story. I couldn't imagine being so brave.
It was so inspiring that she kept looking for a snowboarder with two prosthetic legs but she never would find one, so she decided she would become the first.
I couldn't believe all of the health issues she had that came along with this, that she had to have a kidney transplant after everything she had already been through.
I couldn't believe that she had a picture that one of the camera guys had taken at the Madonna music video and it wasn't included in the book! What a waste, and the fact that it never aired because of the Iraq War.
Her relationship with Daniel was so sweet. It's cool that they both wanted to help others and find a way to help amputees get into sports like she had. They started a nonprofit but Amy didn't like words like disabled and handicapped so she chose to use the word adaptive in the name, so she could focus on capabilities and not disabilities, and it's about finding a way. It's amazing that she wanted to get adaptive snowboarding into the X Games and the Paralympics.
They had other sports as well, and their efforts got adaptive motocross into the Summer X Games, and adaptive skateboarding into the X Games.
It was so cool reading about her acting role for the Kingsman movie and she worked alongside Samuel Jackson and he told her how good she was. I had seen the movie so I knew she wasn't in it, so that was another disappointment.
I was surprised that Dancing with the Stars contacted her but she had to turn them down because it conflicted with her Paralympic training schedule. And then after she had trouble with her new feet, and took 5th place, her competitors were just happy that they'd outraced her and one said they finally got her. How mean!
Once she qualified for the Paralympic team she chose to go to another race even though she didn't have to, and she wrecked. If was funny that her coach said he wasn't even going to show her the video of the crash and to put it out of her mind.
Then they got it figured out with her schedule and she could still be on that season of Dancing with the Stars after the Paralympics. Her partner would fly to her and even go to Sochi so they could dance. I couldn't believe it! And having watched some of that season I think, it's so cool that her sister said she hoped Amy got Derek because he's so cute and won the most trophies.
I was blown away that Derek told her he wasn't even planning to come back to the show that season because he'd won plenty of times and he's at a new place and wanted to be a part of something bigger, to have something more meaningful and fulfilling. But when they told him her story he said he had to come back. He was my favorite on the show and I miss him now that he's left.
He asked her to do a dance move and she did it and he told her it was so beautiful he could kiss her! Wow!
I was glad when she mentioned some of the other contestants, because I couldn't really remember her season. But when she mentioned Meryl and Charlie I knew I'd seen it because I remember Meryl winning, which of course meant that Amy hadn't won.
It's so sweet that Amy gave her extra tickets every week to a family with a kid with a disability.
I was glad that she made it to the finale because I didn't remember that. I remember how exciting that season was with Max and Meryl, so it was something to read Derek telling her that their taped packages were making him think people would be voting for them even more. Amy ended up getting second place.
It was such an enjoyable read, quick to get through and pleasant, with inspiration and chills along the way. I didn't want to put it down, just wanted to keep reading. The medical details were hard to read because they're so scary, and things like that make me nervous. I felt like some details from some of the stories were missing, like more could have been shared. For ex, she talked about the first and last dances on the show, but the rest of the season was brushed over as she just listed some of the dances she did and I wanted more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2020
مسیر زندگی ام من را به جایی که الان هستم رسانده است. من عمیقا معتقدم که این جایگاه بهترین و مناسب ترین نقطه در چهار راه زندگی من است. تمامی قدم هایی که در این مسیر برداشته ام، حتی سخت ترین و جانفرساترینشان همگی باید اتفاق می افتادند. حضور همه کسانی که در زندگی ام بوده اند و یا بعدها وارد شده اند بی دلیل نبوده است هیچ چیز بی دلیل نیست، هیچ تصادفی و هیچ اشتباهی. آنها فقط تجاربی برای آموختن هستند، درس های بزرگی که ما را رو به جلو هدایت می کنند.
ایمی پردی برنده مدال برنز در مسابقات سوچی روسیه و چندین رقابت بین المللی رشته اسنبورد هست. ایمی تو نوزده سالگی بر اثر یه بیماری ناگهانی کمتر از دو درصد شانس زنده موندن داشت. ایمی از مرگ برگشت و انتخاب کرد که می خواد زندگی کنه.
ایمی پردی برنده مدال برنز در مسابقات سوچی روسیه و چندین رقابت بین المللی رشته اسنبورد هست. ایمی تو نوزده سالگی بر اثر یه بیماری ناگهانی کمتر از دو درصد شانس زنده موندن داشت. ایمی از مرگ برگشت و انتخاب کرد که می خواد زندگی کنه.
January 7, 2016
This is an amazing journey of a superpower woman who got her power when she lost her feet. #inspirational
December 4, 2021
خیلی زیبا
مخصوصا مواقعی که روحیتون بده حتما برید سراغش
روحیه خیلی بالایی داره
مخصوصا مواقعی که روحیتون بده حتما برید سراغش
روحیه خیلی بالایی داره
March 8, 2016
In a nutshell: Amy Purdy, a true born dreamer, lost her legs below the knee at 19 to a rare disease… but that didn’t stop her from going after what she wanted, like creating an organization for adaptive athletes, trying out acting, competing in Sochi, and competing on Dancing With The Stars, and this book proves that she will never stop dreaming and will continue to go after anything she wants, using this power to inspire others.
Recommendation: Anyone and everyone should read this book. I am currently battling cancer, and reading this book gave me so much inspiration, hope, and positive energy that I think “If Amy Purdy got through what she got through, so can I. Even if you yourself do not need an “inspirational boost” you should read this book anyway because it is so full of happiness even though it seems like it wouldn’t be. For the record, Amy Purdy has become my role model and is a true hero. And the best part is, she doesn’t even care because she is doing everything she is doing for her, not for anyone else.
I usually never get all “fangirly’ over a book but this book makes me so happy. It’s so strange how I suddenly wanted to read it… I ad been following Amy Purdy on Instagram for a while and thought she was amazing and inspirational but I didn’t even know she competed in Sochi or did(and continues to do) all of these amazing things. And then I saw an Instagram post about her book and thought “I want to read this RIGHT NOW.” The second I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Spoiler alert: I recommend that the entire world should read this book because I feel it would create positivity in people that they might never have known existed. This is beautiful.
“We don’t always get to decide which course we go down or know which mountains we’ll face. Yet we always have the most important choice there is: whether to resist, or to give ourselves over to the twists and turns of the terrain.”
Amy Purdy was 19 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her and wanted to travel the world and loved to snowboard. Her world was changed when she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and had a 2% chance of survival. After a near-death experience, multiple serious surgeries, and getting her legs amputated below the knee, Amy vowed she would continue to live the life of a dreamer and would do anything and everything she always wanted. She has gone on to become a motivational speaker and co-creator of an organization called Adaptive Action Sports for people with disabilities that want to get involved in action sports. She has also been in an unreleased Madonna video, competed in Sochi, and danced on Dancing With The Stars…But Amy is bashful and decided that she is not defined by her legs and they are merely an extension of her and her Adaptive Action Sports ailove of life. Readers will truly be inspired by this book.
I can’t go on enough about how much I love this book yet I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t want to give it all away… but then again, when you actually look up Amy’s Wiki page or read other things and see the things she’s done, you think you know the whole story. But you don’t. She’s not a super star because she’s done all these things and is now considered famous because of Sochi and Dancing With The Stars. She’s a super star because she did it all because she wanted to, and went after it all and has the most positive outlook on life I have ever had the pleasure to read about.
Amy Purdy is now my hero because of this book. I took her words seriously and now I want to live by them. I am so moved by her energy and unbreakable spirit, despite her normal anxieties and self doubts that we all have as humans. She is amazing and I think everyone needs to read this book… I’ve mentioned her to several people and none of them knew who she was and I then I’ve rambled on about her book and how amazing I think it is. I know that from now on, when I am going through a difficult situation, I will ask myself “What would Amy Purdy do?”
Recommendation: Anyone and everyone should read this book. I am currently battling cancer, and reading this book gave me so much inspiration, hope, and positive energy that I think “If Amy Purdy got through what she got through, so can I. Even if you yourself do not need an “inspirational boost” you should read this book anyway because it is so full of happiness even though it seems like it wouldn’t be. For the record, Amy Purdy has become my role model and is a true hero. And the best part is, she doesn’t even care because she is doing everything she is doing for her, not for anyone else.
I usually never get all “fangirly’ over a book but this book makes me so happy. It’s so strange how I suddenly wanted to read it… I ad been following Amy Purdy on Instagram for a while and thought she was amazing and inspirational but I didn’t even know she competed in Sochi or did(and continues to do) all of these amazing things. And then I saw an Instagram post about her book and thought “I want to read this RIGHT NOW.” The second I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Spoiler alert: I recommend that the entire world should read this book because I feel it would create positivity in people that they might never have known existed. This is beautiful.
“We don’t always get to decide which course we go down or know which mountains we’ll face. Yet we always have the most important choice there is: whether to resist, or to give ourselves over to the twists and turns of the terrain.”
Amy Purdy was 19 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her and wanted to travel the world and loved to snowboard. Her world was changed when she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and had a 2% chance of survival. After a near-death experience, multiple serious surgeries, and getting her legs amputated below the knee, Amy vowed she would continue to live the life of a dreamer and would do anything and everything she always wanted. She has gone on to become a motivational speaker and co-creator of an organization called Adaptive Action Sports for people with disabilities that want to get involved in action sports. She has also been in an unreleased Madonna video, competed in Sochi, and danced on Dancing With The Stars…But Amy is bashful and decided that she is not defined by her legs and they are merely an extension of her and her Adaptive Action Sports ailove of life. Readers will truly be inspired by this book.
I can’t go on enough about how much I love this book yet I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t want to give it all away… but then again, when you actually look up Amy’s Wiki page or read other things and see the things she’s done, you think you know the whole story. But you don’t. She’s not a super star because she’s done all these things and is now considered famous because of Sochi and Dancing With The Stars. She’s a super star because she did it all because she wanted to, and went after it all and has the most positive outlook on life I have ever had the pleasure to read about.
Amy Purdy is now my hero because of this book. I took her words seriously and now I want to live by them. I am so moved by her energy and unbreakable spirit, despite her normal anxieties and self doubts that we all have as humans. She is amazing and I think everyone needs to read this book… I’ve mentioned her to several people and none of them knew who she was and I then I’ve rambled on about her book and how amazing I think it is. I know that from now on, when I am going through a difficult situation, I will ask myself “What would Amy Purdy do?”
June 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I took off a star because of language. I would have loved to listen to this book with my kids around and to recommend it to my twelve year old. Very inspiring and very interesting. I thought the narration was great-very expressive.
May 18, 2016
An amazing story of courage and determination. Amy starts off describing her life before she lost her legs and the incident that caused that loss. She describes in detail what she went thru physically and emotionally. Nothing was easy and there were lots of complications. She had a lot of support from family and friends but in the end it was up to her to pull herself thru.
It was interesting to see the connections she made with people and how they spawned other connections and helped her in her career and life in general. She worked very hard to get what she wanted and along the way she helped a lot of other people. It was very inspiring to see how much she wanted to help others. She is a great role model.
It was interesting to see the connections she made with people and how they spawned other connections and helped her in her career and life in general. She worked very hard to get what she wanted and along the way she helped a lot of other people. It was very inspiring to see how much she wanted to help others. She is a great role model.
April 15, 2015
Amy's underlying story is very interesting and inspirational. Having seen her on Dancing with the Stars, I was very interested in her story.
However, I don't consider this book to be very well-written. At points it just scratched the surface, and in other areas the heavy detail is not necessary. I did find the details about going from the paralympics to Dancing with the Stars very interesting - making her performance on that show even more remarkable. (It also gave me an even greater appreciation for the already amazing Derek Hough.)
Were it not for the inspirational aspect of the book, it wouldn't even rate my 3 stars...
However, I don't consider this book to be very well-written. At points it just scratched the surface, and in other areas the heavy detail is not necessary. I did find the details about going from the paralympics to Dancing with the Stars very interesting - making her performance on that show even more remarkable. (It also gave me an even greater appreciation for the already amazing Derek Hough.)
Were it not for the inspirational aspect of the book, it wouldn't even rate my 3 stars...
March 9, 2015
I had never heard of Amy Purdy until I read her story. Amy's awesome attitude and courage are incredible and she deserves 5 stars for living an inspiring life. For me the book itself was most captivating during her struggle with her sickness and her amazing recovery, and the latter part when she was on Dancing With the Stars. I was also quite touched by the role her Dad played in her recovery and the epilogue.
April 21, 2015
Amy Purdy has led an inspiring life and overcome many challenges, the chief of which has been the loss of both of her legs beneath the knees. Despite her hardships, she learned not only to walk again, but to snowboard and dance...even dance with the stars! Through her foundation work, she was able to get snowboarding into the Paralympics and medaled in the Sochi games. She has chosen not to focus on what she can't do, but on what she wants to do and therein has pursued her dreams.
January 30, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.
A great inspiring story. It was a little slow at the beginning and hard to get through during the beginning. But once I got so far in I was hooked and couldn't put it down. It was very interesting to read to see her struggles and accomplishments. I will be passing this book along.
A great inspiring story. It was a little slow at the beginning and hard to get through during the beginning. But once I got so far in I was hooked and couldn't put it down. It was very interesting to read to see her struggles and accomplishments. I will be passing this book along.
February 3, 2015
This book was a well written memoir of Amy Purdy's experiences before and after loosing her legs to bacterial meningitis. I appreciated her willingness to share her experiences so that others may also be able to overcome adversities in their lives.
June 27, 2015
What a simple, genuine telling of Amy's experiences from the mundane to the spectaculer. Through it all, Amy fuses her passion for life, honest philosophy of living & practice to live each moment to its capacity.
January 22, 2017
While not the greatest writing, I appreciated Purdy's candor in sharing her life story. Having a relative currently enduring a lengthy, arduous health journey I really appreciated reading about Amy's perspective during her hospitalization and the life changing consequences of her illness.
April 27, 2015
Very strong woman!!
September 22, 2020
Ever since I saw Amy Purdy on Dancing With The Stars as a kid, I always wondered what her journey was and how she was able to get there. She was my first and largest idol at the time and I'd tune in every Monday night after dance (ironically) to watch her and vote. Watching her dance with her prosthetics after I struggled dancing on my prosthetic was extremely motivating and made me want to be like her; heck, my dream was to dance with her. My mom first bought me this book after it was published and like the procrastinator I am, 5 years later, I just finished it after reading the beginning three times just to comprehend the story and how much I related to her. This book felt like a personal message to the reader and it gave you room to think about your own experiences and how you were shaped into the person you are.
Amy's radiance shines through in this book to the fullest extent and it leaves you appreciating how vulnerable she was willing to be with the audience. When you face a challenge, it's easy to come off as stand-offish or even numb when a situation is brought up. What I like about this story is that Amy realistically portrays a positive mindset while acknowledging the challenges of her amputation; the reader can see themselves in her.
Another thing I'd like to point out in addition to its accuracy is its advocacy. This book has given life and a voice to so many individuals who are going through a challenge and it gives motivation to those who have overcome challenges. Not only is raising awareness of these feelings and mind-states important, but specifically, the complications that come with being an amputee are very well presented. Furthermore, she even offers a positive spin on them.
In conclusion, I believe that anyone willing to educate themselves on a story of an amputee and some of the challenges they face, I recommend this to you. She does such a great job explaining that just because you are physically challenged, it doesn't mean your life is over or any less valuable than an able-bodies'. She does this by introducing the audience into the world of adaptive sports and the lifestyle perhaps for the first time. In absolute summary of this, "My biggest struggles have led to my biggest accomplishments," (Amy Purdy, 243)
Amy's radiance shines through in this book to the fullest extent and it leaves you appreciating how vulnerable she was willing to be with the audience. When you face a challenge, it's easy to come off as stand-offish or even numb when a situation is brought up. What I like about this story is that Amy realistically portrays a positive mindset while acknowledging the challenges of her amputation; the reader can see themselves in her.
Another thing I'd like to point out in addition to its accuracy is its advocacy. This book has given life and a voice to so many individuals who are going through a challenge and it gives motivation to those who have overcome challenges. Not only is raising awareness of these feelings and mind-states important, but specifically, the complications that come with being an amputee are very well presented. Furthermore, she even offers a positive spin on them.
In conclusion, I believe that anyone willing to educate themselves on a story of an amputee and some of the challenges they face, I recommend this to you. She does such a great job explaining that just because you are physically challenged, it doesn't mean your life is over or any less valuable than an able-bodies'. She does this by introducing the audience into the world of adaptive sports and the lifestyle perhaps for the first time. In absolute summary of this, "My biggest struggles have led to my biggest accomplishments," (Amy Purdy, 243)
June 11, 2025
Amy was mentioned in Candace Cameron Bure's book "Dancing Through Life" so I thought I would look her up and find her book. What an amazing story filled with inspiration for all of us. It looks like she still is blazing a trail and motivates others through her non-for-profit (Adaptive Action Sports) and speaking engagements. Plus, after this book was published, she was able to garner more Olympic medals in the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea. The book covers her life and takes the reader through chronologically her early years, the sickness, the near-death experience and the subsequent hardships and trials leading up to the 2014 Olympics and Dancing with the Stars. There are plenty of pictures included as she gives so much credit to others including her family and many friends and medical personnel along the way. I just cannot fathom being able to snowboard and dance, etc. with two prosthetic legs. What an amazing story.
April 14, 2020
Miss Purdy would not want me to say this, but this account of her life is a tragedy turned inspirational. She has a mental fortitude that is not common. A wonderful story of achievement and goals and dream being realized despite mounting obstacles. She has worked hard for each of these accomplishments.
I read this book after hearing her give a keynote speak at a work conference. Her talk was so good. Sad. Inspiring. Encouraging. Devastating. Glorious. All in one. The book is a good recap, but I liked her life presentation much more. Prior to the speech I had never heard of her. I am not a watcher of Dancing with the Stars or the Amazing Race, and haven't followed the para-olympics much. So, I wouldn't call myself a fan. I bought the book in support of her awesome keynote speech. The book is exactly what you would expect it to be if you know anything about her. I like her entire premise though, she says, "If your life was a book, how would you want it to end?" Realizing that we can be the own author of our lives and experiences is inspiring, motivational, and a lot of other adverbs that all add up to amazing possibilities.
I read this book after hearing her give a keynote speak at a work conference. Her talk was so good. Sad. Inspiring. Encouraging. Devastating. Glorious. All in one. The book is a good recap, but I liked her life presentation much more. Prior to the speech I had never heard of her. I am not a watcher of Dancing with the Stars or the Amazing Race, and haven't followed the para-olympics much. So, I wouldn't call myself a fan. I bought the book in support of her awesome keynote speech. The book is exactly what you would expect it to be if you know anything about her. I like her entire premise though, she says, "If your life was a book, how would you want it to end?" Realizing that we can be the own author of our lives and experiences is inspiring, motivational, and a lot of other adverbs that all add up to amazing possibilities.
December 5, 2024
“We don’t always get to decide which course we go down or know which mountains we’ll face. Yet we always have the most important choice there is: whether to resist, or to give ourselves over to the twists and turns of the terrain. As it goes in snowboarding, so it goes in life.”
November 19, 2017
Inspirational.
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