Seabiscuit: Summary and book reviews of Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand, plus links to an excerpt from Seabiscuit and a biography of Laura Hillenbrand.

Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. But his success was a surprise to the racing establishment, which had written off the crooked-legged racehorse with the sad tail. Three men changed Seabiscuit’s fortunes: Charles Howard was a onetime bicycle repairman who introduced the automobile to the western United States and became an overnight millionaire. When he needed a trainer for his new racehorses, he hired Tom Smith, a mysterious mustang breaker from the Colorado plains. Smith urged Howard to buy Seabiscuit for a bargain-basement price, then hired as his jockey Red Pollard, a failed boxer who was blind in one eye, half-crippled, and prone to quoting passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Over four years, these unlikely partners survived a phenomenal run of bad fortune, conspiracy, and severe injury to transform Seabiscuit from a neurotic, pathologically indolent also-ran into an American sports icon. Author Laura Hillenbrand brilliantly re-creates a universal underdog story, one that proves life is a horse race.

Media Reviews

Business Week - Mark Hyman Hillenbrand, a contributing writer at Equus magazine, is a deft storyteller whose descriptions of such races are especially good, filled with images of pounding hooves and splattering mud.   USA Today - Deirdre Donahue Seabiscuit brings alive the drama, the beauty, the louche charm and the brutality of horse racing. Hillenbrand makes the reader understand why Americans, crushed by the Depression, found so much hope, inspiration and pleasure in the story of a small horse who rose from obscurity to become a champion.   Jim Squires - New York Times [T]he story of this ragged-tailed racehorse [is] an allegory for Depression-era America. . . . [Hillenbrand's book] is a flawless trip, with the detail of good history . . . and the charm of grand legend.   Kirkus Reviews The former editor of Equus magazine retells the riveting story of an unlikely racehorse that became an American obsession during the Depression.   Publishers Weekly Gifted sportswriter Hillenbrand unearths the rarefied world of thoroughbred horse racing in this captivating account of one of the sport's legends.   Library Journal This story of trust, optimism, and perseverance in overcoming obstacles will appeal to many readers. Highly recommended.   School Library Journal - Peggy Bercher Even readers with no interest in the sport will be hooked with the opening sentence of the book's preface. Hillenbrand does a wonderful job in bringing an unlikely winner to life.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by daniel
seabicuit
This book was oddly verbose. To much fluff it should of got to the point. It took seven hours to read. That is ridiculous; if it wasn't required, I wouldn't make my students read it...even as a certified substitute teacher working on my bachelors.

Rated of 5 by Ahuja
An amazing Book
A nearly 400-page biography of a horse? Well, Seabiscuit was no ordinary horse: in 1938 he reportedly received more newspaper coverage than Roosevelt, Hitler or Mussolini. His match that year with his arch rival, War Admiral -- which pitted racing...   Read More

Rated of 5 by jessica
I have read many boring and dull non fiction books and was apprehensive when i was assigned Seabiscuit in my composition class. However i was delightedly blown away. Hillenbrand's writing is both informative and creative, she really knows what...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Horses Rule
I have read lots of books and lots of books about horse racing and I have to say that the book Seabiscuit was a very good book. I liked the way we got a history lesson as well as a great book. I think anybody who loves horses, horse racing will...   Read More

Rated of 5 by coolness kyle
this novel made me cry because it was such a poorly writen book.

Review (not rated) by Anonymous
I haven't read that many books, but I have to say that Seabiscuit was a good book. This book got my attention. It has so much information and actually teaches you something about horses. This book also motivated me. If Charles had in...   Read More

...3 More Reader Reviews

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