Seabiscuit

An American Legend

By: Laura Hillenbrand

Narrated by: Campbell Scott

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of the runaway phenomenon Unbroken comes a universal underdog story about the horse who came out of nowhere to become a legend.

“Fascinating . . . Vivid . . . A first-rate piece of storytelling, leaving us not only with a vivid portrait of a horse but a fascinating slice of American history as well.”—The New York Times

A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF THE CENTURY

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.©2001 Laura Hillenbrand; (P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Fascinating . . . Vivid . . . A first-rate piece of storytelling, leaving us not only with a vivid portrait of a horse but a fascinating slice of American history as well.”—The New York Times

“Engrossing . . . Fast-moving . . . More than just a horse’s tale, because the humans who owned, trained, and rode Seabiscuit are equally fascinating. . . . [Hillenbrand] shows an extraordinary talent for describing a horse race so vividly that the reader feels like the rider.”—Sports Illustrated

“REMARKABLE . . . MEMORABLE . . . JUST AS COMPELLING TODAY AS IT WAS IN 1938.”—The Washington Post

Where's the unabridged version?

Excellent book. Would have been 5-stars if it were UNABRIDGED!

What a great story

They always say that true life is stranger than fiction. What a wonderful and inspiring story! And I believe that a movie will soon be released, based on the book.

Thrilling story with a snappy prose

The abridged version of this book was satisfactory. Although Seabiscuit won nearly half of the races he started, this reading covered only the sensational ones. It read with poise keeping me attentive during the many play-by-play accounts. Throughout the rest of the audio there was plenty of cast-off detail about the men around Seabiscuit to make me cheer their triumphs too. This audio was well-read and inspirational.

Seabiscuit is a worthy listen

Our entire family enjoyed this book and audio. Richly written, well documented and highly entertaining. The authors work has paid off handsomely with a fantastic story. The narration is impeccable. Kudos to all involved.

A winner by a horselength

A great, fun listen--this is truly a joy.