A living testament to the adage 'if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,' the Jacobellis story profoundly illustrates the power of striving for self-knowledge in pursuit of an elusive goal. Anyone who has failed but refuses to give up should know Lindsey’s story. One of the most inspirational stories of all time.” — Denise K. Shull, MA, founder and CEO, the ReThink Group, and author of Market Mind Games
“[Jacobellis] delivers a variety of relatable family and sports stories, including accounts of the many injuries she endured and numerous years of competitions fueled by dogged, laser-focused perseverance…inspiring…Sure to appeal to fans of Jacobellis as well as the sport.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Not only is Lindsey Jacobellis the most decorated snowboarder of all time, but she is a brilliant writer and storyteller. Unforgiving grips your attention from beginning to end, as we learn more about Lindsey’s well-publicized and never-before-told ups and downs—including her incredible double gold medal win at the 2022 Olympics that thrilled the world. Her never-quit attitude will continue to inspire generations to come.” — Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
“I know what it’s like to come so close to achieving your goal only to have it slip through your hands. Watching Lindsey pick herself up and fight her way back to not one but two gold medals at the Beijing games was inspiring. It’s easy to smile and wave when you’re on top, but when things go wrong, it’s what you do next that really shows who you are inside. And Lindsey certainly showed us all!” — Shaun White, 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Men’s Snowboarding
"The medals that come to you in youth are sometimes easy and expected. The hard part is finding the mindset that allows you to keep competing for the next ten or twenty years, as age and life get in the way. That's the story Lindsey Jacobellis tells in "Unforgiving," covering her journey from an early disappointment all the way to her legendary gold medal runs in Beijing. Lindsey's full throttle energy to never give up will inspire all." — Shaun Palmer
“Highly recommended for fans of winter and Olympic sports. Also essential for women’s sports history collections. Winter and extreme sports fans will find this Olympic champion’s resiliency, ability to overcome disappointment, and relationship with her family inspiring.” — Booklist
“Olympic gold medalist Jacobellis traces the arc of her snowboarding career in this inspiring ode to self-forgiveness….This forthright account of Jacobellis’s rebound. . .should win her new admirers.” — Publishers Weekly
2023-07-18
The greatest female snowboard cross athlete of all time tells the story of “an unending, uncompromising determination to push myself.”
“They’ve become the manifestation of every dream I’ve allowed myself to dream,” writes Jacobellis, with the assistance of veteran ghostwriter and collaborator Paisner, about the two gold medals she won at the 2022 Olympics. About the aftermath of her devastating fall at the 2006 Olympics, when she was 20, the author writes, “In the end I came to believe that it was the fall that drove me to keep competing, to keep pushing myself long past the age when most athletes hang it up.” Now 37, Jacobellis describes a life driven by unrelenting, obsessive tenacity—e.g., “I couldn’t keep from pushing myself,” “I was always looking to push myself, to outrace and outhustle everyone else,” “I was really pushing it every time I went out.” Sharing a lesson she has learned over decades committed to a sport that “can be unforgiving for so long," the former five-time world champion and 10-time X Games champion notes, “In any discipline, it’s never about them—meaning the other riders in the field. It’s always about me—meaning no one else has the power to dictate the outcome. That’s the mindset you need to embrace.” It’s a theme she emphasizes throughout this inspiring yet often repetitive book. The author delivers a variety of relatable family and sports stories, including accounts of the many injuries she endured and numerous years of competitions fueled by dogged, laser-focused perseverance. “I’m still the same person,” Jacobellis writes now, more than a year after becoming an Olympic champion. “I’m still chasing, still pushing myself to be the best I can be. Still wondering what my life is going to look like away from snowboarding. Because that’s how I’m wired.”
Sure to appeal to fans of Jacobellis as well as the sport.