Stronger

by Jeff Bauman, Bret Witter Narrated by Jeff Woodman

Overview

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JAKE GYLLENHAAL

The New York Times bestselling memoir of the 27-year-old Boston Marathon bombing survivor.

When Jeff Bauman woke up on Tuesday, April 16^th, 2013 in the Boston Medical Center, groggy from a series of lifesaving surgeries and missing his legs, the first thing he did was try to speak. When he realized he couldn't, he asked for a pad and paper and wrote down seven words: "Saw the guy. Looked right at me," setting off one of the biggest manhunts in the country's history.

Just thirty hours before, Jeff had been at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon cheering on his girlfriend, Erin, when the first bomb went off at his feet. As he was rushed to the hospital, he realized he was severely injured and that he might die, but he didn't know that a photograph of him in a wheelchair was circulating throughout the world, making him the human face of the Boston Marathon bombing victims, or that what he'd seen would give the Boston police their most important breakthrough.

In STRONGER, Jeff describes the chaos and terror of the bombing itself and the ongoing FBI investigation in which he was a key witness. He takes us inside his grueling rehabilitation, and discusses his attempt to reconcile the world's admiration with his own guilt and frustration. . Brave, compassionate, and emotionally compelling, Jeff Bauman's story is not just his, but ours as well.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"STRONGER is not merely a triumph-over-adversity story, but a love story....the book exudes a sense of transparency and honesty."—Boston Globe

"Bauman's moving story illustrates what he believes: 'We are better than cowards with bombs...We are stronger.'"—People Magazine

"A moving demonstration of how strength of mind and character helped one man stand tall despite the loss of his legs."—Kirkus Reviews

Library Journal

11/15/2013
Bauman's life changed dramatically when a bomb exploded at last spring's Boston Marathon, severing both of his legs. Since then, his upbeat, determined attitude has been an inspiration to people worldwide. To be published on the first anniversary of the event; expect huge media (so far, Bauman has given few interviews). With a 250,000-copy first printing.

Kirkus Reviews

2014-03-18
One man's account of life before and after the Boston Marathon bombing. While Bauman waited near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, he happened to notice a man in the crowd: "There was something off about him….He had on a hooded jacket that seemed too heavy, even on a cool day. The thing that really struck me, though, was his demeanor. Everyone was cheering and watching the race….Except this guy….He was all business." Bauman had just looked into the eyes of Tamerlan Tsarnaev a few seconds before his pressure-cooker bomb exploded, taking Bauman's legs with it. With the help of Witter (co-author: Until I Say Good-Bye: My Year of Living with Joy, 2013, etc.), Bauman recounts his story of that day and the months that followed as he worked through excruciating pain, surgeries and rehab. He struggled with anger and depression at what had happened to him and the unexpected and sometimes-unwelcome focus of thousands of strangers. By losing his legs but remaining optimistic and upbeat in front of the cameras, he became a symbol of hope, and he adroitly addresses the emotional push and pull of wanting to be strong for others while feeling weak and extremely vulnerable inside. He leaned heavily on new friends and his girlfriend, Erin, a woman he had broken up with a few weeks before the marathon took place. Gritty details of how his life changed after the bombing intermingle with inspiring moments of throwing the first pitch at a Red Sox game or waving the flag before a Bruins hockey game. Although he lost his legs and his life is permanently changed, Bauman refuses to let those circumstances hold him back. A moving demonstration of how strength of mind and character helped one man stand tall despite the loss of his legs.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170118359
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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