On My Own Two Feet: How I Learned to Dance Through Life After Losing My Legs

Clay Collins: Great personal story of someone who took a rough situation and made something beautiful of it.

United States on Feb 23, 2023

RF: Amy is one of the coolest gals ever, her energy is so inspiring. Well worth a read

United Kingdom on Jun 12, 2020

Pooyan: Wow, what an inspirational story. Couldn’t put it down.

Canada on Jan 03, 2019

Dusty Hogg: I'd read that stories of resilience can help you build your own ability to recover from setbacks and tragedy in your life. A search for that type of story is what led me to this book, and it was excellent.

Miss Purdy's book is not a glossy magazine blurb about how perfect her life has been. Instead, she bravely and humbly detailed her dark times and doubts, and it was really helpful to read.

It is not uncommon that we only see "the final cut" of someone's success story, which is unfortunate, because much can be learned from what was left on the cutting room floor.

Amy's story does not crop out detours. Not only do we learn of dreams fulfilled more than she could have imagined, but we also see some laid aside, delayed, or swapped for new ones. This is valuable because it is true of life: it isn't always certain why we must move on or let go, and it isn't always certain what we should dedicate our focus toward. Amy lets us see her making moves in uncertainty. That is a big part of bouncing back.

Most helpful, I feel, was her awareness of how she was able to recover hope after setbacks. How does a person keep moving when meeting one roadblock after...

United States on Mar 16, 2016

...: Wow. Just wow. I love the vulnerability and authenticity in this autobiography of an amazing young lady. I was so fascinated by this memoir that I read it in one sitting. Just couldn't put it down.

I'm the survivor of a near-death experience myself, though, compared to Amy, I came out with barely a scratch (physically, at least). I do know that space of faith and primordial power she writes about. I know the power of envisioning and authoring my own story first hand (and the debilitating effects an unsupportive/negative environment can have). I know the ups and downs, the exhilaration and the heartbreak. And how quickly the succession can go.

I still find it mindboggling how Amy navigated the loss of her feet, a full kidney failure and the extensive rehab period. I can't even begin to imagine losing body parts, and bouncing back from that. My lessons and losses were of a different quality. And while I am still recovering from it all and building my new life one step and one day at a time, I've been hard pressed for inspirational reading lately. Amy's book definitely does the trick (along with her moving Ted talk). Most other literature by NDE survivors retains a...

Germany on Feb 06, 2016

Dorothy: If you want to be inspired; to be amazed; to be challenged; this book is for you. For Amy Purdy the impossible is the challenge she needs to start her on figuring out how it can be done. With the amputation of both below the knee legs at the age of nineteen lit seems that all the dreams a young girl has were condemned as unrealistic. Read the book and learn how Amy not only follows and succeeds in accomplishing her dreams, but goes way beyond. She enters the Olympics as a snowboarder for America in Russia. But as soon as that is over she catches a plane to speed back to the US to practice dancing on DWTS. I watched her dance and she is unbelievable. This is a great book to give to a discouraged young person, or to anyone going through tough times (as we all eventually do on this trip through life!). Thanks Amy! I love your attitude!!!

United States on Jun 24, 2015

Marie: I like reading, especially Christian historical fiction and biographies. This biography was well done. I appreciated the authors style and the candidness of the narrative, just telling about life as it was from her perspective. It was helpful to me to hear about Amy's feeling/reactions to the situations she was dealt in life . . . my life has been very different, so it helps me visualize another's situation. For those seeking a story from a spiritual perspective, this biography was a mixed bag. Amy tells of a relationship with God at times, as well as that of her family, but her life does not fit as a role model of godly living in its entirety . . . having intimate relations before marriage. I don't say this to condemn Amy and her life choices - I have enough flaws in my own life to keep me from being a judge. I only add this for those considering reading who might be offended by such life a view.

United States on Mar 26, 2015

Jill Clardy: I really enjoyed reading the story of Amy's triumph in both the Paralympics and Dancing With the Stars after she overcame a devastating blow to her health. She lost both legs beneath the knee and had to have a kidney replacement after suffering through a debilitating sudden bout of meningitis when she was just 19. She made her living as a masseuse and was a committed snowboarder - both of which are very physical and require you to be on your feet. After the amputation, no one knew how much of her mobility she could recover. She didn't waste a lot of time feeling sorry for herself, and even walked down the aisle at her sister's wedding less than 2 months after the amputation.

Amy's indomitable spirit and lack of self-pity comes through on every page of this memoir. I don't know how many ways there are to say "inspiring" but certainly every other reviewer has already covered this ground. Her missing legs don't define her. She wrote that "obstacles in our lives can only do one of two things: stop us dead in our tracks, or force us to get creative..." She definitely did the latter! She couldn't do anything about the loss of her legs, but she could carry on with her life with...

United States on Mar 06, 2015

Marianne: This book is not only about the courage and persistence of young woman who lost two legs, but about personal growth beyond her horizons.
It is an eye opener for readers willing to go beyond their horizons, and those who are open for spirituality.
The book is a page turner and despite the tragedy, loss and pain that the young woman faces she just never gives up. The support and love of her family is always present.
A lot to learn from this book!

Germany on Feb 11, 2015

Creativity First: Im Alter von 19 Jahren war Amy Purdy kerngesund und mit sich im Reinen. Als Massagetherapeutin und Snowboarderin hatte sie viele Pläne, die nur darauf warteten, umgesetzt zu werden. Aber dann erkrankte sie von heute auf morgen an einer bakteriellen Meningitis und musste um ihr Leben kämpfen. Mit Einlieferung ins Krankenhaus wurde ihren Eltern mitgeteilt, dass Amy in diesem Zustand womöglich nur noch zwei Stunden blieben. Doch dank ihres unbändigen Willens und einer unerschütterlichen Dankbarkeit dem Leben gegenüber, überstand sie diese Krise, während der sie allerdings ihre beiden Beine, ihre Milz und eine gesunde Nierentätigkeit verlor. Mit ihren beiden Beinprothesen und einer Spenderniere ihres Vaters gelang Amy schließlich das (von den Ärzten) unmöglich Geglaubte: Sie fuhr wieder Snowboard. Inzwischen haben sich neben all den persönlichen Erfolgen, zu denen die Gründung der Non-Profit Organisation Adaptive Action Sports und ein gefragter Job als Motivationsrednerin zählen, auch die größten Triumphe eingestellt, die eine gesamte Nation bewegen: Amy Purdy gewann 2014 Bronze bei den Winter-Paralympics und wurde Zweitplatzierte bei Dancing With The Stars.

In...

Germany on Jan 27, 2015