How Far Can You Go?: My 25-Year Quest to Walk Again

by John MacLean, Mark A. Tabb (With)

An inspirational memoir by a man who became an elite wheelchair athlete after suffering a catastrophic spinal injury and who finally walked again 25 years after his accident.



After two years of intense physical therapy following his crippling accident, John Maclean set a new course for himself when his father encouraged him to embrace his new reality and asked: "How far can you go?" Inspired, Maclean became the first paraplegic to complete the Ironman World Championship and swim the English Channel before going on to win a silver medal for rowing at the 2008 Paralympic Games--yet these achievements did not come easy or on his first try. But with fierce tenacity, determination, and the love of family and friends Maclean was able to see each dream realized.

Yet he longed for one more victory: to walk on the beach with his family, holding his wife's hand. Through a radical therapy, he retrained his mind and challenged conventional thinking to walk again after 25 years in a wheelchair. HOW FAR CAN YOU GO? is his amazing story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Sports, Memoir, Autobiography

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2016

Reviews

[Annie Gummer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievable story. A man full of so much resilience and determination. Multiple Ironmans, swimming the English Chanel, and Olympic medals are a massive feat, let a known for someone who is a paraplegic. John’s story is remarkable, and his quest to walk again after 25 years in a wheelchair is quite something. Encouraged and inspired.

[Lachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far can you go?: My 25 year Quest to walk again is an extremely interesting and influential personal biography of the legendary household name John Maclean as he partnered up with Mark Tabb to create this splendid book. This book has taken an extremely long time to create and has only been published recently on March 29th 2016, with the time and effort that went into the book showing throughout the story.

John Maclean was always a very fit and competitive person as a kid, he always wanted to be the best and pushed himself to the limit to try and go for gold. As he grew up he realised his passion for football and running was unlike any other so he was training hard to make the big teams. Being very competitive he always made bets with his mates like who would win a local triathlon that happened each year. These bets seemed harmless enough until one day his life changed dramatically as he was hit by a truck riding along the m4 highway training for the triathlon, losing movement in his legs forever, or so he thought. At first John could not believe what had happened and saw the injury as a weight holding him back from achieving his goals. After going through vast amounts of depression John finally gives up on thinking about what he can't do, and rather embraces the injury as a learning curve.

He goes through his life's greatest achievements including all the ups and downs that will take your breath away while motivating you to stop reading the book and go outside and exceed your expectations. Reading this book you will feel as if he is right in front of you telling his story as it brings out all the emotions he was feeling during his darkest and greatest times after the accident. Finally you will be amazed as he does something that has never been done before, and will totally leave you in awe long after reading the book. If you ever need someway to get motivated this book will motivate you more than ever to experience life to the full and enjoy living as much as John Maclean expressed his love of life throughout this incredible story. You really start to appreciate the small things and look into everything to find positivity and from my personal experience this book has shaped the way I look forward into the future and how I will reach and exceed my aspirations.Overall I give this book a 10/10 as I could not find a fault throughout the story and was always torn between sleep or another chapter which is rare for someone like me.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most outstanding read!
John has been on an incredible athletic journey since childhood. A tragic accident didn’t stop him from chasing his dreams, and my mind is blown just thinking about all he has accomplished, both as a wheelie athlete and as an able bodied athlete.
I will be recommending this book to everyone I know, regardless of whether or not they are sports focused. It’s was a great joy to spend some time inside the head of this Australian legend.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring read! Such an amazing role model for young kids aspiring to excel in Wheelchair sport. My son plays wheelchair tennis & disabled golf. Cannot wait for him to read John's journey. Thank you!

[Rachel Horwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive story about how far someone can go with determination and dedication as well as the support of friends and family. Amazing how much he has achieved. Interesting to hear about his journey, his mental focus, his drive.
Ken Ware - chaos theory, tremor rehab
PNF
Disabled? When you 'dis' someone, you speak disrespectfully or critically of them. "Dis" expresses negation, a reversal or absence of an action or state. According to society, all of that and more was now me. I was permanently dissed. The very idea makes me cringe. To be disabled is society's way of saying quite clearly "you are less than others. Move aside" John Maclean chose to approach life with no limits, only possibilities.
The trauma of the accident and damage to the nerves around them caused the intact nerves to switch off. Regaining in function, synapses awakened.
Ken Ware - chaos theory. Body Systems approach including the emotional system - all systems interconnected and impact other systems
Tremors help release a burst of energy and recalibrate the system. Trauma, physical and emotional, basically blocks the system and pain is often the result. Repeated patterns, reinforce the blocks and problems can turn chronic.
Think of the spinal cord as a highway, think of a section getting blown up and what is left is so crowded by traffic signals trying to squeeze into a small space that nothing can get through. COnstantly and consistently stimulating the neurons down the blocked highway. The neurons, like people on a gridlocked highway, did not like being backed up with nowhere to go. They sought and finally found a way through. Found an alternative route
Focus on controlling the controllables and not worrying about what he can't control.

[Kylie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully inspiring story. John speaks constantly about there being no coincidences and how people and events occur at the right time. Funnily, it was in the same way that I found this book. I stopped by the library one afternoon when I was supposed to be buying running shoes for a half marathon I had been considering. The library has a suggestion table of great reads, the day I walked in, it was dedicated to running, triathlons, motivational and adventure stories and this was one of them, so I took this as my sign and my inspiration to commit to training.

I never cry when reading, but this had a few moments.
My only annoyance with this book is that it was written to an American audience. He was constantly explaining basic Australian things, like where Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane were located. I know Americans have a habit of confusing us with the kiwis next door, but it’s not that difficult to pick up a map.

Other than that, an amazing read!!

[Manthan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never loose hope and keep working on your dreams no matter what are the two biggest lesson from this book. Inspirational and motivating book especially for anyone who have lost hope in life. It was a must read for me as I felt like everything in my life was going against me, but after hearing about John I truly felt blessed for myself and proud of how John never gave up on himself, my dad is also as motivating as John’s dad I think, he always tells me “It is okay if you can not get the things right do not worry I will always be here for you, you just stay happy and try as best as you can”
PS: I didn’t knew before reading this book that English Channel could be swum and that there are many individuals who have actually done it many times before.

[Mergen Chuluun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational book. If John Maclean can learn to walk after 25 years of wheelchair, why can't we put up with small daily hassles and bustles? Focus, prepare/work, visualize success, be persistent, strive beyond expectations, and all is possible.

Spoiler alert:
My favorite part in the book is where John, having just learned to walk again after 25 years, decides to enter a triathlon and discusses w his wife Amanda about risk of becoming wheelchair-bound forever; then decides, "well, we already know what it is like to be wheelchair-bound".

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a twist in this story that I wasn't expecting, and it's what makes this book extra valuable.

Some sports biographies can get a little repetitive; this race...then this event...and then I.... There are stories of preparation for the events, how the events went etc; yet this story goes deeper, into personal development, and that's where the unexpected twist in the story emerges.

Well worth taking the time to read. Hope you enjoy it.

[Jan Tisdale · Rating 3 out of 5]

John became a paraplegic at 22 yrs old. He was an athlete and became one of the most accomplished wheelchair athletes in the world, but he wanted to walk. Through radical therapy he did walk after 26 yrs.

“ the strength in body and mind to push himself to the extreme and dedication is unbelievable.
Although his story is amazing, I found it dragged on and felt bad thinking that after what he went through”.

[Erbora Manellari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend to anyone looking for additional motivation

This book was an easy read and very inspirational. If you are looking for additional motivation, I highly recommend this book. The advice given helped change my perspective and reshape my ways of approaching and dealing with difficult situations.

[Amy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word sums up this book for me.. Inspiring!
I can’t imagine being faced with something so difficult, and yet I know from working at a surgical specialist clinic that accidents like this happen all of the time. I am amazed at what our attitude can do in the face of hardships. I am not an athlete, but I do like to challenge myself physically, and this book has inspired me to up my goals.

[Svene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sehr spannendes Buch, wie nach einem Schicksalsschlag neue Ziele gefunden werden können.
JM ist der erste Mensch im Rollstuhl, der den Ironman absolviert hat und der erste im Rollstuhl, der den Ärmelkanal durchschwamm.

Mit Hilfe einer Therapie, die Zuckungen hervorruft und so die Blockaden in den Nervenzellen löst, lernte er wieder zu gehen.

[Stacey Korson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inspirational story—but I didn’t find the writing great. He seemed to jump around quite a bit—it almost felt like narrative written by a young writer. Overly detailed in some places, jumping and skipping things in other, not quite a cohesive narrative that draws you in!

[Dale Erdmier · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for the inspiration that is John. 2 for the writing (sorry!).

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring read!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational !!
With a Spinal Cord Injury I could relate to some things.

Love how John is giving back to the community.

[Aaron Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

John MacLean is an inspiration and this book describes his amazing life journey. His journey is so amazing it could not be made up. Truth is more amazing than fiction.

MacLean goes from an Australian football player to a Paralympic triathalete to Paralympic silver medal winner. He then attempts to walk again after 25 years in a wheelchair. There is no quit in MacLean.

Through it all MacLean keeps climbing new vistas looking to what he can achieve next. He is humble all the way through and looking to inspire and give credit to others. This a truly memorable book.

I received this book for free from goodreads in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulled me in from the beginning and was a well-written, motivating / inspiring read. As someone who loves sports, I could appreciate the many incredible athletic feats that required great strength, dedication, and perseverance. It made me want to get going on my own personal dreams/ goals in life. The conclusion was a little flat for me personally but I think that's because I believe in miracles whereas he did not - I think sometimes miracles are brought about by hard work and each step of the way leading to the next by God's providence and things turning out beyond what we could imagine or dream up. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it!

[Trina]

Goodreads win. Will review once received.

[Susan Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great motivational story about overcoming disabilities! I met him at the Boston Marathon Expo and was really impressed with his life

[DW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this in the new books section of the library when I was looking for books to read while recovering from surgery. It seemed to fit the bill. John Maclean has an amazing story. Hit by a truck on the M4 at age 22, with a long list of severe injuries and his spinal cord partially severed, he went on to become the first person in a wheelchair to complete the Ironman in Hawaii (before there was a wheelchair category) and the first athlete of any kind to complete the Ironman and swim the English Channel. He went on to become an Olympian, and Paralympic silver medalist. And then he learned to walk again.

Things that stuck out to me: when he was in the hospital after his accident, unable to so much as roll over by himself, two of his friends biked 30 miles to see him, ate a fruit salad intended for him in front of him, mooned him, and then left having said only the four words "We gotta get back." I suppose it shows faith in their recovery not to treat somebody with kid gloves when they are injured, but that really seems over the top. I suppose I don't know what their friendship was like before the accident.

The stuff about Ken Ware and his "chaos and the central nervous system" treatment sounded completely wacko, though it is hard to argue with the fact that John walked again. (And John tried very hard to walk in the first three years after his accident and was unable to make progress.) The book said that Ware had published many papers about his treatment, but I looked them up and I'm still dubious. I thought it was crazy that Ken told John that if he competed in the Paralympics he would not be able to walk again (because he would think of himself as unable to walk). But I guess it worked out for him.

I'm always curious about the financial circumstances of people who need expensive medical treatment and months of therapy ... He did mention buying a house with the settlement from the truck company, and later he mentioned earning money by speaking engagements (and his wife stopped working near the end of the book). While he was training for the Paralympics the second time, he mentioned that he did not want to take a grant for it because that would mean labelling himself as "disabled," and he did not believe that he was deficient or worth less than able-bodied people. I thought that was an interesting point of view (he did not have a problem describing himself as a wheelchair user), especially considering the recent "Disability" series in the NYTimes featuring people owning that label.

At some points, he seemed like he needed better management or coaching. He qualified for so many events in the Sydney games, and then didn't do so well perhaps because he didn't have enough time to rest between events. It also seemed like he should have had more staff to handle minutiae before his final triathlon.

I was impressed by how well the book was written - I've read many biographies now that start off interesting and then get dull after the first few chapters. I'm not sure if that was the skill of the ghostwriter or the fact that John had so many amazing stories and accomplishments they easily filled the whole book, with no need for filler.

[Piseth Sokchamreun]

interested