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hannahpom's review against another edition
4.0
I love Pinoe and appreciate this book but it was definitely not written for me (a long time, dedicated fan). Rather, I suspect it was written for all of the people who have latched on to her since last summer. It was very much a summary of her highs and lows so none of it was new to me. I did appreciate hearing what she had to say about her various coaches though.
helico's review against another edition
3.5
Being a U.S soccer fan it only made sense for me to pick up the book. As much as I understood the book was an autobiography, I would have loved more content on the more recent events.
thesauraz's review against another edition
4.0
The title “One Life” seems a bit contrived, but when you understand Megan Rapinoe’s relentlessness, self-confidence, and character, plus her directive to the reader, it is the perfect title. Megan details her upbringing and ascent in the football, as well as the social and political, worlds. She’s unapologetic about her positions and attitudes and rightfully so. She trail blazed in many ways on and off the pitch, but in women’s sports, was hard-pressed to get coverage unless something was rooted in controversy. While I do wish her arguments and generalizations be a bit more nuanced, I also understand that the author’s goal is not to educate the reader on LGBTQ and minority oppression as much as it is to incentivize us to understand it and take action with our one life. It’s powerful work.
readgeek29's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
wiblitz's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not much of a soccer person, but I was drawn to this because I’m fascinated with women who’ve risen to the top in male dominated fields. And I love a good inspirational memoir. But I am so pleasantly surprised at the depth of Megan.
Celebrity memoirs tend to fall short for me on the why (why are they writing this, why am I reading this, what is the goal here), backstory details that contribute to a bigger picture (why these details are important to the overall goal instead of little isolated stories) and a strong point of view.
Megan does do some overview of her past, but she crafts it (or rather her co-writer, Emma Brockes) so that all of this creates a context for the moment in time she is putting a magnifying glass on- 2016 when she kneeled for the national anthem in solidarity with black lives and protesting police brutality, and the events that unfolded from that. I don’t see herself patting herself on the back, but rather using her while privilege and platform by pushing herself into a more uncomfortable space addressing it unapologetically, while calling for others to do the same.
Her advocacy for lgbtq rights is a big part of this as well and in hindsight seems shocking that she was the first openly out national team member (I didn’t fact check this but she says so in the book).
I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading any more memoirs she writes.
Celebrity memoirs tend to fall short for me on the why (why are they writing this, why am I reading this, what is the goal here), backstory details that contribute to a bigger picture (why these details are important to the overall goal instead of little isolated stories) and a strong point of view.
Megan does do some overview of her past, but she crafts it (or rather her co-writer, Emma Brockes) so that all of this creates a context for the moment in time she is putting a magnifying glass on- 2016 when she kneeled for the national anthem in solidarity with black lives and protesting police brutality, and the events that unfolded from that. I don’t see herself patting herself on the back, but rather using her while privilege and platform by pushing herself into a more uncomfortable space addressing it unapologetically, while calling for others to do the same.
Her advocacy for lgbtq rights is a big part of this as well and in hindsight seems shocking that she was the first openly out national team member (I didn’t fact check this but she says so in the book).
I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading any more memoirs she writes.