Double Take: A Memoir

by Kevin Michael Connolly

Book Overview

"Kevin Connolly has used an unusual physical circumstance to create a gripping work of art. This deeply affecting memoir will place him in the company of Jeanette Walls and Augusten Burroughs." -- Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants

"Charming ... Connolly recounts growing up a scrappy Montana kid--one who happened to be born without legs... Double Take] makes for an empowering read." -- People

As featured on 20/20, NPR, and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061791539
• ISBN13: 9780061791536
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read! I could not Put it Down!

From start to finish this book had me wanting more. It truly is a gripping life story about somebody you can relate to. There is just the right ammount of humor, drama, and human spirit that anybody can enjoy this tale. I cannot reccommend this book enough. I have already told countless friends to give it a shot and the ones who have read it agree, this is worth a read. Kevin Michael Connolly takes you on a journey and lets you feel what it's like to be in his "boot", to see, and feel things from his perspective. This book also contains photos from his project which just adds to the reasons you should buy this book. I could not put this down, I read it in a day because of how gripping it was. I'm no skilled writer so I cannot fully do this fine literary work enough justice, so go on read it, you know you want to.

Reality check

Kevin's book is a reality check for anyone who feels like whining and complaining about their life. It is wonderfully written with each sentence and chapter jumping from the pages. Kevin is a very handsome, articulate, intelligent young man who was born without legs. His entire life has been spent dealing with the ramifications of being legless in a culture that highly values "fitting in" and physical attributes. He is funny, insightful, open, honest, and the best antidote for ever feeling sorry for yourself. Read this book and your views of what it means to be disabled, along with your behavior toward the disabled, will be altered in a positive manner forever. Thank you Kevin for sharing your life with us.

This is a GREAT read!

I read the book straight through, only stopping to sleep and snack. Kevin Connolly's book "Double Take" gave me the feeling of sitting by a campfire with intimate friends just back from distant parts unknown, listening to thier adventure tales that you know are true but hard to believe none the less. I seemed to go back and forth between laugh out loud moments to "oh my gosh...I can't believe he had the guts to do that...go there....expose himself in that way. Kevin has a gift of storytelling that makes you feel as if you were there with him....being stared at....wrestling with the angst, humor, curiosity, adventure, love lost. This book also made me ponder people and events that I have only explored at a surface level before. It was really thought provoking to rethink what it means to be "disabled". How, why, and who decides. His willingness to share and articulate experiences that so many people struggle with on some level who don't fit the norm may be cathartic not only for him but for many who don't have his ability to give voice to the good, the bad and the ugly of being physically different than the masses. Kevin Connolly may not be able to dance with feet but he can sure dance with words and proves that in his book "Double Take". This is a great read!!!

Great read!

Kevin has written a book that will inspire you to get out and enjoy life to its fullest. Through his global travels and adventures, you will realize that there are no obstacles that can't be overcome. A truly great read. Thanks Kevin for waking me up!

Connolly Goes for Broke

Double Take is a captivating book, chronicling the life and travels of one of the most extraordinary people alive today. Kevin Connolly, although only 23 years old, chronicles events that most people will not experience in their entire life. His literary prowess keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, slogging them through the whole range of human emotion. You end one chapter in tears, only to read a few more pages, mouth agape in horror as he plummets and tumbles down from the top of Lone Peak. Kevin also has his lighter side, depicting images of ramshackle floats build by high school students, who mainly wanted a day out of class, for the annual Helena Vigilante Parade. Through it all, the reader gets a sliver of insight into the life of someone unlike anyone they have ever met, but also much akin to themselves. The intimacy and reality with which Kevin writes pulls the reader in close to him. Although he has lived a different life due to physical circumstances, he still shares many experiences with the rest of us, growing up playing in mud and dirt, wanting to be part of a team, and most importantly, the value of family. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is a quick read that chronicles not only the incredible experiences of young adult but also the realities of anyone who has ever had to grow up.