Title: Ignite: Unlock the Hidden Potential Within
Author: Andre De Grasse
Genre: Self-Help
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: October 17, 2023

I received complimentary eARC from Harper Collins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Insightful • Practical • Humble

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Not only is Andre De Grasse blazingly fast on the track, he's also incredibly popular with his fans. His beaming smile and magnetic personality have won over millions of people around the world.

In Ignite, De Grasse shares important lessons from his improbable journey to becoming an Olympic champion. As one of the fastest humans alive, De Grasse has demonstrated what it takes to perform at your best under enormous pressure and to continue to push the limit of what seems impossible. De Grasse shares inspirational stories and lessons about the determination, resilience and perseverance it takes to become the best.

💭 T H O U G H T S

As a Canadian and a fan of the Olympic Games, I am well aware of who Andre De Grasse is. He was the first Canadian athlete to capture medals in each of the three sprint events during a single Olympic Games, so of course I was curious when I saw he was publishing a book.

As a memoir reader, I enjoyed the beginning where I got to learn about his journey to becoming a sprinter, much more than the second half which focuses more on advice and motivating readers to becoming the best. I also didn't care much to learn about all his sponsorship deals, which became a bit repetitive. The advice is very surface level and I think could have easily used more detail and anecdotes.

While marketed as a self-help/motivational book, it never fell completely into that category. In my opinion the first 50% definitely felt like more of a memoir than anything else. Overall, i>Ignite doesn't deliver anything new or groundbreaking, but it was interesting getting to know a little more about his backstory and I look forward to hopefully getting to watch him run at the Olympics this summer.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• up-and-coming athletes
• Canadian Olympic team enthusiasts

⚠️ CW: toxic relationship, injury/injury detail, racism, violence

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process.

What an inspiring journey to Olympic glory that Andre De Grasse has shared with us. Through his positive outlook on life and overcoming obstacles, he hopes to motivate others to succeed in their dreams.

He has also launched a charitable organization to pay it forward for the help he got at the beginning of his career.

Looking forward to continuing to cheer on this wonderful Canadian role model.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for providing an eARC for my honest review.
Release date: 17 Oct 2023

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ignite releases October 17, 2023

Ignite is a reflective piece on De Grasse’s journey as an athlete thus far, from his senior year in high school to his wins at the Olympic Games, and everything in between.

All of the chapters are concise and could stand on their own if they had to.

There are so many insightful lessons and just general ways of thinking in terms of achieving goals that a reader could apply to their lives regardless if they’re an athlete or not, which to me, makes this a well-rounded read.

Following along and rooting for De Grasse over the years has always been something to look forward to, and reading his origin story of how he got to where he is now was just as enjoyable.

Something to keep in mind is that this is not presented in chronological order and that may or may not bother you as a reader.


A few quotes that stood out:

“Discomfort is growth, sometimes. Don’t let your fear of it allow your potential to stagnate.”

“There is power in positive thinking. And what’s the alternative, really? What is the point in dwelling on the negative? What is the benefit? It only keeps you in a dark place, mentally—and that does nothing to help you overcome life’s obstacles. It makes the obstacles seem insurmountable.”

“It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. Worry about executing <i>your</I> race, whatever that race might be.”

“I’ll remember that success comes from preparation—and that often the preparation is the hardest part. But it’s all part of the same, constant process.”

“How you carry yourself matters. The impression we make defines who we are to others. And if you want to make a lasting impression, you need to show people that you value their time and that you take your commitments seriously.”

“When you are given a chance to pursue something exciting, jump at it. Even if it might seem as though there is a very small likelihood that you will succeed. Never let your doubt or apathy stop you from unlocking your potential.”

“Greatness can only be achieved if you take advantage of opportunities when they come, regardless of how unexpected or unlikely they might seem.”