5 Stars.

While I love sports books, Brendan O'Meara's The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine is the first biography I have read about a track and field athlete.

Coming into the book, I knew two things about Steve "Pre" Prefontaine: His life was tragically cut short in a car accident, and he still inspires generations of long-distance runners.

O'Meara masterfully tells Prefontaine's life story. He demonstrates how Pre's youth roots in working-class Coos Bay, Oregon, and at the University of Oregon shaped his running mentality. Pre's important races are retold in a compelling fashion rather than just stat-filled recaps. O'Meara's background in creative non-fiction was likely an asset.

The book left me with the question: If you're given an athletic gift like Prefontaine's, how far are you willing to push yourself in pursuit of greatness? The answer to this question is why generations of distance runners, many of whom were born after his death, still admire him.

I highly recommend this book to sports fans, readers fascinated by competitive greatness, or anyone looking for a well-written biography. Interest in track and field is not required for this book to be enjoyable.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.