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One Life
An instant New York Times bestseller!
“Rapinoe's 'signature pose' from the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup is synonymous to the feeling we got when finishing this book: heart full, arms wide and ready to take up space in this world.”— USA Today
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, reveals for the first time her life both on and off the field. Guided by her personal journey into social justice, brimming with humor, humanity, and joy, she urges all of us to ask ourselves, What will you do with your one life?
Only four years old when she kicked her first soccer ball, Megan Rapinoe developed a love – and clear talent – for the game at a young age. But it was her parents who taught her that winning was much less important than how she lived her life. From childhood on, Rapinoe always did what she could to stand up for what was right—even if it meant going up against people who disagreed.
In One Life , Megan Rapinoe invites readers on a remarkable journey, looking back on both her victories and her failures, and pulls back the curtain on events we know only from the headlines. After the 2011 World Cup, discouraged by how few athletes were open about their sexuality, Rapinoe decided to come out publicly as gay and use her platform to advocate for marriage equality. Recognizing the power she had to bring attention to critical issues, in 2016 she took a knee during the national anthem in solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick to protest racial injustice and police brutality—the first high-profile white athlete to do so. The backlash was immediate, but it couldn’t compare to the overwhelming support. Rapinoe became a force of change.
Here for the first time, Rapinoe reflects upon some of the most pivotal moments in her life and career – from her realization in college that she was gay, through the disputes with soccer coaches and officials over her decision to kneel, to the first time she met her now-fiancé WNBA champion Sue Bird, and up through suing the US Soccer Federation over gender discrimination and equal pay. Throughout, Rapinoe makes clear the obligation we all have to speak up, and the impact each of us can have on our communities. Deeply personal and inspiring, One Life reveals that real, concrete change lies within all of us, and asks: If we all have the same resource—this one precious life, made up of the decisions we make every day—what are you going to do?
" One Life makes it clear that Rapinoe’s greatest accomplishments may ultimately come away from the soccer pitch. She’s a new kind of American hero."— San Francisco Chronicle
“Rapinoe's 'signature pose' from the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup is synonymous to the feeling we got when finishing this book: heart full, arms wide and ready to take up space in this world.”— USA Today
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, reveals for the first time her life both on and off the field. Guided by her personal journey into social justice, brimming with humor, humanity, and joy, she urges all of us to ask ourselves, What will you do with your one life?
Only four years old when she kicked her first soccer ball, Megan Rapinoe developed a love – and clear talent – for the game at a young age. But it was her parents who taught her that winning was much less important than how she lived her life. From childhood on, Rapinoe always did what she could to stand up for what was right—even if it meant going up against people who disagreed.
In One Life , Megan Rapinoe invites readers on a remarkable journey, looking back on both her victories and her failures, and pulls back the curtain on events we know only from the headlines. After the 2011 World Cup, discouraged by how few athletes were open about their sexuality, Rapinoe decided to come out publicly as gay and use her platform to advocate for marriage equality. Recognizing the power she had to bring attention to critical issues, in 2016 she took a knee during the national anthem in solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick to protest racial injustice and police brutality—the first high-profile white athlete to do so. The backlash was immediate, but it couldn’t compare to the overwhelming support. Rapinoe became a force of change.
Here for the first time, Rapinoe reflects upon some of the most pivotal moments in her life and career – from her realization in college that she was gay, through the disputes with soccer coaches and officials over her decision to kneel, to the first time she met her now-fiancé WNBA champion Sue Bird, and up through suing the US Soccer Federation over gender discrimination and equal pay. Throughout, Rapinoe makes clear the obligation we all have to speak up, and the impact each of us can have on our communities. Deeply personal and inspiring, One Life reveals that real, concrete change lies within all of us, and asks: If we all have the same resource—this one precious life, made up of the decisions we make every day—what are you going to do?
" One Life makes it clear that Rapinoe’s greatest accomplishments may ultimately come away from the soccer pitch. She’s a new kind of American hero."— San Francisco Chronicle
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,527 reviews
July 22, 2021
I’m not the biggest nonfiction fan, but I like to read one or two books a year about a person or subject that I am interested in. When I heard about a Rapinoe memoir, well this became a must read. I’m a huge women’s soccer fan (I know it’s annoying but I’m calling it soccer since I’m an American), to the point that over the past four years, my love for women’s soccer has surpassed my Red Sox (which I never thought possible). I went from being a fan that only watched The World Cup, Olympics, and a few other tournaments, to someone who will watch every game I can including international friendlies to the NWSL. I just love it. And if you have followed my reviews for a while, chances are you probably will know that not only is Rapinoe my favorite player (she’s had me ever since the 2011 World Cup and the 2012 Olympics) but she is also my celebrity crush. As you might imagine, I went in to this read with pretty high expectations. In the end the book wasn’t everything I was hoping for, but it was a good read.
I know most celebrity memoirs are written with the help of another author. While this was the case here, I was happy that this book felt like Megan’s voice. Megan has a very unique personality that people seem to either love or hate, and I’m glad that this book really captured this and felt like the real Megan.
I think the style this memoir was written in worked well, and represented Megan well. This is not just about the soccer star Megan Rapinoe, but also about the activist. If you don’t like Megan’s activism, this story would not be for you. I’d say it was about 1/3 family, 1/3 soccer, and the final 1/3 about her activism.
I did find that I was hoping the book might be a little more “tell all” then it really was. While Megan was very honest, like admitting when she was wrong or when she wasn’t acting like the best girlfriend to Abby Wambach, I still wanted to dig a bit deeper about certain things. I did learn completely new information about Megan, but as a longtime fan, there were plenty of things I did already know. I guess this is bound to happen to any book about a person you have followed for a while, but I still could have used a little more insider info.
One of the new pieces of info, for me, had to do with Jill Ellis (the USA Women’s National Team head coach who retired after the 2019 World Cup). I was impressed with how honest Rapinoe spoke about Jill, while I’m sure there was plenty that she held back on saying. I knew many players, past and present, did not care for Ellis, but I didn't know too much about why besides obvious coaching and chemistry issues. This part was a very interesting read and shocking how Ellis almost succeeding in icing out Megan and ending her National Team career, after Megan kneeled during the National Anthem. I had thought Megan’s break from the team was more injury related, but looking back on the uproar Megan’s protesting had garnered, it was pretty naïve of me to not realize the truth. I won’t tell you how Megan’s career was saved, I’ll leave that for you to read in the book, but this whole storyline had me glued to the pages. All I can think about is thank goodness I don’t have to imagine what the 2019 World Cup, without Megan, (who was named the best Women’s soccer player in the world that year) would have been like. I just can’t see how the USA would have still won.
While I always have ARC’s to read, with the Olympics starting I just was in a big mood to read this now. I’m such an Olympic fan that I even planned my vacation from work around it –yes, I’m doing some camping by the beach in Maine too, but I can’t wait to be off from work to watch as much coverage as I can-. I already woke up at 4am this morning to watch the USA Women’s soccer team get their ass beat. Not a good way to start the Olympics! Will I say this is what happens when you don’t put Megan Rapinoe into the game until the 62nd minute… well, maybe not? But that was a dumpster fire today and I personally would have started the players with the most big game experience, like Rapinoe and Lloyd, for the first game of the Olympics during a worldwide pandemic… but that’s just my opinion. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this team filled with amazing athletes can turn this around and that we get to watch some more magical Megan Rapinoe moments. If you are a sports fan, a fan of memoirs about dynamic people, or just want to get in the mood for some Olympic soccer, this would be a perfect book to read right now.
I know most celebrity memoirs are written with the help of another author. While this was the case here, I was happy that this book felt like Megan’s voice. Megan has a very unique personality that people seem to either love or hate, and I’m glad that this book really captured this and felt like the real Megan.
I think the style this memoir was written in worked well, and represented Megan well. This is not just about the soccer star Megan Rapinoe, but also about the activist. If you don’t like Megan’s activism, this story would not be for you. I’d say it was about 1/3 family, 1/3 soccer, and the final 1/3 about her activism.
I did find that I was hoping the book might be a little more “tell all” then it really was. While Megan was very honest, like admitting when she was wrong or when she wasn’t acting like the best girlfriend to Abby Wambach, I still wanted to dig a bit deeper about certain things. I did learn completely new information about Megan, but as a longtime fan, there were plenty of things I did already know. I guess this is bound to happen to any book about a person you have followed for a while, but I still could have used a little more insider info.
One of the new pieces of info, for me, had to do with Jill Ellis (the USA Women’s National Team head coach who retired after the 2019 World Cup). I was impressed with how honest Rapinoe spoke about Jill, while I’m sure there was plenty that she held back on saying. I knew many players, past and present, did not care for Ellis, but I didn't know too much about why besides obvious coaching and chemistry issues. This part was a very interesting read and shocking how Ellis almost succeeding in icing out Megan and ending her National Team career, after Megan kneeled during the National Anthem. I had thought Megan’s break from the team was more injury related, but looking back on the uproar Megan’s protesting had garnered, it was pretty naïve of me to not realize the truth. I won’t tell you how Megan’s career was saved, I’ll leave that for you to read in the book, but this whole storyline had me glued to the pages. All I can think about is thank goodness I don’t have to imagine what the 2019 World Cup, without Megan, (who was named the best Women’s soccer player in the world that year) would have been like. I just can’t see how the USA would have still won.
While I always have ARC’s to read, with the Olympics starting I just was in a big mood to read this now. I’m such an Olympic fan that I even planned my vacation from work around it –yes, I’m doing some camping by the beach in Maine too, but I can’t wait to be off from work to watch as much coverage as I can-. I already woke up at 4am this morning to watch the USA Women’s soccer team get their ass beat. Not a good way to start the Olympics! Will I say this is what happens when you don’t put Megan Rapinoe into the game until the 62nd minute… well, maybe not? But that was a dumpster fire today and I personally would have started the players with the most big game experience, like Rapinoe and Lloyd, for the first game of the Olympics during a worldwide pandemic… but that’s just my opinion. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this team filled with amazing athletes can turn this around and that we get to watch some more magical Megan Rapinoe moments. If you are a sports fan, a fan of memoirs about dynamic people, or just want to get in the mood for some Olympic soccer, this would be a perfect book to read right now.
November 7, 2020
I was prepared to like this book, but not as much as I did. Because for the all the "Go Gays!" and soccer highlights I expected, what I didn't expect was for Rapinoe to tackle issues of racial injustice, poverty, incarceration, politics, activism, feminism, equity, and the power of celebrity. Perhaps that's my own failing, for not being as familiar with her role as an activist, but I found she addressed every topic with tact and compassion, managing to convey the salient points without condescending to a readership that perhaps won't be as versed in those topics as she is (or I am).
Her strength as a writer (and while some credit here may go to Emma Brockes, whose own memoir I quite enjoyed - I think this is mostly Rapinoe's doing) lies in the fact that she addresses her privilege not as a means to avoid having the conversation, as I feel is often done by white people (in a "I'm white and have privilege, there I've said it, now let's move on as though I've actually interrogated the way those things have affected what you're going to read here" kind of way), but as an entry point to amplify the issues. As a white woman celebrity, she has a box that others don't always have access to stand on. And the fact that she is able both to address that box, speak from it, but also acknowledge that it's her responsibility to allows others to step up onto it as well, was a subtle needle to thread, but is done well. Throughout, you remember that for all of her privilege, she is also an out lesbian woman in the public eye, who is politically vocal (I'm not going to say controversial, because I don't think her points are, or should be considered so), and suffers the consequences of speaking from that space.
Okay, that was perhaps a lot just to say that I really liked this book. Like really. For all the ways it addresses real issues, for the insight into Megan's own life and process, for the drama of being a professional soccer player who is undervalued in the sports world, and of course for the gays.
Go Gays!
(https://www.glbtrt.ala.org/reviews/bo...)
Her strength as a writer (and while some credit here may go to Emma Brockes, whose own memoir I quite enjoyed - I think this is mostly Rapinoe's doing) lies in the fact that she addresses her privilege not as a means to avoid having the conversation, as I feel is often done by white people (in a "I'm white and have privilege, there I've said it, now let's move on as though I've actually interrogated the way those things have affected what you're going to read here" kind of way), but as an entry point to amplify the issues. As a white woman celebrity, she has a box that others don't always have access to stand on. And the fact that she is able both to address that box, speak from it, but also acknowledge that it's her responsibility to allows others to step up onto it as well, was a subtle needle to thread, but is done well. Throughout, you remember that for all of her privilege, she is also an out lesbian woman in the public eye, who is politically vocal (I'm not going to say controversial, because I don't think her points are, or should be considered so), and suffers the consequences of speaking from that space.
Okay, that was perhaps a lot just to say that I really liked this book. Like really. For all the ways it addresses real issues, for the insight into Megan's own life and process, for the drama of being a professional soccer player who is undervalued in the sports world, and of course for the gays.
Go Gays!
(https://www.glbtrt.ala.org/reviews/bo...)
January 6, 2021
One Life is Megan Rapinoe’s memoir. More than a badass soccer player and champion, Megan has become known for her activism — She is informed and unapologetic. She has recognized her privilege and works to use it to help others, whether it’s fighting for LGBTQ rights, racial justice, or equal pay for women.
Megan was raised in a big family in a small, conservative town in Northern California. She discusses her childhood, her family, her love of soccer, other activities she was involved in before her athletic career took off, as well as her love life.
Though I love many sports, I was never much of a soccer fan. I did watch the 2015 and 2019 World Cup games, in which the U.S. Women’s Team won gold. It’s frustrating that even in the world of professional sports, bursting with cash, there is a blatant pay gap, especially in U.S. soccer where the women’s team is, and has been, far more successful than the men’s team in recent years — I share all this to say, you don’t need to be a soccer fan to enjoy this book, it’s about more.
I listened to the audiobook of One Life in one sitting on a road trip. It’s narrated by Megan and I appreciate the enthusiasm and emotion she brought to the book.
Megan was raised in a big family in a small, conservative town in Northern California. She discusses her childhood, her family, her love of soccer, other activities she was involved in before her athletic career took off, as well as her love life.
Though I love many sports, I was never much of a soccer fan. I did watch the 2015 and 2019 World Cup games, in which the U.S. Women’s Team won gold. It’s frustrating that even in the world of professional sports, bursting with cash, there is a blatant pay gap, especially in U.S. soccer where the women’s team is, and has been, far more successful than the men’s team in recent years — I share all this to say, you don’t need to be a soccer fan to enjoy this book, it’s about more.
I listened to the audiobook of One Life in one sitting on a road trip. It’s narrated by Megan and I appreciate the enthusiasm and emotion she brought to the book.
January 24, 2023
Megan Rapinoe is a social justice warrior! Her memoir is outstanding!
Her writing style is straightforward and unapologetic---very refreshing.
In 2016, she chose to kneel during the national anthem at a soccer tournament to honor Colin Kaepernick's actions in order to bring awareness to system discrimination against Blacks. After she kneeled, she received voluminous outrage, death threats, and sheer hysteria from strangers. The biggest stars of the world remained silent. The silence from white players was deafening.
Rapinoe came out publicly and is a huge champion of LGBTQ rights. She has been recognized for her efforts to eliminate racism, sexism, and homophobia.
She is a firm believer that real change lies within all of us. The more we stand up for others, the easier it is to stand up for yourself.
Highly recommend!
Her writing style is straightforward and unapologetic---very refreshing.
In 2016, she chose to kneel during the national anthem at a soccer tournament to honor Colin Kaepernick's actions in order to bring awareness to system discrimination against Blacks. After she kneeled, she received voluminous outrage, death threats, and sheer hysteria from strangers. The biggest stars of the world remained silent. The silence from white players was deafening.
Rapinoe came out publicly and is a huge champion of LGBTQ rights. She has been recognized for her efforts to eliminate racism, sexism, and homophobia.
She is a firm believer that real change lies within all of us. The more we stand up for others, the easier it is to stand up for yourself.
Highly recommend!
November 22, 2020
I am not the audience for this book as I'm not really that impressed by or interested in sportsing, much less women's soccer, haha. But I tend to like to listen to accounts from people who are the best, and Megan Rapinoe will not hesitate to tell you she is! I probably appreciated the social justice pieces of this the most - the cost of being out at the Olympics, the cost of a kneel, etc.
I had a copy from the publisher as an eBook but ended up listening to the audio since it was read by the author. This is somehow the second book this year I've read where the author had dated Abby Wambach. This came out November 10.
I had a copy from the publisher as an eBook but ended up listening to the audio since it was read by the author. This is somehow the second book this year I've read where the author had dated Abby Wambach. This came out November 10.
June 12, 2024
Real change lies within all of us. It is in the choices we make every day. It’s in how we talk, who we hire, and what we permit others to say in our presence. It’s in reading more, thinking more, considering a different perspective. At its simplest, it’s in whether we’re willing to spend even five minutes a day thinking about how we can make the world better.
Like all good hearted people, I have followed Megan Rapinoe’s career on the US Women’s National Soccer Team through all its ups and downs. So when I needed to check off a couple of reading challenge categories involving memoirs, I decided to read One Life.
It was certainly entertaining to relive Rapinoe’s highlights and get her perspective on a career filled with personal and team accomplishments—her teams won two World Cups and an Olympic title, and she won pretty much every individual honor available in 2019. And it was interesting to learn about her family history, and how that influenced her later public life. But the real highlight of One Life is Rapinoe’s exploration and explanation of her off-the-pitch dramas: coming out publicly, helping to lead the fight for equal pay for the women’s team, and the buildup to and fall out from her decision to kneel during the National Anthem in support of Colin Kapernick and the Black Lives Matter movement. She has a deep sense of fairness, and an understanding that stepping on the rights of one group of people threatens everyone’s rights. Throughout her career, Rapinoe has used her platform to try to lift others, even when doing so has placed her own career and goodwill at risk.
One Life is a quick read, equal parts entertaining and inspiring. Recommended.
February 10, 2021
As a women’s soccer fan I’ve been lucky enough to travel the country and the world supporting the game, watching it grow and the players getting the recognition they deserve. I’m English, so by proxy, I’ve rooted against the USWNT many times, but I’ve also always admired how as a team they genuinely believe they can win, together.
For me, Megan Rapinoe has always been one of those players that it didn’t matter that she wasn’t on the team I wanted to win, I wanted to watch her play. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget watching her score from a corner at the Olympics, being lucky enough to be in the stadium at the time. However, the thing I admired about her the most was her conviction in her beliefs.
This book obviously contains soccer, but it doesn’t have lots of in-depth passages about the games, it focusses far more on her relationships with her family, her partners, her teammates and her coaches, and the impacts politics, injuries and other realities in life have on those.
There’s a lot of honesty in this book in a way I wasn’t expecting. Rapinoe doesn’t shy away from her mistakes and is honest about her feelings towards things. It’s a book that discusses difficult topics but also due to who she is has an inherent hope to it.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this, whether you’re a soccer fan or not.
I received an e-ARC via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
For me, Megan Rapinoe has always been one of those players that it didn’t matter that she wasn’t on the team I wanted to win, I wanted to watch her play. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget watching her score from a corner at the Olympics, being lucky enough to be in the stadium at the time. However, the thing I admired about her the most was her conviction in her beliefs.
This book obviously contains soccer, but it doesn’t have lots of in-depth passages about the games, it focusses far more on her relationships with her family, her partners, her teammates and her coaches, and the impacts politics, injuries and other realities in life have on those.
There’s a lot of honesty in this book in a way I wasn’t expecting. Rapinoe doesn’t shy away from her mistakes and is honest about her feelings towards things. It’s a book that discusses difficult topics but also due to who she is has an inherent hope to it.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this, whether you’re a soccer fan or not.
I received an e-ARC via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2020
I stan Megan Rapinoe and this memoir was a delight. So many of the games that Megan recapped here, (well, mid-2000s to present) I remember watching with my family and cheering the USWNT on.
I love that she is using her privilege to lift up others, and teaching and inspiring people to do the same. I LOVED that not only was the book about her life and her personal journey thus far, but also about racism, prison reform, equal pay and other important (and timely!) issues that impact every American on a daily basis. That was expertly woven in to every part of the book.
My mind was blown that Megan dated Abby Wambach (another one of my loves!) — talk about a USWNT power couple!! But THE CHAPTERS WITH SUE had me heart eyes emoji-ing (is that a word? Well, I made it one!) forever. They are truly an iconic couple and both equally amazing in their own right. That Sports Illustrated spread was LEGENDARY.
I love that Megan is informed, politically active, unapologetic, and she just seems like a really kickass person that would be so much fun to hang out with!
Also, again, SHAME ON U.S. SOCCER for screwing around the USWNT and not immediately paying the team equally (and retroactively). Such bullshit. PAY👏🏻THEM👏🏻
I love that she is using her privilege to lift up others, and teaching and inspiring people to do the same. I LOVED that not only was the book about her life and her personal journey thus far, but also about racism, prison reform, equal pay and other important (and timely!) issues that impact every American on a daily basis. That was expertly woven in to every part of the book.
My mind was blown that Megan dated Abby Wambach (another one of my loves!) — talk about a USWNT power couple!! But THE CHAPTERS WITH SUE had me heart eyes emoji-ing (is that a word? Well, I made it one!) forever. They are truly an iconic couple and both equally amazing in their own right. That Sports Illustrated spread was LEGENDARY.
I love that Megan is informed, politically active, unapologetic, and she just seems like a really kickass person that would be so much fun to hang out with!
Also, again, SHAME ON U.S. SOCCER for screwing around the USWNT and not immediately paying the team equally (and retroactively). Such bullshit. PAY👏🏻THEM👏🏻
November 8, 2020
4.5. May god someday bless me with the self-confidence of Megan Rapinoe, I truly envy it. Ugh she’s so good and non-apologetic and knows what she’s worth!!! Give me that energy!!!
January 11, 2021
i think this would have been better on audio. but for me, it was pretty surface level and most of what i already knew being a fan of women’s soccer (i played on scholarship in college) and reading the news. i wish it went deeper but i know Rapinoe is a private person. all that said, i still learned a few things and really appreciate her fearlessness when it comes to fighting for what she believes it—and what’s right.
August 24, 2023
THIS WAS FUCKING PHENOMENAL!!!
December 30, 2021
"Real change lies within all of us. It is in the choices we make every day. It's in how we talk, who we hire, and what we permit others to say in our presence. It's in reading more, thinking more, considering a different perspective. At its simplest, it's in whether we're willing to spend even five minutes a day thinking about how we can make the world better."
Soccer sensation Megan Rapinoe is a true inspiration! Whatever I say about this book, it will simply not be enough. Even if you're familiar with Megan, her soccer career and her activism, I guarantee you'll learn something new in One Life.
Megan touches on so many important topics in her memoir. Firstly, her career as a professional soccer athlete; describing in her own words some of her biggest matches and the excitement of each goal, the dedication in training physically and mentally for the World Cup and the Olympics, and the struggles each athlete faces with the federation, the constant travel, and even with a difficult coach.
Secondly, Megan talks about her family and personal life throughout the book. We get to see Megan's relationship with her family members from a young age to recent years; the different political views she has with her parents, the struggle of dealing with her brother's addiction and incarceration, and how each person in her family supported her in her soccer career and in coming out as a proud gay woman.
Lastly, we experience firsthand Megan's activism for equal pay, LGBTQ+ rights, and antiracism. Megan's discussion is enlightening, as she discusses and supports with facts the huge difference between women and men in sports (not only in pay but also in support and perception), and the contradicting attention she received as a white woman talking publicly about LGBTQ+ rights and antiracism in comparison to other Black players who supported the same causes.
I was looking forward to reading Megan Rapinoe's book and it's a great feeling when you have high expectation for something and the actual product is everything you hoped for. :)
Soccer sensation Megan Rapinoe is a true inspiration! Whatever I say about this book, it will simply not be enough. Even if you're familiar with Megan, her soccer career and her activism, I guarantee you'll learn something new in One Life.
Megan touches on so many important topics in her memoir. Firstly, her career as a professional soccer athlete; describing in her own words some of her biggest matches and the excitement of each goal, the dedication in training physically and mentally for the World Cup and the Olympics, and the struggles each athlete faces with the federation, the constant travel, and even with a difficult coach.
Secondly, Megan talks about her family and personal life throughout the book. We get to see Megan's relationship with her family members from a young age to recent years; the different political views she has with her parents, the struggle of dealing with her brother's addiction and incarceration, and how each person in her family supported her in her soccer career and in coming out as a proud gay woman.
Lastly, we experience firsthand Megan's activism for equal pay, LGBTQ+ rights, and antiracism. Megan's discussion is enlightening, as she discusses and supports with facts the huge difference between women and men in sports (not only in pay but also in support and perception), and the contradicting attention she received as a white woman talking publicly about LGBTQ+ rights and antiracism in comparison to other Black players who supported the same causes.
I was looking forward to reading Megan Rapinoe's book and it's a great feeling when you have high expectation for something and the actual product is everything you hoped for. :)
November 5, 2020
We all know Megan Rapinoe as the star soccer player with the pink hair. She's so much more than that as this book proves.
She covers her childhood and family life unflinchingly. She also talks candidly about her soccer career including her relationship with FIFA and the fight over equal pay with the men.
The part that impressed me the most was her activist work. She talks about using her privilege and platform to help others and how you can do that thoughtfully.
She covers her childhood and family life unflinchingly. She also talks candidly about her soccer career including her relationship with FIFA and the fight over equal pay with the men.
The part that impressed me the most was her activist work. She talks about using her privilege and platform to help others and how you can do that thoughtfully.
November 11, 2020
I had been eyeing this and had it on my TBR, but I hadn't planned to read it as soon as it came out. But then GR sent me an email saying it was available, and I read the sample, and a few hours later, I was done.
Very good. Very interesting. Quick. Enjoyable. Timely. Well written. It really covers her whole life—growing up a twin, growing up in a big family, growing up with a family member with addiction troubles, growing up as a kid who'd always had athletic talent. We see her progress from playing on a boys' team when she was 6 all the way up to preparing for the 2020 Olympics :\. And as I read in a couple of places beforehand, a good deal of the book is dedicated to Megan talking about how she uses the platform her sport has given her to be vocal about LGBT, pay, and racial equality, plus other "political" issues. It's all woven together very well—her life and her politics are all discussed as a fluid thing, rather than the first half being about her growing up and the second half about her politics, or anything like that. It was an easy book to consume, which you can't say for a lot of books that have a non-zero amount of "political" discussion.
I highlighted so many passages—she talks about so many things that resonated with me. And none of it is really groundbreaking (well, I guess that depends on who you talk to and listen to!), but it's still nice to hear this: "Part of the problem for women is that when it comes to asking for raises, we've been socialized to not make 'selfish' demands. We can advocate for our families, or in the service of a cause or campaign, but if we're simply asking for more money on our own behalf and because we have the temerity to believe we deserve it, we are liable to be called greedy. And the problem doesn't end when we have the money; we are also supposed to feel bad about spending it."
Yes! Times a million.
She talks about kneeling at a game in 2016 and the huge amount of flack she took—including basically being frozen out of the USWNT by her coach. All of it is really interesting and so relevant.
Anyway, I highly recommend this. It's got everything: sports, politics, gays, twins, the whole thing. I've actually never read a book like this in which I've agreed almost 100% with everything said. But I think even if you don't wholly agree, you'll learn something, and at the very least be exposed to someone else's well-reasoned opinions.
The world really needs more voices like this, and I'm so happy this book is actually good. Tons of credit to Emma Brockes, who I assume is responsible for making it such a well-told, well-written, and cohesive book.
Very good. Very interesting. Quick. Enjoyable. Timely. Well written. It really covers her whole life—growing up a twin, growing up in a big family, growing up with a family member with addiction troubles, growing up as a kid who'd always had athletic talent. We see her progress from playing on a boys' team when she was 6 all the way up to preparing for the 2020 Olympics :\. And as I read in a couple of places beforehand, a good deal of the book is dedicated to Megan talking about how she uses the platform her sport has given her to be vocal about LGBT, pay, and racial equality, plus other "political" issues. It's all woven together very well—her life and her politics are all discussed as a fluid thing, rather than the first half being about her growing up and the second half about her politics, or anything like that. It was an easy book to consume, which you can't say for a lot of books that have a non-zero amount of "political" discussion.
I highlighted so many passages—she talks about so many things that resonated with me. And none of it is really groundbreaking (well, I guess that depends on who you talk to and listen to!), but it's still nice to hear this: "Part of the problem for women is that when it comes to asking for raises, we've been socialized to not make 'selfish' demands. We can advocate for our families, or in the service of a cause or campaign, but if we're simply asking for more money on our own behalf and because we have the temerity to believe we deserve it, we are liable to be called greedy. And the problem doesn't end when we have the money; we are also supposed to feel bad about spending it."
Yes! Times a million.
She talks about kneeling at a game in 2016 and the huge amount of flack she took—including basically being frozen out of the USWNT by her coach. All of it is really interesting and so relevant.
Anyway, I highly recommend this. It's got everything: sports, politics, gays, twins, the whole thing. I've actually never read a book like this in which I've agreed almost 100% with everything said. But I think even if you don't wholly agree, you'll learn something, and at the very least be exposed to someone else's well-reasoned opinions.
The world really needs more voices like this, and I'm so happy this book is actually good. Tons of credit to Emma Brockes, who I assume is responsible for making it such a well-told, well-written, and cohesive book.
February 18, 2025
I thought I knew everything there was to know about woso relationships so how on earth did I never learn that Pinoe and ABBY WAMBACH dated?!???!?
Anyways. What I wouldn’t do for a Tobin Heath memoir…
Anyways. What I wouldn’t do for a Tobin Heath memoir…
November 16, 2020
I grabbed this one from my library's website with a vague clue who Megan was, women's soccer player, gay, and fighting for things. I don't watch soccer, but thought I remembered her fighting to get more pay for the women.
This one entertained and educated me. I liked hearing about her early soccer days and how things went for her when she started to get better and be a "somebody" on the national stage. I liked that she took advantage if her fame to highlight things that need to be changed in the world. It makes sense that she started with LGTB rights, but I found it very interesting how it translated to supporting Colin Kapernick, when not many others were. Interesting too the back lash that she recieved from the public and within the soccer powers that be. Her little battle with Trump made me laugh, I wouldn't have gone either, he's everything she fights against. And like everyone else Covid is stopping her. She finally got the soccer powers to be to discuss more money, but it hinged on the Tokyo Olympics and with the games pushed to 2021 and Covid still out of control in the US, who knows if they will even happen.
This one entertained and educated me. I liked hearing about her early soccer days and how things went for her when she started to get better and be a "somebody" on the national stage. I liked that she took advantage if her fame to highlight things that need to be changed in the world. It makes sense that she started with LGTB rights, but I found it very interesting how it translated to supporting Colin Kapernick, when not many others were. Interesting too the back lash that she recieved from the public and within the soccer powers that be. Her little battle with Trump made me laugh, I wouldn't have gone either, he's everything she fights against. And like everyone else Covid is stopping her. She finally got the soccer powers to be to discuss more money, but it hinged on the Tokyo Olympics and with the games pushed to 2021 and Covid still out of control in the US, who knows if they will even happen.
November 30, 2020
I think the best autobiographies have a dark side, a sense of someone looking at their faults and mistakes. And I didn’t get that here, but found her moaning about travel and accommodation at the Olympic Games kind of annoying, she scrubs over leaving her fiancée for another woman and leaving Abby Wombach whilst she was injured, praises herself for her activism a bit much. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, maybe this book is aimed at teenage girls, I could have just done with a bit more from it.
November 11, 2020
Unfortunately the book continues down the road that she’s an oppressed victim of sexism. Sadly her words are the epitome of first-world privilege. Not recommended.
August 7, 2021
I gave it two stars because the book was so annoying I couldn’t stop reading. Basically if you want to hear about how amazing Megan Rapinoe thinks she is - this is the book for you. She mentions protesting for Kapernick a billion times but it felt like she was using his name without actually reaching out to him to see how she can help his cause. She also mentions all the protesting and activism work, but that’s really it - she just wants you to know how much she does without actually giving any details on why these causes are so important. Obviously they are important causes, but educate and dive into their meaning more instead of making it about you. I was hoping to trim my hatred of her with this book, but I actually hate her even more.
May 19, 2024
So America, even in women’s football it is polarised. According to websites I read, conservatives, Trumpers, Uber-competitive, general nasty people have a new mouth in Carlie Lloyd.
The rest of America who want to build bridges, be a force for good, realise that sometimes losing is a part of sport, and work with other peoples, cultures, and countries to find solutions, we have Megan Rapino.
I say we because the world should embrace and love Megan.
She is a role model and icon for all of us.
That is why she was leader and captain.
FIFA and women’s football should use her to carry on going round the world, inspire young women everywhere and promote football.
It is people like her that helps counteract a lot of the anti-Americanism that is felt around the world.
The rest of America who want to build bridges, be a force for good, realise that sometimes losing is a part of sport, and work with other peoples, cultures, and countries to find solutions, we have Megan Rapino.
I say we because the world should embrace and love Megan.
She is a role model and icon for all of us.
That is why she was leader and captain.
FIFA and women’s football should use her to carry on going round the world, inspire young women everywhere and promote football.
It is people like her that helps counteract a lot of the anti-Americanism that is felt around the world.
December 14, 2020
This is a fantastic memoir. I listened to it as an audiobook on the strength of knowing only that Megan Rapinoe is queer and seemed cool. She is much more than that. She's had over a decade long career of playing at the very highest level of women's soccer, winning multiple world championships. Along the way she has been passionately advocating for acceptance of LGBTQ athletes, equal pay for women, and for Black Lives Matter. She is four years older than I am, so perhaps it isn't surprising that she had her political awakening earlier than I did. It's such a fierce joy to hear her talk about standing up for what she believes in over and over and over again.
March 13, 2021
3.5 Stars
I’m a huge US Women’s soccer fan and have long admired Rapinoe. Her memoir details her life as a soccer player but also as an activist. Recommend for sports fans and non-sports fans alike.
I’m a huge US Women’s soccer fan and have long admired Rapinoe. Her memoir details her life as a soccer player but also as an activist. Recommend for sports fans and non-sports fans alike.
January 14, 2023
I'm not a huge soccer fan (to use the American term), but I've admired Megan Rapinoe for quite a while now.
I love her self-deprecating sense of humour, I love her honesty about her strengths and weaknesses, but most of all, I love her willingness to take a stand.
I love her self-deprecating sense of humour, I love her honesty about her strengths and weaknesses, but most of all, I love her willingness to take a stand.
March 21, 2021
Jeżeli wydaje Wam się, że autobiografia znanej piłkarki będzie nudną opowiastką o świecie futbolu, to chyba nigdy nie słyszeliście o Megan Rapinoe. I to jest okej - ważne, że poznacie ją właśnie teraz.
Megan jest lesbijką, aktywistką, silną, odważną i inspirującą babką, która bez względu na wszystko działa w zgodzie ze swoimi ideałami i wykorzystuje zdobytą sławę, by walczyć o równe płace kobiet i mężczyzn i by otwarcie sprzeciwiać się rasizmowi i wykluczeniu. Pozostaje przy tym niezwykle ludzka i otwarta - daleko jej do gwiazdy, mimo że ze swoimi osiągnięciami jak najbardziej ten status ma.
"Jedno życie" Rapinoe to opowieść niezwykła i niezwykle inspirująca. Napisana lekko, z wieloma humorystycznymi wstawkami, ale przede wszystkim zmuszająca do zastanowienia się nad kondycją świata, w jakim żyjemy. W epilogu znajdziemy słowa, które z jednej strony miażdżą serce, a z drugiej - napędzają do działania i wyzwalają potrzebę uważniejszego rozglądania się wokół siebie:
"Prawdziwa zmiana jest w każdym z nas. W wyborach, jakich dokonujemy codziennie. W tym, jak mówimy, kogo zatrudniamy i tym, co pozwalajmy mówić innym w naszej obecności. W tym, że więcej czytamy, myślimy i analizujemy z innej perspektywy. W najprostszej postaci: jest w tym, czy mamy ochotę poświęcić chociaż pięć minut dziennie na zastanowienie się, jak sprawić, żeby świat był lepszy".
Pozostaję pod ogromnym wrażeniem tej książki. Płakałam przy niej, śmiałam się, emocjonowałam i zaciskałam zęby ze złości. Pozycja obowiązkowa - niezależnie od tego, czy piłkę lubicie czy nie. Bo nie o futbol tu chodzi, a o to, gdzie i jak żyjemy. Wielkie WOW!
Megan jest lesbijką, aktywistką, silną, odważną i inspirującą babką, która bez względu na wszystko działa w zgodzie ze swoimi ideałami i wykorzystuje zdobytą sławę, by walczyć o równe płace kobiet i mężczyzn i by otwarcie sprzeciwiać się rasizmowi i wykluczeniu. Pozostaje przy tym niezwykle ludzka i otwarta - daleko jej do gwiazdy, mimo że ze swoimi osiągnięciami jak najbardziej ten status ma.
"Jedno życie" Rapinoe to opowieść niezwykła i niezwykle inspirująca. Napisana lekko, z wieloma humorystycznymi wstawkami, ale przede wszystkim zmuszająca do zastanowienia się nad kondycją świata, w jakim żyjemy. W epilogu znajdziemy słowa, które z jednej strony miażdżą serce, a z drugiej - napędzają do działania i wyzwalają potrzebę uważniejszego rozglądania się wokół siebie:
"Prawdziwa zmiana jest w każdym z nas. W wyborach, jakich dokonujemy codziennie. W tym, jak mówimy, kogo zatrudniamy i tym, co pozwalajmy mówić innym w naszej obecności. W tym, że więcej czytamy, myślimy i analizujemy z innej perspektywy. W najprostszej postaci: jest w tym, czy mamy ochotę poświęcić chociaż pięć minut dziennie na zastanowienie się, jak sprawić, żeby świat był lepszy".
Pozostaję pod ogromnym wrażeniem tej książki. Płakałam przy niej, śmiałam się, emocjonowałam i zaciskałam zęby ze złości. Pozycja obowiązkowa - niezależnie od tego, czy piłkę lubicie czy nie. Bo nie o futbol tu chodzi, a o to, gdzie i jak żyjemy. Wielkie WOW!
July 26, 2021
I didn’t know a ton about Megan Rapinoe before reading this, outside of peripheral sports coverage and a few articles. This really exceeded my expectations and my admiration for her now knows no bounds. I loved learning more about her soccer career, of course, but the best part was hearing about her activism. Highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which she narrates.
CW (this may be incomplete due to listening on the road): brother’s substance abuse and incarceration, sexism and misogyny in sports, societal homophobia, activism around marriage equality and antiracism, discussion of police brutality, sports-related injuries
CW (this may be incomplete due to listening on the road): brother’s substance abuse and incarceration, sexism and misogyny in sports, societal homophobia, activism around marriage equality and antiracism, discussion of police brutality, sports-related injuries
December 11, 2020
Major takeaway from Megan's book is that everyone has a voice even if we don't have a massive platform so use it and speak up! You don't have to be a superstar to make an impact or a difference. Every little action you take counts.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book include:
"This is a nebulous part of the problem: Female athletes, in my experience, are paid for what we've already done, while men are paid for what they could do in the future. We have to prove ourselves; they only have to show promise."
"When I say something 'rude', I think about who I am saying it for, not who I am saying it to."
I wished I bookmarked more quotes of the book but I might have to go back and look for them. I wished there was more tea about Sue but it's ok LOL.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book include:
"This is a nebulous part of the problem: Female athletes, in my experience, are paid for what we've already done, while men are paid for what they could do in the future. We have to prove ourselves; they only have to show promise."
"When I say something 'rude', I think about who I am saying it for, not who I am saying it to."
I wished I bookmarked more quotes of the book but I might have to go back and look for them. I wished there was more tea about Sue but it's ok LOL.
Read
May 15, 2021A student gave me their second copy of this book after she told me she was reading it. I’ve wanted to read it since it came out. I just finished Brandi Carlile’s memoir and it is so interesting reading two memoirs that were written during this year - having the books end in the middle of the pandemic.
In my opinion, some memoirs you read for the brilliant craft of the writing and for the story and others you do not necessarily read for the writing, but you read simply to know the writer more through how they tell their story. While I struggled with some of the writing/flow of this book, I also loved that it was fully Rapinoe and her voice.
I loved learning more of her journey. I love the work she has done on and off the field. And I’m so freaking grateful for the women on the US Women’s National Team. They’ve been some of me hero’s ever since I could kick a soccer ball and it’s amazing seeing my students have people like Rapinoe to learn from
In my opinion, some memoirs you read for the brilliant craft of the writing and for the story and others you do not necessarily read for the writing, but you read simply to know the writer more through how they tell their story. While I struggled with some of the writing/flow of this book, I also loved that it was fully Rapinoe and her voice.
I loved learning more of her journey. I love the work she has done on and off the field. And I’m so freaking grateful for the women on the US Women’s National Team. They’ve been some of me hero’s ever since I could kick a soccer ball and it’s amazing seeing my students have people like Rapinoe to learn from
January 4, 2021
My first audiobook of 2021 did not disappoint. I listened to this in one sitting, and it's definitely high up there on my list of favorite celebrity memoirs now. I HIGHLY recommend this one on audio. Megan Rapinoe is a great narrator with such a great story to tell.
If I liked Megan Rapinoe before, I am a STAN now. She talks about so much more than just her life and her soccer career. In her introduction, she mentions that she's using this book as an opportunity to discuss bigger topics, and she does just that. She discusses LGBTQIA rights, her personal journey, systemic racism, the prison system, equal pay, intersectionality, the opioid crisis and so much more.
I cannot recommend this enough. If you're looking for a good audiobook, definitely check this one out.
If I liked Megan Rapinoe before, I am a STAN now. She talks about so much more than just her life and her soccer career. In her introduction, she mentions that she's using this book as an opportunity to discuss bigger topics, and she does just that. She discusses LGBTQIA rights, her personal journey, systemic racism, the prison system, equal pay, intersectionality, the opioid crisis and so much more.
I cannot recommend this enough. If you're looking for a good audiobook, definitely check this one out.
November 12, 2020
I enjoyed this book. What is obvious about Megan and reiterated in this book, is that she is unapologetic about what she deserves while simultaneously being an advocate for making sure others get what they deserve. It shouldn't be radical to ask for what you want, but women are still "frowned upon" for being too bold, too assertive, and too confident. As someone not known for being shy, I still found her audacity to be refreshing and a good reminder to not let antiquated social norms hold you back from both your own needs and those of others being silenced, bullied, and held down.
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