Always a writer of authority, Lenihan tells his story in the careful, meticulous way that any readers of his columns will recognise. There's a steel to him that shines through here, whether dealing with the political situation in Ireland during his playing days or the dreadful tragedies that robbed him of two of his children at an early age.

Particularly good on Ireland's Triple Crown teams of the 1980s, Lenihan is also revealing about his varied experiences with the Lions as player and manager.

Full of wit, insight and emotional sincerity, this is a fine rugby book by a sporting great.

An enjoyable and engaging read... offers both a cold and affectionate eye on all aspects of the game.

I wholeheartedly recommend it... a brilliant achievement.

Lenihan's eventful life makes a colourful read.

A true icon of Irish rugby.

Charts an epochal time in the game when it moved from amateur to professional and typically doesn’t pull his punches.

‘Really, really beautifully written… the most riveting description. Extraordinary, quite brilliant… it’s an amazing read.’

Wonderfully written... very moving.

Primal, heartbreaking and inspirational. The story of triumph, fear, love and loss, it's a remarkable testament to beating the odds and reclaiming a life in the most dire of circumstances.

Extraordinary: an outstanding book. Superb.

You can read and enjoy Centaur simply as a thrilling account of an elite sportsman who nearly died, but lived to ride again. There are beautiful insights too into the relationship between rider and horse. But it is also a book about how stories get told.

A stirring story.

With lovely descriptions, so very frank. Wonderful. It's a truly amazing story.

Extraordinary... Centaur defies all the usual definitions of biography/autobiography/memoir because Ami has worked in an area that sometimes sounding-board, sometimes investigator, sometimes therapist and her ability to read and authentically express emotion has made it possible to bridge gaps in Declan's life - to create a coherent version of the story that's going to blow readers away. It has almost as much potential outside of the sporting world as within it. Ami has taken a 'sportsman's memoir' with all the attendant concentration on performance and motivation and translated it into something with the broadest human relevance.

Remarkable.

Extraordinary... one of the most incredible and brave memoirs. Beautifully written and worthy of the highest plaudits.

Compelling.

Mesmerising, haunting and beautifully written.

An extraordinary story [and] a wonderful read... even if you've never read a book in your life, even if you don't normally read, people will really enjoy this.

A remarkable man with a remarkable story.

Absolutely amazing... it offers a fascinating insight into how the brain works.

If this book isn't prominent in the best of not just sports books but books of the year, and if it's not sweeping awards come Christmas then there's something massively flawed with the process. This isn’t a racing book, this is a remarkable personal story, a brilliant read. I’ve not read a book in a long time that has affected me as much as this book, it’s unbelievable… if you have an interest in human life, if you have an interest in human psychology, in the will the survive, if you want to hear about bravery, about overcoming challenges, that's the book to buy. It’s as motivational a book as you will get.

Sensitively ghosted by Ami Rao, Centaur is a meditation on what constitutes self and what happens when 'time becomes an abstration'.