Barry McGuigan was one of the best fighters of his generation, he had fanatical support. Barry's a great ambassador for the sport of boxing

At a dark hour in Ireland, Barry McGuigan's spirit shone a light towards peace. Barry's not only a champion, he's a hero

McGuigan has experienced a fighting life as profound as it is grave ... I have not often been lost for words when sitting so close to a boxer whose enduring success and happiness is etched with tragedy ... compelling

A real twister of a tale ... frank and moving

Britain has never produced a more lucid exponent of the dark trade than the charismatic Irishman who made hearts soar and voices sing when he won the world title on an unforgettable night at Loftus Road 26 years ago ... A measured reflection of the life and times of a man who, like his own hero Muhammad Ali, has transcended his sport through who he was and what he did out of the ring

The world champion who took a dangerous and inspiring stand for peace during the worst of the Troubles is reminding athletes everywhere what it really means to be a sporting role model ... McGuigan's autobiography is an account of courage and determination which transcends boxing

Just as music and musicians define the times in which we live; just as they give pure expression to significant moments in our individual lives, so too do the great athletes and their fortunes. In victory and in defeat, it requires something more than physical gifts and strength of will, it is a spiritual quality that connects them to us, their followers, and binds those followers to each other. Barry was one such as this; modest and compassionate in victory, courageous almost to his own destruction in defeat. His path led him always forwards and upwards and he carried us with him. The dove on his shorts was a symbol of the man, an exquisite paradox; the warrior and the peacemaker. He was an unlikely figure in the modern era when the mania of self-promotion has all but obliterated the dignity of sportsmanship in these islands, the McGuigan years are years we remember.

This sparky account of a walk from Dorset to Norfolk had this reader nodding about the "strikingly neurotic behaviour… that often lies beneath the English skin" in the characters of Wind in the Willows, applauding the recognition that "Empire didn't suit us. It brought out the bossy, inflexible, hierarchical side" and whooping at Thomson's use of tie and clipboard to enter the officially imposed sanctum sanctorum of Stonehenge.

Gently told, with rich humour and an enjoyable sense of inquiry.

The tale of the spectator Lemond-Hinault rivalry over the roads of the 'greatest ever' Tour de France in 1986 is hardly unknown for most cycling fan - and yet Moore magnificently offers a fresh perspective, bringing alive this supreme tussle by resorting to some vintage toilet humour... His book is a gripping read

[Moore] entertainingly unravels the complexities of the relationships within the peloton

One of Bike Radar’s favourite books of the past 12 months

Moore unearths a dazzling array of detail through interviews and anecdotes, telling a tale that holds suspense even for those who know the ultimate outcome of this epic battle. As racing books go, Moore’s book just might be “the greatest ever"

The measure of a great book is a great start.Richard Moore’s introductory anecdote in Slaying the Badger set a new standard in cycling literature