NOT AN ORDINARY LIFE is the compelling and adventurous autobiography of Les Hody. This remarkable life story unfolds in Hungary, a country caught up in frightening political and social issues during the 1940's and 50's. His early life was one of privilege, but this changed quickly and Les and his family were declared "enemies of the state." Yet through incredible determination and endurance Les reached the pinnacle of basketball success and popularity. At the peak of his sporting prowess and despite his status as a European champion and Olympian, Les was forced to escape Hungary during the 1956 uprising against communism, facing an uncertain future as a refugee. His steel will and adaptability enabled him to succeed and triumph as an Olympian once again, this time for his adopted country of Australia. Anecdotes of ambition, hope and courage enliven the bleak backdrop of his impoverished circumstances as he sought to establish a new life in Australia, finally finding peace in his religious faith. Agnes Zillner OAM *** I am grateful for the work Les Hody has put in to write his biography. He dedicates much of his story to his basketball experiences, but the way in which he describes life in Hungary during those dreadful years of his youth and the way in which he describes his family, his business ventures, his love for his brother, John and his conversion to Christianity, is a story that could easily be attracted to a Hollywood film maker. It is a story that despite the odds has a happy ending. Lindsay Gaze OAM *** 'Not an Ordinary Life' is packed full of anecdotes, some funny and uplifting, others sometimes brutal and sad spanning eighty years of Les Hody's life. By taking risks and never looking back he has certainly lived an extraordinary life. Melanie Zuben, Author