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Best Boxer Biographies

Undisputed Truth
Be sure to check out IRON AMBITION: My Life with Cus D’Amato by Mike Tyson “Raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life.”— Wall Street Journal Philosopher, Broadway headliner, fighter, felon—Mike Tyson has defied stereotypes, expectations, and a lot of conventional wisdom during his three decades in the public eye. “ Undisputed Truth is raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life…Unlike other sports memoirists, he doesn't pull punches, offering up slashing comments on people who were once close to him. “A hefty autobiography that might be the most soul baring book of its genre ever written … a fascinating look into a life that up until now had already been well chronicled … It’s raw and profane … but it is also quite funny.”— Associated Press “ Undisputed Truth , which is, without a doubt, one of the grittiest and most harrowing memoirs I’ve ever read.” –Flavorwire. “Tyson was ever practised at delivering the early killer blow; and so it is with this gripping and indecently enthralling autobiography….Tyson always had a way with words – although much of the credit for this book must go to his ghostwriter Larry “Ratso” Sloman, who not only makes Tyson’s life read like an Elmore Leonard thriller, but gifts him with considerable self-awareness and a memorably pithy turn of phrase….recounted in gripping, punch-by-punch detail in prose pungent with the reek of blood, sweat and petroleum jelly.” –Mick Brown, The Telegraph (UK).
Reviews
"It is brutally, unforgivingly honest, and while he has few kind words for the likes of King, Robin Givens, and Desiree Washington, no one fares worse in these pages than Tyson himself. He's a study in contradictions: a terrifying boxer with a temper that one could charitably describe as "mercurial" and yet he speaks softly, almost effeminately, with a lisp. But the two episodes in his life that he's most known for, his tumultuous (and allegedly abusive) marriage to Robin Givens, and his rape trial after a night with pageant contestant Desiree Washington gone horribly, irreversibly wrong, aren't glossed over. Undisputed Truth spends many, many chapters on how that persona developed, from both his cruel childhood on the streets of Brooklyn, to his being taught by Cus, the only father figure he'd ever known. Whether you find Tyson as fascinating as I do, or want to learn more about the man behind the glove (and there's much, much more to him than I expected), or just want to know what in the world he was thinking with that tattoo, you absolutely must read this book."
"A book to be read with out being judgmental. It is true a big part of the book is about Tyson's partying and drug taking and womanizing."
"His trainer Cus D'Amato saw the greatness in him at age 13 and he fought his way to the top of the boxing world while at the same time becoming addicted to cocaine, fast women and booze thinking that this was normal for all champion boxers. His searching for his true spiritual self and finding peace is a great testament to his humanity and the ability to overcome the obstacles of people who were born at a disadvantage."
"No, Mike Tyson will not go down as the greatest fighter of all time, but he certainly will go down as the most memorable and interesting fighter (second only the Muhammad Ali) to ever step into the ring. Here, in this book, you get everything you want to know about Tyson inside the ring and out, and you just can't put it down."
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Undisputed Truth
A bare-knuckled, tell-all memoir from Mike Tyson, the onetime heavyweight champion of the world—and a legend both in and out of the ring. “ Undisputed Truth is raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life…Unlike other sports memoirists, he doesn't pull punches, offering up slashing comments on people who were once close to him. “A hefty autobiography that might be the most soul baring book of its genre ever written … a fascinating look into a life that up until now had already been well chronicled … It’s raw and profane … but it is also quite funny.”— Associated Press “ Undisputed Truth , which is, without a doubt, one of the grittiest and most harrowing memoirs I’ve ever read.” –Flavorwire. “Most readers are familiar with [Tyson’s] tumultuous life and career—the bizarre behavior in the ring, the sordid behavior out of it—but what’s most surprising about the book is the introspection and self-awareness displayed … it’s raw and profane but also smart and witty … A fascinating and frequently surprising autobiography.”— Booklist “ Undisputed Truth , is the American dream writ large in raw detail: think Citizen Kane scripted by the writing team of The Wire….
Reviews
"It is brutally, unforgivingly honest, and while he has few kind words for the likes of King, Robin Givens, and Desiree Washington, no one fares worse in these pages than Tyson himself. He's a study in contradictions: a terrifying boxer with a temper that one could charitably describe as "mercurial" and yet he speaks softly, almost effeminately, with a lisp. But the two episodes in his life that he's most known for, his tumultuous (and allegedly abusive) marriage to Robin Givens, and his rape trial after a night with pageant contestant Desiree Washington gone horribly, irreversibly wrong, aren't glossed over. Undisputed Truth spends many, many chapters on how that persona developed, from both his cruel childhood on the streets of Brooklyn, to his being taught by Cus, the only father figure he'd ever known. Whether you find Tyson as fascinating as I do, or want to learn more about the man behind the glove (and there's much, much more to him than I expected), or just want to know what in the world he was thinking with that tattoo, you absolutely must read this book."
"A book to be read with out being judgmental. It is true a big part of the book is about Tyson's partying and drug taking and womanizing."
"His trainer Cus D'Amato saw the greatness in him at age 13 and he fought his way to the top of the boxing world while at the same time becoming addicted to cocaine, fast women and booze thinking that this was normal for all champion boxers. His searching for his true spiritual self and finding peace is a great testament to his humanity and the ability to overcome the obstacles of people who were born at a disadvantage."
"No, Mike Tyson will not go down as the greatest fighter of all time, but he certainly will go down as the most memorable and interesting fighter (second only the Muhammad Ali) to ever step into the ring. Here, in this book, you get everything you want to know about Tyson inside the ring and out, and you just can't put it down."
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Ali: A Life
Jonathan Eig, hailed by Ken Burns as one of America’s master storytellers, radically reshapes our understanding of the complicated man who was Ali. Jonathan Eig’s Ali reveals Ali in the complexity he deserves, shedding important new light on his politics, religion, personal life, and neurological condition. Ali is a story about America, about race, about a brutal sport, and about a courageous man who shook up the world. "Finally Muhammad Ali has a biography as big, complex, and memorable as the man himself—or as close as any book can come. Eig in a knockout.” —Jane Leavy, author of Sandy Koufax and The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood “ Ali is a marvelous biography - deeply reported, illuminating, dripping with detail chapter after chapter—in every way worthy of one of the great figures of 20th century America.” —. David Maraniss, author of When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi "Finally, after so many works focusing on this fight or that, the whole man, the whole life, is presented here. Eig's richly impressive roster of interviews informs an authoritatively critical biography that is both punchy and sure-footed." It is an independent, insightful and masterful assessment of ‘The Greatest!’ Eig’s biography puts flesh and bone on Ali’s fuller humanity. An utterly absorbing and richly detailed account of the most charismatic and controversial athlete of the 20th century.” —Mike Silver, author of The Arc of Boxing. The author of acclaimed books on Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson, Eig weaves together Ali’s athletic feats, cultural significance and personal journey. Fortified by hundreds of revealing interviews, 'Ali' vigorously narrates the story of the man who transformed the landscape of race and sports . 'Ali' stirs together the sweet and the spicy, the gifts and the failings, the charm and the rage, the grace and the greed, the pride and the ego. "Eig's revelatory bio traces the late boxer's path from pariah to national treasure." “Drawing on interviews with Muhammad Ali’s friends, family, and colleagues—as well as recently discovered recordings from the 1960s and extensive FBI files—Eig tells the life story of the legendary boxer, political radical, and hero in all its complexity.” — Entertainment Weekly , Fall's 20 Must-Read Books. “Jonathan Eig’s masterful new biography of the champ is both captivating and highly relevant to the current discussions on race in America . Muhammad Ali was one of the most compelling figures in the 20th century, and Eig does ample justice to capturing his extraordinary and enduring legacy.” — Seattle Times. What makes Eig's book stand out is its broad scope, its detailed reportage and its lively, cinematic writing." "Eig’s book is a fine read on the great boxer’s life, taking him on as he was and always seeking the truth that hits closest to bone. It covers the tumultuous middle, and then the oddly sanitized and bland second half of the American Century, an era in which Muhammad Ali was among the biggest and brightest players on the stage — living a life that, far from signifying nothing, will in its outrageous grandeur and stunning humanity, stand the test of time." Locked on that purpose, Eig delivers a biography that reflects his subject well—complex but straightforward, human but legendary.” — Chapter 16 “An appropriately outsized—and first-rate—biography . "Eig skillfully utilizes resources unavailable to previous authors, allowing him to present other aspects of Ali . VERDICT: A must-read for Ali fans, followers of the sweet science in general, and those curious about the maelstrom of events that shaped a generation."
Reviews
"The best non-fiction book I've read since Seabiscuit."
"Cassius Clay was an 8-1 underdog in his first fight with Sonny Liston in Miami in 1964; did Eig manage to beat the odds with his ALI: A Life?"
"As Eig so excellently lays out for us, Muhammad Ali’s best fibers offered us a magnificent wealth of substance to replicate and bind to our own psyches. Nevertheless, you’ll be drawn to Ali’s boundless bravery and kindness, reminded of the extreme excellence he displayed in the squared ring, and regaled with stories of his impish ways. Eig’s goal was not to humiliate, but rather to humanize and get it all out on the table, sort it, and reveal the incredibly positive net effect of a sometimes enigmatic Muhammad Ali. The author surely succeeds, as his work is meticulous (while not tedious to follow), presented in a relaxing (though not drawn-out) unfolding of events, smartly crafted (yet not pedantic), and heartfelt (but not sentimentally burdened). Eig fills in virtually all of the blanks, revealing a naked Ali…with some ugly scars, but a wondrous sparkle in his eye, and a warm heart and hand freely extended (sincerely, lovingly, often under the radar) to enrich the lives of so many individuals of all colors, and to meaningfully inspire and uplift a good chunk of a generation in need."
"One of the best biographies I’ve ever read. Ali Had so many things going on his life."
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Best Boxing Biographies

Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer
Nor could he have anticipated that his diary would evolve into a book titled Instant Replay , first published in 1968, that would become a multimillion-copy bestseller and be celebrated by reviewers everywhere, including the Washington Post ’s Jonathan Yardley, who calls it “to this day, the best inside account of pro football, indeed the best book ever written about that sport and that league.”. This groundbreaking look inside the world of professional football is one of the first books ever to take readers into the locker room and reveal the inner workings of a professional sports franchise. “A classic when it was published and a classic still today.” —David Halberstam jerry kramer was a right guard for the Green Bay Packers from 1958 to 1968.
Reviews
"My dad bought me this book when I was a little boy and I fell in love with football, the Packers, and Jerry Kramer."
"He thinks about each opponent, and which of his techniques will be effective. And yes, someone looks at the film of every single block on every play and grades your effectiveness."
"This diary of an already veteran player in a dominating team is not only about American football and experiences of new kind of total coaching discipline being brought into the scene."
"Well worth a close read."
"I liked the way Mr. Kramer described the day to day activities of the Packers, one of the greatest teams ever in the NFL. I loved the relationship he had with Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Paul Hourning and all the other players he work with daily on the team."
"While the book is as much about Vince Lombardi as the Green Bay Packers, and is virtually a paean to the Coach, Kramer also pulls the curtain aside from the inner workings of the locker room, and the experience of being a professional athlete, albeit in a different era."
"I haven't read the sequels, and probably won't; judging from reviews (I know, not a good method), I believe I'd like to preserve my memories and illusions without hearing about Kramer's future financial and physical woes..."
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Best Boxing

Undisputed Truth
Be sure to check out IRON AMBITION: My Life with Cus D’Amato by Mike Tyson “Raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life.”— Wall Street Journal Philosopher, Broadway headliner, fighter, felon—Mike Tyson has defied stereotypes, expectations, and a lot of conventional wisdom during his three decades in the public eye. “ Undisputed Truth is raw, powerful and disturbing—a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life…Unlike other sports memoirists, he doesn't pull punches, offering up slashing comments on people who were once close to him. “A hefty autobiography that might be the most soul baring book of its genre ever written … a fascinating look into a life that up until now had already been well chronicled … It’s raw and profane … but it is also quite funny.”— Associated Press “ Undisputed Truth , which is, without a doubt, one of the grittiest and most harrowing memoirs I’ve ever read.” –Flavorwire. “Tyson was ever practised at delivering the early killer blow; and so it is with this gripping and indecently enthralling autobiography….Tyson always had a way with words – although much of the credit for this book must go to his ghostwriter Larry “Ratso” Sloman, who not only makes Tyson’s life read like an Elmore Leonard thriller, but gifts him with considerable self-awareness and a memorably pithy turn of phrase….recounted in gripping, punch-by-punch detail in prose pungent with the reek of blood, sweat and petroleum jelly.” –Mick Brown, The Telegraph (UK).
Reviews
"It is brutally, unforgivingly honest, and while he has few kind words for the likes of King, Robin Givens, and Desiree Washington, no one fares worse in these pages than Tyson himself. He's a study in contradictions: a terrifying boxer with a temper that one could charitably describe as "mercurial" and yet he speaks softly, almost effeminately, with a lisp. But the two episodes in his life that he's most known for, his tumultuous (and allegedly abusive) marriage to Robin Givens, and his rape trial after a night with pageant contestant Desiree Washington gone horribly, irreversibly wrong, aren't glossed over. Undisputed Truth spends many, many chapters on how that persona developed, from both his cruel childhood on the streets of Brooklyn, to his being taught by Cus, the only father figure he'd ever known. Whether you find Tyson as fascinating as I do, or want to learn more about the man behind the glove (and there's much, much more to him than I expected), or just want to know what in the world he was thinking with that tattoo, you absolutely must read this book."
"A book to be read with out being judgmental. It is true a big part of the book is about Tyson's partying and drug taking and womanizing."
"His trainer Cus D'Amato saw the greatness in him at age 13 and he fought his way to the top of the boxing world while at the same time becoming addicted to cocaine, fast women and booze thinking that this was normal for all champion boxers. His searching for his true spiritual self and finding peace is a great testament to his humanity and the ability to overcome the obstacles of people who were born at a disadvantage."
"No, Mike Tyson will not go down as the greatest fighter of all time, but he certainly will go down as the most memorable and interesting fighter (second only the Muhammad Ali) to ever step into the ring. Here, in this book, you get everything you want to know about Tyson inside the ring and out, and you just can't put it down."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Wrestler Biographies

Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules
As her family struggled with drug addiction, poverty, and mental illness, she found escape through comic books and video games, and was inspired by the tough and unconventional female characters. With humor and tremendous heart, AJ opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the mental illness diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life. Charting her journey from a scrappy girl in an unstable home to an empowered wrestling champion, Crazy Is My Superpower is an un­flinchingly honest story and brave confessional about her long road to self-acceptance. AJ Mendez Brooks writes about loneliness, mental illness and finding her place in the world with genuine vulnerability and perhaps more importantly, genuine strength." !” —Deborah Copaken, New York Times bestselling author of Shutterbabe and The Red Book “AJ Mendez Brooks’ candid account of her struggles and success offer young women a wonderful role model regarding how to be yourself, stand up for what you believe in and embrace the "crazy."
Reviews
"Already hoping AJ Lee writes a second book!"
"I'm a tad biased I guess, as I've always loved AJ and enjoy reading autobiographies, but this was genuinely one of the greatest books, in general, I've ever read, despite it's autobiographical genre."
"Was purchased as a gift, and the receiver was so pleasantly surprised and happy."
"A great read and inspirational story,especially for anyone who is suffering from mental illness or knows someone who is."
"April's journey through childhood was chasing fictional heroes to gain strength & find direction."
"It is always amazing to learn about the trials, tribulations, and struggles these athletes go through to accomplish their dream."
"I'm now spoiled, because I don't want to go back to other wrestling books."
"Love the book couldn't put it down but sad that I didn't get the bookmark and pin but I'm still happy with my order."
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Best Martial Artist Biographies

My Fight / Your Fight
In this inspiring and moving book, Ronda Rousey, the Olympic medalist in judo, reigning UFC women's bantamweight champion, and Hollywood star charts her difficult path to glory. Ronda Rousey is the UFC’s undefeated women's bantamweight champion and an Olympic medalist in judo.
Reviews
"I remember it like it was yesterday and I was a "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey hater. As a longtime mma fan I never believed female mma fighters deserved to be in the UFC because their skill and fighting spirit paled in comparison to men's and I felt that way with Rousey too. I felt like I was Rowdy Ronda Rousey going through the death of her dad, her failures and shortcomings at the pinnacle of Judo competition, living in a car, her trying to win over her current mma coach to train her, the first mma fight, the strategy to bring women's mma to the limelight, and what kinds of things she plans to do with the future. Ronda Rousey hasn't just helped pave the way for women's mma but is paving the way for women to not limit themselves to doing generic gender jobs and to realize that you can be whoever you want and follow whatever path you choose."
"I couldn't stop reading."
"This book is an entertaining and inspiring glimpse into what it takes to be the best."
"Where most bios of someone Rondas age would feel like they are leaving you with only half the story, the life lesson structure brings "My fight" to a satisfying conclusion. Your guaranteed to examine your own life throughout and probably face some truths about yourself as well as you read the extremes one person goes through to be the best in the world."
"I gave this book to both of my sons in university, just as a reminder to dream big, to pursue their dreams and passions, however improbable, with fierce focus and not to put limitations onto their expectations in life. But her focus, her will to succeed and her level-headed approach to life make her a very compelling and worthy character on the public stage today, beyond the fact that she is changing the way people perceive and treat women, changing how they perceive themselves and what they expect from themselves."
"Great easy read, quiet a detailed book you'd be surprised what some people go through in life."
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