Been reading a lot of wrastlin books- recommend mo

[Raja Lion]

So I've recently gotten into reading bios etc on various personalities in the business. So far I am quite pleased with all but one, so recommend some more or comment on the ones Ive read.

Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley - This is the book all will be judged against and rightfully so. I actually read it for the first time back around its initial release, but I picked up the other 2 and wanted to get refreshed. Well written, good story and pacing. All wresting fans who like to read the books should be required to read it.

Foley is Good & The Hardcore Diaries - Neither live up to Have a Nice Day, but they're both worthy of a read. Foley Is Good suffers near the end, especially when he gets into the whole violence study. Hardcore Diaries is pretty boring all around and the political interjections (even though I agree with him 99% of the time) are annoying after a bit.

Shawn Michaels - Heartbreak and Triumph - This book should be avoided. It's absolute crap and I think its actually caused me to think less of the person. It barely skims the surface of anything and theres constant "I don't mean to sound cocky here" prefaces that are just bloviated and almost embarassing. There is a story behind that man, but I dont think we'll ever get it from him. I was not at all bothered by the religious stuff which really doesnt come into the book until the final third, and I respect how he has "changed" in that regard, but if you're reading this to get some insight, don't bother. The chapter on Montreal is a must read though if you enjoy that subject. Lots of Kliq ass kissing going on too which I guess was to be expected.

Ring of Hell by Matthew Randazzo (sp) - This is a recent book about Benoit. Have to take it with a grain of salt as its unauthorized and that, but its a well thought out story until the end. I was left a bit perplexed by it as it really focuses on the negative aspects of Benoit and his career, which may be necessary, but it didnt change my own personal opinion of Benoit (which is negative) nor reinforce it. I would recommend it with caution. The stuff about Japan was very good though as I did not know much about the way they handle wrestling much going in.

I am currently reading Bischoffs book, but only about 20 pages in so not nearly enough to comment. Ive also read all three of the Wrestlecrap books, and highly highly recommend The Death of WCW and the other two are great for bathroom reading. Good stuff all around.

I also plan on getting Jericho's book once it hits paperback next month and I am really looking forward to it.

[Tea & Crumpets]

Jericho's book and Regal's book. Both are great.

[Red 'n' Black Reggie]

jericho's is fantastic, you've gotta get that. i've heard bret's is good too.

[bogart]

Bret's while not as funny as have a nice day, sits along side it as one of the best two wrestling autobiographies ever written. It's very different, but it has loads of great stuff in it, and at the core it is a tragic tale of a guy that went through more shit in his life than anyone ever needs to.

Martha Harts 'The Life and death of Owen Hart', while a very interesting read has to be taken with a pinch of salt as apart from the trial it's all based on second hand info, she doesn't seem to know very much about the business in which her husband was a part of.

Flairs, Michaels and bischoffs all leave so much good stuff out, ie. Bischoff doesn't go into any detail about his thing with flair, Flair kisses Vince's ass, and as said before Shawn's just barely skims the surface of anything.

Jericho's is indeed a great read.

the Benoit one with the black cover is all-right but it reeks of rush job cash in.

apart from regals, which i'm gonna get what else is good?

[thesam07]

Bobby Heenan's bio is a great read.
Talks about everything, and is very upfront about it.

[BHB]

I justed finished Ring of Hell and I liked it. Puts some perspective on what made Benoit the man he was.

[Handsome Halfbreed]

Foley's first two books were by far the best for me.

I really got into Kurt Angle's but it was right after 9/11. I was emotionally invested, in retrospect it wasn't really that great of a read.

Hulk Hogan's book had the odd interesting story but just dragged along.

Missy Hyatt's book was choked full of rumors, scandal and he said she said. A fun read but I doubt even half of it was true.

An unauthorized VKM book: Stuff I already knew. Dragged on.

Wrestlecrap/Death of WCW: If you read the stuff on this site and have watched most WWe DVD releases then most of the info here you'll already be familiar w/. Very fun entertaining read though.

Eric Bischoff''s.... only thing notable was stuff that he already made mantion to in the Monday Night Wars DVD.

Ted Dibiase: Fairly interesting read. Probably the most inspirational wrestler biography I've read. It had many errors though like refering to the RR winner as the KOTR award winner.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

You must order Bret's book from Highspots.com. It may take a little longer to get it (since it's the Canadian version, and they're holding up the USA printing of it), but it's absolutely worth every cent you spend on it. I've read it cover to cover about 6 times now, and I absolutely love it.

Jericho's was a nice surprise as well. Very well written, very funny, and the only thing I could say I was disappointed in was that there seemed to be a real lack of stuff from WCW from the perspective of backstage politics and wrestler/management conflicts.

The National Wrestling Alliance book by Tim Hornbaker is absolutely fascinating. LOTS of in-depth info on the early days of the organization, promoter wars, the rise of big stars like Lou Thesz, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, and Buddy Rogers, and the ultimate collapse into the state of the promotion today. Highly recommended if you like old-school wrestling.

[repomark]

Jerry Lawlers has not been mentioned yet which surprises me as it is also an excellent read. Really looking forward to Bret Hart's but I have to say I may just have to import it given how long it is taking to get a UK release.

Just finished Jericho's and it is fantastic. Looking forward to him doing a second one charting his WWE days (if he does).

I loved all three of Foley's - the Hardcore Diaries seems to be getting knocked but I liked it. He is openly critical of Vince and it is interesting to see the creative process and internal politics in that much depth. I quite liked Shawn's and Bischoffs - although as said alot is missed out or skimmed over. Flair's I also quite enjoyed.

I also own Batista's which was not as bad as it could have been - although there are some unintentionally funny moments. Wrestlecrap Book of lists and Death of WCW are also good reads.

I think that is all the wrestling books I own! Interested to hear thoughts on the NWA one, Bobby Heenan's and Ted Dibiase's. I was considering purchasing all three, but was unsure of their quality.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

Oh, forgot one VERY important one.

Scott Williams' "Hardcore History - The Extremely Unauthorized History of ECW" is an ABSOLUTE must-have. Forget the crappy Rise and Fall of ECW book that came out by WWE, this one eclipses it completely.

[Full Moon]

I just started Billy Graham's and so far so good. Funnily enough, while flicking through the pages, I stumbled on a story from when he was walking on a cane after hip surgery, and Hulk Hogan took the cane, snapped it over his knee and proclaimed that the "power of Hulkamania" would help him walk again.

Strangely, it worked.

[Raja Lion]

Thanks for the responses. Im definitely going to pick up Brets book and I didnt even know Regal had one, so thats on the list as well. That ECW one sounds cool too, same with Heenan, will get both of them.

I just cant get over how crap (finished it two nights ago) that Michaels one was lol

[Lardlad]

I have quite a big collection of wrestling books right now. I would say the Bret Hart book being #1 although I enjoyed the Bischoff book as well.

Might go take a look for Scott Williams' Unauthorized History of ECW book tonight after work.


Edit: This thread might come in handy with some info on some wrestling related books, from yesterday.... officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=WWE&thread=126837

[Toom E. Guci]

Sex, Lies, & Headlocks: Reading this excellent behind-the-scenes look at wrestling promoter McMahon, the current ruler of the wild and ruthless world of professional wrestling, is almost as entertaining and shocking as watching the most extreme antics of McMahon's comic-book style creations such as Steve Austin and The Rock. Combining hard investigative journalism with a genuine love for wrestling's weirder tendencies, Assael (senior writer for ESPN and author of Wide Open) and Mooneyham (who writes the wrestling column in the Charleston Post and Courier) have penned one of the closest looks so far at this industry, which moved from the cheap and smoke-filled Midwestern halls of the 1930s to become one of the most successful television enterprises ever by the 1990s. The authors focus on McMahon, who rose from a difficult childhood to take command of the World Wrestling Federation and almost singlehandedly invent the current style of extreme wrestling. The authors also carefully detail how McMahon's take-no-prisoners business style led him into his own bouts with financial, legal, sexual and drug problems, until finally he had become totally seduced by the loud, angry circus he'd created. But beneath the many stories about crooked promoters, armed wives, drug-crazed and sexually profligate wrestlers, the authors also skillfully illuminate pro wrestling's influence on the media, detailing McMahon's feuds with rivals like Ted Turner and World Championship Wrestling's Eric Bischoff, as well as his byzantine dealings with notables from such companies as Viacom and NBC. This is an essential read for both fans and enemies of pro wrestling.

This was a great read for me!!

The Jericho one is as good, as well.

[Bobafett]

Edges is cool, makes it hard to hate the guy after reading it. i always crack up reading about the time when he touring with an Indie promotion the van broke down a frozen lake in the middle of a canadian winter, Rhino panicked went running..the ewrong way..relised it ..ran back..couldn't slow and crashed into Christion(so thats where the gore origionated )

[Bishblast]

Look for Diana Hart's book... hard to find, but well, well worth your time.

Foley's book is still the best I've read, however.

Wrestling Babylon has some very interesting sections, as well.

[metylerca]

I actually liked Shawn's book and have read it no less than 10 times. To each their own I guess.

The first Foley book was great, as was the first half of the second one.

Kurt's book is poorly written IMO, but it is an interesting story.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Broken Harts: One of the Few books that made me cry. I was a huge Owen fan, and reading about how his wife coped with it was a hard read.

Superstar Billy Graham= Great book on a look on what roids does to you.

[weaselboy]

Simon Garfield's book "The Wrestling" is my personal favourite, I'd recommend it to any British wrestling fan. Recently revised, it details the rise and fall of the British wrestling scene from its carnival roots through to it outdrawing the FA Cup on television and being attended by Beatles and Royalty, to its fall to poorly attended village halls and men who were once televised champions changing into their gear in toilets with rusty taps.

The book features contributions from almost everyone who was a part of the scene. Ranging from the delightfully bitchy Adrian Street to the almost deluded Kendo Nagasaki, the whole thing is made even more artistically relevant by contributions from the greatest British Pop artist of all time, Mr Peter Blake (he did the Sargeant Pepper album cover for those who aren't aware of him, and got paid about 200 quid)

The book also briefly covers the WWF as Garfield covers the British Bulldog as one of the few members of the old English circuit who made it big while the UK scene crumbled. He also bags interviews with Shawn Michaels, Triple H and even a brief chat with Vince Mcmahon.

The best and most tragic part for me has to be the final chapters covering the fall of the UK indie scene in which promoters resort to promoting fat aging wrestlers in Power Ranger costumes in order to win over new younger fans. Hearing how much poverty indie stalwart Robbie Brookside lives in becomes almost heartbreaking.

This is a great book that covers some of wrestlings most wild and interesting characters and taps into what once was an altogether very British tradition.

[britishbulldog]

Loved Foley, Jehrico's I am looking forward to reading Bret's.
Eric's sucked he must have given Snitsky his catch saying I'TS NOT MY FAULT.
Pure Dynamite was interesting but you can tell how cynical the Dynamite Kid is now