5 comments about Never Stop Pushing: My Life from a Wyoming Farm to the Olympic Medals Stand.

1. The book arrived on shelves 10 or 12 days ago to little or no fanfare, and mores the pity. It is an inspiring story of an improbable hero and the many, MANY tests and challenges he has faced both on and off the wrestling mat. It is also the story of an unassuming, everyday kinda guy who faced adversity in many forms and always came out on top because of his belief in the idea that you never stop trying until you win. For any self-respecting wrestler or wrestling fan, this is a must-have. For the rest of the world, well, the writing style and prose pose no particular threat to Messer Hemingway or Faulkner's standing in the literary world, but that's part of what makes it such a fun and interesting read. It is a great story and great read. Go buy it. A few more Rulon Gardner's and the world would be a much better place.



2. This is a must read for the wrestling fan. If his story wasn't real it would be almost as if it was written for TV. It is very informing for people who already know Rulon, and for those who don't you get to hear the real story behind Americas greatest Greco Roman wrestler ever. It is a great book to give young athletes to show them anything is possible.



3. This is a great book for all people, especially those who haven't had everything in life given to them on a silver platter. This book, with its uplifting and motivational stories from Rulon's life, inspires the reader to find the positive in life, and work hard to acheive your goals-no matter how difficult. Although this book is written in the framework of olympic wrestling, it's universal themes will appeal to any reader.



4. "Never Stop Pushing" is the autobiography of Rulon Gardner, who staged one of the biggest-ever upsets in Olympic history by defeating the long-standing Russian world champion Alexander Karelin in the 2000 Sydney Games Greco-Roman heavyweight wrestling final.
   
   Gardner's story shocked and surprised me since his gold-medal achievement makes up only part of the book. Instead, as Gardner himself states, the most remarkable time of his life was, ironically, his near-fatal accident whilst snow-mobiling near his Wyoming home. The moment-by-moment depiction of his struggle to survive a freezing cold night while waiting to be rescued forms the centerpiece of the narrative. The description of his ordeal is interspersed with details of his wrestling career and is recounted in full later on in the book.
   
   Gardner also describes his childhood, which is something quite apart from the normal experience of most modern-day Americans. Brought up as the youngest of a large Mormon farming family, he spent long periods alone laying irrigation pipes and milking cows and lived quite an isolated life. At school he looked forward to meeting kids his own age but instead his learning disability set him apart and he made few friends.
   
   His struggles to go to college and get a degree, like his brothers and sisters, form another substantial part of the book. You end up rooting for him to succeed.
   
   Rulon comes across as an immensely likeable, soft-hearted guy. A few of his experiences struck a chord with me and I shuddered slightly as I recognised myself a little in the text. I particularly enjoyed his honesty - he describes crying on the way to an out-of-state wrestling meet after his coach tells him off for being late. I can't imagine many celebrities being that truthful.
   
   NSP is by turns sad, joyful, entertaining and exciting. You get to learn about the politics of sport and how hard it can be for minority sports athletes to pursue their dreams. I would have liked a little more detail at times, for example, Gardner tells us he has bought a house in Colorado and you think, When? Why? but overall this is a remarkably well structured and pacy autobiography.
   
   As an afterthought, I'm reminded of something Vince Lombardi said,
   
   "It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever - the one who recognises the challenges and does something about it."
   
   I guess you could say that this book shows that Rulon Gardner is a supreme "doer" and a true champion of sport.



5. This book was great, it showed anyone who read this book that if you put your mind to it, and work hard you can do any that you set your mind to. This book taught me to never give up on any of the challenges that lie ahead of me. I was also able to connect to this book with the wrestling standpoint, i wrestle Freestyle which is different then Greco-Roman, but its another Olympic style of wrestling. Rulon Garnder is my favorite athlete, not because he won the Olympic Gold, but because he work harder then anyone else who made it to the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, with injury and everything, he never gave up on anything he did. When he was stranded in the woods of Wyoming, the "middle of nowhere" as he said, he never gave up, waited patiently for someone to rescuse him.
   
   This was the best book i have ever read, not just because of the wrestling, but because of the lessons it teaches the reader.

5 comments about Eric Bischoff: Controversy Creates Cash.

1. If you buy this book for a behind the scenes look at the world of pro wrestling, you'll probably be disappointed. Bischoff spends much of his time discussing the corporate politics of Ted Turner's empire, or reflecting on all the great ideas he's come up with. He does take the time to attack people who use the internet for wrestling information at least once a chapter, while providing no real information that isn't already public knowledge. The book is a quick, easy read, but disappointing and, like WCW in its final days, out of touch with its intended audience.



2. This was one of the best books I've read in a long time but that may be because I watched the "Monday Night Ratings Battle" between WWE and WCW. The best part of the book is that Bischoff really lets you see his personality and who he is throughout the book. You get the feeling he is writing this with no holds barred and letting you into the perspective he has on the whole business. He even clears up (from his point of view) controversial issues such as the firing of Steve Austin from WCW which has been told a lot of different ways throughout the years. He also talks of some of the guys he respects, who he's had problems with, and how him and Vince got together and worked together for those few years after WCW we bought out. I really liked how just about every chapter was interesting for a wrestling fan. The book is written with a great flow and is what I call and easy read. It's not the controversial read it claims to be, it's more of an honest record of what actually happened. recommend this to any wrestling fan who knows the story of WWE/WCW and wants the details from someone who was right in the middle of it.



3. This was a very insightful book on Bischoff, a definite must read if your looking for something to read on the monday night wars and the rise and fall of wcw and his career.



4. a nice read. i love wwe and like to know a little back room stories



5. I AM NOT A BIG ERIC BISCHOFF FAN BUT HIS BOOK IS WELL WORTH READING. I DID NOT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN AND ENDED UP FINISHING IT IN 3 DAYS. HE REHASHES HIS DAYS IN THE NWA, AWA, WCW AND FINALLY WWE. FOR ME THE MOST INTERESTING PART WAS CONCERNING THE BATTLE BETWEEN NITO AND RAW FOR MORE THAN A FEW YEARS THIS WAS A CLASH OF THE TITANS. ERIC TELLS OF THE RISE TO THE TOP AND HOW IT WAS ACHIEVED. THEN THE PARADOX AS NITRO FELL FROM GRACE DUE TO BEING STAGNENT, ADDING ANOTHER SHOW DURING THE WEEK, BUDGET CUTS AND A CHANGE OVER WHEN AOL AND TIME WARNER TOOK OVER. NOW THIS ERIC'S VIEW OF WHAT WENT DOWN. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REASONS AND OPINIONS WHY WCW FOLDED AND ALL OF THEM CONTRIBUTED TO IT'S DEATH. IF YOU WERE A WRESTLING FAN DURING THE 1990'S AND STILL ARE TODAY THEN THIS A GREAT READ FOR THE YOUNGER FANS ALONG WITH THE OLDER FANS WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR A FEW DECADES. WORTH IT.

No comments about DK READER LEVEL 3: WWE Triple H (pb) (DK READERS).

No comments about Drill Like a Champion: A 12-Month Plan to Better Your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

2 comments about WWE Sticker Collection (DK Ultimate Sticker Books).

1. The Sticker Collection Book is great for young wrestling fans. My 9 year old struggles with reading. Any book that will keep his interest and help him read is worth every penny. Occasionally one the stickers would partially tear. Some care is needed in removing the stickers. The book kept my son busy during a recent 250 mile weekend trip.



2. This sticker book is great, has tons of stickers and my 4 yr old loves it. Stickers are reusable so that is a bonus, they went from the stickerbook to his toy box. A overall. The only thing that would have made it A+ would be if they made the pages the stickers were on perforated so you can pull em out, but hey, ya cant have everything

5 comments about Drawing Heat the Hard Way: How Wrestling Really Works.

1. Larry Matysik's Drawing Heat the Hard Way gives an unprecedented, in-depth, behind the scenes look at pro wrestling. In an easy-to-read, enjoyable, and conversational style, Matysik reveals the guts of an often misunderstood and ever changing slice of Americana. As with any subject, much swirls beneath the surface of pro wrestling. Through personal anecdotes and solid analysis from someone who's been in the middle of the business for the last forty years, the book pulls the reader along at the pace of good novel. Die-hard fans and casual observers alike will get a kick out of this one, Matysik's third and, I think, the best of the three enjoyable books he's written on the subject of pro wrestling. It's top of the line.



2. What a terrific read this is.The author's insights of Vince McMahon;how he thinks and operates his wrestling empire are the best I have ever read.I daresay that alone was worth the price of the book to me.The author worked alongside the late Sam Muchnick who ran the legendary St. Louis area and shares what a shrewd businessman Muchnick was and the deals he made; often with nothing more than a handshake that were good for the business and not just himself. This guy has no axe to axe to grind,no reputation to protect.It is a no BS,no "kayfabe" and no-nonsense look at how pro wrestling really works.Bravo and thank you Larry Matysik.



3. This book puts forth well-reasoned thoughts not commonly brought up, all from a person you can tell really loves pro wrestling. When he criticizes wrestling he does it from a reasonable point of view which comes across as well thought out and not as if he's a know-it-all like some fans on the net do. Very good read.



4. Larry Matysik has turned into a prolific author. With three other wrestling themed books to his credit, Wrestling at the Chase, Brody (with Barbara Goodish), the St. Louis Record Book, Larry now turns to giving us an in-depth inside look at professional wrestling and how it works.
   
   If anyone is qualified to write such a tome, it's Larry Matysik. From the age of 16, Larry became an assistant to one of the greatest wrestling promoters who ever lived, the legendary Sam Munchnik, a founder and long tiome president of the National Wrestling Alliance. Larry became an announcer as well as promoter and publicist. This man can truly say he beared witness to thye true heyday for professional wrestling in America.
   
   If you are someone who is involved in pro wrestling in some way, this book is required reading. If you are just a fan who wants to really know what makes this thing called professional wrestling tick, this is your book.
   
   Like Larry's other books, this is excellently written and a highly informative and enjoyable read. The author's passion for the subject shines through like a beacon.



5. I actually bought this book as a Christmas gift for my husband who is a huge fan and to his surprise, he had wanted to read this all along. He has been a fan or wrestling since he was a kid and even he said this book is full of new good information. Good buy I suppose!

5 comments about Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story.

1. All I'm gonna say is this:
   
   In the book, Shawn says one reason he became upset at Bret was he felt Bret was being paid too much, or actually, Shawn was jealous that Bret was making more than he was. Why? I don't know really, because Bret had been in the WWF A LOT longer (going back to before Wrestlemania 1!), had held the tag title, IC title, and World title and had been the face of the company for a while now after Hogan had left....so exactly why was Shawn feeling Bret was making too much??? Why didn't Bret deserve his salary??? Shawn never answers or explains this, and instead felt he should be making the same if not more than Bret.
   
   BUT, Shawn had no problem with the Undertaker (seemingly the only guy he was afraid of backstage) making the amount of whatever his salary was (it could of been more or less than Shawn's). Shawn says in the book he had no problem with the Undertaker contract, that was between him and Vince...but he does have a problem with Bret's???? Again, that logic is never explained, and only leads to reader to conclude that Shawn is/was jealous of Bret and had it out for him. He's a total hypocrite, enough said.
   
   AND to rub more fuel to this fire....Shawn didn't wanna drop the belt to Bret at WM13, so he forfeits the title....but when Bret didn't wanna drop the belt to him at Survivor Series 1997 (and Bret was fine in doing this as his contract gave him CREATIVE CONTROL over his character the last 30 days of his contract) all of a sudden Shawn goes on and says Bret was hurting the business and doing the wrong thing. Once again, only word that comes to mind is HYPOCRITE.
   
   Screw Shawn. Go try to brainwash someone else because I see right through you.



2. I got a kick out of reading this at the local bookstore. That was until I read Bret Hart's book and remembered all over again what a sleazebag Shawn Michaels is. Sure. Hickenbottom is one of the all time greats in the ring but out of it he's only good enough to trust to be what he is. And this book is just 200 pages of ghost written self-serving hype.



3. This is a great read. It is a reader friendly fast paced page turne. Heartbreak & Triumph is a book that offers great first hand insight into the life of Professional Wrestling's Showstopper. The Kliq, Partying Hall Nash HHH and of course that all to well remembered night in Montreal. I LOVED IT.



4. I'm a huge Bret Hart fan who had just got done reading Bret's book before reading Shawn's. I was debating if I should even read his bio. At first, I wasn't going to, but I decided to give the Devil his due. I like to think of myself as a highly open-minded person who always listens to both sides in a debate because I realize it takes two to tango.
   
   So I went into reading Shawn Michaels book expecting to hate him even more after I was done. However, as I read Shawn's book, I found myself being able to relate to him more then I thought. Shawn was a shy kid who was a slow learner, and had a weird name that the other kids in school made fun of. Shawn was a fighter who always defended his name whenever kids would make fun of him however. Shawn had very low self-confidence, and often did a good job of acting like it didn't bother him if people didn't like him, but it really did. Shawn also would allow people to push him around so many times before finally taking the gloves off, and let his enemies know enough was enough. Shawn also admits that there are times when he needed the reassurance of others. Shawn claims to have been a victim of gossip and lies through out his wrestling career. Shawn says he has always ignored the nonsense and would often play along to the part that his co-workers had written for him, and go in the dressing room, acting exactly how the other wrestlers thought he was, and behaved highly sarcastically. I can literally relate to all of the above issues Shawn has faced in his life, and I found Shawn's book to very comforting, especially since I was going through some tough times at my job because of gossip and lies, and as I read about his own problems, it was almost like he was there with me, offering me advice, which was helpful and consoling. But this isn't about me. I just felt that it needed to be said that I did feel kinship with him through out the book.
   
   Now I don't think Shawn was totally honest in his book. For example, he never talked much about his partying days much, or the women he slept around with, and I think it's common knowledge that Shawn messed around with women. Infact, I think all wrestlers had groupies, or ring rats as they call them in the business, and Shawn never admitted to it. Now I'm not saying this is true, but there have been rumors that besides being a liar, Shawn Michaels knows how to manipulate people. Bret claims he did it to him, and he did the same to Owen too. And at times, I felt like Shawn was manipulating the readers as well.
   
   I don't think Shawn should have told Bret to get out of the ring in such a rude way at Wrestlemania 12 after their match, and rather's Shawn's injury before Wrestlemania 13 was real or not is up to debate, but I honestly think he was lying.
   
   Shawn also failed to mention in his book that he once went on live TV, and called Bret a "mark", and then not long after, Shawn did a "shoot interview" on Bret where he claimed all Bret cared about was money, and he made all sorts of other very disrespectful comments.
   
   After reading Shawn's book, I want to like Shawn, but he was wrong implying that Bret was cheating on his wife with Sunny. That caused problems within the Hart family. It wasn't funny at all. I know Shawn didn't have a family at the time, but how would he feel if someone came along and tried to disturb the peace among his family? When they fought, Bret was right to defend his family honor. And heck, Shawn in my view, provoked the fight. Bret wanted to talk to Shawn. Shawn should have been mature, and talked to him instead of cursing him out.
   
   In the end, no matter what was said and done between Bret and Shawn, Shawn Michaels was wrong for what he did to Bret and I found Shawn's lack of compassion towards Bret Hart absolutely disgusting. And no matter what anyone thinks of Bret, Bret never crossed the like Shawn did, which he actually did twice. First, when he brought Bret's family into it, and then when he screwed him out of the title.
   
   I'm not a Christian, but I think it's great Shawn found the balance he needed in his life. I also think he cares about his family, and fans, and I'm sure he's a nice guy, but screwing Bret over was cowardly and wrong, and then him hiding behind Triple H and the Harris Brothers was more cowardly. Shawn Michaels was a liar, and a coward, and until he apologizes to Bret Hart and can acknowledge that what he did was wrong, this fan will never forgive him.
   
   I may have a few things in common with Shawn Michaels, but that doesn't matter. Shawn Michaels is a liar and a coward.
   
   Bret's book will always find itself among my collection of books and films on my big book shelf.....but Shawn Michael's book....will find itself in my closet. :-) Maybe I'll use it to hold the bathroom door open from time to time.....



5. I just finished reading "The Shawn Michaels Story" and I must admit, I was surprised. This book actually shows a reflection of the real man and not the egotist that he portrays on television. I actually read this book in two sittings over the course of two days. I found it pretty hard to set down. Good read.

1 comments about Negotiating with Iran: Wrestling the Ghosts of History (Cross-Cultural Negotiation Books).

1. Iran is something that must be approached gingerly. "Negotiating with Iran: Wrestling the Ghosts
   of History" discusses how to approach the Iranian government when the United States and Iran have had a shaky relationship for decades, through much of the countries' shared existence. John Limbert puts his scholarly mind with advice to diplomats and other international negotiators on how to come out of this conflict a more peaceful world, and averting a potential nuclear crisis. "Negotiating with Iran" is a wise and highly recommended read for those who seek a better understanding of the current crisis.

5 comments about Wrestling For Beginners.

1. This book is very good for the beginner wrestler. All of the basics are covered along with a little bit of strategy. This book would also be very good for students of Karate and striking arts to learn basic ground moves like positioning, takedowns, wrist control, using weight, etc.



2. My son just joined the high school wrestling team, and he found this book to be helpful. His major complaint was that he would have liked the photos to more clearly show the moves.



3. The book provides useful basic information about the sport. It is however a bit outdated. Even if it is the cheapest available, do not buy this or anything else from truthwarrior1983.



4. This year is my son's first year wrestling (9th grade). Before reading this book he had 3 matches. He lost all three. He is a strong kid and physically fit (good endurance). However, after watching him several times I determined that perhaps he needed to learn the skill/theory of wrestling. I purchased this book. He read it. Needless, to say, he employed the "two leg" take down in this match. He pinned the kid in 18 seconds! I was astonished and surprised. The audience erupted and his principal gave him a high five. It was like out of a movie. (I am laughing right now playing it over in my head.) I spoke to my son and he said he had previously seen this maneuver in a match (however, he had not used this technique himself). He also had used other techniques illustrated in the book to pin the wrestler down and it worked. I guess seeing the skill and reconciling it with an explanation in the book brought it home for my kid. I have perused the book and it seems to be a comprehensive book for the beginning wrestler.



5. Good for beginners. I was looking for information to help me as a parent get to know the sport better. There was 1 very helpful page. The rest of the book is for a beginning wrestler.

5 comments about Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way.

1. You get a glimpse in the life of a great fighter as well as great instructions for wrestling, fighting and MMA. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have learned the most basic moves, as well as some insight on what to think while fighting.



2. A great guide for grapplers. The pictures are endless and shown from multiple angles so you can see exactly what he's doing. For me, that's invaluable in figuring out the technique. A great guide to augment your game ifyou already have some grappling experience.



3. FIRST OF ALL THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FROM THE GREATEST HIMSELF. RANDY COUTURE IS THE OLDEST UFC CAGE FIGHTER AND HAS WON MORE BELTS THAN ANYONE ELSE,SO TRUST ME IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BE THE BEST AT THIS THEN YOU NEED TO LEARN FROM THE BEST. I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE ANYONE TO GET THIS BOOK IT IS BUY FAR BETTER THAN ANY OTHER BOOK OUT THERE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY TO THE GUY WHO SAID RANDY IS ALL HYPE AND HIS RECORD IS 16-8 ,HE SHOULD CHECK RANDY'S ALL TIME RECORD THEN SEE IF THAT IS HYPE.RANDY HAS WON BELTS IN 2 DIFFERENT WEIGHT CLASSES MORE THAN ONCE IN HIS 40'S WOW !!! NOW THAT IS WHAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CALL GREAT. JUST DOING IT THE NATURAL'S WAY !!!!!!!!!



4. I loved this book. I loved the way the author had many pictures and showed pictures from every angle. By great illustration and by good pointers I was able to learn the proper way to use the Wrestling moves. This way I was able to teach my son and many others that want to learn. I recommend this book as it has not only two types of wrestling Folkstyle it had Greco Roman and with both it added a bonus to use the moves in a real life situation. Good pointers throught out the book and with Amazon great price nice.



5. Some people say that Randy's record is not that good, true, they don't know who he has fight in that not to good record. He fought almost all the best fighters in the world, few of his losses are againts the best in the worlds, too, such Ricco Rodriguez, Josh Barnett (two naturally bigger guys with great skill sets), Chuck Liddell (twice but won once!), Vitor Belfort (due to a cut and he even won twice!), Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (two of current best 5 heavyweights in the world on their early thirties, Randy was 45-46 when he fought them and still give them hell before his losses ;p )
   
   He's one of the most accomplished wrestler (if not the most) in MMA arenas. His wrestling skills are way up there for his body size, especially on his age againts all odds!! One of the most beloved UFC champion, the only guy who has won 5 titles in UFC (3 times heavyweight and 2 times light heavyweight), is called Captain America and always up to any challenges.
   
   His greco roman wrestling skills are superior and his freestyle wrestling skills are pretty elite, too. His boxing skills and heart, of course, helps a lot in his fights, too but he mainly uses his superior wrestling skills to adjust the distance, cut the angles, using great leverage, power and explosiveness then mixing them up with all his boxing skills and heart as big as a lion.
   
   This book is totally worth more than the price you pay around Amazon's. Just like the title "Wrestling for Fighting" , He teaches you mainly about the fundamentals of the wrestling technics and tips then he slowly shows you how to use them in fighting, particularly in MMA sport. The lessons are precious, the quality of the book and explanations are crystal clear as other Victory Belt, Cordoza/ Krauss's books. It's great for anyone seriously want to learn about wrestling and how to use them in MMA arenas. In wrestling area, I personally trust Randy the most to learn since he successfully apply them over and over again in the cage. In judo area (throws, pins and submission), I personally recommend Karo Parysian book, in striking area, especially striking positioning, Anderson Silva or Lyoto Machida, in BJJ, BJ Penn, Royler Gracie or Rodrigo Gracie, Fedor is the best heavyweight ever and I respect him the most but the book by itself is okay.
   
   Thanks