- Hardcover: 592 pages
- Publisher: Ebury Press (17 Jan 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0091932858
- ISBN-13: 978-0091932855
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 14 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 228,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
A Story of Death, Sex, Betrayal, and Revenge; Sweat, Steriods and Duplicity - Bret Hart lifts the lid on the wacky, mythic, secretive word of pro wrestling in this epic tell-all. Bret Hart achieved superstardom in pink tights and won titles across the globe. But there is a dark underside to wrestling's stagey showmanship and Bret paid the price. There were betrayals: most famously by Vince McMahon, a man he had served loyally; and there were tragic deaths: including the loss of his brother Owen, who died when a stunt went terribly wrong. During his roller-coaster 20-year career, Bret kept an audio diary, recording life on the road: the relentless travel, the practical jokes, the sex, the drugs, the rivalries. Now, his riveting, self-written, no-holds-barred account blows apart the mysterious world of wrestling.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book as a First Edition from Canada. It cost me a few quid but it is simply the best wrestling book ever written. A first hand account of what life is like on the road for a wrestler.
You will laugh, you will cry and some of it you will be shocked by. Has some great stories from Bret's time wrestling for his Dad in Canada. His time in the WWE (indepth look at the famous screwjob). To his time in WCW and after his retirement.
If you are a wrestling fan then this is a must read book. Still worth a read though to learn about a Canadian Hero. Overall a great insight to a wrestling legand.
You will laugh, you will cry and some of it you will be shocked by. Has some great stories from Bret's time wrestling for his Dad in Canada. His time in the WWE (indepth look at the famous screwjob). To his time in WCW and after his retirement.
If you are a wrestling fan then this is a must read book. Still worth a read though to learn about a Canadian Hero. Overall a great insight to a wrestling legand.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While I was growing up in the eighties and early nineties Bret Hart was a real hero to me. I loved his style and his physique and even at that young age I think I appreciated his character as a hard worker who always gave his best and earned every win he got. However, due to my interest in wrestling gradually waning over the years it wasn't until recently that I saw the Hitman documentary "Wrestling With Shadows".
This was a real eye opener to me on the whole 'Montreal Screwjob' scenario that I had only really heard of in passing before, and as a result when I learned that Bret's open and honest autobiography was about to be released I ordered it straight away, and I must say that this book is fascinating.
Early on the book seems like an extremely honest but somewhat by-the-numbers wrestling autobiography, in which Bret describes starting out with his brothers and later Jim Neidhart, Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith, and he is very open about the drugs and sex and real violence that followed them around throughout their early tours.
The antics described in much of the first half of the book will shock and quite possibly appall some readers, and certainly shattered a few of my childhood illusions, but Bret still comes across as a good guy trying to do his best in a world full of temptations (and I believe him). The real beauty of the chronicling of Bret's fledging career though comes in the foreshadowing of world famous events down the line, such as early encounters with Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels, and Bret's lovingly written memories of his late brother Owen, all of which make sure that you can't help but keep reading.
The take on the infamous screwjob is even more enlightening than the documentary previously mentioned, and gives an extremely interesting insight into all the figures involved. As well as this we are given fascinating behind-the-scenes glimspes into the day to day personalities of some of the most famous men in wrestling history, and to wrestling enthusiasts of around my age the inside info on superstars like Mick Foley, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and The Undertaker is priceless.
The back cover of the book makes a big thing about the betrayals by Vince, Shawn, Bret's own family and more, but I think its really worth mentioning the tales of heartwarming comradeship that are told as well, which really moved me at times.
There are very deep insights into the lives of some of the wrestlers around Bret as well, so fans of Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith and many others should really give it a read too, not to mention Shawn Michaels fans, who might learn something interesting about their idol!
Of course this is all only Bret's side of the story, so readers are free to draw their own conclusions...
In all I can heartily recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in wrestling as it is very well paced, emotively written, and a deeply fascinating insight into a strange and often brutal business. It didn't release me from its hold until I'd read it from cover to cover!
This was a real eye opener to me on the whole 'Montreal Screwjob' scenario that I had only really heard of in passing before, and as a result when I learned that Bret's open and honest autobiography was about to be released I ordered it straight away, and I must say that this book is fascinating.
Early on the book seems like an extremely honest but somewhat by-the-numbers wrestling autobiography, in which Bret describes starting out with his brothers and later Jim Neidhart, Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith, and he is very open about the drugs and sex and real violence that followed them around throughout their early tours.
The antics described in much of the first half of the book will shock and quite possibly appall some readers, and certainly shattered a few of my childhood illusions, but Bret still comes across as a good guy trying to do his best in a world full of temptations (and I believe him). The real beauty of the chronicling of Bret's fledging career though comes in the foreshadowing of world famous events down the line, such as early encounters with Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels, and Bret's lovingly written memories of his late brother Owen, all of which make sure that you can't help but keep reading.
The take on the infamous screwjob is even more enlightening than the documentary previously mentioned, and gives an extremely interesting insight into all the figures involved. As well as this we are given fascinating behind-the-scenes glimspes into the day to day personalities of some of the most famous men in wrestling history, and to wrestling enthusiasts of around my age the inside info on superstars like Mick Foley, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and The Undertaker is priceless.
The back cover of the book makes a big thing about the betrayals by Vince, Shawn, Bret's own family and more, but I think its really worth mentioning the tales of heartwarming comradeship that are told as well, which really moved me at times.
There are very deep insights into the lives of some of the wrestlers around Bret as well, so fans of Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith and many others should really give it a read too, not to mention Shawn Michaels fans, who might learn something interesting about their idol!
Of course this is all only Bret's side of the story, so readers are free to draw their own conclusions...
In all I can heartily recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in wrestling as it is very well paced, emotively written, and a deeply fascinating insight into a strange and often brutal business. It didn't release me from its hold until I'd read it from cover to cover!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you like Bret Hart or not,this is a compulsive read from the early days in Canada in his father's promotions to Japan and climbing the ladder in the then W.W,F. to the debacle of W.C.W. This is one of the best biographies I have read.Blisteringly honest with funny,sad and tragic memories.Do yourself a favour and buy this book.You will not be dissapointed.The original draft was double the size of the finished book. More to come perhaps?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing
If you have been a wrestling fan or still are a wrestling fan then this is definetly a book that you should pick up. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris "Hodgey"
Truly the Best Wrestling Book!!
First and foremost, this book is a must-have for any wrestling fan regardless of whether they followed Bret Hart in his prime. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jamie C
The Best there Is? Maybe not but one helluva read.
I just missed Brets career in WWE as I got really into it just after the screwjob. I bought this book out of general interest to hear his side of the story as I only ever really... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jonny123
A Massive Ego Stroke from the Hitman
This remains one of the hardest books I've had to get through, primarily because it's from a one person POV, which is Bret's, so although he reveals quite a bit of himself in this... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Blindbadger
The best
Although it's not the sort of thing I would buy for myself I did buy it for my son and he thought it absolutely fantastic. Now that has to be good.
Published 5 months ago by KENH
Excellent read
This was my second wrestling book after A Lion's Tale and it was very different although just as good. Read more
Published 7 months ago by squirrel_pigeon
One of the very best without a doubt.
This is a must purchase for any Wrestling fan and the best Autobiography written about the business. Read more
Published 9 months ago by ThorfanJim
Simply the best Wrestling autobiography ever published
Bret Hitman Hart is a legend in the professional wrestling business and his tell all, pull no punches warts and all account of his life and career is... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kempokickboxer
Bret Hart
Possibly the best book I've ever read, if you were a fan of wrestling from 1980 - 1995 you'll love the insight into this world. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dave the Cat
Just Fantastic
There is little more than fantastic that needs to be written about this book. For any Bret Hart fan it is a must, and for any wrstling fan it is well worth a read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Taylz1687
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