I suppose, even if just for a day, or a week, it is possible to possess too many good books for one's own good. In saying this I mean that there are too many options and it becomes a neurological crisis. After finally getting around to Arno Schmidt, Zola, and Saint Augustine, I ended up unable to process rational thoughts, fed self through tube, and 'Hit the Bottle.'As I hit the bottle, weeping over my shattered attention span and my friend trapped in Martial Law in Thailand, I found myself actually watching television. I have never watched television before. Or rather in some ten-odd years. I don't understand the meaning of television, and when I do not comprehend the meaning of something I prefer to walk away.Attempting without success to operate the extremely complicated remote control, I was stuck on the USA Network. As manually operating the channels was beneath me, simply out of the question, I arched my elbow, stretched out, took a sip of my triple gin, watched the clock strike eight.Much to my astonishment, professional wrestling came on. I thought it came on at nine. That's the way it used to be. I endured two or three minutes of the program, and listened to an promotional effort from a man on steroids in bright colors whom looked like a cross between a literal ape and Frankenstein. He spoke of military service in a rap song for children. As I despise war, rap, and children, I was inherently put off.However, my memories of fonder wrestling days - Nassau Coliseum, autographs, Madison Square Garden (I even used to listen to the pay per views on scrambled TV! It was like a radio broadcast!) and took a stroll out to Skid Row, and visited a family friend whom drinks heroic quantities of beer, and will surely be dead by the time he is 40, and who is also a wrestling fanatic. He collects figurines, taped events, misc merchandise, and autobiographies."There are better," espoused he, handing me the japalpeno chips through a long, deep belch which seemed to welcome death in its own roaring, winding way, "Say for instance, Chris Jericho. Bret Hart. But start with Stone Cold. It's easy. He is a born poet."He spoke the truth. This is a breezy autobiography and includes everything and more: Uneventful childhood, dropping out of college, barbed wire bats, steel cages, religious defamation, alcoholism, traveling the world, spousal abuse, boozing and brawling his way through life as Stone Cold.It would be of serious interest of Penguin Classics to reissue this text. Perhaps even a more fair-weather publishing house like Melville, or Dalkey Archive, would benefit greatly in having the testicular fortitude to reissue this neglected gem. Wrestling is not fake: It is scripted. I once dreamt of being a professional wrestler, but it did not last very long. I was in the phoenix of my nicotine addiction, and was woofing down a minimum of three packs per day. I jogged once the ropes, was flipped upside down, and was thereafter bedridden for the rest of the year. Things have picked back up, and I am back to my regular studies. Still, this book made me laugh and cry. It is the sum of all life experience, written by an obvious, buried (ring)master. Reccomended to all in search of an astonishing life reflection, i.e. Marcel Proust.
The book did a good job of going over Steve Austin's entire career, which helped me piece together some answers to questions I had while watching the Attitude Era of WWE. Learning the true story behind such things as his real life injuries is welcome, since the Attitude Era did such an excellent job of blending reality and fantasy. It was also very interesting to see how so many WWE stars are connected even before reaching WWE.Some chapters seem a little tacked on, such as a short chapter about Chris Benoit. At least those make it feel like the book really was dictated by Steve Austin and not just the work of his co-author.
Do You like book The Stone Cold Truth (2004)?
Stone Cold" Steve Austin's autobiography, "The Stone Cold Truth" details the life and career of one of the biggest icons in professional wrestling history. Overall, it's a great look at the life and times of one of America's most popular entertainers.Like any autobiography, the book discusses Austin's childhood growing up in Texas where he discusses growing up with his brothers. He talks about his family, his love of sports and just growing up in general including his first relationship with his first wife. From there he talks about how he got started in professional wrestling after dropping out of college. From there he chronologically follows his career with the Jarrett's USWA, Ted Turner's WCW, Paul Heyman's ECW and finally his getting into Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation. He shares lots of stories about the promoters and wrestlers he met and learned from along the way.Overall, if you're a wrestling fan you'll love reading Austin's overall thoughts on the wrestling business as he gives you his honest opinion on it. The vast majority of the book is basically Austin's experience in the business, how it should be run, etc. He talks candidly about his relationship with Vince McMahon as well as goes behind the scenes with how his biggest feuds in the business were put together or got floundered. We also get some of the dirty details behind his frustrating career in WCW as he saw it.The biggest drawback to the book is that it leaves you wanting more. Many of the chapters in the book are only a few pages long. Obviously there's a lot more that Austin and his co-biographers could have shared but I'm of the opinion that what was shared was adequate. The book is interspersed with "inserted commentary" by Austin's mother and father as well as his good friend and confidant "J.R." Jim Ross. The commentary adds some good extra insight to some of the points and stories Austin shares. Overall, while the book was a little sparse in parts, readers should be happy with Steve Austin's "The Stone Cold Truth." For wrestling fans you'll benefit from the insight into the wrestling business from its pre-eminent star."And That's The Bottom Line, `Cause Stone Cold Said So!!!"
—Nakul Dashora
Professional Wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin goes in-depth about his career and personal life. Unfortunately this book isn't directly written by Austin (now his legal name), but put together from a series of interviews, so the "voice" isn't always there, but all in all this was an interesting and worth-while read. Austin talks about his family life and going to college on a full-ride football scholarship, where he first considered getting into pro wrestling. He illustrates the dangers of breaking into the business, for instance getting ripped off by so-called "trainers" who have no interest in training you, but only stealing your money. Most interesting this this book, Stone Cold talks about why he left WWE and what he feels is wrong with the sport today, and trust me, he holds nothing back. If you are interested in the world of pro wrestling, this is definately one to check out.
—Andy
