Rating: 
Summary: Better with every read.
Review: To be honest, I have read this book cover to cover about seven times now, and it never ceases to amaze me just how entertaining and insightful it is. Mick Foley truly is a unique human being. Not for the intense pain he has withstood over his career, but for the way he has stayed so grounded and humble throughout his life. I've met the man twice, and both occasions were greeted with a handshake, a quick and friendly chat, and me telling him how much I enjoyed his book.
Also, if you enjoyed this title, be sure to check out "Foley is Good" as well as "Tietam Brown". Both are very entertaining reads.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing story of a Man who gives his life on the line
Review: Mick Foley's first book a tale of blood and sweatsocks is the 748 page Autobiography of his life. From his humble begginings, to his Dude Love videos, all the way to the Hell in a Cell to now. He throws one liners, and cute stories inside a dramatic unfolding of his career. He talks about his injuries, friends other compinies, and everything he sees outside of the ring and inside. He talks about trips to stadiums, his family, his school days everything you wanted to know. A couple of chapters in your hooked. It takes you a while to soak up everything. It took me 6 months to read it. And what amazes me the most is he wrote all 748 by hand with a pen and paper. It is an interesting book and even if your not a fan of wrestling, it is still a good book to read if you want a nice story and some laughs.
Rating:
Summary: Hard work, determination, and a bunch of "bumps"
Review: When I first picked this book up, I thought "there is no way I'm going to read a book this long about a professional wrestler." I began reading, however, and once started I couldn't stop. This is the story of Mick Foley, better known at various stages of his career as Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind. Foley wrote the book himself, and did a spectacular job. In fact he writes much batter than most of the "ghostwriters" who pen celebrity autobiographies today. Foley has a style, in which he tells a well-crafted and compelling narrative while cracking jokes that one can't help but laugh at. This is, literally, a tale of blood, but for some reason it's a funny tale.
Behind all the glitz and glory of professional wrestling comes the sport's most unlikely hero: Mick Foley. With a less-than-stellar physique, Foley sometimes didn't have the visual appeal of other would-be wrestlers, and consequently had to work many times as hard for what he achieved. This book follows Foley during his fourteen year (I believe) career as Cactus Jack, from wrestling in small high schools to touring Africa to tangling himself in barbed-wire in Japan and earning the title "King of the Deathmatch." It also covers his stint as Dude Love in the WWE, and his most recent character, Mankind. Through it all Foley gave it his best, not being afraid to bleed even when only a few fans would see him. Foley was bruised, battered, beaten, cut open, torn up, blown up and otherwise abused during his climb to the top of the WCW, IWA, ECW, and WWE (which eventually happened in late 1998, when Foley won the world championship belt), but he gave it all for the sport he loved. Foley is an unlikely hero, but is nevertheless a good example of what hard work and determination can get you in life. After reading this book I'm compelled to agree with the masses: Foley is good.
Rating:
Summary: One giant step for Mankind
Review: Wow! This is truly an amazing book! After reading this book, I felt as if I had some sort of understanding of Mick, a seemingly peaceful man whom in his career always chose the most violent and painful path. From his misunderstood beginnings as a Long Island teen fantasizing about Jimmy Snuka, throughout his travels and travails through the outhouses of professional wrestling, to the pinnacle of his trade, the World Wrestling Federation, Mick shows all, in his own idiosyncratic way in his own painstakingly written words, what this business is all about. If you ever wanted to understand why the millions that watch this Pop Cultural Phenomenomon unfold each and every Monday night, this is your opportunity. If you are interested in a book of inspiration, seeing a man who was told at every turn that his dream was unattainable, that he was too different, that he was not a person that would sell out arenas, overcome and succeed, this is your book. If you want to enjoy a book, have a good laugh, lose complete track of time because the book is so engrossing, this is your book. Thanks Mick, and as always, HAVE A NICE DAY!
Rating:
Summary: The first and the best
Review: The WWF decided to publish wrestler autobiographies back in the late 1990s, and Mick Foley was the first to have his published. It not only dominated the wrestling fan's eyes, but the mainstream as well and was received so well by everyone it went to the top of the New York Times bestseller lists for non-fiction. And he wrote it all himself. Not only is it a classic telling of some truly amazing personal stories, but its organized so well it flows flawlessly. The book is written superbly, and its impossible to forget that it was written by a man who's undergone serious punishment to his entire body, what with his vivid descriptions of the events within the pages. Bottom line, this book is a must read. I'm proud to have a first printing hardcover on my shelf to read again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: Liar, sellout and hypocrit
Review: Yes, it's an interesting read of a really regular guy becoming (and I'm not kidding here) the unlikliest of wrestling stars. And it is pretty touching at times. But let's take an objective look at some of the facts. 1) People say Foley is a great wrestler because of his inhuman ability to endure pain that could literally put other human beings in traction. Does this make him a great wrestler. No f'in way. True talent comes in being able to protect yourself and your opponent and not get hurt. The TRUEST of great wrestlers simply make it look like it hurts really badly, but rarely ever injure themselves or anyone else (Bret Hart and Ricky Steamboat are prime examples). But frankly, given enough guts and money, anyone can go out there and get seriously hurt. But not just anyone has the talent to make it look that way, but not be that way. 2) Where to begin with this one...he sold out. For a guy who professes to have such a deep appreciation for the art of wrestling, he jumped into the superficiality very quickly. A chapter explains his frustrations with the 'new' WWF crowd for only responding to catchprashes, curvy women and "sports entertainment" portions of the show and he professes what a tragedy that is. Until of course...he gets a catchphrase and becomes a comedy character that actually catches on. Then it's okay. Total garbage. 3) His title wins. He claims to be "A major reason Eric Bischoff wakes up with boot marks all over his tush every Tuesday (ratings day back then). His logic is that it's because he's a former world champion and thus, a main event talent. News flash Foley: His main event run and subsequent (and short) world title wins were all just extensions of the Austin-McMahon/Austin-Rock fueds. The one who delivered the ratings was Austin himself. A parade of wrestlers came through the main event scene during the long Austin vs Evil owner story, Undertaker, Kane, Shane McMahon, Val Venis, Bossman, Test, the Whole DX stable, but in the end, the real draw was Austin versus Vince McMahon and Foley's otherwise spindoctoring of these facts is just that, spindoctoring. 4) His family. I'm glad things turned out cool for him. But he spends lots of time rubbing it in the reader's face that he has a sexier wife than most. So what...if I have a wife who isn't (as) sexy what does that mean? It's a pity that Foley had an opportunity to show that men (or wrestlers in particular) aren't that shallow, but instead took the opportunity to rub the noses of the "less fortunate" in his good fortune. Also he says he was "afraid" of having an ugly daughter. So what is she didn't come out a looker? To say you're afraid of your child not being good looking is just awful. Finally, he seems to think every other match of his was some kind of classic. If one takes every word he says as the truth, then all his matches are 4-5 stars and of course he should be picked up by big promotions. Truth is, like he says in his second book "Wrestling promoters aren't interested in hardcore. You've got to have a good character and know the basics" Well there's the problem. Foley sole 'ability' lay in his pain threshold and there was really nothing to distinguish Cactus Jack from any other generically mean bad guy with a beard at the time. Also, he acts like all his friends are perfect too. He says his pal Kevin Sullivan helped WCW climb out of a creative hole. Idea like "The Yeti" "The Taskmaster" "Dungeon of Doom" "The Shark" "Zodiac Man" and other childish silliness were some of Sullivan's ideas and he was one of the reasons wrestling sucked in the mid 90's. But Foley won't bring that up, cause Kev's his friend and thus should not be talked about that way. In the end, Foley's world title/main event run was really cookie cutter stuff for the time and like I said, really just an extension of a greater fued and bigger stars. Back in the old days, getting the belt meant the company trusted you to carry the promotion on it's back as it's best performer and biggest star. But by the time Foley got it, championships had descended to the point where they were used to further storyline purposes and frankly played second fiddle to the conflict between the wrestlers themselves. He's only hurting himself by thinking otherwise. Just remember, getting your ear ripped off doesn't take talent, it takes an accident. What a crock.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing read!!
Review: WOW, this book was great. I think part of the reason I liked it so much is because Im a huge wrestling fan but(as so many others have already stated), you will like it even if you're not a fan of wrestling. This tells you so much about what goes on behind the scenes in all wreslting organizations. It tells about his runs in WCW, ECW, and of coarse WWF as well as his famous and brutal matches over in Japan. Mick Foley also talks about the infamous 1997 Survivor Series where Bret Hart got screwed as well as many stories about the late great Owen Hart. I promise you that you will be laughing throughout most of this book as he tells some of the funniest stories ever that involve many of the wrestlers that you wouldn't think of as being funny. Ive also read read Roddy Pipers book(also one of the best books ive read, although its only half the size of this book), and I am a little confused about Vince McMahon(WWF owner). Roddy Piper describes him in a way that makes you believe that Vince is only in it for the money and that he doesnt care what the wrestlers think about the company whereas Mick Foley describes him as being a very nice person who takes the wrestlers into consideration when making changes in the company...I cant figure out what hes really like. Overall this has to be one of the best books ive ever read and I highly recommend it to everyone looking for a great read!
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