Rating: 
Summary: Thanks, Tony . . .
Review: Since seeing Adam Rich sporting Ocean Pacific shirts on "Eight is Enough" as an impressionable 7 year old, I knew I was growing up on the wrong coast. I had such a fierce attraction to California and the way life was lived over there, and that interest has followed me for most of my life - the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, the proliferation of late-70s & early 80s era E! True Hollywood Stories, and now the autobiography of my lifelong idol & hero Tony Hawk. For 15 years I have admired Hawk, both as an amazing individual and as a link to my past. "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" is a well written memoir that illustrates both the man and the when/where/how of his growth as both a person and a legend of his sport. Hawk's involvement in the Big 80s boom of skateboarding cannot be understated - and the fact that he weathered the subsequent Great Depression of the sport and emerged a better skater *and* a better person for it illustrates his great character. The book is lots of fun too, because it serves as an inadvertent time capsule of what life was like in the 80s for Tony and dozens of other skaters: bleached bangs hanging over their eyes while crashing into the popular conscience, riding the back bumper of the Hollywood-mobile and onto movie screens across America, and jet-setting across Europe & Japan - all the while sporting 2 Swatches on one arm and decked out in hot pink Jams shorts. Awesome! But just as important as the movie sets, the demos in Tokyo and the goofing off in Switzerland is *the* picture of 80s California skate culture: the backyard ramp jams. Half a dozen friends hanging out in the hot sun, cooling off with cold Cokes and chowing on some good BBQ. At the age of 25, I will still admit to being very very jealous. And hell, when those friends happen to all have their names on T-Shirts, their own signature skate decks and are mobbed at shopping malls . . well that makes for an interesting life and times. "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" does a wonderful job of showing this life, as well as the bottoming out of that mentality and lifestyle in the early 90s - skating's Dark Ages. Tony's - and skateboarding's - slow and wildly successful recovery from that period is every bit as interesting and meaningful as the Big Years (albeit with more lessons learned and hardships endured). All great heroes need to suffer a little to battle back, and Tony's reflections on his various personal and professional setbacks are honest and real. Today, in the Here and Now, I have the great pleasure of watching my boyhood idol live a happy and successful life - at the top of his career and with the love of a beautiful family. Starting my own little family has given me the pleasure of sharing one more cool thing with my hero - marriage and fatherhood. "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" is an intelligent, well done biography that will satisfy fans and enlighten those who may not realize that a Legend (aka: Cool, Normal Guy) walks among us - when he's not floating and spinning several feet above , that is.
Rating:
Summary: Great Skateboard Bio
Review: The book "Tony Hawk: Occupation Skateboarder chronicles the world famous pro skater's life from his childhood
growing up in Carslbad, CA, early years learning how to skate, and eventual rise to international fame as the main
spokesperson for the sport of skateboarding, and extreme sports in general. It is an excellent resource not only for
teenagers involved in skateboarding, but also for anyone seeking an in-depth look into the culture that surrounded the
sport from the early 1980's up to the present. Equally interesting for both skaters and non-skaters alike is the commentary Tony provides about the commercialization and over-marketing of the sport that emerged in the 1980's, tapered off in the 1990's, and has now returned full force in recent years. Like most major sports biographies, it contains countless pages
concerning the dedication and hard work it takes to make it to the top of one's sport. It remains unique though in that it
discusses these topics in a context where most of the public does not think values such as dedication or hard work exist.
This helps break down stereotypes of skaters as "slackers," and shows that mindset of pro skater really is not that different
from anyone who excels in their given profession. Tony also demonstrates a true love and dedication to his sport when he
sticks with skateboarding, while at the same time facing near bankruptcy, during the major slump the industry faced during
the early 1990's. In all, an essential read for anyone truly interested in the world of professional skateboarding.
Rating:
Summary: Hawk
Review: Tony Hawk has been one of the most influential and popular professional skateboarders in the history of skateboarding. He turned pro at an early age and has been changing the perception of the sport and has been instrumental in creating the idea of skateboarding that we have today. His autobiography gives detailed information about his experiences within the industry, his evolution as a skater, and his thoughts and feelings about where skateboarding has been, is now, and should be in the future. It also tells you about his personal experiences along the way, some of which people who became interested in skateboarding after the X Games premiered might not know. I highly suggest that anyone interested in Hawk's life and experiences and the history of skateboarding read this book, if only to get another perspective on the sport from the one that they currently hold.
Rating: 
Summary: Hawk Occupation: Skateboarder
Review: Hawk Occupation: Skateboarder tells about Tony's life from when he was born on May 12, 1968, through landing the 900. It tells of the ups and downs of skating through Tony's eyes. He tells about his family supporting and helping him throughout his career, and all the crazy tales of his friends. You even get an inside look at what it's like to be on tour with Powell and Birdhouse.
My favorite part of the book is when Tony, Heath and, Jeremy, were filming The End with the rest of the Birdhouse team. Heath and Jeremy found a way to set themselves on fire without getting killed and skated. The three of them also drove to a restaurant in a van and set everything in it on fire. Excluding their brush with the law, which ended with no charges filed, everything went smoothly.
This is the best book I've ever read! I didn't really like Tony Hawk before I read this book. I thought he was too formal and didn't do everything and go through everything that other skateboarders do. But after reading it I have a lot of respect for him as a skater. I'd recommend Hawk Occupation: Skateboarder to any skater and to anyone who jus wants to read a good book. I'd give this book a 10 out of 10.
Rating:
Summary: Hawk occupation:Skateboarder
Review: If you are a skateboarder this is the book for you. As soon as you start reading your never going to want to stop until your done. While reading this book you feel like your their with him and going through the same stuggles he's going through. Even if you never skated and you started to read this book, by the time your done with it you would most likely own your own board. Tony's dedication and hard work shows all the readers to never give up because if you want something bad enough you will eventually achieve it.
Rating:
Summary: Thumbs up from a non-skateboarder
Review: I've never ridden a skateboard, and would probably fall on my face if I tried. I'm not exactly sure why I bought this book in the first place, but I'm glad I did. Tony Hawk is certainly an inspiring individual, and the fact he trudged through the world of skateboarding through times of high and low popularity before retiring from competition at the top of his game. As an amateur athlete (running), I could identify from the joy of his craft, even while toiling in obscurity and near poverty. The special bond between Tony Hawk and his father fleshes out the story. Most of the war stories are fun to read. The writing isn't great, but good enough. Those not familiar with the skateboard lingo are going to find parts of the story written in a seemingly different language at times. Those flaws aside, a reasonably well told story about a talented human, struggling to reach the top of his craft which anyone can appreciate.
Rating:
Summary: Hawk
Review: Tony Hawk is a very cool book written by Sean Mortimer. The thing that kept me reading was that I am a skateboarder, too! The character is a boy called Tony Hawk. The book talks about Tony from the time he started to skateboard, to when he was a professional skateboarder. As I read the book, I was always wondering what would happen next, which made me want to continue reading more to see. I easily noticed that it was full of action and entertainment. I recommend all you skateboard fans read this book and have an adventure with Tony Hawk.
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