Rating: 
Summary: never read it, but chyna seems to be a nice person!
Review: Anyone who reads this book can tell Joanie's a self-centered, egotistical brat. Just count the number of "I"s and "me"s throughout the book. It's OK to be bitter, but you've got to express it in a way that doesn't sound egomaniacal. Her book is completely incoherent- jumps around from one thing to the next without getting much at the real picture of her wrestling career. Sorry, but I don't miss Joanie (formerly known as Chyna) at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Ummm....
Review: First of all, I must say that if you liked Joanie Laurer (Chyna)before reading this book you won't like her after reading it. I supported her until reading this book. It's far too vulgar even even for a navy sailor (which I am). At least in Mick Foley's book (which is a masterpiece) he only uses profanity when quoting someone. But Joanie uses it any chance she gets. And she insults EVERYBODY, even a fan that asked for her autograph (it's a rather rude comment too). Plus she's such a hypocrit. She complains that people made fun of the way she looks but then in her book she constintley makes a comment about the appearance of someone else. And she's so egotistical (read any interview she's ever done and you'll notice even without reading the book).Other gripes. The book was way too short, it's not in chronological order, no real indept stories except for maybe one or two, and was not worth the price. The only redeming factor is that there are some funny moments in it.
Rating:
Summary: Not a very good Wrestling book.
Review: I bought this book recently for cheap on Ebay. I had heard it wasn't a very good read, but I like to judge things for myself. Well, what I heard was pretty accurate. Chyna mostly talks about her bad parents and how she got screwed over time and time again, jumping from one mistake to the next. She never really places any blame on herself for her bad fortune. Anyway, being a wrestling book, there is really little talk of wrestling. She talks more about competing in fitness contests than wrestling, but when she does talk wrestling its mostly about training with Killer Kowalski (she seems bitter toward him too), her "good housekeeping" match with Jeff Jarrett, and getting hired by the WWF because of Triple H and "Sean" Micheals. It just isn't a good read. She jumps around a LOT and instead of talking about more interesting things like almost working for the FBI and secret service, all she wants to do is go on bitter rants about how much she got screwed over.
Rating:
Summary: The ninth wonder of the world indeed
Review: I can say that Chyna is my favorite wrestler of all time,and I can also say that her autobiography was amazing,Most say it is poorly written,But I would say other wise...I found the book to be quite interesting and brought you closer to the WWE diva.It showed you how hard she had it growing up with her mother and father...and How she made her way into the WWF now WWE.She brings you in closer on her careers before wreslting and what it took to become the most celebrated diva in WWE history of her time.She proved she was just as good as the men if not better then most of them.She made you see who the real chyna is...The side we dont see,the side that is Joanie Laurer!!
Rating:
Summary: Chyna: straight scoop on a class act
Review: I have been a WWF fan for 20 years and the "new" WWF has great performers headed by The Rock, Triple H, Steve Austin and of course, Chyna. I just read her book cover to cover last night and greatly enjoyed it. Like Mick Foley's book, Chyna tells her story without pulling punches and as the real person behind the character. Mick Foley's book was great because he told the truth about his life and what being a wrestler was like in the beginning for him and right through his star status. Chyna's book has the same quality. It makes you want to congratulate her on all of her well deserved success, commend her for her honesty and hug her for all she's been through to get where she is today. The Rock's book had him going in and out of character and the book was not very good...there is no 'Rock' but there is a Mick and a Joanie. They are real people and reading about them makes you care about them. Congrats Joanie on a great book and on all of your accomplishments. From the ring to the talk show circuit, Joanie is a class act that can handle herself with honesty and dignity, even the nonsense of a Howard Stern interview. Read the book and find the heart under the muscle and the brains behind the makeup. You won't be disappointed...and that's the bottom line and have a nice day....
Rating: 
Summary: So Weird to Read Now
Review: I realize that I am posting a review about three and a half years after all the other ones. I have to admit that I was always a huge Chyna fan, and if I wasn't I probably would not be giving this book four stars as the other reviewers are right when they say that the ghostwriter is very obvious in his presence and the chronology makes no sense. That said, I love the way that the epilogue and the prologue correlate with each other...I think it's very touching. However, this book is so weird to read now because three years have passed since its release. Chyna was fired and if you think she sounded bitter in the book, she's probably very bitter now. I read an interview and she claimed that there were a lot of things she wasn't allowed to write about (I'm guessing it's the HHH/Stephanie situation, which is very subtly addressed in the book). Still, this book is very entertaining, and while it's by no means classic literature, it's a very quick read that's perfect for the wrestling fan looking for a nostalgia kick.
Rating: 
Summary: The 9th Wonder of the World
Review: I'm not a fan of professional wrestling, but I received this book written by the WWF superstar as a gift, with an inscription: This is about a woman who is strong, beautiful, and who gained the respect of the men in her field -- so of course it reminded me of you :)
Well, thnks, Tig, and that's a fair review of the autobiography of Chyna. Or actually, of Joanie Laurer, her alter-identity. The first half of the book deals with Joanie's difficult childhood and disfunctional family. That part is full of bitterness and old grudges. But the second half is the account of Chyna's rise to wrestling fame, and much more enjoyable. The book is a very fast read, containing almost 100 wonderful photographs. Chyna has the most impressive physique of all the WWF "Divas": by that I mean her ripped, weight-trained muscularity, not those outlandishly oversized implants! The author confides the details of her decision to "enhance her femininity", to counteract cruel misperceptions about her gender-identity. As an amateur powerlifter built "like Rambo-in Drag", I can identify with her dilemma. Ironically, it was her extreme "feminine enhancement" which forced her retirement from the Square Circle. Far outclassing any of the Divas in strength and ability, China had to be pitted against the male heavyweights. She held her own in the ring, becoming the first female Intercontinental Champion. Until the day a fateful encounter with a "Clothesline" popped one of her vulnerable implants...! Chyna's anecdotes from her career are full of self-depreciating humor and what appear to be the make-believe rivalries of pro-wrestling. Interspersed throughout her narrative are quotes from her lover (fellow wrestler "Triple H"), trainer, comrades, and manager. Her insight behind-the-scenes of the fantasy world of pro-wrestling is quite interesting. So, where is Chyna now?
Recently, Joanie Laurer was seen on "Celebrity Boxing", matched against Joey Buttafucco. Joanie entered the ring 35 pounds sleeker than Chyna in her prime, and handily outboxed Buttafucco. She lost the match by half a point, after the ex-con resorted to "prison brawling tactics", in one instance even (as the commentator exclaimed in astonishment) giving her "The Knee". Joanie's comment: she had fought "like a Lady" -- and so had her opponant! One can only hope for a rematch in the wrestling ring!
I don't believe pro-wrestling, with its violent and sexual themes, is appropriate for children. And Chyna's book contains both, with a lot of profanity as well. I admire her for her accomplishments and am glad I read her story.
Rating:
Summary: Autobiography of Chyna
Review: I'm not a fan of the WWF. I'm also not a fan of car wrecks either, but I do slow down and survey the damage (don't we all), and a car wreck would be apt metaphor for Chyna's (Joanie Laurer's) life. So many events conspired to push her down, you would expect her to live a mediocre life, but no, somehow she rises above it and becomes a wrestling superstar. That is what this book is about. Although this book is poorly written, disjoined, double-spaced, and bordering on a literary version of attention deficit disorder, that just adds to picture. The majority of the book deals with Joanie's difficult childhood, and is saturated by old grudges. The final part of the book details her rise to fame and fortune. This is definitely a unique autobiography aimed at wrestling fans, but I found it entertaining nonetheless. If you happen to find it in a resale shop, like I did, it might be worth a look.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm amazed that Joanie Laurer is still alive
Review: Joanie Laurer is a person who has had her share of accomplishments in life. I'm much more impressed with the pre-WWE Joanie Laurer than I am with what she has become since. Most people know her from either Playboy or her days as "Chyna" in pro wrestling. It's obvious to me now that Laurer would sell her soul to be famous and accepted. It's funny, because in this book while discussing her final days with HHH, she complains about female producers who gave him attention during one of his television appearances. She mentions how HHH liked the attention from these phony women, who were smoking their cigarettes, and how repulsed she was with their behavior. Fast forward a few years, and now Laurer is everything she used to hate and much more. I guess she figures, if you can't beat them, join them. She has now made her own porn movie, she smokes, abuses alcohol and most likely drugs too. She is so desperate to fit in with the "popular crowd" and it's really sad and at the same time repulsive to see. A taste of fame really ruined this woman, and now she's more of a laughing stock than ever. If only Joanie Laurer would realize that true strength comes from being an individual, and not from endlessly trying to be accepted by others. Her desperate craving for attention and fame will be the ruination of her, and quite possibly the death of her.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not a great book.
Review: The Canadian price for this book is 39.50, and anyone who would pay that much for this book is a fool. I picked this up for 8.99 in the bargain bin at a grocery store, and that's about all this book should cost. I'm what you would call an on-again/off-again wrestling fan, and tune in now and then to watch it. Some of the characters are intersting. I don't follow it religiously like some people do. This book was an intersting read, but it's kind of like reading the National Enquirer or any of the other tabloid newspapers: it's a fast read and kind of trashy. I wanted to learn much more about the backstage goings on and the behind-the-scenes stuff about the world of pro wrestling, not endless pages about her grudges against her mother and her dysfunctional upbringing, which wasn't that horrible in comparision to what other's have been through. Yeah, her mother yelled at her alot and was the typical dramatic mother. Big deal. Everyone has a mother like that. I also wanted to hear more about some of the other jobs she did before wrestling. I found the book jumped around alot, and just when she'd write about something intersting she'd cut it short... she'd start with an idea and then suddenly the topic would be changed and she'd go off on something else. The book is also not very well-written, with gramatical and spelling errors, and i suspect that a ghost writer had quite a hand in the writing of this book. There is quite a bit of swearing in the book, and this book is not suitable for younger readers, as there seems to be a more adult tone to the book. The fact that this book was written double-spaced probably explains the over 300 pages. The photographs are nice though. My advice is borrow this from the library or get it in some bargain bin. Don't pay full price for this book. I've heard there are many other books about wrestlers that are much better than this one and more intersting. This book i read more as a curiosity piece. Not bad, but not great either. For fans only or the curious.
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