A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex by Chris Jericho
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Book Reviews of A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex
Book Review: Great pro wrestling read
Summary: 5 Stars
This goes up there with the Bret Hart book as one the best pro wrestling books I have ever read. Chris is very smart and funny and it shows in this book.Book Review: Very Good Read
Summary: 4 Stars
If you notice that so many wrestling autobiographies are published by the WWE it makes you wonder how much is real and how much is 21st century kayfabe?
Chris Jericho's book is not published by the WWE and I'd like to think he was more honest in his story and while I think he is truly a decent guy with a good form of self deprecating humor, I always got the feeling while reading this book, that maybe he was worried about burning bridges?
He laughs and makes fun of himself, going from his late in life loss of virginity to how he was almost murdered in Mexico by a femme fatal and her boyfriend who suckered him into going someplace and then robbing him at gun point and leaving him there.
He talks of his days working at the Hart dungeon with people like Lance Storm and Chris Benoit. His work in small time promotions in Canada and parts of the US.
The time he spent in WCW with people like Eric Bischoff who thought he was too small to be a champion and his subsequent time in the WWE where he did become champion.
He talks of his time Japan and Mexico, and while I belive he is honest to a degree, we never really hear of the bad things that he must have known about but has refused to discuss.
This book was written and published at a time that Jericho was out of wrestling and he gives the reader the impression that at least when this book was being written, he was done with the business and had moved onto other things and was now a husband and father.
Still I was not surprised when he returned to the WWE not too long after this book was published and I think his omission of anything nasty pointing that way was intentional. He talks about the death of Owen Hart, but does not really come down on the WWE.
At the very end of the book he does give us a list of professional wrestlers who have died before their time, in what I believe was an attempt to at least show that what he does for a living, while being a fantasy to those who watch it, is more than real to those in the business and some have paid a terrible price for it.
This book was written before Chris Benoit killed his wife and son and then himself. I've read that Jericho will have a new book out soon that deals with that chapter of his life. My only concern is that if the book is a WWE published book, the truth will NOT be there.
Book Review: Good read
Summary: 4 Stars
I've always been a fan of Jericho's in ring work (well "always" dating back to the late 90s in his WCW days anyway). This book is written in such a manner that you feel like you are sitting down with him over a bottle of rum and he is just telling you some really good stories (sometimes funny, sometimes weird, sometimes sad). I really didn't feel like I was reading as much as just listening to a guy (whom I admire) talk about his life.
As with any "wrestling" book you are going to limit the number of people who are going to be interested. I don't believe being a fan of the business is a must for reading this book (although there are some jokes that only fans will get), but I will say this book is not for everybody. Several topics are a bit off color and will offend some.
There are some problems with the book though (I'm actually surprised to see it getting as many 5 star reviews as it is). For one, almost every topic is dealt with in a "light-hearted" sort of way. This is fine for the majority of the book, but there are times when it this approach seems odd. For example, he discusses a situation were a bunch of wrestlers and himself go out bowling after taking prescription sleeping pills like it was nothing. Yet, some of the people who went out that night died very real drug related deaths. Second, he mentions that he is Christian yet openly discusses drug use, strip clubs, alcohol, sex, etc... I'm not even religious, and I found it strange.
Overall, it's a great book and well worth the cheap price.
Book Review: Breaking down the walls
Summary: 4 Stars
I had a great time reading this book as this was a book written by one of the "younger generation" of wrestlers - the ones that I grew up with and followed their careers from the mid 90's to today. Chris Jericho presented a funny and amusing account of his travels as a wrestler and the dues he had to pay along the way - probably one of the last wrestlers to go through the "territorial system" on his way to the WWE. In addition, he also presented a unique take on the turmoil that was WCW as an undercard wrestler being "held down" from breaking through. I also enjoyed reading about the hush hush double secret meeting Jericho had with Vince and co. Of course, with the ending of the book at his intro to WWE, I look forward to "part II" of the Lion's Tale.Book Review: Awesome
Summary: 4 Stars
It's a great book, it's funny and clever it makes you feel like you know Chris Irvine.
I finished it in a week and got it autographed by Jericho. Now I'm reading Undisputed (his second book) If you buy this book which you should be sure to buy undisputed as well