Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling
by Bret Hart
List Price:
Our Price: $5.17
You Save: $11.82 (70%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Bret HartEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-11-04
ISBN: 0446545287
Number of pages: 592
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Book Reviews of Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling
Book Review: Very Deep Interpretation of Sports Entertainment
Summary: 5 Stars
Whereas Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling is a long 500 plus pages, it is indeed a very real account of Bret Hart's career in wrestling. The beginning parts of the book show Bret's humble beginnings. One of twelve children, he was viewed as part of a crazy wrestling family. In a family of that size there were bound to be clashes and a main one started with his sister Ellie which continued into adulthood. Bret's relationships with Diane, Georgia and some of his brothers were not so great either.
Nonetheless, when a film career did not originally pan out, Bret was brought into the Stampede Wrestling world where he paid his dues. Eventually Vince McMahon appeared on the scene and thus the long up and down career with the World Wrestling Federation began. It was very interesting to learn about the ups and downs of Bret's early tenure with McMahon. He was insecure if he would stay a part of the then WWF. Nonetheless, Bret had some savvy and his idea of turning heel and being paired with Jim Neidhart proved to be a good career move. Its very interesting to read about the on stage feuds with the British Bulldogs and the details behind the title change. Dynamite Kid was such a big influence to Bret that Dynamite's(Tom)career had many ups and downs. Its kind of sad the way Dynamite faded away into obscurity as he was a true talent for his size. Also interesting was Bret's evolving opinions about Hulk Hogan and negative feelings towards the Ultimate Warrior. He sure was not alone about The Warrior.
Also, of great interest was the constant tension between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. At first there was mutual respect. But later on one could sense the general mistrust between the two. Part of the problem was Shawn Michael's rowdy personality coupled with pills vs Bret's more low key demeanor. Mistrust grew and finally the Montreal Screwjob of 1997 caused a huge rift between these two men until possibly a month and a half ago. One wonders how real the makeup on WWE TV between Bret and Shawn was heartfelt. Maybe its part of the storyline.
Anyway, the heart of what makes this book great is the very detailed accounts of the WWE(F) lockeroom. Bret covers extensive ground on the major players, mid levels stars and jobbers with honesty. Key matches and moments are outlined very learly where one gets a perfect picture of what was happening inside the ring and out. No other wrestling book covers the details as well as Bret. His feelings towards Shawn are a little biased. But some of it is justified.
The issues such as Owen Hart, WCW, Bret's Stroke, Bret's divorce and changes in relationship with Vince McMahon make for a very intersting read. I wish I heard more about the events leading up to mother Helen Hart's death. But much is said about Stu. Its also amazing how Bret has a relatively good relationship with Jim Neidhart while a lousy one with Ellie(Jim's wife and Bret's sister). Would like to know why the relationship was so strained.
Whereas the book isn't absolutely perfect, Bret Hart's biography comes very close and excellently executes the life of Bret Hart. Hart does not claim to be a saint. However, he has feelings and emotions and that is a main strong point of this autobiography.
Summary of Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling
Forget everything you thought you knew about the insane world of professional wrestling. The sixth son of legendary Canadian wrestling promoter Stu Hart, Bret Hart was born into wrestling royalty. From his early twenties until he retired at forty-three, Hart kept an audio diary, recording stories of the wrestling life: the relentless travel, the practical jokes, the sex and steroids and cocaine, and the real rivalries (as opposed to the staged ones that unfolded before the fans).While Hart achieved superstardom in pink tights and won multiple wrestling belts in multiple territories (Stampede Wrestling, WWE, WCW to name a few), he also paid a severe price in betrayals and in tragic deaths, inlcuding the horrifying loss of his brother Owen, who died in a ring stunt gone wrong. Shortly thereafter, Bret suffered a massive stroke, likely resulting from a concussion he received in the ring, but with the spirit of a true champion, has battled his way back.
Widely considered by many of his peers as the greatest technician and worker of his generation, Hart is proud that in all his years in the sport, he never seriously hurt a single wrestler, yet did his best to deliver to his fans an experience as credible as it was exciting. No one has ever written about wrestling like Bret Hart because no one has ever lived a life like Bret Hart. These are the words of the Hitman.
Entertainers Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Entertainers Books
El Sid: Saint Viciousby David Dalton
Griffin; Published: 1998-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.79
Price in other shops:
Moonwalkby Michael Jackson
Crown Archetype; Published: 2009-10-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.45
Price in other shops:
High Society: The Life of Grace Kellyby Donald Spoto
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2010-10-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.27
Price in other shops:
Stand & Deliver: The Autobiographyby Adam Ant
Pan Macmillan; Published: 2007-04-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $137.10
San Antonio Rose: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF BOB WILLS (Music in American Life)by Charles Townsend
University of Illinois Press; Published: 1986-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $33.50
Price in other shops:
Orson Welles: Volume 1: The Road to Xanaduby Simon Callow
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1997-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.22
Price in other shops:
The Basketball Diariesby Jim Carroll
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1987-07-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.52
Price in other shops:
Hollywood Animalby Joe Eszterhas
Hutchinson; Published: 2004; Paperback; Book
Love, Janisby Laura Joplin
It Books; Published: 2005-08-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.50
Price in other shops:
A Paper Life CDby Tatum O'Neal
HarperAudio; Published: 2004-10-12; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $17.77
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Storyby Shawn Michaels
World Wrestling Entertainment; Published: 2006-11-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.22
Price in other shops:
WWE: Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate CollectionGenius; Release date: 2009-06-09; DVD
Best price: $3.59
Price in other shops:
A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandexby Chris Jericho
Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2008-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $142.33
WWE: Bret "Hitman" Hart - The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will BeWORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION; Release date: 2005-11-15; DVD
Best price: $3.97
Price in other shops:
The Death of WCW: WrestleCrap and Figure Four Weekly Present . . . (WrestleCrap series)by R. D. Reynolds, Bryan Alvarez
ECW Press; Published: 2004-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out of the Darkness (WWE)by Dustin Rhodes
World Wrestling Entertainment; Published: 2010-12-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.12
Price in other shops:
Foley is Good: And the Real World is Faker Than Wrestlingby Mick Foley
HarperEntertainment; Published: 2002-06-04; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.37
Price in other shops:
![WWE: Greatest Rivalries - Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart [Blu-ray] Image](/images/WWE-Greatest-Rivalries-Shawn-Michaels-vs-Bret-Hart-Blu-ray-B005BYBZBS-X.jpg)
WWE: Greatest Rivalries - Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart [Blu-ray]Uni; Release date: 2011-10-25; Blu-ray
Best price: $23.37
Price in other shops:
Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocksby Mick Foley, Mankind, WWF
HarperEntertainment; Published: 2000-10-03; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.41
Price in other shops:
Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Stepsby Chris Jericho
Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2011-02-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.95
Price in other shops: