A Detailed Biography Of A Political Street Fighter!
937240
In" Stephen Harper"  by John Ibbitson writes with candour about Canada's former Prime Minister from his childhood to his rise in the political arena and his term in office. The biography portrays Stephen Harper as a family man devoted to his children and to his supportive wife Lauren and as a politician with strengths and weaknesses, dedicated to building a "conservative Canada".

It is a well-structured, comprehensive picture of a "political street fighter" who experiences highs and lows, triumphs and failures during his time as Prime Minister. After reading this book I've come to appreciate a Stephen Harper who is only human and governed to the best of his ability.
661127
I spent 12 years studying martial arts before the invent of MMA. Boy has the sport changed things. Instead of students reading the works of Bruce Lee, they are subjected to the tomfoolery of UFC Superstar Forrest Griffin. I read this book because Forrest is a humble, straight talking, funny guy with some serious guts and determination. Truth is, I needed a good laugh and I got a few. What I didn't expect was that underneath much of the horsing around there were some basic common sense principles about fighting, training and life that even Bruce Lee would have agreed with. Forrest knows how to get past a reader's guard with macho whimsy and then deliver a solid blow to the funny bone that you might not recover from.

Did I learn anything new? Not really but many of the average fans who read it could pick up a technique or two (Especially the super secret ones). Forrest guides the typical UFC fan along an unexpected path. He his a man who loves to fight but he does so within his own set of morals which avoid decadence, dishonesty and drug use. He fits the mold of a modern day anti-hero, a real life Stone Cold Steve Austin complete with his own twisted loyalty, facial scars and a crooked smile.
1370755
a great game buried in the shadow of street fighter and fatal fury. each character has a set of moves som unique and some very familiar for street fighter and fatqal fury players. raphael for example is like m bison though he has a fireball ball his main attack i like bisons psycho crusher, michael angelo is like blanka and ken/ryu. the only draw back is that u have to put a code in to play as the bosses akai and rat king, other than that theres no down side to the game but i will admit for a beginner it may be a little challenging but for a veteran sfII or ff player there should be no problem. if you're interested in this game get this version snes the nes and genesis versions aren't as good as a matter of fact there completly different games al together
1032549
Great in-depth look to the creation of the ufc. A must read for any ufc fan that appreciates their history
2888915
An historic look at one of the great pioneers of modern martial arts.  This is the story of the man, the myth, and the legend.  The man who "brought back to China what China had forgotten"  This book is a must for every martial artist!
1920507
Awesome Read ! Whether you have aspirations to run for political office or not, Brian Duewel's book is a must read. His writing about every step of the process of a being a candidate in a  political campaign is enlightening and exciting.  Brian Duewel's step by step of what to do and not to do in a  political campaign is real because it was learned by the hard knocks of an authentic election. This is a great handbook for aspiring George Washington's, Abe Lincoln's or someone who wants to run for the local school board. Brian not only recounts his experiences but has included many interviews with  politicians that shares what it takes to survive a political campaign.  "The Art of the Political Campaign: How to Run For Office"  is a fascinating  look at the overall political process and what it takes to begin your political career. You will enjoy
527746
I'll make this review short and, I hope, "sweet":  if one is a "hardcore" boxing fan expecting to be given details about heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey's (b. 1895, d. 1983, pro career 1914-1927, champion 1919-1926) ring battles, one will be surely disappointed as there are few details about most of "The Manassa Mauler's" pre-title, unfilmed bouts; if, on the other hand, one is a casual fan or just someone who loves to read bios, this may be an interesting read becuz author Roger Kahn did know his subject well - as a person - having spoken often with the then former champ and becuz the biographer examines many aspects of Dempsey's personal life in detail, such as his trial on the charge of draft evasion, his relationships with manager Jack "Doc" Kearns and promoter Tex Rickard, his marriages to Maxine Cates and Estelle Taylor, his sex life, etc.

However, as some other reviewers have noted, Kahn sometimes goes off on tangents, informing the reader about subjects - such as US President Warren G. Harding's sexual "conquests" - that really have no bearing on the story of the former hobo's life, subjects about which many of us cd also care less.

Another problem is that the book wasn't very well researched - as is evident by the inclusion of a bibliograpghy, but no footnotes - and, consequently,  there are more than a few errors of fact.  For ex, Kahn notes that Kearns was present when his fighter Mickey "The Toy Bulldog" Walker took on fellow boxing immortal Harry Greb in a streetfight just hours after "The Pittsburgh Wildcat" administered a bad beating in a middleweight title bout betw the two (Walker enjoyed recounting their unofficial tussle and every account of that battle that I have read are somewhat similar, with several points featured in every Walker telling/version:  that the fight took place on the street outside a bar, that reigning welterweight champ Walker won the mill, that he did so by nailing the half-blind Greb while the latter was peeling off his jacket, and that Kearns was NOT present).  Nonetheless, most casual fans prob will not mind some errors here and there becuz Kahn spins a pretty good yarn and packed the book with many interesting anecdotes, which give the uninitiated a good idea as to the perks and pitfalls of being a (popular) heavyweight champ.

Other pertinent things about this 450 page tome are that there are some nice photos included ('tho most have seen the light of day more than a few times in other sources) & the author has provided an index, but NOT Dempsey's measurements or ring record.

All in all, this is a very "readable" book, 'tho if one were desirous of reading about Demspsey's ring battles, there are better bios available, such as Jack Cavanaugh's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Gene-Tunney-Boxing-s-Brainiest-Champ-and-His-Upset-of-the-Great-Jack-Dempsey/dp/0812967836/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">(Gene) Tunney: Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey</a>.
1889765
George Dillman is a legend in the martial arts and this book chronicles his amazing journey with both informative while at times numerous insights from many who have shared time with him.  An easy read full of both important historical as well as applicable martial arts instruction.  I highly recommend it!
56745
I knew very little about boxing until I read Fighting Spirit! Having lived and worked in Lowell MA, I thought I knew it's history. Fighting Spirit covers not only Bobby Christakos's career but the building of Lowell with special attention to the "Acre". The writer's fill in the history of the ups and downs of Lowell from a little plot of land called the Acre. They give you the determination of it's people in building the Mills along the river and canals. The history of the depression and the determination of it's citizens to climb back up and start all over again. From the small business owner like Bobby's dad to the big league employers like Wang Labs. Lowell was and always will be a melting pot of fighters! Loved learning about the Golden Gloves and Bobby's fights. Not only was he a fighter, he now gives back to the Lowell community in many ways. Keep up the good fight Bobby!
3565491
Dan Severn, legendary amateur wrestler, mma fighter and pro-wrestler has lead a unique and interesting life. To read his story is to learn about the crossroads of American fighting sports, from the realist of the real to the dramatic and entertaining. Severn always had a plan and did things his way, never selling out.

The book could be a little tighter. And although I agree with his takes on Ken Shamrock, Brock Lesnar and the Gracies, his repeated criticism grew a little tiresome.

Those criticisms aside, Severn's book is a great, motivating read for any fight fan with a few life lessons to learn from a fighter that avoided many pitfalls of the lifestyle.
1288705
I've known Asa for years, and so this review can't be objective.  Having said that...
Asa is a character, in the very best sense of that word.  (For example, Asa would probably prefer that you buy this book from him, as he usually has some copies of it around.)  It's very hard to capture his essence in written form.  This book is a good substitute for meeting him in person.  His games are full of gritty fighting chess, with somewhat obscure openings.  He is a master of psychology, both when playing at the board and when playing rapid chess for money.
Asa dispenses with the traditional match history and tournament crosstables, prefering to let the games speak for themselves.  The first two chapters contain tactical slugfests, the latter six contain more positional battles.  He is honest in his analysis, if somewhat terse.  (Sitting with him at the Marshall Chess Club in Manhattan would show you the exact opposite; Asa is a very voluble guy.)
The pages are packed with information; not much dead white space in this book.  So don't be fooled by the small number of pages in this book.
3602143
This was the first book I read on the sport of boxing. Mike Tyson has always been an intriging character in American sports lore and this book set the stage to deepen that allure. Author and former fighter Jose Torres had the unique advantage of knowing Mike during those years of turmoil that sent his life spinning out of control. The personal accounts in this book were the first to show Iron Mike's softer side, his insecurities and the hints towards homosexuality. It was the latter hints that provoked my imagination when, many years later, I wrote my own boxing novel Virgin Gloves.

I would be lying if I said Mike Tyson didn't have an impact on my life. There was always something about his paranoia and self-destructiveness that reached me as an adolescent. I had the opportunity to meet Jose Torres and he said that Mike was a modern day Shakespearean character full of brilliance and strife. Funny, that's exactly what I thought of Jose's book.
2554513
Finger combines the intensity of the in-ring experiences these proud warriors exude with the human aspect of who these men really are. There are plenty of books that answer the "what" with regard to the happenings and results of these epic pugilistic contests, but Finger is the first to help people connect to the "why" of these fighters lives.

Anyone who is interested in finding out the behind the scenes aspect of the sweet science in the 1990's ABSOLUTELY MUST read this book. As a man who came of age and cut his teeth in combat sports due to inspiration from guys like Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, etc., this book is near and dear to my heart. Great job, David E. Finger!!!
616897
I purchased this book a couple of days ago and absolutely love it! From the moment I opened it, I couldn't put it down! I thought I knew a lot about the UFC, boy was I mistaken. MMA IQ covers every possible angle of the UFC, its fighters, and its history. Me and some of my buds pulled this out during UFC 112 and quized each other. Each section of the book has 10 questions, and depending on how you do, MMA IQ let's you know how UFC "Smart" you are. I basically choked myself out in every chapter, but learned a lot about the UFC in the process. I would recommend this book to any UFC fan, big or small.
3864127
Impressive sequential pictures illustrating and properly describing the techniques. Clear philosophical and ethical Eishin Ryu ideas. Contains an introduction to training, principles of swordsmanship, offensive and defensive techniques, Eishin Ryu Batto ho Waza, Kumitachi (paired fencing). There are also several appendices that cover Suemongiri (test cutting), sword care and nomenclature, and terminology. I specially appreciated the historical lineage explanation "the evolution of battojutsu", with specific references and history on several of the lineages grandmasters until the current Grandmaster. I saddened yet proud when reading about the Grandmaster #18 Masoka Kasumi and the way he died. A must read book for anyone practicing sword arts.
4977547
The essential Mike Royko. Covered a variety of writing on a diversity of topics throughout Mike's career. Gave insight into the way he operated in the tough political environment that is Chicago.  Enjoyable reading!
4842675
This book covers more detail on the lead hand straight punch than any publication that I have ever seen. The information is given in a clear concise manner and will leave you with a new found respect for Bruce Lee and his scientific approach to fighting. Not only does this book provide an in depth analysis of the lead hand straight punch. It provides incredible insight into the resources that Bruce Lee had and the way that he used them. You may know that Bruce Lee had a vast personal library at his disposal. This book will give you a glimpse of how it influenced him.