Booker T: From Prison to Promise: Life Before the Squared Circle [Hardcover]

Booker T Huffman (Author), Andrew William Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2012

A spirited tale of redemption from a seemingly insurmountable life of tragedy and crime, this first autobiography of professional wrestler and TV commentator Booker T. Huffman details his life before celebrity status in the ring. Beginning with Booker T's single-parent upbringing after the passing of his father, this powerful account reveals the gritty reality of his formative years—from the gruesome accident Booker T witnessed at the age of 13 that led to his mother's death and his subsequent life of abject poverty as an orphan in urban Houston to years of reckless drug use, dealing, and violence that culminated in a five-year prison sentence for robbery. With engaging candor Booker T writes of his refusal to allow his years of crime to cloud his future and his decision to take responsibility for his life and make a positive impact in his community. This intimate profile chronicles his transition from absentee father to locating his child in foster care and taking custody; events that led Booker T to pursue a better life and a career with the WWE by attending World Wrestling Alliance training camp. It also sheds insight into Booker T's relationship with his seven siblings, including his brother and eventual tag team member Lane "Stevie Ray" Huffman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Booker's story is incredible. You've heard the term 'from rags to riches?' Booker had less than rags." —www.DougCataldo.blogspot.com

"Booker T casts an honest, clear eye on the life of a kid who grows into a criminal, one who learns his lessons from a family and community of hustlers, dealers, pimps, prostitutes, thieves, and killers. He tells it straight, without excuse." —PW Torch (August 2012)

"Booker's T journey is not only a testament to someone's will for a better life, but an inspiring story that shows you can overcome anything with the will to be better than you were." —www.OtakusAndGeeks.com

"There will be times where a shiver runs down your spine, reading how fine a line he walked and lived; you will weep along with him as he recounts how death has affected him, from his parents to a girlfriend who commits suicide; there will also be times when you share in his elation, such as when he is paroled, or when he does his first spinaroonie." —Greg Oliver, www.slam.canoe.ca

"In Booker T: From Prison to Promise . . . you will read the most intimate details of the early life of one of the most famous American wrestlers of this generation. Say this for Booker T: he does not hold anything back." —Robert Weir, www.WrestlingFigs.com

"An uplifting story of setting one's life straight, Booker T: From Prison to Promise is well worth considering for fans of Booker's work and of memoirs about going straight." —Midwest Book Review (October 2012)

"The book is refreshingly honest and a raw tale of how one man overcame quite a bit of adversity, some of which was bad luck and some of which was self-induced, to become a success." —www.VoicesOfWrestling.com

"Highly educational, entertaining, and straight off the cuff. This leaves the reader wanting to know more. I cannot wait to read [Booker T. Huffman and Andrew William Wright's] next book! Booker T is a book with positive life-affirming lessons." —www.NightOwlReviews.com

About the Author

Booker T. Huffman is the WWE Smackdown General Manager and a trainer for the hugely popular reality series, World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Tough Enough. He holds 35 major professional titles within WWE, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and Total Nonstop Action (TNA). He owns and operates Pro Wrestling Academy, a wrestling school which strives to help students ages 13 and up achieve their dreams. His nonprofit organization, Booker T Fights for Kids Foundation, has supported many outreach endeavors, including the patient-focused campaign of the National Marrow Donor Program®, overseas visits to U.S. troops, and displaced Hurricane Katrina victims. He lives in Houston, Texas. Andrew William Wright is an author, a producer, and a writer. He is the coauthor of The Road Warriors and has contributed to several New Jersey newspapers, including the Asbury Park Press. He has produced The Hardy Show featuring Matt and Jeff Hardy and RVD-TV with Rob Van Dam. He lives in Ocean, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 211 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (August 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605424684
• ISBN-13: 978-1605424682
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.9 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Wrestling

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars can you dig it suckaaaa !!!!!!! November 10, 2012

By JLH

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

short book yet a good read. alot of cool stories about booker's childhood and making his way to wcw, it ends when he signs with WCW, so his 2nd book coming out next year will start from there. i suggest to all booker t and wrestling fans who enjoy hearing their favorites stories growing up.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best...... October 11, 2012

By Stephen Bias

Format:Kindle Edition

So I purchased this book on a whim, I had always liked Booker T from his days in WCW. Throw in the fact I am a massive fan of wrestling from the 80's and 90's. It was just a feeling in my gut to pick it up. I've read so many wrestler autobiographies, and this one... Well this one might just be my favorite. I had no idea his life story was so captivating. This was one of those pleasant surprises, I absolutely could not put it down once I started. The things that Booker did and went through are staggering, and the book really tugs you back and forth emotionally. I felt for Booker through the whole 200 plus pages. This isn't one of those, I broke in to the business, here is all the people that peeved me off along the way. You have to read it to believe it. I was shocked at how good the writing was, then I noticed the "with Andrew William Wright" on the cover, he also wrote the amazing The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling ... So the pacing is fantastic. Great read... 5 stars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars More? October 6, 2012

By Joe

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I liked this book, but was left feeling certain chapters in it needed more information. The chapter where (SPOILER ALERT) the Wendys Gang got busted I would have loved to read more of this chapter. Booker did not have an easy time of it, but not many do. He has proven that no mater what do not stop following that dream!