Customer Reviews

Dusty: Reflections of an American Dream

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I've read just about every Wrestling Bio, and I when I heard this book was out I was r-e-a-l-l-y looking forward to it. Afterall, here is a guy who has done it all, met them all, fight them all...what could be wrong with the book?

Well...the format, language and endless self-promotion come to mind.

When I read a bio, I want to follow the Chronology. In Dusty's case, I want to hear stories about Florida and Kevin Sullivan. Then I want to hear about Mid-Atlantic and Georgia. Then I want to hear about WWF/Polka-Dot run. Then the WCW. Then ECW. You follow?

This instead reads like a series of 'recollections'. Imagine, if you will, that you and Dusty are having afew beers in your living room, and he's just telling you some stories. Sometimes, in the middle of a story, he jumps to a 'related' story that takes place 10 years later..or sooner. It's a mess.

It's a 'nice' read...but not an in-depth bio of any kind.

Let me also mention that Dusty devotes 20 full pages of his book to copies of 'Dusty we Love You' letters he recently received. DAMN! I know why I like Rhodes, I don't need to pay $24.00 to hear from his fan club.

If you collect Wrestling Bios like I do, then it's worth reading. But PLEASE don't pay top dollar for it. This book will absolutely disappoint you in the end.

I got half way thru this book and couldn't take it anymore. I've read almost all the wrestling books and this one rates among the worst. Dusty lives in a dream world. He takes credit for everything yet blame for nothing. He claims if hogan wasn't around, he was all set to be the biggest draw in wrestling. His hatred for hogan runs throughout the book. He thinks since he came up with "the great american bash" that vince should pay him around 200,000$ in royalties . He goes on to say how he was the first to drive a truck into a stadium and drink beer, not austin. According to dusty, he's done it all. He believes magnum TA and nikita koloff would have been nothing without him.Save your money, this ego maniac's book isn't even a good door stop.

Keeping this short and to the point.
Although not even half way though it ,Dustys book is doing my head in .
His shameless self promoting /name droping/ disreguard for time lines is just to much.
Moving onto JJ Dillions book instead.
Read it ,If you will
But have pain pills on hand

This book was a really fun read and a good wrestling book too. I figured Dusty would tell some classic stories, which he did, but he also got into a lot of the politics of business.

There was some fansinating insight on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling/Jim Crockett Promotions, who called themselves the NWA during the mid-1980s. I was really reminded of how fantastic that promotion was. Dusty shares some great memories of the Road Warriors, Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, Ric Flair, the Four Horsemen, and the Midnight Express. Tully Blanchard was actually quoted saying...

...[Dusty] was in charge when the tidal wave came, and the one thing Dusty should know is in my opinion he grossly underestimated the ability of himself and some of us. We had the right players. If he would have played it a little differently , maybe the result would have been different.
-- Tully Blanchard

I give Dusty his props for letting that be in the book because he does get blamed a awful lot for the promotions demise, when, in truth, the NWA had a great run, but just didn't understand marketing like the WWF (which Dusty admits).

The stories are crazy. Hearing about Dusty running with Terry Funk, Andre the Giant, Harley Race, and Dusty's best friend, Dick Murdoch, makes you wonder how they didn't get into more trouble than they did. The story with Dusty and Andre drunk in Manhattan, racing horse carriages was priceless.

Dusty gives a candid account of his relationship with Dustin. Any fan who remembers Dustin (as Golddust) making fun of Dusty on WWF TV will find this section really compelling.

I really enjoy the "Starcade Prime" section, where Dusty shares his fantasy super wrestling card, which was a nice touch.

Good book.

Look I know this business in depth.. ( god I sound like Dusty) I am former worker/promoter and a 26 year MARK lol.. I have just about every wrestling book ever written.. I literally had to tell my friend I couldn't continue reading after 70 pages! ( although I skimmed after that ) The endless self promotion, over inflated ego and ridiculous claims just drove me nuts.. at first you deal with the bragging.. I mean he IS Dusty Rhodes.. after a while though it begins to wear on you.. in the end I almost began DISLIKING HIM.. it was crazy.. and I am almost a 3 decade Dusty fan. The guy punctuates every single paragraph with a compliment to himself.. He said that he and solie had as popular a connection with fans as Ali and Cosell.. WOW.. he claimed he was slated be the top spot in WWF instead of Hogan. HE was bigger than flair, Hogan and others.. he also basically claims to know more, and have done more for the business than Vince Jr. .. I just couldn't take it anymore.. I put the book away never to be opened by me again..

I can't agree more with the other reviewers...this is pretty much worthless. Of all the wrestling bios I think I looked forward to that of the common man ...the "American Dream" more than most and was very disappointed by this lightweight drivel and back slapping. This book hurt my impression of Dusty and that rarely happens after an autobiographical read.

This book was more about Dusty's personal life than his wrestling career. He left out a lot of details about his wrestling career, instead talking more about his wife and children. I was disappointed; there wasn't enough substance to this book...unless Dusty or Dick Murdoch are your favorite wrestlers of all time...And even still, you would be left wanting more details...One of the worst wrestling biographies I've read...

Dusty is a self-promoter. That is ok, he is a wrestler and that is the name of the game, you have to promote yourself to be larger than life or you will not get anywhere.

Dusty's book is full of promise but it doesn't really make the grade when it comes to delivering on the promise. He has a wealth of knowledge and stories and we see very little of it.

Readable but not a classic.

If you were a wrestling fan growing up in the 80's, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, has to be a fan favorite. I remember tuning in on Saturday nights to watch the "Dream" battle it out against the hated 4 Horsemen. Every week we saw people like Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson and JJ Dillon scheming to put Dusty out of action. And every week we saw the son of a plumber find a way to turn the tables on them. What we as fans never saw was what went on behind the scenes. We never saw Dusty packing into a car with Terry Funk, Dick Murdock, or Magnum TA and showing us the hell they raised driving from one city to another. We didn't get to see the inner working that went on behind the curtain and how one guy received a push and other guys were left to fend for themselves. Dusty Rhodes provides us a glimpse into all this and more with his book. We get to read about the way the WCW was run and led to the slaughter by inept people in charge who cared more about the bottom line and not the fans. We read about the so-called "Dusty Finish" where he would come out the winner of the match only to have the decision overturned by another referee. Dusty also opens a window to his world by talking about his family - both the in-ring family and the home family. There is so much in this book that 254 pages really doesn't do it justice. Included in the book is a photo section with a nice selection spanning Dusty's years on the road, at home, and in the ring. This book could easily have topped 500 pages. As a fan of wrestling and of the Dream, I highly recommend this book. It's a must read in my opinion.

Quite discouraging. This guy is the man I grew up with on Saturday nights watching TBS. My all time favorite wrestler, and 2nd favorite interview. I even have a Dusty Rhodes doll. However, this book is terrible. Way too many expletives that just are not needed. Terrible grammar and editing. Story line is at the same time disjointed and repetitive. Way worse than Flair's "To Be the Man."