George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

George Foreman (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

George Foreman knows what it's like to get knocked down -- in the ring and in life -- and he knows how to get back up again. Two-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, he knows what it takes to succees. He has a wealth of life experience to share, and in George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down, he does just that. Here's what George has to say about:

Taking advice: "The real answers you are looking for are inside you. The hard part is being able to read them."

Being afraid of change: "Be afraid to stay where you are in life. Stepping out...is what makes you good, better, and even the best at what you're doing."

Getting older: "Old age is not something that happens to you; it's a choice you make. you can look in the mirror and cry...Or you can look in that mirror and dream another dream."

Learning from your mistakes: "I try to let the past stay where it is and let today speakfor itself...Learn from your mistakes, but don't be chained to them."

Determination: "There are always others trying to get to the same goal you are, only they decide to stop halfway down the road. And when they walk away, they leave the road paved for you."

Marriage: "Let every day be like the first day you fell in love. It's about trying to put your best self forward, not just to others, but to the one you've pledged your life to."

Children: "I believe how you teach your kids life's lessons is as important as what what you teach them. You've got to love kids into another gear."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Puncher preacher, rancher, family man, author, grill shill, founder of a youth and community center, author and sage; is there anything Foreman can't do? Most people know Foreman as the guy who named all five of his boys George, or as the lovable lug spokesman for Meineke mufflers and George Foreman grills. Why listen to his advice? First of all, he's been very successful at that long list of callings. He also made a triumphant return to boxing at age 45, winning the heavyweight title from a 26-year-old champ, so maybe he does have a tip or two worth hearing. Reading his own material, Foreman comes off as a friendly guy with a heart of gold and a pocket full of advice. The production's only major flaw is the swelling of inappropriate new age music between chapters (the insipid music is co-written by Foreman). Aside from that, this audiobook, simplistic but heartfelt, provides inspiration and motivation.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Former boxing champion Foreman (By George) shares his life lessons here, showing how to turn hardship to happiness, overcome adversity, and achieve fulfillment no matter what life brings.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743528190
• ISBN-13: 978-0743528191
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,644,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short book that has a lot to offer!, June 24, 2003

By 

Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down (Hardcover)

GEORGE FOREMAN'S GUIDE TO LIFE by George Foreman
with Linda Kulman is a short book (124 pages) that surprised me in
all that it had to offer.

I wasn't expected much from it, given that Foreman on the surface
wouldn't seem to be the ideal role model to write a self-help book . . . he
was a bully, of sorts, when a kid . . . he didn't read his first
whole book until the age of 16 . . . and he was married and
divorced four times, only to find his fifth time to be the charm.

Furthermore, after he lost the heavyweight title for the first time,
he became a recluse of sorts . . . he also had a reputation for
being surly and mean-tempered, as unlikely as it now seems
when you see him pitching products on TV or doing boxing
commentary on HBO.

But Foreman has really turned his life around, and he shows you
how you can do the same . . . though much of the advice is basic,
and you may have heard it before, his effective use of examples
helps to drive many of his key points home . . . as he notes in
the Introduction, "Everyone in life goes through a hard time
sometime, but you can't let that define who you are. What defines
you is how you come back from those troubles and what you find
in life to smile about."

There were several other memorable passages; among them:
With life there is pain and still more pain, but even with it all,
there is always a reason to smile: a beat of music to make you
lift your feet and dance; a piece of chocolate to sweeten up
a moment. With death, as far as we know, there is no pain,
only silence.

The point is I could forgive a horse for biting me, another for
almost killing me. But it seems that people can rub us the
wrong way and we're through with them overnight. We can
forgive an animal and hold on to a grudge for years against
another person.

People only want to hear the best about their children. That's
because every mom and dad feels their child is an extension
of themselves. So pointing out their kid's shortcomings-whether
they're physical, emotional, or behavioral-hurts because it
feels like it's a reflection on them and their success as a parent.
As soon as you say something's wrong with that boy or girl, their
mother or father starts a conversation inside their head that goes
something like, "If only I were better at this or if only I had done
that, my child wouldn't have this problem." It doesn't really matter
what you say or that you meant well; what they hear is, "What's
the matter with you? Couldn't you have done a better job?"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas, March 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down (Hardcover)

I enjoyed reading this book. Down to earth advice on being positive and believing in yourself.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend, February 14, 2005

By 

Randy Watson (TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: George Foreman's Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down (Hardcover)

THis is a very informative and insightful read. George really has some beautiful insights that should definitely be considered. Whether you are a Foreman fan or a self-help fan, I recommend you read this.