17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short, exciting accounts of wrestling, August 22, 2005
As described so often in "Growing Up Wrestling", people who enjoy wrestling, and are often turned on by it, understand one another and their collective stories perfectly. Those who don't can't figure us out. Wrestling is unique to thousands of men and the reasons for it vary.
Although the 130 contributions that make up "Growing Up Wrestling" are individual accounts, there are common threads that appear. Many men got their first taste of wrestling at a very early age watching it on tv in the 50s, 60s and 70s, before it became over-commercialized. The fascinating aspect of this is that several of the contributors felt that watching wrestling on tv was something to "hide"....that it was inherently wrong. For others there was shame associated with an attraction to it. One thing is certain in most of the accounts...wrestling is a major dominating force in daily life and one that has a lifelong appeal in the most fundamental way.
Victor Rook, who compiled this book, asked three questions (or asked to provide comments):
1) When and how did you first discover you were attracted to wrestling?
2) Describe your first and most memorable wrestling experience(s).
3) Any other comments or insights you'd like to make about wrestling.
It's a simple formula that works and one that keeps these narratives focused but often dramatic in their brevity. For those of us who are attracted to wrestling, it's hard to put this book down.
Perhaps, as one writer suggested, we shouldn't dwell too much on what makes wrestling the core of our erotic existence but just enjoy it. He may very well have a point. Still, it would be nice to know what the allurement is and why it is so strong. Wrestling is full of holds that "lock" people up. In doing so, however, it is the ultimate expression of freedom.
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