Customer Reviews

Hawk: Occupation: Skateboarder

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Since seeing Adam Rich sporting Ocean Pacific shirts on "Eight is Enough" as an impressionable 7 year old, I knew I was growing up on the wrong coast. I had such a fierce attraction to California and the way life was lived over there, and that interest has followed me for most of my life - the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, the proliferation of late-70s & early 80s era E! True Hollywood Stories, and now the autobiography of my lifelong idol & hero Tony Hawk.

For 15 years I have admired Hawk, both as an amazing individual and as a link to my past. "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" is a well written memoir that illustrates both the man and the when/where/how of his growth as both a person and a legend of his sport.

Hawk's involvement in the Big 80s boom of skateboarding cannot be understated - and the fact that he weathered the subsequent Great Depression of the sport and emerged a better skater *and* a better person for it illustrates his great character.

The book is lots of fun too, because it serves as an inadvertent time capsule of what life was like in the 80s for Tony and dozens of other skaters: bleached bangs hanging over their eyes while crashing into the popular conscience, riding the back bumper of the Hollywood-mobile and onto movie screens across America, and jet-setting across Europe & Japan - all the while sporting 2 Swatches on one arm and decked out in hot pink Jams shorts. Awesome!

But just as important as the movie sets, the demos in Tokyo and the goofing off in Switzerland is *the* picture of 80s California skate culture: the backyard ramp jams. Half a dozen friends hanging out in the hot sun, cooling off with cold Cokes and chowing on some good BBQ. At the age of 25, I will still admit to being very very jealous.

And hell, when those friends happen to all have their names on T-Shirts, their own signature skate decks and are mobbed at shopping malls . . well that makes for an interesting life and times. "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" does a wonderful job of showing this life, as well as the bottoming out of that mentality and lifestyle in the early 90s - skating's Dark Ages.

Tony's - and skateboarding's - slow and wildly successful recovery from that period is every bit as interesting and meaningful as the Big Years (albeit with more lessons learned and hardships endured). All great heroes need to suffer a little to battle back, and Tony's reflections on his various personal and professional setbacks are honest and real.

Today, in the Here and Now, I have the great pleasure of watching my boyhood idol live a happy and successful life - at the top of his career and with the love of a beautiful family. Starting my own little family has given me the pleasure of sharing one more cool thing with my hero - marriage and fatherhood. "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" is an intelligent, well done biography that will satisfy fans and enlighten those who may not realize that a Legend (aka: Cool, Normal Guy) walks among us - when he's not floating and spinning several feet above , that is.

I am 'Squigman's' mother. Squigman is 9 years old and has been interested in extreme sports ever since he was a baby. He told me that he wanted one thing for Christmas, and that was Tony Hawk's book. Other Christmas's his list of 'I wants' was long and harsh . . .Playstations, electric jeeps, action figures, but this year . . .he wants . . .a book! Imagine that, the boy wants to read an actual 'chapter' book. I have every confidence that he will read it, cover to cover because for the last several years skateboarding magazines is all the child will read. Harry Potter? Who's that? My son has a real flesh and blood hero and his name is Tony Hawk.

Skateboarding books are Definetly exiting, but when the birdman writes one it's ausome. Tony Hawk is the best Skateboarder ever, and if you are looking to become a pro or even a hobbiest you should purchase this book. It tells you the way of his life and how he got to where he is today. This book is the perfect gift for any skateboarder or even something for yourself!

This book is spectacular! Well written, engaging, informative, funny, and most of all, human. Tony Hawk's honesty shines through on every subject. I've never been on a skateboard in my life but this book is a *must read* for anyone who has even the slightest interest in Tony Hawk's incredible career and skating talents.

I am a person who has never been on a skateboard. But this book surprised me. I was going through a couple of books in the library that they were selling, and I bought. First, I thought I was giving it to my friend (who loves skateboards), but first I read it. It was so good that I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. It is a book that has humor, a dab of drama, and everything else you can think of. It is a great book (and I didn't give it to my friend because it is too good to waste, and I bought it for only $1.00). Even if you hate skateboarding, you should read this book. It teaches you about "life." I thought it was good, and if you read it, I bet you would too. Tony Hawk has made a great autobiography, and I hope you would make a great choice. Buy this book! Thanks for reading my review!

I am a 40 year old mother of two boys, ages 11 and 10. I die to watch Tony and the boys on TV. I have become an expert on skaters, my boys are amazed how I can identify all the skaters and their tricks. I read "Hawk - Occupation Skateboarder" and never had so much fun in my life! I laughed and laughed and laughed some more! I cried some and I felt sad a few times. Yet always I had the utmost respect for this boy who became a man right in front of our eyes.

This book isn't just about skateboarding. It's about family, friendships, akwardness, itelligence and respect. I have so many pages marked and highlighted in my book you'd think it was a reference guide. This book is entertaining and enjoyable. This man is and was and exceptional student with a wonderful loving and supportive family life. A mother and father that we would all be envious to have. I have told everyone about this book and how much fun I had reading it. I am currently in the process of buying a bunch of these books to give out to my family and friends for Christmas. This book is something everyone shoud read even if you don't skate. I don't skate but I live to watch it and it never ceases to amaze me how these men pull off such incredible manuvers.

I have the utmost respect for this man and his family. He is truly an exceptional human being. Buy the book, read the book, laugh yourself silly and feel good. We should all be so lucky to have what this man has worked extremely hard for. Nothing was given to Tony, he earned it all and worked hard for it.

When I grow up I want to be a photographer or playstation mom on the Tony Hawk Gigantic Skateboard Tour! Thank you Skaters for giving me such enjoyment!

This book is a great biography. This book is good for all people, not just skaters, who want to learn about the life of a skate boarder. This book is also good for writing reports about people because it talks about Hawk's childhood. And we all know that's the part most teachers always complain about you not having enough information in. But this is a must buy especially for skaters.

The book Hawk Occupation: Skateboarder gives a very in-depth look at the life of the greatest skateboarder to ever live, Tony Hawk.If I had to describe Tony's childhood in one word, I would use Devilchild. He threw toy cars, and terrorized his babysitter so much she quit. However, he seemed to outgrow his crazy habits when his older brother gave him a skateboard. No matter how hard he was on anyone else, he was twice as hard on himself, so he became very good very fast. Throughout highschool he managed to keep up his grades and maintain the occupation of professional skateboarder, and when he was sixteen he bought his first house. The book Hawk Occupation: Skateboarder gives the reader an inside look at the lifestyle behind the legend of skateboarding, and tells everything about him from his first sexual experience up to the most amazing skateboarding feat ever accomplished: The 900.

I have had a difficult time lately trying to keep any kind of momentum in sticking with a book and actually finishing it. I did not have that difficulty with "Hawk:Occupation:Skateboarder."
Actually, I had a hard time putting the book down. This was a thorougly enjoyable book. I don't skateboard either, but you don't need to be a skateboarder to enjoy this book. It is an easy read-- it's not heavy so you won't get bogged down. He writes the book in a very conversational style like he's talking to you. And he tells you a lot about your life. When I finished reading the book I felt like I really got to know about Tony Hawk the person, not just Tony Hawk the cultural icon or skateboard star. And I also felt like I got to see an intimate view of the skateboarding touring scene. Very recommended.

Tony Hawk is, (emphasis on the 'is') the greatest skater that has ever lived. No person could ever acheive what he has in Skateboarding and this book prooves my point. He has invented hundreds of tricks and is still the only person to have pulled off the 900 not mentioning the fact that he and his father have literally made skateboarding what it is today across the globe. The book is a skateboarders bible. The book affacted me a great deal and in a way it has changed my attitude towards skating and even life itself to some extent. Favourite Part of the Book has to be his tour with Birdhouse and the making of The End video. Even those of you out there who dont posess a skateboard will find it easy to appreciate this fantastic autobiography.