By George: The Autobiography of George Foreman (Paperback)

by George Foreman (Author), Joel Engel (Author) "I'M NOT MUCH OF A SLEEPER..." (more)
Key Phrases: fifth ward, punching power, heavyweight champ, George Foreman, Job Corps, Muhammad Ali (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
The endearingly chubby, 45-year-old world heavyweight boxing champ pulls no punches in this account of his life.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

THE CANDID AND INSPIRING STORY OF THE RISE OF A GREAT SPORTS LEGEND, FROM HIS THRILLING CONFRONTATIONS IN THE RING TO HIS PRIVATE STRUGGLES TO ACHIEVE SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS

No athlete has captured America's dreams and imagination like George Foreman. In 1968, when he was barely out of his teens, he startled the world by winning an Olympic gold medal in Mexico City. In his early twenties, he destroyed the seemingly invincible Joe Frazier to capture boxing's heavyweight championship. In Zaire, not long after, he was on the opposite end of a startling upset, losing his crown to Muhammad Ali. By 1977, Foreman had quit fighting, undergone a religious conversion, and begun preaching on Texas street corners.

Which is where George Foreman's story doesn't end, but begins. A decade later, to raise money for his beloved Houston youth center, he shocked the sports world by returning to the ring. They laughed at this middle-aged man, but George Foreman turned their snickers into awe-struck cheers. In November 1994, at the age of forty-five and against all odds, he recaptured boxing's crown.

In By George, Foreman tells the incredible story of his triumphs, defeats, and comeback. He writes openly of his troubled childhood, the rage that fueled his early athletic triumphs, his marriages, and his faith. How George Foreman not only survived but prevailed is one of the most unforgettable sagas of our time.

Including sixteen pages of personal photographs, and with a new introduction by George himself, By George sheds new light on an extraordinary man who has captured the hearts of millions.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743201124
• ISBN-13: 978-0743201124
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #736,649 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION !, December 24, 2000

By	Dorothy Weiss (ORLANDO, FLORIDA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

George Forman continues to impress me with his never ending ability to survive. This man is never down for the count. His life experience thus far seems to be, " It ain't over til it's over". His autobiography re-tells the exciting brutal saga of his journey from the hungry angry "tiger", a brawler, to a fighting machine, a champion boxer. His wins, his defeats, his pain, his agony, his forced retirement from the ring- -( "they"- the judges, just didn't want him anymore,) -- to successful sales and marketing entrepreneur, unfold in graphic detail. The photographs are superb. The man with that wonderful smile just kept re-inventing himself. Like Phoenix rising from the ashes, George Foreman found the beautiful quality within himself and manifested a new life. We meet his family, wife and children and empathize with the pure positive power of love. and the spiritual side of this gentleman boxer. By the way, I saw that fight, and the judges were wrong. But for their mean-spirited short-sightness, greed, and need to control the boxing world, George Foreman might still be astounding us in the ring. But on the other hand, I might not be cooking wonderful tasting food on my George Foreman Grill and learning new nuances about cooking from George's cookbook, nor laughing hilariously at George's skillful articulate handling of Bill O'Reilly on his own spin-zone, "The O'Reilly Factor" televised show, nor appreciating how George truly nutures and sets the pace for his children, nor marveling at how the maturation process can indeed transform an individual. He is still the Winner and Champion, in my book. A role model who understands the value of being the example to those he loves. Don't take my word for it- read his books, get to know this man, and get the grill, which comes in a variety of sizes. Yes, George Forman thought of everything. He knows how to survive.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST BOXING BOOK, October 11, 2001

By	"listontookadive" (leeds england) - See all my reviews

Big George has a story that must be heard, and whats best you don't even need to be a boxing fan to understand or enjoy this book, it goes far far DEEPER than that. His life has been unbelievable. His life before boxing and in his 10 year break from the sport is very interesting and suprising, and this si a very very funny book.

The story of his comeback to boxing aged of 37, 10 years after his last fight, is heart warming. His church was low on funds, his youth centre for disadvantaged children in Texas was going to be shut down, and George knew he had to make money somehow, so he dusted himself off and got back into the ring.

i still remember 1994 when a 45 year old George shockingly took all of world champion Michael Moorers big punches for so many rounds before he landed "the shot heard round the world"

Georges ability to mix at top level against dangerous young men at his age had never been done before and never will again. HOW DID HE DO IT?!!!

this book is a must, you will enjoy it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My undisputed favorite biography., June 6, 2004

By	Brad Cooper "Author of Guilty by Association" (Beckley, WV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: By George:: The Autobiography of George Foreman (Hardcover)

Whether it's for his knockouts in the ring, or his grills that knockout the fat, just about everyone in the civilized world knows the name George Foreman. While most sports fans know that Foreman wasn't always the oversized teddy bear that he is now, the stories relayed in the first half of his autobiography, BY GEORGE, will amaze you.

Throughout the book, Foreman not only outlines the rise of his boxing career from the Olympics to the professional ranks and the heavyweight championship (twice), but he also delves into his personal life in a detailed manner that provides the reader with an in-depth look into the George Foreman that many never knew existed.

The somewhat underlying story in this book is his relationship with God. In the first half of the book, Foreman tells of how, when he was young, he thought that religion was for the weak and it wasn't something he needed in his life. More amazing is that Foreman, now a Baptist minister, nearly became a Muslim before his legendary fight with Muhammad Ali in 1974. Following his bout with Jimmy Young in 1977, his final fight before his 10 year layoff, Foreman had a 'religious experience' in his locker room, found the Lord, and started to become the George Foreman that the world knows and loves today. In the second half of the book, the reader truly begins to see Foreman's love for God, and how God influences every aspect of his life.

While many know the ups and downs of his boxing career, it's very interesting to relive those moments through the eyes of the man who was there. His mentality change between his first and second boxing careers is astonishing. As a Christian, this book has added meaning for me due to the issues mentioned above. Simply put, this is a book that is an inspiration to one and all.