|
|
Post by tontb on Jun 8, 2010 5:16:59 GMT -5
Morning guys, I aint really much of a reader, but I'll be needing some reading materials for my flight and travelling in the states so I thought I'd try and find a boxing book or two to have a read. I really don't like reading novels or fiction. I like bio's or true story books, and I've never read a boxing book before.
Admitedly I also aint much of a historian of the game, though I do have an interest in learning more, its just time consuming.
Anyhoo, some recommended books on the fight game, or some interesting books on specific fighters would be useful.
I'm heading out shopping in a few hours, but I don't expect many, if any answers by then. But I could go on another book run once I have a few recs in a few days.
Cheers all!
|
|
plow
New Member
Posts: 29
|
Post by plow on Jun 8, 2010 8:38:03 GMT -5
Dark Trade by Donald Mcrae is a great book, if i had to recommend just 1 that would be it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bill paxton on Jun 8, 2010 10:06:57 GMT -5
Mike Silver's book, "The Arc of Boxing". Although you would probably have to order it. It may not be in bookstores.
|
|
|
|
Post by tontb on Jun 8, 2010 12:23:39 GMT -5
Yeah british book stores don't have much regarding boxing reading material. Its pretty poor really, and corresponds with the coverage and interest it gets as a sport!
The main book which was in each store was 4 kings, hardback copy and it was like £11, which I don't really want to spend lol.
I managed to get a copy of this months ring magazine though luckily, so I can at least read through that and another book I bought which isn't sports related lol.
Thanks for the recommendations though guys. I'll have a look for some while I'm over there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Davema on Jun 8, 2010 12:42:07 GMT -5
a few that I really enjoyed
1) Ghosts of manilla- a recount of the Ali-Frazier duel from a Fraizer point of veiw.
2) "Harry Greb" by our very own Bill Paxton about Harry Greb
3) "Tunney"- aauto biography of Gene Tunney
|
|
|
|
Post by davemurphy on Jun 8, 2010 14:43:52 GMT -5
Ton- The Choice in Bookstores over here is sadly limited as well  Sometimes you can find an older book called In This Corner by Peter Heller, but it's become dated now and I don't see it as often. A more recent one I've seen in a couple book stores is Bert Sugar's Boxing's Greatest Fighters where he ranks the top 100 of all time, and is a decent read......if you don't mind Sugar's constant attempts at humor. The other books I could suggest have literally no chance of being in a Bookstore |
|
|
|
Post by mh2365 on Jun 8, 2010 18:46:28 GMT -5
It is historical fiction "meaning real events mixed in with a story" but "The Killings of Stanley Ketchel" was a very good book
|
|
|
|
Post by davemurphy on Jun 9, 2010 0:33:01 GMT -5
2) "Harry Greb" by our very own Bill Paxton about Harry Greb Wow!!! I had no idea that was OUR Bill Paxton. I enjoyed that one immensely, also loved Clay Moyle's book on Sam Langford and the late Mr. Rosenfield's book on Charley Burley. I know Ton is a younger fan and probably not as familiar with those guys, but I think the stories are compelling enough that he'd enjoy them anyway. |
|
|
|
Post by davemurphy on Jun 9, 2010 0:35:25 GMT -5
It is historical fiction "meaning real events mixed in with a story" but "The Killings of Stanley Ketchel" was a very good book Mike- I think I'm going to take your recommendation and get that one, I stayed away from it because a few people read it thinking it was a biography and not historical fiction and so I stayed away. Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by mh2365 on Jun 9, 2010 4:48:36 GMT -5
It was a fun read ... I knew going in it was historical fiction ... it helped that Ketchel has always been one of my favorites
|
|
|
|
Post by tontb on Jun 9, 2010 4:58:19 GMT -5
Lol Mike, is that a new genre? Where the hell would you find historical fiction in a bookstore? Ha, anyway thanks again for all these recommendations. Murph, I do want to know more about the fighters of yesteryear, so books on anyone from any era is fair game  |
|
|
|
Post by mh2365 on Jun 9, 2010 10:22:15 GMT -5
There are actually quite a few historical fiction books out there ... I think the guy who wrote "The Killings" is somewhat known for his ... I believe he writes a lot of Pancho Villa books. Hell most "historical" movies are historical fiction.
|
|
|
|
Post by davemurphy on Jun 10, 2010 2:48:21 GMT -5
Mike- You got that right, Hollywood takes AMAZING Journalistic license on some of it's efforts, with Sports movies being a PARTICULAR offender. Not quite historical fiction per say, since it projects into the future from known events, but I used to like an Alternative History writer named Harry Turtledove, who wrote a series of books from the perspective of the South having won the Civil War that was quite interesting. At this point, I think we're so far from boxing that maybe I should just shut up |
|
|
|
Post by mh2365 on Jun 10, 2010 14:41:03 GMT -5
I agree I like those type of books also
|
|
Sometimes you can find an older book called In This Corner by Peter Heller, but it's become dated now and I don't see it as often. A more recent one I've seen in a couple book stores is Bert Sugar's Boxing's Greatest Fighters where he ranks the top 100 of all time, and is a decent read......if you don't mind Sugar's constant attempts at humor.