American Outlaw

by Jesse; Benjamin James

Jesse James has led a violent life. He has survived lower depths, faced harder times, and beaten down more private demons than most and lived to tell his story with honesty, introspection, and humility. His story is raw, real, and comes straight from the heart. He’s tough as nails and riding hard through life, with plenty of wisdom to share about taking a hit and coming back up. In American Outlaw, Jesse reveals all: from his volatile upbringing and troubled relationship with his father to his wild days of car thieving and juvenile detention; from knocking heads as a rock 'n’ roll bodyguard to his destructive drinking and barroom brawling; from building an empire from the ground up with his own two hands to marriages marked with both happiness and gut-wrenching pain; from living inside the hottest level of paparazzi hell to rehab and making peace with his past. This is the self-portrait of a flawed but determined everyman: rebel, outlaw, gear head, artist, entrepreneur, lost son, and fiercely committed father. Jesse James is everything you imagined him to be—and more than you ever expected.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Memoir

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2011

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea why I read this book other than it grabbed my attention at the library. After reading it, my overwhelming impression is that Jesse James is a narcissist. He remembers way to may detailed conversations, and those parts strike me as fabricated, but more than a liar, I think he distorts his view of reality so much that he believes it. He blames all his troubles on a violent childhood. The real problem seems to be his womanizing, and I don't see a valid excuse for that provided in his book. Jesse, get over yourself and you're not the "American Outlaw."

[Lee Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

In high school, did you know a football player who was a big guy who cared as much about beating the crap out of people as winning? Did you ever go see a punk show in the eighties, and see a guy who threw punches in the mosh pit, just for fun? Have you ever met a blue collar guy, who lives to work, and defines that work as something that is physical and gets your hands dirty? Put all these stereotypes together, and you have Jesse James.

I never watched an entire episode of "Monster Garage" and the California biker/car culture is not my scene, but through Howard Stern Show appearances and "Celebrity Apprentice," I came to think of Jesse James as a cool, nice guy (he was really, really nice on "Apprentice"), with a funny California-dude accent. Plus, I'd heard he was friends with the guys in Fu Manchu, and they rock.

This book details James' abusive childhood. His parents divorced when James was about 6, and he spent much of his youth with his tough father and a handful of slaggy stepmoms. A promising high school football career was stopped by a stint in a Juvenile Detention center and a knee injury, and after spending time as a welder in the Pacific Northwest, James moved back to California, worked security for Danzig, amongst others, met his first wife (a dancer in a bikini bar), and began crafting the motorcycle parts that led to his own business and fame.

James' workaholic ways ended his first marriage, and soon after that he married crazy former porn star Janine Lindemulder (seriously, crazy). After that, of course, he married America's sweetheart, Sandra Bullock. The very public breakup of their marriage is covered here, and James attributes it to a combination of feeling undeserving of love, "I'll hurt her before she hurts me," and feeling bored/trapped by Hollywood parameters and the first real, adult relationship he'd ever known. Now, after 30 days in rehab, where he supposedly worked through his childhood issues and came to a better place, he's about to embark on a fourth marriage to tattoo artist/former Nikki Sixx fiancee Kat Von D. One wonders if she's contemplated the idea that she is more what he "deserves" than Sandra Bullock, whom he admits is a wonderful person and the love of his life. What does that make Ms. Von D?

I feel sorry for the shitstorm Jesse James endured; he's really a likable dude. But judging from how poorly this book is selling (where I work anyway), I don't know how far this book will go to repairing his image. But I still like him.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. What to say. I have always been intrigued by Jesse James; however, this book was painful to read. Life is messy and Jesse's life has been especially complex. People come into their own at different ages in life. I don't think anyone worked harder than Jesse after he straightened out his life from some of his juvenile problems. Fortunately, according to Jesse, he is now emotionally maturing. Unfortunately, his delayed emotional intelligence learning curve has been at the expense of many, many people. In fact, it was excruciating to read how hurtful he has been to people. I hope he finds the opportunities he is searching for and that he can make a positive difference. Deep down, I believe him that he has the heart for it.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so I picked this up thinking I would be reading about Jesse James the cowboy, I don't watch reality TV, and have no idea who this guy is, but if you like this you will more than likely like the Andrew Flintoff autobiography...2 guys who blame the world for everything that they do wrong in life.

[Garci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was as shocked as the rest of the world was when the news broke last year about Jesse James' infidelity and subsequent destruction of his marriage to Sandra Bullock. I wanted to read his book to get the story from his perspective and see if there were any answers in it.

He didn't really explain WHY he strayed in his marriage -- he just explains he was bored and felt undeserving of this great life he was living. I think he was basically a good person who made a ridiculously bad and selfish choice, which turned his world upside down and caused him to lose so much.

He wrote in the book that he and Sandra started off as friends in their relationship, yet when interviewed by Piers Morgan, he said, "I don’t think Sandy and I were ever friends.” I don't like that inconsistency. It seems when he first went public, he was humble, embarrassed and apologetic, but when he started doing publicity for the book, he is not very kind when discussing Sandra.

He discussed going to rehab in Tucson but I still don't understand what he was in rehabilitation for...certainly not sexual addiction. It was more like a safe haven for him to escape from the media. Perhaps the best part of the book was about his second wife (the porn star), who sounded like a bucket of crazy!

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was ready to hate Jessie James, perhaps I already did.
This book was picked up at a yardsale a few years ago by my son in a bag full of books for $1, and I groaned and rolled my eyes and explained why I thought the choice was a bad one.
My son reminded me that I'd loved Monster Garage, and really, what information could the media be depended upon to truthfully provide?


It took me a few years, but I finally relented and read the book.
What I found was some very smart writing and a glimpse into the world of Jessie James. I'm sure you can guess, it was the cheating on Sandra I could not comprehend, and his explanation was flimsy at best. He may have put in one sentence about how it didn't MEAN anything. It? Really? I believe multiple girls came forward, but that was prob. all media I guess?

The following relationship with Kat von d didn't garner a mention. Wow. How insulting that must have been!

While it is clear he held back on some experiences and underplayed some others, overall I think he did dig into some heart wrenching issues. Hopefully he became a better person for it. It is really hard to tell the truth of it, but the paparazzi sure dont think he improved any...and I don't either.

[Amy Killian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could only get through about 20 pages of this book. I used to be a big fan of Jesse's; I've even been to his MC shop in Long Beach. But this whole book felt like a big pity party: "I'm Jesse, I've done bad things in my life, and this is why, please forgive me." Maybe the timing of it was bad, since it came out right after he confessed to his cheating on Sandra Bullock. But one of my pet peeves is people who use their past as an excuse for their present actions. That's all this book was to me.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Outlaw is an amazing read. It's meaningful and holds a lot of answers to anyone who knows what it feels like to be going through a difficult time. Jesse Jame's story is a very heart felt chronical of who he is and why he is Jesse James.
This book has opened my eyes and given me the strength to not be afraid to look at the past memories and overcome them.
Loved this book!

[Lisa Salo · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a creep. Usually Autobiographies give me understanding of a a person and therefore, make them more likeable. Not so. Hard worker, yes. But all his other choices - self centered, arrogant, and violent. I hope he gets help.

[Shelly]

Book was interesting, but it just confirmed the fact that he's a douchebag. Why the hell would you cheat on Sandra Bullock? She was too good for him anyway.

[Janet Burney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book! Although Jesse is a troubled man, it had a good message behind it: never give up on a dream!

[Glenn Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mistake. When I saw this in a Free Little Library I thought I was getting some midwestern history. Turns out it is a glorified ghost written ode to a modern day person I found no real reason to like who happens to go by the name Jesse James.
Granted, this was an abused kid with poor to abusive parents, whom he credits only with giving him a good work ethic. He to glorys in his faults...stealing, drinking, bullying and so forth. Through his first jobs he continues these traits but makes a lot of money and feels this exonerates him from the bounds of morality. And, he works hours and hours to the exclusion of family and friends. Gets no points from me for neglect.
I credit the real author for somehow having me involved to the bitter end. No credit goes to the subject who continues to brag about everything from driving 140 MPH on public highways because it makes him feel good to claiming to be a leader among the other misfortunates in a posh rehab center.

[Francis James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not know this guy, or is familiar with his fame in the 90s and early 2000, but It was a fun read. I don't suppose it should be fun but I enjoyed it. If there is one thing I did not like in this memoir is that he kept blaming his father and his parents' separation on the outcome of his life. He should have taken some of the responsibility, man up, and decide for himself. Even at 40 and at rehab, it was still his father's fault, even when his father was non-existent for most of his adult life. That was frustrating.

[Danny R Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable

No matter who you are, or even if you're not a die-hard motorcycle or Discovery channel fanatic, there is a lot to enjoy about this book. Everyone takes their own path in life, and Jesse's is filled with what many would considered to be self-generated, impassable obstacles, but instead, he picks himself up, and dusts himself off and moves on. The lesson here is to not let your tragic upbringing to define your life.

[Laura Mau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest

There is always another side to a story. News media run with what they think is a story and don't care what may happen with what they have written. Not everyone has the skin to brush aside what is made public. Sometimes it's hard to realize that everyone is just human. Everyone makes mistakes. Underneath there usually lies a heart of gold

[Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. I really enjoyed this read.

[Heather Ironside · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first biography I have ever read. And by far one of my top favorite books of all time.

[Izzy Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not the target audience for this book. There were 2 lines that made me laugh.

[AllBookedUp · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a typical I had a bad upbringing. My dad beat me, my mom was absent, I fell in love with a good woman (okay 2 of them) but I blew it. The first was because i was too self-centered and cared only about my shop and me. The other (sandy) was because I didn't feel worthy (you are not) so f$ck it, I am going to mess it up and blame it all on the circumstances that "made me cheat on you" and later blame it all on the lack of self worth and still "my dad beat me, my mom was absent and my second marriage to a porn star didn't work out...whoa's me", attitude. I get it, let us all take minute to pity you.

Yet as I read this and feel the way I do above, I can't help but do understand, he messed up royally and at least he admits to it. It is his fault...at least he claimed responsibility to the last marriage, as of this writing. He's not married to his "beloved Katherine" (noted as to the dedication page) ...which is by the way, Kat Von D. from L.A. Ink. Btw, as of this writing, 5/20/11, he went on to the Howard Stern satellite radio to promote this book where you hear him saying how "Kat V.D. is 100% better in bed than Sandra Bullock". Way to go, mister I am so wounded by life. How classy can you get?

It's his in your face attitude that is a BIG turn off. What is engaging is when he is (or at least his ghost writer) more on the up and up and raw, that is what draws you in. It's not the big vocabulary words his assistant writer uses, but just his perspective. But he tends to always have a picture of him "rising above the others and leading them and himself to a better outcome" that is too eye rolling, and you can see, okay, he's full of himself again.

He needs to be more humble and less rebellious. We get it, you don't like us. It's okay, not everyone needs to like each other but stop glaring at us like we are your thorns. Oh wait, that's the papparazzi's. Never mind. :)

[Luis Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of one's hard life growing up, a story of fame, betrayal and love . The story all starts off after an event where Jesse had just cheated on his wife, and being famous as he is with his many T.v. shows the paparazzi was all over him. The book goes more on about his life growing up, as a kid, he had a problematic life, with his parents getting divorced when he was only 6 years old. Then he had spent most of his life with his tough father and a number of slutty stepmoms. He grew up in California, around the Riverside area of it.
As a teen he mostly hung out with the wrong group of kids, they would go around stealing electronics for radio shack, or they would go around and boost cars, to later have them chopped for parts. While he did hang out with the wrong group he did have a passion for football, and has played it for years; in high school when he tried out for the football team, he was put into the junior varsity team, and he was not fine with that because as years before he was a monster on the field. His first game of high school football on the J.V. team he was able to injure two of the opposing team's quarterbacks , which then lead the ref to tell his coach that he needed to be put into the varsity team because the amount of brute force that he had was too great of the JV team.
A month before Jesse was about to graduate high school and be able to play college ball, his life took a major turn, he was being sent to jail, for a crime that he didn’t commit because his long time friend Bobby, had asked him to hold some expensive equipment that he had stolen from a camera shop. Then Jesse was ratted on by his friend that he thought he could trust with his life, that then made it so that he couldn’t be scouted to all those colleges that wanted him to play for them.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Outlaw is a great book to read, in my eyes however. The reason I read this book is because I am a huge fan of motorcycles and classic cars and I’ve always been intrigued by Jesses craftsmanship. He tells his memories so effervescently and with such great detail as if it all just happened yesterday. He coalesces his stories perfectly, starting from when he was a young teenager, into present day. The thing I like most about this book is his word choice. He doesn’t put a bunch of big fancy words to make it seem like someone he’s not. He writes his book just as he would speak it. It makes you feel as if your listening to him tell his story personally while you enjoy some cold ones aside the campfire. It takes a lot for someone to open up and tell you all their personally information; especially if that someone is Jesse James. For this, I have a lot of respect for him. Although many people might judge the book poorly because of his previous actions in his life, those things don’t make the book bad. That is simply judging his life and not his book. For a guy that builds custom cars and motorcycles from scratch, he did a hell of a job writing a book. I like that in the middle of the book, he puts a little collage of pictures together. At this point, you have a good idea of what’s going on and who the people in his life are. The pictures give it the final touch. This way, instead of just reading about his kids or his dad or his wife/wife’s, you can see the images and see exactly who he’s talking about.

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my genre and not my favorite guy, but I kept reading it, and it brought about some interesting conversations with the Mrs., so it earned a third star. Interesting book in that it seems half intent on showing what an "outlaw" he is and courting your admiration of this fact, and half a list of excuses presented as an apology to his kids and exes. The thing I kept thinking is that, if you had given me a couple of key facts about his childhood, I could have written his biography without knowing him otherwise. Given the way he was raised and his early life experiences, there is nothing "outlaw" or "badass" about his behavior, he is behaving exactly as he was programmed to. Had he, despite the first twenty years of his life, gone on to be a loving and stable father and husband well then, for him, that would have been true "outlaw" behavior (and would have made me actually admire him). The silver lining for me though was the way he took a simple trade (welding / metalwork) and turned it into something special (West Coast Choppers). I think the lesson is that good things come when your profession and your passion coincide.

[Charmaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book as I did not know anything about this (and not the outlaw) Jesse James. It was fast paced with some action, some speed and motorbikes. There was even straight talk about how to get up when all the chips are down, all the stuff I would expect from a "tough guy book".

That was until I got to the end. Reading about famous or infamous personages going through re-hab is just so 2000+late for me. That made me want to deduct one star. I didn't because the overall story stands up for itself and told in a voice almost anyone can relate to.

Also, I guess in the end, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

[Eevie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 words. Pictures at the end! (ebook anyway)
I really enjoyed the book. I looked forward to reading it every night and going to sleep dreaming of him ;)
The man has had a crazy life and I must say, I am very very jealous of all the bands he got to tour with.

Because I never watched any of his shows, I went into this book having no idea what to expect other than motorcycles, Sandra Bullock and the whole drama surrounding that. I feel that I learned a lot about him, it's a good look into his life.
Worth a read for sure.

[Bozo The Clown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Jesse James a sympathetic character? yes. Are his marriage troubles his own doing? Yes. Does he say as much in the book? Yes. Is this a full, factual accounting of his life? No, it is as he remembers it and with his own bias. He does take responsibility for how things have turned out and clearly he positions himself as sympathetic. But there does seem to be a core of truth to the story he tells.

Regardless whether you love him or hate him, believe or doubt his version of events, it does make for an interesting read.

[Dino · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in the dollar bi at Barnes and Noble. I finished it in one night. Honestly I used to think the guy was awesome, then he went through the fame years, and he came off like a dick. But the book makes you believe that he was as sick of that in the moment as everyone else who thought it was.

He cops to the Bullock thing in a serious bit of literary bravery.

Janine comes off butt ass crazy.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading every kind of biography and this one was no different. The book is a fly through book in that it's written plainly and easily. Jesse James is a fascinating man who seems to have an innate movement to propel himself forward no matter the circumstance. I love when authors share their stories with accountability, awareness and learning; all of which Jesse did. He's no angel but he's all American product of our time and for that I like him. Great read- I recommend it!

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haphazardly picked up this book at Books A Million for $6.00. It was on clearance so I figured it was worth a shot. I've been a fan of Jesse James despite his "supposed" antisemitic views. Turns out he isn't antisemitic at all. I learned the truth about him and where those rumors came from. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is well written and provides vivid details into the life of Jesse James.

[Manda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at that library...And sort of covered it up while walking walking around.

Honestly, I was curious about the whole affair part of the story. He had nothing but nice things to say about Sandy (but some things sort of contradicted interviews he later gave). His story growing up was painful, so it is quite an achievement in all that he has built today.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative book about the man behind the West Coast Choppers power house.. I didnt know he played football and was that good, altho from looking at his build, it's not hard to see it now.. After his troubled past, it's also easy to see why his marriage to Sandra Bullock took a horrible turn..