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Undisputed Truth: My Autobiography
Love him or loathe him, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson is an icon and one of the most fascinating sporting figures of our time. In this no-holds-barred autobiography, Tyson lays bare his demons and tells his story: from poverty to stardom to hell and back again
In this, his first, autobiography, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson pulls no punches and lays bare the story of his remarkable life and career. Co-written with Larry Sloman, author of Antony Keidis’s best-selling memoir ‘Scar Tissue’, this is a visceral, and unputdown-able story of a man born and raised to brutality, who reached the heights of stardom before falling to crime, substance abuse and infamy.
Full of all the controversy and complexity that you would expect from a man who delighted as much as he shocked, this is a book that will surprise people and reveal a fascinating character beneath the exterior of violence.
If you think you know all about Mike Tyson, read this book and think again.
594 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2013
1180 people are currently reading
7964 people want to read
About the author
Mike Tyson
28 books88 followersMichael Tyson is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "The Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is considered to be the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990. Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. Claiming his first belt at 20 years, four months, and 22 days old, Tyson holds the record as the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, as well as the only heavyweight to unify them in succession. The following year, Tyson became the lineal champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds of the first round. In 1990,
Tyson was known for his ferocious and intimidating boxing style as well as his controversial behavior inside and outside the ring. With a knockout-to-win percentage of 88%, he was ranked 16th on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, and first on ESPN's list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History". Sky Sports described him as "perhaps the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring". He has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Tyson was known for his ferocious and intimidating boxing style as well as his controversial behavior inside and outside the ring. With a knockout-to-win percentage of 88%, he was ranked 16th on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, and first on ESPN's list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History". Sky Sports described him as "perhaps the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring". He has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 931 reviews
August 11, 2025
This is a 5 star in every category. Great honest, informative, and well written content. Great value for money £8 for this book is a steal. This book is a monster 564 pages in small print. This does not mean much is the subject is however, Tyson's story, life, and career are so riveting that I was interested in almost addicted all the way through.
If have any interest in boxing or contact sports in general you will know who Mike Tyson is I think Lennox Lewis' manager said it best in his quote "Tyson is the most exciting heavy weight fighter to come down in the last 50 year". Completely true growing up in the late 80's it was not a question of who could beat Tyson (that would just be the kind of talk that got someone committed#, it was which round they would be knocked out in. he seemed to be born and bred for fighting. He was vicious in the ring he was not looking to win points he was looking coming to fight and knock someone out. Then everything went wrong. Starting from his marriage to his publicised allegations and sentencing. Since he came out, he was never the same in the ring, but when you read the book, you will find that this was the least of his issues.
The book is written in the first person, but it is almost like it is written by two different people; like a split personality Iron Mike the conqueror and Mike, the person living in his shadow. One minute is talking the perks of living it up as the world the women the money, then Mike talking about the shame of having betrayed the person he was with, yet he is talking about the same topic.
Reading the book, I saw how this came about. The outward persona Mike projected, and how he lived that persona. Like he said, he talked the talk, but he walked the walk too. He was almost brainwashed into creating Iron Mike. Finishing the book, I keep wondering how Tyson's life would have been different if Cus had survived. He was the one person Tyson listened to the person who could tell him no and make him stop. The person who was such a perfectionist he would tell Mike what he did wrong even after a first round knockout.
Mike describes himself as an extremist number. Not because he is a Muslim, but I will come back to that later). Looking at his life through the book, he more than lives up to the statement. From no money to too much, no women to women throwing themselves at him many at a time. The extremes he lived with at an early age he was not prepared for, and many people were taking advantage of him. Again is Cus had survived he might have had someone in his corner to help him deal with this. Throughout the book, Mike comes across a bit naive but does display many street smarts. An example is not hiding his handcuffs when he was sentenced because he knew the image it would project to the inmates inside before he arrived. He also shows great aptitude for learning, especially in history and psychological warfare. If he had been bone a couple of centuries earlier, his name would have been up there with Spartacus or Hercules.
Towards the end of the book, we get more of grown-up Mike's perception. The biggest example I can think of how much he has grown is where he talks about his own beliefs. My interpretation is that he is mature enough to understand religion based on your own perceptions, and you need to make your own choices with as much information as you have.
Mike talks open and honestly about every experience in his life, good or bad. If you question his honesty, the last postscript should convince even the harshest critic he has told the truth. I am really enjoyable and informative read. It is not so much an inspirational tale for me, more of a cautionary one about how to deal with the excesses of success and having people you can trust around you. Another reviewer said the mark of good autobiography is that the author gives you a better impression of themself after you have read it. I was already a fan of Tyson, but after reading this, I did have a higher opinion of him than before I read it. A 5 star book by any margin.
If have any interest in boxing or contact sports in general you will know who Mike Tyson is I think Lennox Lewis' manager said it best in his quote "Tyson is the most exciting heavy weight fighter to come down in the last 50 year". Completely true growing up in the late 80's it was not a question of who could beat Tyson (that would just be the kind of talk that got someone committed#, it was which round they would be knocked out in. he seemed to be born and bred for fighting. He was vicious in the ring he was not looking to win points he was looking coming to fight and knock someone out. Then everything went wrong. Starting from his marriage to his publicised allegations and sentencing. Since he came out, he was never the same in the ring, but when you read the book, you will find that this was the least of his issues.
The book is written in the first person, but it is almost like it is written by two different people; like a split personality Iron Mike the conqueror and Mike, the person living in his shadow. One minute is talking the perks of living it up as the world the women the money, then Mike talking about the shame of having betrayed the person he was with, yet he is talking about the same topic.
Reading the book, I saw how this came about. The outward persona Mike projected, and how he lived that persona. Like he said, he talked the talk, but he walked the walk too. He was almost brainwashed into creating Iron Mike. Finishing the book, I keep wondering how Tyson's life would have been different if Cus had survived. He was the one person Tyson listened to the person who could tell him no and make him stop. The person who was such a perfectionist he would tell Mike what he did wrong even after a first round knockout.
Mike describes himself as an extremist number. Not because he is a Muslim, but I will come back to that later). Looking at his life through the book, he more than lives up to the statement. From no money to too much, no women to women throwing themselves at him many at a time. The extremes he lived with at an early age he was not prepared for, and many people were taking advantage of him. Again is Cus had survived he might have had someone in his corner to help him deal with this. Throughout the book, Mike comes across a bit naive but does display many street smarts. An example is not hiding his handcuffs when he was sentenced because he knew the image it would project to the inmates inside before he arrived. He also shows great aptitude for learning, especially in history and psychological warfare. If he had been bone a couple of centuries earlier, his name would have been up there with Spartacus or Hercules.
Towards the end of the book, we get more of grown-up Mike's perception. The biggest example I can think of how much he has grown is where he talks about his own beliefs. My interpretation is that he is mature enough to understand religion based on your own perceptions, and you need to make your own choices with as much information as you have.
Mike talks open and honestly about every experience in his life, good or bad. If you question his honesty, the last postscript should convince even the harshest critic he has told the truth. I am really enjoyable and informative read. It is not so much an inspirational tale for me, more of a cautionary one about how to deal with the excesses of success and having people you can trust around you. Another reviewer said the mark of good autobiography is that the author gives you a better impression of themself after you have read it. I was already a fan of Tyson, but after reading this, I did have a higher opinion of him than before I read it. A 5 star book by any margin.
December 15, 2018
At first, all I could think of when I saw the size of this book was, well, look at the freakin’ size of this book! Mike Tyson didn’t want no weak, scrawny-ass autobiography, he needed one as big as he is.
Given the sheer square footage of this behemoth, I was naturally expecting there to be a fair amount of filler, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Tyson is just a ridiculously entertaining storyteller, and that upon finishing the book, I actually wanted more of his insane anecdotes and oddly endearing swagger. This is seriously the most bonkers autobiography I have ever read. Here, for instance, is the story of his first knockout in an amateur fight:
And who can’t relate to this:
So annoying when that happens! At least he was smart enough to have purchased those backup Maseratis just in case. And then you encounter stuff like this on a regular basis:
Yeah, that’s definitely what strip clubs are for, clearing your head. How the hell does he come up with this shit?? And I think this next one speaks for itself:
Sure you did, buddy. Lastly, this highly improbable yet hilarious little tidbit surely deserves mention:
Yeah. Right.
Anyway, I initially went into this hoping to learn about Tyson’s boxing training, and how exactly he was able to turn himself into the youngest heavyweight champ of all time. Thankfully, all of that information was enumerated in great detail, and reading about his rise to the top was genuinely fascinating. (Spoiler alert: he worked his ass off for years as a teenager; his drive and discipline were undeniably formidable.) Also, he grew up in abject poverty, which makes this tremendous feat all the more impressive. I mean, just look at how far he’d already come by the “tender age” of 13, for god’s sakes:
But what ultimately made this such an unforgettable read was the wealth of pure, tenacious insanity and over-the-top personality that is Mike Tyson. He is out to lunch in the best way possible, and if you’re looking for an autobiography that basically never has a dull moment, then this is the one for you! If, however, you find that you don’t really care for it, it’s probably best not to mention that. Tyson can be pretty touchy about these things, and if he ever heard that you were badmouthing his masterpiece, he might decide to take it out on your face.
Given the sheer square footage of this behemoth, I was naturally expecting there to be a fair amount of filler, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Tyson is just a ridiculously entertaining storyteller, and that upon finishing the book, I actually wanted more of his insane anecdotes and oddly endearing swagger. This is seriously the most bonkers autobiography I have ever read. Here, for instance, is the story of his first knockout in an amateur fight:
“I knocked him into the bottom rope and followed with another shot that literally knocked his mouthpiece six rows back into the crowd. He was out cold. I was ecstatic. It was love at first fight. I didn’t know how to celebrate. So I stepped on him. I raised my arms up in the air and stepped on the prone motherfucker.”
And who can’t relate to this:
“We were in Ohio and Rory locked my pet tiger, Kenya, up in my garage. When he came for her later, she had literally torn the roof off of one of my Maseratis.”
So annoying when that happens! At least he was smart enough to have purchased those backup Maseratis just in case. And then you encounter stuff like this on a regular basis:
“Back then when I wanted to get my head clear, I went to a strip club. That’s just what people did back in the early 2000s.”
Yeah, that’s definitely what strip clubs are for, clearing your head. How the hell does he come up with this shit?? And I think this next one speaks for itself:
“I’m such a monster. I turned the Romanian Mafia onto coke.”
Sure you did, buddy. Lastly, this highly improbable yet hilarious little tidbit surely deserves mention:
“Chechnya was an amazing place. As soon as I got there, they gave me a machine gun. I was nervous as hell. I didn’t particularly want to shoot no goddamn gun but, hey, when in Rome do as the Romans do.”
Yeah. Right.
Anyway, I initially went into this hoping to learn about Tyson’s boxing training, and how exactly he was able to turn himself into the youngest heavyweight champ of all time. Thankfully, all of that information was enumerated in great detail, and reading about his rise to the top was genuinely fascinating. (Spoiler alert: he worked his ass off for years as a teenager; his drive and discipline were undeniably formidable.) Also, he grew up in abject poverty, which makes this tremendous feat all the more impressive. I mean, just look at how far he’d already come by the “tender age” of 13, for god’s sakes:
But what ultimately made this such an unforgettable read was the wealth of pure, tenacious insanity and over-the-top personality that is Mike Tyson. He is out to lunch in the best way possible, and if you’re looking for an autobiography that basically never has a dull moment, then this is the one for you! If, however, you find that you don’t really care for it, it’s probably best not to mention that. Tyson can be pretty touchy about these things, and if he ever heard that you were badmouthing his masterpiece, he might decide to take it out on your face.
December 5, 2013
I have read many books this year. In fact this is the 37th book I have read. I know people who have read more but most people I know haven’t read nearly as many and yes I’m bragging because I take pride in my reading because Jadakiss was right about you Libyans. At any rate I bring up the fact that I have read so many books just to say this was the most entertaining book I have read this year BAR NONE.
I could not stop reading once I started. This book was depressing, inspirational, hilarious, insightful, and tragic. I have read many biographies and none have been this honest and transparent. The stories of his upbringing and his relationship with his mother were hard to read, but also makes his journey more understandable.
My friends and I grew up during the “Tyson Era” and he was damn near a super hero to us whose story had a tragic ending until recently. One of the reasons we love YouTube so much was because it was a place where we could watch and relive the old Tyson interviews and press conferences and damn near die from laughter when he seemed out of his mind and would say the most random things. Now I have more insight into why he said some of the things he did (even though there is no excuse for some of the craziness he spoke). His knowledge on the history of boxing is impressive and his ability to be completely out of control but also be self-aware is very interesting as well. Even the epilogue was entertaining although it read like the ramblings of a bi-polar man having an episode of hypomania.
I could go on and on about specific stories from the book but I don’t want to give anything away. Just know that regardless of your opinion about Mike Tyson you will find this story entertaining.
I could not stop reading once I started. This book was depressing, inspirational, hilarious, insightful, and tragic. I have read many biographies and none have been this honest and transparent. The stories of his upbringing and his relationship with his mother were hard to read, but also makes his journey more understandable.
My friends and I grew up during the “Tyson Era” and he was damn near a super hero to us whose story had a tragic ending until recently. One of the reasons we love YouTube so much was because it was a place where we could watch and relive the old Tyson interviews and press conferences and damn near die from laughter when he seemed out of his mind and would say the most random things. Now I have more insight into why he said some of the things he did (even though there is no excuse for some of the craziness he spoke). His knowledge on the history of boxing is impressive and his ability to be completely out of control but also be self-aware is very interesting as well. Even the epilogue was entertaining although it read like the ramblings of a bi-polar man having an episode of hypomania.
I could go on and on about specific stories from the book but I don’t want to give anything away. Just know that regardless of your opinion about Mike Tyson you will find this story entertaining.
October 30, 2014
4.5 $$$ Stars
Mike Tyson and my Brother-In-Law Nigel Benn "The Dark Destroyer"
Two of the most intimidating/ferocious boxers of all time in my humble opinion, but then again...I'm biased.
What ever you think of Mike Tyson, Undisputed Truth is one hell of a autobiography, it truly is entertaining.
It was fascinating, frank, crude, bitter-sweet, hilarious, inspiring, heartbreaking, candid, raw, account of his life.
Bullied as a boy in the toughest, poorest neighbourhood in Brooklyn, Tyson grew up to become one of the most thrilling and ferocious boxers of all time—and the youngest heavyweight champion ever.
I was fascinated with his relationship with Cus D'Amato his mentor and trainer, who inspired Mike...taking Mike in, giving him a place to call home.
He made Mike believe in himself ….to be the best, he encouraged Mike to read great works by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Shakespeare. Mike is a extremely well read man.
I couldn't believe some of the things I was reading....quite frankly... UN-FUCK-IN-BELIEVE-ABLE.
Mike even to this day is still fighting demons of his past...I pray he finds peace.... a saying I like...
Would I recommend this book.....hell yes!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for ARC of this fascinating book.
Mike Tyson and my Brother-In-Law Nigel Benn "The Dark Destroyer"
Two of the most intimidating/ferocious boxers of all time in my humble opinion, but then again...I'm biased.
Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to control it, you let it work for you. If you don't learn to control it, it'll destroy you and everything around it
Cus D'Amato
What ever you think of Mike Tyson, Undisputed Truth is one hell of a autobiography, it truly is entertaining.
It was fascinating, frank, crude, bitter-sweet, hilarious, inspiring, heartbreaking, candid, raw, account of his life.
Bullied as a boy in the toughest, poorest neighbourhood in Brooklyn, Tyson grew up to become one of the most thrilling and ferocious boxers of all time—and the youngest heavyweight champion ever.
I was fascinated with his relationship with Cus D'Amato his mentor and trainer, who inspired Mike...taking Mike in, giving him a place to call home.
He made Mike believe in himself ….to be the best, he encouraged Mike to read great works by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Shakespeare. Mike is a extremely well read man.
I couldn't believe some of the things I was reading....quite frankly... UN-FUCK-IN-BELIEVE-ABLE.
Mike even to this day is still fighting demons of his past...I pray he finds peace.... a saying I like...
You gotta look for the good, in the bad
and your happy, in your sad
the gain in your pain
and what makes you grateful, not hateful
Would I recommend this book.....hell yes!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for ARC of this fascinating book.
May 8, 2020
This book started really well but unfortunately spent far too much time disrespecting women and going into far too much detail during the 600 pages. The early part which describes a young Tyson and his thirst for Boxing was fascinating but then turned to sex, drugs and crime. If the stories are to be believed then Mike Tyson was one bad man. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison, he was released on parole after serving three years. Once out of jail there were a string of claims of assault and sexual harassment. Tyson brags of the women he demanded and his ambition of filling everyone of his 19 bedrooms with women. His tales of violence, drugs and sex became repetitive and paint a very sad picture of this married man with children. The book was not worthy of 600 pages and a very good edit would have made a lot of sense.
Mike Tyson was a great boxer and certainly one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen but as a man he is well down the list. A man who has spent his life mixing with trouble and shows no class or respect for anyone.
Mike Tyson was a great boxer and certainly one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen but as a man he is well down the list. A man who has spent his life mixing with trouble and shows no class or respect for anyone.
November 11, 2013
In the beginning, he had grown up in abject poverty in Brownsville. He was raised as a gang member - walking through the streets holding guns, and once running through a crowded park which “opened up like Moses parting the Red Sea.” He was a fat kid who dropped out of school but eventually become a phenomenon. By the age of 23 he was hailed as possibly the greatest fighter to ever live, married to a movie star, earns millions of dollars, and by 24 he was broke, in jail and a worldwide disgrace. During the peak of his career he could afford to splurge himself with clothes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. He could even buy an entire stock of Rolls Royce from a dealer. He never knew his father, but fathered eight children. Though his mother died when he was 16, running a brothel out of their apartment, he lived in a mansion and accumulated 62 cars which he was forced to sell when bankruptcy became inevitable. He spent numerous stints in rehab, and during one of those cried like a child watching the French movie “La Vie en Rose.” During the shoot of “The Hangover,” he was either on a hangover or drunk.
Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson is a hefty autobiography that might be the most soul baring book of its genre ever written. It is a brutally honest and a revealing memoir which chronicles his life’s hits and misses, so painful at times but with a dose of humor thrown in here and there – like the case of Brad Pitt. “This book is dedicated to all the outcasts – everyone who has ever been mesmerized, marginalized, tranquilized, beaten down, and falsely accused, and incapable of receiving love,” which he writes in the dedication page sets the tone for the much-awaited tell-all.
Tyson has some harsh words for the infamous promoter Don King who he called “a slimy reptilian motherfucker.” King allegedly stole upwards of $50 million from the naïve young fighter. Tyson claims that King mixed his food with Thorazine to sedate him. Tyson claims that King was using him as a personal bank account. King paid his wife hundreds of thousands of dollars to be Tyson’s consultant; King’s daughter pulled $52,000 a year as the head of the Mike Tyson fan club. “When I think about all the horrific things that Don has done to me over the years I still feel like killing him,” Tyson writes.
The harshest words were reserved for his ex-wife and his ex-mother-in-law. Tyson accuses ex-wife Robin Givens, who he calls, “a manipulative shrew who could bring me to my knees” of trying to bring him to financial ruin along with her mother, Ruth Roper Givens, virtually calling them gold diggers. Tyson met Givens at the height of his boxing career in 1987. Tyson alleged Givens faked a pregnancy so that she could receive millions. He says that both mother and daughter were “on the prowl for a big Black celebrity for Robin since she graduated college.” When they tied the knot, Givens and Roper went shopping for a $5 million mansion in an exclusive New Jersey suburb while he was attending a close friend’s funeral in LA. Tyson not only gave the $5 million for the home but another $10 million that went into a separate account. Tyson writes, “She was supposedly three months pregnant when we got married. Now it was June, and she hadn’t gained a pound, so the next thing I knew she was in bed and claimed she had miscarried our baby.” A few months later the marriage collapsed. And later, Givens was crowned as the “most hated woman in America.” Writing about the mother-daughter duo, Tyson describes them as “…they were two broke charlatans..., con artists, borderline prostitutes.”
Tyson is equally brutal on himself throughout the book, despairing of his lack of self-control and feelings of inadequacy. He is so broke he will never be able to pay off his IRS debts. “It sounds trite,” he writes, “but I was probably looking for someone to mother me. My whole life I was looking for love from my mother. My mother never gave love to a man. She gave them headaches, she scalded them, she stabbed them.”
The book also throws light on his rape conviction. In 1991, Desiree Washington, a Miss Black America contestant, accused Tyson of raping her in an Indianapolis hotel room. On February 10, 1992, he was convicted of rape and served three of his six years sentence in prison. Tyson continues to profess his innocence. “I did not rape Desiree Washington,” Tyson writes in the book. He asks, “How do you rape someone when they come to your hotel room at two in the morning?"
Though Tyson is known to have been a womanizer, his candid admission of it is a bit of a surprise. The many women in Tyson’s life flow in and out of the pages like they did in his life. Even inside prison Tyson smuggled women into the facility and even had a months-long affair with his prison drug counselor who suddenly became available after Tyson had $10,000 sent to her home to fix her roof. “I was having so much sex that I was too tired to even go to the gym and work out,” he writes. “I’d just stay in my cell all day.” During his incarceration he read voraciously: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Shakespeare and others. He converted to Islam and did a jailhouse interview with Larry King. John F. Kennedy Jr. also flew in for a visit.
Then there is the incident involving Brad Pitt caught with the heavyweight’s ex-wife. That day he was in LA and was stunned to see her pull up with a blond man in the passenger seat. It was Brad Pitt. “You had to see the look on his face,” Tyson writes. “He looked like he was ready to receive his last rites. He also looked stoned out of his gourd.” Pitt begged Tyson, “Dude, don’t strike me, don’t strike me.”
The most surprising aspect of the book is the introspection and self-awareness demonstrated by this self-confessed “trailer park nigga”: All enjoyment is not a good enjoyment, he writes. In another, he was so profoundly philosophical, “You could be in hell and happy there. Some people thrive in misery. You take away their misery and bring them into the light and they die emotionally and spiritually because pain and suffering has been their only comfort. The thought of someone loving them and helping them without wanting anything in return could never enter their minds.”
What I find really fascinating about the memoir is the one admission made in the epilogue. He writes, “I have a favorite book that I try to read every day. It’s called The World’s Greatest Letters: From Ancient Greece to The Twentieth Century. I love connecting to the past this way. You learn so much about these people by reading these letters.”
And then he went on to write: “I read these letters and I cry. You think about Napoleon, this great world leader, and you read a letter where he’s begging to his love Josephine to come to him and she does not.” He went on to reproduce the full text of the letter dated 4th April 1796. And then adds, “I love this guy’s stuff! Napoleon is a nut. He’s turned out! Josephine didn’t care a damn about Napoleon. That was a Robin Givens deal right there.”
Now 47 years old, he still hopes for a happy ending, but he knows it is going to be a difficult one. He ends, “I can’t help anyone if I’m not well myself, and I desperately want to get well. I have a lot of pain and I just want to heal. And I’m going to do my best to do just that. One day at a time.”
Undisputed Truth isn’t so much about Tyson, the boxer or the famous as it is about Mike, the person inside. Its honesty and rawness is unparalleled for an autobiography. His brutality on people he measured dishonest with him is blunt as much as he is on himself. During his boxing days I was never an admirer, yet through this revealing memoir I’m beginning to understand him, and I think I’m beginning to admire the person that wants to be.
A memoir like this doesn’t come around very often. Much of what we often see does not peel off the layers. Undisputed Truth is inside-out. Don’t miss it!
------------------------------
PS: I wish I could make it shorter but there's so much to write. It has turned out to be the longest review that I have ever written. Grateful to the publisher for providing an ARC of the book.
Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson is a hefty autobiography that might be the most soul baring book of its genre ever written. It is a brutally honest and a revealing memoir which chronicles his life’s hits and misses, so painful at times but with a dose of humor thrown in here and there – like the case of Brad Pitt. “This book is dedicated to all the outcasts – everyone who has ever been mesmerized, marginalized, tranquilized, beaten down, and falsely accused, and incapable of receiving love,” which he writes in the dedication page sets the tone for the much-awaited tell-all.
Tyson has some harsh words for the infamous promoter Don King who he called “a slimy reptilian motherfucker.” King allegedly stole upwards of $50 million from the naïve young fighter. Tyson claims that King mixed his food with Thorazine to sedate him. Tyson claims that King was using him as a personal bank account. King paid his wife hundreds of thousands of dollars to be Tyson’s consultant; King’s daughter pulled $52,000 a year as the head of the Mike Tyson fan club. “When I think about all the horrific things that Don has done to me over the years I still feel like killing him,” Tyson writes.
The harshest words were reserved for his ex-wife and his ex-mother-in-law. Tyson accuses ex-wife Robin Givens, who he calls, “a manipulative shrew who could bring me to my knees” of trying to bring him to financial ruin along with her mother, Ruth Roper Givens, virtually calling them gold diggers. Tyson met Givens at the height of his boxing career in 1987. Tyson alleged Givens faked a pregnancy so that she could receive millions. He says that both mother and daughter were “on the prowl for a big Black celebrity for Robin since she graduated college.” When they tied the knot, Givens and Roper went shopping for a $5 million mansion in an exclusive New Jersey suburb while he was attending a close friend’s funeral in LA. Tyson not only gave the $5 million for the home but another $10 million that went into a separate account. Tyson writes, “She was supposedly three months pregnant when we got married. Now it was June, and she hadn’t gained a pound, so the next thing I knew she was in bed and claimed she had miscarried our baby.” A few months later the marriage collapsed. And later, Givens was crowned as the “most hated woman in America.” Writing about the mother-daughter duo, Tyson describes them as “…they were two broke charlatans..., con artists, borderline prostitutes.”
Tyson is equally brutal on himself throughout the book, despairing of his lack of self-control and feelings of inadequacy. He is so broke he will never be able to pay off his IRS debts. “It sounds trite,” he writes, “but I was probably looking for someone to mother me. My whole life I was looking for love from my mother. My mother never gave love to a man. She gave them headaches, she scalded them, she stabbed them.”
The book also throws light on his rape conviction. In 1991, Desiree Washington, a Miss Black America contestant, accused Tyson of raping her in an Indianapolis hotel room. On February 10, 1992, he was convicted of rape and served three of his six years sentence in prison. Tyson continues to profess his innocence. “I did not rape Desiree Washington,” Tyson writes in the book. He asks, “How do you rape someone when they come to your hotel room at two in the morning?"
Though Tyson is known to have been a womanizer, his candid admission of it is a bit of a surprise. The many women in Tyson’s life flow in and out of the pages like they did in his life. Even inside prison Tyson smuggled women into the facility and even had a months-long affair with his prison drug counselor who suddenly became available after Tyson had $10,000 sent to her home to fix her roof. “I was having so much sex that I was too tired to even go to the gym and work out,” he writes. “I’d just stay in my cell all day.” During his incarceration he read voraciously: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Shakespeare and others. He converted to Islam and did a jailhouse interview with Larry King. John F. Kennedy Jr. also flew in for a visit.
Then there is the incident involving Brad Pitt caught with the heavyweight’s ex-wife. That day he was in LA and was stunned to see her pull up with a blond man in the passenger seat. It was Brad Pitt. “You had to see the look on his face,” Tyson writes. “He looked like he was ready to receive his last rites. He also looked stoned out of his gourd.” Pitt begged Tyson, “Dude, don’t strike me, don’t strike me.”
The most surprising aspect of the book is the introspection and self-awareness demonstrated by this self-confessed “trailer park nigga”: All enjoyment is not a good enjoyment, he writes. In another, he was so profoundly philosophical, “You could be in hell and happy there. Some people thrive in misery. You take away their misery and bring them into the light and they die emotionally and spiritually because pain and suffering has been their only comfort. The thought of someone loving them and helping them without wanting anything in return could never enter their minds.”
What I find really fascinating about the memoir is the one admission made in the epilogue. He writes, “I have a favorite book that I try to read every day. It’s called The World’s Greatest Letters: From Ancient Greece to The Twentieth Century. I love connecting to the past this way. You learn so much about these people by reading these letters.”
And then he went on to write: “I read these letters and I cry. You think about Napoleon, this great world leader, and you read a letter where he’s begging to his love Josephine to come to him and she does not.” He went on to reproduce the full text of the letter dated 4th April 1796. And then adds, “I love this guy’s stuff! Napoleon is a nut. He’s turned out! Josephine didn’t care a damn about Napoleon. That was a Robin Givens deal right there.”
Now 47 years old, he still hopes for a happy ending, but he knows it is going to be a difficult one. He ends, “I can’t help anyone if I’m not well myself, and I desperately want to get well. I have a lot of pain and I just want to heal. And I’m going to do my best to do just that. One day at a time.”
Undisputed Truth isn’t so much about Tyson, the boxer or the famous as it is about Mike, the person inside. Its honesty and rawness is unparalleled for an autobiography. His brutality on people he measured dishonest with him is blunt as much as he is on himself. During his boxing days I was never an admirer, yet through this revealing memoir I’m beginning to understand him, and I think I’m beginning to admire the person that wants to be.
A memoir like this doesn’t come around very often. Much of what we often see does not peel off the layers. Undisputed Truth is inside-out. Don’t miss it!
------------------------------
PS: I wish I could make it shorter but there's so much to write. It has turned out to be the longest review that I have ever written. Grateful to the publisher for providing an ARC of the book.
March 30, 2024
Book of the Ear
Per il mio ingresso avevano messo una canzone dei Toto, ma nella mia testa sentivo soltanto il pezzo di Phil Collins In the Air Tonight: «I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord / And I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord»
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj...
E allora entriamo anche noi così: è il 22 Novembre 1986 Mike Tyson sta per diventare il più giovane campione mondiale della storia dei Pesi Massimi, realizzando la profezia del suo mentore Cus D’Amato.
La prima metà di questo libro mi ha davvero appassionato. Non mi ero reso conto di quanto fosse giovane Tyson quando diventò campione, io ero più giovane di lui e i miei vaghi ricordi erano legati alle immagini carpite sui TG dell’epoca. Tyson arriva dai bassifondi neri di Brooklyn, racconta di emarginazione e delinquenza, del padre assente e della madre violenta. Al pugilato giunge casualmente grazie all’interesse di un irlandese che dopo averlo svezzato lo presenta ad un italiano che ha già lavorato in passato con pugili di valore. Cus D'Amato diverrà il padre che non ha mai avuto, sarà lui a sfruttare esaltandola l’aggressività animalesca di Mike. Sono andato a vedere sul tubo buona parte degli incontri di cui Tyson aveva appena raccontato, poi ad un certo punto ho cambiato strategia, ho cercato gli incontri prima di conoscerne l’esito.
Voleva formare il pugile perfetto, un guerriero che terrorizzasse gli avversari prima ancora di salire sul ring. Mi addestrò a una ferocia assoluta, dentro e fuori dal quadrato. Era ciò di cui avevo bisogno all’epoca. Ero troppo insicuro, spaventato, traumatizzato dai maltrattamenti subiti da piccolo. Detestavo l’umiliazione di sentirmi una vittima.
I combattimenti sono spesso impressionanti, è sufficiente apriate una clip qualunque per verificare l’aggressività con cui Tyson portava i colpi
Presi anche a fantasticare sul fatto che, se avessi ammazzato qualcuno sul quadrato, avrei sicuramente intimorito tutti. Cus voleva un campione negativo, così m’ispirai ai cattivi dei film, a soggetti come Jack Palance e Richard Widmark. Mi calai nel ruolo dell’arrogante sociopatico.
La cronaca degli incontri è appassionante, ma è inframezzata sempre più spesso dagli eccessi privati di Tyson. Così spietato sul ring così sprovveduto nella gestione di guadagni, amicizie, sentimenti. Si contorna di uno stuolo di profittatori infinito e poi si vota al consumo smodato di stupefacenti. L’erba gli serve per attutire gli effetti della coca che lui combina al consumo di whisky. Le sostanze alimentano la sua sessuomania che per esser tenuta ritta ha bisogno di Chalis e Viagra.
Il problema del libro è che dopo il match con Holyfield il 28 giugno 1997 i combattimenti finiscono e rimane la sola cronaca degli eccessi, dei night club, delle orge, del consumo di droga, delle comparsate per racimolare qualche dollaro visto che il malloppo è stato sniffato, fumato, trombato, convertito in abiti e gioielli pacchiani, in un parco auto da sceicco. Poi ci sono i debiti con il fisco e quelli con la moglie lampo, che in meno di un anno (prima del divorzio pilotato dalla madre), gli ha fatto un culo come nessun pugile è mai stato in grado di fargli. Se la prima parte si leggeva da sola, la seconda, nelle pastoie legali di varie accuse di stupro e nei tentativi di disintossicarsi procede con una lentezza esasperante. Tyson cerca di inventarsi una nuova vita con camei al cinema, uno spettacolo teatrale e vari contratti pubblicitari in giro per il mondo, ma ovunque vada, senza cocaina non riesce neppure a fare due passi. Tyson è completamente inattendibile, capace di smentire con i fatti tutte le sue dichiarazioni. È emblematica la conversione di sola facciata all’Islam (ispirata verosimilmente a quella di Cassius Clay) riassumibile nel motto: Alla fica e la coca.
Il delirio finale in corsivo dove ogni frase vanifica la precedente sembra esser dettato sotto un mix di droghe dagli effetti opposti e rimodellato grammaticalmente da Larry Sloman (il biografo effettivo scrittore di True) in modo da essere leggibile, ma neppure un miracolo riuscirebbe a farlo diventare logico.
Il libro si trascina per ulteriori cinquanta pagine con Tyson che è più scettico dei lettori in merito ai suoi tentativi di redenzione. Scontato l’omaggio per la moglie in carica al momento della stesura, sfinenti le sette pagine di ringraziamenti finali a cui partecipa anche il ghost writer Sloman.
Sarebbe stato meglio chiudere il libro per KO tecnico trecento pagine prima.
Per il mio ingresso avevano messo una canzone dei Toto, ma nella mia testa sentivo soltanto il pezzo di Phil Collins In the Air Tonight: «I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord / And I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord»
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj...
E allora entriamo anche noi così: è il 22 Novembre 1986 Mike Tyson sta per diventare il più giovane campione mondiale della storia dei Pesi Massimi, realizzando la profezia del suo mentore Cus D’Amato.
La prima metà di questo libro mi ha davvero appassionato. Non mi ero reso conto di quanto fosse giovane Tyson quando diventò campione, io ero più giovane di lui e i miei vaghi ricordi erano legati alle immagini carpite sui TG dell’epoca. Tyson arriva dai bassifondi neri di Brooklyn, racconta di emarginazione e delinquenza, del padre assente e della madre violenta. Al pugilato giunge casualmente grazie all’interesse di un irlandese che dopo averlo svezzato lo presenta ad un italiano che ha già lavorato in passato con pugili di valore. Cus D'Amato diverrà il padre che non ha mai avuto, sarà lui a sfruttare esaltandola l’aggressività animalesca di Mike. Sono andato a vedere sul tubo buona parte degli incontri di cui Tyson aveva appena raccontato, poi ad un certo punto ho cambiato strategia, ho cercato gli incontri prima di conoscerne l’esito.
Voleva formare il pugile perfetto, un guerriero che terrorizzasse gli avversari prima ancora di salire sul ring. Mi addestrò a una ferocia assoluta, dentro e fuori dal quadrato. Era ciò di cui avevo bisogno all’epoca. Ero troppo insicuro, spaventato, traumatizzato dai maltrattamenti subiti da piccolo. Detestavo l’umiliazione di sentirmi una vittima.
I combattimenti sono spesso impressionanti, è sufficiente apriate una clip qualunque per verificare l’aggressività con cui Tyson portava i colpi
Presi anche a fantasticare sul fatto che, se avessi ammazzato qualcuno sul quadrato, avrei sicuramente intimorito tutti. Cus voleva un campione negativo, così m’ispirai ai cattivi dei film, a soggetti come Jack Palance e Richard Widmark. Mi calai nel ruolo dell’arrogante sociopatico.
La cronaca degli incontri è appassionante, ma è inframezzata sempre più spesso dagli eccessi privati di Tyson. Così spietato sul ring così sprovveduto nella gestione di guadagni, amicizie, sentimenti. Si contorna di uno stuolo di profittatori infinito e poi si vota al consumo smodato di stupefacenti. L’erba gli serve per attutire gli effetti della coca che lui combina al consumo di whisky. Le sostanze alimentano la sua sessuomania che per esser tenuta ritta ha bisogno di Chalis e Viagra.
Il problema del libro è che dopo il match con Holyfield il 28 giugno 1997 i combattimenti finiscono e rimane la sola cronaca degli eccessi, dei night club, delle orge, del consumo di droga, delle comparsate per racimolare qualche dollaro visto che il malloppo è stato sniffato, fumato, trombato, convertito in abiti e gioielli pacchiani, in un parco auto da sceicco. Poi ci sono i debiti con il fisco e quelli con la moglie lampo, che in meno di un anno (prima del divorzio pilotato dalla madre), gli ha fatto un culo come nessun pugile è mai stato in grado di fargli. Se la prima parte si leggeva da sola, la seconda, nelle pastoie legali di varie accuse di stupro e nei tentativi di disintossicarsi procede con una lentezza esasperante. Tyson cerca di inventarsi una nuova vita con camei al cinema, uno spettacolo teatrale e vari contratti pubblicitari in giro per il mondo, ma ovunque vada, senza cocaina non riesce neppure a fare due passi. Tyson è completamente inattendibile, capace di smentire con i fatti tutte le sue dichiarazioni. È emblematica la conversione di sola facciata all’Islam (ispirata verosimilmente a quella di Cassius Clay) riassumibile nel motto: Alla fica e la coca.
Il delirio finale in corsivo dove ogni frase vanifica la precedente sembra esser dettato sotto un mix di droghe dagli effetti opposti e rimodellato grammaticalmente da Larry Sloman (il biografo effettivo scrittore di True) in modo da essere leggibile, ma neppure un miracolo riuscirebbe a farlo diventare logico.
Il libro si trascina per ulteriori cinquanta pagine con Tyson che è più scettico dei lettori in merito ai suoi tentativi di redenzione. Scontato l’omaggio per la moglie in carica al momento della stesura, sfinenti le sette pagine di ringraziamenti finali a cui partecipa anche il ghost writer Sloman.
Sarebbe stato meglio chiudere il libro per KO tecnico trecento pagine prima.
April 6, 2017
Best autobiography I've read in ages.
Raw, honest and full of conflict.
Raw, honest and full of conflict.
November 23, 2013
After finishing Tyson's autobiography, I have to admit...I wanted to give it a better score, but I just can't bring myself to do it. At the beginning of the book I was quite interested-Tyson was admitting faults and openly blaming himself for certain aspects of his life. Sadly, this self-introspection must have been brief, because after discussion of his adolescence in Brooklyn, the book devolved into a "I had a highly publicized event occur in my life, and this is why it is not my fault." Don't get me wrong-the book could be quite candid at times, but overall it seemed to be a study in self-pity.
As is no surprise, many of the portions of his life story were highly fascinating (let's face it-who wouldn't want to know the details of his life, both real and fabricated?); however, the editing of the book sort of took the steam out of the these sections. Why? They dragged on and on and on...well, you get the picture.
Overall, I think any fan of boxing (and of Tyson in particular) will enjoy the book, even if it does get a bit tedious at times. A forewarning-this book is EXTREMELY explicit, with gratuitous and profane language, as well as unedited sexual situations. If either of these bother you, don't read this book.
As is no surprise, many of the portions of his life story were highly fascinating (let's face it-who wouldn't want to know the details of his life, both real and fabricated?); however, the editing of the book sort of took the steam out of the these sections. Why? They dragged on and on and on...well, you get the picture.
Overall, I think any fan of boxing (and of Tyson in particular) will enjoy the book, even if it does get a bit tedious at times. A forewarning-this book is EXTREMELY explicit, with gratuitous and profane language, as well as unedited sexual situations. If either of these bother you, don't read this book.
August 3, 2014
Brilliant autobiography. It's like Mike Tyson has done enough living for 100 lifetimes. Quite sad in places when you vicariously experience being the so-called "baddest man on the planet" and see things through his eyes. They are now developing a film adaptation which at this stage will be directed by Martin Scorsese and Jamie Foxx will play Tyson. That is one movie I'd pay to watch!
January 24, 2016
Biggest lessons from the first 100 pages:
1) Build identity of who you want to become
2) Never stop improving
3) Commit 100% and get up after lost fight
Rest of the book:
1) Don´t do hoes and coke.
1) Build identity of who you want to become
2) Never stop improving
3) Commit 100% and get up after lost fight
Rest of the book:
1) Don´t do hoes and coke.
December 3, 2013
I wanted to. I tried. I failed. I just could not feel sympathetic. It's the feminist in me. There is a ton of hypocrisy in the 200 pages I read. All that I could be reminded of is that awful book by OJ Simpson If I Did It.
I don't even know what to say. It's just ridiculous and not for me.
I don't even know what to say. It's just ridiculous and not for me.
April 3, 2023
Love him or loathe him, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson is an icon and one of the most fascinating sporting figures of our time. In this no-holds-barred autobiography, Tyson lays bare his demons and tells his story: from poverty to stardom to hell and back again
As a book I give this story four stars. Reading his "autobiography" makes me like the fighter/boxer in him, but I do NOT like the person.
I must congratulate the writer, sorry ghost writer for putting this story together, a massive read, incredible life story, the honesty of this book, sadly does not effect my thoughts on his character and personality.
Full of all the controversy and complexity that you would expect from a man who delighted as much as he shocked, this is a book that will surprise people and reveal a fascinating character beneath the exterior of violence.
If you think you know all about Mike Tyson, read this book and think again.
Filled with shocking facts, that sadly as a boxing fan is so upsetting to read, how his cockiness, brutality, un- professional attitude won him many fights, but his private life filled with drugs, alcohol, parties, arrests, prison, girls, and his attitude lost him fights at the end, his life caught up with him. False urine samples to be able to fight.
Enormous respect for his frightening power and determination to make it to the top, but a very cocky attitude and lack of respect to his opponents cost him in the end.
Do you admire someone who tells you he is making 117 million dollars in two years, owns 3/5 homes throughout USA, 62 cars, yes 62 cars!! But then owns millions to tax, and for years has no money and was near bankruptcy.
With the sad death of his daughter, he did not have enough money to pay for the funeral, paid for my donations.
Fascinating story, but also a shocking story, maybe he has reached a happy place now, after years of robbery, stealing, depression, relationships, divorces.
Maybe a film career did save his life in the end, but what a tough, rough ride to get there.
A great boxing career, that could have been even bigger and better.
As a book I give this story four stars. Reading his "autobiography" makes me like the fighter/boxer in him, but I do NOT like the person.
I must congratulate the writer, sorry ghost writer for putting this story together, a massive read, incredible life story, the honesty of this book, sadly does not effect my thoughts on his character and personality.
Full of all the controversy and complexity that you would expect from a man who delighted as much as he shocked, this is a book that will surprise people and reveal a fascinating character beneath the exterior of violence.
If you think you know all about Mike Tyson, read this book and think again.
Filled with shocking facts, that sadly as a boxing fan is so upsetting to read, how his cockiness, brutality, un- professional attitude won him many fights, but his private life filled with drugs, alcohol, parties, arrests, prison, girls, and his attitude lost him fights at the end, his life caught up with him. False urine samples to be able to fight.
Enormous respect for his frightening power and determination to make it to the top, but a very cocky attitude and lack of respect to his opponents cost him in the end.
Do you admire someone who tells you he is making 117 million dollars in two years, owns 3/5 homes throughout USA, 62 cars, yes 62 cars!! But then owns millions to tax, and for years has no money and was near bankruptcy.
With the sad death of his daughter, he did not have enough money to pay for the funeral, paid for my donations.
Fascinating story, but also a shocking story, maybe he has reached a happy place now, after years of robbery, stealing, depression, relationships, divorces.
Maybe a film career did save his life in the end, but what a tough, rough ride to get there.
A great boxing career, that could have been even bigger and better.
September 7, 2017
Nếu nói đến quyền anh, trong đầu tôi chỉ có duy nhất một cái tên: Mike Tyson.
Có thể là do những năm 90 vẫn nhớ đến cảnh ngồi cùng bố và bác ruột xem mấy trận đấm, và cái tên Tyson đã len lỏi vào đầu như thế.
Một cuốn sách ngồn ngộn tình dục, bạo lực, ma túy. Nhưng đằng sau nó là cả một sự thăng trầm của đời người. Từ khố rách, đến trên đỉnh thế giới, rồi phá sản, làm lại.
Thế giới hào nhoáng ấy đã được mô tả lại một cách trần trụi, làm người ta sốc về sự đồi bại và xa hoa của nó, nhưng cũng làm người ta suy nghĩ bởi những thứ vật chất phù phiếm cuối cùng, có nhiều đến đâu đi chăng nữa sẽ tan biến sau một cơn sóng dữ.
Đó là Mike Tyson mà tôi biết, là gã trai "mọi" với cú đấm kinh hồn và những trận đấu chóng vánh đến phát chán.
Đó cũng là Mike mà tôi không biết, đọc nhiều, trầm cảm, nghiện sex, chơi ma túy bằng ống hút, rách nát, sống như ông hoàng và rồi lại đi kiếm từng đồng nhỏ.
NHưng sự vĩ đại trong quyền anh của Tyson thì là thật. Và nó sẽ luôn ở đó trong ngôi đền cũng những võ sĩ lừng danh nhất mà Trái Đất này từng biết đến.
Một cuốn sách hồi ký thể thao xuất sắc nhất từng được đọc
Có thể là do những năm 90 vẫn nhớ đến cảnh ngồi cùng bố và bác ruột xem mấy trận đấm, và cái tên Tyson đã len lỏi vào đầu như thế.
Một cuốn sách ngồn ngộn tình dục, bạo lực, ma túy. Nhưng đằng sau nó là cả một sự thăng trầm của đời người. Từ khố rách, đến trên đỉnh thế giới, rồi phá sản, làm lại.
Thế giới hào nhoáng ấy đã được mô tả lại một cách trần trụi, làm người ta sốc về sự đồi bại và xa hoa của nó, nhưng cũng làm người ta suy nghĩ bởi những thứ vật chất phù phiếm cuối cùng, có nhiều đến đâu đi chăng nữa sẽ tan biến sau một cơn sóng dữ.
Đó là Mike Tyson mà tôi biết, là gã trai "mọi" với cú đấm kinh hồn và những trận đấu chóng vánh đến phát chán.
Đó cũng là Mike mà tôi không biết, đọc nhiều, trầm cảm, nghiện sex, chơi ma túy bằng ống hút, rách nát, sống như ông hoàng và rồi lại đi kiếm từng đồng nhỏ.
NHưng sự vĩ đại trong quyền anh của Tyson thì là thật. Và nó sẽ luôn ở đó trong ngôi đền cũng những võ sĩ lừng danh nhất mà Trái Đất này từng biết đến.
Một cuốn sách hồi ký thể thao xuất sắc nhất từng được đọc
October 30, 2014
I assumed Mike Tyson was an interesting person, and this book confirmed it. The book is in his "voice" and I appreciated it. It's by no means a perfect book, but it was a highly entertaining and enjoyable read. Reading it was like listening to him tell you stories of his life. He experienced a lot and had moments where he seems like he is/was an extremely tormented individual. There's violence, sex, drugs, arrests, and betrayal -- this memoir is almost like a confessional of all the things Iron Mike did and experienced; it took a man many loathed and made him human.
December 23, 2023
An amazingly frank no holds barred look into the life, times and minds of one of the greatest boxers to fight in a ring, who is also one of the most controversial fighters of all-time. He veers away from nothing, so be prepared to read about his rape conviction and his thoughts before, during and after the incident. 9 out of 12, Four Stars for this stark and honest bio.
2014 read
2014 read
November 23, 2013
"The day that guy took my glasses and put them in that gas tank was the last day I went to school. That was the end of my formal education. I was seven years old and I just never went back to class."
I am always fascinated to read about other people's lives and hot d*mn Mike Tyson is truly a fascinating human being. To read in his own words what life was like growing up for him not only made me feel sorry for him but it helped me to understand why he chose a profession that is all about violence and being an alpha male. Tyson's life was truly headed for destruction until he met the legendary, Cus D'Amoto.
"When you have cocaine, you could be in the Mojave Desert in the middle of the fucking night, snorting your blow, and out of nowhere a bitch pops up in a bathing suit. Coke radar."
The above passage is just one example of how hilarious Mike Tyson can be at times. Overall though, I believe his story reads as a tragedy. I say it is a tragedy because even though he will be known in the history books as one of the absolute greatest boxers to ever live, he is still to this day fighting demons of his past.
"Sometimes we like to conceive of lust as love because we think it feels so good it has to be love. Love is sacrifice, love is worth dying and killing for, history proves that. But, we must have some kind of moral compass in our journey through life. All enjoyment is not good enjoyment."
We are reminded that at the end of the day, no matter how high our social status is in this crazy world, love is what we all want. Whether it is to truly love another human, to have another human truly love us, or to simply love ourselves. Undisputed Truth was so much fun to read on so many various levels. Whether you love him or hate him, respect him or think he is a piece of trash, Mike Tyson is a polarizing figure and he has told his story which is one worth reading!!!!
I am always fascinated to read about other people's lives and hot d*mn Mike Tyson is truly a fascinating human being. To read in his own words what life was like growing up for him not only made me feel sorry for him but it helped me to understand why he chose a profession that is all about violence and being an alpha male. Tyson's life was truly headed for destruction until he met the legendary, Cus D'Amoto.
"When you have cocaine, you could be in the Mojave Desert in the middle of the fucking night, snorting your blow, and out of nowhere a bitch pops up in a bathing suit. Coke radar."
The above passage is just one example of how hilarious Mike Tyson can be at times. Overall though, I believe his story reads as a tragedy. I say it is a tragedy because even though he will be known in the history books as one of the absolute greatest boxers to ever live, he is still to this day fighting demons of his past.
"Sometimes we like to conceive of lust as love because we think it feels so good it has to be love. Love is sacrifice, love is worth dying and killing for, history proves that. But, we must have some kind of moral compass in our journey through life. All enjoyment is not good enjoyment."
We are reminded that at the end of the day, no matter how high our social status is in this crazy world, love is what we all want. Whether it is to truly love another human, to have another human truly love us, or to simply love ourselves. Undisputed Truth was so much fun to read on so many various levels. Whether you love him or hate him, respect him or think he is a piece of trash, Mike Tyson is a polarizing figure and he has told his story which is one worth reading!!!!
December 28, 2017
Update: One of the saddest parts of life is escaping a awful life, yet it does not escape you.
I'm just about finished reading this read, I believe it to be honest, funny, and sad. I believe Tyson to be relatively raw when taking about portion of his life that I wasn't fully aware. Really good autobiography and I recommend, especially if you are a fan.
I'm just about finished reading this read, I believe it to be honest, funny, and sad. I believe Tyson to be relatively raw when taking about portion of his life that I wasn't fully aware. Really good autobiography and I recommend, especially if you are a fan.
February 17, 2014
Be forewarned...if you are offended by the "F" word, you may want to avoid this book. It is written in the language of the streets, with an MF here and an MF there and an MF everywhere. Many, without regard to pigmentation, are referred to as nigga.
Now all that aside, it was an honest, revealing look at a troubled man. The champ doesn't pull any punches. He admits to his early days of breaking into houses and other petty and serious crimes. He shares the pain of his upbringing and family life. We see the improvements in his life after the influence of his friend, father figure, and trainer Cus. We then see, after the death of Cus who was Mike's compass, his old demons and many 'friends' who pulled Mike back into his old confusion and pain.
Some may think Mike was only an ignorant thug who got rich because he could fight. We learn that Mike is more than that. He is also well read and articulate, thanks to Cus. He has a good nature too. It is my hope that Mike has learned how to deal with his pain and his addictions and has figured out how to avoid that that will pull him back. Mike no longer fights in the ring and I think he now knows that he must yet fight against those who seek to take advantage of him. I enjoyed the read....Michael
Now all that aside, it was an honest, revealing look at a troubled man. The champ doesn't pull any punches. He admits to his early days of breaking into houses and other petty and serious crimes. He shares the pain of his upbringing and family life. We see the improvements in his life after the influence of his friend, father figure, and trainer Cus. We then see, after the death of Cus who was Mike's compass, his old demons and many 'friends' who pulled Mike back into his old confusion and pain.
Some may think Mike was only an ignorant thug who got rich because he could fight. We learn that Mike is more than that. He is also well read and articulate, thanks to Cus. He has a good nature too. It is my hope that Mike has learned how to deal with his pain and his addictions and has figured out how to avoid that that will pull him back. Mike no longer fights in the ring and I think he now knows that he must yet fight against those who seek to take advantage of him. I enjoyed the read....Michael
March 6, 2014
4.5 stars.
Last week I found myself staring face-to-face with Mike Tyson: the cover of his memoir Undisputed Truth was on the New Arrivals shelf at my local library. He looked older than I remembered and the scars on his face told the story of his lifetime of fighting in and out of the ring. I picked up his book (written with Larry Sloman, who also did Howard Stern's Private Parts) and couldn't put it down. I'm a lifelong boxing fan and I love a good biography/autobiography, so this was the best of both worlds.
Undisputed Truth was excellent, but it's not for everybody. The amount of F bombs, MF bombs, and N bombs is staggering. Sloman has done a phenomenal job of capturing Tyson's voice and relating all of the anecdotes and inner thoughts of this complicated and troubled man.
This memoir won't change your opinion about Tyson the former world champion, convicted rapist, and struggling addict. But it will give you an honest and unflinching glimpse at what goes on in the mind of a world-class athlete and one of the most polarizing figures of our time.
Last week I found myself staring face-to-face with Mike Tyson: the cover of his memoir Undisputed Truth was on the New Arrivals shelf at my local library. He looked older than I remembered and the scars on his face told the story of his lifetime of fighting in and out of the ring. I picked up his book (written with Larry Sloman, who also did Howard Stern's Private Parts) and couldn't put it down. I'm a lifelong boxing fan and I love a good biography/autobiography, so this was the best of both worlds.
Undisputed Truth was excellent, but it's not for everybody. The amount of F bombs, MF bombs, and N bombs is staggering. Sloman has done a phenomenal job of capturing Tyson's voice and relating all of the anecdotes and inner thoughts of this complicated and troubled man.
This memoir won't change your opinion about Tyson the former world champion, convicted rapist, and struggling addict. But it will give you an honest and unflinching glimpse at what goes on in the mind of a world-class athlete and one of the most polarizing figures of our time.
December 17, 2013
Wow! What can I say about the Undisputed Truth? It was quite a journey, very interesting and seemingly very honest. Mike does a tremendous job of sharing his story and I think he gives us an intimate look into his life from the streets of Brownsville to the suites in Las Vegas and everything in between. Mike Tyson's whole world is on display here and despite the muscular tome it never feels protracted.
The book is written in such a way that you feel the authenticity of Mike's voice, even though he isn't the writer. It's his story, but the writer, Larry Sloman is excellent at his craft and allows us to experience this book as if Tyson is sitting with the reader and recounting his life and crazy times. If you followed Tyson's career, you undoubtedly remember some of the incidents spoken about and have probably seen some of the wild interviews that are finely detailed here.
One of the things I'm always leery about concerning biographies, is the tendency to embellish. There are some stories in here that are incongruent with certain details and don't align with other parts of Mike's story. For example, Mike talks about doing a lot of reading of effortful writers. "I read books by Oscar Wilde, Charles Darwin, Machiavelli, Tolstoy, Dumas and Adam Smith. I read a book about Alexander the Great. I loved history. By reading history I learned about human nature. I learned the hearts of men." Mind you, this is at the time he is living with Cus D'Amato, so he is about 15. Later on in the book, he mentions difficulty of writing his own name and signing contracts that he didn't so much as skim over. If you have read some challenging authors and learned "the hearts of men" wouldn't you have a little more interest in skimming contracts that are worth hundreds of millions? I would think that anyone reading those kind of works at an early age would at least take the time to browse a contract to save their self millions.
If profane language is bothersome to you, you may have a hard time getting through this book. There are a bunch of situations that are profanely detailed and sexual conquests are often crudely explained, so prudish readers be warned. The biography is pretty straightforward from early childhood right up to present day and a great deal of Mike's life exploits and important fights are often given gruesome detail. Altogether it's a superlative read and one of the best biographies I've read in quite some time. The conclusion is curious in that throughout the book Mike looks back at certain incidents and reacts to them in a way that he can't believe. He often comments on past events words and things with a certain disgust.
However, when you reach the end you conclude that mentally he's feeling the same way he felt when making those rude and over the top statements. So, you're left wondering about the growth mentally and psychologically, and what becomes clear is that the struggle for Mike is a daily one and it continues presently. Mike is a complex personality and I recommend this odyssey with Mr. Tyson.
The book is written in such a way that you feel the authenticity of Mike's voice, even though he isn't the writer. It's his story, but the writer, Larry Sloman is excellent at his craft and allows us to experience this book as if Tyson is sitting with the reader and recounting his life and crazy times. If you followed Tyson's career, you undoubtedly remember some of the incidents spoken about and have probably seen some of the wild interviews that are finely detailed here.
One of the things I'm always leery about concerning biographies, is the tendency to embellish. There are some stories in here that are incongruent with certain details and don't align with other parts of Mike's story. For example, Mike talks about doing a lot of reading of effortful writers. "I read books by Oscar Wilde, Charles Darwin, Machiavelli, Tolstoy, Dumas and Adam Smith. I read a book about Alexander the Great. I loved history. By reading history I learned about human nature. I learned the hearts of men." Mind you, this is at the time he is living with Cus D'Amato, so he is about 15. Later on in the book, he mentions difficulty of writing his own name and signing contracts that he didn't so much as skim over. If you have read some challenging authors and learned "the hearts of men" wouldn't you have a little more interest in skimming contracts that are worth hundreds of millions? I would think that anyone reading those kind of works at an early age would at least take the time to browse a contract to save their self millions.
If profane language is bothersome to you, you may have a hard time getting through this book. There are a bunch of situations that are profanely detailed and sexual conquests are often crudely explained, so prudish readers be warned. The biography is pretty straightforward from early childhood right up to present day and a great deal of Mike's life exploits and important fights are often given gruesome detail. Altogether it's a superlative read and one of the best biographies I've read in quite some time. The conclusion is curious in that throughout the book Mike looks back at certain incidents and reacts to them in a way that he can't believe. He often comments on past events words and things with a certain disgust.
However, when you reach the end you conclude that mentally he's feeling the same way he felt when making those rude and over the top statements. So, you're left wondering about the growth mentally and psychologically, and what becomes clear is that the struggle for Mike is a daily one and it continues presently. Mike is a complex personality and I recommend this odyssey with Mr. Tyson.
November 14, 2016
I got to a point where I used to not enjoy going to bed as I knew I was going to have to spend some time with this book. It´s a brutal read, harrowing in places, thrilling in others. It seems to be Tyson´s aim to make himself unlikeable: it certainly was when he was boxing; starting out at least. He wanted to be the anti-hero, the guy everyone was afraid of. Black shorts. No washing for a few days to stink when he got in the ring. No music. Telling people he was going to kill them.
And it worked. There were constant no shows and when he was given a chance, Tyson cut through the competition, smashing seven shades of sugar out of anyone who was standing in his path. He became one of the most famous faces on the planet, mobbed, loved and feared. He was a true heavyweight champion. His fights were an event. And he could box. Despite the theatrics, he knew his trade. His fighting was fierce but controlled. Bludgeoning. Pretty much, for those first few years at least, unstoppable.
All this was impressive when you knew where he had come from. The first part of this book, of Mike´s journey, is scarier than any horror story. It has to be read to be believed and Tyson spares nothing in the telling. It´s an upbringing that was always going to have repercussions, did have repercussions and that Tyson can never escape. He is that poor boy.
The part I enjoyed most in the book, magical really, was the young Tyson - an angry, pathologically criminal and uncontrollable boy of thirteen - being taken in by an old white man, Cus D´Amato, and his wife, and brought up with them in a house in the country. Cus was interested in Tyson as a prospect. The first time he saw him he thought he could be a world champion - he´d already trained Floyd Patterson to the crown and couldn´t believe his luck in being given another chance.
Together the man and boy worked towards a shared goal: to be the Heavyweight Champion of the world. Tyson watched tapes and shadow boxed and listened. Cus talked and pointed Tyson in the direction of writers and zen. Everything was directed at the belt.
Cus died. Tyson won.
The second half of the book is a long, weird spiral into over-indulgence. There are pet tigers and threesomes with Japanese room maids (before his defeat in Tokyo). There are women everywhere and drink and drugs. Tyson is on crack while he has a drip in his arm. He tattoos his face, attempts a comeback, loses a child. It´s a brutal, visceral read and not much fun, in the end. But it is informative if relentlessly bleak and angry.
And it worked. There were constant no shows and when he was given a chance, Tyson cut through the competition, smashing seven shades of sugar out of anyone who was standing in his path. He became one of the most famous faces on the planet, mobbed, loved and feared. He was a true heavyweight champion. His fights were an event. And he could box. Despite the theatrics, he knew his trade. His fighting was fierce but controlled. Bludgeoning. Pretty much, for those first few years at least, unstoppable.
All this was impressive when you knew where he had come from. The first part of this book, of Mike´s journey, is scarier than any horror story. It has to be read to be believed and Tyson spares nothing in the telling. It´s an upbringing that was always going to have repercussions, did have repercussions and that Tyson can never escape. He is that poor boy.
The part I enjoyed most in the book, magical really, was the young Tyson - an angry, pathologically criminal and uncontrollable boy of thirteen - being taken in by an old white man, Cus D´Amato, and his wife, and brought up with them in a house in the country. Cus was interested in Tyson as a prospect. The first time he saw him he thought he could be a world champion - he´d already trained Floyd Patterson to the crown and couldn´t believe his luck in being given another chance.
Together the man and boy worked towards a shared goal: to be the Heavyweight Champion of the world. Tyson watched tapes and shadow boxed and listened. Cus talked and pointed Tyson in the direction of writers and zen. Everything was directed at the belt.
Cus died. Tyson won.
The second half of the book is a long, weird spiral into over-indulgence. There are pet tigers and threesomes with Japanese room maids (before his defeat in Tokyo). There are women everywhere and drink and drugs. Tyson is on crack while he has a drip in his arm. He tattoos his face, attempts a comeback, loses a child. It´s a brutal, visceral read and not much fun, in the end. But it is informative if relentlessly bleak and angry.
April 3, 2014
Positively epic. At just about 600 pages, there's so many things this book just barely gets into. You could write a solid 500-word tome on just the assaults, drug deals and sexual impropriety he was involved in in the years after his career fell apart, when he got his ass whooped by Lennox Lewis back in the early 2000s. A word on that sexual impropriety: Tyson begins the book not by saying who he is, where he was born or anything like that, but by insisting that he didn't rape Desiree Washington. That and the fact that he's so candid about so much other wrongdoing (really, enough that he should still be in jail anyway) leads me to believe that he really is telling the truth; he really was falsely accused of rape. If only there was a way that that could be argued in court. This book is thick with that kind of unsavory discussion. If anything at all was left out, it was for length. And like I said, this is a long-ass book.
December 4, 2013
This was a really interesting book. It got a little redundant with the same stuff over and over drugs and sex, but it brought to light how that was a big part of his life for so many years. He is an interesting character.
June 29, 2014
I've just read an April 4th, 1796 love letter of Napoléon Bonaparte to Joséphine de Beauharnais. You'd say "Oh, Artiom, you are such a handsome scholar: I am in no shock that you are reading XVIII-XIX century literature" to which I would eloquently reply "Your observation of my handsome features is spot-on, but I actually read this fine letter in a little book written by one Michael Gerard Tyson, BIA-TCH!"
There is no doubt that Mike is a basket-case. A loony-toon. An all-around madman. BUT a high functioning one, mind you. Before reading this book, I had a general idea of how complicated he is, but going through these pages was like sorting through Pandora's box: mommy issues, daddy issues, poverty, crime, drug abuse, violence, not to mention a constant battle between his ego and low self-esteem. Yet, that shitstorm of problems and personal demons on one side of the scale is countered by quite a list of positive skills and characteristics. Over the years the man probably put away more books than opponents, has excellent public speaking skills complimented by a nice sense of humor and is... intelligent. Did he handle his finances with due diligence? No. Was he a positive role-model for kids? Not so much. Was he a gentleman to all women? Hell to the no. But those are what they call "mistakes" and you'd expect him to have quite a few of those if you'd think of the position a 20-year old Mike found himself in.
Now, I am no rocket scientist, but if $150M could spoil a sweet little feminine Canadian pop singer who's name may or may not rhyme with Bustin Jieber, I would expect things to go just a tad bit crazy if you give $300M to a hormone-raging street thug from Brooklyn. He should not be alive today, let alone sober with a family and an ongoing successful career in entertainment. That's what they call "getting your shit together" with a gold star.
Sure, he will never again have nine figures of net worth to his name, but he has something far more important - an incredible life story and a name that will not soon be forgotten. I mean, there are 1,400+ billionaires in the world, but there is only one Iron Mike. He belongs to that rare breed of athlete who are capable of transcending their sport - there are many people who are not interested in racing, basketball, soccer or boxing, but almost everyone knows Michael Schumacher, Michael Jordan, Pelé and Mike Tyson. In the grand scheme of things, I consider reaching that level of status a true Legacy, as opposed to a legacy of "who collected more Benjamins".
All in all, the book was fascinating - I've written a few reviews of biographies, but I believe this is actually the first time I used the word "fascinating". And no wonder - it's written by The Baddest Man on the Planet.
There is no doubt that Mike is a basket-case. A loony-toon. An all-around madman. BUT a high functioning one, mind you. Before reading this book, I had a general idea of how complicated he is, but going through these pages was like sorting through Pandora's box: mommy issues, daddy issues, poverty, crime, drug abuse, violence, not to mention a constant battle between his ego and low self-esteem. Yet, that shitstorm of problems and personal demons on one side of the scale is countered by quite a list of positive skills and characteristics. Over the years the man probably put away more books than opponents, has excellent public speaking skills complimented by a nice sense of humor and is... intelligent. Did he handle his finances with due diligence? No. Was he a positive role-model for kids? Not so much. Was he a gentleman to all women? Hell to the no. But those are what they call "mistakes" and you'd expect him to have quite a few of those if you'd think of the position a 20-year old Mike found himself in.
Now, I am no rocket scientist, but if $150M could spoil a sweet little feminine Canadian pop singer who's name may or may not rhyme with Bustin Jieber, I would expect things to go just a tad bit crazy if you give $300M to a hormone-raging street thug from Brooklyn. He should not be alive today, let alone sober with a family and an ongoing successful career in entertainment. That's what they call "getting your shit together" with a gold star.
Sure, he will never again have nine figures of net worth to his name, but he has something far more important - an incredible life story and a name that will not soon be forgotten. I mean, there are 1,400+ billionaires in the world, but there is only one Iron Mike. He belongs to that rare breed of athlete who are capable of transcending their sport - there are many people who are not interested in racing, basketball, soccer or boxing, but almost everyone knows Michael Schumacher, Michael Jordan, Pelé and Mike Tyson. In the grand scheme of things, I consider reaching that level of status a true Legacy, as opposed to a legacy of "who collected more Benjamins".
All in all, the book was fascinating - I've written a few reviews of biographies, but I believe this is actually the first time I used the word "fascinating". And no wonder - it's written by The Baddest Man on the Planet.
December 5, 2013
Whoa. Wow. The biggest personalities of my generation, the people who had the largest cultural impact, are arguably:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Michael Jackson
3. Mike Tyson
4. Princess Di
In that order. You may quibble with that list, but you'd have to admit that this list is at least defensible. Note, for example, the rise in popularity of the boy's name "Tyson" since 1990.
This book exposes the life of Tyson in all its depravity. As I read, I was reminded of the depressing lack of control of Jim Morrison's life in No One Here Gets Out Alive and the demotivating inevitability of On the Beach. Tyson was completely out of control and self-destructive. He generated and wasted fortunes, was taken advantage of, indulged all his tastes, and was utterly unprepared to live in a civilized society.
We all thought he was invincible until that Buster Douglas fight. This book gives insight into how he lost his edge, what fighting meant to him, and how the fight game spilled into his everyday life. It's interesting that we admonish our children not to fight, we deplore fighting in society at large, yet we shower boxers with fame, adulation, and money for beating hell out of each other. Tyson shows us the monsters we create.
Tyson is a scary dude. I finished this book yesterday. Last night, I had a nightmare that he was out my house, and I was doing everything I could to keep him pacified and not pound me with his jackhammer fists.
The book is crude and obscene throughout. Tyson doesn't sugarcoat things. He came, he says, from the sewers, and that in the sewers he belongs. If you're too delicate, you should avoid this. Otherwise, you should read every word and try to wrap your head around this conflicted man who dominated our attention in the 80s, 90s, and even now.
1. Michael Jordan
2. Michael Jackson
3. Mike Tyson
4. Princess Di
In that order. You may quibble with that list, but you'd have to admit that this list is at least defensible. Note, for example, the rise in popularity of the boy's name "Tyson" since 1990.
This book exposes the life of Tyson in all its depravity. As I read, I was reminded of the depressing lack of control of Jim Morrison's life in No One Here Gets Out Alive and the demotivating inevitability of On the Beach. Tyson was completely out of control and self-destructive. He generated and wasted fortunes, was taken advantage of, indulged all his tastes, and was utterly unprepared to live in a civilized society.
We all thought he was invincible until that Buster Douglas fight. This book gives insight into how he lost his edge, what fighting meant to him, and how the fight game spilled into his everyday life. It's interesting that we admonish our children not to fight, we deplore fighting in society at large, yet we shower boxers with fame, adulation, and money for beating hell out of each other. Tyson shows us the monsters we create.
Tyson is a scary dude. I finished this book yesterday. Last night, I had a nightmare that he was out my house, and I was doing everything I could to keep him pacified and not pound me with his jackhammer fists.
The book is crude and obscene throughout. Tyson doesn't sugarcoat things. He came, he says, from the sewers, and that in the sewers he belongs. If you're too delicate, you should avoid this. Otherwise, you should read every word and try to wrap your head around this conflicted man who dominated our attention in the 80s, 90s, and even now.
March 6, 2014
Couldn't put it down. I actually wouldn't have picked this up if it weren't for a friend's recommendation. Tyson's era was before I paid much attention to boxing. But man, this book is chock full of very important life lessons that any person can learn a lot from.
Another bright guy who happens to have a speech impediment (like Stallone) so people think he's retarded, but he's actually quite intelligent.
The first part is a standard top athlete's autobio, except that Tyson became champ at the tender age of 20 and was already training insanely before he hit 14. Very inspiring.
One of the most enlightening sections was his account of his marriage with the psychopath Robin Givens and her crazy mother. Read it. Psychopaths like this are everywhere and often parasites on successful people. Very instructive to see what he had to go through.
There are some hard-hitting truth sections describing life in the US inner city ghettos, where a lot of males get killed before even turning 16. After living in Singapore, a man can easily lose touch with that kind of reality and become soft. This was a nice wake up call.
Also excellent were the parts where he explained life behind bars and what he did to negotiate success there.
The descriptions of entire seasons spent cruising around on big yachts with legit self-created billionaires and the accounts of life in Moscow...well, eye-opening to say the least.
The best part actually came at the end when he hits rock bottom and actually starts to clean up his act with the help of this amazing therapist Marilyn, who introduced him to the pivotal concept of "baseline normal," as well as finally understanding his deep neediness.
The best book I've read all year and maybe all of last year too.
Another bright guy who happens to have a speech impediment (like Stallone) so people think he's retarded, but he's actually quite intelligent.
The first part is a standard top athlete's autobio, except that Tyson became champ at the tender age of 20 and was already training insanely before he hit 14. Very inspiring.
One of the most enlightening sections was his account of his marriage with the psychopath Robin Givens and her crazy mother. Read it. Psychopaths like this are everywhere and often parasites on successful people. Very instructive to see what he had to go through.
There are some hard-hitting truth sections describing life in the US inner city ghettos, where a lot of males get killed before even turning 16. After living in Singapore, a man can easily lose touch with that kind of reality and become soft. This was a nice wake up call.
Also excellent were the parts where he explained life behind bars and what he did to negotiate success there.
The descriptions of entire seasons spent cruising around on big yachts with legit self-created billionaires and the accounts of life in Moscow...well, eye-opening to say the least.
The best part actually came at the end when he hits rock bottom and actually starts to clean up his act with the help of this amazing therapist Marilyn, who introduced him to the pivotal concept of "baseline normal," as well as finally understanding his deep neediness.
The best book I've read all year and maybe all of last year too.
February 10, 2014
Love him of hate him, Mike Tyson is one interesting man, with one hell of a story to tell. I'm not even going to bury the led here, Undisputed Truth may just be the best autobiography I have ever read. It's truly a brutally honest look into the life and mind of a scared, troubled, and more often than not, frightening man. Every public incident is brought up here, the verbal abuse of reporters, the rape conviction (which Tyson proves, to me at least, to have been innocent), the prison time, the ear biting, the divorces, the face tattoo, and everything in between. If you're offended by language, you might want to avoid this one as Tyson drops F and N bombs like it's World War II. It's certainly not a reason to skip over this one, but will turn some people off.
The book is written in a conversational tone and never gets boring. There were moments when I really could not believe what I was reading. In the end, you'll get a better understanding of the man the media portrayed as a villain, both on and out of the ring. Misunderstood, or villain, savage animal or emotionally troubled, Mike Tyson lays all his cards out on the table and let's you decide.
The book is written in a conversational tone and never gets boring. There were moments when I really could not believe what I was reading. In the end, you'll get a better understanding of the man the media portrayed as a villain, both on and out of the ring. Misunderstood, or villain, savage animal or emotionally troubled, Mike Tyson lays all his cards out on the table and let's you decide.
December 4, 2013
Interesting read. It was from Tyson's point of view, so I took some of what I read with a grain of salt. One of the things that I'm not sure about was how later in his career, he wouldn't train hardly at all and still knock people out in the 1st or 2nd rounds. We are talking about other professional fighters, here. Maybe if he had been an amateur fighter, I could be more apt to believe it.
I do, however, believe that he made an unprecedented amount of money for himself and others in the boxing world and lost it because he simply did not care about money and how he spent it. I was surprised to hear how he was able to recoup his finances, time after time, because he would get a lot of money doing speaking engagements and celebrity appearances. I had no idea that even after celebrities have fallen out of the public eye, they still made lots (and I do mean LOTS) of money for many years to come.
I do, however, believe that he made an unprecedented amount of money for himself and others in the boxing world and lost it because he simply did not care about money and how he spent it. I was surprised to hear how he was able to recoup his finances, time after time, because he would get a lot of money doing speaking engagements and celebrity appearances. I had no idea that even after celebrities have fallen out of the public eye, they still made lots (and I do mean LOTS) of money for many years to come.
August 1, 2020
3.5 - I might up it to 4.
The first 150 or so pages are a fantastic insight into Mike's dysfunctional childhood and his relationship with mentor Cus D'Amato, an almost mythical figure, more sensei or sage than traditional boxing trainer.
After that, it descends into a tale of sex, drugs and self pity for much of the rest of the book. There are more highlights, such as the chapter recounting Mike's experiences in prison, but the endless partying eventually leads to a bit of a Hangover (sorry!)
NB: The ending is great, it is poetic and uplifting and fulfilling. The lengthy epilogue I thought to be a misstep, mostly a self-flagellating, stream of consciousness rant that needed a good edit (or leaving out entirely)
I enjoyed the book overall however, and I'm glad to see Mike appears to be doing well these days. Good luck with his exhibition fight coming up on September 12th!
The first 150 or so pages are a fantastic insight into Mike's dysfunctional childhood and his relationship with mentor Cus D'Amato, an almost mythical figure, more sensei or sage than traditional boxing trainer.
After that, it descends into a tale of sex, drugs and self pity for much of the rest of the book. There are more highlights, such as the chapter recounting Mike's experiences in prison, but the endless partying eventually leads to a bit of a Hangover (sorry!)
NB: The ending is great, it is poetic and uplifting and fulfilling. The lengthy epilogue I thought to be a misstep, mostly a self-flagellating, stream of consciousness rant that needed a good edit (or leaving out entirely)
I enjoyed the book overall however, and I'm glad to see Mike appears to be doing well these days. Good luck with his exhibition fight coming up on September 12th!
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