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Doc Holliday: A Life from Beginning to End
Discover the remarkable life of Doc Holliday...
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Doc Holliday didn’t begin his career as a gunslinger. The fact that he was known as “Doc” speaks to his first profession. For as sure and true as his aim might have been, his initial career path did not involve shooting bullets—it involved pulling teeth. He was a dentist by trade who ended up becoming a gambler and gunslinger by necessity.
Diagnosed with tuberculosis, Doc Holliday knew that he was living on borrowed time, and he lived his life accordingly. He didn’t waste one precious moment fearing what might happen to him should things not go his way. Yes, just as clearly as he knew the stakes in a card game, he knew that life was a gamble. He simply lived from one day to another, playing the hand that he was dealt as best he could. This is his life and his story in full.
Discover a plethora of topics such asEarly Doc the DentistThe Doctor Goes to DeadwoodBig Nose Kate and Wyatt EarpAmong the Lungers in Las VegasDoc at the OK CorralDie With Your Boots OffAnd much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on Doc Holliday, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
Free BONUS Inside!
Doc Holliday didn’t begin his career as a gunslinger. The fact that he was known as “Doc” speaks to his first profession. For as sure and true as his aim might have been, his initial career path did not involve shooting bullets—it involved pulling teeth. He was a dentist by trade who ended up becoming a gambler and gunslinger by necessity.
Diagnosed with tuberculosis, Doc Holliday knew that he was living on borrowed time, and he lived his life accordingly. He didn’t waste one precious moment fearing what might happen to him should things not go his way. Yes, just as clearly as he knew the stakes in a card game, he knew that life was a gamble. He simply lived from one day to another, playing the hand that he was dealt as best he could. This is his life and his story in full.
Discover a plethora of topics such asEarly Doc the DentistThe Doctor Goes to DeadwoodBig Nose Kate and Wyatt EarpAmong the Lungers in Las VegasDoc at the OK CorralDie With Your Boots OffAnd much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on Doc Holliday, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
56 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
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Hourly History
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Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 29, 2025
It's hard to rate this one. As a fan of the Hourly History series in general, I found this particular book to be one of the best written in the series, in terms of writing style. The anonymous author seems to genuinely be interested in Doc Holliday and passionate about his epic life -- something I very much understand.
On the other hand, the promise of "A life from beginning to end" was handled very unevenly. We all have heard so much about Old West Doc Holliday, especially his involvement in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Details about this period should absolutely be included in a book about his life, even dominate it. But I picked this book up to learn about some lesser known periods of his all too brief existence, like his childhood. While there does seem to be some real material about this out there, it's barely touched on here.
And while we do get a lot of Doc's Wild West exploits, they're sort of washed out by how much the author talks about his goings and comings in different states. In some ways, this is really interesting because it shows how much people could travel, even in those days. But it ended up feeling confusing at times, especially as he crossed paths with, lived with, then stopped living with, then crossed paths with again, etc., Big Nose Kate and the Earps.
Speaking of confusing, I have a suspicion that the author confused Las Vegas, Nevada, which, as I understand, was just a spot in the desert at the time Doc Holliday was alive, and Las Vegas, New Mexico, which was an established town by then. Not 100% sure of this, but my brief research seems to confirm this fact, which I learned because I myself was confused when I was watching the excellent Netflix documentary series Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. An understandable mistake, and unfortunately not one that's easy to spot unless you had a fact checker who was aware of both Las Vegases and their histories. Still, I just wanted to put it here to clarify.
There were also some facts about events like the gunfight at the O.K. Corral that don't seem to fit with what might be newer scholarship. Nothing major -- the outcome was the same, after all. But some details didn't fit with things I've read or heard about in other sources.
Overall, I think this could be a good read for someone who knows little or nothing about Doc Holliday and wants an introduction to his incredible life and times. But if you're even a bit of a fan and are looking for a few more details about lesser-known periods of his life, it will probably leave you unsatisfied.
On the other hand, the promise of "A life from beginning to end" was handled very unevenly. We all have heard so much about Old West Doc Holliday, especially his involvement in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Details about this period should absolutely be included in a book about his life, even dominate it. But I picked this book up to learn about some lesser known periods of his all too brief existence, like his childhood. While there does seem to be some real material about this out there, it's barely touched on here.
And while we do get a lot of Doc's Wild West exploits, they're sort of washed out by how much the author talks about his goings and comings in different states. In some ways, this is really interesting because it shows how much people could travel, even in those days. But it ended up feeling confusing at times, especially as he crossed paths with, lived with, then stopped living with, then crossed paths with again, etc., Big Nose Kate and the Earps.
Speaking of confusing, I have a suspicion that the author confused Las Vegas, Nevada, which, as I understand, was just a spot in the desert at the time Doc Holliday was alive, and Las Vegas, New Mexico, which was an established town by then. Not 100% sure of this, but my brief research seems to confirm this fact, which I learned because I myself was confused when I was watching the excellent Netflix documentary series Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. An understandable mistake, and unfortunately not one that's easy to spot unless you had a fact checker who was aware of both Las Vegases and their histories. Still, I just wanted to put it here to clarify.
There were also some facts about events like the gunfight at the O.K. Corral that don't seem to fit with what might be newer scholarship. Nothing major -- the outcome was the same, after all. But some details didn't fit with things I've read or heard about in other sources.
Overall, I think this could be a good read for someone who knows little or nothing about Doc Holliday and wants an introduction to his incredible life and times. But if you're even a bit of a fan and are looking for a few more details about lesser-known periods of his life, it will probably leave you unsatisfied.
January 10, 2026
We've all heard of the legend, here's a primer to the real man.
Doc Holliday and his were as a fairy tale to me growing up. The tales about this man had to be fiction, right? I am now pleased to learn that he is indeed real, albeit, still larger than life.
These Hourly History books are by nature short, but this one leaves me satisfied that my previous infatuation with Doc Holliday was well founded.
Doc Holliday and his were as a fairy tale to me growing up. The tales about this man had to be fiction, right? I am now pleased to learn that he is indeed real, albeit, still larger than life.
These Hourly History books are by nature short, but this one leaves me satisfied that my previous infatuation with Doc Holliday was well founded.
September 27, 2025
Holiday takes a Doc
An interesting character, with a sense of loyalty and honor, shadowed by death and carelessness.
Read fills in the spaces from biographies of other frontier legends.
An interesting character, with a sense of loyalty and honor, shadowed by death and carelessness.
Read fills in the spaces from biographies of other frontier legends.
October 1, 2025
This is what these books should be for. No agendas, no political bias - just history as close as we can determine. The short life of a legend. Not a saint, definitely a sinner and very much a legend. The short life, less than 40 years old of a fascinating character.
December 22, 2025
Legal ruffians at work and play
My grandfather was beaten to death in a small town in Eastern Colorado because he cussed out the driver for splashing mud on him. Circa 1943. He was released after 5 years in prison.
My grandfather was beaten to death in a small town in Eastern Colorado because he cussed out the driver for splashing mud on him. Circa 1943. He was released after 5 years in prison.
June 20, 2026
Nice quick read
Interesting factual summary of Doc Holliday’s life even as the script of Tombstone played in the background of my mind as I read. Worth a few minutes of your day certainly.
Interesting factual summary of Doc Holliday’s life even as the script of Tombstone played in the background of my mind as I read. Worth a few minutes of your day certainly.
September 27, 2025
Quick reads that desperately need an editor
Mostly accurate but written to sound like high schooler’s report fir history class. A good editor might help rid text of excess baggage.
Mostly accurate but written to sound like high schooler’s report fir history class. A good editor might help rid text of excess baggage.
September 29, 2025
I think this is very good for a short one hour biography. All of this Old West series is well done.
November 2, 2025
A Legend
This short biographical sketch of Doc Holliday was interesting to say the least. This adds to the legend of the man. Doc Holliday is worth checking out.
This short biographical sketch of Doc Holliday was interesting to say the least. This adds to the legend of the man. Doc Holliday is worth checking out.
November 19, 2025
A great read giving fantastic background information of one of the most famous wild west characters that lived in the nineteenth century.
January 14, 2026
Great read.
Although short in length it is an insightful read ...I enjoyed it very much... I recommend it to everyone interested in history
Although short in length it is an insightful read ...I enjoyed it very much... I recommend it to everyone interested in history
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews