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Going the Distance: Stallone, Philly, and the Story of Rocky
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26A love letter to the city of Philadelphia, and the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of the creation of a timeless and beloved piece of American pop Rocky.
The greatest underdog story in movie history will soon celebrate its golden anniversary. Rocky turns 50 in 2026, and in Going the Distance, Mike Sielski delivers the definitive account of the film’s making, the factors that drove Stallone to write and star in it, and its everlasting emotional connection to Philadelphia and to people around the world.
Armed with his intimate knowledge of Philadelphia’s texture, culture, and history, Sielski strips away the myths and semi-truths about Rocky, details how and why it came to be made, and puts it in its proper context of time, place, and significance. Through extensive research and exclusive insights from some of the film’s legendary collaborators -- including producer Irwin Winkler and composer Bill Conti, among others -- Sielski will tell Rocky’s story in a completely new way.
The backbone of the book will be Stallone’s rise from an aimless kid to an ambitious artist, one who was willing to do whatever he had to do to succeed in Hollywood, who made loyal friends and bitter enemies on his path to stardom. Along the way, Going the Distance will also answer many intriguing and lingering questions about Stallone and the movie.
Going the Distance will deliver the unfiltered origin story behind one of the most inspirational films of all time. This is more than a book about a movie. It’s a dramatic and revealing ride in and of itself.
The greatest underdog story in movie history will soon celebrate its golden anniversary. Rocky turns 50 in 2026, and in Going the Distance, Mike Sielski delivers the definitive account of the film’s making, the factors that drove Stallone to write and star in it, and its everlasting emotional connection to Philadelphia and to people around the world.
Armed with his intimate knowledge of Philadelphia’s texture, culture, and history, Sielski strips away the myths and semi-truths about Rocky, details how and why it came to be made, and puts it in its proper context of time, place, and significance. Through extensive research and exclusive insights from some of the film’s legendary collaborators -- including producer Irwin Winkler and composer Bill Conti, among others -- Sielski will tell Rocky’s story in a completely new way.
The backbone of the book will be Stallone’s rise from an aimless kid to an ambitious artist, one who was willing to do whatever he had to do to succeed in Hollywood, who made loyal friends and bitter enemies on his path to stardom. Along the way, Going the Distance will also answer many intriguing and lingering questions about Stallone and the movie.
Going the Distance will deliver the unfiltered origin story behind one of the most inspirational films of all time. This is more than a book about a movie. It’s a dramatic and revealing ride in and of itself.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Mike Sielski
13 books52 followersMike Sielski is the author of five books, including Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk and The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality. A co-host on Sports Radio 94 WIP, he has been a sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Inquirer.com since 2013 and was formerly a reporter at The Wall Street Journal. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sports Writing and The Year’s Best Sports Writing, and over his career he has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Association of Black Journalists. He lives in Bucks County, Pa.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Every time I see a Creed movie it makes me nostalgic for the early Rocky films. Nowadays, Sylvester Stallone has franchise films other than Rocky, such as Rambo and The Expendables. It is hard to imagine there was a time when no one knew his name.
This is a book which will open your eyes to a whole new side of Stallone, an underdog poor and hungry for success. While I have known for years that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote Good Will Hunting, I had no idea that Stallone was a talented, but not yet accomplished writer. That all changed with Rocky.
As far as his acting goes, I know I have seen at least one of his pre-Rocky films (Death Race) and believe another (The Lords of Flatbush). It can sometimes be hard to imagine someone with supporting roles like those having to scrounge for food money but there is much discussion of how tough times were for the Stallone family back in those early days. So much had to go right for him to get Rocky written, cast and made and it was great fun reading about all of that.
This book is full of many interesting stories. The fight he had to get himself cast as Rocky was nothing short of inspirational. I particularly enjoyed learning about the roles Stallone’s brother, father and dog played in the movie. If anyone wanting to read this book has not seen the movie in years, I would highly recommend watching it first. The stories would still be entertaining without doing so, but, for me, rewatching the movie enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
If there was one disappointing thing about the story, it would be Stallone’s cheap comments about a couple of other contributors to the film in the epilogue. For 200-plus pages, I was pulling for him as he chased his American dream. For the book to end with comments from him downplaying other people who were a part of his story was a bit of a disappointment.
Overall, I do highly recommend this book and rewatching the movie. As of the time of this review, there is another movie scheduled to come out later this year called I Play Rocky, also about the making of the film. Reading this book has me excited to watch for it. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read Going the Distance. The above opinions are my own.
This is a book which will open your eyes to a whole new side of Stallone, an underdog poor and hungry for success. While I have known for years that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote Good Will Hunting, I had no idea that Stallone was a talented, but not yet accomplished writer. That all changed with Rocky.
As far as his acting goes, I know I have seen at least one of his pre-Rocky films (Death Race) and believe another (The Lords of Flatbush). It can sometimes be hard to imagine someone with supporting roles like those having to scrounge for food money but there is much discussion of how tough times were for the Stallone family back in those early days. So much had to go right for him to get Rocky written, cast and made and it was great fun reading about all of that.
This book is full of many interesting stories. The fight he had to get himself cast as Rocky was nothing short of inspirational. I particularly enjoyed learning about the roles Stallone’s brother, father and dog played in the movie. If anyone wanting to read this book has not seen the movie in years, I would highly recommend watching it first. The stories would still be entertaining without doing so, but, for me, rewatching the movie enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
If there was one disappointing thing about the story, it would be Stallone’s cheap comments about a couple of other contributors to the film in the epilogue. For 200-plus pages, I was pulling for him as he chased his American dream. For the book to end with comments from him downplaying other people who were a part of his story was a bit of a disappointment.
Overall, I do highly recommend this book and rewatching the movie. As of the time of this review, there is another movie scheduled to come out later this year called I Play Rocky, also about the making of the film. Reading this book has me excited to watch for it. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read Going the Distance. The above opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an excellent read!!
As a Rocky fan, my family and I have visited Philadelphia a few times. We specifically went to take the Rocky tour and run the steps.
Because of my love for the movie, I was looking forward to reading this book. It did not disappoint. Filled with antidotes about the making of the movie, it was a fun read.
The history of the movie is just as entertaining as the movie itself. The struggle Stallone had in making and staring in the movie is fascinating. Some of the most interesting points in the book are when the author takes on the myths surrounding the movie and either proves or debunks them. Full of detail, the book covers almost every aspect of production, even adding short biographies of the people involved in the film.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who loved the movie!
As a Rocky fan, my family and I have visited Philadelphia a few times. We specifically went to take the Rocky tour and run the steps.
Because of my love for the movie, I was looking forward to reading this book. It did not disappoint. Filled with antidotes about the making of the movie, it was a fun read.
The history of the movie is just as entertaining as the movie itself. The struggle Stallone had in making and staring in the movie is fascinating. Some of the most interesting points in the book are when the author takes on the myths surrounding the movie and either proves or debunks them. Full of detail, the book covers almost every aspect of production, even adding short biographies of the people involved in the film.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who loved the movie!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars
COME ON a book on Stallone, Philly, and the Story of Rocky by Mike Sielski is a MUST READ! No questions about it!
Every Philadelphian, Rocky, and Stallone fan must read! It's the heart of the city! Fantastic writing. This must be on everyone's table in the surrounding Philadelphia area and beyond, and what friends and families should talk about at Thanksgiving. Pre-order today, or pick up on release date 11/10/2026.
Thank you Mike Sileski, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this fantastic ARC! LOVED IT!
COME ON a book on Stallone, Philly, and the Story of Rocky by Mike Sielski is a MUST READ! No questions about it!
Every Philadelphian, Rocky, and Stallone fan must read! It's the heart of the city! Fantastic writing. This must be on everyone's table in the surrounding Philadelphia area and beyond, and what friends and families should talk about at Thanksgiving. Pre-order today, or pick up on release date 11/10/2026.
Thank you Mike Sileski, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this fantastic ARC! LOVED IT!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who like Rocky movies and those who don’t. If you’re still reading this post, you’re probably in the second camp. My advice: stop reading this review and go buy this book! Buy it for your Rocky friends! Buy it for your Philly friends! Holiday shopping is done!
GOING THE DISTANCE gives a behind-the-curtains peek at the making of one of my--and maybe your--favorite movies. Included are stories that I didn't hear when Stallone spoke at the Egyptian Theater in 2018 (yes, I was there!). I thoroughly enjoyed the book and if you're a fan of Rocky, Hollywood history, 70s cinema, or underdog stories, I think you'll enjoy it too.
I received an ARC of the book; opinions are my own.
GOING THE DISTANCE gives a behind-the-curtains peek at the making of one of my--and maybe your--favorite movies. Included are stories that I didn't hear when Stallone spoke at the Egyptian Theater in 2018 (yes, I was there!). I thoroughly enjoyed the book and if you're a fan of Rocky, Hollywood history, 70s cinema, or underdog stories, I think you'll enjoy it too.
I received an ARC of the book; opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews