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By George:: The Autobiography of George Foreman
George Foreman shocked the world when he regained the heavyweight boxing championship at the age of 45. Now, Foreman candidly tells the story of his childhood, his family, his triumphs and tragedies in and out of the ring, and gives readers the inside scoop on how he used his desire, drive, and faith to make his return to boxing glory anything but an impossible dream. Photos.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
George Foreman
51 books12 followersGeorge Edward Foreman was an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister and author. As a professional boxer, he was nicknamed "Big George" and competed between 1969 and 1997. He was a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. As an entrepreneur, he was known for the George Foreman Grill.
After a troubled childhood, Foreman took up amateur boxing and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Having turned professional the next year, he won the world heavyweight title with a stunning second-round knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973. He defended the belt twice before suffering his first professional loss, to Muhammad Ali in the iconic Rumble in the Jungle in 1974. Unable to secure another title opportunity, Foreman retired after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977.
Foreman had been ranked by BoxRec among the world's 10 best heavyweights 17 times, the third most in history, reaching his career-high ranking of No.2 at the conclusion of 1972, 1973 and 1974. His fights against Joe Frazier and Ken Norton in 1973 and 1974 received a 5-Star rating from BoxRec. Foreman had been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Foreman as the eighth-greatest heavyweight of all time.[8] In 2002, he was named one of the 25 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring.[9] The Ring ranked him as the ninth-greatest puncher of all time. He was a ringside analyst for HBO's boxing coverage for 12 years until 2004. Outside boxing, he was a successful entrepreneur and known for his promotion of the George Foreman Grill, which had sold more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the commercial rights to the grill for $138 million.
After a troubled childhood, Foreman took up amateur boxing and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Having turned professional the next year, he won the world heavyweight title with a stunning second-round knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973. He defended the belt twice before suffering his first professional loss, to Muhammad Ali in the iconic Rumble in the Jungle in 1974. Unable to secure another title opportunity, Foreman retired after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977.
Foreman had been ranked by BoxRec among the world's 10 best heavyweights 17 times, the third most in history, reaching his career-high ranking of No.2 at the conclusion of 1972, 1973 and 1974. His fights against Joe Frazier and Ken Norton in 1973 and 1974 received a 5-Star rating from BoxRec. Foreman had been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Foreman as the eighth-greatest heavyweight of all time.[8] In 2002, he was named one of the 25 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring.[9] The Ring ranked him as the ninth-greatest puncher of all time. He was a ringside analyst for HBO's boxing coverage for 12 years until 2004. Outside boxing, he was a successful entrepreneur and known for his promotion of the George Foreman Grill, which had sold more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the commercial rights to the grill for $138 million.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 21, 2021
I found myself having mixed feelings reading this autobiography. It read quickly, kept my interest, and even educated me about a sport of which I know little. On the other hand, I found myself feeling that George made excuses for any losses during his boxing career. Other than that, I felt it an honest portrayal of a man's journey from an angry, impoverished youth to a boxing icon. My take-away:
1. This is a rags to riches to rags to better than middle class story.
2.George made really horrible choices; repeatedly.
3. George may have a huge ego.
4. George is very generous.
5. George loves with a love born out of his faith in Christ.
6. The world might just be a better place with more George's
1. This is a rags to riches to rags to better than middle class story.
2.George made really horrible choices; repeatedly.
3. George may have a huge ego.
4. George is very generous.
5. George loves with a love born out of his faith in Christ.
6. The world might just be a better place with more George's
December 13, 2008
I thought this was going to be a very hokey book. I expected a lot of George was mean and angry his whole life then he meets Jesus then everything is shiny and happy, jokes about George eating too much, George has a dream to heavyweight champion again, George makes the dream come true, and more George and Jesus stuff but this book was surprisingly candid and interesting.
He talks about his anti-social childhood in the crime infested 5th ward in Houston. Going into the job corps where he started boxing and his meteoric rise to the top of the amateur boxing world where he ended up winning an olympic gold medal after having only been boxing for a VERY short time. His "first" pro career including his fights with Frazier, Norton, Ali and others, his nervous breakdown/religious experience after the Jimmy Young fight and his retirement, his ten year layoff, and the comeback which culminated in him recapturing the heavyweight championship of the world.
George is a bit of a shady individual and from a few first hand accounts I have heard he is just as mean as he ever was. That smile instantly disappears from his face and the nice guy act flies out the window the second those HBO or "grilling machine" infomercial cameras turn off. George really sold himself off as I used to be mean but I found Jesus and now I'm Mr. Niceguy to the public and got rich as a result so what really surprised me is how candid he was about problems he has had over the years with women, his kids and his own flaws in his personal life.
He talks about his anti-social childhood in the crime infested 5th ward in Houston. Going into the job corps where he started boxing and his meteoric rise to the top of the amateur boxing world where he ended up winning an olympic gold medal after having only been boxing for a VERY short time. His "first" pro career including his fights with Frazier, Norton, Ali and others, his nervous breakdown/religious experience after the Jimmy Young fight and his retirement, his ten year layoff, and the comeback which culminated in him recapturing the heavyweight championship of the world.
George is a bit of a shady individual and from a few first hand accounts I have heard he is just as mean as he ever was. That smile instantly disappears from his face and the nice guy act flies out the window the second those HBO or "grilling machine" infomercial cameras turn off. George really sold himself off as I used to be mean but I found Jesus and now I'm Mr. Niceguy to the public and got rich as a result so what really surprised me is how candid he was about problems he has had over the years with women, his kids and his own flaws in his personal life.
October 5, 2013
this book was brilliant. i must admit that i had a very different understanding of the monster i thought i knew foreman to be before that pivotal night in puerto rico where after only his second defeat he had a vision of god in the changing room (inter alia) and gave up boxing in his mid 20s. this guy was a bully and a proper thug. he turned into a preacher. he fasted for 21 days then to keep all his philanthropic initiatives funded he went back into fighting 10 year later in his late 30s and then around 45 he became the heavyweight champion by defeating Michael Moorer in a 10th round knockout when he was practically 9-0 on the cards. an amazing guy and someone now that i have a lot of respect for. his will to go on and keep on fighting is second to none it seems.
October 30, 2019
I'll add my 5 stars.
George is an icon of boxing. The story charts his angry violent youth, the focussed rage of his pro boxing career, and the big night when Muhammad Ali took the World heavyweight crown from him.
The story continues with George's religious experience of being born again, and becoming a preacher - which removed the anger and brought discipline to his lifestyle. But it did little for his many ill-fated marriages. Finally charted is his return to boxing and heavyweight glory (and for the first time to the love of the viewing public).
George is an icon of boxing. The story charts his angry violent youth, the focussed rage of his pro boxing career, and the big night when Muhammad Ali took the World heavyweight crown from him.
The story continues with George's religious experience of being born again, and becoming a preacher - which removed the anger and brought discipline to his lifestyle. But it did little for his many ill-fated marriages. Finally charted is his return to boxing and heavyweight glory (and for the first time to the love of the viewing public).
August 27, 2017
The book is really interesting. I enjoyed every page and every chapter. It is very well written and very well edited. Nothing was boring about the book, every page there was an exciting story to follow. However, I didn't like that he had t justify every loss he had. I liked the non-boxing chapters even more, especially the one narrating his childhood and raising from poverty to being a champ.
Generally, I would recommend it to anyone who likes boxing.
Generally, I would recommend it to anyone who likes boxing.
March 31, 2008
The rise of an amazing athlete from the projects in Houston. As a child he sys he was so hungrey that he actually dreamed of the little cartons of milk the other kids could afford to buy at school. Very touching read!
March 15, 2020
This book was about George Foreman’s life and his struggles throughout childhood adult hood.
What I loved about the book was his attitude to everything and how he just went up to people and did his own thing. Well I also loved about it was that it showed how he coped with absolutely anything in his path and also how he actually felt during fights.
It was amazing that how he didn't really like all the religious stuff that his parents used to do like praying and after his boxing career he became a priest that just full on amazed me to another level. I was also baffled at the fact that he lots of children and had married about six or Seven times so he obviously wasn't a catholic. I also learned all the problems that all of his boxing fans had never thought he had. For example, sometimes he used to go around punching people for fun or if someone dared him to go and smack someone around the head for no reason, you do it and that is just playing weird. He also had really weird habit of giving up and then getting back into it then giving up and getting back into it and staying with his final decision. :) :) :)
What I loved about the book was his attitude to everything and how he just went up to people and did his own thing. Well I also loved about it was that it showed how he coped with absolutely anything in his path and also how he actually felt during fights.
It was amazing that how he didn't really like all the religious stuff that his parents used to do like praying and after his boxing career he became a priest that just full on amazed me to another level. I was also baffled at the fact that he lots of children and had married about six or Seven times so he obviously wasn't a catholic. I also learned all the problems that all of his boxing fans had never thought he had. For example, sometimes he used to go around punching people for fun or if someone dared him to go and smack someone around the head for no reason, you do it and that is just playing weird. He also had really weird habit of giving up and then getting back into it then giving up and getting back into it and staying with his final decision. :) :) :)
December 17, 2018
This book was about George foreman’s life and what he has done throughout his career of amazing boxing. I liked this book because he gave a lot of detail compared to other biographies and his life story was fun and sometimes sad. The best thing that i learnt from the book was that if you have the chance to do something which Is better than something else you should take it because he lost against Mohammad Ali and he couldn’t get up even thought he could of. I didn’t give this 5 stars because there was a lot of blabbering about girls and stuff and laws etc etc. the best thing I learnt about boxing technique was not to swing wild punches everywhere because when he first got into boxing he was against this really skinny person and he thought he was like dead meat BUT he was dead meat. The funniest part of the book was when he lost / or won to someone, ‘ remember, and then after that fight he started taking off his clothes bit by bit, kissing all the people, went into the crowd, started kissing everyone because he just saw Cheesers and he felt alive.
August 1, 2018
An interesting window into the life of HW boxer George Foreman, his youthful years, boxing days, family, Youth Center work, and his Christian life. A nice biography filled with interesting details and photographs.
Read for personal research. I found this book's contents helpful and inspiring.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research. I found this book's contents helpful and inspiring.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
April 18, 2021
George Foreman lives the American dream. An excellent story about overcoming, perseverance, and being able to show God’s love. Like all of us, George had flaws but seemed to find the best in every circumstance.
Read
September 19, 2014it was good
April 15, 2021
I started out fully engaged in this book as I am one who considers George to be one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time, if not the greatest.
I absorbed every word and as a street fighter myself who was good at what he did on the street I related to his street experiences. I also related to the first time I fought a guy who was a trained kickboxer who tuned me up in a sparring session.
I felt regret knowing I did not push hard enough to go someplace and I appreciated his acknowledgement of all the good fighters out there who got derailed. He is a testament to not only our own determination but to people believing in you.
I loved hearing his thoughts during the fights and found it interesting why he claimed he lost to Ali. I am one of hte few who has always found that the greatest thing about Ali is his myth. There has never been a heavyweight surrounded by more controversy in so many of his wins against other "Greats" But this is about George.
George, despite his squalor upbringing, seemed a man who would win regardless as everything kept falling into place, no matter how hard he screwed up.
It got to the point that every woman he met was just breeding material and you were left dumbfounded that he would constantly be surprised they were pregnant. I was also blown away at how little attempt he made at making a relationship work. For someone who realizes how hard it is being raised without a father, he sure did his damndest to be a part-time dad at best.
The finding God is nauseating to say the least, much as he said at the start about the same. Nevertheless, his bazaar needs to make him into a better human being, well mostly.
Overall it's an interesting and even at times completely bazaar read. I found the part later on his return to be intere3sting when he really did not want to hurt those he fought, as most would say that the hardest they had ever been hit, was by George.
In the end we learn that all human beings are fallible and those who preach the most are probably the ones with the biggest problems. It also goes to why I have no real entertainment Idols, their human side is questionable at best.
I appreciate his youth centers and what he has done and I fully appreciate his accomplishment winning a world title at 45, which to me makes him great.
Probably worth your time if you need some guidance, hope and to read about a polarizing figure, it's still just three stars, mostly due to his bazaar relationships and poor attempt at being a father while justifying in his own mind being a great dad.
It also shines some light on the problems of his daughter which he mentions in the book. I know George wanted the best for all his kids but his passing, which many of us suspected was CTE, probably had as much to do with her bazaar childhood as anything else.
But that is speculation.
I guess no matter how much the world gives you, in the end, you still get hurt where it hurts the most.
Be Dad, or a Mom, you won't regret it.
I absorbed every word and as a street fighter myself who was good at what he did on the street I related to his street experiences. I also related to the first time I fought a guy who was a trained kickboxer who tuned me up in a sparring session.
I felt regret knowing I did not push hard enough to go someplace and I appreciated his acknowledgement of all the good fighters out there who got derailed. He is a testament to not only our own determination but to people believing in you.
I loved hearing his thoughts during the fights and found it interesting why he claimed he lost to Ali. I am one of hte few who has always found that the greatest thing about Ali is his myth. There has never been a heavyweight surrounded by more controversy in so many of his wins against other "Greats" But this is about George.
George, despite his squalor upbringing, seemed a man who would win regardless as everything kept falling into place, no matter how hard he screwed up.
It got to the point that every woman he met was just breeding material and you were left dumbfounded that he would constantly be surprised they were pregnant. I was also blown away at how little attempt he made at making a relationship work. For someone who realizes how hard it is being raised without a father, he sure did his damndest to be a part-time dad at best.
The finding God is nauseating to say the least, much as he said at the start about the same. Nevertheless, his bazaar needs to make him into a better human being, well mostly.
Overall it's an interesting and even at times completely bazaar read. I found the part later on his return to be intere3sting when he really did not want to hurt those he fought, as most would say that the hardest they had ever been hit, was by George.
In the end we learn that all human beings are fallible and those who preach the most are probably the ones with the biggest problems. It also goes to why I have no real entertainment Idols, their human side is questionable at best.
I appreciate his youth centers and what he has done and I fully appreciate his accomplishment winning a world title at 45, which to me makes him great.
Probably worth your time if you need some guidance, hope and to read about a polarizing figure, it's still just three stars, mostly due to his bazaar relationships and poor attempt at being a father while justifying in his own mind being a great dad.
It also shines some light on the problems of his daughter which he mentions in the book. I know George wanted the best for all his kids but his passing, which many of us suspected was CTE, probably had as much to do with her bazaar childhood as anything else.
But that is speculation.
I guess no matter how much the world gives you, in the end, you still get hurt where it hurts the most.
Be Dad, or a Mom, you won't regret it.
April 8, 2025
When George Foreman passed away in March 2025, I immediately thought about the documentary "When We Were Kings". It documented the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" (Zaire, Africa) versus Muhammad Ali. The movie is a showcase of Ali's personality and sheer showmanship. He had a non-stop rat-a-tat delivery of rhymes and aphorisms. In contrast, Foreman was a scowling and taciturn menace.
It's amazing watching that documentary because the George Foreman I learned about as an adult was the smiling, happy-go-lucky spokesman for a very popular grill with his name on it. "When you put your name on it, it means you believe in it," he has probably said more than once in the many many infomercials and commercials and print ads. But I sensed a sincerity and a kindness.
Foreman's death prompted me to pick up his autobiography (with Joel Engel as co-author) when I spotted it in a used bookstore. It's a pure delight. It moves fast, and for fight fans, it's great to have his insights from inside the ring. His reminisces of being poor in Texas was sad but insightful. When school didn't capture his attention, he became known for bullying and petty crime.
His life was a classic rags to riches story, by way of the Jobs Corps, then boxing. He went to the Olympics and won, then he became a professional and won. A lot. He found religion, and became a committed religious preacher, forgoing boxing to pursue his ministry. He talks about the rashness of his four marriages, his children from those marriages, and how he has tried to keep the peace.
Reading about his second run at the heavyweight title, after a ten year break from the sport, was incredible. He fought to make money for a youth center. It doesn't seem like it should be real, but as I watched (on YouTube) his big fights from this campaign, I understood why many consider his second heavyweight title one of the greatest accomplishments in sport.
RIP George Foreman!
It's amazing watching that documentary because the George Foreman I learned about as an adult was the smiling, happy-go-lucky spokesman for a very popular grill with his name on it. "When you put your name on it, it means you believe in it," he has probably said more than once in the many many infomercials and commercials and print ads. But I sensed a sincerity and a kindness.
Foreman's death prompted me to pick up his autobiography (with Joel Engel as co-author) when I spotted it in a used bookstore. It's a pure delight. It moves fast, and for fight fans, it's great to have his insights from inside the ring. His reminisces of being poor in Texas was sad but insightful. When school didn't capture his attention, he became known for bullying and petty crime.
His life was a classic rags to riches story, by way of the Jobs Corps, then boxing. He went to the Olympics and won, then he became a professional and won. A lot. He found religion, and became a committed religious preacher, forgoing boxing to pursue his ministry. He talks about the rashness of his four marriages, his children from those marriages, and how he has tried to keep the peace.
Reading about his second run at the heavyweight title, after a ten year break from the sport, was incredible. He fought to make money for a youth center. It doesn't seem like it should be real, but as I watched (on YouTube) his big fights from this campaign, I understood why many consider his second heavyweight title one of the greatest accomplishments in sport.
RIP George Foreman!
June 14, 2025
When he’s talking about his early life and when he talks about boxing, the book is astounding! However, once it gets into his religious awakening things get a bit strange. I’m not against anyone becoming religious, but Foreman’s story sounds so far fetched. You get constant visions and messages from God that allegedly foretold him becoming champ again. The visions also showed him that he’d be a preacher and get divorced multiple times. He also seems to have a lack of accountability for some of his past actions. The fight with Muhammad Ali was apparently rigged, he felt robbed in the fight with Evander Holyfield, he probably could have beaten Tommy Morrison but he didn’t have the urge to hurt him. He also briefly skims over the allegations that he beat Women by saying that a journalist misquoted him when he was using a figurative expression, he is not at fault for the fallout with his daughter Freeda, and of course all his past relationships ended badly for a number of reasons but it was 75% their fault and only 25% his. Overall, Foreman is one of the most impressive sports figures of all time and yes he has done a lot of good for his community. However, I think even more people could have been reached and helped if George were a little more honest and forthcoming.
October 14, 2020
This book keeps it real. It flows, with good pacing, honesty and sincerity. If you like boxing or autobiographies it’s a solid read. The tone reminds me a bit of George’s attitude in the Walk it off With George exercise DVDs - personal and friendly. Plus he’s got a great grill (the smile and the literal electric grills - get the ones with removable plates, way easier to clean).
April 29, 2026
This was the first autobiography I’ve read— I was maybe 10 years old. After almost 20 years, I still think about some of the prose George wrote. (with the help from Joel Engel I assume.) And it is only now as an adult that i understand the reference and double entendre in the title.
By god, By George, is a good read.
By god, By George, is a good read.
October 26, 2025
Fascinating life story of the great man.
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