The Wrestler: A Life of Passion and the Pursuit of Greatness

by Michael Fessler

Michael Fessler peers into the life of a wrestler. From the internal struggles of balancing glory and humility, to the mental struggles of confidence and self-defeat, "The Wrestler" brings the reader into the competitive arena. And often times, aspects of this arena are hidden. What occurs in the heat of battle on the mat is only half the story. This book helps current competitors recognize what exactly they're participating in. It seeks to help them appreciate the unique qualities of the sport, to recognize what they are gaining from it, and to craft a competitive approach that makes the most of their time as a wrestler.

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2016

Reviews

[Justin Burick]

In the Book The Wrestler : A life of Passion and the Pursuit of Greatness Michael Fessler talks about the challenges of wrestling and how he faced many waves of hard times. In this book he talks about how wrestling does not only make you a better athlete, but when you face these hard challenges you become a better person and life lessons are learned along the journey. This book gives the reader ways to help wrestlers get better in all aspects and Michael Fessler truly broke wrestling down in a way that all people can understand. I enjoyed the way the author wrote this book because each chapter leads to another and the way he talks about wrestling is very simple, but yet still very powerful. I like how the start of the book starts off at the beginning of how the journey starts and the end of the book tells how the journey ends. Fessler said, " Your time competing will end and you will wonder where it all went" (106). This quote shows how he writes in order the way the journey goes and this obviously represents the end of the Journey. I think people who are eccentric like wrestlers would enjoy this book because these kind of people enjoy learning about the struggle, hustle, grind and the journey of wrestling and life. These kind of people are those who have a strong passion for something in life.

[Austin Grossman]

Michael Fessler's book The Wrestler is a must read for anyone who hasn't already done so.It is a motivational novel and the point of view in this novel is given by multiple wrestlers; each of which go through their life as a wrestler and how wrestling has helped them overcome many challenges.The main conflict in the book is their own mindset. They have to fight through what they do, even though they don't want to. I enjoy how it connects wrestling through real life problems and how the mindset wrestling gives them, helps them through the real world. Almost all the wrestlers previewed in the book spoke on how their mental toughness helped him through college and why having mental toughness helped make them successful. I would rate this book 5/5 stars because I admire how it gives all different perspectives on wrestling and how it helped them later in life. The book is written clearly and is surprisingly short. It displays and educates the reader on how and what having a good mindset is, and how wrestling may help that. People who may enjoy this book are wrestlers or any other sports fan, phycology, and biographies.

[Michael Phillips]

The Wrestler by Michael Fessler is a motivational novel. The point of view in this novel is given by multiple collegiate wrestlers. Each of these characters goes through part of their life as a wrestler and they connect it to their personal life and how wrestling has helped them overcome many challenges. Part of what makes this book impactful for the reader is that they connect god with their stories and how they have spiritual struggles with god and how they push through those struggles. One of the wrestlers was speaking about how he used his mental toughness during one of his matches in Oklahoma when he faced the best wrestlers in the country. He fights his life out during these matches. He then later spoke on how his mental toughness helped him through college and he spoke on why having mental toughness helped make him successful. I would give this book 5/5 stars because it was the best motivational-based book I have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone. Even if you have never wrestled before you would find this novel very intriguing and motivating.

[Rocco Courtad]

The book The Wrester by Michael Fessler takes you through the mind and the lifestyle of a college wrestler. Also, it talks about the dedication and the sacrifice and the dejection that goes along with it that it takes to put on a singlet and wrestle against another. It gives life lessons that not only help you become a great wrestler and a champion but a great person off the mat and a champion at life. In conclusion, The wrestler goes through the mental and physical challenges and sacrifices it takes to become what you want to become, and if you like to work for something and will do anything to achieve it the this is a book for you.

[Michael Olowolowo]

AWESOME READ

Great book. This book can be for current or former wrestlers. This book reminds you of the grind you had as a wrestler. Personally it helps me reflect on my current career in the service and to be grateful of the grind everyday you face.

[Tom Herring]

A good read.

[Quin Horstman]

Very motivational book! Has helped me with wrestling and life.

[Mason Romancak]

I thought it was a great read, for all types readers. You don't need to wrestle to understand the book. Filled with valuable life lessons.

[Ben Roth]

I think the book was an easy read it was nice to hear from someone about what they would do differently, while I still have the chance.