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Self Help: Life Lessons from the Bizarre Wrestling Career of Al Snow
Professional wrestler Al Snow delivers highlights from his onscreen antics and never-before-heard tales from the road in this high-flying memoir spanning 30 years in the ring In the late 90s, wrestling journeyman Al Snow looked in the mirror and saw a man who needed help. A man whose reputation within the wrestling industry was excellent but whose career was going nowhere. Channeling his frustration into the gimmick for which he would become best known, Al began talking to (and through) a mannequin head. With Extreme Championship Wrestling, Al reinvented himself as an unhinged neurotic and became one of the hottest acts in the most cutting-edge promotion in America when wrestling’s popularity was at its peak. This led to a journey back to the industry’s main stage, World Wrestling Entertainment, during the wildly popular Attitude Era, and in the central role as a trainer and father figure on the MTV reality show, Tough Enough. Now, after 35 years in the industry, Al Snow tells the stories of the unbelievable yet true events that formed his career, from his in-ring recollections to out-of-ring escapades, including drunken midnight journeys with a vanfull of little people, overuse of Tasers at autograph signings, and continual attempts on his life by assorted members of the animal kingdom. Self Help is Al Snow at his best, delivering what everybody wants and needs.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 10, 2019
Self Help: Life Lessons from the Bizarre Wrestling Career of Al Snow is the biography of wrestler Al Snow.
I've been an Al Snow fan for a long time. After learning about him through the various Apter mags, I was thrilled to see him come to the WWF, even though he floundered with the Avatar and Leif Cassidy gimmicks. When he made his resurgence with the Head gimmick, I was all in. In my mind, he could have easily worn one of the top belts in his prime. Anyway, I saw this book on Netgalley and had to give it a shot.
As I've mentioned many times before, the litmus test of any wrestling book is how quickly it gets to the wrestling related stuff. Al was already looking for a place to train by the 2% mark so I knew this one would be gold.
Al was consumed with the desire to become a wrestler at the ripe old age of 14 and couldn't see any other way to go. In an age where there's a wrestling school within 100 miles of most major cities, Al's struggle to break in was fascinating. The shit-kicking he took from Ole and Gene Anderson was touched upon in a few interviews I've watched but Al goes into more detail here. Al's one of the last guys to come up during the territory days so he delivers a lot of insight here.
Once he was finally trained, there's about a decade of paying his dues, driving hundreds of miles to wrestle in front of small crowds for no money, opening his own wrestling school and fighting in tough man contests for extra money. Once he was given bigger opportunities, well... Al's pretty candid about the things he did wrong in his earlier days in Smokey Mountain Wrestling, ECW, and the WWF, acknowledging things he should have done differently without a lot of bitterness. Post-WWE, Al talks about indepentdent gigs, both with or without midget wrestlers, and working backstage at TNA/Impact, an even bigger headache than I was picturing.
Al's a funny guy and his humor does a lot to underscore some of his points. I've watched more than my share of wrestling documentaries and interviews but quite a bit of the material in here was new to me. The extent of Al's injuries were news to me, as was his time in Japan. The TNA stuff was kind of heart breaking but it seems like Al was served quite a few figurative shit sandwiches backstage at ECW, WWE, and TNA. Possibly a few literal ones but that wasn't mentioned.
About the only gripe I can think of with the book is that I wanted more on certain topics., like working in Mexico or Japan. Honestly, though, it's a top tier wrestling book no matter how you slice it.
Funny, informative, and sometimes brutally honest, Self Help is a gripping account of the 35 year career of Al Snow. 4.5 out of 5 Styrofoam heads.
I've been an Al Snow fan for a long time. After learning about him through the various Apter mags, I was thrilled to see him come to the WWF, even though he floundered with the Avatar and Leif Cassidy gimmicks. When he made his resurgence with the Head gimmick, I was all in. In my mind, he could have easily worn one of the top belts in his prime. Anyway, I saw this book on Netgalley and had to give it a shot.
As I've mentioned many times before, the litmus test of any wrestling book is how quickly it gets to the wrestling related stuff. Al was already looking for a place to train by the 2% mark so I knew this one would be gold.
Al was consumed with the desire to become a wrestler at the ripe old age of 14 and couldn't see any other way to go. In an age where there's a wrestling school within 100 miles of most major cities, Al's struggle to break in was fascinating. The shit-kicking he took from Ole and Gene Anderson was touched upon in a few interviews I've watched but Al goes into more detail here. Al's one of the last guys to come up during the territory days so he delivers a lot of insight here.
Once he was finally trained, there's about a decade of paying his dues, driving hundreds of miles to wrestle in front of small crowds for no money, opening his own wrestling school and fighting in tough man contests for extra money. Once he was given bigger opportunities, well... Al's pretty candid about the things he did wrong in his earlier days in Smokey Mountain Wrestling, ECW, and the WWF, acknowledging things he should have done differently without a lot of bitterness. Post-WWE, Al talks about indepentdent gigs, both with or without midget wrestlers, and working backstage at TNA/Impact, an even bigger headache than I was picturing.
Al's a funny guy and his humor does a lot to underscore some of his points. I've watched more than my share of wrestling documentaries and interviews but quite a bit of the material in here was new to me. The extent of Al's injuries were news to me, as was his time in Japan. The TNA stuff was kind of heart breaking but it seems like Al was served quite a few figurative shit sandwiches backstage at ECW, WWE, and TNA. Possibly a few literal ones but that wasn't mentioned.
About the only gripe I can think of with the book is that I wanted more on certain topics., like working in Mexico or Japan. Honestly, though, it's a top tier wrestling book no matter how you slice it.
Funny, informative, and sometimes brutally honest, Self Help is a gripping account of the 35 year career of Al Snow. 4.5 out of 5 Styrofoam heads.
August 10, 2020
A great book and an amazing story. I have to admit I was surprised the book was as good as it was. I remember Al Snow as the guy who would not quit. No matter how many times he lost (jobbed for the one of the other wrestlers).
What differentiates this from many of the other books from others wrestlers (most of them accomplished world champions), was Al (dispite what he felt at the end of his teens), knows wrestling is a "work". The matches are predetermined, but mental and physical is a must the handle the gruelling schedule and lifestyle. As well as for the in-ring performances (what they actually live for). I have to admit I do always find it funny when former World champions rattle off the names of the wrestlers they beat. In the words of Al
"I beat the same people you did the same people you did! The ones who were told to lose to me!"
One of the great things about this book is it is not written with bitterness, but maturity and hindsight to where Al talks about his younger experiences and setbacks and in some cases successes and attributes a life lesson they were but he could not see at the time. Not that he always follows his own advice.
Another that that comes across in this book is Al is a great teacher. Yes a do what I say, not what I do type teacher. Though in this case it works as he tends to trying to teach people not to repeat his own mistakes.
As much as I enjoyed this book, and like most of Al's advice, I don't agree with everything he says especially his view on drugs. Yes steroids are necessary for healing injuries, but they should not be allowed in competition. Yes pro-wrestling is a not real competition, but because of the image portrayed it creates a culture of if you are not using you are not trying. So it is not you are only healing or hurting yourself.That is bull!!
A great book a very enjoyable read,showing the dark, light, sad and hilarious life of pro wrestling. Told from the point of view of view of someone who after 37 years in the business is still a fan.
What differentiates this from many of the other books from others wrestlers (most of them accomplished world champions), was Al (dispite what he felt at the end of his teens), knows wrestling is a "work". The matches are predetermined, but mental and physical is a must the handle the gruelling schedule and lifestyle. As well as for the in-ring performances (what they actually live for). I have to admit I do always find it funny when former World champions rattle off the names of the wrestlers they beat. In the words of Al
"I beat the same people you did the same people you did! The ones who were told to lose to me!"
One of the great things about this book is it is not written with bitterness, but maturity and hindsight to where Al talks about his younger experiences and setbacks and in some cases successes and attributes a life lesson they were but he could not see at the time. Not that he always follows his own advice.
Another that that comes across in this book is Al is a great teacher. Yes a do what I say, not what I do type teacher. Though in this case it works as he tends to trying to teach people not to repeat his own mistakes.
As much as I enjoyed this book, and like most of Al's advice, I don't agree with everything he says especially his view on drugs. Yes steroids are necessary for healing injuries, but they should not be allowed in competition. Yes pro-wrestling is a not real competition, but because of the image portrayed it creates a culture of if you are not using you are not trying. So it is not you are only healing or hurting yourself.That is bull!!
A great book a very enjoyable read,showing the dark, light, sad and hilarious life of pro wrestling. Told from the point of view of view of someone who after 37 years in the business is still a fan.
April 20, 2023
It’s an honest biography from a very knowledgeable and smart wrestler, detailing the highs and lows of his career and the life lessons he learned along the way. There’s some cool behind the scenes stories to be found here with a good bit of comedy sprinkled all over it. The highlight for me is the part about the notorious Kennel From Hell match against the Big Boss Man. The match itself is definitely an epic failure, but it sure is funny in hindsight.
January 18, 2019
Self Help is the story of the life and career of professional wrestler Al Snow.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Al was never really a particular favorite of mine, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I thought he was terrible in any way; I was just indifferent. I came to know him initially as one half of “The New Rockers”, a team Al himself deemed destined for failure. However, what I didn’t know was that Al had over a dozen years of experience before signing with WWE in 1995. Al’s early years were pretty wild and there are more than a few entertaining stories here involving shoot fights, stabbings and strange road trips.
To help tell his story, Al enlisted Ross Williams – the same man who worked with fellow wrestler Bob Holly on his book, The Hardcore Truth. Given the quality of Bob’s memoir, I thought this was a smart move. Self Help flows just as well and provides the same conversational tone as the latter, so for the majority of the book, while it sticks to a timeline, it isn’t afraid to go off on tangents when called for. Being from Nova Scotia myself, I appreciated Al’s story about working the indies on Canada’s East Coast – it’s just as backwards as I imagined. Really funny stuff that feels like he’s describing the insanity over a beer with you.
What is truly unique about Al’s book is that you get stories from many different positions within the industry. Al has been a wrestler, manager, trainer, color-commentator, executive and most recently, a promoter. So, it’s fair to say that Al knows a great deal about several aspects of the business. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s not afraid to bring to light his many mistakes during the course of his over thirty year career, so approaching his life story from a humble perspective provides an endearing quality to the book. He also isn’t afraid to call people out either.
There’s a plethora of wrestling books out there, many of which are from the big names in the industry. However, the most interesting ones seem to come from those who spent their time primarily on the under card. Al Snow’s Self Help proves that everyone has a story to tell, regardless of their spot on the show or in life.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Al was never really a particular favorite of mine, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I thought he was terrible in any way; I was just indifferent. I came to know him initially as one half of “The New Rockers”, a team Al himself deemed destined for failure. However, what I didn’t know was that Al had over a dozen years of experience before signing with WWE in 1995. Al’s early years were pretty wild and there are more than a few entertaining stories here involving shoot fights, stabbings and strange road trips.
To help tell his story, Al enlisted Ross Williams – the same man who worked with fellow wrestler Bob Holly on his book, The Hardcore Truth. Given the quality of Bob’s memoir, I thought this was a smart move. Self Help flows just as well and provides the same conversational tone as the latter, so for the majority of the book, while it sticks to a timeline, it isn’t afraid to go off on tangents when called for. Being from Nova Scotia myself, I appreciated Al’s story about working the indies on Canada’s East Coast – it’s just as backwards as I imagined. Really funny stuff that feels like he’s describing the insanity over a beer with you.
What is truly unique about Al’s book is that you get stories from many different positions within the industry. Al has been a wrestler, manager, trainer, color-commentator, executive and most recently, a promoter. So, it’s fair to say that Al knows a great deal about several aspects of the business. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s not afraid to bring to light his many mistakes during the course of his over thirty year career, so approaching his life story from a humble perspective provides an endearing quality to the book. He also isn’t afraid to call people out either.
There’s a plethora of wrestling books out there, many of which are from the big names in the industry. However, the most interesting ones seem to come from those who spent their time primarily on the under card. Al Snow’s Self Help proves that everyone has a story to tell, regardless of their spot on the show or in life.
May 27, 2019
For those who are into Professional Wrestling and know who Al Snow is, this book depicts the trials and tribulations he went thru his career. Funny and tell us the gimmicks wrestlers use to develop a character.
I enjoyed his book as much I enjoyed back them his matches in the ring.
I enjoyed his book as much I enjoyed back them his matches in the ring.
February 6, 2019
My entire childhood was based around spending weekends at my grandparents (who lived just down the street from us) and watching WWF. Back in those days we would start our wrestling day with some Canadian based All-Star Wrestling, then sit back and enjoy the superstars of the WWF.
I stayed a wrestling fan for many years, and stopped when the WWF (by then the WWE) purchased WCW and began to introduce some of their characters.
Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's curiosity, but I find myself devouring documentaries and biographies about a lot of the superstars from my wrestling watching days now. There were so many crazy antics behind the scenes, it blows my mind that they were even able to perform.
Which brings me to Al Snow's biography Self Help.
This was a really fun read. I was never a fan of Al's 'Head' gimmick personally, and I thought a number of times the gimmick went beyond the realm of "good taste" or beyond PG13. Saying that, he was always an incredibly talented performer and his battles with Mankind were amazing.
This book chronicles his journey from humble beginnings, trying to break into the business all the way through to the here and now.
Throughout Al pops in a number of life lessons that he learned along the way, which range from practical to hysterical. I found myself brought back to a time and place I loved, and reliving a number classic matches again.
I think this book will appeal to those who've loved wrestling their entire lives, the casual fan, and the non-fan. If you're looking for a book about never giving up, believing in yourself and working your butt off to make your dreams come true, then you've found it!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC approval!
I stayed a wrestling fan for many years, and stopped when the WWF (by then the WWE) purchased WCW and began to introduce some of their characters.
Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's curiosity, but I find myself devouring documentaries and biographies about a lot of the superstars from my wrestling watching days now. There were so many crazy antics behind the scenes, it blows my mind that they were even able to perform.
Which brings me to Al Snow's biography Self Help.
This was a really fun read. I was never a fan of Al's 'Head' gimmick personally, and I thought a number of times the gimmick went beyond the realm of "good taste" or beyond PG13. Saying that, he was always an incredibly talented performer and his battles with Mankind were amazing.
This book chronicles his journey from humble beginnings, trying to break into the business all the way through to the here and now.
Throughout Al pops in a number of life lessons that he learned along the way, which range from practical to hysterical. I found myself brought back to a time and place I loved, and reliving a number classic matches again.
I think this book will appeal to those who've loved wrestling their entire lives, the casual fan, and the non-fan. If you're looking for a book about never giving up, believing in yourself and working your butt off to make your dreams come true, then you've found it!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC approval!
November 24, 2019
I love wrestling, I adore NXT and I one of my hobbies is reading about the history of the business and discovering how things were before WWE was a billion dollar company.
Al Snow was a wrestler I had heard of but was before my time so apart from some Network matches I had never really known about him but after I heard this was meant to be a great biography I decided to give it a go.
Unfortunately for me this doesn’t include a lot of what I normally like in my wrestling biographies, backstage stories and the mischief that some of these guys get up to by ribbing is sometimes so brilliant that they would not happen outside of wrestling but Al dosent really include much of these in this.
What I got out of this was a guy who is bitter that he was not seen as anything other than I bit part player and saw himself as something more than what he was. I did abit of research about him on network as I was reading this and he does have a very high opinion of himself compared to his work but fails too see that throughout his book that he was put into roles that were right for him going on his ability.
When watching some of his moments with Head it seemed to be more a joke about oral sex to me rather than mental health which is what he tries to play up on his book but going off the crowds reaction and commentators it does seem that it is more a sex joke than anything else.
Highlight of this book for me was Tough Enough and he should have spent more time writing about his time there as those parts were by far the most enjoyable.
It might be that I was not familiar with his character and that I didn’t have much knowledge about Al before reading this book that I didn’t enjoy it as much as other wrestling bios. Too me there are better ones out there and I didn’t find him that interesting.
Al Snow was a wrestler I had heard of but was before my time so apart from some Network matches I had never really known about him but after I heard this was meant to be a great biography I decided to give it a go.
Unfortunately for me this doesn’t include a lot of what I normally like in my wrestling biographies, backstage stories and the mischief that some of these guys get up to by ribbing is sometimes so brilliant that they would not happen outside of wrestling but Al dosent really include much of these in this.
What I got out of this was a guy who is bitter that he was not seen as anything other than I bit part player and saw himself as something more than what he was. I did abit of research about him on network as I was reading this and he does have a very high opinion of himself compared to his work but fails too see that throughout his book that he was put into roles that were right for him going on his ability.
When watching some of his moments with Head it seemed to be more a joke about oral sex to me rather than mental health which is what he tries to play up on his book but going off the crowds reaction and commentators it does seem that it is more a sex joke than anything else.
Highlight of this book for me was Tough Enough and he should have spent more time writing about his time there as those parts were by far the most enjoyable.
It might be that I was not familiar with his character and that I didn’t have much knowledge about Al before reading this book that I didn’t enjoy it as much as other wrestling bios. Too me there are better ones out there and I didn’t find him that interesting.
May 19, 2024
I’ve always been a fan of Al Snow as a performer, and watching the TV show Tough Enough back in the 2000s, as well as the critically acclaimed Netflix series Wrestlers, I realized he is one of the most gifted minds in the wrestling business. A connoisseur, to be exact, and has been doing it longer than most (1982).
What I love about this book is Al’s honesty. Good, bad, he tells it like it was. For example, He takes full blame for not getting over, despite being given awful gimmicks (Avatar, New Rockers), admitting that he didn’t try everything he could to succeed. He talks about how importance of TV time, and understanding the opportunity that is given to talents. Then, after years of plateauing, he reads a book on abnormal psychology, particularly a case about a woman with paranoid schizophrenia, along with transference disorder, where she starts talking to an object, insisting that the object is crazy, not her. A lightbulb goes off in his head, and throughout happenstance, he gets the idea to start talking to a mannequin head. From there, the Al Snow we’ve all come to know was born.
I don’t know that this book would connect with those that are not wrestling fans, but for those that have a decent knowledge of the business and its history, I cannot recommend this book enough.
What I love about this book is Al’s honesty. Good, bad, he tells it like it was. For example, He takes full blame for not getting over, despite being given awful gimmicks (Avatar, New Rockers), admitting that he didn’t try everything he could to succeed. He talks about how importance of TV time, and understanding the opportunity that is given to talents. Then, after years of plateauing, he reads a book on abnormal psychology, particularly a case about a woman with paranoid schizophrenia, along with transference disorder, where she starts talking to an object, insisting that the object is crazy, not her. A lightbulb goes off in his head, and throughout happenstance, he gets the idea to start talking to a mannequin head. From there, the Al Snow we’ve all come to know was born.
I don’t know that this book would connect with those that are not wrestling fans, but for those that have a decent knowledge of the business and its history, I cannot recommend this book enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
Al Snow's 2019 autobiography Self Help was well written, blunt, and everything one could ask for from one of pro wrestling's most eccentric characters. Snow shares plenty of fun road stories, in-depth looks at his most famous feuds and company runs, and, like many wrestler autobiographies, dedicates a chunk to his views on the business and what he hopes to instill in the next generation of wrestlers. Al never beats around the bush and is incredibly honest in his views and style of writing, making for a captivating, fun read. Snow also looks at his career through the eyes of a now grizzled in-ring veteran, admitting his faults both in and out of the ring and several missed opportunities he should have capitalized on. Much like Snow's close friend Mick Foley, this felt like a passion project and had the heart and great pacing to go along with it. Probably one of my new favorites in my wrestling book collection - it gave my head what I wanted and what I needed.
June 10, 2019
I got a lot more than I bargained for with this book. I took it with me to read at the hospital as I had to get an IV infusion all day, and I wanted something to keep me busy. I figured if it was boring, I could just play on my phone or iPad. To my amazement, I spent five straight hours reading it cover to cover.
I haven't watched much wrestling in the last ten years, but in the 90s and early 2000s I was a huge fan. I had always loved Al Snow, and I found him to be an amazing wrestler and entertainer. But in all honesty, I never gave him much thought beyond his gimmick. He was just another in a long line of wrestlers I enjoyed watching.
Reading this book really blew my mind as I understood more of his professional journey. Discovering his tenacity and determination to become a wrestler despite a lack of support and no one willing to give him a fair chance (and some even taking advantage of him!) was inspiring. Seeing how he slogged through years of financial hardships and lack of stability without once doubting himself was incredible.
I felt at times like this was more of a confessional than other wrestling books. He shares some hard truths about mistakes he's made, personal and professional failings, and the parts he played in some of the lackluster storylines he was a part of. He also shares his pride in the business and his own place in WWE history. He gives an insight into the business that is different from any other.
I loved hearing some of his stories about what was going on backstage and behind the scenes. And I was especially fond of reading random stories about some of the other wrestlers. The first paragraph of Chapter 16 had my eyes bugging out of my head! And reliving some of my favorite memories of his partnership with Steve Blackman was worth the price of admission.
I came away feeling like I'd learned a lot about the man behind the gimmick, and I highly recommend any Attitude-era wrestling fans to get a copy and read it. You'll be glad you did.
I haven't watched much wrestling in the last ten years, but in the 90s and early 2000s I was a huge fan. I had always loved Al Snow, and I found him to be an amazing wrestler and entertainer. But in all honesty, I never gave him much thought beyond his gimmick. He was just another in a long line of wrestlers I enjoyed watching.
Reading this book really blew my mind as I understood more of his professional journey. Discovering his tenacity and determination to become a wrestler despite a lack of support and no one willing to give him a fair chance (and some even taking advantage of him!) was inspiring. Seeing how he slogged through years of financial hardships and lack of stability without once doubting himself was incredible.
I felt at times like this was more of a confessional than other wrestling books. He shares some hard truths about mistakes he's made, personal and professional failings, and the parts he played in some of the lackluster storylines he was a part of. He also shares his pride in the business and his own place in WWE history. He gives an insight into the business that is different from any other.
I loved hearing some of his stories about what was going on backstage and behind the scenes. And I was especially fond of reading random stories about some of the other wrestlers. The first paragraph of Chapter 16 had my eyes bugging out of my head! And reliving some of my favorite memories of his partnership with Steve Blackman was worth the price of admission.
I came away feeling like I'd learned a lot about the man behind the gimmick, and I highly recommend any Attitude-era wrestling fans to get a copy and read it. You'll be glad you did.
January 27, 2019
As a long time fan of wrestling, I knew I had to read this book. I remember Al Snow from my younger days and his plastic head, and knew this would be an interesting book. I wasn’t wrong.
A honest and open book from the start, Al Snow discusses in great length the personal, physical and mental hardships of life on the road and the impact on wrestlers in those days in WWE. This honesty allows for an authentic voice throughout this book and the advice that he gives comes from some fantastic experiences that are shared concisely.
I also think it’s a very good perspective on how WWE worked at this point in time though this book covers TNA too. Anyone whose a fan and read some sort of zine, wants a closer look into the inner workings of some of the biggest wrestling companies in the world and this book delivers it. This book delves into the politics, writing and character development in a way which is rarely read about and makes for some intriguing reading.
If you love wrestling and want a honest and bare-all perspective from a wrestler that has seen pretty much everything and survived to tell the tale, this book is certainly a must-read. Al Snow’s humour delivers these stories perfectly as he shares his career and it makes for a book that you can’t put down as you don’t know what could possibly come next.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).
A honest and open book from the start, Al Snow discusses in great length the personal, physical and mental hardships of life on the road and the impact on wrestlers in those days in WWE. This honesty allows for an authentic voice throughout this book and the advice that he gives comes from some fantastic experiences that are shared concisely.
I also think it’s a very good perspective on how WWE worked at this point in time though this book covers TNA too. Anyone whose a fan and read some sort of zine, wants a closer look into the inner workings of some of the biggest wrestling companies in the world and this book delivers it. This book delves into the politics, writing and character development in a way which is rarely read about and makes for some intriguing reading.
If you love wrestling and want a honest and bare-all perspective from a wrestler that has seen pretty much everything and survived to tell the tale, this book is certainly a must-read. Al Snow’s humour delivers these stories perfectly as he shares his career and it makes for a book that you can’t put down as you don’t know what could possibly come next.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).
January 28, 2019
Self Help: Life Lessons from the Bizarre Wrestling Career of Al Snow, in this book Snow offers unfiltered honesty and some opinions may not be agreeable with some, but his candid honesty is something I find lacking in a lot of memoirs. I was a huge fan of wrestling in the 90s. I watched religiously with my brother. It was kind of our thing to bond over.
I remember Al Snow wasn't considered a top talent but he himself was a very talented wrestler (in my opinion at least). This book gives us a peek behind the curtain of the WWE and what it's like amongst the mayhem. He also talks about the hardships of being on the road and the impact it had on the wrestlers mentally, physically and in the personal lives. He really goes into great detail about that subject.
If you love wrestling and want an honest no holds barred look into their world during the time of the Al Snows tenure, then I highly suggest picking up a copy of this book when it's released. It was such a good read that I finished the book in a day. I did receive this ARC from Edelweiss+ in exchange for my honest review.
I remember Al Snow wasn't considered a top talent but he himself was a very talented wrestler (in my opinion at least). This book gives us a peek behind the curtain of the WWE and what it's like amongst the mayhem. He also talks about the hardships of being on the road and the impact it had on the wrestlers mentally, physically and in the personal lives. He really goes into great detail about that subject.
If you love wrestling and want an honest no holds barred look into their world during the time of the Al Snows tenure, then I highly suggest picking up a copy of this book when it's released. It was such a good read that I finished the book in a day. I did receive this ARC from Edelweiss+ in exchange for my honest review.
May 18, 2019
If you want to read a good book about professional wrestling, I would read books written by Chris Jericho, Mick Foley and now Al Snow. There are a large number of interesting stories and anecdotes by Al from his wrestling career. (Frankly, some of them are pretty gross– –especially some of the “ribs” that wrestlers pull on each other.)
Al wrestled for the WWE, WCW and ECW as well as many independent wrestling organizations. Al also has some interesting stories and observations about various superstars including The Undertaker, Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Dixie Carter, CM Punk etc. If Al did not like a particular wrestler or wrestling owner, Al does not pull any punches.
The book is an excellent guide for anyone considering a career in professional wrestling. Al was a mentor in the Tough Enough wrestling series and he has some interesting stories about that experience.
Well written, Humorous in parts. Very candid.
Al wrestled for the WWE, WCW and ECW as well as many independent wrestling organizations. Al also has some interesting stories and observations about various superstars including The Undertaker, Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Dixie Carter, CM Punk etc. If Al did not like a particular wrestler or wrestling owner, Al does not pull any punches.
The book is an excellent guide for anyone considering a career in professional wrestling. Al was a mentor in the Tough Enough wrestling series and he has some interesting stories about that experience.
Well written, Humorous in parts. Very candid.
January 12, 2019
Wrestling biographies are a guilty pleasure of mine. The world of wrestling has always been crazy and even if you don't follow the sport you'll usually have a good time reading them. While WWE had published biographies of most of their biggest stars, they usually have some punches pulled. With Self Help, Al Snow doesn't pull any of those punches.
Snow was never a top talent, but anyone who followed wrestling in the 90s knows who he is. There are tales from his independent days and through all of the major promotions. Since Snow is unfiltered there will likely be opinions you don't agree with, but the honesty is important.
Don't write off this as just another athlete making a cash grab. There is a lot of honesty here and this book shows what it was like to be around the craziness.
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I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Snow was never a top talent, but anyone who followed wrestling in the 90s knows who he is. There are tales from his independent days and through all of the major promotions. Since Snow is unfiltered there will likely be opinions you don't agree with, but the honesty is important.
Don't write off this as just another athlete making a cash grab. There is a lot of honesty here and this book shows what it was like to be around the craziness.
---
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2019
This book surprised me , especially since I was not a fan of Snow's work in wrestling. I was not an ECW fan- I thought it took wrestling to an insane level, more than anything Vince McMahon could do.
This book was filled with great stories, humorous at times, coming from a man who looked back at his career with a mature outlook, and admitting some of his mistakes. Do not overlook this read if you were not a fan of ECW wrestling or Snow's work, because you will miss out on a great wrestling read.
For an in depth review, go to https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
This book was filled with great stories, humorous at times, coming from a man who looked back at his career with a mature outlook, and admitting some of his mistakes. Do not overlook this read if you were not a fan of ECW wrestling or Snow's work, because you will miss out on a great wrestling read.
For an in depth review, go to https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
January 12, 2019
Mick Foley once talked about how many wrestling biographies would come out after his, and joked that "For crying out loud, I even heard "The Wit and Wisdom of Al Snow" is in the works." About two decades later, Self Help has essentially delivered on that joke. Al talks about his career, delivers many memorable stories, and ends many sections with "life lessons".
I have admired Al's humility since I saw his ROH Secrets of the Ring DVD in the mid-2000s. Unlike most wrestlers, who will go to great lengths to exaggerate their achievements, Al was very honest in that DVD about the fact that much of the advice he was giving was not what he had actually followed himself. He has been very forthcoming about what where his career fell short and why. That is very present in this book as well, where he is candid about not understanding the importance of developing his character for many years, and his difficulty navigating the political waters.
The stories in the book are really incredible. I won't give any away, but my personal favorite ones were about the car-b-q, the two cowboys, and Ken Shamrock's contract issues. Some readers who mostly know him from WWE might wish he spent more time on that. Some parts of the book depart from the main narrative just to tell funny stories, which I thought was a good decision. He really captures the insanity, the absurdity, and the brutality of the wrestling business. There are some "kids these days don't understand" statements, but not to the point of being unbearable. There are also a lot of stories about backstage politics where Al feels he was unfairly blamed for something. These all might be true for all I know, but they do come off as being a bit bitter.
I wouldn't rank it as one of the top tier wrestling biographies I've read, but its an enjoyable read.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I have admired Al's humility since I saw his ROH Secrets of the Ring DVD in the mid-2000s. Unlike most wrestlers, who will go to great lengths to exaggerate their achievements, Al was very honest in that DVD about the fact that much of the advice he was giving was not what he had actually followed himself. He has been very forthcoming about what where his career fell short and why. That is very present in this book as well, where he is candid about not understanding the importance of developing his character for many years, and his difficulty navigating the political waters.
The stories in the book are really incredible. I won't give any away, but my personal favorite ones were about the car-b-q, the two cowboys, and Ken Shamrock's contract issues. Some readers who mostly know him from WWE might wish he spent more time on that. Some parts of the book depart from the main narrative just to tell funny stories, which I thought was a good decision. He really captures the insanity, the absurdity, and the brutality of the wrestling business. There are some "kids these days don't understand" statements, but not to the point of being unbearable. There are also a lot of stories about backstage politics where Al feels he was unfairly blamed for something. These all might be true for all I know, but they do come off as being a bit bitter.
I wouldn't rank it as one of the top tier wrestling biographies I've read, but its an enjoyable read.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 29, 2019
I have never watched WWE wrestling in my life, but I know some pretty hardcore fans, so when the opportunity to read this book presented itself, I jumped on board. I had NO idea what I was in store for when I picked this book up. I laughed at the crazy "male" antics and chuckled at the "life lessons" Al prescribes (not because they aren't real but because the story behind the learning of the lessons are always obnoxious). I won't pretend this book made me a hardcore fan, like many I know, but I certainly gained some respect for the sport. Hats off to a great and entertaining read. You will not be disappointed by the level of entertainment within this book, but you will need to prepare for gut wrenching laughs. I am actually looking forward to reading more WWE themed books after so thoroughly enjoying this one.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 16, 2021
In my off and on relationship with pro-wrestling I never really fell for the main-event guys. Okay, maybe the Hulkster when I was a child, but from that point on I admired the guys really giving their all to make it, the ones with technical skills and fun ideas. Needless to say, Al Snow was one of those guys.
And this book offers some great insight into his career- why certain things didn’t work out (New Rockers) while others did (Got Head?).
Although I savored the nuts and bolts of Al Snow’s start, the ups and downs of his time in wwe, including the stints at ECW and as a coach on the MTV reality series, later on the book drags to a conclusion. There are too many had-to-be-there anecdotes, including tales of “ribs” or tricks wrestlers played on each other and stories of drunk little people.
The first half of the book is a solid 4, but fizzled to a 3 towards the end, making an average of 3.5 - a great read for fans looking for deeper perspective into the business.
And this book offers some great insight into his career- why certain things didn’t work out (New Rockers) while others did (Got Head?).
Although I savored the nuts and bolts of Al Snow’s start, the ups and downs of his time in wwe, including the stints at ECW and as a coach on the MTV reality series, later on the book drags to a conclusion. There are too many had-to-be-there anecdotes, including tales of “ribs” or tricks wrestlers played on each other and stories of drunk little people.
The first half of the book is a solid 4, but fizzled to a 3 towards the end, making an average of 3.5 - a great read for fans looking for deeper perspective into the business.
November 11, 2020
Disappointing. Having watched a series of interviews and training seminars on YouTube wherein Al breaks down the business from a psychological and historical aspect, I was excited to read his book as I assumed it would go even deeper into these subjects. Sadly, it does not. It is a fairly straight autobiography with some random analysis sprinkled-in. Al’s career wasn’t truly significant enough to hold my attention, and I say this as a fan of his; too often this book reads like Al is either skirting truth or straight-up BS’ing the reader, which is unfortunate. But also a reality with 99% of all pro-wrestling books. That said, I laughed a lot, learned some stuff, and don’t regret reading it but I can’t say it compelled me to break out any of his matches & angles to watch again.
April 14, 2022
"What does everybody want?"
A must-read for any pro wrestling fan, Self Help is part memoir, part insider dirt on the wrestling business, and all straight shooting, no punches pulled. While many might remember Snow as a journeyman with a unique but short-lived gimmick, his life and career have been so much more, and this book follows him the whole way, with liberal doses of laugh-out-loud funny (and grimace-in-silence twisted) anecdotes throughout. From getting his ass kicked at tryouts as a greenhorn to training the next generation of stars, Al Snow is a singular persona with a lot of insight, humility, and toilet humor to share.
A must-read for any pro wrestling fan, Self Help is part memoir, part insider dirt on the wrestling business, and all straight shooting, no punches pulled. While many might remember Snow as a journeyman with a unique but short-lived gimmick, his life and career have been so much more, and this book follows him the whole way, with liberal doses of laugh-out-loud funny (and grimace-in-silence twisted) anecdotes throughout. From getting his ass kicked at tryouts as a greenhorn to training the next generation of stars, Al Snow is a singular persona with a lot of insight, humility, and toilet humor to share.
September 9, 2019
Awesome book!
This was a great read! I have always been a fan of Al Snow, the wrestler, but this read made me like Allen Sarven, the person. This book is full of great memories, advice about life, and photos of a person that really enjoys life even with all its ups and downs. Til this day, I still cannot believe Al Snow did not win the ECW title from Shane Douglas. Such a waste of a great character and entrance.
This was a great read! I have always been a fan of Al Snow, the wrestler, but this read made me like Allen Sarven, the person. This book is full of great memories, advice about life, and photos of a person that really enjoys life even with all its ups and downs. Til this day, I still cannot believe Al Snow did not win the ECW title from Shane Douglas. Such a waste of a great character and entrance.
April 10, 2025
This was an inoffensive but meandering work. It started strong and the first two thirds takes the reader on an entertaining journey through Al Snow's life and experience, but the last third gets very diffuse, losing the thread of an autobiography and including lots of information that aren't really about Al Snow at all, or his direct experience--becoming instead mini biographies of many of the people he helped up in the industry. It was entertaining throughout, but scattered.
October 6, 2022
I know Al Snow - and wrestling in general - almost entirely from Tough Enough so it probably makes sense that I enjoyed the parts of this about Tough Enough and his time with OVW and things along those lines the most. He always came across on the show as a good, straight-forward teacher who cared about the kids and that comes through here too.
September 16, 2020
Al Snow was one of the most fascinating wrestlers from the Attitude Era and his memoir looks back at some of the stories on the road and behind the scenes of the wrestling world. The book moves fast and is peppered with little lesson tidbits.
July 18, 2019
A wonderful journey
A shame he didn't he didn't joke about Mick Foley (Read Mick Foleys books), but a great account of an underrated wrestlers journey throughout the industry
A shame he didn't he didn't joke about Mick Foley (Read Mick Foleys books), but a great account of an underrated wrestlers journey throughout the industry
January 18, 2020
Good history of the wrestler who brought us “what does everybody want?” Funny and detailed stories, but repetitive at times in the messages.
February 18, 2022
Very honest book about Al Snow's life in wrestling.
September 25, 2023
Pretty good. No surprise if you saw the show but he is very insightful.
December 30, 2020
In my opinion, an absolutely incredible journey, from someone who may not get enough credit for what he has given to the business. I highly recommend it!
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