For Your Consideration: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

by Tres Dean

This illustrated collection of humorous essays and fun extras makes the case for one of our most iconic celebrities, from the wrestling mat to the silver screen.

There are three certainties in death, taxes, and the awesomeness of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Sporting a proverbial Rotten Tomatoes score of 100 percent, Certified Fresh, The Rock embodies everything we want from our Hollywood superstars...and everything we admire in those who so boldly pursue the American dream. But how did it all happen? How did a loathed professional wrestler become the most famous person in the world? Was it just good timing? Years of trial and error? Countless hours in the gym? A winning smile? Or his total mastery of Instagram Stories?

Composed of five critical essays and fun extras, For Your Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson looks at the distinct phases of the legend’s career, examining the ways in which he has become both an on-screen heartthrob and an off-screen hero to the millions (AND MILLIONS!) who’ve followed him from the wrestling mat to the silver screen.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2019

Reviews

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher (Quirk Books).

This book is what dreams are made of! I liked Dwayne Johnson before reading this book, but now I LOVE Dwayne Johnson.

Going into this book, all I was expecting was a silly little book about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. What I got was a fun book about Dwayne Johnson that also offered insightful commentary about masculinity and privilege. The book discusses how Dwayne Johnson challenges traditional notions of masculinity. For example, most of his love interests are age appropriate, which is becoming increasingly rare to see in movies. The book also highlights the fact that Dwayne Johnson is half black and half Pacific Islander and therefore did not have the same privileges as some of his fellow white action stars.



This book is also hilarious. It has fun extras like a quiz on which Rock character you should take to prom, a Rock version of the Oscars, and a ranking of his catchphrases. My favorite was the section on the Rock’s road to EGOT (an acronym that stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). The author came up with three theories on how the Rock can win all four awards. They were laugh out loud funny.

I also liked the short afterword the author wrote detailing how the book came into fruition. You can tell that he really loves and is passionate about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Overall, I recommend this book to both die-hard and casual Dwayne Johnson fans. This book will make you love the Rock even more than you already do.

This is just the first book in Quirk Books’ For Your Consideration series, and I cannot wait to read the next installment. It just so happens to feature my new favorite actor and current celebrity crush, Keanu Reeves.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were two great essays at the end and the beginning. The middle was kind of pointless and he tried WAY too hard to be cool and hip. Also I already knew everything about the rock so I didn’t get any new info which says a lot about my free time but hey

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I read it as an e-arc but given the illustrations and sidebars I imagine the finished print copy will have the feel of a browsable coffee table type book. If you're a fan of Dwayne The Rock Johnson (and who isn't), this is just the perfect blend of biography and analysis of what makes him SUCH a delightful celebrity figure.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am super late to review this but am so grateful for the review copy from Quirk books. Thank you!!

I love Dwayne Johnson and I didn't think it was possible to love him more, but this book showed me otherwise! Lots of fun facts, reasons to love the rock, a quiz! And more! I honestly want a tweet or some form of social media interaction from Dwayne now! He seems like such a cool and genuinely nice guy. The Author Tres did such a great job with this book. Looking forward to reading about Keanu Reeves next!

Full review on my blog.

*Thank you Quirk Books for my gifted copy in exchange of an honest review.*

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you aren’t already half in love with The Rock, this book will get you there and beyond. Not necessarily romantic love, but respect, awe and hope for humanity. I had no idea The Rock went through so much to get to where he is today. The book is more general than specific about those hardships, which makes me want to read an autobiography by The Rock (I know you’re busy, but maybe you can dictate it while you work out or something?)

This book doesn’t just sing his praises and it isn’t just a silly lightweight book about some dude’s awe at the mountain of a man The Rock is, it’s got some research to it. He analyzes how we as a society evolved from John Wayne as a hero to The Rock and the steps it took to get there, as well as having to study up on wrestling, the Rock’s career, etc. Very interesting and informative.

Only negative for this book, and it’s an ARC, so it could be in the finished copy, are actual pictures of the Rock to drool over. There are very nice artistic renderings, but it’s not quite the same.

Still, the book “rocks” (ha ha ha) and I like the additions of the quotes from the Rock in the back.

I was first in line at BEA to get this book signed by the author and it was his first book signing ever, which made this book even more special to me. It was the first BEA book I started and I’ve been milking it because I didn’t want it to end. It’s not due out until November, but I highly recommend getting your hot little hands on a copy of it as soon as you are able.

5 Rock solid stars!

[Roslyn Sundset · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is just shy of 4 hours and is narrated by James Anderson Foster. I listened to this book on x1.25 speed. I will start by telling you that I might be biased in this review because I love Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson so much that everything about him is tinted with rose coloured glasses. James Anderson Foster does a wonderful job of narrating this book with quirky personality and tone. There was one section where the chapter is basically a list and that part didn't translate well into audio in my opinion. I felt it went on for way too long. But other than that, I enjoyed listening to the praises of "The Rock" and somehow left the audiobook feeling even more love and adoration for him. This was a super fun listen, so if you love "The Rock" like I love him, then you should definitely give this one a listen.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this book. If you are a Rock fan, then you know a lot about him already. You would be aware that he was a huge wrestling star and is now an actor. He has done a lot of family friendly movies as wall as some action flicks, the best known probably those in the Fast & Furious Franchise. This book basically gave a timeline of his two careers. The reason I finished it and still gave it three stars is because there was some insight into his thoughts and views. It also stressed his heritage which is very important to him. I also liked the importance he puts on family, which not a lot of public personalities do. There were some cute anecdotes that added interest to the recitations. If you are not aware, he is a great humanitarian, performing for the troops, visiting kids who are sick etc. It says it is an illustrated book, but I saw only a few drawings, but they were interesting. If you only know him as an actor, or as a wrestler, or even from his Twitter account (he tweets a lot about people and fans which is great) then you will probably enjoy this book because you will learn a lot about him.

[David Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a really weird read to me. At times it felt like a well researched book, at times it felt like a fanboys drunken blog, and at times it felt like a research assignment someone realized was due in a few hours. I was more interested in Dwayne Johnson the person, and less so in hearing a fans thoughts on his filmography and wrestling career, and unfortunately there wasn't enough about his life to keep me truly interested.

At times, some of the things the author was saying about Johnson seemed so ludicrous that it felt like satire, but it's pretty clear it wasn't meant to be. I haven't seen many of his movies and I'm not a wrestling fan, but Dwayne Johnson seems like a good and interesting person, so I thought I might enjoy learning about him. This isn't the right book for you if that's what you are looking for.

[Rolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and sharp hagiography of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. It is written with heart and humor where I can chuckle at one page and nod along thoughtfully to the next.

I've only known The Rock through his Fast and Furious appearances and it was rewarding to learn more about his backstory and journey to his current idol status.

[Matthew Legaspi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good, easy, and fun read that serves as a love letter to the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment. I picked up this slim book of essays because of the interesting cover art, warm palette depiction of The Rock himself. After reading the first few pages, I figured I'd buy it and learn a little bit about Johnson and the mass appeal that seems to be surrounding him by a writer who was clearly a fan. I knew who Dwayne Johnson was, but I was surprised, honestly baffled, at how famous he actually was!

Not anymore.

[Elisabeth Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful laugh out loud analysis of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

[TV’s Kevin Lanigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional blend of wit & wisdom. Passes effortlessly between comedy and truly insightful essays.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful, funny, and inspiring. I already loved Dwayne Johnson but this gave me even more of an appreciation for his work, his journey, and him as a person. And the book made me laugh out loud a few times! (I think the only thing I really disagreed with was the bashing of 2017's Baywatch, because I really like that movie!)

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biographical look at Dwayne the Rock Johnson. He is a major player in Hollywood and this collection of essays and writings gives a wonderful look at his life and family. The book is divided into 5 sections that cover different eras in his career. The illustrations and pictures are well done and I'm sure the finished hardcover book will be beautiful and fun to read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is designed and targeted for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson fans. I've seen him in films and have found him likable. The author clearly is wildly enthusiastic regarding Dwayne Johnson, and I learned a lot about The Rock that I hadn't known before. There's a lot to like about him even if his choice of movie roles hasn't been the best. In that sense, it's rather like this book which seems to be cobbled together. I thought the evolution of American action stars was thoughtful and interesting as well as thoughts on modern masculinity involving Dwayne Johnson's action characters. There's some other bizarre stuff that just seems to be filler such as which Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson character should you take to the prom? and imaginings of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. I guess we can all dream. Personally I think Dwayne Johnson is interesting enough that the speculation wasn't needed.

[Bethany Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

#GIFTED - @quirkbooks

When you get asked the question ‘do you want a book with @therock on the front’ the answer is always YES. Absolutely yes.

For Your Consideration Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is 150 pages of pure love letters from author Tres Dean and I’m not mad. Tres immediately goes fully into his adoration and with every sentence you remember why The Rock is amongst the Hollywood elite and should receive a reward for making people happy. Plus there’s an extra added bonus that Tres continues to fuel my love for the Fast and Furious franchise (thank you for not tearing it to shreds!). I absolutely love the idea behind these books and can’t wait to read the Keanu Reeves version.
Despite believing I’d enjoy it from my request there is always a risk that you won’t so I consider myself pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed it

[Erin Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

My partner gave me this book for Christmas mostly to see how loud I'd squeal when I opened it, because like the rest of you, I <3 love <3 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I'm not into wrestling. I don't work out. I haven't seen all or even most of his movies. That's not the point. The point is that he just exudes "good dude"-ness to me and I want that energy in my life. He's my imaginary boyfriend. He's yours, too. We can share.

This book is really fun and very digestible. A few pieces dragged a bit for me, but it's written as a series of short essays and lists so it skips right along. I read it in a few hours.

Summary: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is as awesome as we think he is, and he is an even gooder dude than we dared imagine. You're welcome ;)

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

Years ago, I saw The Mummy Returns and then The Scorpion King, both with Dwayne Johnson, and I joked that I will make it my life’s work to watch every Dwayne Johnson movie ever made. I figured these two movies would be about it. I was never so wrong about anything in my life, and I have been keeping up with Dwayne Johnson movies ever since in order to keep my word.

That said, this book was given to me as it was known I was on this quest. Now, I like The Rock. He seems like a good guy. It’s just that this book is over-the-top for-fans-only that really offers nothing but a completely saccharine bias. This was my penance for ever doubting The Rock’s entertainment value.

[Laura Rueckert · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son received this book for Christmas. He decided it was a little too old for him, so I read it! It's not a biography, but a series of essays, some serious, some sillier. I already liked Dwayne Johnson, but I've come to respect him even more by reading this. My only critique point is that I felt the author sometimes contradicted their own analysis of DJ's character when they looked into possibilities for DJ's future. Otherwise, it's a fun, quick read.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one. It wasn't what I expected - I was expecting more of a mini-biography, but this was so much better. Part social commentary, part film theory analysis, Dean really works to present a comprehensive picture. I think my only real complaint is that I wish it was longer and I wish there had been a full filmography in an appendix or something similar. Yes, I know I can look it up on IMDB, but that's a) not the point and b) would have served as a well-rounded ending to the book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, I love Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, I love his movies, I love the Titan Games, I love his Instagram, I love him. And there's something awesome about reading a book about the People's Champion written by someone who clearly fanboys Dwayne Johnson. It was funny and I appreciated the look at masculinity in action throughout the years. Fast read, fun read.

[Franky L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just bad. Plain and simple. Bad writing. Bad read. Not worth the money. Just a hyped up fanboy who thought he could get some praise for his "knowledge" and "research" into who we know as dj. Try again buddy.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really not my cup of tea. The author is someone who has a great understanding of Dwayne Johnson. However, this is no an autobiographical version more a series of essays

[bn00880 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mainly bought this book b/c I follow the the author on Twitter but through these 180 pages he has turned me into a Rock fan and I'm going to deep dive his filmography

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun vacation read. Nice to read someone else who appreciates Pain and Gain!

[Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Rock is great! The book is not.

[L.D. Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Good in this time of solitude.

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author really goes on and on but other than that ok

[Jbussen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written for kids. Not my cup of tea. Just not much here. I mean I know who he is so I know about the wrestler and the fast and the furious, Care to share anything else?

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its about drive, it’s about power