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The World According To Dutch
Dirty Dutch Mantell's new book features 32 chapters covering 270-plus pages. Dutch covers a lot of ground in the book and gives the reader a virtual wrestling history lesson, from the days when territorial wrestling ruled, to the years leading up to the Vince McMahon takeover to the state of the wrestling business in the present day. The book is full of never-been-heard stories and includes dozens of never-been-seen photos. Readers will be treated to some very memorable stories from Dutch's career
272 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 9, 2021
The World According to Dutch is a collection of mostly true stories by wrestler Dirty Dutch Mantell.
This has been on my radar for years despite my being able to count the number of Dutch Mantell matches I've seen on one hand. My wife grabbed this for me for the anniversary of our first date.
Dutch Mantell has a reputation for being a great storyteller and this book proves it. Dutch muses on his life in the wrestling business, wrestling a bear, working and booking in Puerto Rico, and mentoring future superstars like Steve Austin and The Undertaker. The book also covers some 3000 mile weeks working for Bill Watts, having the shit kicked out of him by Akira Maeda in UWFI, and various other wrestling misadventures.
Dutch's writing feels like sitting on the porch, listening to a disreputable uncle's stories over the cheapest beer imaginable. The 270 pages went by in a blur. Fortunately, there's a second volume to look forward to.
The World According to Dutch is a fun wrestling book from one of wrestling's last great storytellers. Four out of five bullwhips.
This has been on my radar for years despite my being able to count the number of Dutch Mantell matches I've seen on one hand. My wife grabbed this for me for the anniversary of our first date.
Dutch Mantell has a reputation for being a great storyteller and this book proves it. Dutch muses on his life in the wrestling business, wrestling a bear, working and booking in Puerto Rico, and mentoring future superstars like Steve Austin and The Undertaker. The book also covers some 3000 mile weeks working for Bill Watts, having the shit kicked out of him by Akira Maeda in UWFI, and various other wrestling misadventures.
Dutch's writing feels like sitting on the porch, listening to a disreputable uncle's stories over the cheapest beer imaginable. The 270 pages went by in a blur. Fortunately, there's a second volume to look forward to.
The World According to Dutch is a fun wrestling book from one of wrestling's last great storytellers. Four out of five bullwhips.
March 29, 2014
A briskly paced collection of road stories and insights from one of the genuine good guys in the business (who, unsurprisingly, happens to still be employed, isn't addicted to any substances, etc.). The material on booking the Puerto Rico territory and Bruiser Brody's death there is interesting, as are the vignettes recounting his early relationships with Randy Savage, Glenn Jacobs, Steve Austin, and Mark Calloway. With a good head of steam, you can knock this one out in 2-3 hours. It's a shame Mantell wasn't more of a rotten, judgmental bastard, though--the book "suffers" from a lack of catty bitterness on the part of the author.
May 15, 2014
A great insight into the mid to waning days of territorial era wrestling. Funny anecdotes and great road stories from one of the greatest minds in wrestling
September 14, 2019
I've read quite a few of the wrestling biographies that have been written and I'd say this one is in the middle of the pack. Better then most, but I expected better.
I felt that there was so much more for him to tell. Don't get me wrong, the stories told in the book were mostly new to me and I found his humor to be pretty funny, but I felt like the book left me wanting more.
Dutch goes into detail on how he got his start and some of the many discouraging things he came across as he tried to pave his way. As may wrestlers before and after him, the road to becoming a wrestler wasn't an easy one.
Dutch has come across many different characters and personalities throughout his career and he has a great way of adapting to them and dealing with them without having to have major conflicts. I believe that is why he was able to stay in the industry so long.
The book has some great road and locker room stories as he's had some really interesting passengers in his car. I never knew the type of impact he had made on many of those who made it to the top in the business and how he helped many men and women live out their dream.
I hope that Dutch decides to write another book as I believe he still has much more to say.
I felt that there was so much more for him to tell. Don't get me wrong, the stories told in the book were mostly new to me and I found his humor to be pretty funny, but I felt like the book left me wanting more.
Dutch goes into detail on how he got his start and some of the many discouraging things he came across as he tried to pave his way. As may wrestlers before and after him, the road to becoming a wrestler wasn't an easy one.
Dutch has come across many different characters and personalities throughout his career and he has a great way of adapting to them and dealing with them without having to have major conflicts. I believe that is why he was able to stay in the industry so long.
The book has some great road and locker room stories as he's had some really interesting passengers in his car. I never knew the type of impact he had made on many of those who made it to the top in the business and how he helped many men and women live out their dream.
I hope that Dutch decides to write another book as I believe he still has much more to say.
January 16, 2017
Dutch's stories and thoughts on the professional wrestling business are a must read for any true fan of the sport. I can only wish Vince McMahon would heed much of the simple booking advice Dutch talks about in the book.
December 4, 2022
I loved it. It's taken me a while to get hold of, and it's one I've wanted to read for a while. If you like pro-wrestling, you will like this book. I just wish it was available in ebook form as I don't like paper books. Hopefully, I don't wait as long to read the second and the third that he hasn't published yet.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews