Markus Zusak is an Australian author born in 1975, the son of Austrian and German parents. His novels for younger readers have won numerous awards and one, The Book Thief, has become a worldwide bestseller. Originally published in 2001, Fighting Ruben Wolfe has just been republished for definitions.
buy books by markus zusak at the guardian bookstore
You are reading: Best books on boxing
“When I was a kid, my brother played a whole catalog of sports both inside and outside the house. football was forbidden because we destroyed all of our mother’s plants. cricket ended after a hat-trick of broken windows.
“so we turned to boxing, which turned out to be something he would write about fighting ruben wolfe, and read about for years to come.
“here are 10 of my favorite books on the subject…”
1. burnt rope by fx toole
See Also: 13 Picture Books for Teaching Phonological Awareness and Phonics – Tejeda&039s Tots
You can almost inhale the smelling salts in these stories. fx toole, a former corner man, serves as a perfect reminder for any writer to follow the write what you know rule; you read a page and you know it’s been there. Featured pieces here are “the monkey look,” “black jew” and, of course, the devastatingly beautiful “million dollar baby.”
2. the half brother of lars saabye christensen
While this isn’t exactly a boxing book, there is a brilliant fight night moment within this epic novel. The enigmatic half-brother, Fred, trains as hard as any boxer on the planet but, as is the case throughout this Norwegian writer’s masterpiece, he has a surprise up his sleeve when he steps into the ring.
3. the best boxing stories ever told by jeff silverman
This is a great book to dive into, depending on your mood. If you feel like listening to Norman Mailer, Joyce Carol Oates, or Richard Ford one day, but feel more like a boxing passage from Homer the next, you can find it here. it’s interesting (and funny) to see a homer character talking about his chances in the fight too. Back then, boxers made themselves known before entering the ring.
4. the professional by wc heinz
This book just builds and builds, following a fighter on his way to a title shot. the book even has the feel of a training regimen ending to cause ultimate devastation. definitely packs a punch that’s unforgettable.
5. fat city by leonard gardner
I have such a clear memory of a seemingly simplistic moment in this novel. This is when the young boxer, Ernie Munger, gets instructions between rounds. he nods and “hears none of it.” this book is recognized by many as one of the best books on boxing, desolation, and surviving the disaster areas that lie just to the left and right of the American dream.
6. boxing: the complete illustrated guide to harry mullan
See Also: Diana Orgain – Book Series In Order
Complete without being overwhelming, this encyclopedia of boxing is an excellent introduction to the great fighters, the great moments, and the true champions of the ring. even taking another look at this book to write about it, I got carried away for half an hour or so.
7. on boxing by joyce carol oates
not many people know this title of joyce carol oates. As in all of his writings, he speaks about boxing with great clarity and authority. part history lesson, part psychological study, on boxing is a kind of meditation on the courage it takes to become vulnerable enough to step into the ring.
8. norman mailer’s fight
some people say this is a world championship between muhammad ali and norman mailer as to who had the bigger ego. Still, if you’re interested in boxing, why not take a look at what Mailer does with the rumble in the jungle?
9. the sweet science of aj liebling
Like the fx tool, liebling gives the reader insight into the entire world of boxing, not just what happens in the ring. The title alone seems almost a challenge to those who hate boxing (and who can blame them?), but this book describes an era as much as it describes a sport. You look like you’re sitting in those dusty, man-filled rooms of America in the 1950s.
10. the best of walter dean myers
as a fan of joe frazier’s understated nature compared to muhammad ali’s loudmouth, i was surprised at how much i enjoyed this tribute to the latter. Here we see the sports hero as an inspiration for a writer, and I was reminded that Muhammad Ali was and is, regardless of what is said about him, an amazing and courageous character.
See Also: Everything You Need to Know About Kindle Unlimited – Everyday Reading