The Stone Cold Truth FROM THE PUBLISHER
He's wrestled under many names, "Stunning" Steve Austin™, The Ringmaster, he even wrestled for a time under his own name, Steve Williams. But to fans he is and will always be Stone Cold Steve Austin™. The wrestler with the f-u attitude, the working-class guy who stood up his boss, a multimillionaire, and told him where he could put it. His quick wit and colorful use of language combined with his everyman character captured the hearts of fans worldwide and rewrote the dynamics of professional wrestling forever.
Steve grew up in a small town in Texas, one of four boys, who were fondly called by their parents the "Williams gang." Always a fan of wrestling, Steve seized the chance to study wrestling at a school in Dallas. His ability to take the bumps and hard falls required by his new profession, and his never-say-die attitude, connected him with the fans and his fellow wrestlers. His capricious firing by the WCW™, World Championship Wrestling®, lead to his being hired by World Wrestling Entertainment™.
However, it was Steve's own ability inside the ring and his quick-witted responses that led to his becoming one of the most popular WWE Superstars™ of all time. With the creation of the Stone Cold character, Steve's popularity expanded exponentially. It seemed nothing could stop the Texas Rattlesnake, except himself. In 2001 Steve's life seemed to spiral out of control and he walked away from it all. Now, with his triumphant return to the world of professional wrestling, he is finally ready to tell his story, his way.
The Stone Cold Truth is an unvarnished take on his life, his loves, and his days as a wrestler told in a way that only he could, and you know it's the truth " 'cause Stone Cold says so!"
FROM THE CRITICS
VOYA - Patrick Jones
This biography is among the best of those recently published that show larger-than-life sports entertainers as real people. Austin's book, delayed for several years, chronicles his rise to become one of the most popular wrestlers, not just in the WWE but perhaps of all time. There are many stories about famous matches, including the bout with Owen Hart when Austin broke his neck on a mishandled move. There is also the behind-the-scenes story about how "Austin 3:16" became the catchphrase of modern pro wrestling. As with Austin's interviews, the book is straightforward and rarely profane. Although Austin's character is that of the middle-finger-waving, ultimate anti-authority figure, Austin is quite respectful of the role his parents played in shaping his life. The book starts off with Austin's final match (although he is still seen on television, his neck is so badly injured that he will never wrestle again) at Wrestlemania IXX and ends with his thoughts on what is currently wrong with the wrestling business. Although the book is not a stunner, it gets the job done and is sure to be popular among the avid, if shrinking, base of teen wrestling fans. VOYA Codes: 3Q 4P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 2003, World Wrestling Entertainment, 320p.; Photos., Ages 15 to Adult.
Home
