Pro Wrestling: From Carnivals to Cable TV FROM THE PUBLISHER
In this highly detailed chronicle of professional wrestling, author Keith Elliot Greenberg delves into the development and history behind one of today's most popular entertainment industries. From ancient cultures and Greek mythology to "WrestleMania" and Pay-Per-View, this comprehensive volume looks not only at how wrestling evolved into its current state but also why. With stars such as Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Andre the Giant, professional wrestling has become a multimillion dollar industry that attracts people of all ages and walks of life. Discover how one of the world's only universal sports has adapted from country to country and from generation to generation in this exciting look at a sports phenomenon.
FROM THE CRITICS
VOYA
This excellent overview of professional wresting history is chock-full of photographs of its greatest stars. Greenberg, who has worked with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), has packed into this slim book the turbulent story of this much-loved and much-hated "sports entertainment" genre. From a discussion of the state of the industry. which wisely includes a photo of The Rock, through a chapter on the death of Owen Hart, Greenberg looks at the major names and events that have shaped pro wrestling's rise in popularity. In a business where the past is rarely acknowledged, Greenberg gives teens who are glued to their sets on Monday nights a historical perspective. In the chapter on the roots of professional wrestling, Greenberg talks about the transformation from "real" sport to the worked entertainment that pro wrestling has become. About half of the book chronicles the sport up to the Wrestlemania era (post-1984), mixing in chapters on women's wrestling and Japanese wrestling. Interspersed within chapters are various "features," such as one on wrestling in Mexico (lucha libre). Greenberg does not shy away from wrestling's various black eyes, providing entire chapters on the WWF steroid scandal of the early 1990s and the locker room murder of Bruiser Brody. Many pictures, numerous facts, and lively writing make this a fine read and a must-buy for libraries serving those fans of the Monday Night Match of the Week. Sadly, the book comes about a year too late�the wrestling boom, while not busted, is certainly on the wane. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P M J S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High,defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Lerner Sports, 144p, Index, Photos, Further Reading, Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Patrick Jones VOYA, February 2001 (Vol. 23, No.6)
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up-Well-designed series entries featuring attractive covers and dozens of black-and-white and full-color photographs with captions. Wrestling briefly covers the colorful history of this sport from ancient times to the present day. One chapter is included on wrestling in Japan during the last few years, and some mention is given to wrestling in Europe and Mexico, but the focus is on the United States during the last 20 years. Personal and career highlights are related for many stars including Gorgeous George; Hulk Hogan; Bret Hart; Steve Austin; Andre the Giant; and promoter Vince McMahon, whose outrageous acts and use of marketing propelled pro wrestling to previously unimaginable heights of popularity. Greenberg doesn't shy away from the controversies that surround pro wrestling, including the entertainment versus sport debate, steroid abuse, and the behind-the-scenes deals that affected many athletes' lives. The author also covers the role of women in pro wrestling. Readers interested in the topic will gravitate to this book and learn that what they are watching are finely crafted, physically demanding soap operas, (as admitted by McMahon and others), not pure sport. Basketball covers the history of the sport and discusses how the changes in it over the last 100 years reflect the changes in American society. This fascinating account also provides information on female stars, coaches, officials, and rules and will satisfy fans as well as student researchers; in fact, there is no comparable book available on the subject for this age group.-Michael McCullough, Byron-Bergen Middle School, Bergen, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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