Ric Flair: To Be the Man Reviews

• The Legend Speaks True.

  
  By A1IHT31N8RLPN8 on 2006-02-01
  This is the most honest sports biography I've read to date. He gave this reader an insightful, entertaining, and sometimes sad look into both his life and the wrestling business. He is both respectful and critical of the business and some other wrestlers. But, gives logical reasons for being so. Flair is everything his harshest critics have rarely been, successful for over three decades. You can't make a good living in your chosen proffession for that long if the fans were not willing to pay to see you. Flair's talent made him a star, Hogan was a media creation.
  
  

• Woooooooooooooooooo!

  
  By A1ILRRE6Q4QTMC on 2004-06-28
  The best wrestling book put out, period. No surprise given that Ric Flair's name was attached to it, it had to be the best. My only gripe was that it was too short--I wanted more.

  Lots of good inside stuff from the 70's and 80's, and the tragic sufferings of a man who was literally beaten down by one of the biggest clowns in wrestling, Eric Bischoff. Flair doesn't really pull any punches here, and it is intriguing to watch his relationships with Dusty and Hogan develop from one of idolization to a certain animosity (Dusty Rhodes), to a mutual respect to a portrayed hatred (Hulk Hogan).

  Flair clearly has his favorites: Harley Race, Wahoo, Steamboat, Windham, Sting and Arn--no surprise. He also identifies some folks who should not never have even bothered wrestling, Ultimate Warrior, Brutus Beefcake, to a lesser extent, Mick Foley. Gotta love the take on Shane Douglas as well. How's your book Shane? heh heh.

  What's great is Flair's respect for the guys who came before him, and the hard work that had to be put in for Flair to be the best. How many people today could live through Verne Gagne's training camps? If Flair hadn't partied so hard, we might be already looking at the next sports politician. Great story, but I just wish it was longer- Flair's stories are so good that you really wish the book would keep going. Fantastic read, you have to pick this up.
  
  

• I Just Could Not Put This Book Down!

  
  By A316HU3BAFG0D2 on 2004-07-26
  I've been a fan of professional wrestling since I was a kid, and some of my fondest wrestling memories involve the Nature Boy. This book details the life of, in my opinion, the greatest professional wrestling performer of all time (yes, greater than even Hulk Hogan). I just could not put it down!
  
  I was mesmerized at Flair's account of all of the old-timers who had helped to mold and shape his career, such as Wahood McDanial, Verne Gagne, Johnnie Valentine, Harley Race, and Blackjack Mulligan. Like other wresters during that time, Flair lived a wild life in his younger days, as he relives in sometimes painful detail. I really respect him for owning up to all of his mistakes and bad choices and how he has learned from all of them, as this only proves that he is a human being.
  
  It was pretty sad to read about how former WCW officials like Jim Herd and Eris Bischoff went out of their way seemingly to make Flair's life as miserable as they could .Given that during Flair's legal troubles with WCW in 1998, Bischoff's pledge in front of other wrestlers that he was going to "sue Flair and his family into bankruptcy," as well as numerous other personal and professional slights, I can see why Flair hates the man's guts. It was gratifying to read how Flair got a little "payback" shortly after Bischoff arrived in the WWE in 2002.
  
  For professional wrestling fans, this book is a must-read.
  
  

• This book is about as entertaining as a Ric Flair match

  
  By A24IM247ZW88RK on 2004-07-15
  Ric Flair is a terrible repedative boring wrestler. For him to bad mouth great entertainers(wrestlers) like Mick Foley and Bret Hart in this book is a joke. They have done more for the business then Flair ever will no matter how long he stays, and he has over stayed his welcome by about 10-15 years.
  Flairs move list OFFENCE 1. Chest slap 2. Punch 3. Figure Four Leglock 4. No wait thats it, just 3 moves .
  DEFENCE 4.Bump of the top rope(atleast 3 times a match) 5. Back body drop. Repeat steps 1-3 if necassary
  
  

• To be the man, you have to be a man

  
  By A14OYARGK2Q2BY on 2004-12-25
  Unfortunately, Ric Flair is not a man, but still a boy. He wasted the opportunity to write his biography, and instead issued this piece of garbage laden with political overtones, cheap shots at other wrestlers, and unjust praise (and butt-kissing) for people he wants to like him. To be truthful, I never liked Ric Flair - he has no talent in the ring, doing the same boring routine match after match; his body & face are hard to look at; and his interviews left me questioning his sanity more than they made me believe he was a great sell. Now after reading every single page of this piece of garbage, I no longer dis-like him, I now HATE him.
  
  Let me start by talking about some of things mentioned early in the book. Allegedly, he's considered by the 'experts' as the greatest wrestler of all time, superceding even Frank Gotch and Lou Thesz. Well, I'd like to know who these 'experts' are, because Frank Gotch and Lou Thesz could and did wrestle for real (Flair couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper bag). And coming from someone who actually has a pedigree in amateur wrestling, I'd say Flair could not even lace the boots of those two legends. Flair seems to think that his longevity in the wrestling business (which I will even admit is impressive) elevates his stature to the very pinnacle. And he wastes no time in this book insulting wrestlers and taking cheapshots at those who he doesn't like, yet he praises wrestlers who say nice things about him. After reading through the first 3 or 4 chapters, I began to think that he's trying to write his own legacy. And despite what other reviewers have written, Ric Flair is not candid in this book.
  
  What I found the most distasteful was the low blows at Hogan, Bret Hart, Savage, and Foley. Every one of these men are better than Ric Flair in their own respective way, but according Natch, they either don't measure up, or in Hogan's case are too political. Flair spends a lot of time in this book praising Vince McMahon, but he neglects to mention that it was McMahon who pushed Hogan, Savage, Bret Hart, and later Foley. I don't understand the logic in criticizing one without criticizing McMahon. And interestly, on Page 116, Flair says that on the night before Starcade 'Vince made a proposal to Harley Race to skip Starcade and jump to the WWF with the NWA title.' Flair says nothing about the charactor of McMahon for that gesture, yet he still finds it appropriate to lavish him with praise, even calling him 'his mentor.'
  
  Also, one cannot speak about professional wrestling without comparisons being made between Ric Flair & Hulk Hogan. Flair offers his opinion that Hogan was not his peer in the wrestling ring, and that his belt was not as prestigous because it was chosen by one man. Well, that man happened to be none other than Vince McMahon, but Flair had his head so far up McMahon's *** that he doesn't bother to mention the poor choice he made. One thought from me on this: McMahon did not choose Flair to revolutionize the wrestling business; he chose Hulk Hogan. And the results prove that McMahon made the right choice, because Vince is a billionaire today. Could Flair draw the diverse audiences that Hogan did? Who knows. But down in the grungy southern territories were Flair made his impression, the audiences & the profits were nothing compared to what the WWF was doing. And as for the in-ring wrestling ability question between Hogan & Flair, who was it that slammed Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III? I've watched every Ric Flair match I possibly could (I even bought his DVD), and I've never seen him do a dropkick, a moonsault, or any technical wrestling other than his figure-four leglock, and he has never shown any strength whatsoever. And I'm also still looking for one of the wrestlers that Flair 'put over.' No one was ever able to get the belt from him, and when they did Flair would get it back in very short time. I think Flair held more wrestlers back than he put over. As for Hogan, he put over many wrestlers. To name a few- The Ultimate Warrior, Yokozuna, The Undertaker, Bill Goldberg, The Giant/The Big Show, and The Rock. After thinking about it, Hogan & Flair DO NOT COMPARE!
  
  This book is a long, hard-to-read, yet revealing book. It offers you a glimpse at the charactor of Flair (or lack of it) that may disturb you. Read it if you must, but don't say I didn't warn you. I'm sure you'll conclude it's probably better as a doorstop.
  
  
• A heavily WWE edited, biased marketing ploy.
  By on 2004-07-13
  Like 90% of all the WWE books, Flair's biography has been through the Vince McMahon editing-machine and is obviously geared to encourage the current state of the WWE in a pathetic attempt to justify itself. Anybody who knows anything about old-school wrestling will pick apart massive chunks of this book as propaganda. Is funny how Flair rips Savage, Hart and Foley, all talents who at some point have turned their backs on the WWE or haven't been a part of the promotion in years while sucking up to the likes of HHH, Vince and Shawn Michels who curiously are all major contributors to the current product. And that's just the beginning...
  Flair does a lot of talking about the difference between a wrestler and a "worker," smuggly characterizing himself as a tremendous worker of the crowd. The fact is, Flair hasn't worked a crowd in a decade. His tier, old Flair flops are seen as tongue-in-cheek while his thousandth climb to the top rope is easily the most mind-numbingly telegraphed moves in the history of pro-wrestling.
  Don't buy into Flair's words. He's a one trick pony that relies solely on spectacle to get over. Problem is, now, there isn't much spectacle left. He is the most played out wrestler in history.
  And what's worse then everything is how he talks about the need for veterans to set up the future by helping young talent look strong while praising HHH and the Undertaker, two guys who are synonymous with holding down talent.
  Bottomline: This book's main purpose is to help justify the pathetic, non-pro wrestling state of the WWE while revising history in favor of Vince McMahon's ego.
  
  
• Vince ruined this book
  By on 2004-07-13
  Let me preface my words with the following: I am a huge fan of Ric Flair and his work since the mid-80s, when I began watching wrestling regularly. I have met him on several occasions and he always seems gracious and courteous.

  So it was with much anticipation that I plowed through "To Be The Man." Needless to say, I was kind of disappointed. First, let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the parts of Ric's early and mid-career. The man has always entertained me, whether it be as heel or face. This was enough to warrant two strong stars.

  My first minor complaint is that Ric -- I love ya -- but you are not the same performer you were 10 years ago. Age is catching up with all of us and I got the impression from reading the book that you think you're still 35. If it were simply Ric's arrogance in the book, I could have lived with that. Hell, if you win 16 world titles, you have earned the right to brag a little bit.

  However, a large part of my disappointment comes with what I previously perceived to be one of Ric's strongest qualities: He is a company man. Regardless who the booker was in NWA/WCW, he always did whatever job was asked of him (sans the whole "drop the title to Luger" fiasco in 1991). Today, he remains a company man. This dramatically hurts his credibility, and it's evident in his personal -- and completely unneccessary attacks on Bret Hart (whom I thought he worked very well with in 1992), Randy Savage (another whom I thought sparked whenever the two were booked/fueded together), and Mick Foley (OK, I know those two don't like each other). Frankly, I think all three of the above are tremendous workers, all with different but successful styles. But Ric goes out and attacks these men -- all of whom have issues with Ric's current company. Very curious.

  But then comes the almost unbearable bootlicking of Vince McMahon, Triple H., and Shawn Michaels. There comes a point while reading when you somehow feel like it's not really Ric anymore, but the WWE propeganda machine. I mean, reading about how strong Triple H and the Undertaker are at helping along the younger wrestlers left me with a very sour taste in my mouth. While Ric has put over younger, albeit some questionable, talents over the years (Von Erich, Garvin, David Flair), Triple H and the Undertaker very rarely (we're talking Haley's Comet rarely) put over a new talent.

  So what could have been an absolute 5-star knockout publication is completely watered down and twisted by the WWE editors and filters. My best advice is if you're a fan of Flair, then buy the book, but prepare yourself for a little Vince behind the curtain.
  
  

• Flair is a man who believes his own hype
  By A2I1BZGK92F7JY on 2004-07-27
  The late great Stu Hart (who KNEW wrestling) had an expression - a routine man - to describe a performer who did the same routine, night after night after night. Well, that's Ric Flair. Perhaps the "marks" - the fans who don't know any better - think he's something special; I don't. I never have. I've always felt that Flair, like Hulk Hogan, used his flamboyance to mask his deficiencies inside the squared circle (besides, I've always preferred MY champions to be more dignified, like Bruno Sammartino and, yes, Bret Hart).
  
  Flair has never impressed me much. If you've seen one of his matches, you've seen them all, and his book is very bit as predictable as his wrestling matches. This is an individual who definitely believes his own hype and it amazes me how his fans act as though daring to criticize him and his book is synonymous with spitting on the flag.
  
  You have to be mighty insecure to trash your co-workers like he has and disparage their accomplishments in the business....and more than a little petty.
  
  The remarks made about the way Bret dealt with his brother Owen's death were completely uncalled for and made me wonder if those were Vince McMahon's (and not Ric Flair's) sentiments that were being expressed on that subject.
  
  (Incidentally, I'd like to remind all those Bret-bashers that it's the WWE that won't let that 1997 Atrocity in Montreal fade into history. They are the ones who keep bringing it up at every opportunity. I don't know why - it sure isn't something of which I would be very proud.)
  
  Save your money - and buy Bret's book when it comes out. THAT'S a book that WON'T require Vince McMahon's imprimatur.
  
  
• Talk about being disillusioned!
  By A29COAL60SB48B on 2004-11-09
  Something tells me this "book" wasn't written in Ric Flair's wrestling character. If that's the case, then he's every bit the egotist he's portrayed in the ring for years and then some. I realize only now what a mistake it was to make this guy my role model as an eleven year old girl. Had I known a quarter of who Richard Fliehr really was, I would have run for the hills.
  
  I never knew he was adopted in everything I've ever read about him over the years. And while I realize that parents (natural or adoptive) aren't perfect, Ric never expressed any gratefulness that a strange couple took him into their home and raised him as their own. Not only that, but for all his sniffing about his parents' social status (his father was a doctor, which enabled Ric to associate with a more affluent crowd than most adoptees) Flair is actually proud of the fact that he's not much of a reader. If it's not a right-wing rag like Time or something shallow like Sports Illustrated, it's above his head. So much for encouraging people to read and broaden their horizons. (And he repaid his parents' kindness by having numerous run-ins with the law.)
  
  As a super Nature Boy fan, I got bored quickly at the predictability of his matches. As countless people have said, "you've seen one, you've seen them all." He had no aerial game (I never once saw him perform a dropkick) and he's going to blast others for their wrestling ability???
  
  His wrestling style stinks and his attitude stinks even more. It's one thing to have fun when you're young but the way he treated women during the course of his life is despicable. I mean greeting a woman you barely know by sneaking up behind her as she's sitting on a couch with your genitals is sexist to the max (as well as having a contest with your friends about how many women you can screw in a certain amount of time). How immature.
  
  The way he treated his first wife was pathetic. I heard over the years that Leslie had it hard with him but I never knew just how bad it was. It was nice to see he has a conscience (rare for a Republican) and regrets treating her the way he did but it seems he doesn't understand why she's still bitter about it (it would have nothing to do with her wasting prime years of her life supporting you in your wrestling endeavors and having to endure marital infidelity, raising two children basically on her own, and being embarrassed in front of her friends by coming home to find her husband lying face down in vomit among many other misadventures, huh, Ric?). After what she went through, I'd be bitter, too.
  
  The one thing that bothered me the most about this book was how Flair badmouthed some great wrestling legends and sucked up to others who are overrated and don't deserve their hype. You'd think at his age, and with all the years of wrestling experience, he'd exercise better judgment.
  
  For anyone to say that Pedro Morales was a better wrestler than Bruno Sammartino is insane. Pedro was good but he didn't have the arsenal Bruno had or his drawing power (and to say that the reason why Sammartino was so big in the Northeast was because we still hold a strong ethnic identity was a typical cheap shot).
  
  While he's busy blasting Bruno, he sucks up to Shawn Michaels, who is one of the most overrated and undertalented wrestlers ever. Then again, when Flair is compared to other wrestlers of far greater talent and charisma, he comes up awfully shorthanded.
  
  And he needed to seriously get off the backs of Bret Hart and Mick Foley. Bret Hart was royally screwed over and embarrassed after 17 years of service to Vince McMahon and he's not allowed to say anything about it? Mick Foley has sacrificed more for the wrestling business in one day than Flair has in over 30 years.
  
  Bottom line: Flair badmouthed the people who were never impressed with him and praised the people who think he's the greatest thing since the beginning of time. Talk about a major ego.
  
  And he whined in the beginning of his "book" about people who were ruining the mystery of wrestling by bringing their kids around the venue while the wrestlers were rehearsing and explaining every facet of the business. Obviously, he doesn't realize just how much mystery he took out of wrestling with his "book." After reading it, I feel relieved that I no longer waste my time with it anymore and feel sorry for myself that I wasted 10 years of my young life on this nonsense.
  
  Thanks for disillusioning me, Ric, in regards to the wrestling business and to you. Also, thank you for reminding me to be very careful in choosing people to emulate.
  
  
• To be the man you gotta beat the man... who's he kidding?
  By A1V2LHLYYXE3UA on 2004-07-21
  Ric Flair is one of those names that is synonomous with the world of wrestling and for good reason. Throughout his illustrious career he's captured the world hevyweight championship an astonishing sixteen times, a number unprecedented in the sport. He's gained the respect and adulation of fans all over the world, but also the moniker, "The Dirtiest Player In the Game." And from what I've read this title goes beyond his actions in the squared circle. In his book he badmouth's the likes of Bret Hart, Ultimate, Warrior and Mick Foley just to name a few. Yes, Mick Foley. A man who has graciously sacrificed life and limb for the mere fact of enetertaining wrestling fans. However, he calls Mick, "Nothing more than a glorified stunt man." I mean the nerve of this guy to throw out such a demeaning title to a man who has given more to the sports entertainment industry than he ever has. But it doesn't stop there. He also says that Bret Hart wasn't a very big monetary draw during his career and that after Bret won the title from him, "The company went to hell." I don't care who you are, you don't belittle and degrade fellow superstars like that. You would think that being the seasoned veteran he is, he would've learned a little dignity and class. And come to think of it, he isn't even a good wrestler. Beyond chops, the figure-four leg lock, and low blows and eye gouges, he couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper bag. So in conclusion I would say that if you are a true wrestling fan and have any respect for the product, you will save yourself from reading this trash. But if you do, you'll come to realize Flair was never the man to begin with and the only one who thinks he's the best and bigger than wrestling is himself. As Hurricane said on Raw, "The Rock and Mick Foley's books are much better than his."
  
  
• Ric Flair is the Man
  By A3QQN0BL6DB132 on 2006-01-31
  Ric Flair's book starts off great. He candidly discusses the details of his birth and family. He proceeds to relate the story of his pre-pro wrestling life with just about the right amount of detail to keep the reader interested.
  The story really gets interesting as Flair enters pro wrestling. Flair is perhaps the greatest pro wrestler ever. His combination of ring skills, interview skills and charisma is unsurpassed. Flair has seen it all and he tells us all about it in colorful detail.
  Flair gave everything to the sport and fans. He seemingly gives everything in this book. Flair reveals the good and bad of his career and life.
  It is unfortunate that events after this book cast some doubt on his family life, but that does not negate the value of this book. Flair is human and has his problems, but in the world of wrestling, Flair is the man.
  
  
• Sad, sad little man!
  By AORKT4YAQ6GCA on 2006-03-22
  I brought this book, along with Ric Flair's DVD, in the hope of learning more about the nature boy. When I was younger, I was a big fan of Flair's, but a knew very little about his career outside the WWE, so this book was perfect, I was hopeing for a great insight in pro wrestling as a whole and some amusing stories. Instead I got a bitter old man, using his book to get back at people, he believes have wronged him. It's apprent from reading this book, that Flair isn't a real man, since he does not have the balls to say antything to anyones to their face, his everybodies best friend to their face, and once their back is turned he bad mouths them, and holds them back. This book is just full of Flair putting other wrestlers down, but the only wrestlers he puts down are wrestler who are no longer in the WWE and can't get back at him, all the while he kisses the asses of people in the WWE, who can help his career, that's the nature boy. All the bad things Flair has to say about other wrestlers, are things that those wrestlers have said about him, such as Stu Hart said that Flair was a routine wrestler, so Flair fires back saying Bret Hart is a routine wrestler, Bret Hart said that people backsatge at the WCW where telling he what to do, but these people never drew any money themselves apart from Dusty Rhodes, This obviously annoyed Ric since he wasn't mentioned as a money maker, so in his book he says Hart never drew any money. Many people put down Flair for his backstage politics, so Flair uses that and attacks Mick Foley for befriending writers. Flair is so full of himself, if people don't praise him, and call him the greatest wrestle of all time, then he instanly dislikes them.
  
  I can' beleive I spent all this money on his book and DVD, but it's okay as long as Ric uses the money to buy a sports bra, because he really needs it in the ring, his got bigger assets then most of the divas.
  
  
• Liar, liar, pant's on fire!
  By AXAV495VGHXG1 on 2006-03-29
  Over the past few years Ric Flair has certainly proved himself as the dirtiest liar in the game. The number of lies he knocks off in this book makes Shawn Michaels look like a saint. It seems to me that Ric Flair only wrote this book to get back at people who have put him down in the past.
  
  In this book Ric Flair calls Bret Hart a repetitive wrestler. It was Bret Hart's father (Stu Hart) who first called Ric Flair a repetitive wrestler. He's basically used this book to get back at Bret Hart. If anyone is repetitive in the world of wrestling it is definitely Ric Flair. Every time I see a Ric Flair match I don't know whether it's new or a re-run.
  
  He has also used this book to get back at Mick Foley. Foley in his book (Have a nice day), said Ric Flair was a poor booker. Ric Flair in this book said that Mick Foley made friends with the writing team to stay at the top. Come on, Mick Foley put his career and his life on the line to get to the top. Flair on the other hand is the one with friends in high places, how else can one person win 16 world championships.
  
  Ric Flair's treatment of woman is absolutely disgusting. His "alleged" behaviour towards a female flight attendant during the infamous plane ride from hell would have landed any normal man in jail. His stance towards education isn't any better. Advising youngsters not to take education seriously is almost as stupid as giving Ric Flair a push at the age of 160.
  
  Ric Flair is a dirty little liar and that's the bottom line. If I were you, I wouldn't waste your money on this.
  
  
  
• Great book about the best entertainer in wrestling history
  By A8E9K7A05OKGH on 2004-07-14
  I grew up loving Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. My dad occasionally took me to the matches at Raleigh's Dorton Arena. My dad loved Ric Flair and I have always been a huge fan of his.

  I started reading this book yesterday afternoon, July 12. I finished it up today, one day later. I rarely read any book through from page one through the last page, but I had to read every word I could about the "Nature Boy."

  Opinions will obviously vary, but for me, it was a great book. Ric takes us through his sad, troubling beginning. It was a shocker for me and I found myself feeling sorry for Ric. He describes his parents in endearing terms and discusses his hell raising days as a teen growing up.

  Nature Boy goes into the way he got started with Verne Gagne. It was tough and Verne displayed some tough love, a different kind of love than his father.

  We get a description of his wrestling career and his personal life. I always believed Ric probably wasn't a saint and this book confirms it. There's no question in my mind that Ric Flair was and always will be the best entertainer ever in the history of pro wrestling. Maybe not the biggest draw or maybe not even the best wrestler.

  I found myself troubled by Ric's apparent disregard for his lifestyle outside of the ring and the consequences it was having on his family. Of course, no one is perfect, including me. Ric shows us his warts and all of us, if honest, certainly have some.

  The stories about the different wrestlers are my favorite part of the book: Greg and Johnny Valentine, Wahoo McDaniel, Rufus R. "Freight Train" Jones, Ken Patera, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Hogan, Luger, Savage, Bruiser Brody, the Von Erichs, Andre, Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat and others. Ric doesn't pull any punches in this book. He tells you exactly what he thinks about the person he's talking about. Some out there will no doubt be upset with some of the things he says, but Ric is one of the best ever so he's qualified to evaluate others in the wrestling business. I don't know, however, that he'd say anything negative about any of the current WWE roster. So I have to wonder how much this book was edited. I wanted a totally uncensored account from Ric and I don't know how far this goes.

  I found myself strongly disliking Jim Herd, Eric Bischoff, and Vince Russo. These guys, having no wrestling experience, trying to call the shots and disrespecting a wrestling great like Flair. I knew pro wrestling was cutthroat, but Ric was totally unfairly treated by these morons who somehow ended up with a little bit of power.

  Ric delves into the personal side even more with a description of a couple of bouts with depression and anxiety. Nothing wrong with that as I believe that most people struggle with these demons at different points in their lives. It's kinda hard to believe though: the self-proclaimed best wrestler in the world struggling with some self-esteem issues.

  Everybody has a spin on controversial subjects and Ric is certainly no different.

  This book is an absolute must for any Ric Flair fan. It's a great read. You may not agree with the Nature Boy on everything he says, but the book tells many tales about professional wrestling, the stars and some of the inner workings. There's analysis from different people on some of things Flair tells about, which makes the book that much better. Combine that with some information about Flair's wives and kids and it's an excellent book, in my small opinion.

  Hulk Hogan was a bigger draw, but no one was a better entertainer than Ric. There will never be another one like him in the history or future of pro wrestling.
  
  

• Lies!!!!!!!!
  By A1GT5DX6E9NFXB on 2004-07-14
  this book is full of lies and nothing but to promote the current WWE further. Flair sees mcmahon's favorite wrestlers like hbk and triple h as great wrestlers and those who opposed vince are bad wrestlers. Attacking wrestlers such as foley, hart, and savage are just plain wrong. He's NOT better than any of those three. Any wrestling fans knows what those 3 have done for the business. Mick, Bret, and Savage sacrificed a lot just to entertain people. Bret even cared for the well fare of his fellow wrestlers. The only entertaining thing flair can do is his "WOO!" chant which gets boring after hearing it a few times. As of now, Flair is still in the WWE and I must admit that I am bored everytime I watch him fight.
  
  
• Just As Good As The Last Five Wrestling Books, I Guess..
  By A313FHXGRZNB68 on 2004-07-25
  Ric Flair has always been a god in professional wrestling. and to watch him work is to love his style. I think back on the years of watching wwf and nwa, then wcw and fits of nostagia start to make themselves known. the crazy storylines! remember the angle about the black scorpion? how about the incompetence of jack tunney? the four horsemen jumping dusty rhodes in the parking lot, mr. perfect's perfect sports episodes. it's all here, from ric's beginnings to his heyday. i enjoyed the book but it's just no better than any of the others, aside from flair's more interesting history than, say, mankind's, this might have even been writtin by the same author. if you're not a wrestling fan, there literally would be no point in you buying this.
  
  but clearly the best parts are his opinions on various wrestlers, good or bad, i always wondered about that plane crash that broke his back and now i have the whole story right from his mouth, so to speak. come to think of it, it might be slightly better than the other books. but that's because flair has so many great stories to tell about a great life. but some of his tales have harrowing effects. there is one bit about him being saddled with traveling with two highly racist redneck rasslers in the south. quite ugly.
  
  as an omen, while i write this on a sunny july sunday in new jersey, what movie just happens to be starting on fox 5? body slam, with roddy piper and lou albano. i will throw in another star, just for fate's sake.
  
  i'm sorry to read some of the reviews for this book. i never was a fan of the concept of using amazon review boards to fight petty squabbles. that's for silly children.
  
  
• WWE Hype Machine At It's Worst
  By A118FFG5EFOTUV on 2004-07-26
  This book had promise, then Vinny Mac and crew had to work their way into it. In all, the book is not a bad read, there were just some parts that baffled me to death.
  
  The nerve of Flair to bash the likes of Savage, Bret Hart, and Foley to name a few is puzzling. He could of stated he didn't like neither style, but he went on to trash their accomplishments in the business, that's classless and unlike the Flair I watched and read about. It gets better, the talk of veterans needing to put younger guys over, but then praising long time politicians like Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels, guys who would rather pass kidney stones and cancer tumors, than put anyone else over. That's when you can tell, it's the WWE spin machine.
  
  In conclusion, it's up to you if you want to purchase, but beware, alot of wacky WWE spin is on display. The stories of the old days are worth the buy, I will admit!
  
  
• Simply Excellent
  By A2HWD9PTM7RBXN on 2004-09-12
  Ric Flair is the latest wrestler to offer his biography to the world. And I must say its the best one yet topping the strong efforts of the Hardy Boyz, Jerry lawler, and the first somewhat overrated offering by Mick Foley.
  
  Ric Flair's bio is more like a history of the wrestling business. Ric Flair's career expands from Buddy Rodgers to Verne Gagne to Superstar Billy Graham to Hulk Hogan to Bret Hart to the superstars of today. The fact that many wrestlers have contributed quotes to this book shows that Ric Flair's word is indeed respected by many of his peers.
  
  More importantly Ric Flair takes the reder into the lockerroom of the many eras of this form of Sports Entertainment. The reader can certainly feel what Mr. Flair faced in his long storybook career as opposed to lesser bios. Ric Flair shoots straight in his commentary of his peers. Some may feel that his feelings towards Bret Hart, Mick Foley, Randy Savage, Sid Justice, Hulk Hogan, Brutus Beefcake, and others are harsh. But if you read in between the lines, Ric Flair offers sound reasons for his opinions. Example: Hulk Hogan did make wrestling mainstream in other entertainment circles. However, the Hulkster rarely elevated rising young wrestling stars at his own expense. Ric Flair always "sold" for his peers. Furthermore Ric Flair was a true wrestler with true feelings whereas Mick Foley's perspective remains one of a masochistical stuntman with some humor and mixed credibility.
  
  If you want a true account of a wrestlers life and the history of the wrestling business, this is the biography to read.
  
  
  
  
• Even with "Have A Nice Day", Flair is still "The Man."
  By A2REDO5IRMY80H on 2004-07-07
  At approximatly, 1:00 P.M. CST today, I walked to my mailbox to get the mail. In it, I found Ric Flair's "To Be The Man" autobiography, which I had ordered via Amazon.com. It is now nearing midnight here in West Tennessee, and aside from a supper break, and a pair of walks for my dog, I have not put the book down. I have read all 332 pages of the book, and throughly enjoyed it, as much as any wrestling book that I have ever picked up. Flair pulls no puches when talking about WCW, Hulk Hogan, and his playboy lifestyle of years past.

  He also tells a story of a man, who was born in Memphis, TN, and adopted when his parents did not want him. The story of someone who rose from the worst possible start in life to have one of the greatest careers in sports entertainment.

  I'm gonna recommend that if you buy only one wrestling book this year. Please, for the love of all that pro wrestling is, buy "To Be A Man" by Ric Flair. If you do not, you will be sadly buying another book that cannot possibly live up to the greatness of this book.

  I give it ***** stars out of 5.

  It is on par with Mick Foley's book in my mind.
  
  

• The Nature Boy Deserves More Than Respect
  By ADZ6534RCJVNL on 2004-07-14
  First of all, the disgusting, biased, insults from the negative reviews for this book all come from the mouths of fans of prehaps the three biggest bunch of babies I have ever seen in the world of professional wrestling.

  I mean no TOTAL disrespect to Mick Foley, Randy Savage, and Bret Hart, I am a huge fan of all three, but even I am objective enough to know all three have personal problems that they have never gotten over, and therfore deserve to be victims of Flair's wrath in this compelling biography which details his hard-fought road to becoming a true legend.

  Bret Hart is the third greatest wrestler of all time (besides Flair and World Champion Chris Benoit), but he's a complete whiner who should have stopped moaning about how he was screwed in Montreal YEARS ago.

  Savage has a hatred for Hulk Hogan that forced him into making a HUMILIATING rap C.D and embarrasing himself in the process, for all we know he could still be a major player in the WWE had he not concentrated on his own bias.

  As for Mick Foley, who the hell does that bump machine think he is disrespecting and shooting down a REAL wrestler like Flair? he's allowed to have his own opinions, even if it means taking a few people he hates down for the three-count.

  As for Flair's book, he tocuhes all of the previous ground Flair has mentioned before in several interviews and documentaries with WWE, only with a lot more deapth, and some entertaining tales as well of his high-profile life as a millionaire champion.

  Definatly for the fans, though I sugest you also watch "The Ultimate Ric Flair" collection to have a better appreciation of his in-ring talent.
  
  

• Wrestling's Muhammad Ali will always be "The Man"
  By A3LX5HJUVX8IX7 on 2004-07-21
  After reading this book, I am "beyond the shadow of a doubt" proud to have idolized this great performer for the last 20 years. Ric does something I wasn't sure he'd ever do: he unlocks the door to secrets of not just the wrestling business, but what has made him who he is. What is that? The epitome of a great entertainer (I'm not crazy about that word, but if Flair is comfortable with it, so am I) and a greater man in life. He admits the mistakes he's made in his life and his career, and in the process leads the way for others to avoid some of those pitfalls. Better than that even, Flair has learned from his mistakes. More than you can say for a lot of guys who have been in and out of this business known as pro wrestling.
  
  Sure being a mark for the "Nature Boy" would make some believe those like me aren't ever going to be objective when it comes to Ric Flair. Well, maybe those people should go and talk to his fellow peers and ask them. People can debate all day over who is the greatest: Flair, Hogan, Hart and so on. When you go behind the curtain, there's only one guy who has universal respect from the wrestlers, the writers, agents, management and ownership. Hogan? Yes the most popular name of all time and perhaps the biggest draw. But to most of the wrestlers: another big name who doesn't want to make anyone but himself look good. No one is exactly lining up to carry him around the ring. Is it Bret then? His resume fits on one page. Ric's is an encyclopedia. Dusty Rhodes said it better than anybody: "Ric Flair laced up his boots, Bret's zipped up." That being said, Bret has put on some classic performances, but yet his legacy is only a few pages in wrestling history. Worse, instead of rebuffing Flair's claims about him in this book with some facts, he's gone on a rambling tirade full of inacuracies on his web site. More whining about how it's everyone else's fault but his for the way his career turned out. I have a tough time believing Vince McMahon would ever re-hire a wrestler if he felt about him the way Bret says he feels about Flair. In fairness, I think Flair's comment about Bret using his brother's death to go after Vince is off the mark but he's entitled to his opinion. At any rate, my original question should be answered at this point.
  
  I took the opportunity to read some the negative reviews here also and you should too, if you can make sense of them. With all the misspelled words they were hard to decipher. Boy, a lot of thought went into those. Proud NWO fans I'm sure. Too bad none of the NWO are employed anymore, though I can't understand why. Anyway, one person who was negative, yet could spell, seemed upset about Flair's remarks toward Mick Foley, Bret Hart and...the Ultimate Warrior?! Yes when I think of names like Ric Flair, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, Sting, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat and Andre The Giant, the Ultimate Warrior always comes to mind. NOT!!! Pretty frightening coming from someone from the heart of Flair country no less. As far as Mick Foley is concerned, I have a lot of respect for him and don't know if I totally agree with Flair on that topic either, but he comes from a generation of wrestlers that didn't have to nearly kill themselves to entertain the crowd. There is a legitimate point to be made when it is said guys like Foley raised the bar so high a lot of careers ended early from wrestling that style. Again, this is a business in which protecting yourself and your opponent are a number one priority. If hardcore was what wrestling is all about, it would have died long ago.
  
  In closing my only criticism of this book is that it is way too short. It should have at least been 500 pages or more. I guess a sequel will follow given the success of this one. At least Naitch can double the money he will make by writing two books. Bottom line is that I waited for several years for this book, and I wasn't disappointed. You won't be either.
  
  
• To be the Booker
  By on 2004-11-01
  I feel it is bad enough that nearly every single wrestling Autobioraphy is exactly the same, you learn where they were born who they grew up with, some boring stories about there family and friends, that no one care about, and then they get into the Buiss, they seem to have the best trainer on the planet and then when they finally break in to the buissness the only difference between one bio from the next is all a matter of perspective. I just read Pure Dynamite, what garbage and I read To be the Man a while even worse, in fact the only respectable book ever written on wrestling was have a nice day, and that is only due to the fact that Foley has a gift for writing. To be the Man SUCKS, as does all the other Wrestling BIOS, Ric Flair is a pile of ..it
  
  
• Flair a silly old man
  By A25Q72U8LKCROS on 2005-01-05
  I tryed to enjoy this book but i just cant stand all the put downs in it. From Bret Hart To Mick Foley to even Randy Savage he takes shots at some of the greats trying to bring some meaning to his now depleted career. I was a Ric Flair fan when he was in WCW but his WWE run has been far from convinceing and this book was a slap in a face.
  
  Ric Flair you can say your as good as you want but you are not even in Dynamite Kid , Bret Hart , Chris Benoints league.
  
  
  
  
• Naitch is still the man!
  By AZXODLAL2HGTB on 2004-07-04
  Well, what can i say about Ric Flair's book that wasn't said already. It's the absolute best book ever written on the subject of wrestling aside Mick Foley's - Have a nice day!.

  He did it all ( NWA - WCW - WWF and the WWE) and his career spans over 3 decades so he has the background for a bio of this magnitude. From the most hilarious story ( Terry Funk naked on Flair's lawn with a knive in his mouth chasing Flair's dog! ), to the most heartbreaking ( RAW - Greensville - May 19 2003 - Flair vs HHH with surprise post celebration ), to the most frightning ( airplane crash ! ), with the exception of Have a nice day this is the most honest book on the subject.

  By honest i mean brutally honest man! The Nature Boy tells it like it is.On then WCW president Jim Heard, Ric said :

  - I'd spent all these years putting up with (...), sacrificing my body, and never seeing my oldest kids, to find myself manipulated by the whims of a moron, a (...) pizza company executive with his finger on the trigger.

  I was in shock when he said that Shawn Michaels was a much better wrestler then Bret Hart ( who he finds not that great ) or that Mick Foley was not a wrestler but more of a whipping boy who got throught beacause he could bleed and take punishment. Not in shock beacause i don't agree with him ( well i don't but that's another story right! ) but beacause he's HONEST and he does not hold back his opinions. It's facinating to have the best of the best disagreeing with your own view and it makes you see the business throught another viewpoint.

  What set this book aside from Foley is the fact that editor Mark Madden did an amazing job of editing this book mixing Naitch own story with interviews from those who got to know Flair ( Harley Race and Ricky Steamboat for example). It gives the book an edge that no other WWE bio had before. Brilliant!

  P.S : I don't think anyone will disagree with his view on Hulk ( I wrote a supposed tell all bio that's full of holes and filled with lies ! ) Hogan and Eric Bishoff. Actually what he wrote about Hogan is very interesting since Hogan does not talk at all about his relation with Flair in his book!
  
  

• Flair pulls no punches in a must read for wrestling fans.
  By on 2004-07-06
  When I heard Ric Flair would be writing a book, I was giddy with anticipation. Now that I have read the book, I am very happy to say that Flair does not pull any punches in discussing his personal feelings about such wrestlers as Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, Shane Douglas, Scott Steiner, Eric Bishoff, and the entire WWE roster. His stories about the end of WCW gave this fan a better insight of why the poorly run company collapsed when it did. This book is a must read for any fan of wrestling and is especially appealing to Ric Flair fans.
  
  
• The Man Has Spoken
  By A2240FPZZ6WS9O on 2004-07-17
  Ric Flair is an entertainer and a gentleman. I went to book signing for this book in Charlotte NC and was amazed at the humility and respect for the average fan that he exudes. I read the book from cover to cover last night and found it insightful, interesting, and entertaining.

  Very few entertainers are as honest about their personal demons as Flair is in this book. He has made a lot of mistakes throughout his life and has paid the price for his fame. This aspect alone is worth the purchase price.

  This is an excellent book and well worth reading. The reason I gave it only four stars is that it is too short and cannot even come close to summarizing his amazing career. I hear rumblings of a 900 page Bret Hart book -- if this is true, then Flair may well have over 10,00 pages af further anecdotes that he needs to share with us in a sequel.
  
  

• The editor is listed on the cover!
  By A240MCV0HMI7VP on 2004-07-18
  I loved this book but when you're going to list the name of the book's editor on the cover, you'd better not have a sloppy book inside. This book is FULL of typos and bizarre sentence fragments and non-sequitors. The editor can't tell the difference between the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten and St. Martin, and doesn't know that the the North Korean dictator is Kim Jong Il, not Kim Jong II!
  
  
• Very Good Book by a Wrestling Icon
  By A34IBXM7E8CPWE on 2004-07-22
  Ric Flair seems to have stirred up quite a bit of controversy with his new book "To Be the Man". Some of his comments regarding Bret Hart and Mick Foley have wrestling fans going back and forth about whether Ric's observations are correct or not. Agree or disagree with Flair, the book is still probably one of the most honest and entertaining books ever written about wrestling. I have read other books about "Sports Entertainment" written by current and former stars, and usually they are self serving and self promotional. With all things "wrestling", you have to take what is presented with a grain of salt. Is it truth or just another angle? Flair's book despite and due to his controversial comments, just smacks of honesty. He is hard on some "heros" of the past, but is just as hard on himself as well. Even if you are not a wrestling fan, you should be able to appreciate Flair's story. His rise and fall in the wrestling world makes for a fascinating book, you will laugh at some of his road stories, and then be amazed at the brutality these guys live with daily. As a fan, after reading Flair's story, I have really come to appreciate what these atheletes go through for the sake of my entertainment. Ric's writing style is not as smooth at Foley's. Mick's books flowed with a narrative style, similar to a standard biography. Flair's book reads almost like an extended conversation with the man. He starts off on a topic, then deviates to something else, then resumes back on the topic. That should not be considered a knock on the book though, if anything it lends to it's aire of authenticity. If you are interested in the world of wrestling, or wonder what wrestling was like before being monopolized by the WWE, pick up this book. Ric's story really is compelling.
  
  
• A bit of a disappointment
  By A2ZMDU728WD0SN on 2004-10-26
  I had very high expectations for this book and I have to say that I was a little letdown. Ric Flair is without a doubt one of the best performers in the business who has entertained for millions of people for the past thirty years.
  
  His story is compelling yet not really entertaining, at least in book form. I think its ironic that he rips on Foley constantly (more on that later)because Foley may not be able to lace up Flair's boots but his books were a lot better.
  
  The story of the "Nature Boy" shows how if you work hard enough you can accomplish anything. Flair's achievements inside the ring are remarkable and no doubt portray a fine career. But outside the ring is a different story. Hey, I know every person messes up occasionally but I was astonished at how much booze and women Flair consumed for decades. Im glad he's a better man now and also a great father.
  
  Now, back to Foley. I disagree with Flair that Foley is a "glorified stuntman." Foley should be recognized for his achievements inside the ring. He may not be a great athlete but he knew how to entertain a crowd. I can't see how a "glorified stuntman" can win a WWE championship. Things like that don't happen in professional wrestling.
  
  
• What Every Wrestling Bio SHOULD Be...
  By A1N0RABYB0NZ9G on 2005-10-15
  I thought Mick Foley was the only wrestler to capsulize a wrestling career in a thoughtful, engrossing and humorous way, but Mr. Flair proved me wrong with this book. From this point onward, very professional wrestler who decides to write his or her own bio should use this book as a guideline.
  
  Flair talks about growing up, breaking into the wrestling business, making it big and other highlights with honesty, humor and, in some cases, like how he truly feels about Mick Foley and former WCW head honcho Eric Bischoff, a great deal of controversy. It is, in a word, PERFECT.
  
  I have nothing negative to say about this book. If you're a wrestling fan and haven't read it already, click that little Order button on your screen and get it NOW. I don't care if you've been watching wrestling for years or are only a casual fan of six months. You WILL enjoy this book.
  
  

• Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
• Eric Bischoff: Controversy Creates Cash
• Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story
• A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex
• The Stone Cold Truth