Rating:  Summary: This book is the Real Deal! Review: "In the Pit with Piper" is probably one, if not the best wrestling autobiography ever written. In this day and age of "ghost writing", it's hard to find a decent wrestling biography that is actually written by the real wrestlers. Books like "The Rock Says" and "It's True, It's True" are clear examples of ghost writing, in other words, stories that are not written by the wrestlers as indicated on the title page but actually written by authors that may have never even met the wrestlers but just go by a 10 minute voice recording done by the wrestler about his or her life. That's where this book is set apart from all the others, you can tell that Roddy Piper actually sat down with an author and told the author word by word what to write. The book is about "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who is a famous pro wrestler from the 1980s(and is still popular today). This book spans his life from age 15 running away from home until the final days of WCW. In this book, he talks all about the "Sickness" that goes on in wrestling when the promoters back in his day used manipulation on wrestlers and how hard business was back then. I strongly suggest this book to any fan of pro wrestling or just a person trying to find a great read
Rating:  Summary: Disappointing Review: After all the hype, this book is just like all the rest, just a bunch of hoopla. I wish someone would tell the real story of pro wrestling and tell all the dirt.
Rating:  Summary: Everybody pays the Piper Review: Before there was Hulkamania, Roddy Piper was selling out arenas where ever he went. Roddy Piper's new Biography gives you the in's and out's of the World of Professional Wrestling, and doesn't pull any punches while he reveals it's darksides including the "P". Roddy's insight isn't about stabbing anyone in the back, it gives us insight from someone who has been there for 30+ years in his sport. Roddy has a passion for wresling and his "Frat Brothers" who have bled, sweat, sacrificed body mind and soul for the sake of Pro Wrestling. It is very well written and Roddy has you sitting front row and center and grabs your attention. I think anyone who is thinking of becoming a Pro Wrestler should buy the book. It's an eye opener. Once again Roddy Piper tells it like it is. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:  Summary: Wrestling fan or not, -it's a good read. Review: Even if you have only a cursory exposure to pro wrestling [maybe you have heard of Piper and a few others] I will risk stating that you will find Rowdy Roddy Piper's story an entertaining look behind the scenes of pro wrestling's early years to the marketing monster success it is today. If I had to compare Piper's 'voice' in this book to anyone else's it would be to John Madden, in his book "One Size Does Not Fit All." It's conversational in tone and pace, and that makes you feel at home listening to Piper tell you himself. I have no doubt that was part of the design when he decided to write this. In some ways, the book is a lot like his Piper's Pit segments on television. The skinny: You will get a close up look at how 'real' wrestling was in those days; about how a match might be scripted, but the 'loser' would beat the hell out of the 'winner' just to make him earn it. It's one thing to admire a wrestler's athleticism, but Piper tells you how it was [and is] to risk injuries night after night because you wanted to give the fans a great show. That's one of the beautiful things about this book. Piper doesn't pat himself on the back about that, he states it as matter-of-fact, exactly like a professional who actually cares about his fans would state it. The only times that Piper goes a bit overboard is on his mic-work and character presence. Not that he wasn't great or innovative, -he certainly was, but he almost takes credit for intentionally creating the entire practice of it. Still I can't blame him for shorting Vince McMahon Jr., he clearly still dislikes the guy. But nobody can deny McMahon's genius at gathering wrestling stars under one banner. Without that foresight individual promoters would've run pro-wrestling into the ground a decade ago with their greed and limited vision. In the Pit with Piper is a very good book. Better than the Rock's book by far; an interesting and real look at Piper as he talks openly about himself, his humble beginnings, the pain and joy [in front of and behind the camera] and the grandeur of pro wrestling then and now. Buy it and get to know the man they call "Rowdy".
Rating:  Summary: The Hot Scot is On a Roll Review: Excellent book. Roddy Piper is old school wrestling thru and thru. This is as close to a shoot interview on the life of a wrestling superstar as your going to get. Roddy doesn't hold back in this book just like he never held back in the ring. I was glad to see roddy pay tribute to some of the wrestlers who passed away way to young. Roddy tells one funny/revealing story after another about his years on the road, dealing with various promoters, his movie career, pipers pit, and wrestlemania. A must for any pure wrestling fan.
Rating:  Summary: AWESOME Review: GREAT BOOK, MET WITH RODDY PIPER AT A BOOK SIGNING, VERY NICE AND HUMBLE, MUST HAVE IF A WRESTLING FAN...................
Rating:  Summary: Piper Speaks! Review: I enjoyed Piper's book. He told some very interesting stories of his different experiences in the business. The behind the scenes stuff is really good. I like his perspective on the business and what kind of people (Performers and Fans) are attracted to it. A must for any Piper fan.
Rating:  Summary: WOW! Review: I grew up watching WWF, and of all the wrestlers, I thought Rowdy Roddy was the scariest! But, he's always been my favorite (I can't stand the current state of professional wrestling). I always liked his attitude -- nobody messed with him! I went out and got this book right away and read it in one sitting. It was so interesting to read about his road to the WWF, and to read about what the WWF did to its wrestlers back then. Roddy has led such an incredible life! He's done it all. I recommend this book!
Rating:  Summary: Roddy is Rowdier than ever--and that's why we love him! Review: I have been waiting for this book for--oh--pretty much my entire life. This guy was the BEST wrestler ever and it's such a shame that he's not in the ring anymore. I am so glad to read his life story and to know that he's survived, he's still larger than life and he's still shooting off his mouth--he's the same guy I loved to watch when I was 12 years old. I still have the action figure! Welcome back, Hot Rod. We've missed you, man.
Rating:  Summary: Best book i read by a wrestler.....if not the best book ever Review: I just finished reading Piper's book, and I have to say, I was extremely disappointed. Following Hot Rod's career as I have, and knowing that he was, and will always be, one of professional wrestling's most colorful and entertaining characters, I found his book somewhat... dull. His experience, his insight, his intimate knowledge of the "sport" all come through in the pages of his book, but are buried by the repetition, aimless direction, and obviously ghostwritten style that doesn't even try to sound anything like him! Especially distracting was Piper's willingness to get off on seemingly numurous tangents that only he found interesting, such as the "sickness" passages... Surely, I understand his disdain and contempt for the "sickness", as he calls it, but I still don't understand what it means! I expected to read a book that chronicles one man's rise from obscurity to greatness, carving a niche in history in his own inimitable style, a la Mick Foley. Instead, what I read was a muddled, confusing, bitter collection of stories by a man who has made millions in this sport for himself and his family, and who still feels he needs to be mad at the world. I'm sorry and disappointed, Roddy, that you weren't able to get your story across to me in a more interesting and captivating fashion. I guess Mick Foley, whose first book is still the gold standard for wrestling autobiographies, has spoiled me.
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