Undisputed Truth: My Autobiography

Product Information

After finishing Tyson's autobiography, I have to admit...I wanted to give it a better score, but I just can't bring myself to do it. At the beginning of the book I was quite interested-Tyson was admitting faults and openly blaming himself for certain aspects of his life. Sadly, this self-introspection must have been brief, because after discussion of his adolescence in Brooklyn, the book devolved into a "I had a highly publicized event occur in my life, and this is why it is not my fault." Don't get me wrong-the book could be quite candid at times, but overall it seemed to be a study in self-pity.

Together the man and boy worked towards a shared goal: to be the Heavyweight Champion of the world. Tyson watched tapes and shadow boxed and listened. Cus talked and pointed Tyson in the direction of writers and zen. Everything was directed at the belt.Finally he dives into the story that most non-boxing fans remember Mike Tyson for the rape trial. Tyson goes into detail about the events surrounding his relationship with Desiree Washington and than being charged with rape. He also shares his thoughts, along with supporting legal opinion, on how his trial went wrong. Tyson also shares in this section about his prison years and there was very little celebrity favoritism going on for him. And it worked. There were constant no shows and when he was given a chance, Tyson cut through the competition, smashing seven shades of sugar out of anyone who was standing in his path. He became one of the most famous faces on the planet, mobbed, loved and feared. He was a true heavyweight champion. His fights were an event. And he could box. Despite the theatrics, he knew his trade. His fighting was fierce but controlled. Bludgeoning. Pretty much, for those first few years at least, unstoppable.

At first, all I could think of when I saw the size of this book was, well, look at the freakin’ size of this book! Mike Tyson didn’t want no weak, scrawny-ass autobiography, he needed one as big as he is. Cus D’Amato saw potential in thirteen-year-old Mike Tyson, proclaiming “That’s the heavyweight champion of the world”. He adopted Tyson at age sixteen and trained him both physically and mentally, fighting against the mobsters who controlled boxing. In Iron Ambition, Tyson reflects on D’Amato’s life lessons and how they have continued to resonate with him outside the ring. The book reveals much about the singular figure and his courageous fight against the mobsters. Mike Tyson’s work with author Larry Sloman has produced some remarkable biographies, which have been warmly welcomed by critics. Tyson’s passion for writing has been very evident in the literature he has produced, and his talks today are always highly appreciated and enjoyed. His writing has enabled him to reach a wide range of audiences, allowing them to appreciate his story and life experiences in an entirely new way. Along with Sloman, Tyson has created some truly impressive works of literature, which are sure to be remembered for years to come.Sometimes we like to conceive of lust as love because we think it feels so good it has to be love. Love is sacrifice, love is worth dying and killing for, history proves that. But, we must have some kind of moral compass in our journey through life. All enjoyment is not good enjoyment." Tyson gives an inside look at the relationship and marriage with Robin Givens. Of course, this is one of the section where it could possible be a, "he said, she said" story. I'm sure that she touches on the relationship in her book, Grace Will Lead Me Home. Tyson also discusses his early years with Don King as his fight promoter. Tyson admits that he underestimated James "Buster" Douglas in Tokyo and then explains trying to deal with the loss. The first part is a standard top athlete's autobio, except that Tyson became champ at the tender age of 20 and was already training insanely before he hit 14. Very inspiring.

Chechnya was an amazing place. As soon as I got there, they gave me a machine gun. I was nervous as hell. I didn’t particularly want to shoot no goddamn gun but, hey, when in Rome do as the Romans do.” And then he went on to write: “I read these letters and I cry. You think about Napoleon, this great world leader, and you read a letter where he’s begging to his love Josephine to come to him and she does not.” He went on to reproduce the full text of the letter dated 4th April 1796. And then adds, “I love this guy’s stuff! Napoleon is a nut. He’s turned out! Josephine didn’t care a damn about Napoleon. That was a Robin Givens deal right there.”

Nothing in his subsequent exchanges with Paul Holdengräber could quite live up to the moment when Mike Tyson took to the stage last month at Madison Square Garden – sorry, I mean the New York Public Library. His mentor, Cus D'Amato, had assured the 15-year-old Tyson that one day, when he entered a room, "people will stand up and give you an ovation". That's how it was here. A collective gasp and we were on our feet – not as an expression of admiration, more a recoil from sheer physical and psychic proximity. This would never happen with the writers and intellectuals who usually grace this august stage. They are interesting, admired or even loved on the basis of stuff they have created, that is external to them. But everything that had made Tyson famous and infamous – the fact of his body and its capacity for violence – was there in the room. Tyson’s boxing career saw him become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and he claimed a number of world titles in his career. He has also been involved in a number of philanthropic activities, having donated his time and money to various charities. After his retirement from the sport in 2005, Tyson turned his attention to writing and has since been writing books. He currently lives in Seven Hills, Nevada. All this was impressive when you knew where he had come from. The first part of this book, of Mike´s journey, is scarier than any horror story. It has to be read to be believed and Tyson spares nothing in the telling. It´s an upbringing that was always going to have repercussions, did have repercussions and that Tyson can never escape. He is that poor boy. The book is written in such a way that you feel the authenticity of Mike's voice, even though he isn't the writer. It's his story, but the writer, Larry Sloman is excellent at his craft and allows us to experience this book as if Tyson is sitting with the reader and recounting his life and crazy times. If you followed Tyson's career, you undoubtedly remember some of the incidents spoken about and have probably seen some of the wild interviews that are finely detailed here.