Iron Mike: A Mike Tyson Reader

Truly a great and encompassing book.

First - you should know that I am a big Mike Tyson enthusiast and supporter.

Iron Mike - A Mike Tyson Reader - is a compilation of stories written by different authors. The chapters go pretty much in chronological order of Tyson's life. From a touch on his childhood to the classic saga of Cus & The Kid to post Holyfield II.

You get different perspectives of Tyson from those that see him in different ways. You get the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.

I felt that a lot of what is covered in the book was pretty fair and balanced (to borrow a phrase). I really appreciated and got a lot out of the different views and different interpretations of Tyson from those who knew him in different avenues of his life.

I went into reading this with a sympathetic view of Mike and this view was reinforced and I was actually given more insight into the hardships that he has had to face as a kid and as an adult.

You would think that with his money and fame how could he have such a hard time, well this book does a good job in showing you how.

What stands out for me is the rape conviction. He had a horrible lawyer - Don King's tax attorney, certain witnesses weren't allowed to testify, certain evidence was not admitted and let's admit it - if he was a Kennedy (see William Kennedy Smith) he wouldn't have gone to jail.

There are some extremely interesting chapters in this that are genuinely eye opening into just how unfairly Mike Tyson has treated and taken advantage of.

Highly recommended to any boxing fan and especially recommended for anyone interested in the story of Tyson - fan or hater - you'll learn something.

Peace,
Soldier