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Animal
A stand-out character in an entertainment industry where persona is everything, George "The Animal" Steele shares how he balanced his real life as Jim Myers, a highly respected high school teacher and coach, with the green tongued, hairy backed, turnbuckle eating wrestling icon he was in the ring. The memoir delves into the golden era of wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s and his entry into the World Wrestling Federation where he earned a spot in professional wrestling history despite only speaking in animal-like grunts. In reality, the educated man that overcame his struggles with dyslexia and Crohn's Disease was a father and an inspiration to many of his students and players, and the dichotomous personalities that marked this much-loved man's life are explored in his own words. The book is filled with nostalgic and humorous anecdotes about the whirlwind life of wrestling alongside such notables as Hulk Hogan and Bruno Sammartino, both in and out of the ring.
- GenresBiography
Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 7, 2025
A Genuine Hero
"God had bigger plans for me. John the Baptist wore beggar’s robes and ate honeycomb; I wore wrestling garb and ate the stuffing out of turnbuckles."
I grew up on Memphis wrestling of the 1970s and 80s and my only exposure to George "The Animal" Steele was through wrestling magazines which I devoured as a teen. The Animal was a scary dude. Little did I know that he only wrestled 3 months of the year and was a full time head football and wrestling coach at a Michigan high school the remaining 9 months of the year!!! Also I didn't know that he accepted Jesus as his Savior after his wrestling career ended and faithfully attended a Baptist church in Florida until his death at age 80 in 2017. The book surprised me in the sense that the majority of the book is about his struggle with dyslexia as a youth and his triumph evidenced through a degree from Michigan State University and a Master degree from Central Michigan University along with highlights from his coaching career and passages from some former students. Yes there are enough insider wrestling stories to satisfy fans but this book is so much deeper than the typical wrestling memoir. A truly profound read and I'm glad I happened across the book in a bargain bin.
"God had bigger plans for me. John the Baptist wore beggar’s robes and ate honeycomb; I wore wrestling garb and ate the stuffing out of turnbuckles."
I grew up on Memphis wrestling of the 1970s and 80s and my only exposure to George "The Animal" Steele was through wrestling magazines which I devoured as a teen. The Animal was a scary dude. Little did I know that he only wrestled 3 months of the year and was a full time head football and wrestling coach at a Michigan high school the remaining 9 months of the year!!! Also I didn't know that he accepted Jesus as his Savior after his wrestling career ended and faithfully attended a Baptist church in Florida until his death at age 80 in 2017. The book surprised me in the sense that the majority of the book is about his struggle with dyslexia as a youth and his triumph evidenced through a degree from Michigan State University and a Master degree from Central Michigan University along with highlights from his coaching career and passages from some former students. Yes there are enough insider wrestling stories to satisfy fans but this book is so much deeper than the typical wrestling memoir. A truly profound read and I'm glad I happened across the book in a bargain bin.
June 9, 2013
This has to be one of the most dissapointing books about wrestling (or about anything, really) that I have ever read. I grew up as a HUGE fan of The Animal, and when I heard he was writing a book, I began dropping the elbow on things in anticipation of the thunder. Little did I know that reaidng this book was the equivalent of going for the big leg drop only to have your opponent roll out of the way.
Mr. Steele has lived an amazing life. He overcame severe dyslexia (before people knew what that was) to become a college graduate, and go on to a long and distinguished teaching/coaching career. Oh, and at the same time, he was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, capping his career with a two year long feud with Macho Man Randy Savage during the 80's rock and wrestling boom. He would go from a summer of headlining main events against the biggest stars in the world, during the summer, and then be back in the classroom tro teach for the year. Later in his life he attempted suicide due to effects of Crohns Disease, before overcoming that and still going strong today.
Compelling reading, right? Unfortunately, not here, because he doesn't talk about how any of this happened. He starts the book talking about his battles with dyslexia, and how it made him feel as a kid, then fast forwards to graduating college. As a teacher myself I would love to know how, as an adult, he was able to cope with that in the classroom. Too bad he never mentions how he managed. In fact, there is only two lines in the entire book where he talks about teaching at all, but tons devoted to coaching, which leads me to believe he was that sort of "coach first, classroom teacher distant second" type of guy. You know, the one who would teach social studies by having students study game films. A teacher struggling with dyslexia could have been a great story that was never told.
Oh, and wrestling? In the book he went to train for four months. What was the training like? "I trained for four months." He talked, very briefly, about his first match, and then jumps to later on, when he was headlining the Civic Arena against Bruno Sammartino. What the hell happened in between? He doesn't say. He never mentions working his way up the card.
But he fought Crohns, I guess. Licked it in a few pages.
He also was a road agent for the WWF for 8 years (which I never knew). Does he mention it? Not really, except to say "after 8 years as an agent for the WWF, it was time to go off the road." Any stories? How was the transition from in ring competitor to backstage person? Anything to say?
He comes across as a very likable person, for sure, terrible one liners aside, but at the end of this I knew more about Hulk Hogan as a person than I did about The Animal. Which is super lame.
Mr. Steele has lived an amazing life. He overcame severe dyslexia (before people knew what that was) to become a college graduate, and go on to a long and distinguished teaching/coaching career. Oh, and at the same time, he was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, capping his career with a two year long feud with Macho Man Randy Savage during the 80's rock and wrestling boom. He would go from a summer of headlining main events against the biggest stars in the world, during the summer, and then be back in the classroom tro teach for the year. Later in his life he attempted suicide due to effects of Crohns Disease, before overcoming that and still going strong today.
Compelling reading, right? Unfortunately, not here, because he doesn't talk about how any of this happened. He starts the book talking about his battles with dyslexia, and how it made him feel as a kid, then fast forwards to graduating college. As a teacher myself I would love to know how, as an adult, he was able to cope with that in the classroom. Too bad he never mentions how he managed. In fact, there is only two lines in the entire book where he talks about teaching at all, but tons devoted to coaching, which leads me to believe he was that sort of "coach first, classroom teacher distant second" type of guy. You know, the one who would teach social studies by having students study game films. A teacher struggling with dyslexia could have been a great story that was never told.
Oh, and wrestling? In the book he went to train for four months. What was the training like? "I trained for four months." He talked, very briefly, about his first match, and then jumps to later on, when he was headlining the Civic Arena against Bruno Sammartino. What the hell happened in between? He doesn't say. He never mentions working his way up the card.
But he fought Crohns, I guess. Licked it in a few pages.
He also was a road agent for the WWF for 8 years (which I never knew). Does he mention it? Not really, except to say "after 8 years as an agent for the WWF, it was time to go off the road." Any stories? How was the transition from in ring competitor to backstage person? Anything to say?
He comes across as a very likable person, for sure, terrible one liners aside, but at the end of this I knew more about Hulk Hogan as a person than I did about The Animal. Which is super lame.
August 18, 2022
This book was disappointing. I'm going to guess that the problem was having to keep it below a certain number of pages. Nothing was gone into with any depth, and it jumps around a lot. There are interesting stories in there, but nothing seems to build. And it gets a bit preachy, which doesn't work for me. Not the worst wrestling book I've read, just disappointing because it could have been much better.
June 5, 2019
This is a story about a man with a professional life in the WWF ring and a private life as a teacher in Michigan. He tells about his life from child hood to retirement. His WWF character was a simple person who did not speak, but his personal life was completely the opposite. This is a life story with a lot of heart.
June 25, 2023
No bombshells. Just good Animal stories
If you are looking for a tell-all book about wrestling, this is not it. This is a quick reading collection of stories and insights from Jim Evans, better known as pro wrestler George "The Animal" Steele. Evans led an improbable life and overcame significant obstacles while growing up and while wrestling. It was an entertaining read.
If you are looking for a tell-all book about wrestling, this is not it. This is a quick reading collection of stories and insights from Jim Evans, better known as pro wrestler George "The Animal" Steele. Evans led an improbable life and overcame significant obstacles while growing up and while wrestling. It was an entertaining read.
March 23, 2025
One of my favorites when I watched wrestling growing up. He had an interesting life, but this book is all over the place. The old school wrestling stories were the most interesting to me. I didn’t expect much to begin with but this was still disappointing. Probably has the most analogies in a book ever.
January 21, 2025
Definitely not the best wrestler/wrestling book that I have read. Quite disappointing actually.
I was a fan of the Animal back in the 80s when he was popular in the WWF, so I was kinda looking forward to this. Unfortunately.
I was a fan of the Animal back in the 80s when he was popular in the WWF, so I was kinda looking forward to this. Unfortunately.
July 9, 2019
3.5 stars
July 12, 2024
An okay read, although it was just a bunch of loosely connected stories. Thankfully, the religious section was short, but I did like the testimonials from former students.
June 8, 2017
I wasn't sure what to think at first about this book. Considering I hadn't ever really watched any of George's matches, I had only really known a thing or two about him such as his tendency to eat turnbuckle pads, his hairy torso, his bald head, the green tongue and his stuffed animal named NMine. I am glad to say, that i was pleased to hear about his stint as a sports coach for wrestling, track and field & football. I also learned that not everyone in "pro wrestling" cheats on their spouse, seeing as how George, real name Jim Myers had met his wife in highschool at a Sadie Hawkins dance & they stayed together till his passing this month (February '17). If there was a few things I learned about old George is that he. seemingly tried to stay humble thru out his career as a wrestler even though he did pull a few pranks or ribs while he competed in the then WWWF, now WWE & that he was dedicated enough as a teacher, to not give up on some of his students when they were under his guidance as athletes, so much so that his alma mater named the football field after him as tribute to his in recognition of the effort & pride he put into guiding these kids while they were under his watch. I'm glad that I learned, discovered & read as much as I did about "The Animal" & I plan on watching the George "The Animal" Steele collection on the WWE Network & if your a subscriber like I am, I suggest you do the same. Rest In Paradise George
March 8, 2015
The Animal
Reading this book brought back many memories. Until the state tore down our neighborhood to build the 696 freeway, the Myers' family lived across the street from me. I was fortunate enough to be friends with his daughter, Felicia, who I thought had very pretty hair. Mrs Myers was a very pretty lady and was always nice to us kids. I remember Mr Myers picking me up and throwing me, at the time seemed like the across his yard, into his pool. The day they moved the kids still left in the neighborhood were playing thing go seek. Mr and Mrs Myers pulled up in their convertible and had me jump in the backseat. They drove me up to the "free" tree and I jumped out. When we moved, I ended up going to Madison high school and met up with him again, this time as my gym teacher. This book was a good read. Thank you Mr Myers.
Reading this book brought back many memories. Until the state tore down our neighborhood to build the 696 freeway, the Myers' family lived across the street from me. I was fortunate enough to be friends with his daughter, Felicia, who I thought had very pretty hair. Mrs Myers was a very pretty lady and was always nice to us kids. I remember Mr Myers picking me up and throwing me, at the time seemed like the across his yard, into his pool. The day they moved the kids still left in the neighborhood were playing thing go seek. Mr and Mrs Myers pulled up in their convertible and had me jump in the backseat. They drove me up to the "free" tree and I jumped out. When we moved, I ended up going to Madison high school and met up with him again, this time as my gym teacher. This book was a good read. Thank you Mr Myers.
January 26, 2016
Though I haven't been a wrestling fan since the mid-1980s, I've always been a fan of four wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Randy "Macho Man" Savage, and of course, George "the Animal" Steele. Upon hearing that "the Animal" would be at a local Comic Con next month, I searched to see if he had a biography published. Boy, did I learn that I knew nothing about Jim Myers (aka "The Animal"). From an early childhood racked with dyslexia, to a stellar career as a coach and teacher, there is so much more to learn about this Hall of Fame wrestler. A great read, and I am looking forward to meeting him next month.
Highly recommended for wrestling fans. Recommended for fans of biographies.
Highly recommended for wrestling fans. Recommended for fans of biographies.
December 28, 2013
I received this book for a Christmas present, autographed, which was an awesome gift. I immediately tore into the book, and like many people here, found it to be more of the personal story than one of merely the wrestling life. That being said there were holes in it, and I wanted more. It seemed that it was juggling the narrative, as Jim Myers, juggled his roles in life. It should have been longer to do justice to both sides of his life. If certain things were excised, it would have suffered greatly. I liked the style and the anecdotes, but I feel this memoir fell short.
Read
June 22, 2013As an avid, life-long fan of professional wrestling, it was enjoyable to read about the life of Jim "George 'The Animal" Steele" Myers. I grew up watching The Animal perform as one of the most hated "heels" in the wrestling business, and my early adult life seeing him transform into a "babyface" character in the WWF.
If you have any interest in professional wrestling, you'll want to read his story.
If you have any interest in professional wrestling, you'll want to read his story.
June 16, 2013
This is not so much a wrestling story as it is a life story. Which is what made it nice to read. So many of today's athletes regale us with story upon story of what happened during their career, it was nice to read something a little different. This told more of the personal story, the challenges, the life, etc. An enjoyable read!
May 13, 2013
A great motivational book for teachers, students, and the general public. I highly recommend this book.
August 22, 2013
A "GoodRead", enjoyed reading about the dad, coach and "Animal" that I've heard a lot about.
June 30, 2013
In no way a great book - but some good old-school stories and I was such a fan that I had to read it. Also, it's not really in any way a 'bad' book. You know what you're getting...
March 20, 2018
I'm glad I read this book. All I really knew about this wrestler was the persona he showed in the wrestling ring ... and if you don't know George "The Animal" Steele then you wouldn't believe me if I described him as his .... ummm ... moveset (???) to you. The only other thing I knew about him was that he was a teacher, despite his in-ring persona.
So I've been reading some older wrestlers' memoirs (for free on Hoopla - love Hoopla) and saw this had come available. I figured it might be interesting; little did I think that it would be inspiring. But it was!
So I've been reading some older wrestlers' memoirs (for free on Hoopla - love Hoopla) and saw this had come available. I figured it might be interesting; little did I think that it would be inspiring. But it was!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews