Hitman (By Bret Hart) Review

Rating 4.33 out of 5

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Bret Hart - Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Professional Wrestling

Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Professional Wrestling
By Bret Hart
Published by Random House Canada
Released on October 16, 2007
592 Pages (Hardcover)
Available in Hardcover, Paperback & Kindle

Bret "The Hitman" Hart is one of the biggest stars in the history of the wrestling business. He is also arguably one of the greatest wrestlers ever. One of twelve children of wrestler/promoter Stu Hart, he made his way from his father's promotion Stampede Wrestling all the way to top of the World Wrestling Federation. His relationship with the WWF ended with a bang in a rare double-cross that happened right infront of the viewing audience's eyes. There were many bumps and bruises inbetween, and even more afterward. Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling is the much-anticipated telling of Bret's journey through his storied career.

Hart wrote the book over eight years, based off of audio diaries that he kept during his career. Because of this, he can write the precise thoughts he had at the time of the events. Coming in at nearly 600 pages, Hitman is by far the longest wrestling autobiography ever written. He addresses his family, drinking, drugs, affairs and life on the road and pulls no punches while doing so. You will not find a more honest wrestling autobiography. Bret writes in depth about every subject imaginable and leaves no stone left unturned. Bret presents his entire story from his point of view and how the reader judges him is not as important as getting his true story - both the good and bad - across.

There have been some great wrestling books written in the past ten years and Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling ranks at the very top of that list. It's got triumph as such as when he won the WWF Championship, which he looks at as recognition of his talents rather than a prop given to an actor. It's got tragedy - the Hart family has seen more than its fair share of heartbreak, most notably Owen's tragic fall. It's got infidelity, which Bret gives his reasons for in the book. It's also got humour - not the same kind of humour as you'll find in a book by Mick Foley or Chris Jericho, but Bret isn't all serious all the time. All of these ingredients and many more are what make this book well worth the wait and a centerpiece for any wrestling book collection.