I went to a thrift store the other day to look at their books and came across a copy of Jack Dempsey's 1977 autobiography "Dempsey." Picked it up for 3 bucks so I was pretty stoked. Haven't started it yet. Have any of you read this book? If so, what were your impressions? Quality read?
its a good book. very intresting life. its the only dempsey auto I have read but i like it. real wild west rags to riches story.
Only book on Demsey I've read is "A Flame of Pure Fire" by Roger Kahn. (Not an auto bio) It was several years ago but I recall it being a great book. Got it from the library and I remember not wanting to return it.
I have that book, another he co-wrote in `47 and the "Flame" book. They are all good. But for me, the Randy Roberts book, "Jack Dempsey: The Mannassa Mauler" is by far the best. Also Roberts "Papa Jack" is way better and more factual than "Unforgiven Blackness". MERRY CHRISTMAS
Dempsey autobio's are interesting as they morphed through the years as he did .. I have one from 1941 and his words and mentality are still pretty rough .. the one from the early sixties is a bit more polished ... the one in 77 by his step daughter is a fun read but it is really a polished image of Jack , a bit more legend thn fact in some cases but a real fun read ... Pure Fire was a big disappointment to me .. Kahn is a famous writer but I found it to be mostly a lovefest from an aging sportswriter about his childhood hero .. it also broke very little new ground ... Roberts is an excellent writer as he focuses on the man and his impact on his era from a sociological impact and his Dempsey book like his Johnson book are excellent but an acquired taste and not for everybody ... too highbrow and etail oriented for many looking for a boxing read ...
I started reading this, its online, very enjoyable but never goto finnish it due to commitments, has anyone got the link to it? I searched the forums already This is his small book on boxing technique (in which he states punchers are made not born) http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/box/dempseycfbook.html
Best dempsey books ive read are idol of fistiana by nat fleisher and round by round by dempsey. Flame of pure fire is well written and a good read as are both biographies written by considine/slocum, and his step daughter. reading this thread im definately going to read the randy roberts biography, sounds good.
