About the book
On a defining evening of the 1980s, Donald Trump hosted celebrities and high rollers in a Jersey Shore town to witness 21-year-old Mike Tyson knock out Michael Spinks in just 91 seconds, earning more than the annual payrolls of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics combined.
Only eight years earlier, Tyson, a troubled child from Brooklyn, was taken under the wing of boxing legend Cus D’Amato in upstate New York. Their story of mutual redemption captivated novelists, screenwriters, and the emerging cable TV industry. Tyson became HBO’s leading man long before Tony Soprano.
Despite the immense success, Tyson's story was more complex and darker than it appeared. Over the decades, he has been villainized, lionized, and fetishized—but never fully humanized until now. Acclaimed biographer Mark Kriegel, who first encountered Tyson as a young reporter, explores Tyson's life through what he survived rather than whom he knocked out.
Tyson, often compared to Jack Dempsey, was more akin to Sonny Liston—Black, feared, and expected to die young. What made Liston a pariah made Tyson a touchstone for a generation influenced by hip hop and gunfire. Kriegel captures not just Tyson’s rise but his profound impact on the American psyche.
Editions of Baddest Man
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781529958942
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781529958959
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781529958966
- EBook
- ISBN 9781529958973
Read an Excerpt
On a defining evening of the 1980s, Donald Trump hosted celebrities and high rollers in a Jersey Shore town to witness 21-year-old Mike Tyson knock out Michael Spinks in just 91 seconds, earning more than the annual payrolls of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics combined.
Only eight years earlier, Tyson, a troubled child from Brooklyn, was taken under the wing of boxing legend Cus D’Amato in upstate New York. Their story of mutual redemption captivated novelists, screenwriters, and the emerging cable TV industry. Tyson became HBO’s leading man long before Tony Soprano.
Despite the immense success, Tyson's story was more complex and darker than it appeared. Over the decades, he has been villainized, lionized, and fetishized—but never fully humanized until now. Acclaimed biographer Mark Kriegel, who first encountered Tyson as a young reporter, explores Tyson's life through what he survived rather than whom he knocked out.
Tyson, often compared to Jack Dempsey, was more akin to Sonny Liston—Black, feared, and expected to die young. What made Liston a pariah made Tyson a touchstone for a generation influenced by hip hop and gunfire. Kriegel captures not just Tyson’s rise but his profound impact on the American psyche.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Baddest Man about?
On a defining evening of the 1980s, Donald Trump hosted celebrities and high rollers in a Jersey Shore town to witness 21-year-old Mike Tyson knock out Michael Spinks in just 91 seconds, earning more than the annual payrolls of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics combined.
Only eight years earlier, Tyson, a troubled child from Brooklyn, was taken under the wing of boxing legend Cus D’Amato in upstate New York. Their story of mutual redemption captivated novelists, screenwriters, and the emerging cable TV industry. Tyson became HBO’s leading man long before Tony Soprano.
Despite the immense success, Tyson's story was more complex and darker than it appeared. Over the decades, he has been villainized, lionized, and fetishized—but never fully humanized until now. Acclaimed biographer Mark Kriegel, who first encountered Tyson as a young reporter, explores Tyson's life through what he survived rather than whom he knocked out.
Tyson, often compared to Jack Dempsey, was more akin to Sonny Liston—Black, feared, and expected to die young. What made Liston a pariah made Tyson a touchstone for a generation influenced by hip hop and gunfire. Kriegel captures not just Tyson’s rise but his profound impact on the American psyche.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Baddest Man?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: sport
Where can I read a sample of Baddest Man?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781529958942
How long is Baddest Man and how many pages does it have?
Baddest Man has 448 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Baddest Man?
Mark Kriegal
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Baddest Man is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781529958942) and paperback(ISBN 9781529958959) and paperback(ISBN 9781529958966) and ebook(ISBN 9781529958973)
Where can I buy Baddest Man online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Baddest Man from below
Where can I buy Baddest Man?