Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man

"OfallthepeoplewhohaveaffectedbymylifeandinfluencethechoicesI'vemade,nonehasbeenmoreimportantthanmyfather."SobeginstheautobiographyoflegendaryboxingtrainerandcommentatorTeddyAtlas,whogrewfromtherebellioussonofadoctortoamanwhoembraces,andlivesby,hisfather'svaluesandcode.Inthisgritty,spellbindingtale,Atlasrecountshisfascinatinglife--asajuveniledelinquentonthestreetsofStatenIsland;asaboxerandGoldenGloveschampionunderthetutelageoffamedtrainerCusD'Amato;asacompaniontothedangerous,unpredictableSammy"theBull"Gravano,upuntilthedayGravanoturnedratandbroughtdowncrimebossJohnGotti;andasatrainerofchampionsandcontenders,amongthemfourteen-year-oldMikeTysonandheavyweightMichaelMoorer,whomheledtothecrownwithawinoverEvanderHolyfield.EquallyengrossingareTeddyAtlas'saccountsoftrainingdancerandchoreographerTwylaTharpforhersuccessfulcomebackatageforty-two;hisworkwithactorWillemDafoe,preparinghimforhisroleasaconcentrationcampboxerinthefilmTriumphoftheSpirit;hisjourneytoPolandtochoreographthefilm'sboxingscenes;andhisownperformanceinmoviessuchasPlayIttotheBone.Insharinghisstories,Atlasrevealsthephilosophybywhichhelives.LikeTeddyAtlas--inimitable,tough,honest,andwise--thisbookinspires.Itisaboutsomuchmorethanboxing.Itisastoryofovercominghardships,ofcompassionforthoseinneed,oftremendouspersonalintegrity,andofpersonalandprofessionaltriumph.