television

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised at how well this book was written. I suppose Mick Foley (aka Dude Love, Cactus Jack and Mankind) benefited from this reader's low expectations. This is not just a book about professional wrestling, although we readers will get a healthy dose of it, but about the personal life of Mick Foley as well. The best part of the book is Foley's high school and college days. I've heard people say that you never read an autobiography of a loser. Only "great people" write autobiographies. Now, I am reluctant to call Foley a loser, however, he freely admits that he was not part of the in crowd. In high school language, Foley would be called a dork. He's goofy, has an obsession with male genetalia, rock music, professinal wrestling and women (which he has absolutly NO luck with). Furthermore he writes in a stream-of-consienceness style that indicates that he is fully aware of his less-than-stellar public standing, wishes he was more popular, yet accepts the fact that he is who he is. From the beginning, Foley establishes himself as a person who we can all identify with. His days as an independant (read: poorly paid, minor league) wrestler makes for interesting reading, as does his days in his first major organization, WCW, and as he wrestles for major promotions in Japan. However, as he moves into ECW and the WWF, Foley tends to assume that the reader is familiar with this time of his life and the wrestling fan sub-culture in general. This, actually is my biggest criticism of the book: Foley tends to assume that the reader has a previous knowledge of professional wrestling. This reader happens to know a good deal of it, but if Foley hoped to acheive his goal of having non-wrestling fans read the book and gain a respect for the work pro wreslters do, I imagine he will fall short because of the previously mentioned criticism. While Foley did succeed in raising the reputation of professional wrestlers in this reader's eyes (some of the "bumps" he and others take during matches for the entertainment of the fans is simply amazing), I believe others will become confused reading the book. In all, this easy-to-read autobiography is an excellent, entertaining and thought provoking work from a man whose line of work is generally not respected in society. This book is recommended.

Ive just finished reading the ppv report of WWF No Way Out and i still can't beleive it. I can't beleive that my role-model, my hero, my favourite wrestler and person, is finally done with wrestling(For those of you who dont know, Mick Foley lost a retirement match today and unfortunately, like most other retirement matches in wrestling, is not coming back in 2 months). I really was expecting mick to win and go on to main-event his first wrestlemania; now he's gone and worse than that, i never got his last match on tape!

Anyways enough rambling, back to the review. This is a wonderful book. After reading it, you really feel closer to foley and to the wrestling industry in general. It is very well written and is definatly worth the money as it is quite a lengthy book. I spent 4 months waiting for 'Have a Nice Day' in Australia (and its still not available here), until i decided to buy it off amazon. I payed double what all you yanks did (can i say that?), but it was definatly worth every penny!

I am really writing this review for all the Australian and international foley/wrestling/reading people out there. Don't wait for 'Have a Nice Day' in your local book store, order it from Amazon, it will come quicker!

FWF rules!

Bang! Bang!

Have Mercy!

Have a Nice Day!

The first of the WWF (now WWE) autobiographies, and still the best. Foley, unsatisfied with the way his ghost writer scripted his book initially, decided to write it himself. Certainly, Foley should be credited with trying to write alone, rather than just let his ghostwriter do the work for him, but it is a testament to Foley the man that he wants anything with his name on it to be true to himself.
Foley proves himself quite literate, despite first impression from a guy who competes in matches with barbed wire and explosives, and taking over a dozen HARD chairshots to the head at the WWF's Royal Rumble 1999 Pay-Per-View. He also comes off as having quite a good sense of hunor, not only about himself, but about the wrestling business in general.
One might also think that due to his "King of the Death Match" label that Foley might be a little arrogant, as people might think all pro wrestlers are, but Foley again proves people wrong, as he is quite humble about not only his beginnings, but also his rise to the top, becoming a WWF World Heavyweight Champion. Sure, it's not real competition, but to get the title demonstrates the company's confidence in your ability as a performer to draw crowds. Certainly everyone strives to have the confidence of their company behind them.
As Foley has stated numerous times, both in his book, and in interviews, yes, he has sustained some bodily harm in his matches. Yes, he may never be able to walk straight, or stand tall again. However, he has lived his dream. How many people can say that? As Foley himself states, the damage that has been done to him physically is a small price to pay for living out his dream.
An excellent read, wrestling fan or no.