Booker T: From Prison to Promise: Life Before the Squared Circle

A spirited tale of redemption from a seemingly insurmountable life of tragedy and crime, this first autobiography of professional wrestler and TV commentator Booker T. Huffman details his life before celebrity status in the ring. Beginning with Booker T's single-parent upbringing after the passing of his father, this powerful account reveals the gritty reality of his formative years—from the gruesome accident Booker T witnessed at the age of 13 that led to his mother's death and his subsequent life of abject poverty as an orphan in urban Houston to years of reckless drug use, dealing, and violence that culminated in a five-year prison sentence for robbery. With engaging candor Booker T writes of his refusal to allow his years of crime to cloud his future and his decision to take responsibility for his life and make a positive impact in his community. This intimate profile chronicles his transition from absentee father to locating his child in foster care and taking custody; events that led Booker T to pursue a better life and a career with the WWE by attending World Wrestling Alliance training camp. It also sheds insight into Booker T's relationship with his seven siblings, including his brother and eventual tag team member Lane "Stevie Ray" Huffman.

Booker T. Huffman is the WWE Smackdown General Manager and a trainer for the hugely popular reality series, World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Tough Enough. He holds 35 major professional titles within WWE, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and Total Nonstop Action (TNA). He owns and operates Pro Wrestling Academy, a wrestling school which strives to help students ages 13 and up achieve their dreams. His nonprofit organization, Booker T Fights for Kids Foundation, has supported many outreach endeavors, including the patient-focused campaign of the National Marrow Donor Program®, overseas visits to U.S. troops, and displaced Hurricane Katrina victims. He lives in Houston, Texas. Andrew William Wright is an author, a producer, and a writer. He is the coauthor of The Road Warriors and has contributed to several New Jersey newspapers, including the Asbury Park Press. He has produced The Hardy Show featuring Matt and Jeff Hardy and RVD-TV with Rob Van Dam. He lives in Ocean, New Jersey.