Jon Finkel

Jon Finkel is the author of Bear Brawl, a high-octane wilderness thriller about an ex-UFC fighter who sets out to hunt the rogue black bear that killed his mother.

Finkel’s books have been endorsed by everyone from John Cena, Kevin Durant and Chef Robert Irvine to Spike Lee and Mark Cuban. He was also profiled in The New Yorker for his writing and the community he has built around Books & Biceps, his popular newsletter celebrating books, strength, sports and adventure.

Bear Brawl marks Finkel’s move into fiction with the kind of story he has always loved: big characters, high stakes, relentless action and the wild outdoors. The novel follows Brick Bridger, a former college wrestling champion who sets out to get revenge against the rogue black bear that killed his mother and put his brother in a wheelchair. Haunted by the attack and determined to settle the score, Brick heads into the woods to hunt it down, setting off a brutal battle of survival between two apex predators.

Early readers have called Bear Brawl a “white-knuckled thriller” and “Jack Reacher meets The Edge.” USA Today bestselling author Stayton Bonner says Finkel “delivers a page-turner like no other.”

Edgar Award-winning novelist Eli Cranor calls Bear Brawl “the most fun you’ll have reading a novel this year,” praising its “raw authenticity,” expertly plotted action and heart-wrenching themes. And the New York Post’s Kirsten Fleming calls Brick “an action hero for our modern era” and the novel “a true blockbuster thriller with heart.”

Before turning to fiction, Finkel built a career telling the stories of larger-than-life athletes, entertainers and cultural figures. His nonfiction books include Macho Man: The Untamed, Unbelievable Life of Randy Savage; Hoops Heist: Seattle, the Sonics, and How a Stolen Team’s Legacy Gave Rise to the NBA’s Secret Empire; The Life of Dad; The Athlete: Greatness, Grace and the Unprecedented Life of Charlie Ward; and other books spanning sports, fitness and popular culture.

Finkel is also the founder of Books & Biceps, a newsletter and community for readers who believe a good life should include great books, hard workouts, memorable adventures and plenty of stories worth telling.

He lives in Florida with his wife, children and Labrador retriever.

Bear Brawl publishes November 10, 2026 and is available for preorder now. Follow Jon on Amazon to hear about new releases.