Old Boxing Book Review-"Somebody Up There Likes Me" by Rocky Graziano (1955)

[Caractacus]

Has anyone here read that book ? ( published in 1955)
It is considered a "Classic" of Boxing.
what year did you first read it and
what were you'r impressions in reading it

[576063]

I read it. The year was about 1974. I thought was quite good. And memorable : "Hey kid, leave me have a ride on your bike"--knocks kid off bike, rides off on it). The movie with Paul Newman however was very poor.

Roberto-Boca

[Caractacus]

I'm pretty sure it was a sled he took that way in the book
( although he does mention stealing bicyles.)
but if he got resistance he shoved the kd into the snow and rubbed some in his face before he took off.
Man, that was a great book, especially the first half growing up in the slums on The East Side.
going to the various reformatery schools etc
Then at some point (IMOP)the writing it kind of gets a bit light-hearted for same reason
( starting when Graziano goes A.W.O.L in the Army his starts sounding a bit like a "Mr. Softy" reflecting
( or is it just my imagination )maybe they changed writers.

[punchoutsb]

Still my favorite boxing book. It’s a great read, cover to cover and it’s hard to put down.

[Caractacus]

what are your favorite parts in it that you remember for years afterwards ?
like when he fought "The Countess" in the laundry room at the prison ?

[Caractacus]

I read it. The year was about 1974. I thought was quite good. And memorable : "Hey kid, leave me have a ride on your bike"--knocks kid off bike, rides off on it). The movie with Paul Newman however was very poor.

Roberto-Boca

the production was good, but I think Paul Newman just couldn't quite capture the intesity,anger and "the devil"
within Rocco Barbella. He came across as some kind of a goof with a terrific right hand.

[nobleart1978]

the book mainly deals with Grazianos' youth in the bronx and his many stays in correctional facilities.

It is not written like a normal autobiography though. Basically it is written as if Rocky is having a constant coversation with the people in the situation he is describing.

Not an easy book to read. Lots of "dem" "dose" etc... ghostwriter must have been a New Yorker too

[Caractacus]

I'm not a Pyschiatrist but firstt two thirds sound like he is discribing the actions of some kind of Sociopath.
( things seem to change some whilst his stint in Leavenworth )
BTW Graziano never lived in the Bronx.
He lived on the Lower East Side of Manhatten and Brooklyn.
you'r probably thinking of Jake LaMotta.

[Caractacus]

Marlon Brando use to work out at Stillman's gym "picking up pointers
and here he is channeling Rocky Graziano.

[Caractacus]

No doubt, the man spoke in a language one can understand almost immediately.
wouldn't be surprised if one of these guys just got done reading his book.
( 30 days in the Hole is what you got at Riker's Island , if you even threw one punch at another inmate
and charged with 'inciting a riot".