About the Author

Chuck Norris is a legendary film and televison actor best known for his popular series Walker, Texas Ranger, now in sydication to millions worldwide. He is also a martial arts expert, an active humanitarian and founder of KICKSTART, and author of the New York Times best-selling autobiography Against All Odds. Norris also writes a column that appears in Human Events, Town Hall, and World Net Daily, among other outlets. He lives with his wife Gena and their children near Houston, Texas.

Ken Abraham is a New York Times best-selling author known for getting "more heart on paper than any other cowriter in America" in books with 9/11 United Flight 93 widow Lisa Beamer (Let's Roll!), financial expert Dave Ramsey, action hero Chuck Norris, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and others.

Reviews

In this autobiography, Norris and Abraham catalogue in a mostly chronological fashion the major events of Norris's Horatio Alger-like life. After a tumultuous and impoverished childhood marred by an alcoholic father, Norris turned his life around by joining the military and learning a martial art, tang soo do, while stationed in Korea. Having achieved a black belt, he returned to the United States and built a career as a karate instructor, winning six world championships. Norris counted many celebrities among his students, including Steve McQueen, who, along with Bruce Lee, encouraged Norris to pursue a film and television career. Even though Norris and Abraham employ a bland style of reportage, often bereft of smooth transitions and replete with empty phrases such as "I've always had a special place in my heart for children," the facts of Norris's life make this book compelling. Not only has he succeeded in martial arts and acting, but he has a long, eclectic list of additional achievements and experiences, such as breaking a world record in boat racing and being a close friend of the Bush family. While this book is being promoted as a Christian autobiography, Norris did not fully embrace a Christian lifestyle until the mid-1990s. Despite its limited spiritual content, this memoir will please those who admire Norris's achievements and conservative activism. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.