Undisputed Truth

By: Mike Tyson, Larry Sloman

Narrated by: Joshua Henry

Philosopher, Broadway headliner, fighter, felon - Mike Tyson has defied stereotypes, expectations, and a lot of conventional wisdom during his three decades in the public eye. Bullied as a boy in the toughest, poorest neighborhood in Brooklyn, Tyson grew up to become one of the most thrilling and ferocious boxers of all time - and the youngest heavyweight champion ever. But his brilliance in the ring was often compromised by reckless behavior. Years of hard partying, violent fights, and criminal proceedings took their toll: by 2003, Tyson had hit rock bottom, a convicted felon, completely broke, the punch line to a thousand bad late-night jokes. Yet he fought his way back; the man who once admitted being addicted "to everything" regained his success, his dignity, and the love of his family. With a triumphant one-man stage show, his unforgettable performances in the Hangover films, and his newfound happiness and stability as a father and husband, Tyson's story is an inspiring American original.

Brutally honest, raw, and often hilarious, Tyson chronicles his tumultuous highs and lows in the same sincere, straightforward manner we have come to expect from this legendary athlete. A singular journey from Brooklyn's ghettos to worldwide fame to notoriety, and, finally, to a tranquil wisdom, Undisputed Truth is not only a great sports memoir but an autobiography for the ages.

©2013 Mike Tyson and Larry Sloman (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A masterpiece... grimly tragic on one page, laugh-out-loud funny on the next, and unrelentingly vulgar and foul-mouthed. Reading Tyson's memoir is like watching a Charles Dickens street urchin grow up to join Hunter S. Thompson on a narcotics-filled road trip - with the ensuing antics captured on video by assorted paparazzi.” (Hector Tobar, Los Angeles Times)

“Undisputed Truth is raw, powerful and disturbing - a head-spinning take on Mr. Tyson's life…Unlike other sports memoirists, he doesn't pull punches, offering up slashing comments on people who were once close to him. His narrative reminds us of just how far he has come from his rough beginnings, and, in a way, how close he remains to them. He had a punch like a thunderbolt from Zeus, but there have been a lot of big bangers in boxing; Mike Tyson's came with a pulsating story line like few others.” (Gordon Marino, Wall Street Journal)

“Parts of [Undisputed Truth] read like a real-life Tarantino movie. Parts read like a Tom Wolfe-ian tour of wildly divergent worlds: from the slums of Brooklyn to the high life in Las Vegas to the isolation of prison…. Mr. Tyson’s idiosyncratic voice comes through clearly on the page here - not just his mix of profane street talk and 12-step recovery language, cinematic descriptions of individual fights and philosophical musings, but also his biting humor and fondness for literary and historical references that run the gamut from Alexandre Dumas to Tolstoy to Lenin to Tennessee Williams…. A genuine effort by a troubled soul to gain some understanding of the long, strange journey that has been his life.” (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

LOVED IT!

Where does Undisputed Truth rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was entertaining. I got the book on a whim, by the time I knew it I was nooked. I have not been hooked like this since"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" at first I downloaded the first part and was ready to call back to get my credit. BUt after I got hooked.......no way!! a great listen!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Undisputed Truth?

When he realizes he is broke and he has to take care of his family.

What does Joshua Henry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He read with passion.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me change the way I thought about Mr. Mike Tyson. There are times when you feel the pain and there are times when you crack up over what is going on. It is truly entertaining.

Any additional comments?

HE IS BIGGER THAN LIFE!

The rise and fall of the great iron mike tyson

Learned so much about the greatest heavyweight. Hell of a journey and story. A lot to learn from this story.

Ended up abandoning the book, couldn't listen more

It's not the book for me except the beginning that described top boxers in the most intimate way - loved that. Increasingly, the story went in another direction.

Nobody deserves the marriage betrayal he got even though he cheated throughout the relationship. Shows even the toughest guys get conned sometimes just like the rest of us.

The rape case that landed him in prison, attributed in the book mainly to racism, seemed like a bad deal for everyone except a few well-paid attorneys.

One thing I liked about Mike, really liked, was that he is a fighter, not playing the role of a fighter. There's plenty to not like too but no denying the ability of this man to fight.

Amazing Narrative

What did you love best about Undisputed Truth?

It's raw honesty in all aspects of his life.

What did you like best about this story?

The whole thing.

Have you listened to any of Joshua Henry’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Great performance, I may say it's my favorite voice performance so far.

Awesome story!

Where does Undisputed Truth rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Undisputed Truth is definitely in my top 5 favorite audiobooks. I enjoyed this book so much I later watched the live version in Google Play.

What did you like best about this story?

Mike Tyson is GENUINE, HONEST, and TRANSPARENT. Knowing his life's story made me appreciate, if not love him as a person. He is such a gentle soul although he's an animal at heart. Seeing him come full circle is heart warming. His story is a true testament to that saying "you never know what people are dealing with."

What about Joshua Henry’s performance did you like?

Joshua Henry's performance was great. He uses the correct diction, tone, etc., so much that you feel as if you're actually a part of the story, witnessing these events first hand.

Most outrageous autobiography Ive heard

Where does Undisputed Truth rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Most outrageous life Ive heard so far. His struggle days were inspiring. But his downward spiral from the early 90s was too much!! At one point, the only thing he seemed to be doing were drugs and women. After being blessed to get out of the ghetto, how could he screw up so badly!!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mike Tyson of course, outrageous and interesting always.

Which character – as performed by Joshua Henry – was your favorite?

Mike Tyson...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was stunned most of the time. I was like... does this really happen !!

Any additional comments?

Cautionary tale on how not to screw your life!!

Top 5 book

I have a couple hundred books in my library, have listened to most of them start to finish but nothing has left me sitting in my running car, not being able to turn it off like this one... Unreal.

Amazing & inspirational

For anyone who wants an amazing story about struggle, addictions and the very difficult but successful road to recovery this is an amazing & inspirational read. Not to mention an overall page turning exciting read...what happens next Mike? Thank you!

Great Audio Book

This was a great audio book. amazing narration and Mike's story is just wild beyond imagination. Some of the stories are deep and dark but I applaud Mike for putting all of this out in the table. I highly recommend this book

Listen

I loved the book. Lauren too am incredible rags to riches story. Mike's story is almost unbelievable. He lives his life like we all want to. Truly a champion in and out of the ring.