Reviews

The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of Andr� the Giant by Pat Laprade, Bertrand Hébert

mcepress's review

medium-paced

4.75

micah_thelibrarian's review

adventurous emotional funny informative medium-paced

5.0

 Andre Roussimoff, commonly known as “Andre the Giant” for many years in wrestling is one individual who enjoy the sport and entertaining for spectators.  Born in France, Andre did not have the typical childhood other kids in his community from getting finding a way to get to school, (Samuel Beckett gave him a ride) to participating in other daily activities.  In The Eighth Wonder of the World: the True Story of Andre the Giant, Bertrand Herbert & Pat Laprade bring Andre to life with vast amounts of research and interviews throughout the athlete’s life both inside and outside of the ring.  Those who hear the “Andre the Giant” think of World Wrestling Federation (known now as World Wrestling Entertainment) or for his role in The Princess Bride yet he spent a good portion of his life in Japan wrestling and living life.  The narrator of the book, Graham Rowat speaks as though you are right beside the people who were interviewed including discussions with Andre from the past.  Filled with emotion and passion, this book presents the most extensive and in-depth of one of entertainment’s gargantuan individuals. 

daclyde's review

5.0

By far the most in-depth, and most accurate biography written to-date on one of wrestling's biggest, most legendary stars. An engrossing read from beginning to end, Hébert and Laprade leave no stone unturned to tell Andre's life story, dispelling myths all along the way. I didn't know that much about Andre, aside from stories told by wrestlers on podcasts, or told in other books, so reading about his early days in Europe and Canada was probably my favorite part of the book. Anytime a book can present me this much new information on a subject I enjoy, I'm hooked. Well done, gentlemen!