Atlas - by Teddy Atlas (Paperback)

About the Book

From the Back Cover

"Of all the people who have affected by my life and influence the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father."

So begins the autobiography of legendary boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas, who grew from the rebellious son of a doctor to a man who embraces, and lives by, his father's values and code.

In this gritty, spellbinding tale, Atlas recounts his fascinating life -- as a juvenile delinquent on the streets of Staten Island; as a boxer and Golden Gloves champion under the tutelage of famed trainer Cus D'Amato; as a companion to the dangerous, unpredictable Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, up until the day Gravano turned rat and brought down crime boss John Gotti; and as a trainer of champions and contenders, among them fourteen-year-old Mike Tyson and heavyweight Michael Moorer, whom he led to the crown with a win over Evander Holyfield.

Equally engrossing are Teddy Atlas's accounts of training dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp for her successful comeback at age forty-two; his work with actor Willem Dafoe, preparing him for his role as a concentration camp boxer in the film Triumph of the Spirit; his journey to Poland to choreograph the film's boxing scenes; and his own performance in movies such as Play It to the Bone. In sharing his stories, Atlas reveals the philosophy by which he lives.

Like Teddy Atlas -- inimitable, tough, honest, and wise -- this book inspires. It is about so much more than boxing. It is a story of overcoming hardships, of compassion for those in need, of tremendous personal integrity, and of personal and professional triumph.

Review Quotes

"There is a strong narrative line in this book, and at the core one very important piece of wisdom about the male psyche. According to Atlas, men are so terrified of failure and rejection that they will indulge in all manner of odd and self-destructive behaviors in an effort to avoid ever having to find out what they are truly made of." - Philadelphia Inquirer

"Atlas does a superb job breathing life into the characters who populate his life....The book is a winner, on all cards, from the first to the final bell." - Boston Globe

"The book is a winner, on all cards, from the first to the final bell." - Boston Globe

"The boxing guru and TV analyst traces his circuitous route from Staten Island street thug to trainer of heavyweight champions, and ruminates on fighting as a form of masculine psychotherapy." - New York Times

"A work of cumulative, powerful impact: [Teddy Atlas] doesn't allow anyone, readers included, to evade life's tough questions." - Kirkus Reviews

"ATLAS is a straight right of relentless honesty. As is often the case with complicated geniuses, there's a story to tell at journey's end - if they live long enough. Lucky for us - and the many he's still helping along the way - Teddy's still here." - Albany Times Union

"It's all here--the good, the bad and the ugly of Teddy Atlas, often rendered in a crude but convincing street language; captured so faithfully and so forcefully." - Dave Anderson, New York Times Book Review

"If you're looking for a behind-the-scenes look at boxing and what makes boxers tick, you'll find plenty of that here. But don't be surprised if you finish 'Atlas' wanting to know more about a dysfunctional family that produced such a dramatic life story." - Boston Globe