What does it take to be an Olympic gold medalist and to coach a collegiate team to fifteen NCAA titles? In A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable, famed wrestler and wrestling coach Dan Gable tells engaging and inspiring stories of his childhood in Waterloo, Iowa; overcoming the murder of his sister as a teenager; his sports career from swimming as a young boy, to his earliest wrestling matches, through the 1972 Olympics; coaching at the University of Iowa from the Banachs to the Brands; life-changing friendships he made along the way; and tales of his family life off the mat. A celebration of determination, teamwork, and the persevering human spirit, A Wrestling Life captures Gable’s methods and philosophies for reaching individual greatness as well as the incredible amount of fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from working as part of a team.
Whether we are athletes or not, we all dream of extreme success and are all looking to make our future the best it can be, but along the way we will undoubtedly need time to recover and rejuvenate. Let these stories inspire you to find your strength and achievement along whatever path you take.
“Dan Gable is one of my heroes. Meeting him changed my life. His life (as a wrestler, as a coach, as a man dedicated to his family) has served me as a model. Gable's life is truly inspiring.”—John Irving
“Dan Gable has been called ‘Sports Figure of the Century’ by Sports Illustrated. If you’ve never heard of him (or even if you have), you’re in for a treat. A Wrestling Life details Gable’s most profound triumphs and disappointing losses, both on the mat and off. He’s been a primary inspiration to me since I was 15, and this book will show you why. In a modern world of political correctness and glad-handing, the art of the fight is highly undervalued. Allow Dan to show you another way.”—Tim Ferriss, author, The 4-Hour Body
“The stories in A Wrestling Life offer keen insight into how, beginning at a very young age, Dan Gable was able to use personal achievement, adversity, and even tragedy as motivation to reach the highest levels of success and to have a profound effect on those around him. Gable’s love and commitment to his family, teammates, teams, and friends jump out in story after story. As a high school and college wrestler I wanted to wrestle for Dan Gable. Now I know why!”—Mike Golic, ESPN broadcaster, NFL player, Notre Dame football player and wrestler
“A Wrestling Life shows readers not only how Dan Gable cultivated the ‘Iowa Way’ to becoming a world-class athlete, but how he became the man behind the athlete. Through his unwavering commitment to teamwork and using the hardships in his life to fuel his unparalleled work ethic, he has truly earned his place as the godfather of Iowa sports.”—Nate Kaeding, former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL football player
“Coach Gable is the best mentor a person could ever have in their lives.”—Tom Brands, head wrestling coach, University of Iowa
“No one is a better motivator than Gable and that is a huge part of the success of Iowa wrestling.”—Lou Banach, 1984 Olympic gold medalist
Now in Paper: New York Times Bestseller
