Undisputed Truth

By: Mike Tyson, Larry Sloman

Narrated by: Joshua Henry

Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

Greatest Autobiography Ever

Mike Tyson is top ten in most notably names on the planet and to read every single thing about him, good and bad, was unbelievable. This book is amazing. He doesn’t hide a thing and tells you every single detail of his life. We all wonder what goes on with the celebrities behind closed doors and this books tells you everything beyond those doors. You will never get more truth from Tyson than any other celebrity ever! This is a must read

Mike Tyson is an inspiration!

Mike Tyson really got vulnerable and held nothing back. This man's life story had many trials and tribulations but he came out on top. This is one of the best books I've ever listened to.

unbelievable story

I learned a lot about what made Mike Tyson. It is amazing to listen to all of his accomplishments, hardships, and struggles.

Mike had one crazy life

Mike Tyson has been my favorite boxer for a long time, if you're a fan of his than you will really enjoy this book. He slept with a lot of women and did a ton of drugs, book is full of his stories.

I felt like the sex stories dragged on too much sometimes but it's his book and he felt like he had to tell the stories, the first half is better than the last half and it's worth the credit. Hope you enjoy the book.

"A sad story for a very TALENTED mentally ill man"

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

This is only my 4th audio book so this is probably the second best I've listened to.."Crash and Burn" bye Artie Lange was my favorite audio book so far..

What did you like best about this story?

The details about Tyson's rape conviction were excellent and the details about the trial were things hat I didn't know about.

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

His voice was very similar to Tyson and he had great energy..For an 8 plus hour book his voice is needed..

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

'Don't be like Mike"

Any additional comments?

Great book for any boxing or Tyson fan..

a dark twisted mirror.

Off so much to relate to so much to learn I'm always been a Mike Tyson fan and never knew all the struggles great book

Coke high

I got high on coke just listening to this book. The reading was excellent and Tyson definitely was truthfull. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Complicated life story

People think they know Mike Tyson, but they have no clue. The media portrays what they want you to see but who he really is so much more complicated. I sure hope he can continue to work on himself and stay sober. he's come a long way but still has so far to go. good luck champ!

Damn Mike!!!!

This was a good book. Growing up watching him box as a teen i never knew the pain he experienced. I’m glad he is in a better place and shared this with us.

Unrivaled Intensity

This was my first experience with this book, and it might be one of the greatest personal journeys ever. The constant shifting from dark to light became more frequent as the book drew to its conclusion. The post script confession was deeply moving, as was the rest of Mike Tyson’s tale. I may never know him personally, but I definitely want to meet the man who chose to battle his demons instead of surrendering to them.