George Foreman (1949–2025)

I really like George Foreman and so I'm not sure if I really liked the book for that reason or because it was a good book.

George tells about his life growing up in a poor neighborhood in Houston and all the trouble he was in right up until he found Christ as an adult and started to repair his damaged life.

I find him to be a bit boastful in his honesty and yet at the same time, humble, telling his story with a smile on his face, despite the many mistakes he'd made and hopeful that he's show more learned enough to go forward in life with a good attitude. show less

George Foreman is one of those guys who just do life because "can't" never occurs to them. They do things with their bodies before they mull them over with their minds. Foreman was a thug, and then a boxer. Then he had this over-the-top spiritual vision of Hell and the bleeding Jesus, and has ever since, defying the skeptics, been a different human being. His narrative voice is the same as any other voice: positive, funny, self-depracating, and absolutely practical. Ethics is just the way a show more person should act. How many of us actually try to live by a principle and succeed? Foreman just does it, even if by simple determination, and that's worth some respect. show less

Knockout Entrepreneur, by two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World and promoter of the Foreman’s Lean, Mean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, George Foreman with writer, Ken Abraham, is a motivational, how-to book about succeeding at starting a business (or revitalizing an existing business or career). In 14 easy-to-read chapters, Foreman communicates his secrets of success at boxing, which he develops into principles of entrepreneurial strategies. Weaving in and out of chapters with such show more titles as “Never Listen to the Crowd,” Know Your Foe,” and “Keep Answering the Bell,” I learned not just how to be a successful entrepreneur, but I also learned a lot about boxing, about George Foreman’s biography, and about the grilling machine that made Foreman an entrepreneurial success.
George’s advice is very comprehensive from how and when to delegate to following your gut instinct and taking risks. Because Foreman shares from his own experience as well as from others, he is believable and inspiring. This book is categorized as Business/Economics with the subcategory entrepreneurship but I think anyone can read this and find ideas to help in any area of their life. I am a volunteer in a small church library and this book gave me ideas about how to treat those who help me out in the library.
Of course, success begets success and George had an advantage that most of us do not have – a famous name. But still, his principles ring true for me.
I must make a comment on the structure of the book itself. My copy of Knockout Entrepreneur, published by Thomas Nelson, (2009, jacketed hardcover, $22.99 U.S.), is what the publishers call NELSONfree. Inside the front cover this is clearly explained, “. . . with Nelsonfree you buy one format and your get two more for free – an eBook and an audio version.” I really love having a book in my hand, but my husband likes to listen to books and podcasts and I have a friend who likes to download books and read them on his PDA. Nelsonfree allows all three! I tried downloading the PDF version and it looks great. I give Nelson kudos for this entrepreneurial idea, and I think George would also like it. Who knows, maybe it was his idea!
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. show less

This is a great little book and a fine gift book. It is not a boxing or sports book and it's not just for men either. It's for anyone. Foreman describes many facets of his life, his transformation from what he would describe as "not a very nice person" to that friendly face we've seen on televison many times and to a minister who has worked in the community to benefit youth. It's truly educational and an easy read. It contains some real pithy wisdom and horse sense that can be of great show more benefit for anyone seeking to correct some of their problems and to move ahead in a more positive way. show less