Ric Flair’s Autobiography: A Detailed Review

“To Be teh Man”: A Look Inside Ric Flair‘s Autobiography

In the grandiose, often hyperbolic world of professional wrestling, few figures loom as large as “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. His autobiography, “To Be the Man,” co-written with keith Elliot Greenberg and edited by Mark Madden, serves as a testament not only to his longevity inside the squared circle but to a lifestyle of excess that borders on the mythical. Published by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2004, the book peels back the sequined robes to reveal the man behind the “Woooo!”-a man fueled by insecurity, immense talent, and an unquenchable thirst for the spotlight.

Flair’s story begins with a revelation that sets the tone for a life of unpredictability. Born in Memphis in 1949, Flair was one of the thousands of children victimized by the infamous Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home Society black market adoption ring. “My mother probably thought I was stillborn,” Flair writes. “That’s what they told a lot of the girls whose kids ended up with the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis-their babies were dead, and they just needed to sign a couple of papers.” He cites the official agency report regarding his biological parents: “Olive Phillips and Luther phillips did abandon and desert said child.” Adopted by Richard and Kathleen Fliehr,he was raised in Edina,Minnesota,far removed from the southern territories he would one day rule.

Surviving the Ice: Training with Verne Gagne

Flair’s entry into professional wrestling was a trial by freezing fire. After dropping out of college and working as a bouncer, he caught the eye of Olympic weightlifter Ken Patera, who introduced him to the legendary promoter Verne Gagne. Gagne’s training camp in Minneapolis was notoriously brutal, designed to weed out anyone lacking genuine toughness.flair describes the conditions vividly: “We’d start off running along this frozen creek, slipping and sliding. I’m not exaggerating-you’d have to wear three sweatsuits. the only way to stay warm was to keep moving and not slow down-the whole day, for six or eight hours.”

The physical toll was exacerbated by the sadistic tendencies of the trainers, particularly Billy Robinson. Flair recounts a harrowing incident involving his fellow trainee, Hossein Khosrow Vaziri (The Iron Sheik). After Khosrow bragged about his amateur wrestling background, Robinson decided to teach him a lesson in the “hooker” style of submission wrestling. Flair writes, “Robinson was an expert on ‘hook’ style, which was illegal in the amateur ranks, and after about ten minutes, he brought the point of his knee down into khosrow’s thigh, fucking up his hip. Khosrow was in agony as Robinson turned him over and pinned him.”

The brutality drove Flair to quit just days into the camp. Though,Gagne refused to let him go. “Verne came over to my house,grabbed me by the shirt and threw me out on the front lawn,” Flair recalls. Gagne screamed at him, “It took you five years to graduate high school. You quit college. Well, you’re not quitting this. I didn’t sign you up to be a quitter.” Flair returned, driven by a desire to prove he was better than Gagne thought.

The Plane Crash that Created the Nature Boy

The defining moment of flair’s early career-and perhaps his life-occurred on October 4, 1975. While flying a Cessna 310 to a show in Wilmington,North Carolina,the pilot,Mike Farkas,realized he had dumped fuel to lighten the load and miscalculated.Flair describes the terrifying moments before impact: “Valentine pointed at the gas gauges and started la

## From Limousines to Spartacus: Ric Flair’s Wild Ride

Ric Flair’s life both in and out of the ring was legendary, fueled by charisma, controversy, and a seemingly endless supply of “Wooo!” Flair estimates his personal expenses were astronomical: “When the Horsemen were running heavy, I ran up an annual bill of $60,000 for limousines alone.”

The partying stories are legendary.Flair recounts a night called “The Great Shootout” at his house,pitting Roddy Piper against “The Purple Haze” Mark Lewin to see who could drink the most. “In the course of the night, I poured Piper and Lewin each about thirty shots of Crown Royal,” Flair writes. “The nod goes to the Hot Rod. Around six-thirty in the morning, I sent everyone out.Piper walked upstairs into my guest room, lay down, and whent to sleep. Lewin was carried from the house.”

Jim herd and the “Spartacus” Debacle

As the 1990s approached, the NWA morphed into WCW (World Championship wrestling) under the ownership of Ted Turner. The arrival of corporate executive Jim Herd marked a low point in Flair’s career. Herd,a former pizza Hut manager,did not understand wrestling or Flair’s value. “Jim Herd was an idiot,” Flair states bluntly. “This is not defamation. I’m just telling you history.The man had no right to be anywhere near a wrestling company.”

herd notoriously tried to repackage Flair,believing the “Nature Boy” persona was dated. Kevin Sullivan recounts the meeting in the book: “Because Ric had been around for so long, herd thought that his image needed updating-from the Nature Boy to a Roman gladiator.He said, ‘Let’s cut Ric’s hair, put an earring in his ear, and give him a shield. we’ll call him Spartacus.’ He actually wanted to change Ric Flair’s name!”

The tension culminated in Herd firing Flair in 1991 over a contract dispute. Flair, still the champion, took the “Big Gold Belt” with him as he had never been refunded his $25,000 deposit on the title. “I sent the championship belt to Vince McMahon the next day,” Flair writes. This led to the surreal sight of Bobby Heenan displaying the NWA World Title on WWF television, proclaiming, “Comparing this belt to Hulk Hogan’s belt would be like comparing ice cream to horse manure.”

The WWF Run and the “Real” World Champion

Flair’s arrival in the WWF in 1991 was a validation of his career. Vince McMahon treated him with a respect he hadn’t felt in years. “I don’t give contracts,” McMahon told him, “but I’ll shake your hand and tell you that you’ll make the same with me, or more.” Flair won the WWF championship at the 1992 royal Rumble in a performance widely considered the greatest in the event’s history. Entering at number three, he lasted nearly an hour to win the title. “I want to jump, I want to party,” Flair told Gene Okerlund after the match. “For the Hulk Hogans and the Macho Mans and the Pipers and the Sids, now it’s Ric Flair, and you all pay homage to the man! Wooooo!”

Though, the “dream match” between Flair and Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VIII never happened. The chemistry wasn’t there on the house show circuit, and office politics intervened.Instead, Flair wrestled Randy Savage. Flair reveals the intense insecurity Savage felt, insisting they script the entire match move-for-move at savage’s house.”I’d never done anything like this in my life,” Flair admits. “Make no mistake about it-I respect Randy Savage for his skills and accomplishments. But because of his unwillingness to just get in the ring and improvise, I won’t call him a great worker.”

The WCW Nightmare: Bischoff and the nWo

Ric Flair’s “To Be the Man”: A Deep Dive into His Autobiography and How to Find It

Ric Flair, arguably the most iconic professional wrestler of all time, laid bare his life and career in his 2004 autobiography, To Be the Man.The book offers a raw and unfiltered look into the life of “the nature Boy,” detailing his rise to wrestling superstardom, his tumultuous personal life, and the financial struggles that plagued him despite decades of success. It’s a surprisingly candid account,revealing a vulnerable side to the flamboyant persona that captivated audiences for generations. Flair doesn’t shy away from discussing his excesses, his four marriages, and, notably, his financial mismanagement, admitting to owing the IRS a substantial sum (“I’ve paid a million dollars in late penalties and interest to the IRS”). The book is a loud, brash, and emotional ride-much like the man himself, and provides a unique insight into the world of professional wrestling during its most vibrant eras.

A look Inside “To Be the Man”

To Be the man isn’t simply a recounting of wrestling matches and championship wins. While those are certainly present,the book delves into the psychological pressures of maintaining a larger-than-life character,the constant travel,and the physical toll wrestling took on Flair’s body. He discusses his relationships with fellow wrestling legends like Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, and Hulk Hogan, offering perspectives on the rivalries and camaraderie that defined the industry.

The book’s strength lies in its honesty. Flair doesn’t attempt to portray himself as a perfect hero. He acknowledges his flaws, his mistakes, and the consequences of his actions. This vulnerability is what sets the autobiography apart and makes it a compelling read, even for those unfamiliar with the world of professional wrestling. The narrative covers his early career, his time in the AWA and NWA, his pivotal role in the rise and fall of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and his eventual journey to WWE.

How to Get the Book

Finding To Be the Man requires a bit of searching, as the original hardcover edition is now out of print.however, several options remain available:

* Physical Copies:

* Mass-Market Paperback: Widely available on Amazon, eBay, and ThriftBooks. used copies can frequently enough be found for under $5.00.
* Trade Paperback: Also available on Amazon, eBay.
* Signed Copies: Rare signed copies of the original hardcover release occasionally appear on eBay, typically ranging from $50 to $150 depending on condition and authentication.

* Digital Editions:

* Amazon Kindle: Available for purchase as an e-book for $9.99 – $12.99. Amazon Kindle Link

* Apple Books: Also available as an e-book on Apple Books.

* Audiobook: As of late 2024, there is no widely available unabridged audiobook version of To be the Man read by Ric Flair himself on major platforms like Audible. However, abridged versions or fan readings may be found on