I recently read Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle by Dolph Lundgren (co-written by Robert Greenfield). For those who might not know, Lundgren is best recognized for his role as Ivan Drago, the Russian boxer in Rocky IV (1985), with a comeback in Creed II (2018). His filmography doesn’t stop there: he was the heroic He-Man in Masters of the Universe (1987), faced off against Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier (1992), donned the title role in The Punisher (1989), and appeared in the Expendables franchise, not to mention a slew of low-budget action flicks. Let’s not forget his curious turns in those CGI-heavy Aquaman movies. To say I’ve been a fan since childhood would be an understatement.

In 2023, Lundgren made headlines announcing he’d been grappling with kidney cancer since 2015. Given the memoir’s title, Fights Worth Fighting, I naturally anticipated a deep emotional look into this harrowing battle. How wrong I was! We simply graze the surface in a brief mention in the prologue, with cancer barely resurfacing in the final two chapters. It's a definite letdown for readers looking for an introspective reflection on that struggle.

The narration comes off a bit snarky, bordering on two-dimensional, which is perplexing for a memoir. Lundgren, a man with a master's degree in chemical engineering, showcases surprising limits in his writing skills. It raises the question: Did co-author Robert Greenfield, only mentioned in the acknowledgments, have a hand in this? Or was it simply a rushed affair, a hasty edit, leaving us with a half-baked look at a complex life? I wasn’t expecting a literary masterpiece, but I longed for more depth in Lundgren's storytelling.

Like many, he wrestles with childhood trauma, stemming primarily from an abusive father. Though he avoids detailing this agony explicitly, he does open up about his tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Grace Jones, who was clearly a source of turmoil and toxicity in his life. Ironically, this relationship receives far more page time than his health struggles.

Happy Friday Saturday, fellow readers!

I apologize for being a day late with this post, but I have a good reason. I initially had a Friday Book Snippets (hosted by Anne @ My Head is Full of Books and Olivia @ Bemused and Bookish) post ready featuring a library loan title, so I decided to delay it for a week because I knew I would be receiving a review copy of Dolph Lundgren's new memoir, Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle, courtesy of Harper Horizon. The book arrived late on Friday afternoon. To my surprise, the publicist also included an unrequested copy of Idle in Provence: A History of Thyme by Eric Idle.

For those who may not know, Dolph Lundgren is an actor best known for his roles as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV (1985) and Creed II (2018), as well as He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe and Gunner Jensen in The Expendables franchise. Lundgren announced in 2023 that he has been battling kidney cancer since 2015, which is the inspiration for the memoir's title and likely its main subject. According to the blurb on the book's jacket, Lundgren discusses his upbringing in Sweden, his journey from a chemical engineering student to a martial arts champion, and his eventual transformation into an international movie star.

Lately, I’ve developed a strange fascination with autobiographies and biographies, especially those chronicling the lives of pulp-era authors. It’s like my aging mind is reaching back to the frontier of literature, drawn to old stories of grit and creativity. Among those who pique my interest is the Western author Ben Haas, born Benjamin Leopold Haas (1926 - 1977). A prolific writer, he churned out the first sixteen books in the Sundance series, as well as the Fargo and Culter series, under the pen name John Benteen. His 1968 Double D Western, Big Bend, written under Richard Meade, sits proudly on my shelf in hardcover.

Recently, I stumbled upon A Hack's Notebook: An Autobiography by Ben Haas, published as an eBook by Piccadilly Publishing for a mere $1.99. This autobiography was originally released in paperback back in 2020 by Lulu Press. “Wait a minute,” I hear you saying, “Didn’t you mention that Ben Haas passed away in 1977?” Rest assured, you’re not losing your grip on sanity. Tragically, Ben did indeed pass away at the age of 51. However, his family unearthed an unfinished autobiography that contained six chapters. After rummaging through his papers, they couldn’t find the rest of it, leaving us with a patchwork of his life. They decided to publish those fragments alongside Jim Henderson's memoir—Henderson being Ben’s long-time friend—and a scrapbook filled with samples of Ben's artwork, family photographs, and a bibliography. The 2026 edition is lovingly edited by Joel Haas, Ben’s son, who added a nostalgic touch with his personal introduction, Remembering My Father.

Hello, fellow Friday 56ers! 

This week, I'm featuring You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir by Christina Applegate. I tried my best to obtain a review copy but was unsuccessful. I briefly considered ordering a copy, but luckily, I found it at a Walmart in a neighboring county that actually stocks its bookshelves. Note: I live in a small town with no actual bookstores, but there's a Walmart that has unfortunately downsized its already limited book section by half and then failed to restock it. 

What Sex is a Republican?
BY: Terri McCormick, M.A.
PUBLISHED BY: The Capitol Press
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-09815728-0-2
Pages: 320
Ages: Adults
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

“What Sex Is a Republican?” is a autobiography of the former Wisconsin State Representative, Terri McCormick. Her childhood and family life is briefly covered in a few chapters. Terri didn’t become a political player until after she became involved in reforming her children’s school. She went up against the teacher union, leading the way for the state to form more chapter schools.

The author covers her campaign to become the State Representative of Wisconsin, which she held from 2000 to 2006. During this time, she talks about the mistreatment she encountered from other politicians and media outlets. It was not because of her sex, but because of her political beliefs.

Terri became what I would refer to as a “rare politician” - an official who is working for the people and not their political party. She discusses about the radical partisanship that is in both parties, and the “front row politician” - the party leaderships that pull the strings on the bills and amendments being passed.

The book is not a straight autobiography. At times, I felt like I was reading a text book about the corruptions and backstabbing in our government.

Terri McCormick does a good job on writing about how our government has changed. Our country’s founders wanted a nation that was run by the people. It seems the politicians have forgotten about our Constitution, and instead they only think about their parties and their own agenda. The book covers the ups and downs of campaigning, which would be a good guide to read if you are thinking about running for an office seat. I recommend “What Sex is a Republican?” to any political junkie, or just someone who wants to learn how to make some changes in our troubled government.

Note: I would like to thank The Cadence Group for sending me this complimentary copy to review.