Chris Jericho, Paul Stanley (Foreword)
Da Capo Press, 2017
Hardcover, Ebook
Chris Jericho has been one of the top names in pro wrestling for over two decades. While his in-ring career has been stellar, Jericho is one of the few names from the industry who has made successful transitions into other realms of entertainment. Jericho, as the front man and lead singer for the heavy metal band Fozzy, has toured the world as both a headline act and as supporting performer for many of music's legendary acts. Jericho has also hosted the very popular Talk Is Jericho Podcast on the Podcast One network since 2013. Prior to No Is A Four Letter Word, Jericho penned three New York Times best selling memoirs: A Lion's Tale: Around The World In Spandex, (2007) Undisputed: How To Become The World Champion In 1,372 Easy Steps, (2011) and The Best In The World... At What I Have No Idea (2014). Unlike his previous books, No Is A Four Letter Word is written as a motivational book that, while it contains biographical information, is not strictly an autobiography.
Jericho has proven time and time again that his is a very good story teller with a quirky, funny and reference filled writing style. Jericho's writing, unlike that of many of his contemporaries in sports and entertainment, never feels antiquated or dry. It is apparent in all of his books, including this one, that the author thoroughly enjoys writing. Jericho's passion for story telling is alive and well in this release. No Is A Four Letter Word is a very funny, insightful and thought provoking piece.
The book is divided into chapters that are each devoted to a principle of success. Each principle is named after a person - some real, some fictional - who embodied, believed and/or practiced the principle effectively. This structure works as it allows the reader to remain focused on the specific principle while Jericho provides example(s) of real world application. When necessary, Jericho draws in examples from previous or refer to later chapters to show the degree to which these independent practices can be - and perhaps should be - used simultaneously. Jericho, who has been successful in various realms of entertainment, truly gives the impression that he practices what he preaches and is not simply a "snake oil salesman" writing a fourth book to make a quick buck. Rare for motivational books, Jericho also avoids assuming that his reader is in need of motivation. There are no instances where the author is assuming his reader is an "overweight, unemployed, unhealthy, unhappy oaf who needs to change his/her life." His is a motivational soft sell that, if self improvement is not sought by the reader, doubles as a collection of amusing stories.
Wrestling fans are a fickle breed. Much of the criticism that Jericho receives from some wrestling fans is related to the lack of wrestling content / amount of non-wrestling content in his writing, podcasts, etc. Those who are looking for a collection of wrestling related stories and/or analysis may be disappointed as the more memorable stories in the book stem from Jericho's musical interactions.
While all of the book's principles are sound - and most likely effective - some of the examples used to demonstrate their effectiveness are not necessarily applicable to the life of the average reader. While many of these can be read symbolically rather than literally, - i.e. the reader should substitute Gene Simmons for an HR rep who is interviewing him or her for a job - there are so many of these celebrity encounters that the book verges on self indulgence. Jericho counteracts this to a degree by making jokes about his name dropping, but the choice to include so many stories that hinge on a degree of celebrity privilege undermines the book's effectiveness. The book is at its best when the stories used to enhance his principles pertain to situations where his "fame" is non-existent or a non-issue. This will not be much of an issue for those readers who remember that some or all of Jericho's principles are to some degree responsible for his initial successes, however, the book would benefit from more stories akin to the one in the The Mike Lozansky Principle chapter.
As far as personalities within the wrestling industry, few are more qualified or capable of writing a motivational book on success than Chris Jericho. Most wrestling fans, especially those who are fans of Jericho and his non-wrestling projects, will enjoy this book. At its best, the book is an inspiring guide to improving one's life. At worst, the book is a fun collection of stories. It is obvious that Jericho's passion and talent for storytelling remain very much alive. Regardless of how readers react to No Is A Four Letter Word, further works from Chris Jericho will be anticipated and expected.
Jericho has proven time and time again that his is a very good story teller with a quirky, funny and reference filled writing style. Jericho's writing, unlike that of many of his contemporaries in sports and entertainment, never feels antiquated or dry. It is apparent in all of his books, including this one, that the author thoroughly enjoys writing. Jericho's passion for story telling is alive and well in this release. No Is A Four Letter Word is a very funny, insightful and thought provoking piece.
The book is divided into chapters that are each devoted to a principle of success. Each principle is named after a person - some real, some fictional - who embodied, believed and/or practiced the principle effectively. This structure works as it allows the reader to remain focused on the specific principle while Jericho provides example(s) of real world application. When necessary, Jericho draws in examples from previous or refer to later chapters to show the degree to which these independent practices can be - and perhaps should be - used simultaneously. Jericho, who has been successful in various realms of entertainment, truly gives the impression that he practices what he preaches and is not simply a "snake oil salesman" writing a fourth book to make a quick buck. Rare for motivational books, Jericho also avoids assuming that his reader is in need of motivation. There are no instances where the author is assuming his reader is an "overweight, unemployed, unhealthy, unhappy oaf who needs to change his/her life." His is a motivational soft sell that, if self improvement is not sought by the reader, doubles as a collection of amusing stories.
Wrestling fans are a fickle breed. Much of the criticism that Jericho receives from some wrestling fans is related to the lack of wrestling content / amount of non-wrestling content in his writing, podcasts, etc. Those who are looking for a collection of wrestling related stories and/or analysis may be disappointed as the more memorable stories in the book stem from Jericho's musical interactions.
While all of the book's principles are sound - and most likely effective - some of the examples used to demonstrate their effectiveness are not necessarily applicable to the life of the average reader. While many of these can be read symbolically rather than literally, - i.e. the reader should substitute Gene Simmons for an HR rep who is interviewing him or her for a job - there are so many of these celebrity encounters that the book verges on self indulgence. Jericho counteracts this to a degree by making jokes about his name dropping, but the choice to include so many stories that hinge on a degree of celebrity privilege undermines the book's effectiveness. The book is at its best when the stories used to enhance his principles pertain to situations where his "fame" is non-existent or a non-issue. This will not be much of an issue for those readers who remember that some or all of Jericho's principles are to some degree responsible for his initial successes, however, the book would benefit from more stories akin to the one in the The Mike Lozansky Principle chapter.
As far as personalities within the wrestling industry, few are more qualified or capable of writing a motivational book on success than Chris Jericho. Most wrestling fans, especially those who are fans of Jericho and his non-wrestling projects, will enjoy this book. At its best, the book is an inspiring guide to improving one's life. At worst, the book is a fun collection of stories. It is obvious that Jericho's passion and talent for storytelling remain very much alive. Regardless of how readers react to No Is A Four Letter Word, further works from Chris Jericho will be anticipated and expected.
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