The Crippler: Cage Fighting and My Life on the Edge

For more than ten years, ultimate fighting championship (UFC) fighter Leben (b. 1980) was a fan favorite, known as the trash-talking, heavy-drinking kid from Oregon who could knock out opponents with his devastating left hand. However, his life was often messy, plagued by partying and poor decision making. Leben, with first-time author Patinkin, reflects on all aspects of his experience in this entertaining, poignant, and sometimes sad memoir. The brutal honesty about his shortcomings makes for a frustrating yet empathetic story. For example, the author describes his fatherless childhood in Portland, when he was underfed and often left to fend for himself since his mother was an addict, and goes on to relay the many addictions (and relationships) he's endured. Leben was twice suspended by the UFC (for violating its drug policy and spent time in jail on numerous occasions). Readers unfamiliar with mixed martial arts (MMA) might be confused by descriptions of the author's fights, but this is a small factor in an overall enjoyable book.