For anyone interested in gaining a wider perspective of wrestling history, there are a few
books I'd like to recommend:

The first is entitled 100 Years of Australian Professional Wrestling by Libnan Ayoub.  This
is required reading for anyone interested in pro wrestling and its amazing past.  Not only
is it packed with hundreds of great photos, there is so much information that it will keep
you coming back time after time.  Wrestling historian Libnan Ayoub takes you back to the
mid-1880s in Australia with names like Clarence Whistler and Professor William Miller and
continues with year after year of tremendous facts.  In the 1920s, you learn about guys
like Al Karasick, Ad Santel, John Kilonis, and Ted Thye, who later became an important
talent agent between the U.S. and Australia.  In the 1960s, you get to the World
Championship Wrestling promotion of Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle and see wrestlers
like Killer Kowalski, Ray Stevens, Karl Gotch, and Bruno Sammartino.  I cannot
recommend this project enough.  There are tons of rare photos and clippings.  There is
also great information on Libnan's father, wrestler Wadi Yousseff Ayoub, who had a very
successful career.  If you can get your hands on this book - do so.  It's a great addition to
any wrestling library.

Wrestling historian Scott Teal has a large collection of outstanding books at his website,
www.crowbarpress.com.  He worked with many wrestling legends on their autobiographies
to include Tony Atlas and Ole Anderson, and also is the publisher for the revamped Lou
Thesz autobiography "Hooker" and Nikita Koloff's new autobiography.  All of Teal's work
features a striking consideration for preserving wrestling history and giving an honest
portrayal of what actually happened.  As a writer, editor, and publisher, he's probably the
hardest working man in wrestling literature today, and any fan of the sport would enjoy
his material.
Book Recommendations