Yet another leotard-dressed, long haired muscleman makes takes a leap out of the wrestling ring and into the world of book publishing-this time it's Bret "The Hitman" Hart who dresses in pink and has a patented wrestling move to crush his opponents in the ring. Following on from the rather weighty tomes produced by wrestling stars such as The Rock and Mankind , Hitman's story is told in big writing and big pictures, making this more suited to the adolescent fan base of wrestling than the other more wordy entries into the wrestling biography genre. It's a familiar tale, well told by Bret and co-writer Perry Lefko and thankfully manages to avoid taking itself too seriously when it comes to the wrestling anecdotes. To complain that WCW and WWF matches are more about entertainment than any sporting prowess or competitive edge is to miss the point and Hitman's story delivers all the punches, body slams and bone-crunching action shots the fans could want. If you have never heard of Hitman, you won't be the slightest bit interested in his story, but fans of the man will love this enjoyable romp through the life of one of wrestling's most popular characters. -Jon Weir.

The Charlton brothers hold a unique place in the history of football, thanks not least to their roles in England's 1966 World Cup triumph, but, as journalist Leo McKinstry recounts in his biography Jack and Bobby-A Story of Brothers in Conflict, little has previously been written specifically about the pair and their sometimes volatile relationship. The public image of the two is firmly established. Younger brother Bobby, the dazzling forward with all the natural ability, who would find a place at the heart of the football establishment as roving ambassador for Manchester United and England. And Jack the lad, the gangling hardman defender; a workhorse, and later, voluble, eccentric club and international manager, who could always be counted on for a quote. But while McKinstry reveals there is much truth behind the stereotypes, there has been tension too, with neither brother entirely comfortable with their ascribed roles. Such reflections are weaved around a traditional biographical narrative, which follows the brothers from childhood through their respective playing careers with Manchester United, and Leeds, their England glory, managerial successes and failures to their current state of semi-retirement, and digs out some illuminating stuff along the way. Neither of the Charltons was prepared to cooperate with this book-but McKinstry has sought out the perspectives of friends, family and colleagues. The story of Bobby's struggles to find a career after playing, where business success outside of football was matched by managerial failure within it, reveals that a man who had so effortlessly drawn on his own sporting talent was all at sea among the less gifted. And Big Jack, the affable saint steering the Irish team out of obscurity, was a somewhat less cuddly character behind the scenes: according to his players, the boss was prone to very human weaknesses, not least an almost incredible "carefulness" with money, a trait that is the catalyst for some of the book's funniest, and oddest moments. Such humour, enhanced by McKinstry's eye for the tiny details that betray personality and his ability to draw meaningful characterisations from a blend of familiar facts and fresh anecdotal material, lifts the book out of the ordinary. [+]