Rough House, Alison Lyn Miller
Rough House, Alison Lyn Miller
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Rough House
A Father, a Son, and the Pursuit of Pro Wrestling Glory

Author: Alison Lyn Miller

Narrator: Alison Lyn Miller

Unabridged: 7 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/20/2026


Synopsis

"Truly, this is a book that belongs on the shelves of not just wrestling fans, but anyone who wants to understand the agonized American soul." ―Josephine Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of AmericaProfessional wrestling is both a cultural phenomenon and a multibillion-dollar industry that has launched some of the biggest names in entertainment. But what does it take for a wrestler to break through? In Rough House, journalist Alison Lyn Miller introduces Hunter James, an aspiring star born into a family of wrestlers in Georgia. Hunter lifts, runs, and pounds protein, sculpting himself into a human action figure with the goal of being signed by a major promotion and finishing what his father started. Miller's immersive, unforgettable account shows us what happens when Hunter enters the bruising world of indie wrestling―where gymnasiums become arenas, trampolines serve as training grounds, and young men fight for glory.Rich with drama, humor, and heart, Rough House is a ringside seat to a coming-of-age story that reveals the escapism, self-actualization, performance, and violence inherent in one of America's most dismissed pastimes. Whether you're a die-hard fan or new to the spectacle, this true story will leave you cheering for more.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Brendan on January 13, 2026

Do you remember the movie The Sandlot? Ostensibly a baseball movie, it was really about growing up at a certain time, in a certain place, and making friendships. Baseball was there, but it wasn't the point. I think the same applies to Alison Lyn Miller's Rough House. Yes, this book is set against th......more

Goodreads review by Michael on September 30, 2025

***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book*** Great books about what it takes to make it from the indies to the top of the industry are hard to come by, and this is surely one of them. As someone who went to school to be a pro wrestler at 16 and who has a fr......more

Goodreads review by Dan on December 25, 2025

My thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for an advance copy of this book that offers a unique look at life in these United States, through the lives of a father and son, their hopes and dreams, the people around them, all set in the world of sports entertainment, better known as profession......more

Goodreads review by Todd on January 22, 2026

Who said it has to be real? Performance art, mostly done by underpaid or otherwise employed people, covers a lot of ground. Professional wrestling is no exception. The hard work, small victories, hopes and dreams are covered in this story of a father and son who have shared wrestling's thrills and wo......more

Goodreads review by Brendan on January 12, 2026

Alison Miller's "Rough House" belongs on the shelf of the great journalism immersing in oddball subcultures where the author treats them with the respect they deserve.......more