Dylan Postl

I received the audiobook Life Is Short and So Am I as part of the Early Reviewers program. It's really hard to review this book because I am not really a professional wrestling fan. It was an interesting book, and it was easy to listen to, but some of the actual wrestling details didn't mean that much to me because I didn't really have the right context or frame of reference. For myself I would probably give this book a three or a three and a half, but if you are a wrestling fan, then I think this book is closer to a four, so that's the rating I would give it. It was an interesting look into another world, and I think fans will really like it.… (mere)

Luck O' The Irish. It is ... interesting... to read a memoir from someone just months older than my middle brother, as one typically expects a wrestling memoir to be written from someone a bit older (or maybe it just seems I'm getting old - Dwayne Johnson's and Chris Jericho's first books had to have come out around a similar age, 20 yrs ago). But Dylan 'Hornswoggle' Postl has lived more and done more than most of us outside of the wrestling world will ever do, and this is his tale. From growing up in small town Wisconsin with an addict for a mother to being part of some of WWE's most legendary moments with two different McMahons, this is the story of the past and future of WWE's wee Irishman. Strong memoir, both from a wrestling perspective and not, this is one everyone will enjoy but WWE fans of the last decade or so in particular will have many fond memories of. Truly excellent work from someone The Rock once thought was a Make a Wish Kid. (Read the book, you'll get it. ;) ) Very much recommended.… (mere)

Life is Short and so Am I is the autobiography of Dylan Postl, also known as "Hornswoggle" a wrestler with achondroplasia.

I have always LIKED wrestling, not loved it...I'm not CRAZY over it but, yes, I did watch it when I happen to catch it on the TV. So when I saw this audiobook, I was very interested to see what life was like on the inside of wrestling.

The story starts out telling about Dylan's early life and all the surgeries and issues he faced to due to achondroplasia. He told of his love for wrestling and how it got him through the tough times. Once he made it through the surgeries and his body was stable, Dylan proceeded to take up a sport that was anything but gentle.

Surprisingly, Dylan overcame the odds and achieved his dream, he was signed by WWE and wrestled/performed for them for 10 years. It's a story of hope and determination that shows just what a person can do it they want it badly enough.

The Writing/outlining could use polishing. I felt that he was "all over the place" at times and often said the same thing multiple times but in sightly different words (and sometimes in exactly the same words). Basically, Freshman college level term paper writing. While annoying at times, I was able to overlook it after a while and focus on the events.

The narration...
As I have always said, a narrator can make a bad book good and a great book bad. I am NEVER a fan of the author reading his/her own work (except for Neil Gaiman) an with Dylan's book, I am sticking to my norm...AAGGRRRHHH. I almost turned it off after 10 minuets. The writing coupled with narration that sounded like a cast member of American Pie (without acting skills) nearly ended me...but I survived. I was also surprised that the intro, which was read by a very famous wrestler, was HORRIBLE. I guess this shows you don't have to be able to act to wrestle.
After a while, just like with the writing, I was able to look past the bad narration. I assume that's why Dylan lasted 10 years with WWE despite long stints of sitting around backstage not being used...he kind of grows on you.

STORY: 4 stars
Writing: 2.5 stars
Narration: 2.5 stars
OVERALL: 3 stars… (mere)