Every once in a while, a biography comes along that does more than just recount the dates and achievements of a famous figure; it forces you to look inward. I recently finished Brian R. Solomon’s latest masterpiece, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, and the timing couldn’t have been more poignant. Finishing the final pages just before attending a family funeral, I found myself struck by the heavy, beautiful theme of legacy—specifically, how we choose to be remembered.

Solomon has long been a heavyweight in wrestling literature, but this is, without a doubt, his best work yet. It is an extraordinary achievement that manages to entertain while simultaneously cultivating profound introspection.