To order available products on this page

  • send check to:
    Culture House
    Mike Chapman
    3830 Harbor Ave., Newton, IA 50208

or call: 641-791-3072

*Include postage: $5 for first item, $2 for each additional item

Published Books Still Available (in chronological order) – Updated 3/27/2022

Newest Books

Released November 1, 2019

  • Stars in Waterloo (Culture House Books, 2019)
    Mike’s latest book, which was co-written in late 2019 with Don Huff. Over the past 120 years or so, many famous persons in all walks of life — politics, sports, movies, music and more — have visited the Waterloo area.  A total of 13 presidents have come to the city, beginning with William McKinley in 1899.  Billy Sunday, the most famous evangelist of the early 20th century, and Dr. Martin Luther King, were there, and Amelia Earhart gave a speech at a Waterloo school just one year prior to beginning her fatal flight around the world, in 1937. Buffalo Bill brought his world-famous wild west show five times, and cowboy movie legends Tom Mix, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers came, as did Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in World War II who became a major movie star. Rock legends Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry and country stars like Johnny Cash and Charley Pride have all been to Waterloo. The city had a top minor league baseball franchise for decades and some of baseball’s biggest stars paraded through the city.  Nine world heavyweight wrestling champions, including Frank Gotch in 1909, defended their titles there, and Dan Gable and Don Perkins are among numerous athletic legends born and raised in Waterloo. The book is loaded with rare photos and is just $50, plus $5 for S&H, and will be personally signed by Mike, if requested.

Released 2017

  • A Journey: Reflections on 50 Years of Writing, Wrestling, Weightlifting and Heroes (Culture House Books, 2017)
    Mike Chapman writes about the fascinating personalities he has met during his long journalism career – including Ronald Reagan, Muhammad Ali, four movie Tarzans, major league baseball stars and legendary wrestlers Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, Dan Gable, Tom and Terry Brands and many more. Plus, growing up in the 1950s and his incredible trip to ancient Troy, where he stood on the tomb of Achilles. Very limited print run. A total of 286 pages with nearly 200 photos. Softcover. $20.

Released December 1, 2018

  • Wrestling Tough – Second Edition (Human Kinetics, 2018)
    Few sports are as intense as wrestling. The physical training demands total dedication. The mental side requires focus, anticipation and resilience. No letup.Wrestling Tough, Second Edition, will inspire and guide you to achieve the mind-set of a champion. Whether you need to identify the flaws of an opponent, get optimally psyched for a big match, or overcome the adversity inherent in participating in the sport, Wrestling Tough will prepare you to excel and win.

    Mike Chapman, known for his unique expertise, analysis, and insight into the great sport of wrestling, has had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with many of America’s greatest amateurs and professional wrestlers. In the second edition of Wrestling Tough, he shares his insights to take you beyond the physical attributes needed to succeed on the mat:  Explore the attacking mind-set and the importance of psyching up for competition; Gain perspective on the increasing popularity of the sport among women and girls and how female participants are proving their toughness on the mat at all levels;  Examine the rise and importance of funk-style wrestling, through which an individual’s personality is allowed – and encouraged – to shine.

    Glimpse at the key moments in the careers of many great wrestlers and the training methods they used to break through barriers and achieve ultimate successWrestling Tough is loaded with stories, insights, and coaching philosophies from legendary coaches and wrestlers such as Cael Sanderson, Dan Gable, Lee Kemp, John Smith, Tom Brands, and Steve Fraser, and even coaches from other sports such as basketball’s John Wooden and football’s Vince Lombardi. These stories will captivate wrestlers, coaches, and fans of wrestling alike.

    Make your mind a key weapon in your wrestling arsenal. Wrestling Tough provides you the ammunition to develop the mental firepower to win and dominate on the mat.  Soft cover, Kyle Snyder on cover. Just $24

Other Books for Sale

  • The Toughest Men in Sports (Leisure Press, 1983)
    The stories of 11 great combat sport athletes, including Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee. Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey, Dan Gable, Dan Hodge, Wayne Baughman, Frank Gotch, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Gene Tunney and Roberto Duran. Many rare photos. $25.00 (very limited number available). Softcover.
  • The Encyclopedia of American Wrestling (Human Kinetics, 1988)
    A 586-page book full of statistics about wrestling, with every AAU tournament winner since 1888, every NCAA placewinner since 1928 (all 3 divisions), all NAIA placewinners, and Olympic and world team members from the U.S. and their placewinners. Also USA Wrestling nationals from its inception through 1988, including the Junior Nationals. ONLY USED copies for sale – $50 each. Softcover.
  • Gotch: An American Hero (Culture House Books, 1999)
    A historically-based novel about the young man who came off an Iowa farm in the early 1900s to become the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Frank Gotch was a hero to an entire generation of Americans and died tragically at the age of 39. Movie rights to the book have been optioned by a Hollywood film company. $30 (very limited number available). Softcover.
  • Please Don’t Call Me Tarzan (Culture House Books, 2001)
    A biography of movie actor Herman Brix (aka Bruce Bennett). He was an Olympic athlete who arrived in Hollywood in the early 1930s and appeared in over 100 films with such stars as Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford and Ronald Reagan. Considered by many to be the greatest Tarzan actor ever. Beautiful, hardbound, many rare photos. $50.
  • The Gold and The Glory (Culture House Books, 2002)
    A biography of Glenn Morris, 1936 Olympic decathlon champion and movie Tarzan. He served as a naval officer in WWII and later in life suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Many rare photos from the Olympics of 1936 and from his career as Tarzan and as a naval officer. Softcover. $20.
  • The Sport of Lincoln (Culture House Books, 2003)
    The story of Abe Lincoln’s historic wrestling match with Jack Armstrong in New Salem, Illinois, in 1832. A small booklet that tells a very important part of wrestling history. A great educational tool for youngsters. Many illustrations. Softcover. $5.
  • Lowell Park (McMillen Publishing Co., 2003)
    A historical novel about a young woman’s journey back in time to meet Abe Lincoln in 1832 and Ronald Reagan in 1932, in a place called Lowell Park, located near Dixon, Illinois. Movie rights to the book have been optioned by a Hollywood film company. The cover photo is of Ronald Reagan as a lifeguard in 1930. Softcover. $10.
  • Wrestling Tough (Human Kinetics, 2005)
    The mental side of sports. The book delves into the mental aspects of athletic competition, featuring great wrestlers like John Smith, Tom Brands and Dan Gable but also using legends from other sports – such as Muhammad Ali, Walter Payton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many others. Highly praised as a tool for coaches and wrestlers of all ages. 268 pages. Softcover. $15
  • Legends of the Mat (Culture House Books, 2007)
    The biographies of 34 American amateur wrestling champions — including stars like Cael Sanderson, John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Dan Hodge, Lee Kemp, Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner, Wayne Baughman and many others. Oversized, with 188 pages and many photos. Softcover. $22 (hard cover sold out.)
  • Caddock: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder (Culture House Books, 2012)
    The story of Earl Caddock of Walnut, Iowa, who won 3 AAU national titles and then turned professional and became a huge star when professional wrestling was real. Earl won the World heavyweight championship in 1917 and held it for three years. He fought as a doughboy in World War I. A heroic and inspirational story. 34 photos. Softcover. $8.
  • Mike Chapman’s Super Book of Wrestling Trivia (Culture House Books/Brute, 2013)
    Take a journey into the heart of wrestling history. Chapters include Wrestling in Antiquity • Wrestling in College • International Wrestling • Wrestling in the Military • Professional Wrestling • Wrestling in MMA • Wrestling in Popular Culture. 147 pages. Photo section. Softcover. $10
  • Oklahoma Shooter – The Story of Danny Hodge (Culture House Books, Reprinted 2013)
    The amazing story of Dan Hodge, the only man to ever win national titles in both boxing and wrestling. Dan was a three-time NCAA wrestling champion at Oklahoma and went on to a long professional career. He was national Golden Gloves boxing champion in 1958. There are 66 photos in the book, most of them previously unpublished. Legendary WWE announcer J. R. Ross wrote the foreword. Very few remaining. Softcover. $225.
  • Pendleton: The Amazing Story of Columbia’s Wrestling Olympian and Star of Hollywood (Culture House Books, 2015)
    Nat Pendleton became a legend in wrestling. He was a star at Columbia University and earned a silver medal in the 1920 Olympics in Amsterdam. Nat was a key figure in pro wrestling during its transitional shift from athletic contest to show business, and then moved to Hollywood and appeared in nearly 100 movies. His story is both fascinating and inspirational. Foreword by Andy Barth. Softcover. Many rare photos and a list of Nat’s films. Softcover. $10.

Videos Produced

  • Joe Stecher Tribute video DVD
    This video is a tribute to the great Joe Stecher, three-time world heavyweight professional champion in the 1915 to 1030 era. Includes an introduction by Mike Chapman and a very rare brief film clip of Joe wrestling in 1930. Then nearly 20 minutes of the match between Joe Stecher and Earl Caddock for the heavyweight champion-ship of the world, held in 1920 in Madison Square Garden, with narration by Mike Chapman. This is the oldest world championship match known to exist on film. $15
  • The Tom and Terry Brands Story
    Video DVD, produced in 1994 shortly after they both won world titles in 1993. The video takes you behind the scenes with two of the most intense wrestlers of all time. Very rare and no longer available except here in very limited numbers. $30.
  • Bill Smith: A Wrestling Legend (Culture House, 2017)
    Bill Smith, 1952 Olympic champion and five-time national champion, is one of the most important figures in American wrestling history with incredible successes as a collegiate wrestler, freestyle wrestler, Olympian, coach and ambassador for the sport. Now you can share in his remarkable story in this powerful documentary. In this DVD, you will see many rare photos of Bill’s career, and be with Bill as UNI dedicates its official mat in his honor. Other special features include: Bill discussing other wrestling legends and a Family Memories segment. $25.

Other Books Available

  • Gentle Giant: Chris Taylor biography
    Softcover book. $8. (written by Mike Chapman published under different author’s name)
  • Road to Glory: The 1972 Olympic Journey of Ben and John Peterson
    Forewords by Dan Gable and Mike Chapman. Ben Peterson relating his own story and lessons every aspiring athlete encounters on the road to victory. Ben has dedicated himself to helping young athletes become successful in their sport and in life. $16

Other Mike Chapman books that are sold out and only available on the 2nd hand market

  • Siddens! Win with Humility, Lose with Dignity – But Don’t Lose!
    by Don Huff and Mike Chapman, Foreword by Dan Gable, Introduction by Dale Anderson.
  • Two Guys Named Dan (Medallist Publications, 1976) – UNAVAILABLE
    The story of wrestling icons Dan Gable and Dan Hodge.
  • Kings of the Mat (Enterprise Publishing Co., 1978) – UNAVAILABLE
    The story of the rise of the University of Iowa wrestling program.
  • From Gotch to Gable: A History of Iowa Wrestling (The University of Iowa Press, 1981) – UNAVAILABLE
    A history of wrestling in the state of Iowa and the entire Untied States.
  • Evy and the Hawks: The Glory Years (Leisure Press, 1982) – UNAVAILABLE
    The story of football coach Forest Evashesvki. Co-written with Brian Chapman.
  • The New Breed: Living Iowa Wrestling (Leisure Press, 1985) – UNAVAILABLE
    Co-authored with 1984 Olympic champion Lou Banach.
  • GOTCH: World’s Greatest Wrestler (Hein Publications, 1988) – UNAVAILABLE
    The story of wrestling legend Frank Gotch.
  • Nick and the Cyclones (Human Kinetics, 1989) – UNAVAILABLE
    The story of the Iowa State University wrestling program under legendary coach Dr. Harold Nichols.
  • ACHILLES: Son of Peleus, Scourge of Troy (Culture House, 2004) – UNAVAILABLE
    A historical novel about the greatest hero of the Trojan War, telling his “true” story and explaining the mythology of the hero and the war. Culture House Books, 2004. Out of print.
  • The Life and Legacy of Frank Gotch (Paladin Press, Boulder, CO, 2008) – UNAVAILABLE
    An in-depth look at the career of the man many consider the greatest professional wrestler of all time and a pioneer of mixed martial arts. 148 pages, 78 photos. Softcover.
  • Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Four Football Legends (Culture House Books, 2010) – UNAVAILABLE
    Tells the stories of four iconic Iowa sports figures, Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, who met triumph on the football field and then tragedy off the field. Foreword by Jim Zabel, legendary WHO sports announcer. Out of print.
  • Iowa’s Record Setting Governor: The Terry Branstad Story (Business Publications Corporation, Inc., 2015) – UNAVAILABLE
    The remarkable story of how a young lad raised on a farm near a small Iowa town became the longest serving governor in American history. In 2017, President Trump named Branstad the Ambassador to China, and this book is being re-printed by a Chinese book firm. The book is 234 pages with nearly 50 photos.
  • Fighting Back: The Bob Steenlage Story (Bob Steenlage Publications, 1988) – UNAVAILABLE
    The story of one man’s journey from athletic stardom to the Vietnam War, and back from the edge of death. Bob was the first four-time state wrestling champion in Iowa history. Out of Print.