The Wrestler's Body tells the story of a way of life organized in terms of physical self-development. While Indian wrestlers are competitive athletes, they are also moral reformers whose conception of self and society is fundamentally somatic. Using the insights of anthropology, Joseph Alter writes an ethnography of the wrestler's physique that elucidates the somatic structure of the wrestler's identity and ideology. Young men in North India may choose to join an akhara, or gymnasium, where they subject themselves to a complex program of physical and moral fitness. Alter's first-hand description of each detail of the wrestler's regimen offers a unique perspective on South Asian culture and society. Wrestlers feel that moral reform of Indian national character is essential and advocate their way of life as an ideology of national health. Everyone is called on to become a wrestler and build collective strength through self-discipline.

"One hell of a book, believe me. Here we have comedy of every kind--of situation, types, manners, ideas, and language--all rolled seamlessly into one, and for the ultimate serious purpose, our sanity. It is the Supreme Fiction toward which the Twentieth century has been steadily advancing from the start."--Hayden Carruth.

Includes cases argued and determined in the District Courts of the United States and, Mar./May 1880-Oct./Nov. 1912, the Circuit Courts of the United States; Sept./Dec. 1891-Sept./Nov. 1924, the Circuit Courts of Appeals of the United States; Aug./Oct. 1911-Jan./Feb. 1914, the Commerce Court of the United States; Sept./Oct. 1919-Sept./Nov. 1924, the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia.

Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler is an insightful behind-the-scenes meditation on the film's provocative characters and the choices they make. Once a hugely successful WWF wrestler, Randy the Ram now ekes out a living performing for diehard wrestling fans from the 1980s in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. But when he suffers a heart attack, Randy's doctor tells him he needs to lay off the steroids and stop wrestling altogether. Forced out of show business, Randy begins to evaluate the state of his life. But the pull of the spotlight is too strong and he attempts once again to find his way back into the ring. Featuring actors Mickey Rourke, Academy award-winning Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood, this book is an extension of Aronofsky's filmic vision, and will contain film stills, the original shooting script, still photos, original art, and observations by its creators, cast, and crew.

One day during his high school gym class, Matt Lindley must wrestle a new student named Ben Cameron. Matt holds his own in the hard-fought bout, then learns that Cameron is a star on the school wrestling team. Over a year later, during college, Matt is even more astonished to discover that Ben has become a Christian like himself. In the ensuing years of visits and letter-writing, Ben inspires Matthew's faith while upending his ideas about the Bible, church, and spiritual experience. Told with honesty, compassion, and humor, The Wrestler is the story of a young man's post-evangelical faith journey and the unlikely friendship that pushes him to grapple with God.