MWSA Review

Raging Love, a memoir/biography by Jim and Lori King, tells a poignant story of an abused boy who grows into a young man, always seeking approval to fill the void left by his abusive parents. Jimmie D. King was a bright boy, eager to learn but small for his age. He became a target for bullies in school, unable to escape the abuse in what should have been a safe environment.

King bares his soul in Raging Love when he speaks of the simmering rage from years of abuse and how it served him in every sport he played. In therapy, Jimmie finds that rage is not well-received in social settings and personal relationships. He digs deep to face his inner demons, emerging a better human being able to coach and challenge others to their full potential.

Raging Love is a story of a man’s evolution through determination and hard work. Although the book takes a convoluted path through Jimmie’s life, making many detours, the reader sees that perseverance has many dividends.

My favorite quote in the book is: “People aren’t defined by the storm they face; they’re defined by how they react to the storm.” This book is not only for athletes, but for anyone seeking a way out of darkness.

Review by Nancy Panko (May 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Raging Love is about athlete Jimmie D. King’s rise to fame as an angry, chronically injured powerlifting champion to a happy, healthy cyclist and bodybuilder. The reader will witness a man who learns to be at ease with himself through mentoring and coaching others to become a better version of themselves. Raging Love gives us a glimpse at the life and athletic career of Powerlifting National Champion Jimmie D. King. With stunning candor, King shares his intimate and deeply personal perspective—including his challenges and struggles with bullies, physical limitations, childhood abuse, disappointments, oppression, and racism—and how he evolved and adapted over seven decades to stay as close to the ball as possible while learning to serve and develop the talents of others. Far more than a sports memoir, Raging Love is a gripping tale of perseverance and purpose and a reminder that finding one’s path is, above all, an evolution from psychological discipline and mental toughness to forgiveness, spiritual peace, self-knowledge, and self-love.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 160

Word Count: 50,000