~ Have you ever wondered about the biker you see riding through town, the one suited up with black leather, or the one with the colorful patches on his vest? What drives these men to love life on two wheels? Why is riding a motorcycle so vital to their happiness and what lies beneath the smiles of contentment as they savor the warm wind in their hair? Come along for a ride and discover what sets these men apart from each other, and what binds them together in the fascinating world of the American Biker Culture.
Excerpt
There is another world that exists in our midst, a world of extreme diversity, and virtually unknown to many. Bikers (or motorcyclists) are a most prominent part of our society, yet ignorance and misconceptions pervade which threaten to drive this American subculture to extinction.
My experience has taught me that bikers are indeed a different breed in some aspects, but at the same time in many ways, no different than the rest of the people we pass as we live our daily lives. The reader may not know any of the men in this book, but chances are that one or more of them resemble the bikers in your life. They roar past your house on their motorcycles, they pass you on the street or in the mall as you go about your daily routine. Bikers share more than motorcycles and leather. They share the best years of their lives, together in their own colorful sandbox.
Professional Reviews
The Gloves Come Off
“In her new book, The Gloves Come Off, Lisa Petrocelli takes readers behind the secretive curtain of the biker lifestyle to discover that the American biker is much more than the bad boy image portrayed in films, on TV and in books and newspaper articles. The book offers fifteen road-worthy biographies showing a true cross-section of the motorcycle riding population, from the hardcore Leatherneck, the original Boozefighter, and the one-percenter patch holder, to the biker as caring father, loving husband, and true brother. As one lifelong biker tells us, “Its not just what I do, it’s who I am.” Many books have tried to give readers an idea of what it is like to live, eat and breathe motorcycles, but The Gloves Come Off really delivers. These bikerographies come straight from the heart and that heart beats to the thunderous rhythm of a Harley-Davidson.”
---Dave Nichols, Editor Easyriders & V-Twin Magazine, Paisano
Publications, LLC
The Gloves Come Off
“A good writer doesn’t just go out and do research on the biker world or start right out asking a bunch of questions. No. It doesn’t work like that. Not here. You need to talk to people; get to know them. Show respect. Lisa Petrocelli has done just that in The Gloves Come Off. It’s a great and intimate portrait of the best lifestyle there is!
---Bill Hayes, National Press & Publicity Officer, Boozefighters MC; Author of "The Original Wild Ones,” “American Biker,” and “The One-Percenter Encyclopedia.”
The Gloves Come Off
“This is a strong, well-written book about pride, brotherhood, and faith between brothers. It’s about men and women who share motorcycles, the vehicle of freedom for so many, yet understood by so few.”
---K. Randall Ball, Editor, Bikernet.com & Author of “Terry the Tramp: The Life and Dangerous Times of a One-Percenter”
Exploring the impact of literary icon Flannery O'Connor's noted legacy on the cultural realities of modern-day America, the world, and a certain author.
