12 rounds in Lo's Gym : boxing, and manhood in Appalachia

Questions of class and gender in Appalachia have, in the wake of the 2016 presidential election and the runaway success of Hillbilly Elegy , moved to the forefront of national conversations about politics and culture. From Todd Snyder, a first generation college student turned college professor, comes a passionate commentary on these themes in a family memoir set in West Virginia coal country. 12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym is the story of the author’s father, Mike “Lo” Snyder, a fifth generation West Virginia coal miner who opened a series of makeshift boxing gyms with the goal of providing local at-risk youth with the opportunities that eluded his adolescence. Taking these hardscrabble stories as his starting point, Snyder interweaves a history of the region, offering a smart analysis of the costs—both financial and cultural—of an economy built around extractive industries. Part love letter to Appalachia, part rigorous social critique, readers may find 12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym —and its narrative of individual and community strength in the face of globalism’s headwinds—a welcome corrective to popular narratives that blame those in the region for their troubles. "Questions of class and gender in Appalachia have, in the wake of the 2016 presidential election and the runaway success of Hillbilly Elegy, moved to the forefront of national conversations about politics and culture. From Todd Snyder, a first generation college student turned college professor, comes a passionate commentary on these themes in a family memoir set in West Virginia coal country. 12 Rounds in Lo's Gym is the story of the author's father, Mike "Lo" Snyder, a fifth generation West Virginia coal miner who opened a series of makeshift boxing gyms with the goal of providing local at-risk youth with the opportunities that eluded his adolescence. Taking these hardscrabble stories as his starting point, Snyder interweaves a history of the region, offering a smart analysis of the costs--both financial and cultural--of an economy built around extractive industries. Part love letter to Appalachia, part rigorous social critique, readers may find 12 Rounds in Lo's Gym--and its narrative of individual and community strength in the face of globalism's headwinds--a welcome corrective to popular narratives that blame those in the region for their troubles"-- Provided by publisher Questions of class and gender in Appalachia have, in the wake of the 2016 presidential election and the runaway success of , moved to the forefront of national conversations about politics and culture. From Todd Snyder, a first generation college student turned college professor, comes a passionate commentary on these themes in a family memoir set in West Virginia coal country.__12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym__ Part love letter to Appalachia, part rigorous social critique, readers may find —and its narrative of individual and community strength in the face of globalism’s headwinds—a welcome corrective to popular narratives that blame those in the region for their troubles. Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Prelude: Mountain Violence Part 1: Corner Men Chapter 1: Fighting Noah Milton Chapter 2: Tough Men Chapter 3: Lo's Gym Chapter 4: Flex and the Rumble on the Hill Chapter 5: Street Preacher Part 2: Counterpunchers Chapter 6: The unlikely Reincarnation Story of Rick Cogar Chapter 7: Jeremiah and the Three Bears Chapter 8: Ring Girls Chapter 9: Appalachian Underdogs of the Squared Circle Part 3: Split Decisions Chapter 10: Prizefighters Chapter 11: Hillbilly Jefferson Chapter 12: Premature Stoppage Dedication: Fighting Naton Leslie Notes Index Prelude. Mountain violence part I. Corner men : the Eden story of Lo's Gym Boxing Club 1. Fighting Noah Milton 2. Tough men 3. Lo's Gym 4. Flex and the rumble on the hill 5. Street preacher part II. Counterpunchers : parables of Coal Country pugilism 6. The unlikely reincarnation story of Rick Cogar 7. Jeremiah and the three bears 8. Ring girls 9. Appalachian underdogs of the squared circle part III. Split decisions : stories from the championship rounds 10. Prizefighters 11. Hillbilly Jefferson 12. Premature stoppage Dedication : fighting Naton Leslie.