STEVEN VERRIER

Books by Steven Verrier

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The Two-Party Trap

Recipe for Dysfunction in American Politics

The United States has become increasingly polarized, although the concept of a two-party system is not new. This book traces the major parties' utter dominance—of the highest elected positions all the way down to "nonpartisan" political offices across the U.S.—from the founding of the Constitution through the 2020 presidential election.

This book is a comprehensive, fast-paced analysis of how the two-party system has grown to be such an affront to the ideals of the Founding Fathers and of the numerous Americans today who appear to accept it as a fact of life. Never have failures of the two-party system been of greater consequence than in the current day.

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George Gordienko

Canadian Wrestler, Artist and Renaissance Man

George Gordienko may be the best wrestler you've never heard of. From humble immigrant roots in the Canadian Prairies, he endured a tough childhood during the Great Depression to emerge as a leading "shooter" and one-of-a-kind artist on the mat. Excluded from the United States during the McCarthy era and deprived of a world championship for which he was hand-picked by the great Lou Thesz, Gordienko nonetheless used wrestling to get what he really wanted in life: the opportunity to see the world and to transition to a full-time career as the painter and sculptor he'd always dreamed of being. It wasn't an easy road by any means, but what an amazing journey it was. This first full-length biography traces his remarkable life and career.

Slam Wrestling review
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Gene Kiniski

Canadian Wrestling Legend

Gene Kiniski: Canadian Wrestling Legend is an entertaining account of the life of a champion professional wrestler old-time fans and wrestling historians remember well for his accomplishments in the ring, his run-'em over approach to the game, his growly demeanor, and a razor-sharp wit he could unleash at will. Few are aware, however, of what a complex character Gene Kiniski was or what a fascinating life he lived over the course of his 81 years. This first biography of "Canada's Greatest Athlete" draws from interviews with many people who knew Gene Kiniski inside and outside the wrestling ring—from boyhood friends and acquaintances in 1930s/1940s Alberta to fellow wrestlers and promoters who knew him professionally from the 1950s to the early 1990s and on to people who became Kiniski's friends during his retirement in Blaine, Washington, where he was known to do things that turned heads. In Gene Kiniski: Canadian Wrestling Legend, those who knew Kiniski best generously share memories and stories about a man who impacted people around him even more than he impacted wrestling audiences over the course of a memorable life and career.

Slam Wrestling review
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Professional Wrestling in the Pacific Northwest

A History, 1883 to the Present

Introduced in the Pacific Northwest in 1883, professional wrestling has a long and storied history in the region and has contributed significantly to Northwest culture. This entertaining account of the wrestling industry in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia provides a detailed look at more than 130 years of events in the ring and behind the scenes. The author draws connections between developments in wrestling and the changing identity of the Pacific Northwest.

Slam Wrestling review