Josh Rosenblatt is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in VICE, the Texas Observer, and the Austin Chronicle. Between 2012 and 2014 he was the editor-in-chief of Fightland, VICE Media's mixed martial arts publication. Josh lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Katchen.
Fascinating . . . a highly lucid, very personal meditation on selfhood. - NPR Books Glistens with illuminations about courage and aging. The aim was self-transformation. Win or lose, it was mission accomplished. - Wall Street Journal A story of perilous becoming. - Los Angeles Times A book worth reading not only for those who enjoy MMA and other forms of professional fighting, but for those who are baffled as to why such a bloody sport would ever be appealing. . . . Rosenblatt's observations about being a Jewish athlete are also quite timely. - Salon Rosenblatt offers much food for thought in this intellectual memoir blending sports and self-transformation. - Library Journal A very entertaining and informative chronicle of a quixotic journey of self-examination. - Booklist Over the last several years I've read quite a few books by thoughtful men and women about the lure of various forms of fighting. Josh Rosenblatt's Why We Fight is much the best of this mini-genre. - David Shields, author of The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead This is a terrific story-funny and scary and moving-as well as a thoughtful meditation on bravery, violence, pain, aging, and how getting hit in the face can change your life for the better. - Paul Bloom, Yale University, author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion 'But I was tired of myself, so I said yes.' And thus begins Rosenblatt's journey from chicken to beast. I loved this book mostly for its gorgeous restraint. It ain't a macho brag but rather a piece of Old Testament prophecy. A clarion call advocating the importance of physicality. - Chas Smith, author of Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell: A True Story of Violence, Corruption, and the Soul of Surfing Erudite. - Publishers Weekly