Eugene Robinson

Some may say that Eugene Robinson is a connoisseur of confrontation. His résumé reads like a running list of jobs where one could capitalize on anger-management issues—the 6'1", 235-pound wall of steel has worked as a bouncer and a body builder, and currently fronts a rock band/"fight club" dubbed Oxbow. He's also been a student of many subsets of the ass-kicking genre, including boxing, Kenpo karate, mixed martial arts, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. Don't let this fool you, though—the man isn't all meat. He has a softer, intellectual side that includes writing gigs with publications such as GQ, L.A. Weekly, and Hustler. In Fight: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ass-Kicking but Were Afraid You'd Get Your Ass Kicked for Asking, Robinson waxes philosophical on exactly what you would expect from a book with such a title—the joys of bloody noses, punching shit, and enjoying the fight, regardless of outcome. Part encyclopedia, part ode to all forms of fighting, Robinson's book delves into all aspects with a highly entertaining, tough-man tone, from tips on how to throw the perfect punch, to hockey fights, and even great fight scenes in cinematic history. Robinson clearly finds joy in pain.
Thu., Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m., 2008