AGAINST ALL ODDS

Fans of Chuck Norris may see him as an action hero in the John Wayne mold, but his autobiography presents a different image of the "Walker, Texas Ranger" star. Norris describes himself as a shy youth who finally blossomed while studying martial arts as a soldier in South Korea. His self-deprecating humor shows through anecdotes about karate defeats, white-knuckled speaking engagements, and his failure to become a Los Angeles policeman, which led to his fame as a karate champion. His life philosophies reveal relentless optimism, usually tempered with pragmatism. Norris's son, Michael, reads with an appropriately upbeat tone, actually sounding a little awkward in places, echoing his father's early shyness. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]