American Outlaw by Jesse James (2011)
In the early days of reality television, you couldn’t turn on a television without catching a glimpse of Jesse James’ mug. Between Discovery specials featuring his motorcycle shop West Coast Choppers, an appearance on The Apprentice, and his hit television series Monster Garage, Jesse James — who claims to be a distant relative of the original outlaw — was on his way to becoming a megastar. Multiple seasons of reality programs featuring James’ boyish looks and bad ass biker attitude made audiences think they knew the real Jesse James. In American Outlaw you’ll discover just how little you know about the man behind the golden handlebars.
James, whose parents separated when he was six years old, spent his formative years living with his father, who was both physically and emotionally abusive. The only thing stable in James’ young life was a constant stream of instability. Before graduating high school, James had been kicked out of his father’s home (after falsely being accused of burning it down), moved in with a high school sweetheart (whom he discovered was cheating on him), and routinely stole and sold cars (until his best friend and cohort in crime turned him in to the police). His only outlet for years of pent up rage was football, and although he excelled at the sport, he was doing time in a juvenile detention center when recruiters came with scholarships. A brief college career was cut short by a freak knee injury on the field.
Before becoming Jesse James the Bike Builder, James worked a variety of jobs — from welding in Seattle to providing security for bands such as Danzig and Slayer. Eventually, James combined his nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic and welding skills and found success in a local hot rod shop. From there he started making motorcycle parts on the side, and by the time he was making ten times his regular salary by selling motorcycle parts on the side, James quit the hot rod business and West Cost Choppers was born.
With no examples of a healthy relationship as a guide, it’s unsurprising to learn about James’ multiple failed marriages. First there was Karla, the mother of his first two children, who filed for divorce after failing to compete with James’ first two loves: work, and alcohol. Then there was Janine, adult film star and mother of his third child, a manic/depressive who seemed more interested in James’ money and fame than him. Finally, the book delves into James five-year marriage to American sweetheart Sandra Bullock, and how it was rocked apart when news of James’ infidelity hit tabloid papers across the globe.
In the book’s final chapters, James leaves California and heads to a rehab facility in Arizona. Never one to be described as a touchy-feely guy, James does ultimately open up about the scars of his childhood. While his initial goal of saving his third marriage fails to pan out, readers can only hope the higher goal of self-healing pans out.
Throughout his whirlwind life, James seems baffled by his own fame, and wonders why anyone would wait in line for an autograph from a “blue collar welding monkey” like himself. But it’s precisely that attitude that draws people to him. At the end of the day, after all the film crews have packed up and gone home, James is still happiest building and riding motorcycles.