Good autobiographies?

[jebus]

To be honest by the end of Million Little Pieces I had realised that it was all sh!t. Honestly the Mafia guy Leonard and his whole 'you are now my son' bit was cringe worthy, not to mention when Frey claimed he told the Mafia guy to go **** himself, whilst squaring up to him, only for the Mafia guy to like his attitude was obviously false.

Even in the 'what happened after' part when he says that Lily killed herself on the very day he was released from prison almost made me laugh it was so contrived. I'm glad that fake has been exposed for what he is and that his career is now in a million little pieces (see what I did there :D )

[green army]

i finished robbie fowlers book a few weeks ago. good read. he is fairly honest in it.

[BohsPartisan]

i finished robbie fowlers book a few weeks ago. good read. he is fairly honest in it.

How do you know? :confused:
:D

[Nempton]

If you want to read a brilliant sports biography then Tim Park's 'A Season with Verona' is a title I would highly recommend. Most book shops merchandise it wrong so you'll probably find it in travel writing. For people who think that Fowler's is a great football biography then read this.

Another very good autobiography is 'Groucho & Me' by Groucho Marx. He tells straight of that he only wrote this because he got paid a lot of money and that its all lies (so its ten times better than 'A Million Little Pieces'.)

[Block G Raptor]

Bob Geldof's "Is That It?" is one of the best books I've ever read... funny sad moving disgusting all in one. Read it about 15 years ago and still remember it with fondness. if you can get your hands on a copy it essential reading!! 15/10;)

[superfrank]

Pele's is a great read. Easy too.

I want to get Bobby Robson's too. Looks very interesting.

[superfrank]

On the subject of books, has anyone else picked up Paddy Agnew's "Forza Italia"?

[Docboy]

On the subject of books, has anyone else picked up Paddy Agnew's "Forza Italia"?

Yep,really enjoyable read by a very knowledgeable journalist.

[Nempton]

I want to get Bobby Robson's too. Looks very interesting

Seriously please do not read this book. I read it last Christmas and nearly one year on it's still haunting me. Sir Bobby is a nice man and thats the problem he just waffles on with nothing interesting to tell.

'A Season with Verona' = best soccer book going. I really can't stress it enough. For me its the 'High Fidelity' of soccer it had that strong an impact on me and renewed my love for Limerick FC no matter how depressing the club can be at times.

[Lim till i die]

Yep,really enjoyable read by a very knowledgeable journalist.

There's another book that was brought out around the same time "Calcio" can't remember the author at the mo but if your into Italian football it's probably a lot more in-depth than Agnews book (I've read Calcio, only flicked through Forza Italia)

I join Nempton in recommending "A Season with Verona" aswell, if you've ever loved a football club you'll love this book. If you happen to love a crap football club it will quite possibly change your life :)

[superfrank]

Yep,really enjoyable read by a very knowledgeable journalist.I think some of the stories he comes up with are just classic. Especially the one where Del Piero was being interviewed and had to give 2 answers or Paolo Montero on trial.

It really is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

[superfrank]

There's another book that was brought out around the same time "Calcio" can't remember the author at the mo but if your into Italian football it's probably a lot more in-depth than Agnews book (I've read Calcio, only flicked through Forza Italia)

I saw the Calcio book. I was torn between it and Paddy Agnew's when I was in the bookshop. I only had enough for one and Forza Italia was cheaper but I will buy Calcio when I get more money. Looks fairly interesting.

[BohsPartisan]

By John Foot. Best footall book I've ever read.

[pineapple stu]

If you want to read a brilliant sports biography then Tim Park's 'A Season with Verona' is a title I would highly recommend.
Great book, but don't see how it's a biography... :confused: I picked it up in the general sports section of some bookshop, which sounds about right.

Is That It? was an entertaining read, although I don't usually care for biographies. Dunno if it's in print any more, but I found it downstairs in Chapters, if anyone wants to try and find it. Probably on amazon too.

[Nempton]

Great book, but don't see how it's a biography

The book can be classified as such just as you can class it as travel writing. The book is not just an account of Tim Parks personal thoughts and experiences but also focuses on Verona over the season which if you want could also puts it as a sports history. To sum up the broad nature of the book allows me to apply the term 'biography' to it. But I'm glad you agree its a good book, not enough people have read it in my opinion.

[cheifo]

I got George Hook's "time added on" for free so read it and it was a good read

[macdermesser]

"Hand of God" Jimmy Burns

[The Stars]

KING JOHN a book about john charles the welsh international who played for juventus, he never got cautioned or sent off in his career.

LEGEND of a man.They reckon if he played in the World Cup (forget which year,the year the lost to Brazil) Wales might have won it.

[The Stars]

1958, sweden. he was kicked to bits in the match against hungray. brazil won 1-0 in q/final. could have made the semis. the new welsh shirt is the same style as that years.
sorry,that what it was...:o

[lim abroad]

just after buying "a season with verona" on amazon based on the recommendations here,have to say i'm looking forward to reading it

[Lim till i die]

By John Foot. Best footall book I've ever read.

Thats the guy

I take it like myself after reading it you've developed a soft spot for Livorno ;) :)

Cristiano Lucarelli is a legend :ball:

[Lim till i die]

just after buying "a season with verona" on amazon based on the recommendations here,have to say i'm looking forward to reading it

Well worth it, covers far more than just football, plus I guarentee you you'll have it read within two days.

[Tenderloins]

Got 'Back From the Brink' Paul McGraths autobiography at the weekend. Very sad story.
Opens with him descibing the victory over the Italians in the World Cup in 94, how he felt
invincible on the pitch, knew every ball coming in would be headed away by him, knew he'd
clear every ball, block every shot. That night the team celev=brated that night he sat content in the team bus by himself.
He then goes on to describe himself in a cell in the police station, his belt and shoelaces being
removed for his own safety. His betrayal of those around him because of his problems with drink.
He describes the end of his career, addicted to tranquilers as well as drink, recounting how when getting a lift to training he'd ask
the younger players driving him, to stop so he could get a few cans before training....
His childhood, going from being given up by his Mother to Foster care, then going into institutions from 5 to 16.
Finding that he had a sister, that his Mother kept.......
Its a brutally honest book, whilst not exactly entertaining, very hard to put down.

[skimcgee]

Giving a Little Back by Barney Curley is an excellent read for any Horse Racing/Gambling fans...........

[stann]

Nothing much to add to the reviews of the soccer bios, except to say that Full Time is the best I've read and Only One Red Army the best Irish one.

On a whole different tack, though, my favourite autobiog is still probably Bring On The Empty Horses, David Niven's second one that deals mostly with his time in Hollywood (The first, The Moon's A Balloon, is only alright, more about his life outside films though). Lots of very funny tales, especially the one that relates to the title. 'You think I know f*ck nothing! But I tell you, I know f*ck all!!!' :D

[bennocelt]

just finished reading Bill Hicks , written by his friend, not bad, still cant believe he died at the age of 32