Good autobiographies?

[The Stars]

can peolpe recommend some please?

read Lance Armstrongs book...10/10
George Best.....8/10
Johnny Cash...9/10

read Eamon Sweeneys "theres only one red army" recently...i know its not a autobiography but is an excellent read also.

Any sports or Music related books?

[DmanDmythDledge]

I found David Beckham's to be good. 8/10. Sir Alex Ferguson's is good as well. But the best book I've read is "Roy Keane, Red Man Walking" by Frank Worrell. Not an autobioghraphy you were looking for, but by far the best biography/autobiography I've read.

I've got Pelé's autobiography but haven't got around to reading it yet. Anyone know if it's any good?

[drinkfeckarse]

I found David Beckham's to be good. 8/10. Sir Alex Ferguson's is good as well. But the best book I've read is "Roy Keane, Red Man Walking" by Frank Worrell. Not an autobioghraphy you were looking for, but by far the best biography/autobiography I've read.

I've got Pelé's autobiography but haven't got around to reading it yet. Anyone know if it's any good?


Agree with all the above as I've read them all too and found Keane's to be brilliant. Niall Quinns was a decent read also. Robbie Fowlers has some good bits in it.

Pele's was ok, nothing to write home about though.

[finlma]

read Lance Armstrongs book...10/10

Very debatable - don't have any time for him.

If you're into cycling and the Kimmage haters will love this read Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage.

Sport
Tony Cascarino - Full Time (brilliant book)
Ronnie O'Sullivan - decent read, he's a mixed up lad.
Seabiscuit - I know horse can't write but its a good old yarn. I've never seen the flick.

Non-Sport
Shane McGowan

[BohsPartisan]

Leon Trotsky - My Life (a lot more entertaining than you'd imagine) 10/10

Good writing style, humorous in parts, invaluble historical document, anatomy of a Revolutionary - it has it all. If you are interested in History/Politics this is well worth the read IMBO.

[Billsthoughts]

Ali by Thomas Hauser(I think thats his name)
great book full of anecdotes....
and another one I am reading the mo is about the iraq war. I think its called fiasco by thomas e ricks. well interesting and dispells a few myths about the whole thing.

[Anto McC]

How many of these were wrote by the people themselves and not just ghost written?

I point blank refuse to read a biography thats been ghost written because with most of them,it's almost always 50% lies!

(I do realise that in some cases,it's beyond control because that person may be dead but i still refuse,it's easier to lie when there is no one to refute the claims)

[Sheridan]

How many of these were wrote by the people themselves and not just ghost written?

I point blank refuse to read a biography thats been ghost written because with most of them,it's almost always 50% lies!
As opposed to a self-penned memoir which is invariably 100% lies?

[Anto McC]

As opposed to a self-penned memoir which is invariably 100% lies?

I suppose it becomes a matter of how much you believe whoevers book you happen to be reading but i'd rather read,lets say for example,Roy Keanes own lies than Eamonn Dunpheys lies about Roy Keane!

[dahamsta]

I read Cascarino's, great book.

[PaulB]

I found David Beckham's to be good. 8/10. Sir Alex Ferguson's is good as well. But the best book I've read is "Roy Keane, Red Man Walking" by Frank Worrell. Not an autobioghraphy you were looking for, but by far the best biography/autobiography I've read.

I've got Pelé's autobiography but haven't got around to reading it yet. Anyone know if it's any good?

Pele's book is ****e, don't waste your money. reading Gordon Starachans at the moment, not bad. A good read is Richard bransons autobiography, a great read..

[finlma]

How many of these were wrote by the people themselves and not just ghost written?

I point blank refuse to read a biography thats been ghost written because with most of them,it's almost always 50% lies!

(I do realise that in some cases,it's beyond control because that person may be dead but i still refuse,it's easier to lie when there is no one to refute the claims)

95% of biographies are ghost written and I don't understand how you can say there is a difference. The person must sign off and read the biography before it is published so its the same as them writing it.

The only difference is ghost writers are usually talented writers. Most footballers wouldn't have the best English or be the most articulate and I'd prefer to read about their life in an entertaining format.

So tell us Anto, who's self-written biographies have you read?? I'm not too sure I know any.

[dahamsta]

A good read is Richard bransons autobiography, a great read..Must get that, I'm a big fan. First chapter here (http://www.virgin.com/aboutus/autobiography/).

Have you read Screw It, Let's Do It, and if so is it any good? I love the title.

adam

[bennocelt]

Very debatable - don't have any time for him.

If you're into cycling and the Kimmage haters will love this read Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage.

Sport
Tony Cascarino - Full Time (brilliant book)
Ronnie O'Sullivan - decent read, he's a mixed up lad.
Seabiscuit - I know horse can't write but its a good old yarn. I've never seen the flick.

Non-Sport
Shane McGowan

damn....got there before me.....Cascarinos is a must for all football fans....funny to see how he blow a lot of his savings away on gambling

also Dunphys first book.cant remember the name, about his life as a millwall player is considered one of the best football books of all time,

[Neish]

Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugerman, is a book I can't recomend strongly enough great read. (For any of you who don't know who Dany Sugerman is. He is the former manager of the Doors and later managed Iggy Pop)

Other one I would recomend
Long walk to Freedom-Nelson Mandela

Mr Nice-Howard Marks

[Anto McC]

95% of biographies are ghost written and I don't understand how you can say there is a difference. The person must sign off and read the biography before it is published so its the same as them writing it.

The only difference is ghost writers are usually talented writers. Most footballers wouldn't have the best English or be the most articulate and I'd prefer to read about their life in an entertaining format.

So tell us Anto, who's self-written biographies have you read?? I'm not too sure I know any.

Are you trying to tell me that none of the stuff is made up by these ghost writers?

Mick Foley's (http://www.amazon.com/Have-Nice-Day-Blood-Sweatsocks/dp/0060392991) is the only one,as i said i tend not to read biographys because a lot of it is pure lies. I've also read one or two from about people who are dead but again i wouldn't take anything from them as 100% truth. I've read Tim Pat Coogans on DeValera and Michael Collins!

[Billsthoughts]

should read frank skinners.deffo not ghost written. its all over the shop.
very funny as well. and niall quinns is actually really funny as well. am i the only one who always skips the early life part of autobiographys? just no interest in childhoods. the keane book is a really bad starting point as it is a brutal book. interesting and all but dunphy made an arse of it. his matt busby book is actually fascinating. his only a game book is okish nuthin special. suffers from the same issues as rough ride.the kimmage book again is not great. he would admit that the writing style is poor himself. and its actually quite a depressing read about someone who at the time seemed to lack a personality. the new edition of it has a great updated chapter bout drugs in sport tho. proving what a class writer kimmage turned out to be.

[Dr.Nightdub]

Jimmy Boyle - "A Sense of Freedom". Absolutely searing indictment of the prison system and at the same time a magnificent testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Best autobiography I ever read.

[Eoingull]

I'm not trying to be funny, but I thought Boy George's "Take it like a Man" was gas...fun, informative, and very camp!!!

[cheifo]

Mr Nice as mentioned by Neish is very entertaining and very funny.Dont find him interesting but have to admit Quinns book was an easy read.Dunphys book with Keane was so bad I could not bring myself to finish it.I am presently reading The best of Myles, a compilation of Flann OBrien writings and its very good especially considering its gathered from the forties.BTW, top thread.

[Karlos]

In the sporting world I throughly enjoyed Tony Adams book 'Addicted', Maradonna's autobiography & former Denver Bronco's player Bill Romanowski's book 'Romo'.

I'm currently reading 'Faithful' which is a fan diary of the Boston Red Sox World Series year in 2004 written by Stewart O'Nan and horror writer Stephen King. Great read so far despite me not being overly in tune with the world of baseball. :)

Outside of sport, one of my favourite's has to be music legend Miles Davis' book. Great read from start to finish with some amazing light shed on the music world back in the day.

:ball:

[BohsPartisan]

Well Trotsky's is definitely not Ghost written. Besided the fact that he was already an accomplished writer and journalist, he didn't believe in ghosts!
:D

[endabob1]

As mentioned earlier Frank Skinner's is excellent, well worth the read.
Tony Cass & Paul Kimmage are both good books too.

The 2 Garry Nelson books, left foot forward and left foot in the grave are excellent reads, a real insight to life outside the big time and a million miles from the the Beckam/Terry/Rooney/Lampard/Gerrard stereotype books.
I really enjoyed Gazza's book too (My Story), very honest sad and funny.
Away from sport Nelson Mandela's long walk to freedom is inspiring stuff. I really enjoyed Richard Branson's loosing my virginity and Billy Braggs semi-auto-biog Still suitable for miners.

[tetsujin1979]

Roald Dahl's 2 books - Boy and Flying Solo - are both good reads, I prefer Flying Solo myself, it includes the first short story he ever had published.

[The Stars]

was thinking of getting Nelson Mandelas book and its getting good reviews on this so will get it.
Was lookng for Maradona's book,but cant find it in Sligo.....

[Neish]

should read frank skinners.


As mentioned earlier Frank Skinner's is excellent, well worth the read.


Yeah Skinners book is great, was surprissed when I read he didn't get into the comedy circut untill he was in his 30's(or there abouts).

Also loved the quote which went some thing like" Only one thing should matter when choosing you football team Geography"

[Neish]

Was lookng for Maradona's book,but cant find it in Sligo.....
Was for that one myself for ages and had forgot about it Your post reminded me about it and I found it here http://www.play.com/Books/Books/PROD/3-/683128/-/Product.html?add=683128
Just after ordering it myself :D

[RogerMilla]

from the above list i loved mr nice , tony cas's book, mandelas long walk to freewdom, and hausers Ali bio
i would recommend Malcolm X's autobigraphy to anyone , it's one of the best i have read

[BohsPartisan]

Roald Dahl's 2 books - Boy and Flying Solo - are both good reads, I prefer Flying Solo myself, it includes the first short story he ever had published.

Read those years ago. Can't remember much about them other than that I enjoyed them.

[Dodge]

In football, like Dunphy's Only a Game, Nelson's Left foot Forward as already mentioned. Thought Keane's book was awful tbh. Maradona's autobiography is hilarious. Read it with Jimmy Burns biography to see just how mad he was.

In other sports, Armstong's book isn't an easy read but I found it worthwhile.

Robert Evans, The Kids stays in the Picture is absolutely brilliant if you're into films. One of the best books I've ever read.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I've read 'Are You Experienced' by the late Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist) a couple of times ...the second time with a notepad and pencil to hand as there's a couple of chapters that are unavoidably heavy on legalese, business law and a trail of puppet companies set up to hide Hendrix Experience money.

It's a facinating insight into what actually can and I'm sure still does go on in rock'n'roll.

There's some terrible injustices and sadness in it - after taking his legal battles as far as he could he settled for a relatively paltry thirty odd thousand quid in the mid 1970's -when in reality he was owed millions.

He rebuilt his life in Ireland and his partner and co-writer Carol Appleby helped him write the book. Sadly shortly before the book was published in 1991, Carol was killed in a car crash down near Mallow.

There's some very funny stuff in it as well though and some victories too. He tells how the drummer from the Dave Clarke Five suffered similar problems but managed to put enough money together to go back to college, got a degree in business law, sued the holes off everyone and got every penny due to him back ...now that's how you save on your legal expenses.

[Mouthpiece]

On a sporting note some of the best are

Robbie Fowler,
Steve McManaman
Roy Keane whether you hate him or not
Nobby Stiles
Denis Law
Blessed by George Best, the other 2 are ****e
There's a great joint biography of the Charlton's by Leo McKinstry - best sports book I've ever read.

Non Sporting
Mo Mowlem,
Branson (again)
Terry Wogan's first one, very entertaining.
Piers Morgan's book about the tabloid industry

[Billsthoughts]

I've read 'Are You Experienced' by the late Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist) a couple of times ...the second time with a notepad and pencil to hand as there's a couple of chapters that are unavoidably heavy on legalese, business law and a trail of puppet companies set up to hide Hendrix Experience money.

It's a facinating insight into what actually can and I'm sure still does go on in rock'n'roll.

There's some terrible injustices and sadness in it - after taking his legal battles as far as he could he settled for a relatively paltry thirty odd thousand quid in the mid 1970's -when in reality he was owed millions.

He rebuilt his life in Ireland and his partner and co-writer Carol Appleby helped him write the book. Sadly shortly before the book was published in 1991, Carol was killed in a car crash down near Mallow.

There's some very funny stuff in it as well though and some victories too. He tells how the drummer from the Dave Clarke Five suffered similar problems but managed to put enough money together to go back to college, got a degree in business law, sued the holes off everyone and got every penny due to him back ...now that's how you save on your legal expenses.

didnt he buy the rights to ready steady go? or something like that?
poor noel got shafted and Mitch Mitchell the experience drummer didnt dare much better....had to sell off a load of hendrix guitars to make ends meet...
I think a lot of the problems arose from fact that Jimi signed a rake of contracts just to get instant cash...

[bennocelt]

I've read 'Are You Experienced' by the late Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist) a couple of times ...the second time with a notepad and pencil to hand as there's a couple of chapters that are unavoidably heavy on legalese, business law and a trail of puppet companies set up to hide Hendrix Experience money.

It's a facinating insight into what actually can and I'm sure still does go on in rock'n'roll.

There's some terrible injustices and sadness in it - after taking his legal battles as far as he could he settled for a relatively paltry thirty odd thousand quid in the mid 1970's -when in reality he was owed millions.

He rebuilt his life in Ireland and his partner and co-writer Carol Appleby helped him write the book. Sadly shortly before the book was published in 1991, Carol was killed in a car crash down near Mallow.

There's some very funny stuff in it as well though and some victories too. He tells how the drummer from the Dave Clarke Five suffered similar problems but managed to put enough money together to go back to college, got a degree in business law, sued the holes off everyone and got every penny due to him back ...now that's how you save on your legal expenses.

man that sounds amazing
have to look out for that book

[cheifo]

I saw the film Biog of "The Kid Stays In The Picture" and it was excellant so must get the book.BTW for those of you that read "Mr Nice" has anyone ever heard anythingmore about that mad McCann character.Marks definately did not make him up because he was mentioned briefly by a journalist who said he was the most extraordinary person he ever met.

[osarusan]

King of the World - by David Remnick.

A book about Ali, and how he changed boxing, and how he helped to change America.

Not the usual biography, as it includes biographies of lots of other fighters (Ali doesnt really appear until about page 50), but a fantastic book.

[Irish Fan]

Gazza`s book is class......a must read!

[jebus]

The best bio's I've ever read are:

Mick Foley: Have a Nice Day
Howard Marks: Mr.Nice
Hunter S Thompson: Kingdom of Fear

and also the autobiograhies of Henry Hill(goodfellas) and Robert Evans (the kid stays in the picture)

[osarusan]

Jimmy Boyle - "A Sense of Freedom". Absolutely searing indictment of the prison system and at the same time a magnificent testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Best autobiography I ever read.


A testament to the resilience and spirit of a complete b@stard more like it.

A good read, and yes, a worthy indictment of an archaic prison system, but the guy was no hero.

[Docboy]

Papillion - by Henri Charriere.

Just finished it, hugely entertaining.

[osarusan]

Papillion - by Henri Charriere.

Just finished it, hugely entertaining.

Aye, a great read, but found it a bit suspicous that he always became the leader of every group and all that.

Also, on his last escape with the guy on the sack of coconuts on the quicksand, I bet he killed him.

The books accuracy has been criticized also.

[The Stars]

Getting Maradona's book tomorrow,had to order it in.
After i read that,i think Mick Foleys will be the next one.
Saw Lance Armstrong has a follow up to "Its Not About The Bike",cant think of the name now but dont think there is much more to find out about him so will pass on that one.
Ali's book should be good aswell....

[finlma]

Papillion - by Henri Charriere.

Just finished it, hugely entertaining.

Forgot about that - fantastic read. Like most stories, it grew a few arms and legs but that doesn't stop it being thorughly enjoyable.

Ah, to live with a bunch of Indians and have a pair of sister wives.

[dahamsta]

The book is called "Papillon", in case anyone is searching for it. Looks good, me adds to wish list.

[finlma]

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey is also brilliant. Nothing to do with sport but all about how a lad tries to get his life back after an alcohol and drug addiction.

[Neish]

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey is also brilliant. Nothing to do with sport but all about how a lad tries to get his life back after an alcohol and drug addiction.

Not sure if you heard but he was found out to have embellished and fabricated a lot of the events from the book. I had read both his books("A Million little pieces" and the sequel "My Friend Lenoard") then lent them to a mate who typed his name into the net and got loads of links about his lies. See link below

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0104061jamesfrey1.html

Still its a great read.

Sorry to wreck a good tale for you.

[Schumi]

As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me is great. It's about this German WWII soldier who escapes from a Soviet prisoner of war camp in the far East of Siberia and eventually makes it to Israel, most of the way on foot.

[finlma]

Sorry to wreck a good tale for you.

I heard that before alright but it doesn't bother me too much. Its still pretty close to the truth, just dramatised a bit to make it more exciting.

[dahamsta]

It's not even close to the truth finlma. If you haven't read the Smoking Gun refutation Neish linked, you should; that muppet turned a couple of misdemeanors and a little soft drug usage into major felonies and hard drug addictions. The guy is a lying sack of crap; the books are utter bull.

adam

[Anto McC]

Which isn't exactly but close to the point i was making initally!