Good autobiographies?

**Karlos** · 26/09/2006, 3:42 AM

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.

**BohsPartisan** · 26/09/2006, 7:49 AM

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!

**endabob1** · 26/09/2006, 8:36 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 9:22 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 9:36 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

should read frank skinners.

Originally Posted by endabob1

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** · 26/09/2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by The Stars

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...tml?add=683128
Just after ordering it myself

**RogerMilla** · 26/09/2006, 10:08 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Dodge** · 26/09/2006, 10:18 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 10:45 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 10:49 AM

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** · 26/09/2006, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 26/09/2006, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

man that sounds amazing
have to look out for that book

**cheifo** · 26/09/2006, 12:56 PM

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** · 26/09/2006, 3:01 PM

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** · 26/09/2006, 4:09 PM

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

**jebus** · 26/09/2006, 4:47 PM

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** · 26/09/2006, 5:51 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.