Inspired by the other thread about non-fictional books.
Can you guys recommend me any good autobiographies?
Which ones are must-reads etc.
Can you guys recommend me any good autobiographies?
Which ones are must-reads etc.
Autobiographies
- Thread starter Maroon Lucifer
- Start date
Only one I've really enjoyed recently was John Peels. If you ever enjoyed him on the radio, or TV, I'd highly recommend it. Unfortunatly he only got half way through before he died and the 2nd half (written by his wife) doesn't have quite the same charm or personality. Peel's half though is brilliant, even for those unaware of his significance.
Michael Caine's was funny..
The biography of Billy Connolly titled "Billy" is excellent. I know, you're going to have a go at me because it's not 'auto', but it was written by his wife, and has had heavy input from him, he just couldn't be arsed writing it. Think of it as heavy handed ghost writing.
The Guv'nor by Lenny McLean is a good one, I dare say a hell of a lot of fiction and twisting put in there, as otherwise you'd be inclined to believe this man would ahve won the Falklands single-handledly, but a great read none the less.
Sticking with the criminal theme, and enjoying a strong Man United twist, I'd highly reccomend my mate Colin Blaney's biography Grafters by Milo Books, a brilliant read and will have you laughing with bis reminiscing of tales of thieving whilst watching United abroad.
Sticking with the criminal theme, and enjoying a strong Man United twist, I'd highly reccomend my mate Colin Blaney's biography Grafters by Milo Books, a brilliant read and will have you laughing with bis reminiscing of tales of thieving whilst watching United abroad.
On that theme, the one by the bloke from Reservoir Dogs was alright. Eddie Bunker, I think.
Mr Blue?
Have skimmed-read it so to speak in library once, some good content. Blaney actually reccomended me that, he was Sant Quentin's youngest ever inmate apparently. Grafter Col says the reason he didn't crack America with his robbing was because he was too scared to try in case he ended up in the nicks there and copped a bumming. As Eddie Bunker says "it's blood on the blade or shit on the dick, your choice"....
I read Eric Claptons auotbiography and its really good.
Having watched all episodes of 'Oz' there is no way I'm ever committing a crime here. I mean, what gang would a Brit belong to? I suppose the Aryans might try and recruit me but I think they're mostly bum bandits of choice anyway. I'd be raped for sure by Jingles.
I've only ever read one - Roy Keane's - thought it was quality.
Nelson Mandela's autobiography is one of the most gripping, inspiring, unputdownable books I've read.
Malcolm X's one is interesting, although written with a view towards re-ingratiating himself with the leader of the Nation of Islam Elijah Muhammad, whom he was estranged from at the time. It was also written before he had his personal transformation at Mecca, after he which began preaching a 'let's all get along' type message.
The first half of Charlie Chaplin's one is absolutely brilliant, detailing the story of his childhood in the poorest part of London, raised by a single Mum who lost her livelihood as a singer after her voice deserted her and then descended into madness, and then his eventual rise as a performer. The second half is not as captivating, but that tends to happen in autobiographies after the story of the subject's initial struggle is over.
Richard Branson's one is also worth a look, although it suffers from the same problems as Chaplin's.
Malcolm X's one is interesting, although written with a view towards re-ingratiating himself with the leader of the Nation of Islam Elijah Muhammad, whom he was estranged from at the time. It was also written before he had his personal transformation at Mecca, after he which began preaching a 'let's all get along' type message.
The first half of Charlie Chaplin's one is absolutely brilliant, detailing the story of his childhood in the poorest part of London, raised by a single Mum who lost her livelihood as a singer after her voice deserted her and then descended into madness, and then his eventual rise as a performer. The second half is not as captivating, but that tends to happen in autobiographies after the story of the subject's initial struggle is over.
Richard Branson's one is also worth a look, although it suffers from the same problems as Chaplin's.
Paul McGrath. His is almost too honest. But a brilliant read
Aye, if you only read one footie autobiography, read that one.
I just assumed you were after non-footie ones.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes - Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know.
Incredible man, incredible life.
Incredible man, incredible life.
Roy Keane's was really good and i enjoyed Giggs' and Stam's too. Beckham's was better than i thought it would be, Rooney's was pretty crap (understandable) and i was bought Lewis Hamilton's and Amir Khan's but to be honest i'm not interested so i haven't read them
David Niven's The Moon's a Balloon is a good read.
Anthony Keidis' one is one of the more fecked up autobiographies around.
His old man was a big coke dealer in Hollywood and gave him his first line when he was 8, and then allowed Anthony to feck his his 18 year old girlfriend when he was 12. The whole book is just one fecked up story after another, and to be fair, after a while you get so desensitised to it that it starts to get a bit dull through repetition.
His old man was a big coke dealer in Hollywood and gave him his first line when he was 8, and then allowed Anthony to feck his his 18 year old girlfriend when he was 12. The whole book is just one fecked up story after another, and to be fair, after a while you get so desensitised to it that it starts to get a bit dull through repetition.
The motley crue autobiography: The Dirt.
The first two thirds of this book are quality as some of the things they got up to and the way they lived are something else. It loses its way towards the end though but still worth a good read.
Slash's autobiography is good too, I didn't realise how much of a junkie/alchoholic he actually was.
I also agree with Melbourne about Anthony Keidis. Some good stuff in there but it loses its way and gets a bit preachy too. Interesting to read about some of the songs though!
The first two thirds of this book are quality as some of the things they got up to and the way they lived are something else. It loses its way towards the end though but still worth a good read.
Slash's autobiography is good too, I didn't realise how much of a junkie/alchoholic he actually was.
I also agree with Melbourne about Anthony Keidis. Some good stuff in there but it loses its way and gets a bit preachy too. Interesting to read about some of the songs though!
That was going to be my pick, written in conjunction with Alex Haley (guy that wrote Roots), I was very impressed and inspired by this book.
It did cover his life after he returned from Mecca, where he learnt the brotherhood of man be they black white arab etc as he and Haley worked on it shortly before his death in 1965
Angelo Dundee's was good as the trainer of two of the best boxers of the last century (Ali and Leonard) amongst others he has some great stories and experiences to share from their corner
Aye, but that bit seemed to have been thrown in there as a bit of a postscript. The rest of it was written before the Mecca trip, while he was still hoping to be readmitted into the Nation, and it has a very overt 'white man is the devil' message which contrasts heavily with what he says in the last chaper, while the way he waxes lyrical about EM throughout the book is a very obvious indication of his agenda.
Great Book. One of my my favorite autobiographies. Im not a huge RHCPs fan either.
Recently finished Slash (from Guns & Roses) - really enjoyed it. Some incredible tales.
Frank SKinner's is the best I've ever read. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.
I read that a few years back, If I remember he jumped from past to present and didn't have a set structure but it made the book read well as it kept it fresh.
Maybe so but you can't discredit it for that reason. The fact remains he did have that change of heart
and sexualality if you believe that thread in the general
Yeah, I thought that was a pretty good way to keep the readers interested.