Its that time of year again when I feel obliged to read a book. I'm off on me hols on Saturday and 'need' to arm myself with a paperback. I only ever read autobiographies so was wondering if anybody on here has read a good one recently. Please don't suggest Josephs as I've already read it. My 2 favourites so far have been Alan Sugars and Gary Nevilles.......

I've read a lot of political biographies. Worst was Clintons.....just lists of names of the people he met everyday. The only part that was written from the heart was about the death of his mother.

Johnnie Walker's book was easy to read. All about his life as a Radio Caroline DJ....but very moving when talking about fighting cancer...Crawling around his kitchen floor, wishing he was dead.

Alistair Campbell's book The Blair Years was hugely disappointing. It left out too much especially about Gordon Brown who had just taken over.

Richard Hammond's biography could be read in a day. Book was rushed out following his first major crash. Funny in parts.

Two good biographies are Michael Crick's on Jeffrey Archer and the other on Alex Fergusson.

Christopher Mayer's book is the best political autobiography that I have read. About his time as UK's Ambassador to Washington. I read it at the same time as 2 Obama biogs. They are both ok....stories of childhood and starting in politics.

Sutton-Claret wrote:Its that time of year again when I feel obliged to read a book. I'm off on me hols on Saturday and 'need' to arm myself with a paperback. I only ever read autobiographies so was wondering if anybody on here has read a good one recently. Please don't suggest Josephs as I've already read it. My 2 favourites so far have been Alan Sugars and Gary Nevilles.......

Marmite character but I really enjoyed Russell Brands

Recently enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's and his honesty about mental health, and, more interesting than I thought, Jeremy Paxman. I re-read, time after time, Stephen Fry's two. Frederick Forsyth's is about an amazing life but there is a streak of arrogance that spoils it for me.

On holiday I like to zag on reading, so the last hols I read Craig Revel Horwoods book and found it fascinating. I had a view of him before reading the book and after reading his book had done a complete u turn.

For football related autobiographies; Alan Ball, Garry Nelson and Steve Claridge's are all decent.

As a faux-autobiography, the Damned United is as good a book as you can read.

Favourite autobiographies:

Michael J Fox
John McEnroe
Joey Barton
Roald Dahl
Roger Moore

A mate lent me one I would never have thought of reading Funny Peculiar true story of Benny Hill by Mark Lewisohn strange man and strange family beginnings

A life in parts ...Bryan Cranston....and my personnel football favorate Stan the man..A hard life in Football.

The damned united was an outrageous book that was quite rightly taken to the cleaners.

The best 2 autobiography I have read is Brian Clough - walking on water and Alex Ferguson's from a couple of years ago.

Another football related book that I thought was superb was a season with Verona

Perhaps not strictly an autobiography, buy The Kenneth Williams diaries are a fantastic read.

In production, Teams I have ruined by H.Rednapp

just posted on book recommendation link by mistake 'Richard Burton a life' is brilliant!
there's also one on David Bowie which comes highly recommended.

Barney Curley.

he has written two books about how he has manipulated the bookmakers in Ireland initially then England.

After the first two chapters of his first book about his childhood you cannot put them down

The first one is 'Giving a little Back' and the second 'the sure Thing@. The latter describes how he took millions off the bookies in one day with no hopers running on the all weather

Proud,Gareth Thomas is a powerful account of him coming to terms with his homosexuality, not easy for a rugby hero in the south wales valleys.

Jack Dee "Thanks For Nothing". Terrific fun and hilarious.

Another I've just remembered Twisting my Melon...Shaun Ryder

Claret Tony : A tale of two boards

karatekid wrote:Claret Tony : A tale of two boards

Maybe that's not a bad idea,bet he can tell some tales

One Hump or Two by Frank Worthington - brill!

basil6345789 wrote:One Hump or Two by Frank Worthington - brill!

Thomas Dolby biography a brilliant read, funny stories of his 80's synthpop career followed by his second career in silicone valley and his part in the mobile phone revolution

Paul McGrath , Back from the brink .

Jezzzzzz demons or what , without doubt best one i have read .

David Nivan , The Moons a balloon

Keith Richards - Life

The Fry Chronicles -Stephen Fry

Both very different but equally well written

When you dead, you dead.- Guy Martin

Fly Fishing by J R Hartley. If you can find it........

I bought "last in the Tin Bath" by Bumble for 99p on kindle last week. Don't know if it is any good.

Look At Me Look At Me - Dom Joly

'Open' by Andre Agassi is an incredible read mostly because his father sounds like an absolute nut job. Also because he repeatedly talks about how much he hates tennis which I really didn't expect.

Steve Waugh's is one of the better sport ones I've read.

Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom is a bit of an epic if you can get through the first few chapters.

Duncan Bannatynes 'anyone can do it' was a good read, also enjoyrd Chris Evans books 'It's not what you think' and 'Memoirs of a fruitcake'
Funniest ones were Frank Skinners and Peter Kay's.
Footballing ones, Stan Ternents and a couple of the referee ones, David Ellery and Jeff Winters.

what_no_pies wrote:Look At Me Look At Me - Dom Joly

Isn't that also the title of Saxomans autobiography?

If you like political autobs try Alan Johnson "Please... Mr. Postman". It's part two of a three part autob. The first is his childhood

joey13 wrote:David Nivan , The Moons a balloon

have read this also very funny referring to his relationships with other Hollywood stars in particular Errol Flynn

Whether you like him or not Frank Skinners takes you through many emotions with some superbly "frank" writing. Sorry. Hilarious, sad, moving.

Joe Strummers biography is monumental. A must for any music fan, as it moves from early 70's to 2000's.

Bumble's book is ok, nothing special.

In my opinion for sheer page turning, choose Skinners.

Mine's pretty good.
It's called, "You're Welcome, World."