Scan barcode
timo418's review against another edition
4.0
For those who don't really know anything about cricket, Shane Warne was one of the greatest cricket players this world has ever seen. If you think of football (soccer), you can compare him to players like Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo and Messi and I believe most of these players wouldn't really get a stadium level memorial service. Shane Warne did. He is unfortunately not with us anymore but his spirit lives on.
This is a very good autobiography. It doesn't fail like many sports book do by listing only scoreboards and end results of matches, although there's a fair share of the game itself too. Its focus is on the star himself. His life, how he became a world class cricket star and what events shaped his life and his path on the way to stardom.
If you don't know much about cricket (like me) it's still an entertaining read and very much recommended to anyone who's interested in all kinds of sports.
This is a very good autobiography. It doesn't fail like many sports book do by listing only scoreboards and end results of matches, although there's a fair share of the game itself too. Its focus is on the star himself. His life, how he became a world class cricket star and what events shaped his life and his path on the way to stardom.
If you don't know much about cricket (like me) it's still an entertaining read and very much recommended to anyone who's interested in all kinds of sports.
apcommaille's review against another edition
2.0
I was quite excited to read this book, and the first half of the book was fairly interesting. I enjoyed a lot of his reminisces, especially some of his interactions with characters in and outside the game. I also enjoyed the recollections of some exciting games.
The book has a friendly conversational tone. Shane chatting with a mate. That's quite nice, and gives the reader a nice insight into the character that he is. The recollections are a bit scatty though: he'll be telling you a story and then suddenly veer off to another. He'll always come back, but it can be hard to keep up sometimes (so long can the digressions be). Sadly, I really feel that an editor is missing. I have recollections of Mark Nicholas at St George's Park about 20 years ago, and perhaps I'm not much of a fan. I'm not sure what his role in this book was, whether he was an editor, or simply a guide for Warne. But the book would have benefited from an editor or ghost writer, at least to focus the stories and keep the chapters a bit tidier.
In the end I was begging for it to be over, and the chapters following his final retirement after the IPL tended to waft, and painfully so. I really wanted to love this one.
Shane, you're a great bloke. But the book is not my favourite.
The book has a friendly conversational tone. Shane chatting with a mate. That's quite nice, and gives the reader a nice insight into the character that he is. The recollections are a bit scatty though: he'll be telling you a story and then suddenly veer off to another. He'll always come back, but it can be hard to keep up sometimes (so long can the digressions be). Sadly, I really feel that an editor is missing. I have recollections of Mark Nicholas at St George's Park about 20 years ago, and perhaps I'm not much of a fan. I'm not sure what his role in this book was, whether he was an editor, or simply a guide for Warne. But the book would have benefited from an editor or ghost writer, at least to focus the stories and keep the chapters a bit tidier.
In the end I was begging for it to be over, and the chapters following his final retirement after the IPL tended to waft, and painfully so. I really wanted to love this one.
Shane, you're a great bloke. But the book is not my favourite.
abhireadingnotes's review against another edition
4.0
This book would make my list of 'Top 5 Cricket Autobiographies'. It helps you understand Warne beyond the cricket field. He was once an Aussie Rules football player but then shifted to cricket when he knew football would not work for him. There were a lot of controversies he had to endure like a potential match fixing scandal, a year long ban for drugs, media images of his private texts to women and more. But what came through the most was his deep passion and love for the game. He had a briliant cricket mind. You would not get 700 wickets if he did not have one. But he was also a good captain as seen from his stints at Rajasthan Royals and Hampshire. He did not get along too well with the later batch of Australian cricketers (Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh) but got along really well with the group of the early 90's (Mark Waugh, Allan Border). This book is most importantly an ode to the art of leg spin bowling by one of its greatest proponents. If you like leg spin bowling you will have a lot to look forward to in this book.
rockydahiyausa's review against another edition
5.0
This is a proper autobiography of a sportsperson who has not eschewed revealing any details from his on and off-field life!
timtamothy's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, I think Mark Nicholas did an excellent job capturing Warney's voice - gee, he gets in your head though, doesn't he?!
Bottom line: Would recommend!
3 further points (besides all the cricket stuff, which is mainly why I read and loved the book):
1. I really enjoyed how this book starts with Warney's family history and also candidly goes through his journey from wanting to be an AFL player, to not knowing where he was headed, to really working hard on his cricket.
2. It was also interesting going through all of his 'scandals' from his perspective. There were times when I did empathise or sympathise with him but you also have to filter through his words.
3. I found all the Kerry/James Packer and Eddie McGuire stuff pretty insufferable, but it was interesting to learn about his experience of being in the boys club.
Bottom line: Would recommend!
3 further points (besides all the cricket stuff, which is mainly why I read and loved the book):
1. I really enjoyed how this book starts with Warney's family history and also candidly goes through his journey from wanting to be an AFL player, to not knowing where he was headed, to really working hard on his cricket.
2. It was also interesting going through all of his 'scandals' from his perspective. There were times when I did empathise or sympathise with him but you also have to filter through his words.
3. I found all the Kerry/James Packer and Eddie McGuire stuff pretty insufferable, but it was interesting to learn about his experience of being in the boys club.
ant_bateman's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
confessions_of_a_bookaholic's review against another edition
3.0
Everyone in Australia knows Shane Warne's story - or at least thinks they do. The larikin leg spinner who broke records, and one of Wisden's cricketers of the century. This is Warne's chance to tell things his way.
I have grown up watching cricket, and spent a lot of years involved in grass roots clubs, so it's safe to say I knew who Shane Warne was long before I moved over to Australia. Regardless of where you are from he was a legend of the game, and someone well respected for his achievements.
I was lent a copy of this by a colleague who I often chat with about cricket, and he had mentioned to me that the technical aspects and discussion of the game were excellent. He wasn't wrong. I found the insight into how Warne got into the opositions' heads during the game absolutely fascinating, and I think it's safe to say that he has one of the best understandings of the game the world has ever seen.
The off-field stuff is less fascinating. For someone who has lived such a colourful life, a lot of it is played down or not really talked about. I did expect that in some ways, and I can appreciate that there are details and aspects of life that involve and impact others, and as such aren't for public discussion. One thing that is clear though is that Warne had some great relationships. The friendship he had with his ex wife and the strong bond with him and his kids makes it clear that he was a much loved character (if that wasn't already clear).
The thing that I struggled with were that the book doesn't really follow a linear timeline, it jumps backwards and forwards as Warne discusses particular events in his life and career. I think the intention with this is to give the book a conversational tone, but I found it made things a little harder to follow.
Ultimately anyone who loves the game of cricket will get a lot out of reading this. The way Warne could see the game, the strategy and his thoughts on how things should go for the future are captivating. He was truly an entertainer and an incredibly talented player. It's a huge shame that he is no longer with us and able to share his talents with the cricketing community.
I have grown up watching cricket, and spent a lot of years involved in grass roots clubs, so it's safe to say I knew who Shane Warne was long before I moved over to Australia. Regardless of where you are from he was a legend of the game, and someone well respected for his achievements.
I was lent a copy of this by a colleague who I often chat with about cricket, and he had mentioned to me that the technical aspects and discussion of the game were excellent. He wasn't wrong. I found the insight into how Warne got into the opositions' heads during the game absolutely fascinating, and I think it's safe to say that he has one of the best understandings of the game the world has ever seen.
The off-field stuff is less fascinating. For someone who has lived such a colourful life, a lot of it is played down or not really talked about. I did expect that in some ways, and I can appreciate that there are details and aspects of life that involve and impact others, and as such aren't for public discussion. One thing that is clear though is that Warne had some great relationships. The friendship he had with his ex wife and the strong bond with him and his kids makes it clear that he was a much loved character (if that wasn't already clear).
The thing that I struggled with were that the book doesn't really follow a linear timeline, it jumps backwards and forwards as Warne discusses particular events in his life and career. I think the intention with this is to give the book a conversational tone, but I found it made things a little harder to follow.
Ultimately anyone who loves the game of cricket will get a lot out of reading this. The way Warne could see the game, the strategy and his thoughts on how things should go for the future are captivating. He was truly an entertainer and an incredibly talented player. It's a huge shame that he is no longer with us and able to share his talents with the cricketing community.