Biography Books > B Biography Books > less than 5 GBP

Advantages: Interesting read; cheap book
Disadvantages: Not enough background information

...offensive". As this book is written by the man who swore on "Live Aid", it shouldn't be a surprise that the publishers put this warning on the back of it. The book was published in 1986 when Bob was given an honorary knighthood as recognition for his work in trying to relieve famine in Africa. So, it's very out of date and it's actually quite sad when you think of everything that has happened since. The book starts with a prologue - 13th July 1985. ...
...goes back to when Bob is about 4 years old. I would have liked more background information on his parents and his sisters but I suppose in fairness, this is Bob's story. Bob discusses his bad relationship with his father and his hatred of the schools he went to. Later, he tells us how he left school and went to England, then went to Spain to teach English and then went back to Ireland only to move to Canada! He was there as an illegal immigrant ... Read review

Advantages: A good read
Disadvantages: BIt depressing

THE WRITER Brian Thompson was born in Lambeth, London, in 1935. His childhood was divided between Cambridge and Lambeth. Thompson eventually read English at Cambridge, and is also a playwright and biographer. HIS STORY To some extent this belongs within the ‘my miserable childhood’ genre, including not only relative poverty but also severe neglect by both parents, who appear to most onlookers to be merely extremely selfish. Yet Brian’s mother ...
...the point of sociopathy. Thompson Senior volunteers for RAF flight duty during WW2 and is obviously away from home most of the time. Meanwhile his wife, in her depression and loneliness, turns to befriending American troops, to local scandal. Some temporarily befriend Brian. Her husband never forgives her, although his own behaviour is far from creditable. As his mother's illness becomes worse, young Brian is evacuated out of Cambridge and into ... Read review

Advantages: In depth detail of entire journey and background into his life.
Disadvantages: None

Bear Grylls journey to everest is the epitome of an awe inspiring adventure. I loved this book. From his early days of his childhood to the moment he reaches his destiny, he takes you along with him on his journey to the summit of everest. For the first time ever I realised the horrors that lie on everest. I truly felt scared for the lives of the people in the story. If there is one book I can truly get people to read it would be this one. I had ... Read review

Advantages: A very interesting and entertaining read
Disadvantages: Can we be sure it's all true?

My fiancé, who is an avid Brian Wilson fan, bought me this book for Christmas, and, as I love reading stories about people that I admire, I was very grateful for it, and excited to start reading! Unlike a lot of autobiographies, no part of this book is boring or tedious to read. There are no fillers in this book. It starts with all of the abuse Brian received from his father, and his mothers inability to put a stop to it. This was a good place to ...
...Brian's life, but also because this is a recurring theme throughout the book; how his father's abuse affected him, his career and relationships. We then read about the Beach Boy's formation, how they got their first record deal, and their trials and tribulations throughout their pop career. Potential readers must remember though, that this book is about Brian Wilson the man, rather than Brian Wilson the Beach Boy. A lot of the story is about his ... Read review

Advantages: Humorous, insight into a world not normally encountered
Disadvantages: Lack of substance, Belle can be frustrating

...came to public attention with The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, a frank diary that included tales of risqué exploits from her work as a prostitute. It portrayed a world that most of us will never know, which accounts for a lot of the appeal (most of the appeal, in my case), although the somewhat explicit descriptions of Belle’s job probably did attract people looking for sex tips. The Further Adventures of a London Call Girl starts in ...
...Apart from satisfying your curiosity, the other major pleasure of this book is Belle’s sense of humour and writing style. By the way, if you’re looking for sex tips, don’t bother – you’d be better off reading a more specialized book, or just opening up a glossy women’s magazine. As well as being bluntly honest when it comes to the ins and outs of prostitution (no pun intended – okay, maybe just a little!), Belle addresses the personal issues that ... Read review