Biography Books > M Biography Books > R

Advantages: Fabulous twisting of the English language
Disadvantages: May not appeal to those of a weak disposition

My Booky wook is a brutally honest biography of the English dandy Russel Brand. He may fool us with his massive hair and strange twistings of the english language but Brand opens up and lets us enter what became a drug fueled hedonism jumping from extreme highs to dangerous lows. When I first saw the book I knew I wanted to read it, with a name like 'My booky wook' written in slightly blurred neon pink, it perfectly reflects Brand's unique sense ...
...of what else is included here are some of the chapter names (in no particular order), - umbilical noose - boobaloo - Dagenham is not Damascus - First class twit - A gentleman with a bike This book begins and ends with Russel in a sex addiction clinic everything in between re-enforces why it was probably a good idea that he ended up there. Following his life so far, from baby to bounder we see how the women in Russel's life played a key role ... Read review

Advantages: Awe Inspiring
Disadvantages: Not for the faint hearted.

Some people may show a slight frown on a Christmas morning when they open an envelope containing a £20 Waterstones gift voucher, sat there amongst a sea of discarded wrapping paper wondering how it came to this. Not me sir. A useful gift, that will be put to good use on broadening my mind as opposed to polluting it with cheap ale. Waited for the sales I did, and got my merry behind down to the famous bookshop, with youthful excitement, and an eagerness ...
...Ranulph Fiennes; adventurer, explorer, military man and athlete. Keen to learn of his exploits and daring quests to be the first, I knew I would not be disappointed. Fiennes is a man's man. Calling a spade a spade, combining his daring pursuits with a natural charm and dose of humbling memoirs makes this exceptional reading. I defy anyone who reads this and then is not inspired to get down to the tent shop, pack a bag and walk to Antarctica. Away ... Read review

Advantages: Eye opening, insightful
Disadvantages: It's all true

...a way they were, however, Marching Powder stood out by having a remarkably surreal aspect to the tale. THE STORY "Marching Powder" (slang name for Cocaine) tells the story of Thomas McFadden's experience as an inmate in a Bolivian prison. McFadden is a young, black Englishman who prior to his sentencing lived in Liverpool. Thomas MacFadden was arrested in 1996 for drug trafficking. Although he had never tried Cocaine, he discovered there was a ...
...After many successful runs MacFadden travelled to Bolivia and attempted to smuggle 850 grams of Cocaine through customs. Having acquired many contacts in high places, he was pretty confident that it was going to be a smooth run having already given a Bolivian official a backhander to turn his eye. However, he was soon to discover he had been "set up" and found himself sent to a notorious Bolivian prison in La Puz; San Pedro. You would be forgiven ... Read review

Advantages: Gripping, informative
Disadvantages: May be found quite hard going

Carla Van Raay's autobiography "Gods Callgirl" details the life of a naive, immature girl, then woman who is devoted to God but goes from obedient convent girl to sexual prostitute over the course of her life, but remains as naive as ever. This life story is divided into three parts and develops the tale of this Dutch girl's life over the course of the book. Part one examines the life of a child abused by her father, yet finding she felt abandoned ...
...God from a very young age. As a school girl she idolising the convent and her sole ambition in life is to serve God as a nun in one of Australia's many convents. As an early teenager feeling unloved at home by her family yet supporting her mother in everyday chores and childcare of her brothers and sister she found herself believing she was a product of the devil. A problem no confession could speak of, and no action could heal. Part two follows ... Read review

Advantages: Neil Warnock
Disadvantages: Neil Warnock

There are individuals in sports that only come around so often. People that get everyone talking whether it be how much they admire them or how much they dislike them; Neil Warnock fits this category perfectly. Controversy follows him everywhere, so it is fitting that he should produce an autobiography that i'm sure even those that hate him so much would be just a little intrigued to read. This is the story of one of english domestic football's ...
...humble beginnings in Sheffield through an unglamorous but respectable playing career to a managerial career littered with controversy, success and disappointment. The dream of the Sheffield born man and Blades fan was always to manage his beloved Sheffield United and this dream was realised. He was hated by sections of his own teams support often but his team battled adversity to reach the promised land of the premiership - only to be denied by ... Read review