Biography Books > O Biography Books

Advantages: Insperational reading
Disadvantages: None

...on my travels. Now, 21 may seem to some people a very young age to write a biography, but with a rock star father and very successful mother you can imaging the hectic lifestyle this boy has had. THE BOOK There are 11 chapter in the book which are as follows:- 1 - The Kids are Alright The chapter starts by giving us an insight into his childhood. He talks about all of the different nannies which the family have had and gives a quite comical ...
...weirdo's. He goes on to describe his childhood Christmas' and Birthdays. 2 - A Family Affair In this chapter Jack openly admits to being a big Daddy's boy and gives his own account of the night when his Dad tried to kill his Mom. He talks about how he used to stand and watch his Dad taking drugs. We are treated to a funny account of how he shot his sister Kelly in the leg and how he tagged along on his Dad's tours and how he and his sisters used ... Read review

Advantages: a compelling read
Disadvantages: too short

This is the story of an cyclist from Aryshire in Scotland who showed that an amateur with extraordinary vision and determination can take on the professionals and win. The one hour record, one of the most demanding in sport, is brutal in it's simplicity. Get on a bike, start pedalling, and stop after exactly one hour. If you have covered a greater distance than anyone else in this time you now hold the one hour record. In 1993 Graham Obree did exactly ...
...design and manufacture. He repeated the feat a year later to win back his own record, and became the world champion in several cycling disiplines in the same year. This book is unusual for a sporting autobiography, in that no ghost writer was employed. Graham tells his story in his own words with refreshing honesty, and this makes it a compelling read. He has the courage to tell his story warts and all, and it gives a great insight into the sport ... Read review

Advantages: Fascinating story, evocative details, beautiful writing
Disadvantages: I didn't want it to end

"A Portrait of a Turkish Family" is an autobiographical work that tells the story of one Ottoman family from the turn of the twentieth century through the First World War and the establishment of Turkey as a republic. Irfan Orga was the eldest of three children; his mother was born into the harem - as were most women of such standing - and married at the age of thirteen. When the book opens, Irfan and his parents and younger brother live with his ...
...often idyllic childhood with warmth and humour, depicting the childlike vigour of his mother, the haughtiness of his grandmother and the kindness of the servants. One memorable episode describes a trip to the hamam (Turkish baths) with his mother and grandmother that is like a trip to the beach with the servants instructed to prepare hampers of food for the day. Orga writes "She always engaged private room for herself at the hamam; a room for disrobing ... Read review

Advantages: A must-read for football fans and 60s nostalgists
Disadvantages: A must-to-avoid for anyone else

News of the untimely death of Peter Osgood yesterday put me in mind of this review of his autobiography, written three years ago. The review was originally entitled "Born is the...." to echo the song sung in praise of Ossie by Chelsea supporters at Stamford Bridge stadium. I thought of revising the review to make it more of an obituary (and to edit out the bits of it that were about me rather than about him), but somehow it seems more poignant left ...
...Osgood was just another over-idolised sports star, but he also exemplified an era, the passing of which is to be regretted, as is the passing of all human experience. And his passing, of course. * Personal Preamble - How I came by my copy * Geoff has been a friend of mine for many years, so naturally we don't give each other Christmas presents. I remember meeting him in my ... Read review

Advantages: A beautiful collection of happy, sad and funny memories
Disadvantages: It's not a starting point

...asked many friends to contribute memories and both the friends and memories are extremely varied. Every part of Lennon's life is covered from childhood (remembered by his cousin Mike Cadwallader and mentioned by others), to the days in Hamburgh, Beatles stardom, peace protests, immigration problems, the househusband/dad years and, finally, his brutal, inane and tragic murder. I was delighted to discover aspects of Lennon's character as remembered ...
...in this book. The memories also vary in length, from Normal Mailer's "WE HAVE LOST A GENIUS OF THE SPIRIT" to much longer recollections from Jann Wenner and Elliot Mintz. The collection also includes various photographs, including ones that are rarely seen, drawings, a few poems and even copies of FBI documents relating to Lennon (heavily blacked-out!). Say what you like about Yoko Ono, but she is responsible for this masterpiece and what a perfect ... Read review