Don't You Know Who I Am?: Insider Diaries of Fame, Power and Naked Ambition - Piers Morgan

The title of the book 'Don't you know who I am?' combined with Piers arrogant stance on the front cover suggests him to be of an egotistical nature with a book of who he knows rather than what he knows. It is a definite contrast to the words of the book, at times he is arrogant but the book speaks of a striking honesty about his hunger and struggle, to remain in the media industry, after public humiliation. As it is an autobiography it does not just ...
...and girlfriend (Celia) who he meets at the time of writing the book. The themes of love and family prevent it from becoming a one dimensional celebrity story book. He writes as a devoted father to his three sons, telling the readers about school tests and fathers sports days, which increases his likeability. He is not afraid to say when he is wrong which makes the book real and honest. The book is funny both for the stories themselves but also at ... more

The title of the book 'Don't you know who I am?' combined with Piers arrogant stance on the front cover suggests him to be of an egotistical nature with a book of who he knows rather than what he knows. It is a definite contrast to the words of the book, at times he is arrogant but the book speaks of a striking honesty about his hunger and struggle, to remain in the media industry, after public humiliation. As it is an autobiography it does not just cover celebrity encounters but Morgan's personal life, including his family and girlfriend (Celia) who he meets at the time of writing the book. The themes of love and family prevent it from becoming a one dimensional celebrity story book. He writes as a devoted father to his three sons, telling the readers about school tests and fathers sports days, which increases his likeability. He is not afraid to say when he is wrong which makes the book real and honest. The book is funny both for the stories themselves but also at Piers himself, he doesn't delete an embarrassing diary entry. He speaks the truth, no cause for alliances, giving the book spice.

This brutality with which he speaks of the rich and famous makes for delicious reading and the readers will love the detailed celebrity insights they are told about. He has great contacts and is not afraid of breaching privacy with the famous. Celebrities are not the only 'characters' in the book. On the one hand he interviews Billie Piper and Ulrika Johnson about their sex lives, for GQ magazine, but on the other hand he debates politics on Question Time. Extracts are included about his brother, Jeremy, an army officer serving in Iraq. It strikes a serious tone of reality with the reader. The depth and hilarity of the book is what makes it such a great read, Piers gets the balance just right. His last number one bestseller, The Insider, leaked a few secrets people would have preferred kept secret but Piers thought if it was relevant to what he was saying, he'd include it. Piers won't walk on eggshells for anyone. When reading the book it feels like you've got a backstage pass to a world of secrets, scandal and gossip.

Piers Morgan does not pretend to be a great literacy genius, he himself says so, which is reasoning for the book lacking professional writing capability. The diary entry form is informal, making it an easy read. It is hard to sympathise with Piers Morgan when he is moaning about how he has to appear on low budget television programmes and how no-one wants to give him high-profile pieces. He is rich and has an above average lifestyle; he discusses his frequent dinners at the famous Ivy restaurant that most people can only dream of .His grumpiness will not be met with sympathetic ears. At one stage when Amercia's Got Talent becomes the number one show Morgan is less concerned with the ratings than not being recognised. Fame to him is everything. However he indicates this to the reader from the beginning, in his introduction. He is driven by success and recognition of his success. He is a man gone from having it all to starting over which, at times, makes his vision blurred of the fame game. The reader has to take his well-known arrogance in their stride in order to see the funny side of things. 

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