Hooray! You have added the first book to your bookshelf. Check it out now!
[−]
  • Search Digit-count Valid ISBN Invalid ISBN Valid Barcode Invalid Barcode
Blog this item

Open

An Autobiography

By Andre Agassi, Erik Davies (Reader)

(96)

| Audio CD | 9780739358566

Like Open?
Join aNobii to see if your friends read it, and discover similar books!

Sign up for free

Book Description

From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography.

Agassi’s incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. By the age of thirteen, he is banished to a Florida tennisContinue

From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography.

Agassi’s incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. By the age of thirteen, he is banished to a Florida tennis camp that feels like a prison camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. He dyes his hair, pierces his ears, dresses like a punk rocker. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning-fast return.

And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world’s best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target.

Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match and every relationship. Never before has the inner game of tennis and the outer game of fame been so precisely limned. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals from several generations—Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer—Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals a shattering loss of confidence. And he recounts his spectacular resurrection, a comeback climaxing with his epic run at the 1999 French Open and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one.

In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. Inspired by her quiet strength, he fights through crippling pain from a deteriorating spine to remain a dangerous opponent in the twenty-first and final year of his career. Entering his last tournament in 2006, he’s hailed for completing a stunning metamorphosis, from nonconformist to elder statesman, from dropout to education advocate. And still he’s not done. At a U.S. Open for the ages, he makes a courageous last stand, then delivers one of the most stirring farewells ever heard in a sporting arena.

With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi’s game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed, and power.


From the Hardcover edition.

Critics

  • Open

    Nessuno decide di venire al mondo, sono i nostri genitori a farlo per noi. Ma per Andre Agassi la possibilità di scelta è stata ancora più limitata. Il suo destino, il tennis, era segnato da prima che nascesse. Da quando suo padre aveva deciso che sa ... (read full critics)

    mangialibri published on Fri, 17 Feb 2012

  • Open. La mia storia

    La presentazione e le recensioni di "Open. La mia storia", opera di Andre Agassi edita da Einaudi. Se colpisci 2500 palle al giorno, cioè 17500 la settimana, cioè un milione di palle l'anno, non potrai che diventare il numero uno. Questo è quello che ... (read full critics)

    Qlibri published on Mon, 10 Oct 2011

7 Reviews

Login or Sign Up to write a review

  • 1 person find this helpful

    Agassi endured so much time to witness the last shots of Jimmy Connors and to face the rising star of the greatest of all time, the infinite Roger Federer. In the middle there is a wonderful trip in the world of tennis back to the early nineties till yesterday. I’m fond of tennis and that’s why I lo ... (continue)

    Agassi endured so much time to witness the last shots of Jimmy Connors and to face the rising star of the greatest of all time, the infinite Roger Federer. In the middle there is a wonderful trip in the world of tennis back to the early nineties till yesterday. I’m fond of tennis and that’s why I loved this book: Andre is a superb “tennis-taler”, writing about his life, his fears, his rivalries, his furious battles on the court, his burning defeats. And so pages after pages it becomes visible that this book is not only about tennis. Don’t believe it? Read it, and you will see. I even got some tips for management….

    Is this helpful?

    Albe said on Mar 4, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • 1 person find this helpful

    Open and Honest

    Loved this autobiography of Andre Agassi. I am not a die-hard Tennis fan. I was just curious to read this book. I could not put it down. Compelling storytelling. But above all, Andre Agassi's complete honesty is refreshing and endearing. It's heart-warming and humbling to see the human being behind ... (continue)

    Loved this autobiography of Andre Agassi. I am not a die-hard Tennis fan. I was just curious to read this book. I could not put it down. Compelling storytelling. But above all, Andre Agassi's complete honesty is refreshing and endearing. It's heart-warming and humbling to see the human being behind the legendary athlete.

    Is this helpful?

    jacoutofthebox said on May 3, 2010 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

  • Simply superb

    It dose not matter if you are not into tennis. This is the story of a strong person who manages to find his way when he could have lost it many times easily. Once started I couldn't stop and finished it in less than 48 hours.

    Is this helpful?

    Shahram said on Jan 8, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • The writing of J.R. Moehringer is ok, but this book unfortunately ends up by being just boring. The first chapter is really compelling - and so are some insights on the tennis psychology (for instance the referral to Brad Gilbert's "Winning ugly" strategy), but the rest of the book, especially Agass ... (continue)

    The writing of J.R. Moehringer is ok, but this book unfortunately ends up by being just boring. The first chapter is really compelling - and so are some insights on the tennis psychology (for instance the referral to Brad Gilbert's "Winning ugly" strategy), but the rest of the book, especially Agassi's personal life and love relationships are taking too much space. For nice review by Geoff Dyer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/08/open-autobiography-andre-agassi

    Is this helpful?

    dario villa said on Oct 6, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • "There's about five times a year you wake up perfect, [...]but it's not those five times a year that make a tennis player. Or a human being for that matter."(p.187)

    "I envy Pete's dullness. I wish I could emulate his spectacular lack of inspiration, and his peculiar lack of need for inspiration." ( ... (continue)

    "There's about five times a year you wake up perfect, [...]but it's not those five times a year that make a tennis player. Or a human being for that matter."(p.187)

    "I envy Pete's dullness. I wish I could emulate his spectacular lack of inspiration, and his peculiar lack of need for inspiration." (p.251)

    "I tell myself, So what if you hate tennis? Who cares? All those people out there, all those millions who hate what they do for a living, they do it anyway. Maybe doing what you hate, doing it well and cheerfully, is the point. So you hate tennis. Hate it all you want. You still need to respect it-- and yourself."(p.252)

    "I just lost my match and I feel terrible. I don't want to go back out there tomorrow. SO much so I was actually wishing for an injury. Picture that, not wanting to do something so much that you wish upon yourself injury. Jaden, if you ever feel overwhelmed with something like I was tonight, just keep your head down and keep working and keep trying. Face it at its worst and realize it's not so bad. That will be your chance for peace." (p. 349)

    "Though I don't mention Pete by name, I have him uppermost in my mind when I tell reporters: It's real simple. Most people have weaknesses. Federer has none." (p. 370)

    Is this helpful?

    喬安納的房間 said on May 5, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

Improve data of this book

Margin notes of this book

Prices Change currency & sellers

ISBN Edition List Sale Seller
9780739358566 Audio CD $32.00 $22.12 The Book Depository
Other editions →
+ 3 copies tradable: →
Added to Shelf Added to Wish List

Inline Translation Mode

Left click to navigate, right click to translate.

inline translation guide

or close

Inline translation is not ready for this page yet.

Inline translation mode.

Share this page with your friends.

The viewport has not loaded.