Product Description

Ronnie O'Sullivan's supreme talent and style have made him the People's Champion. At 15, he became the youngest player to compile a recognised maximum break; at 17, he became the youngest winner of a world-ranking tournament; in 1997 he recorded the fastest 147 break in history; and in 2001 he confirmed his legendary status by winning the Embassy World Title. His autobiography details more than the sporting triumphs of a man the BBC speculates 'could become the world's greatest ever'. It also tells of the infant who was introduced to legendary snooker clubs at an impossibly early age, of the boy who was taking on and defeating all comers at 12 and frightening off the bookies in the process, of the teenager whose life was decimated when his father and mentor was sent to prison for life; of the man dubbed the 'genius' of the modern game who regularly threatens to quit the sport to pursue other interests.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26613 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 298 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
In Ronnie O'Sullivan's autobiography, Ronnie, the language is uncompromising, the subject matter challenging and the approach unflinching. Even in an age when inner demons are considered to be an essential part of a star's entourage, Ronnie O'Sullivan's autobiography is a class apart. Undisputedly the most charismatic talent in the game of snooker, the public's successor to Alex Higgins and Jimmy White in the lineage of gunslinger, wide-boy heroes, O'Sullivan began rewriting the record books as a child prodigy, and reached the summit of his game as world champion in 2001--but all along, his life was falling apart.

Ronnie (written with Guardian journalist Simon Hattenstone) is a stark affirmation for those of us who would believe that there must be more to being a top professional sportsman than simply working hard to develop talent--that there are often dark, elemental forces driving achievers to go beyond the point where most of us would cease to care. Ronnie's relationship with his parents is at the heart of the story, underpinning his struggle for contentment, his descent into depression and addiction. We learn that the tabloid facts--his father ran a string of sex shops, was convicted of killing a man in a fight and sentenced to life imprisonment; later his mother was also imprisoned, for tax evasion--are just the half of it.

The style is confessional without being mawkish, and thankfully, O'Sullivan's brand of openness, particularly when chronicling his periods in therapy (including with former England cricket captain turned psychiatrist Mike Brearley) and at the Priory, is free of the awful self-aggrandisement and "me-isms" that blight the official public accounts of many celebrities.

Ultimately this is a tale of redemption, of a young man dismantled by experience, now putting himself back together. O'Sullivan closes the book looking back to the beginning of his public life, his mid-teens, when he first tied his fortunes to professional snooker. He sees it as a golden era, off and on the baize, a period of personal happiness and sporting success the like of which he at last believes has not been lost forever. --Alex Hankin

About the Author
Since turning professional in 1992, O'Sullivan has clocked up an incredible number of awards and trophies, including the UK Championship, the China Open, the Regal Championships, the Benson and Hedges Masters and the British Open. In January 2000 O'Sullivan won the Nations Cup for England, boasting the best record of any player, 13 wins from 15 frames played.

Customer Reviews

Good Book
Although this book could have been written a bit better i think its well worth a read.
Thanks to Ronnie being so open with the way he deals with life this book gives you a great window type view of how a great Snooker player struggles to play the game at the top while trying to deal with every day problems life puts in your way.
The book helps you to understand what has troubled Ronnie for so many years bringing sense to the TV interviews he has made in the past.
Its true that the book is an easy read and fairly short however with the vast age range that makes up Ronnies fans im sure this will go in its favour.

Well done Ronnie

Everything a true autobiography should be
Perhaps you're thinking that you have no interest in Ronnie O'Sullivan andcertainly not in snooker, but first and foremost it must be said thatsnooker is a mere coincidence in this book, this is the story of the manand his struggle with the game, not the game itself.
It is a frank andopen account of the ups and downs in the life and tumultuous career ofsnooker's prodigal son, (and sometimes atithesis) and his battle with alife that has never been easy even in success.
If you are looking for a book with linguistic flair, a life-story writtenby someone who can wax lyrical with an eloquent narrative as smooth assilk this is not the book for you. There isn't a single embellishedsentence, no contrived statements and certainly no sense of readermanipulation. It is a true story written true to the man with often brutalbluntness and O'Sullivan never attempts to soften the blows hedelivers.
Honest to the point of being abrasive he is never moreforthright than when discussing his own failings and, thankfully, hisachievements. It is at once shocking and immensely moving, at timesshowing the poignant innocence of a child, written with such raw emotionthat the reader can't help but sympathise with him, willing him throughall of his problems with the fierce desire and encouragement of a closefriend.
It is the most open, the most genuine, the most truthfulautobiography I have ever read and I recommend it to anyone at all thatwishes to read a memoir that feels like a personal diary where theintricacies of literature never overshadow the events. This book iseverything an autobiography should be and O'Sullivan refuses to let up foran instant, not for a single second will he allow you forget that this itis not a story, it is a life.

Ronnie
Ronnies book was a good read and not too hard to follow but oncwe picked up its hard to put down it gives a fascinating account of what he's been through to reach the top of his profession.Ronnie takes you through all of his emotions from how down he was after his dad was sent to prison to the high's of winning his ultimate dream - the world champion, however while doing this he still manages to let you know how priviliaged he feels to be doing a job he loves. A MUST FOR ALL RONNIE FANS