Open: An Autobiography

Review of Open (2010-07-30) : 5/5
Awesome book. Awesome man. This book teaches through Andre's eyes, the value of endurance. It also illustrates how human this man is. Celebrity status was not his choice or his goal.
One of the best (2010-07-29) : 5/5
This is one of the most entertaining books I've read in several years. It's got everything: it's funny, sad, poignant, exciting, and dramatic. The descriptions of Agassi's relationship with his father, a narcissistic man who forced his son to meet his own needs, was hard to read at times. The descriptions of the matches and rivalries were very compelling. And there's some (unintentionally?) funny and helpful advice about who we choose to marry. This is a great book.
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. (This will be the longest review I will ever write.) (2010-07-25) : 5/5
WOW. Thank you!
I am so inspired and moved by this biography.

It's about Struggle, Relationships, Becoming a Person, becoming a Champion, In Life. Not having read (ghostwriter) J. R. Moehringer's other works, for me higher standards of journalism were reached. I can hear the voices of Mr. Agassi, his family and friends and see them so clearly! It's beat poetry. It's Church. A great moving picture. My eyes were bouncing back and forth like a spectator at an Olympic tennis match. My mouth was slack with awe at Mr. Agassi's courage and ability to work through pain and face it head on, climbing to even higher heights. I cried and closed my eyes with admiration during passages that revealed Mr. Agassi's generous and loving personality: shelters, scholarships, clothing for students, boy's and girl's club, his school.

From his 'brother'/'father'/trainer Gil Reyes: "Dream while you're awake. Anybody can dream while they're asleep, but you need to dream all the time, and say your dreams out loud, and believe in them." Also from Gil: "There's a lot of good waiting for you on the other side of tired. Get yourself tired. That's where you're going to know yourself."

Quoting from Mr. Mandela, whom he met: "We must all care for one another. This is our task in life. But also we must care for ourselves which means we must be careful in our decisions, careful in our relationships, careful in our statements. We must manage our lives carefully in order to avoid becoming victims." "Every journey is important and no journey is impossible."

Lessons of life. What also comes through with crystal clarity: Tennis Is A (Bleeping) Dogfight! It's Real Sh**. "It's a test of wills, of heart, of manhood." Near the end of his career, one of his last matches, Mr. Agassi says: "I'm reminded how slight the margin can be on a tennis court, how narrow the space between greatness and mediocrity, fame and anonymity, happiness and despair."

Mr. Agassi and his wife, Stephanie Graf's, favorite movie is Shadowlands, a biopic of C.S. Lewis. "C.S. Lewis doesn't become fully alive, doesn't grow up until he opens himself to love. Love is how we grow up. God wants us to grow up."

Message to those blessed children at the Agassi Academy: Read This Book. Know that you are experiencing Love in Action. Make us proud, Babies! Make America Proud.
Loved it (2010-07-24) : 5/5
I absolutely loved this book. I am not a tennis fan but I have always admired Andre Agassi and after reading this book I admire him even more. It's amazing what is involved in the sport of tennis. It caused me to appreciate the game even more and what the athletes go through. This book was so well written. It flowed very well and with it being an autobiography, it instead read like a novel. Great book!!! I highly recommend it to tennis and non tennis fans alike.
Very Honest Autobio (2010-07-19) : 4/5
This book is very engaging and well written ... Agassi opens up fully and talks about everything he has ever thought of .. even though sometimes they might be embarrassing for others .. esp talking about Brooke Shields, Sampras etc. But he is brutally honest and this makes the book very interesting, engaging and you want to read it since you believe what he is saying ... the only negative point I had was that he made so many mistakes in his life that one gets frustrated and wants to hit him on his head and tell him to NOT do something ... you want to guide him ... Also he goes through almost all the tournaments he played in every year in the nineties ... he has amazing memory!