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True Colours: My Life

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The Run-Away Bestseller of 2008, now in paperbackMany critics believe Adam Gilchrist is the greatest wicketkeeper/batsman to have played the game, but Adam's huge popularity does not rest solely on his incredible track record. To his millions of fans around the world, it is the way he plays the game – rather than simply the sum of his achievements – that marks him out as one of the best-loved cricketers of his generation. He is both a swashbuckling batsman and record-breaking wicketkeeper, yet perhaps his true impact has come from the manner in which he plays his cricket – with an integrity and sense of values that many thought had departed the game forever.True Colours is his autobiography, and like the man himself it's incomparable. With unflinching honesty, intelligence, compassion and humour, Adam takes you into the world of cricket that few outside of the Australian team have ever seen. From his early struggles to establish himself, through to the giant achievements of the Australian test and one-day sides, True Colours offers an extraordinary window on Adam, on cricket's major stars and on the game itself.

627 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

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941 people want to read

About the author

Adam Gilchrist

8 books16 followers
Many critics believe Adam Gilchrist is the greatest wicketkeeper/batsman to have played the game, but Adam's huge popularity does not rest solely on his incredible track record. To his millions of fans around the world, it is the way he plays the game – rather than simply the sum of his achievements – that marks him out as one of the best-loved cricketers of his generation. He is both a swashbuckling batsman and record-breaking wicketkeeper, yet perhaps his true impact has come from the manner in which he plays his cricket – with an integrity and sense of values that many thought had departed the game forever.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Gil...

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Harini.
252 reviews293 followers
November 24, 2010
This book is as good as Gilly's 149 against Sri Lanka in 2007 World Cup. Any Adam Gilchrist fan will know what I am talking about and you if you dont know, then this book isnt for you. If you are Adam Gilchrist's fan then this book is a MUST READ!
Profile Image for Anjan Das.
387 reviews14 followers
October 8, 2024
Excellent autobiography.
পুরা জার্নি অটোবায়োগ্রাফি তে তুলে ধরা হইছে।২০০৫ অ্যাশেজ হারের পর মানসিক অবস্থা কেমন হইছিল পুরো দলের সবকিছু যেন তুলে ধরা হইছে।একটা ক্যাচ মিস করার কারণে যে ভাবে "he is done" তাঁকে মন থেকে স্যালুট জানাই।ওয়ান অফ দি বেস্ট অটোবায়োগ্রাফি
Profile Image for Dan Mac.
3 reviews11 followers
May 16, 2015
If a woman by the name of Mel is giving you a hard time right now, I would advise to give yourself 500m - 1km between you and herself at all times if you intend to read this behemoth (he mentions his wife more than he adjusted his box). If you have an adversion to water, if you're a cat or if you're fire itself, Adam cries at about 28 page intervals so I advise taking the utmost precautions. The highlights of this read is Gilly giving us the inside (albeit very G rated) lowdown of his relationship's between certain players. I.e Warnie, Steve Waugh, Harbhajan, JL, Marto and the coach John Buchanan. You come away from this autobiography knowing one thing; Adam Gilchrist is a very emotional man. But I mostly felt this was a cathartic release from Gilly rather than giving much thought to the reader.
Profile Image for Jason Orthman.
258 reviews4 followers
May 4, 2025
Really good read and insights into how tough international touring is and how much mentality matters. Thought was a really raw, honest account of his cricket journey. Valuable read.
Profile Image for Ankur Tiwari.
16 reviews
February 9, 2022
A wonderful book that shows the journey of a legendary cricketer. There are lots of insights about the mental and emotional aspects of the game that are almost invisible to the fandom. Kudos to Gilly for bringing that out.

I found the book lacking in two aspects though.
One, the chapters on the topic of racism.
This book has a one sided account of racism based on Gilly's confirmation bias, while it totally avoids racism shown in white countries to touring subcontinental sides. Case in point being, white cricketers being routinely trusted on their word if they have taken catches cleanly or have saved boundaries, while brown and coloured players word's are double and triple checked in replays by broadcasters. This phenomenon is reducing, but is ever present. Not acknowledging another side just shows a holier than thou attitude by Gilly and the Australian team of that tour.

Second, Gilly's stance on walking. Here again, he argues good points on both sides of the divide of opinions on the issue, but errs when he says he does not judge anyone for not walking. Perhaps, he forgot that test match where Gilly thinks Kaif has not walked after edging the ball and sledges him saying " come on champ..the whole world is watching"..this clip is even available on youtube..when he can judge opponents on not walking but not have the balls to confront his teammates shows how biased his views on this issue were.

Apart from such issues, this book was a 'goodread'.
Profile Image for Tony.
407 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2022
This was well written and easy to read and you got to get a feel for what Gilchrist is really like. I appreciated the honesty in which it was written although I thought it went on a tad too long. It also makes you aware of the bubble the elite cricketers live in.
Profile Image for Isaac Mumford.
1 review
April 5, 2013
True colours (my life)
Adam Gilchrist
True Colours is a fantastic autobiography of such an iconic Australian cricketer and one of the best Australia and the world have ever seen.
True Colours is definitely a book for cricket lovers, even those who are not Gilchrist fans will absolutely love this book. The book is a long and hard read though so for those young Gilly fans it might be better to have the book read to them.

The book is a reflection of Gilly's career he talks about some of the greats of the game he played with like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Damian Martin, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and many more. The book also talks about his child hood, and about his parents, dad Stan and mum June. In True Colours Adam Gilchrist talks about the great affect his father had on him as a junior player. He also talks about his lovely wife Melinda (Mel) and the influence she has had on his life.

I could really relate to one part where he talks about how his way of thinking, getting really nervous and being anxious about what others are thinking, has got him in to some blue patches with both the bat and the gloves. Adam Gilchrist's autobiography is set out like a traditional autobiography for most of the book,with Gilchrist telling you the story, but in some parts he shows you a glimpse of what it's like to be him. I strongly suggest this book to all sports fans.
19 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2022
It should be noted that this book will almost definitely only be interesting for cricket fans.

The first half of the book is an interesting account of Gilchrist's upbringing and having to earn his stripes early on in many different environments, which whilst hard at the time definitely served him well by the time he was playing for Australia.

The second half tapers off - once he enters the test arena it feels that very quickly the pressure and time away from his family has eaten his enjoyment for the game, as a result most of these chapters tend to focus on his frustrations; and it seems that his retirement was only a matter of time since he began...

Additionally, his moral stances get a bit confused as the book goes on - early on he comes across as a pretty rounded, fair person - but there are a couple of instances later on that question his aversion to bias. He is at least very honest - he's an emotional person but (mostly) able to take a step back and look at the big picture in many aspects.

Some great yarns in there too, especially one about Warnie involving the pre-2006/07 Ashes boot camp.
Profile Image for Jim.
101 reviews19 followers
December 26, 2008
Reading Gilly's book got me to my own personal century of books read for 2008; usually I average around the mid '70s but this has evidently been a bumper year.

I'll come back with a review proper a bit later.
Profile Image for Hanri.
5 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2014
Loved it! Gilly is a very good story teller, I laughed out loud numerous times while reading. A very fun read for cricket lovers, it brings up good memories and gives insight into the team over many years
Profile Image for Rowan Donohue.
5 reviews
Read
March 15, 2011
I think it was as good book, especiallly because he was my favourite cricket player. this book explains touring and cricketing life very well.
8 reviews
July 6, 2011
Life Indulged in a glory and winning passion...
7 reviews
April 6, 2021
Recommend for anyone who was a fan of Gilly or the golden generation of the 00s.

A very easy read and great insight into the career of the best wicket keeper batsman of all time.
Profile Image for Daniel Lang.
721 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2024
"True Colours: My Life" by Adam Gilchrist offers cricket enthusiasts and fans a candid and engaging account of the legendary Australian cricketer's life and career. The memoir delves into the highs and lows of Gilchrist's journey, providing readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the world of cricket through the eyes of one of its most iconic figures.

One of the strengths of "True Colours" lies in Gilchrist's sincere and open narrative style. He doesn't shy away from sharing personal anecdotes, triumphs, and challenges, allowing readers to connect with him on a human level. His passion for the sport and genuine love for the game shine through, making the book not only informative but also heartfelt.

The book offers fascinating insights into the dynamics of the Australian cricket team during one of its most successful periods. Gilchrist's perspective on cricketing legends, his teammates, and key moments in his career provides a rich tapestry for cricket fans. The detailed accounts of memorable matches, especially those in the Ashes series, are particularly enthralling.

However, at times, the narrative may feel somewhat linear and chronological, lacking a more nuanced exploration of certain aspects of Gilchrist's life. While the focus is understandably on his cricketing career, a deeper dive into personal reflections and off-field experiences could have added additional layers to the narrative.

The inclusion of personal photographs adds a visual dimension to the memoir, allowing readers to witness key moments and milestones in Gilchrist's life. The book also touches on the evolution of cricket itself, addressing issues such as sportsmanship, the impact of technology on the game, and the changing dynamics of international cricket.

In summary, "True Colours: My Life" is a compelling memoir that offers fans a valuable glimpse into the life of one of cricket's greats. While the narrative may follow a conventional structure, Gilchrist's authenticity and passion for the sport make this memoir a satisfying read for cricket enthusiasts and anyone interested in the life of a sports icon.
Profile Image for Gomu.
3 reviews
March 24, 2024
This book made me feel a lot of things from rooting for Gilly while he tries to break into the national team, being awed by the arduous challenges of tests they face, the Australian team retrospecting their rare losses and playing against their instinct to capture the final frontier against India.

Warnie coming clean before the 2003 test, Gilly walking in the 2003 semis are all instances where you will be beaming with appreciation for their actions, and their respect for the sport. At the highest levels, the sport is played in the minds before it's played out on the field. This is seen throughout in multiple instances he narrates.

This also captures how his balance between family and cricket goes to extremes, how the presence of partners in team tours derail their focus from cricket, how small things start creeping when you're in a winning flow, and the champion mindset which is hard to put in words and capture, but can be experienced through these pages. I'm so excited to read and learn more about the others in the Invincibles from Warnie, Punter, Pigeon, and Haydos.

He talks a lot about walking and I understand the difficult situations he would have faced with his teammates choosing to not walk. But he doesn't confront his views the first time he talks about it when discussing Lara and Dhoni. Considering how candid he was throughout, I don't understand why he separated his final views at the end of the book.
76 reviews
March 18, 2025
Fairly interesting read. Think the most I got out of this was towards the end where he talks about his dilema in when to retire and how he figured out that a lot of his feelings towards retirement were just in response to losses or underperforming. Very interesting to find out that even the greats find it difficult to disentangle these feelings. Enjoyed seeing how the ultra-successful Australian team from the late 90s to 2000s was built and the thinking behind it all. Other than that, didn't get a huge amount out of it. More of a chronological description of his career and life. I know, what did I expect from an autobiography, but I found Shane Warne's book more insightful about what it takes to really compete and dominate in sport.
49 reviews
February 26, 2017
I enjoyed the book but it missed major highs of Gilchrist's career. There was too much focus on the ashes loss in 2005 and the path to winning it back in 2007 that other major achievements like winning he world up in 2003 and 2007 are completely missed. There is no mention of the 149 he scored in the final which was one of the best innings. Also there is no mention on the series win in India in 2004 which was a big thing for Australia
5 reviews
January 3, 2023
great insight into a golden era for Aussie and cricket in general!

Great read. Wish he went a little but more detail into some of his epic knocks but either way a great book and stories of an era where he was one of the heroes. And that Aussie team was unstoppable because of him as him as much as the other legends. He revolutionized the batsman keeper role and hence the game with it.
Profile Image for Arun.
74 reviews5 followers
January 29, 2025
Gilly is everyone's favourite Aussie from that generation of that pompous, unlikeable Golden/legendary Australian cricket team that was responsible for the childhood trauma of every Indian cricket fan.

I found this book an extremely honest, truthful portrait of a cricketer who is a living legend but also grappling with self-doubt.

I've always loved Gilly for walking - shows character and integrity but was thoroughly surprised by the lack of support from his team.

As an Indian, I beamed with pride when everytime Australia was in a difficult, losing position his mind went back to Eden Gardens of 2001 and caused him a mini-panic attack...

Even your legends have anxiety issues which make them human.
1 review
January 27, 2024
As a cricket fan, I generally find cricket biographies as lacking detail about how they made it to the highest level, the detail inside their famous achievements etc.
This book is an exception to that; its very detailed and I really enjoyed that aspect of it! It was great hearing this level of detail. Thoroughly recommend.
Profile Image for Sneha Hiremath.
5 reviews
March 16, 2025
One of the best and my most favourite Australian Cricketers ever. This book took me back to the golden generation of the late 1990s and early 2000s and had a good laugh in many moments. Got to learn why some Australians debut so late in their career and how much pride they take playing their state shield games. Overall a good book for cricket lovers.
17 reviews
October 17, 2017
Amazing Read

Such a brand ambassador of the game and humble creature, has been my the most favorite cricketer of all time and Sha remain so...

One of the best investment I made is reading this book 'True Colours - Adam Gilchrist'

Thank you so very much, Gilly!
Profile Image for Sean Nonnenmacher.
14 reviews
April 3, 2020
I've never read a cricket biography before. This was a good start. Gilchrist for the most part is open with most parts of his career, but glosses over some important aspects. E.g. the coaches final series. All in all it was a nice and relaxing read.
Profile Image for Mahesh Naidu.
69 reviews4 followers
July 19, 2021
Probably the only audiobook that I’d listen to for a second time. Great narration and look in to the life of the GOAT wicket keeper batsman of our Gentleman’s sport. Recommend it to every cricket fan out there.
6 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2017
90s kids who loved cricket will love this book

Gilly has been candid.
People who grew up watching test matches that started at 4 a.m IST will definitely love this book.
164 reviews
July 1, 2020
The usual template autobiography. Nice read.
27 reviews
August 5, 2023
Incredible man and career but I lost interest half way through.
Profile Image for Ronak.
5 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2016
A good read

This is a good read for cricket lovers. You start feeling as if you know Adam, personally. You build a connection with him through his book. Life of a cricketer is definitely not easy, as they go through extreme emotions. Most important thing you get to know is - there's a vast difference between what the tv shows you and what the reality is w.r.t. a person or an incident.

Thank you Adam Gilchrist, for entertaining us for years, for the spirit you played the game in and for taking us inside your story.
4 reviews
March 16, 2016
I'm not a big fan of cricket. Great game that it may be, I find it a bit too slow for my taste (and 20-20 is more entertainment than sport). But if there is one name that comes to my mind when reminded of cricket, its Adam Gilchrist (ok all Sachin fans don't kill me, let me live with my weird choice). One of the last standing gentleman of the so-called gentleman's game has been equally candid in the narration of his life's story. The book is an emotional roller coaster which could move even the toughest of hearts and look towards the psychological demands of modern sports.

Gilly starts on a solemn note bringing out his predicament of deep sorrow after playing a memorable innings. But its just a prologue as thereafter he guides us through his childhood, his days as a young boy in a family obsessed with sports. While being surrounded by above average athletes did have its advantages, but it certainly had its pressures too. However one thing that emerges about the initial days in the legend's life is that he was equally humble and maybe a bit introvert even at this young age.

Moving on to his adolescent years and the initial successes, he details the dilemma faced by a young teenager spending years away from family and friends ,focussing most of his waking hours in the single minded pursuit of cricket. Gilly 19s also quite candid about how tense he was when being compared with the legendary Ian Healy and the doubts in his mind if he could ever replace the revered gloveman (in the team and public imagination). But his admiration was not limited to the greats, he also indicates his fascination watching sublime talents like the precocious Ponting and McGrath, many of whom were younger than him.

But he did get his break and the next part of the book is certainly more interesting. It details his triumphs and travails in international cricket, right from the highs of consecutive world cup victories, to the lows of being part of the first Australian team in ages to lose the Ashes. Gilchrist has devoted much print space to the debacle of 2005 which was the most testing time for him professionally and personally, and one cannot be anything but moved on reading of such unreasonable pressures being put on an already demoralised person.

The final part has a bit about his last world cup and the man of the match performance in the final. He also has tried to bring out his view in the monkeygate scandal (though how much that would appeal to Indian readers, I'm not sure) and the ever controversial issue of 1Cwalking 1D. Overall Gilly's provided a peek into an international sportsman's life while staying clear from commenting on other players and causing controversy. A very good read then, which may not appeal to the tabloid in you, but certainly to the true fan who cherishes pure sportsmanship and sheer joy of participation more than anything else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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