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, haunti...
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Dec 14, 2011
Daniel
rated it: 
Finished "Open" last night. I realize I'm way late to the party, this book having come out in Nov. '09, but I'm not really a non-fiction book reader. I'm still very glad to have read this, Andre's story.
Why should I, or we, care? Why should anyone at all, tennis fan or not, care about Andre Agassi's life, let alone buy his book? Because this isn't just the "story" of a tennis player or just a story at all. Andres life covers a lot of real estate, both literally and fig More...
Why should I, or we, care? Why should anyone at all, tennis fan or not, care about Andre Agassi's life, let alone buy his book? Because this isn't just the "story" of a tennis player or just a story at all. Andres life covers a lot of real estate, both literally and fig More...
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Jan 04, 2010
Elizabeth
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My old editor always said that I should try to write like anyone, it should be J.R. Moehringer. So when this book came out--even though I'm a sub-par tennis player--I was excited. The second piece of information that made me want to read this book was Jara's review: "After finishing this I appreciate Agassi more as a human than a tennis player." That got me really curious.
A couple things that stood out to me after reading this: Agassi loses--a lot. Over and over and over. More...
A couple things that stood out to me after reading this: Agassi loses--a lot. Over and over and over. More...
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Nov 20, 2011
Adi
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This book kept me awake at night. I felt compelled to finish it in 2 days ("straight sets" maybe? - not my fault for the metaphor).
I might as well add that I was surprised to find out that Agassi fundamentally hates tennis and that he was an underachiever - he could have done (much) better. The way his father forced him to train as a little boy and the life he led as a tennis pro were also very interesting to know.
I might as well add that I was surprised to find out that Agassi fundamentally hates tennis and that he was an underachiever - he could have done (much) better. The way his father forced him to train as a little boy and the life he led as a tennis pro were also very interesting to know.
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Feb 11, 2012
Paola
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Non é che propriamente l'ho letto, no, l'ho divorato, e manco ho fatto indigestione. Scrive bene il ghost writer che non é nemmeno tanto ghost, alla fine del libro c'é il nome e cognome e tanti ringraziamenti dell'Agassi, e non é uno da niente ma uno che ha vinto il Pulitzer... e quindi.
Per chi ama il tennis é una droga sto libro.
L'enfant terrible du tennis raccontato da lui stesso medesimo.
Si certo, certo, é una storia molto americana, il farsi da sé, l'ascesa, la More...
Per chi ama il tennis é una droga sto libro.
L'enfant terrible du tennis raccontato da lui stesso medesimo.
Si certo, certo, é una storia molto americana, il farsi da sé, l'ascesa, la More...
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Feb 02, 2012
Anurag
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When i picked up this book the name OPEN suggested Andre will discuss about his prolong tennis career, his rivalry with Pete Sampras and many nail biting matches at the 4 grand slams or the OPENS, but from the first page till the end it was more about Agassi's fight with his inner self, his projection to the outer world and how wins through life after numerous failures. The title OPEN actually signifies how with course of time Andre puts his inner feeling out in the open with his near and dear o
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Jul 22, 2011
Heather
rated it: 
First of all, let me say I am not a tennis fan. At all. I don't know the terminology, and I have no idea what the rules are. However, I quite liked this book and genuinely didn't mind all the tennis stuff.
For the first half of the book I sort of thought that Andre sounded like such a "guy." But not in a good way if you know what I'm saying. But man, he won me over by the end! Now he seems like a little softie to me and I'm slightly obsessed with googling him. He seems like a More...
For the first half of the book I sort of thought that Andre sounded like such a "guy." But not in a good way if you know what I'm saying. But man, he won me over by the end! Now he seems like a little softie to me and I'm slightly obsessed with googling him. He seems like a More...
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(3 people liked it)
Dec 14, 2010
Jegan
rated it:
This is one is surely for all those skeptics who had that doubt on whether he deserved this esteem and the Honey Steffi graff :)
The Autobiography which I longed to read and Im Happy that my wallet was Open for Open.
The moment I started this , I went straight to the days were I used to bunk classes, skip food, Hold my bowels, prorogue almost anything Just to witness the charm this guy was evincing on the court.
The expectation rose within me as I tried to stop e More...
The Autobiography which I longed to read and Im Happy that my wallet was Open for Open.
The moment I started this , I went straight to the days were I used to bunk classes, skip food, Hold my bowels, prorogue almost anything Just to witness the charm this guy was evincing on the court.
The expectation rose within me as I tried to stop e More...
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Aug 20, 2011
Ed
rated it: 
I have a checkered past with Andre Agassi. Having been a fan of pro-tennis since I was a kid, I was intrigued with Agassi when he debuted on the tour (I'll even admit to owning a pair of those denim shorts), but somewhere along the way something went astray and it took to the last couple of years of his career for me to re-warm up to him. Contributing to that personal opinion decline was observing him "behind the scenes" when I dabbled as a tennis writer/photographer for in the mid-/
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Aug 19, 2011
Tricia
rated it: 
From the very beginning this book feels like it is honest and open. Sometimes I thought "uh-oh, not sure he should say that". But he did, and I never felt like he was holding back on his true feelings.
Andre seems to have been searching for who he was most of his life. I was happy to see that he was able to find himself and be happy with his life and all the pain, sorrows, heartaches, and the joys, triumphs and love that came with it.
My favorite story is when Ste More...
Andre seems to have been searching for who he was most of his life. I was happy to see that he was able to find himself and be happy with his life and all the pain, sorrows, heartaches, and the joys, triumphs and love that came with it.
My favorite story is when Ste More...
May 17, 2010
Polly
rated it:
I always liked Agassi and this book did not disappoint me. It's interesting to read the back story of some of his greatest wins and losses. I never knew that he wore a rug! I remember watching his last U S Open final against Federer and cheering for him, thinking he might actually do it. I was at Wimbledon and saw his last victory there. And I was at the open when he lost his last match, but over on Louis Armstrong as we all followed the score of his match on Arthur Ashe. It was a fun read.
Nov 14, 2010
ML
rated it:
Choosing JR Moehringer to write his autobiography was Agassi's genius stroke. This is not a 'comfortable' book to read. Agassi's pain and sense of isolation, whether on the court or in his personal life, is constant. Others have recorded their childhood of involuntary servitude to a parents' obsession, but this is the best-written.
Jul 15, 2010
Edmund
rated it:
Currently reading this. Seems very well written so far. Been an Agassi fan for a long time.
Finished half the book until 3:30am last night -- outstanding biography -- learned a lot about a boy who was forced to become a tennis prodigy, who hated tennis even when he became the best player in the world.
Really well written and enjoyable book.
Ed
Finished half the book until 3:30am last night -- outstanding biography -- learned a lot about a boy who was forced to become a tennis prodigy, who hated tennis even when he became the best player in the world.
Really well written and enjoyable book.
Ed
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Jul 15, 2010
Danica
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It was hard to put this one down. It was well written and a very easy read. Andre Agassi has led a very interesting life.
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Mar 13, 2010
Leigh
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reading (or actually listening to) Open was hard work and sometimes I had to take a deep breath before I dug in again. Agassi's story is complicated and frequently painful. It drained my energy to learn about his excruciating relationship with his father, the tremendous physical effort required to be a top tennis star, and the ups and downs of his career and life. But in the end Open was a rewarding and memorable book. and please be sure also to read The Tender Bar: A Memoir, by Agassi's co-
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Aug 06, 2011
This is a very engaging account of Agassi's life. Agassi writes of his love-hate relationship with tennis, starting with his high pressured childhood with his father pushing him towards tennis success, through his rebellious life on the tennis tour, and ultimately emotional maturity. The book is filled with rich characters, such as Gil, Agassi's physical trainer, closest friend, and surrogate father, and Brad Gilbert, Agassi's no-nonsense coach. Agassi does seem to be very emotionally open and s
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Jan 23, 2012
Julia
rated it:
Sports autobiographies tend to follow a set pattern. The author rehashes the highlights of their career, maybe talks briefly about a crisis of confidence or a clash with the coach, gets a few teammates to chip in and reassure us that the writer was a terrific person. Open is completely different. It's a superb autobiography in its own right, let alone within the sports genre. Agassi exposes himself with raw candour and doesn't always come across well. He is frank about his flaws, his tantru
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Jan 12, 2012
Malik
rated it:
http://mrlarsensbalancewiki.wikispaces.c...
He was born in Las Vagas in 1970. His parents were Elizabeth and Emmanuel Agassi his father was an olympic boxer from Iran. His father's real last name was Aghassian, but he changed it when he moved to the U.S. His father really wanted him to play tennis when he was young. Nearly his entire childhood revolved around tennis. When he was in pre-school he would hit tennis balls in his backyard for hours each day. His father would feed him caffina More...
He was born in Las Vagas in 1970. His parents were Elizabeth and Emmanuel Agassi his father was an olympic boxer from Iran. His father's real last name was Aghassian, but he changed it when he moved to the U.S. His father really wanted him to play tennis when he was young. Nearly his entire childhood revolved around tennis. When he was in pre-school he would hit tennis balls in his backyard for hours each day. His father would feed him caffina More...
Dec 11, 2011
Pwilczewski
rated it:
Great book! I already knew he had a pretty colorful career but I never realized how low he sank at certain points. I didn't like the first 50 pages (his childhood) but as Andre matures so does his writing. In the second half I couldn't put the book down!
A large part of the book focuses on Andre's self-discovery. Often this is mistaken by others as rebellion. He goes through phases with mullets, pony tails, a shaved head, pink shorts, denim short shorts, earings and drugs. Sometimes I More...
A large part of the book focuses on Andre's self-discovery. Often this is mistaken by others as rebellion. He goes through phases with mullets, pony tails, a shaved head, pink shorts, denim short shorts, earings and drugs. Sometimes I More...
Dec 02, 2011
Riley
rated it:
Andre Kirk Agassi was a professional tennis player born in Las Vegas. His father was Mike Agassi. Mike was a tennis fanatic and forced the sport upon Andre as a child, causing him to develop a hate for it. Andre’s mother was Elizabeth Agassi. She was a very laid back person that usually spent time working on puzzles in the house. His father then sent him to Bolliteri Academy, a private tennis school in Florida. This allowed for Andre to go pro and end up winning the Australian Open in 1995, 2
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Nov 19, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
Autobiographies are tricky because the good ones a) tell the truth, b) that truth is interesting to an audience and c) it is conveyed so to keep the audience interested. That may seem like an obvious statement, but certain things—like ego, insincerity and make-believe—just don’t belong in the genre. Andre Agassi’s book “Open” is a good autobiography. It’s also an intriguing and shocking read. Relationships, racquets and crystal meth—Agassi lays it all on the table to tell the story of how te
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Sep 22, 2011
Tyson
rated it:
Andre Agassi's book is exactly as titled: Open.
The first person narrative takes us deep into the mind of one of tennis's greatest athletes. Andre's love for life and hate for tennis set the tone for this story of elated highs and depressing lows, in life, in love and in sport.
What I like best about the book is Andre's process for handling pressure. He describes something we have all felt in both personal, professional and athletic situations, the pressure of anxiety on More...
The first person narrative takes us deep into the mind of one of tennis's greatest athletes. Andre's love for life and hate for tennis set the tone for this story of elated highs and depressing lows, in life, in love and in sport.
What I like best about the book is Andre's process for handling pressure. He describes something we have all felt in both personal, professional and athletic situations, the pressure of anxiety on More...
Sep 20, 2011
Antoaneta
rated it:
Не очаквах тази книга да ми хареса - нито имам отношение към тениса, нито особени очаквания към писателските възможности на спортистите. Колко само съм се заблудила. Книгата е чудесна, просто чудесна. Една наистина добре написана и вълнуваща история. Искрена, силна и завладяваща. Впечатлена съм от личността на Агаси. Но не е само това - тази книга ме накара да се замисля как често предполагаме, че истинският талант е достатъчен, за да изведе притежателя му в светлината на прожекторите. Не се зам
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Sep 12, 2011
Erin
rated it:
i love a memoir but there are so many that are mediocre - however, this one was definitely worth the read. the title is perfect - referencing both the grand slams that tennis players strive to win and the tone of the book. for someone who self-admittedly spent most of his life and career being closed, hiding behind the lie that he loved tennis and trying to find himself, this book comes across as the raw truth. and not surprisingly, the tidbits that the press clung to during the press tour wh
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Aug 10, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
It's not often I finish reading a book and feel compelled to give it a standing ovation, but if any book deserves it, this one does. I am not a huge tennis fan, and although I knew of Andre Agassi, I didn't follow his career. Reading his story, however, I was glued to each page, feeling the importance of every victory and defeat with him, understanding what drives him and what deflates him, and getting to know him as an athlete, boy/man, husband, son and father. This book is well-written, raw, f
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Jul 26, 2011
King
rated it:
Reads like a novel. And better than some novels I've read I might add(*cough cough Nicholas Sparks cough cough*).
I was turned to this book after seeing it on my friend's twitter feed. I don't know why I hadn't read it before considering tennis has become a recent passion of mine. I was also hoping to garner some inspiration from it. I have been (and still am) struggling with my serve, and I had hoped that it would shed some light on the emotional and mental aspects of the game. As a co More...
I was turned to this book after seeing it on my friend's twitter feed. I don't know why I hadn't read it before considering tennis has become a recent passion of mine. I was also hoping to garner some inspiration from it. I have been (and still am) struggling with my serve, and I had hoped that it would shed some light on the emotional and mental aspects of the game. As a co More...
Jul 17, 2011
Brian
rated it:
Having been an Agassi fan from the beginning of his career and following his every move closely, I really enjoyed reading his autobiography, which filled in so many pieces about how things unfolded the way that they did for him. Everything from understanding the story behind the "Image is Everything" adds to how he rose from underachiever, to nearly out of the game to one of the all-time greats was explained with brutal honesty. If anyone reading this book doesn't yet get that the spor
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Jul 07, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Just finished this book in three days while on vacation in Iowa. I don't think I've ever read a sports memoir before, but I was listening to an economics podcast that said this was the best sports memoir out there. That intrigued me, so I picked it up. While carrying it through the airport, I had a man stop me and tell me what an outstanding book it was. I have to say I agree.
I was quite the tennis fan growing up and into my 20s, so I remember Agassi's career fairly well. I found More...
I was quite the tennis fan growing up and into my 20s, so I remember Agassi's career fairly well. I found More...
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Jul 06, 2011
Audrey
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I savored this book! I don't want to give anything away, so instead I will recommend this to anyone with an interest in tennis (Andre provides a lot of play-by-play descriptions which can leave your chair with grip marks) and autobiographies that are down-to-earth and, well, yes very open.
The book begins with Andre's tough,regimented upbringing involving his father who was determined to make a pro out of the kid. It therafter follows Andre through his crazy teen years at the Boleter More...
The book begins with Andre's tough,regimented upbringing involving his father who was determined to make a pro out of the kid. It therafter follows Andre through his crazy teen years at the Boleter More...
Jun 28, 2011
Linda
rated it:
The best autobiography I've ever read.
Andre starts with a match of his life, where he battles both his opponent and the inner voice that one minute goes: "I wanna finish this" and the other minute: "I'm not ready yet". If he looses the match it will be the last match of his career.
A monstrous match that shifts into Agassi looking back, starting to tell the story of his life.
If you're a tennis lover, you'll probably love the book for it's More...
Andre starts with a match of his life, where he battles both his opponent and the inner voice that one minute goes: "I wanna finish this" and the other minute: "I'm not ready yet". If he looses the match it will be the last match of his career.
A monstrous match that shifts into Agassi looking back, starting to tell the story of his life.
If you're a tennis lover, you'll probably love the book for it's More...
May 26, 2011
Katie
rated it:
What an interesting life of Andre Agassi. He opens himself up and really lets loose in his memoir. I had no idea that he dropped out of school in 9th grade so that he was solely focused on tennis, had no idea that his father was crazy and that he had to hit 1000 balls a day when he was younger. No wonder he made it to the top! Too bad he HATES tennis... but does he really hate it? At the end I felt like he had changed a bit about it. He was choosing whether he played or not and that made all the
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