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George Best: True Genius
‘REMEMBER ME FOR THE FOOTBALL…’ …George Best’s last wish before his untimely death, aged just 59 in 2005. ‘Genius’ was the original title for his autobiography, modestly dismissed by Best as being too arrogant. Now comes the definitive biography True Genius, a family-backed account of his remarkable career published to coincide with what would have been his 75th birthday. Written by celebrated Manchester United author Wayne Barton, it goes into unparalleled depth, aiming to tell the complete story of the game’s first superstar. Barton has spent years trawling the archives and speaking to a host of former team-mates, managers, friends and close family, going behind the scenes and researching matches and official records in microscopic detail. While there have been many books on George Best, this is the only biography that captures the football story so exhaustively, unearthing revealing material that will shed new light on one of the game’s most naturally gifted players. Supplemented with rare and unseen images researched from the Daily Mirror archives, this is the ultimate portrait of a true football genius.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
421 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2021
11 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. The focus was more on Best as a footballer, rather than his personal life. It was really interesting hearing what an absolute genius he was on the pitch. It was sad to hear how his illness stopped him truly becoming the best that he could.
March 3, 2024
I recently had the pleasure of diving into "George Best: True Genius" by Wayne Barton, and let me tell you, it's a riveting journey through the life and legacy of one of football's most iconic figures.
From the very beginning, Barton's writing style draws you in effortlessly, weaving together anecdotes, insights, and interviews to paint a vivid picture of George Best's meteoric rise and enduring impact on the beautiful game. What struck me most was Barton's ability to capture the essence of Best's genius both on and off the pitch. Through his meticulous research and genuine admiration for his subject, Barton brings Best's story to life in a way that is both enlightening and profoundly moving.
What I appreciated most about this book was its balanced approach to Best's life. While it doesn't shy away from his well-documented struggles with fame, addiction, and personal demons, Barton also celebrates his unparalleled talent, his magnetic charisma, and his enduring legacy as one of football's true greats. It's a testament to Barton's skill as a writer that he is able to navigate such complex terrain with sensitivity and grace.
As someone who has always been fascinated by football history, I found "George Best: True Genius" to be an absolute treasure trove of insights and revelations. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the beautiful game or simply someone who appreciates a well-told story, this book is sure to captivate and inspire. Highly recommended!
From the very beginning, Barton's writing style draws you in effortlessly, weaving together anecdotes, insights, and interviews to paint a vivid picture of George Best's meteoric rise and enduring impact on the beautiful game. What struck me most was Barton's ability to capture the essence of Best's genius both on and off the pitch. Through his meticulous research and genuine admiration for his subject, Barton brings Best's story to life in a way that is both enlightening and profoundly moving.
What I appreciated most about this book was its balanced approach to Best's life. While it doesn't shy away from his well-documented struggles with fame, addiction, and personal demons, Barton also celebrates his unparalleled talent, his magnetic charisma, and his enduring legacy as one of football's true greats. It's a testament to Barton's skill as a writer that he is able to navigate such complex terrain with sensitivity and grace.
As someone who has always been fascinated by football history, I found "George Best: True Genius" to be an absolute treasure trove of insights and revelations. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the beautiful game or simply someone who appreciates a well-told story, this book is sure to captivate and inspire. Highly recommended!
October 25, 2025
George Best: True Genius by Wayne Barton is a definitive, deeply human portrait of one of football’s most dazzling and tragic icons. It’s not just a biography; it’s a meticulous resurrection of a man who played like a dream and lived like a storm.
Barton captures the magic that made Best more than a player a phenomenon. Through exhaustive research, intimate interviews, and unseen archival material, he rebuilds the story of a working-class boy from Belfast who became football’s first global superstar an artist on grass, as brilliant as he was broken.
What makes True Genius extraordinary is its emotional and historical precision. Barton doesn’t glorify or sanitize; he illuminates. The triumphs, the turmoil, the blinding talent all are rendered with reverence and realism, restoring Best’s humanity beneath the myth.
Richly detailed and elegantly written, this book is both a celebration and a reckoning a tribute to a man whose gift changed the game forever. For fans of football history, celebrity culture, and the fragile line between greatness and self-destruction, George Best: True Genius is nothing short of essential.
This isn’t just a biography.
It’s the final word on genius itself.
Barton captures the magic that made Best more than a player a phenomenon. Through exhaustive research, intimate interviews, and unseen archival material, he rebuilds the story of a working-class boy from Belfast who became football’s first global superstar an artist on grass, as brilliant as he was broken.
What makes True Genius extraordinary is its emotional and historical precision. Barton doesn’t glorify or sanitize; he illuminates. The triumphs, the turmoil, the blinding talent all are rendered with reverence and realism, restoring Best’s humanity beneath the myth.
Richly detailed and elegantly written, this book is both a celebration and a reckoning a tribute to a man whose gift changed the game forever. For fans of football history, celebrity culture, and the fragile line between greatness and self-destruction, George Best: True Genius is nothing short of essential.
This isn’t just a biography.
It’s the final word on genius itself.
August 3, 2021
I love George Best but I am too young to have seen him in his prime. Reading this gave me great joy but also sadness at the way his amazing talent fizzled away after Busby retired due to many factors, not all in in George's control. Undoubtedly the greatest British player this book highlights him from a non red top perspective and us all the better for it. Throughly engaging. If only we had more video of his amazing talent. The way every player who played and trained with him fondly remembers him is touching. This book highlights just how good he was without the bull. Well done Wayne I will be Investing in more of your titles
September 28, 2023
Bit of a footballing chronology that doesn't talk too much about Best's personal life until the final few chapters.
Best won the Balon d'Or and the European Cup at United. His best performances were routinely against Chelsea and his night against Benfica went down as one of the best single player performances of all time.
Booze got the better of him and he left United, going on a world tour playing in the USA and Australia briefly. He also played for Fulham in the second tier of English football.
Best never truly achieved his potential which says a lot as many claim he's the best they've ever seen play the game. Best died in 2005 from complications relating to alcoholism.
Best won the Balon d'Or and the European Cup at United. His best performances were routinely against Chelsea and his night against Benfica went down as one of the best single player performances of all time.
Booze got the better of him and he left United, going on a world tour playing in the USA and Australia briefly. He also played for Fulham in the second tier of English football.
Best never truly achieved his potential which says a lot as many claim he's the best they've ever seen play the game. Best died in 2005 from complications relating to alcoholism.
January 14, 2023
"Pele is good, Maradona better, but George is Best" is the saying I grew up with.
George Best is one of the best players to ever play the game. He was a genius and considered unparalleled in the game. He was humble and often doubted himself, and I wonder had he stayed at Man U, what could have been. He would send you the wrong way and come back and do it again. Barton's book follows Best's rise from the working class Belfast community to Manchester and his tenure (and controversial departure) at Man U and Northern Ireland. Barton uses interviews from matches, players, colleagues, coaches and follow Best through stints at Fulham, NASL, and other teams around the world.
I was very young when Best came the US during his Indian Summer with the NASL. His legendary career was less known in the US, but football fans were familiar with his incredible skill. The book covers his frustration with lesser talent in division 2 play, NASL and "agriculture tackles" that could not simply match his football genius. Through Barton's writing, I felt the magic of Best's field presence.
Affectionately known as the "Fifth Beatle", George's appearance would sometimes increase gate sales by 5x for a match. He had a magnetic personality, great smile, and a was a fierce competitor on the field.
For raw talent, I'm not sure any player can top Best. His career is full of highs and lows with the latter years showing glimpses of greatness. Barton shares insights from players who commented that nobody else was doing what best did on the field - they had never seen anything like him with speed and talent. Best played much different than others, he just had a spark of natural talent and you can feel that through Barton's writing.
Best's first love was football. He always said people would remember him for what he did on the field. I enjoyed the stories about him having fun playing Like when he played against the great Cruyff and nutmegged during a game. Later in the match, he did the same to Dutch player Neeskens and Barton shares some humorous takes from players on both sides.
Today's football fans may not appreciate what Best brought to the game. It was a different time, gritty, muddy fields, scrappy players, and tough defenders who brought muscle to counter Best's fast attack. Barton's book brings the magic of the legendary George Best.
Rare footage of George Best is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuOkQ... and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwlRL...) as are interviews with him before his unfortunate death in 2005.
George Best is one of the best players to ever play the game. He was a genius and considered unparalleled in the game. He was humble and often doubted himself, and I wonder had he stayed at Man U, what could have been. He would send you the wrong way and come back and do it again. Barton's book follows Best's rise from the working class Belfast community to Manchester and his tenure (and controversial departure) at Man U and Northern Ireland. Barton uses interviews from matches, players, colleagues, coaches and follow Best through stints at Fulham, NASL, and other teams around the world.
I was very young when Best came the US during his Indian Summer with the NASL. His legendary career was less known in the US, but football fans were familiar with his incredible skill. The book covers his frustration with lesser talent in division 2 play, NASL and "agriculture tackles" that could not simply match his football genius. Through Barton's writing, I felt the magic of Best's field presence.
Affectionately known as the "Fifth Beatle", George's appearance would sometimes increase gate sales by 5x for a match. He had a magnetic personality, great smile, and a was a fierce competitor on the field.
For raw talent, I'm not sure any player can top Best. His career is full of highs and lows with the latter years showing glimpses of greatness. Barton shares insights from players who commented that nobody else was doing what best did on the field - they had never seen anything like him with speed and talent. Best played much different than others, he just had a spark of natural talent and you can feel that through Barton's writing.
Best's first love was football. He always said people would remember him for what he did on the field. I enjoyed the stories about him having fun playing Like when he played against the great Cruyff and nutmegged during a game. Later in the match, he did the same to Dutch player Neeskens and Barton shares some humorous takes from players on both sides.
Today's football fans may not appreciate what Best brought to the game. It was a different time, gritty, muddy fields, scrappy players, and tough defenders who brought muscle to counter Best's fast attack. Barton's book brings the magic of the legendary George Best.
Rare footage of George Best is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuOkQ... and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwlRL...) as are interviews with him before his unfortunate death in 2005.
November 20, 2025
Wayne Barton succeeds in writing a dull biography of George Best focusing on the football and drawing a discreet veil over the drinking, womanising and associated bad behaviour. Brilliant as he was, repetitive accounts of how he made opposition defenders look silly tire very quickly and the reader needs to be reminded of his misdemeanours to understand his rock star like status. This hagiography does George a disservice and, to make matters worse, it isn’t well written. When he’s not waxing lyrical about yet another match, the non-football language is decidedly clunky.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews