Ronnie: The Autobiography of Ronnie O'Sullivan

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

In this book, it's obvious O'Sullivan is a troubled sole-something he admits quite freely throughout. It makes compelling reading, rather than beating an opponent at snooker there is more of a battle with himself. His depression, being overweight and drug abuse make you want to read this and cling on until the end.
The chapter where he reveals his opinion on the top players in the game (Williams, Hendry, Davies etc) is an excellent inclusion and is almost a relief part after all the hard hitting first chapters.
His relationship with his Father is evident...they didn't see eye to eye but he loves him.
It's a compelling read that rarely let's go and the cliche of hard to put down.


Great book!   January 22, 2006
Cathrine Grønbech Jensen (Denmark)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is a great book, in which Ronnie O'Sullivan tells the reader everything about his childhood, how he began his snooker career, and especially his depression and drug abuse.
It is a book which shows how to turn your life around, and how to become a winner again.