Just finished reading 'bellies and bullseyes' by Sid Waddell. Made me laugh lots. What an intelligent fellow.
George Orwell once said that you should never trust biography unless it reveals something disgraceful. I don't really do biography, but if I do I find myself mostly liking biographies that reveal just that, and here are a couple: How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis; It's not necessarily an autobiography (and its not a self help book either) but it does more or less tell the story of Dennis' life of wealth accumulating debauchery. Cocaine, hookers, cooking financial books and becoming a billionaire. Mr Nice; Welshman and Oxford educated Howard Marks' tells the story of how he became the world's biggest (and richest) dope smuggler before serving time in America's highest security prison. Not really in the same category as the above two, but if you've paid attention to any of my ramblings before you'll know that I will also recommend Christopher Hitchens' Memoirs - in which Hitchens reveals (being mindful of Orwell's 'disgraceful' advice, no doubt) he had a homosexual relationship in boarding school. (Shameless brag - I own an immaculate First Edition Signed hardback copy of this book which sits proudly on the bookshelf facing me now - its quite rare since Hitchens got diagnosed with cancer before he could finish his book launch tour - my wife got me it for Christmas, clever clever lady.)
In black and white - the story of Joe Louis and Jessie owens and Geoff Boycott -a cricketing hero. Cracking reads.
Good book Nikki Sixx's Heroin Diaries is a good read as well. Can be extremely ****ing disturbing though.
I have no idea, I don't think I'll ever sell. I'm not quite sure about the etiquette with these things either; I want to read it but I don't want to damage it and I've got a copy on Kindle anyway - what's the point in owning something that you can't use and will never sell? Anyway the ownership of 'things' has been subject to diminishing returns for me over the last few years, but for some reason I like owning this thing.
The best autobiographies I have read are, not in any order, 1. Spike Milligan's WW2 biographies, I think there are 5 in the set. They are so funny at times you laugh out load, which can be embarrassing if you are invigilating an examination. When the candidates ask the invigilator to be quiet, it's not good. 2. Edward Behr - Anyone Here Been Raped And Speaks English is good he served with the Ghurkas and then became a war correspondent. 3.Frank Skinner's is good if you want a more modern down to earth one
The moons a balloon - David Niven James Stewart which Is actually a biography but the man did have a very interesting and eventful life .