Category Archives: Autobiography

Black Lives Matter: Dick Gregory

Posted on November 13, 2024 by odeboyz

“Last time I was down South, I walked into this restaurant. This white waitress came up to me and said, ‘We don’t serve colored people here.’ I said, ‘That’s all right, I don’t eat colored people. Bring me a whole … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Wes Streeting ~ One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry up: A memoir of growing up and getting on (2023)

Posted on October 9, 2024 by odeboyz

To be honest I was repelled by this book before reading a page. I assumed he was presumptuous.1 I believed he was careerist student politician who’d got lucky. Wrong! Streeting is fascinating. He comes from a working-class background. (Most Labour … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Rory Stewart ~ Politics on the edge: A memoir from within (2023)

Posted on September 21, 2024 by odeboyz

Political memoirs are exercises in self-glorification. This makes them tedious unless well-written with colourful ‘assassinations’ that are stiletto sharp. Stewart’s book is successful. His critique of David Cameron and Boris Johnson is masterful. His pen portraits of fellow MPs doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Roy Keane: the second half ~ Roy Keane with Roddy Doyle (2014)

Posted on September 4, 2024 by odeboyz

Two Irish giants coming together to translate the spoken word into an autobiography should end up with something great. Keane was a superb footballer playing at the highest level for 12 years at Manchester United. Roddy Doyle is an outstanding … Continue reading →

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Gerald Ratner: Honesty Isn’t Always the Best Policy

Posted on July 10, 2024 by odeboyz

Gerald rejected his grammar school to work on his father’s stall in London’s famous Petticoat Lane market. It was a cut-throat trading environment where traders were predators. He loved it. Gerald worked the crowds, seducing them into buying his goods. … Continue reading →

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Andrei Kanchelskis meets Sir Alex Ferguson

Posted on July 3, 2024 by odeboyz

“ They also taught me the correct way to address the manager of Manchester United. Almost the first time I came across Alex Ferguson in the corridors of the Cliff, he said to me, ‘All right, Andrei, how’s it going?’ … Continue reading →

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Jack Dee on being alcoholic

Posted on March 23, 2024 by odeboyz

“I’ve had my run-ins with booze; it’s well documented. So what I can say from experience is that it takes a lot of guts and perseverance and courage to stop drinking. Which is why I haven’t.”

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Book Review: Keith Richards (with James Fox) ~ Life (2010)

Posted on March 13, 2024 by odeboyz

Unless you’re a Rolling Stones fan and keen on an autobiography featuring drink, drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll you’re unlikely to enjoy this. It’s filled with endless ‘shock-horror’ moments. Here’s a sample, 1 Gangster Keith 2 Drug addict Keith 3 … Continue reading →

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John Lennon on teenage posturing

Posted on February 14, 2024 by odeboyz

“I come from the macho school of pretense. I was never really a street kid or a tough guy. I used to dress like a Teddy boy and identify with Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley, but I was never really … Continue reading →

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TV Review: Beckham (Netflix) (2023)

Posted on December 13, 2023 by odeboyz

Beckham is successful in every activity he’s pursued . A sublime footballer, a photo-shoot superstar, trophy wife and businessman. As a result, he’s had intense media scrutiny for most of his life. So, hasn’t planet *Beckham* been gutted of all … Continue reading →

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