You Cannot Be Serious
by John McEnroe, James Kaplan
List Price:
Our Price: $3.73
You Save: $11.27 (75%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: James Kaplan, John McEnroeEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-06-03
ISBN: 0425190080
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Book Reviews of You Cannot Be Serious
Book Review: A Good Book - Yes, I'm Serious !
Summary: 4 Stars
Born in Germany in 1959, John McEnroe must surely be considered one of the great tennis players. He turned professional in 1979, though reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon as an amateur in 1978 - a record, at the time, for an amateur in the open era. He went on to win 77 singles and 77 doubles titles, including 7 Singles and 10 Doubles at the Grand Slams. He most famous match, strangely enough, may well be one he lost : the 1980 five-set Wimbledon final against Bjorn Borg. He also took the Davis Cup very seriously, winning it as a player and captain. He retired as a professional in 1992, though has played on the seniors' tour and works as a television commentator.
He is, of course, just as famous for his temper, something that apparently caused The New York Times to label him "the worst advertisement for our system of values since Al Capone". Some of his more memorable lines came at Wimbledon. While he won that tournament for the first time in 1981 (beating Borg in the final), his second round match saw him label the umpire the "pits of the world" and "an incompetent fool". Naturally, he went on to utter the immortal words "you cannot be serious". Nowadays, however, when he plays on the senior's tour and in exhibitions, he feels he's expected to "yell at some people and break at least one racquet."
As a kid, Wimbledon was practically required viewing during the summer months. At the time, McEnroe, Borg and Connors were the top dogs in the men's game - and the rivalries McEnroe had with both made for great matches. For me, the most interesting and enjoyable sections of the book dealt with McEnroe's thoughts on both men. His admiration for Borg is clear, and the pair seem to have forged a strong friendship over the years - something I thought a little strange, given the differences between them on-court. However, his rivalry with Connors seems to have been a little more keenly felt - but there were parts I'm sure I picked up a touch of genuine admiration.
There are some things, of course, that may have been difficult for him to write about - his marriage to and divorce from Tatum O'Neal. He also seems somewhat embarrassed about his bad behavior both on and off the court. To his credit, he doesn't try to brush over things or make excuses. (Admittedly, there are times he possibly tries to give himself a little too much credit). All in all, though, it is a very readable and thoroughly enjoyable book.
Memoirs Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Memoirs Books
Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Centuryby Hunter S. Thompson
Penguin Books, Limited (UK); Published: 2008-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.11
Price in other shops:
Never Have Your Dog Stuffedby Alan Alda
Arrow Books; Published: 2007-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.59
Price in other shops:
The Hunger: A Story of Food, Desire, and Ambitionby John DeLucie, Graydon Carter
Ecco; Published: 2009-05-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.63
Price in other shops:
Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Unitsby Aaron Cohen, Douglas Century
Ecco; Published: 2008-04-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.94
Price in other shops:
Not Lost Forever: My Story of Survivalby Carmina Salcido, Steve Jackson
William Morrow; Published: 2009-10-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Unlocked: The Life and Crimes of a Mafia Insiderby Louis Ferrante
Harper Perennial; Published: 2009-02-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Writing Places: The Life Journey of a Writer and Teacherby William Zinsser
Harper; Published: 2009-05-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.09
Price in other shops:
Got the Life: My Journey of Addiction, Faith, Recovery, and Kornby Fieldy
William Morrow; Published: 2009-03-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)by Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp
Harper Perennial; Published: 2008-04-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.14
Price in other shops:
The Ride of My Lifeby Mat Hoffman
It Books; Published: 2003-09-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.95
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
A Paper Lifeby Tatum O'Neal
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2005-10-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.53
Price in other shops:
Open: An Autobiographyby Andre Agassi
Knopf; Published: 2009-11-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.50
Price in other shops:
The Education of a Tennis Playerby Rod Laver, Bud Collins
New Chapter Press; Published: 2010-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.61
Price in other shops:
Epic: John McEnroe, Bjrn Borg, and the Greatest Tennis Season Everby Matthew Cronin
Wiley; Published: 2011-04-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Lifeby James Blake
Harper Paperbacks; Published: 2008-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performanceby W. Timothy Gallwey
Random House Trade Paperbacks; Published: 1997-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.54
Price in other shops:
Rafaby Rafael Nadal, John Carlin
Hyperion; Published: 2011-08-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops:
Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Masterby Brad Gilbert, Steve Jamison
Touchstone; Published: 1994-05-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Open: An Autobiography (Vintage)by Andre Agassi
Vintage; Published: 2010-08-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
A Champion's Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennisby Pete Sampras, Peter Bodo
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2009-05-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.36
Price in other shops: