You Cannot Be Serious by John McEnroe, James Kaplan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of You Cannot Be Serious
Book Review: Honest and Entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
The greatest asset of Mr. McEnroe's autobiography is the author's (sometimes brutal) honesty regarding both himself and the characters/events surrounding his rise to fame. Sure, it is clear at times that McEnroe is concealing some juicy details about his personal life, but it is not fair to expect admissions about everything! What McEnroe does share proves to be very revealing about both the pro-tennis tour and his celebrity lifestyle.
Ultimately this book will appeal to fans of not just McEnroe, but rather all of his contemporaries, since McEnroe is not afraid to dish the dirt on his colleagues. Although McEnroe is not going to be winning a literary prize anytime soon (some exciting grand slam wins are breezed by in a style that makes them seem almost secondary), his exciting roller coaster life proves amiable reading which most tennis aficionados will enjoy.
Book Review: John McEnroe: Bad Boy of Professional Tennis
Summary: 3 Stars
John McEnroe is one of the all- time greats in the game of tennis. Bursting on the scene in the late 1970's, McEnroe brought a new dimension to the sport. He relives some of his greatest sports moments in this book, "You Cannot be Serious". McEnroe was known for his legendary temper, and he explains to readers how he got this way and why he continued to blow his top from time to time. He admits, in retrospect, that he went too far more than once, but he stops short of completely apologizing for his on- court antics. Among other reasons, he points out that the promoters of professional tennis quietly encouraged his behavior. They didn't necessarily think it was the best way to act, but they also knew that McEnroe's bad boy image helped increase the popularity of the sport.
McEnroe talks about more than just tennis in this book. He also covers his tumultuous marriage with actress Tatum O'Neil; his encounters with rock and roll superstars; his second marriage to pop singer Patty Smythe; and his present- day occupation as a tennis announcer and commentator. McEnroe lays his heart on the line in this book, letting the reader know exactly how he felt about different players in the game and the women in his life.
Even though I like John McEnroe, both the man and the player, there are a few negative points to make about this book. First of all, there's the editing job by James Kaplan. There are some poorly- worded sentences throughout the pages and there are too many exclamation marks and colons in places where they are not necessary. Second, McEnroe's ego could be hard for some readers to stomach. He brags on himself and always seems to have an excuse to explain why he lost certain key matches.
Overall, this is still a fun book to read, in spite of its flaws. It could have been better with some more thought and effort, but it still makes for an enjoyable read. McEnroe lets you know exactly how he feels about the sport of tennis, the various personalities involved, and his own personal relationships. He's very serious, and he wants you to understand where he is coming from and where he is going.
Book Review: Living the dream is never what you think it is
Summary: 3 Stars
When I picked up the autobiography I only knew of John McEnroe as a star tennis player. The whole story from his meteoric rise to passing his athletic prime is personal, interesting and in many ways suprising. I am a bigger fan having read the book.Book Review: Loved it, brings back some great memories
Summary: 4 Stars
Tennis at it's peak....Great book, Now I remember all those incidents....Being a huge tennis fan, I found this fun to read and it actually motivated me to play better....Book Review: Mac tells all
Summary: 4 Stars
McEnroe takes you on a chronilogical tour of his career starting from childhood all the way to the early 2000's. I would definitely recommend this book for someone who is a lover of tennis, especially tennis from the 70's and 80's. Even without knowing about a lot about his competitors, I still enjoyed the dialogue and Mac's opinions of some of his older matches. He certainly wasn't afraid to let the reader know exactly what he felt about refs, calls, and his opponents. The story of his 'Hollywood' life during his tennis career was also a very enjoyable read. He takes you through the story with his two wives, his kids, and his parties and activites with celebrities. He also talks briefly of some of his other career endeavors including his art gallery and his dream of having his own band and being a famous musician. The only thing I thought he should have talked more about was some of his more recent activities. The last 5 years or so seemed to be quick even though a lot had happened. Besides the missing detail there, the book was a good read. Even without being a huge tennis fan, I enjoyed the book. I imagine that a real tennis fan would love this book.