Open

An Autobiography

By: Andre Agassi

Narrated by: Erik Davies

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography.

Agassi’s incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. By the age of thirteen, he is banished to a Florida tennis camp that feels like a prison camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. He dyes his hair, pierces his ears, dresses like a punk rocker. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning-fast return. And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world’s best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target.

Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match and every relationship. Never before has the inner game of tennis and the outer game of fame been so precisely limned. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals from several generations—Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer—Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals a shattering loss of confidence. And he recounts his spectacular resurrection, a comeback climaxing with his epic run at the 1999 French Open and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one.In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. Inspired by her quiet strength, he fights through crippling pain from a deteriorating spine to remain a dangerous opponent in the twenty-first and final year of his career. Entering his last tournament in 2006, he’s hailed for completing a stunning metamorphosis, from nonconformist to elder statesman, from dropout to education advocate. And still he’s not done. At a U.S. Open for the ages, he makes a courageous last stand, then delivers one of the most stirring farewells ever heard in a sporting arena.

With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate listeners who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi’s game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed, and power.

©2009 Andre Agassi (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Insightful [and] exceedingly well-written . . . [Open] has the cadence and plotting of a good novel . . . The raw energy and emotion throughout are pure Agassi.” -Newsday Top 10 Books of 2009

“Surprisingly candid . . . The baseline bad boy serves up his harrowing anecdotes with the same force he put behind every on-court ace.” -Entertainment Weekly 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2009

“Bracingly devoid of triumphalist homily, Agassi’s is one of the most passionately anti-sports books ever written by a superstar athlete.” -The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2009

I LOVE IT!

Where does Open rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

IT'S MY NUMER 1

What did you like best about this story?

Siempre me ha encantado Andre Agassi, fue muy idolo y siempre me encanto su juego, su carisma, y su caballerosidad en la cancha, así como su imagen. Leer sobre su vida y entender que la imagen que yo tenia en ese momento no era completamente real y que hoy varios años después entiendo y valoro. Es increíble su historia y ojalá nos regale su historia después de su retiro.

What about Erik Davies’s performance did you like?

Me anchando la forma en que narro el libro, complemento perfecto.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

OPEN

Any additional comments?

Recomendado! 100% Recommended.

Open is a eye opening book

Andre Agassi has really opened his heart and soul in this book. You will feel like you really know the man after you read this book. Wonderful book Andre!

Loved It! And I don't play tennis.

In summary, this is a great listen and a reminder of what it is to be human, regardless of what you do or aim to do in your life. You don't have to be a tennis player or a sports nut to appreciate the peaks and valleys of Agassi's life, and those who affected and were effected by him. In the end you may walk away with a new understanding -- or a reminder -- that giving to others may be the best play you can make; that, as humans, we seem to wallow in our negative moments far longer than we savor our greatest accomplishments (and we should change this action); and that we all make mistakes.


I particularly enjoyed Agassi's retelling of reaching a goal, a long-fought for goal, only to wonder why in his moment of accomplish, the feeling of success was rather fleeting, paled in comparison to what he imagined the feeling--the feeling of triumph--would be; he soon refocused on his next objective. Perhaps, you can relate to this? I think many individuals will and can.

It was also humorous to learn that a woman as stunning as Brooke Shields found it useful to post a picture of another woman on her refrigerator to motivate her to 'get into wedding shape.' Yes, you've read this correctly: Brooke Shields felt the need to do this. Again, the human side of the book is exposed.

Enjoy the listen. D

Great read

I now understand why my husband, who trained hard from a young age, hates tennis.

Buy the full not this slaughtered abridged version

For years I heard fav reviews of Open. I accidentally bought this disappointing abridged version —didn’t realize my mistake until the very end. I returned a got the full version. Wow! What a difference. The full version will not disappoint. Beware of the abridged.

Narrator was so painful I couldn’t finish

I wish Agassi would have done it himself.. sounded like a robot was reading his story.