Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Autobiography” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Autobiography

by Kevin Pietersen

3.46 of 5 stars 3.46 · rating details · 373 ratings · 60 reviews

The long-awaited autobiography of England's most colorful cricketer

This is the fascinating life story of professional cricketer Kevin Pietersen, MBE, from his childhood in South Africa to his recent experiences as one of the leading lights in the world of international cricket. Kevin was dropped from the England squad in February of 2014, seemingly calling time on an inter ...more

Paperback , 320 pages

Published December 1st 2014 by Little, Brown Book Group (first published October 9th 2014)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Or buy for

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Autobiography , please sign up .

Recent Questions

Does anyone know where I can get a review copy of kp autobiography??

See 1 question about Autobiography…

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 641)

filter | sort : default (?) | rating details

Sep 03, 2015 Andrew Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sport , memoirs-biographies , non-fiction

There was a lot of noise surrounding this book, with KP appearing on TV and others scurrying around supporting or challenging the views he espouses herein. There's no doubt he holds back no punches here, it's very, very forthright. In this regard it's an interesting read and taking in the full text as opposed to the soundbites I'd picked up does present a more balanced overall picture.

- He's very hard on Andy Flower, the ex-England coach. In fact a good deal of the book is a prolonged rant about There was a lot of noise surrounding this book, with KP appearing on TV and others scurrying around supporting or challenging the views he espouses herein. There's no doubt he holds back no punches here, it's very, very forthright. In this regard it's an interesting read and taking in the full text as opposed to the soundbites I'd picked up does present a more balanced overall picture.

- He's very hard on Andy Flower, the ex-England coach. In fact a good deal of the book is a prolonged rant about his shortcomings as a coach. a leader and as a person. He calls him the Mood Hoover, due to his ability to suck any positive spirit from a group or a room.
- He's nearly as hard on Matt Prior, another South African born cricketer who played wicket keeper for England. It's not quite the character assassination he does on Flower, but it's close.
- He's extremely negative about the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in terms of the way he was treated. There is much talk of information leaks and spin. Cricket politics is a significant theme.
- Other England cricketers come in for some rough treatment too, particularly Graham Swann, Chris Broad and to a lesser extent, Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss.
- So, there's an awful lot of negativity in the book. It's a big exercise in defending himself against what he perceives to be an organised stream of criticism and media manupulation which has been exercised by all of the above.
- KP puts forward the view that his involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) generated jealousy and resentment on the part of his England team mates who didn't have the ability or the guts to take part themselves. He talks about how the ECB set out to stop the involvement of England players in the IPL and how this was driven by their money generating TV contract with Sky.
- There's lots more here, about injuries that impacted him (and the lack of support he received whenever this happened), about the KP Genius Twitter account which made fun of him and appears to have had the involvement of some of his team mates, and so on.

So overall, KP does come across as a bit of a moaner. You feel he has a list of excuses for most of his own mistakes but is very hard on others for theirs. I'm not sure it changed any preconceptions I had about him - I always thought him a talented but arrogant guy - but he does tell a riveting story of events that still feel fresh and who's reverberations shook the cricket world.

...more

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

view all 15 comments

Andrew Smith Suzanne, in my brief time in Australia I was amazed how much space in the papers was dedicated to cricket. It's not exactly a minor sport here, but in ...more
Sep 03, 2015 06:16AM

Carol Cricket...hmmm. Maybe this would be interesting.
Sep 04, 2015 05:06PM

Jan 15, 2015 Adi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: cricket fans

Shelves: 2015

I almost never read autobiographies but this one is an exception. And I don't read much cricket. I had to read this one because a friend loved it and insisted I give it a shot. I can't say he was wrong. Also, I enjoy watching KP play because he makes the game entertaining, like Sehwag and Jayasuriya.

I must admit that KP's book, like his batting, is one cracker of a read - very entertaining, hilarious and even insightful.

However, the book reads more as a one-sided rant than an autobiography of s I almost never read autobiographies but this one is an exception. And I don't read much cricket. I had to read this one because a friend loved it and insisted I give it a shot. I can't say he was wrong. Also, I enjoy watching KP play because he makes the game entertaining, like Sehwag and Jayasuriya.

I must admit that KP's book, like his batting, is one cracker of a read - very entertaining, hilarious and even insightful.

However, the book reads more as a one-sided rant than an autobiography of sorts, packed with gossip and juicy stuff. Kevin Pietersen, or KP as he is called, exposes the sorry state of English cricket and the dysfunctional system that is the ECB. He also rips apart a few select individuals and lays them out to rot in the open, because of the supposedly unfair treatment he got while he was with the English cricket team, so the book might be biased to an extent. We'll never know the truth unless the other side is read and heard. But he doesn't flinch and is brutally honest in his views, most of which makes a lot of sense. Though, I couldn't help whether he omitted one thing or the other. He does try hard and earnestly to banish his "mercenary" persona which he has been described often by the media and team-mates. And he does succeed at garnering some sympathy and even my respect.

One of the best aspects of the book is the humour, mostly sarcastic and acerbic, had me in fits and laughing out loud. The language used is easy to follow and devoid of any jargon. I like the way the words were stringed together. Very simple and yet effective.

The biggest flaw, and it does rear its ugly head not just once but many times, is the constant amount of repitition and character assasinations. Indeed, it sounds like he has sour grapes over the ignominous way he career was put to a full stop. He bashes the same guys one too many times that it starts to get boring towards the second half of the book. It's the same old thing served in a different dish. This alone costs the book two stars.

Yet, there's a lot of saucy details that makes the book unputdownable, even if the overall theme is pedantic and repetitive. I finished it in just two sittings, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Perhaps, the satisfaction was derived from having no expectations whatsover. After all, I detest autobiographies. But this one, even if it doesn't read like one, surprised me.

If there's one thing I learnt from reading this book it is that cricket cannot get any more dysfunctional than the English cricket. It makes even our own BCCI look like a saint!

And I like KP even more from now. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 30, 2015 Jeeva Sk rated it 1 of 5 stars

Dear Kevin,

I had always loved you, for the way you carried the game. The brutal sixes, the switch hits which sails past the line. A right handed Sourav. But what you did behind the scenes were horrible. It's evident in your prose that you were a rebellion, but not the kind I had looked up for, from the guy who will hold an innings together by attacking the opponent all the way.

Last month when I read you not being picked up for the NZ tour, I thought I could read about you a little, and it was a ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 15, 2014 Salvatore Greco rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I completely loved this book. He was very open and honest about what happened with many encouragements to the reader to verify the facts in the book with the various sources.

The ECB is painted in a very bad light here and I look forward to them trying to discredit him and to what lengths they will go.

Very well written book and a really good read.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2014 Hossain rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was hoping this book would finally clarify the real reasons of why Kevin Pietersen was dropped from the team, but unfortunately it is still somewhat unclear.

It was a easy read and he seems honest, although sometimes it feels that he was omitting something important. Also he used up a huge portion of the book to just attack Matt Prior (it gets ridiculous at times) and Andy Flower and wrote very little of his early years, great innings or the great successes he and his teammates got from 2008 t I was hoping this book would finally clarify the real reasons of why Kevin Pietersen was dropped from the team, but unfortunately it is still somewhat unclear.

It was a easy read and he seems honest, although sometimes it feels that he was omitting something important. Also he used up a huge portion of the book to just attack Matt Prior (it gets ridiculous at times) and Andy Flower and wrote very little of his early years, great innings or the great successes he and his teammates got from 2008 to 2012, but that doesn't mean it is not entertaining or informative.

That was obviously a sad way to go. but I think his time was ending. He was performing poorly for a year, he had an injury to boot. Even he said he couldn't give 100% to the games. And now we know how he is performing T20 leagues. But yes he might have been kicked out a little early but not too early. He was not blameless.

Cricket is more individualistic than some other sports like football or hockey. He reminds you again how that cricket is an individual game in a team setting and batting is even more so. However there is a limit. And after reading this book you realized Kevin Pietersen is not a team person. He didn't even really tried to be one. He took little slights too personally. He wanted extra preference from the management. He didn't have good relations with any Captains except for maybe Michael Vaughan. He was too unhappy with his teammates. Contrast how he talked about his IPL mates and you realize how miserable he was with the English team. His philosophy for playing English team can be surmised from the talk he had with Downtown. Which goes like this

where do you see yourself in the future?

I would love to get ten thousand Test runs, and I still think I can offer that. I want to pursue that dream.

Hmm, he said, I would have preferred you to have said, I would like to help England win matches.

If I score ten thousand runs the way I am batting, England will win matches.

Well, he said, I still would have preferred you to have said the other thing.

Nevertheless he had good reasons to be angry with his teammates and with the ECB. The "textgate"[finally it is nice to know that Doos does not mean cunt] and the "KP genius" debacle should have been managed better by the ECB management system. Perhaps if he was little more easygoing and and the environment/ management system were more better we wouldn't see his sudden demise.

I agree with his statement As he puts it: "I was often naive and sometimes stupid. [and shallow, insecure, egomaniac dick] I was no villain, though." But neither Matt Prior or Andy Flower is the villain he made out to be. And I personally didn't really like his insults to Andy Flower. Andy was a better player than him. He was a hero to me he still is. He was like the Bradman of Zimbabwe team. I still remember his valiant one man fight against in the South Africa test series in early 2000s and the protest he did against Govt of Zimbabwe.

Lets just hope people remember him as one of the modern great of English cricket, creator of switch hit, hero of the T20 world cup 2010 and not as Martin Crowe proclaimed "....he is a dead duck, adored by a few, loathed by as many, and dismissed by the general mob." ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 29, 2015 Sush rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2015

Thanks to Adi G for recommending this book!

KP's murky exit from English cricket left us all curious and he describes his exit in great detail in his autobiography. His constant, relentless attacks on Andy Flower, Strauss and Prior and the ECB (which I admit sounds AWFUL even accounting for some embellishment on KP's part) become tedious very quickly and do significant damage to the credibility of his telling of the story. What is largely a book-length attack on a faction of the English team, is ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2014 Sunil rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction , reviews , sports , autobiographies

I can't remember who says it but there is a line in the movie ‘Rush’ that describes James Hunt as the guy who can lose a race 9 out of 10 times but that one time when all odds are against winning, if you want someone racing to push for a win, it has to be him. That line for me describes KP in many ways.

I felt the manner of his sacking was unprofessional and abominable. So I was curious to learn of any details of his ousting. Out of confidentiality contract with the ECB this month, KP uses this I can't remember who says it but there is a line in the movie ‘Rush’ that describes James Hunt as the guy who can lose a race 9 out of 10 times but that one time when all odds are against winning, if you want someone racing to push for a win, it has to be him. That line for me describes KP in many ways.

I felt the manner of his sacking was unprofessional and abominable. So I was curious to learn of any details of his ousting. Out of confidentiality contract with the ECB this month, KP uses this book (ghost written by David Walsh who uncovered doping by Lance Armstrong ) to essentially narrate his side of the story. In this sense, it’s not much of an autobiography of his life, but of his sacking but then that’s the word doing rounds?

The book at times is funny but mostly is a lengthy grievance, many a times rightfully against Andy Flower, the ECB and a few of his now well-known select teammates all of who it appears implicitly colluded against him.

The book has no literary merit, but it does expose some of the inside sentiment of the English dressing room. The problems between the parties involved is not just of blanket clichés of ‘not getting along’ or ‘personality clashes’ but there seems to be clear undercurrent of alienation and division within the team, that grows to become distinct and leads to the inevitable.

Some of the points raised by KP are reasonable, some remain incomplete and one-sided. The book like all versions of conflicts will remain one-sided. One thing that is very clear is the awful unprofessionalism and lack of man management skills of the ECB. Shame that a country that is re-knowned in the man-management of mavericks (e.g Allenby with TE Lawrence) and get the best out of them cut a sorry helpless figure overall. Rest is politics of puny humans.
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2014 Bazz rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014

"The Autobiography" is probably not the best way to describe this book, I think "I Hate Andy Flower" would be more apt, because there is no two ways about it, about 75% of this book is about how much he hates Andy Flower! (The other 25% is a mix of how much he hates Prior, Swann & the ECB, how he isn't a mercenary and how many friends he has).

Don't get me wrong, what he is saying in this book could very well be true, but the constant mentioning of Andy Flower gets a bit repetitive after a f ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 22, 2015 Shahine Ardeshir rated it 1 of 5 stars

Autobiography is a loose term to describe this book. Rant is probably more accurate.

From the word go, it is clear that Pietersen's primary intent with writing this book is to let off steam. There's little in here about cricket or his personal life and far too much about what a bunch of twats make up the English Cricket Board, and how terrible the English locker-room atmosphere was and how wrong everyone else was about everything they ever said or thought of him. And after a couple of chapters, ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2014 Amandeep Sibia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting.

Doesn't portray much of the English Cricket setup in good light, though not sure if I believe every word. As always, just one side of the story.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 15, 2015 Sumit Singla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2015 , biographies , non-fiction

There were parts of this book that I really liked, and some that I didn't.

I do think that Kevin Pietersen is rather candid and doesn't mince words. Therefore, the book does seem honest. And he isn't really big on blowing his own trumpet. So, you don't see too many instances of - Oh, the Australian fast bowlers were ready for the kill. We were 4 wickets down for 14 runs, and they smelt blood. Then, God's gift to man aka Kevin Pietersen walked in and blew them to smithereens.

Nope, none of those r There were parts of this book that I really liked, and some that I didn't.

I do think that Kevin Pietersen is rather candid and doesn't mince words. Therefore, the book does seem honest. And he isn't really big on blowing his own trumpet. So, you don't see too many instances of - Oh, the Australian fast bowlers were ready for the kill. We were 4 wickets down for 14 runs, and they smelt blood. Then, God's gift to man aka Kevin Pietersen walked in and blew them to smithereens.

Nope, none of those red underpants Superman stuff for KP.

He talks about his insecurities (almost to the point of being neurotic), his various ailments/injuries during his career, and also some of the positives about his career.

However, my biggest gripe is that this isn't really an autobiography. It is more of a I-hate-andy-flower-because-he-is-a-prick and I-also-hate-matt-prior-because-he's-another-one book. If one were to depict visually, I guess 75-80% of this book would be about Flower and Prior and how they made the atmosphere absolutely toxic.

What was missing from the book was a bit of insight into what shaped Kevin - his early years, his relationship with people like Clive Rice, and how/why he moved to England. While, it seems to be a brutally honest and unforgiving account of the last 10-12 years, it doesn't really go beyond those. And that is a bit of a shame, because I'd have loved to know more about a cricketer who I think is/was really talented and is/was motivated by more than just money.

I'd never read a book like Playing It My Way: My Autobiography because someone like Tendulkar has always been a goody two-shoes all his life. Despite turmoil and unrest in the team, he has always steered away from it and never done anything about it. Great cricketer, no spine though.

Whereas I think KP - good cricketer, lots of gall. Therefore, while this isn't the best sports autobiography ever, it's still half-way decent. ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 13, 2014 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

The sporting equivalent of Morrissey's 'Autobiography' - with a similar knowingly prosaic title - Pietersen's book is mostly one long rant against former teammates, coaches and administrators, which reveal a character far from above rank hypocrisy.

However, this is not an oblivious prima donna sportsman complaining Ashley Cole-style about petty disagreements (though some will find some of the situations into which Pietersen guides himself very petty indeed). It is to Pietersen's credit (and perh The sporting equivalent of Morrissey's 'Autobiography' - with a similar knowingly prosaic title - Pietersen's book is mostly one long rant against former teammates, coaches and administrators, which reveal a character far from above rank hypocrisy.

However, this is not an oblivious prima donna sportsman complaining Ashley Cole-style about petty disagreements (though some will find some of the situations into which Pietersen guides himself very petty indeed). It is to Pietersen's credit (and perhaps the expert guidance of Lance Armstrong-slayer, David Walsh, who ghosted this book) that he presents great insight into the current issues facing top England cricketers, while never failing to remind the reader that everything is from his particular, individualistic point of view. The style is immensely readable and engaging throughout. By presenting everything in a clipped conversational style, Pietersen and Walsh are able to avoid the cliches (like the plague) so dominant in sport writing, and get down to the business of telling you what Pietersen thinks and feels.

These are not the pseudo thoughts and feelings you would find in a normal sporting interview. Never afraid to take an extreme position, Pietersen alienates most around him, and everyone will have their own views on how justified Pietersen's arguments are. From my point of view, his vendetta against Matt Prior is particularly hard to take when you consider that most of his objections seem equally applicable to himself - something that he sort-of acknowledges once near the beginning of his character assassination.

Conversely, I found it refreshing to read about the workings of the ECB's administrators from Pietersen's ironically privileged position - free, as a result of the English Cricket Board's treatment, to present details about the small-time politicians in charge, portrayed as both arrogantly aloof and extremely incompetent. The fact that these cricket pygmies implemented a six-month gagging order - thus ensuring its publication at a time of year when book publishing is at its peak profile; gifting Pietersen time to assemble a well-argued, if trenchant 300-page complaint against them; building anticipation amongst the people funding their sport for what would be said; and allowing Pietersen to get his affairs in order with Surrey CCC in order to avoid any repercussions - says as much about their ability to communicate with "the fans" as does their backwards attitude to Twitter represented in the book itself.

And then there's Andy Flower. Pietersen's arguments against the former Head Coach often fail to acknowledge the credit he deserves for England's record under his leadership. While Pietersen carefully notes Flower's achievements, they are always mentioned in passing before going on to note in great detail how little Pietersen likes his coach's face, or labelling him the "Mood Hoover".

The book is written in this way with many of Pietersen's bêtes noires. He is happy to throw around charges of bullying, but passes quickly over the times when these supposed bullies agreed with him. He desires special treatment for himself but hates it when others are singled out for individual attention. He wants the team to stand up against the aspects of leadership he sees as corrosive but is not prepared to put in the work of building a consensus around him. Pietersen would argue that he shouldn't have to engage in these sorts of political manoeuvrings to be influential.

Many times it is hard not to come to the conclusion that this form of naivety, or even a mildly utopian point of view, is exactly why he was unable to change more minds in English cricket. When he speaks admiringly of contemporaries such as Shane Warne, Brian Lara and Graeme Smith, he seems to forget entirely the political positions in which they will have found themselves, dealing with their own brand of administrator pygmies. Perhaps it isn't that other boards, coaches and teammates are any better than England's in dealing with these troublesome greats; perhaps they were more able to deal with their situations personally than Pietersen. It is frustrating that somebody who writes with such immense clarity on playing spin and his own technical shortcomings should act with such recklessness in the way he conducts professional relationships.

This book is just the latest evidence of this. Pietersen's last few chapters, in which he states his desire to add to his 104 Test match appearances, reveal a certain amount of delusion within his character. With the recent introduction of more entertaining players - Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, the resurgent Joe Root, Gary Ballance (Trott with several more higher gears), Ben Stokes - it might become easier to forget Pietersen quicker than he imagines. This extended Complaint - in which it is almost always possible to label Pietersen a "Prick with a Point" - makes the chance of Pietersen helping to guide these young additions to lasting success a fantasy.

Those of us who love watching Pietersen play sufficiently to seek him out further will be forced to watch substandard T20 games in which he plays (Pietersen himself calls the IPL a "cricket holiday", which is an accurate reflection of the level of competition I have seen in the tournament.) And we'll just have to grit our teeth about the contempt he feels for English cricket, and his failure to direct this energy more constructively and deservingly.

Preferably towards his great friend, Piers Morgan. ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 22, 2015 Akhlaq rated it 3 of 5 stars

I’ve got my own preconceptions about Pietersen and did this book change my opinion of him? Not on the whole although I did concede some sympathy for him as he does seem to have been a victim of poor management by Andy Flower and his captains. The book at times feels like a long moan and is clearly cashing in on his grievances with the ECB/Flower. So issues such as the spot-fixing in 2010 during the Pakistan series; the underlying issues of corruption in the IPL are completely ignored although he ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 11, 2014 Tariq Mahmood rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sports , british

For someone like me who does not like cricket but has to follow it because of my Pakistani descent, KP's book is just perfect. There wasn't a lot of cricket talk but rather the narrative was based on KP's fight against ECB and Andy Flower. I loved the venomous language employed to counter all the years of alleged abuse suffered by KP from the ECB and its lackey mainstream media. The style of attack, using Twitter and writing books is new and I like it. KP has managed to successfully expose ECB p For someone like me who does not like cricket but has to follow it because of my Pakistani descent, KP's book is just perfect. There wasn't a lot of cricket talk but rather the narrative was based on KP's fight against ECB and Andy Flower. I loved the venomous language employed to counter all the years of alleged abuse suffered by KP from the ECB and its lackey mainstream media. The style of attack, using Twitter and writing books is new and I like it. KP has managed to successfully expose ECB politics and locker room drama by giving his version of events all with text messages and email transcripts. ECB and the English cricket team have emerged as partisan and vindictive, basically against KP for playing in the IPL. This would make logical sense as certainly the IPL has emerged as the most successful series in the world of cricket, something the ECB has been desperate to create in their neck of woods for years without success.

The other aspect which I related was the immigrant aspect in the English team. I myself have spent around the same amount of time in the UK working in the IT industry and come across various cliques and prejudices against immigrants. After reading KP's bullying allegations I could not help wonder about my own state. If one of the most successful and talented batsman was not good enough for the English than what chances have I got in succeeding with my limited skills? In order to be accepted in the English culture, I have to be seen as a 'good' immigrant at all times. Any deviances risks me branded as a 'bad' immigrant which automatically makes me a target of all the vitriol media attacks against immigrants exploiting the great British hospitality system. Most economic immigrants are only looking for respect and a chance to be accepted in the new culture, which is impossible in Britain.

My only criticism is that I found the narrative bitter and emotional. I think KP should have waited for his anger to recede before publishing his views, but I think he intends this book as an olive branch to somehow get back into the English team. I do not know if that will be possible, especially if you believe what he wrote is true. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 15, 2015 Suhel Banerjee rated it 5 of 5 stars

You expect an autobiography of a sportsman to be peppered with a few racy, gossipy insights in the backdrop of a spectacular career and reliving the highs and lows that you witnessed on TV. KP is different, as always. This is a book which includes small bits of cricket and his childhood in South Africa pressed between hundreds of pages of complaints, angst, and previously unheard of dirty linen from the English dressing rooms & ECB, circa 2005-2014. Calling this dramatic won't do justice to ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 19, 2014 Ramiz Qudsi rated it 2 of 5 stars

So ECB had him as a poster boy for sometime and then slaughtered him as the sacrificial lamb when they could no longer handle. What a shame ECB (you bunch of idiots).
And KP, dude what the heck were you thinking? So they dropped you and finished your English cricket carrier that doesn't mean you should go out within a year and bitch about all those and that you didn't like, in your book. Wait, does it mean that? May be, I would never know. In case I think it was pretty lame.
Yes I understand, I th So ECB had him as a poster boy for sometime and then slaughtered him as the sacrificial lamb when they could no longer handle. What a shame ECB (you bunch of idiots).
And KP, dude what the heck were you thinking? So they dropped you and finished your English cricket carrier that doesn't mean you should go out within a year and bitch about all those and that you didn't like, in your book. Wait, does it mean that? May be, I would never know. In case I think it was pretty lame.
Yes I understand, I think we all do that there was a story to tell. Of course there will be lots of stories for telling when there is either a maverick or a genius. You were both. So yeah, stories, a lot of them. But in those 315 pages you not only tell the story you keep bitching too. And gosh you hate Flower and Prior. Too much. And too much calling him Big Cheese and whatever, It became so repetitive and boring after first few, not to mention irritating. Give it a break man. Now we realize that Prior might have back stabbed you and with that memory still fresh while penning the book you must have been pretty pissed with him. But did you forget that he was still your teammate, and innumerable times you shared filed and dressing room with the guy and revel in glory of English Glorious Days. Don't be such a dick, for you are not.
As for the things you mentioned which happened with you, if even half of it are true I am horrified. The partiality you faced, the constant proving that you are dedicated towards English Cricket, damn, that must have sucked. And the behavior of certain teammates too. But don't you think that half of the blame lies with you too? Ok, may be a third, but still. No one likes a maverick (well, almost no one) and they all despise a genius one. You should have tried being less of a maverick. But I guess that's not you. Definitely not. And that is not why so many of us loved to pay to watch you play. So it is kind of fine. No complaints there.
Dear Broad, Prior and Swann, did you guys really abuse your own fielders? Such little assholes you all are!
Anyways, I bought the book hoping there would be a lot about cricket and your early days. I was disappointed on both the fronts. Yo focused too much on the events which happened in last 5 years and on bitching about everyone you could. Bleh...

PS: Eagerly waiting for you to come to India and fire for D.D. All the best for your future mate.

With love
A fan from India ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 12, 2015 Gary rated it 3 of 5 stars

After reading all the reviews and watching the TV interviews I was really looking forward to reading this autobiography but what a disappointment. If you have read the excepts in the press you will learn very little reading the full story. Repetition throughout as Andy Flower & co are mentioned time and time again in the same derisory manner. A generous 3 star rating.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2015 David rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very opinionated and forthright as you'd expect from KP where he sets the record straight after the controversies surrounding his exclusion from the England squad after torrid seasons of conflict. The Mood Hoover, Big Cheese and others among his colleagues and peers are driven over long on into the car park behind the pavilion. I imagine earlier books give more autobiographical detail of a fascinating life story, so I'll need to explore to begin to understand this most enigmatic and fantasticall ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 04, 2015 Megan Cody rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book gives a great insight into the England cricket team and how they are managed. The KP people see in the papers is not the KP in this book. He is a family man, committed to working and playing hard for England and any other team he is contracted to.

I think the way KP was treated was well publicised in the press but to hear his side of things is really interesting. He was treated appallingly by Andy Flower yet loved by Duncan Fletcher.

A good autobiography which started off like he was ver ...more

flag Like · see review

May 23, 2015 Akhil Sharma rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An interesting book written poorly.

In retrospect, I feel Downton's decision to sorta sack KP was spot on. KP really looked disinterested and demotivated.

I wanted a spectacle in Lord's Jubilee Test but the way KP got out(stumped) disappointed me greatly. It felt like he didn't want to play at all. I wanted to see a Pieterson centruy.

Nevertheless, I have been a huge fan of KP over the years. When he played in Big Bash this year, I was thrilled. His commentary gig was fabulous and that segment wit ...more

flag Like · see review

May 24, 2015 Anandraj R rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Blunt & brutally honest. Slaughtered ECB & Andy flower chapter by chapter. This book should be renamed as 'KP's Rants against ECB'

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 19, 2014 Anubhav Pande rated it 3 of 5 stars

Just a long rant. Some may say, hats off to him for writing his heart out. But he is such a baby, this is hardly unexpected.
I would have given it 2 stars for being written in one single tone throughout. The extra star is for KP's acknowledgement of other cricketers and for narrating some interesting incidents.
For those who have read Ponting's bio will find KP's version of mindgames played by Aussies amusing. Dravid fans will not stop smiling after reading his letter to KP.
I wish he had never wri ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 02, 2015 Hochu rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was no autobiography, it was more of a FU to the ECB and Flower and also every single person on the England Squad whom he didn't get along with. I honestly think he should have written more bout his life, his passion for the sport that have him so much etc etc rather thn go on and on bout how every single person was out to get him. He placed too much importance on clearing up the tabloid controversies and justifying himself and his actions that most of his achievements remain buried beneath ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 09, 2015 Stoxy001 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would imagine if a ten year old girl wrote an autobiography it would read much like KPs book, but with less cricket.
Most of the book is tittle-tattle about team-mates and the coach and the breakdown of all of his relationships.
No doubt about Pietersens quality as a cricketer but in my opinion he doesn't come across too well based on this book.
It just goes to show that whilst you think you 'know' sports people because of how they're portrayed in the media, you really have no idea at all. I imag ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 27, 2015 Matt Farrelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good and insightful read as I did not know that the strong English team from a couple of years ago had so many fractures within their culture. KP was an entertaining player, should still be playing and in his book takes a very public swipe at Andy Flower and Matt(the Big Cheese) Prior, both of whom have also been removed from the National team.

With England doing so poorly in recent times, one can only hope KP makes an international return one day, and shows the world (and the ECB) what a force ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 01, 2015 Nahiyan Asadullah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction , sport , autobiography-biography

Well I haven't read any autobiography before this one. At the beginning, I was really hooked. Because I wanted to know about the most controversial English cricketer. I can't say I liked the person of Kevin Pietersen from how he carried himself in the media. But now after reading his own version of himself I can at least say that he doesn't have pretense. If he thinks big of himself, he just says it.

Now what I didn't like about the book was it was more of a rant than an autobiography. He speaks ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 27, 2014 Sai Kumar Dasari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-from-friends , covers-i-like

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag Like · see review

Jul 01, 2015 Alejandro Shirvani rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was pretty good, and gave KP his right of reply after being on the receiving end of a lot of opinion from other people. There's no doubt he is very free and outspoken with his opinions and you can see why this would rub people up the wrong way but his story made sense and gives important context to the whole KP-and-the-England-team debate. The book paints the picture of a complex individual who didn't fit in to a team and saw some things that just weren't right.

flag Like · see review

May 18, 2015 Pedro rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have been a follower of KP for some time and have respect for his 'stand up' approach to the ECB establishment which I don't massively like because it massively doesn't work - see England's general record and the head coaches they employ. I liked KP's take on the 'old dinosaur'. However, while I am sure the bloke is good, he does have ego but who can blame him with his all or nothing attitude. An interesting read, if written childishly in parts.

flag Like · see review

Apr 28, 2015 Nigel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

KP doesn't use the word "we" very often in this book. It is all "I", "I", "me" - ironic for a team player and probably why a lot of the well documented problems cane about. That said, he makes some pretty strong accusations about members of the England set up in this book, most notably Andy Flower and Matt Prior. If they were not true then I guess the law suits would already have started. So I recommend you read the book and make up your own mind.

flag Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 21 22 next »

Sports And Games > Sports

7 users

Biography

4 users

Biography > Autobiography

2 users

See top shelves...

Books by Kevin Pietersen

Crossing the Boundary: The Early Years in My Cricketing Life

More…

Share This Book

Share on your website

title link	preview: Autobiography
avg rating	preview: Autobiography Goodreads rating: 3.46 (373 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22891921-autobiography?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418772150l/22891921.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22891921-autobiography?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Autobiography by Kevin Pietersen[/url]