OPEN - Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi’s autobiography “Open” has been my read this week and I feel compelled to recommend it to as many people as possible. Although, quite different from my usual taste in books, this piece by Agassi shows that in some way philosophies such as Absurdism, existentialism and stoicism, are more or less useless, where it not to be for their real world application. Agassi (a tennis prodigy and 8 time Grand Slam champion) dissects his relationship with his father, his hate for tennis, his rebellion as a teenager and even the struggle of losing oneself, when you have never discovered who that is in the first place. The book highlights the importance of having a ‘team’ around you and that most of life’s success comes as a result of mental fortitude and being true to oneself.

Socrates famously said “Know thyself” and the importance of that has never been clearer than in Andre Agassi’s own life, with Agassi highlighting the importance of finding what gives you joy, despite how difficult that may be. Perhaps the striking moment of the book being the opening of Andre Agassi’s own school, something that came as a result of his desire to do things differently and ensure every child has the best school experience possible.

The pace is quick and easily readable in 1 week by the pool, now that summer has arrived and does not require any knowledge of tennis or any sport for that matter.

A very human book, showing the struggles of even the ones we admire most and without a doubt one of the books that everyone needs to have in their bookshelf.

-Dejan