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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Arsenal and England stalwart Tony Adams combines two very '90s preoccupations in these memoirs: football and the confessional. Alongside the story of Adams' hugely successful career for Arsenal and England, Addicted also charts his decline into alcoholism and subsequent efforts at rehabilitation. The combination works surprisingly well with Adams new-found self-awareness enabling a far more thoughtful and mature insight into his footballing life than you suspect would otherwise have been the case.
Thrust into the Arsenal first team at 17, his tenacity and enthusiasm made up for initial technical shortcomings and his leadership ability inevitably saw him made captain. But off the pitch things were not so straightforward. His marriage was in disarray and his drinking out of control. After a particularly intense period of "research into the illness"--a day-long bender following England's defeat on penalties to Germany in Euro 96--Adams sought help and while his account of his ongoing AA-aided recovery occasionally lapses into clichéd therapy-speak, there is a raw honesty to it that makes it both moving and affecting. Much has been made of Adams' apparent criticism of Glen Hoddle's handling of England's 1998 World Cup bid, but in reality the strength of this book comes not from the spilling of dressing-room secrets, but from its powerful depiction of the price one man continues to pay for success. --Nick Wroe --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“a riveting and painfully honest listen”
Express 19/12/98
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Someone bought me a copy of this for Christmas, and although I'm not an Arsenal fan I've always admired Tony Adams so I was happy to read it. It's as brutal and frank as everyone says, and it also made me look at myself and some of my friends in terms of the way we act with sport, competition and alcohol. Details of how TA found any excuse to drink alcohol, be it celebrating, drowning sorrows or whatever, made me realise how close many of us are to slipping down the same route. After reading this and being totally blown away by it, I picked up autobiographys by Dennis Wise, Harry Redknapp, Chris Waddle, Ian Wright, Paolo DiCanio and Bobby Robson. All interesting in their own way, but in comparison to this they fell way short. Wright, DiCanio and Wise in particular just prattle on about how great they are, and how everyone else had it in for them for no reason. Unlike TA they are unable to accept that they have any flaws. It's that brutal honesty and self assessment that makes this book rise above the rest. I'll be reading it again for sure.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
...I myself however found the book a good read on two levels. Firstly the football 'gossip' that was of interest, but also, and this is what really kept me reading, the honesty displayed by Tony Adams.
He goes into great detail and explanation about the addictions he faced, how they all but destroyed everything he had, and how he turned it around. From a psychological point of view alone, this book warrants a 5 star rating. I began to understand how we get addicted and also how to beat that addiction. That something can take over your life to the detriment of everything else.
He showed himself to be an intelligent, articulate man, and I myself certainly have a completely different view of him that he once displayed through his own drunken antics and the media coverage that came from that.
Adams is well worthy of any praise he receives, given he now uses the knowledge illustrated in the book to help other sportsmen in similar situations.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I believe this book led the way for autobiographies to be more open and honest about the writer themselves and Tony Adams certainly achieved that with his honest admission of being an alcholic made compelling reading
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tony Adams Book
What a truely great book this is. I was not expecting it to be as truthfull and as in depth as it was. Such a great read. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Joe187
Just about better than run of the mill
I've read a few football autobiographies in the past but have been put off by the fact that they've taught me very little and have left me cold. Read more
Published 10 months ago by The_Man_The_Myth
Slightly Disappointing
Poorly written and quite repetitive. However, still a quite a good read for die hard football fans especially Arsenal supporters. Won't win any awards!
Published on 28 Dec 2009 by R. Flexman
A Cracking Read
Some Football Biographies are interesting.This is brillant.
It should be compulsary reading for every footballer starting off.
It would make a great film. Read more
It should be compulsary reading for every footballer starting off.
It would make a great film. Read more
Published on 12 July 2009 by Patrick Burke
Fabtastic
I love autobiographies and this is as good as any. The most important thing for me is that an autobiography is revealing. This is life as a footballer warts and all.
Published on 9 Oct 2007 by Scooby Doo
Adams lunges forward and turns the corner
I've always been a Tottenham fan and you can probably understand that i was a bit skeptical using up my quality time in reading the autobiography of an Arsenal player. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2007 by Jay
Don't Call Him Donkey
'Addicted' is a thoroughly enjoyable read, Tony Adams delivers one of the most engaging and brutally honest autobiographies in print. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2007 by zissou
'Addicted' reaches the parts others can't reach!
A truly honest account of the career of Tony Adams including his infamous battle with the booze.
Adams talks openly about his addiction to alcohol and the effects it has... Read more
Adams talks openly about his addiction to alcohol and the effects it has... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2007 by S. Knight
Very Good, but some failings...
All that has been written in terms of the honesty and revelations are true, and Adams must be commended for the transparency shown here - if your going to do a book, do it right... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2007 by Pirate Pete
back four
Most open and canded sporting biography ever written.
what could he have achievd in life and football if he did not drink?? mind boggles.
what could he have achievd in life and football if he did not drink?? mind boggles.
Published on 14 April 2006 by Dk Roche
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