I'm Not Really Here
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.45
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in I'm Not Really Here for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.45, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'my favourite player in those days was always Paul Lake. I used to love watching him. I don't know what it was about him, but he was just a top footballer and cool as !**k, never any pressure on him, always knew what he was doing. He could play for us now, man' --Liam Gallagher
"It's the best book I've read for a long time...beautifully, powerfully written...a must-read for any fan of football" --Oliver Holt, Daily Mirror
"A raw, sometimes unsparing and frequently moving account of how Lake's career was shipwrecked...an epic, harrowing and gripping story...an astounding football autobiography" --Daniel Taylor, The Guardian
"Lake's touching story isn't all doom and gloom - it's packed with humour and insight into the game. A superb read." --FourFourTwo magazine
"...a happy, sad, thought-provoking autobiography...a book that captures a time, a place and a club." --Michael Walker, Daily Mail
"I'm Not Really Here spares nothing in the raw details of what Lake endured. A football read even more harrowing than an England player's World Cup diary" --Sport Magazine
"It's the best book I've read for a long time...beautifully, powerfully written...a must-read for any fan of football" --Oliver Holt, Daily Mirror
"A raw, sometimes unsparing and frequently moving account of how Lake's career was shipwrecked...an epic, harrowing and gripping story...an astounding football autobiography" --Daniel Taylor, The Guardian
"Lake's touching story isn't all doom and gloom - it's packed with humour and insight into the game. A superb read." --FourFourTwo magazine
"...a happy, sad, thought-provoking autobiography...a book that captures a time, a place and a club." --Michael Walker, Daily Mail
"I'm Not Really Here spares nothing in the raw details of what Lake endured. A football read even more harrowing than an England player's World Cup diary" --Sport Magazine
Book Description
The extraordinary memoir of Paul Lake, the greatest English footballer to never make the national team.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Although Paul Lake's City career effectively ended at the age of 22, he is still revered as a City legend. Why?
Firstly, during his short career at City (truncated by a horrific knee inury) he had already proven to be a star. Captain at 21, often MOTM...he simply didn't do bad performances. He could play almost anywhere - and had all the attributes necessary to make it at the top level. England captain of the future? You can never say for sure, but the consensus was almost unanimous.
Secondly, he was a blue through and through - a fan wearing the shirt. You could see how much he wanted to play, and as fans we saw ourself in him.
Thirdly, he was something to cling onto when things started to turn sour in the early 90s. "It'll be ok when we get Lakey back", was something I heard often at Maine Road.
This book is a frank and thorough depiction of the nature of depression when something you love is taken from you. It's something most people can relate to, athlete or mere mortal. The fact that Lake is so up front about a subject that is still almost taboo can only be a good thing for mental health awareness too.
I really enjoyed the book: it was well written and produced both smiles and tears. It's a refreshing work, not the same old same old football biog.
Thanks for the memories Paul, and I wish you all the best for the future.
Firstly, during his short career at City (truncated by a horrific knee inury) he had already proven to be a star. Captain at 21, often MOTM...he simply didn't do bad performances. He could play almost anywhere - and had all the attributes necessary to make it at the top level. England captain of the future? You can never say for sure, but the consensus was almost unanimous.
Secondly, he was a blue through and through - a fan wearing the shirt. You could see how much he wanted to play, and as fans we saw ourself in him.
Thirdly, he was something to cling onto when things started to turn sour in the early 90s. "It'll be ok when we get Lakey back", was something I heard often at Maine Road.
This book is a frank and thorough depiction of the nature of depression when something you love is taken from you. It's something most people can relate to, athlete or mere mortal. The fact that Lake is so up front about a subject that is still almost taboo can only be a good thing for mental health awareness too.
I really enjoyed the book: it was well written and produced both smiles and tears. It's a refreshing work, not the same old same old football biog.
Thanks for the memories Paul, and I wish you all the best for the future.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm not a Man City fan, and can't profess to knowing a huge amout about Paul Lake, in spite of being a big football fan all my life. This book however, is possibly the best autobiography I've ever read. It traces Paul's life from childhood to the success of being made Man City captain and part of the England World Cup Squad in 1990 to the lows of severe depression following long term injury and many botched operations.
It'll make you laugh, and cry (or at least get a lump in your throat!) in equal measures, and every page you read will just make you want to get to the next even faster.
It'll make you laugh, and cry (or at least get a lump in your throat!) in equal measures, and every page you read will just make you want to get to the next even faster.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Growing up as a city fans from Denton, Paul lake was our inspiration and local hero. Everyone I knew was so upset when Lakey had to retire due to injury at such a young age. I was 16 then and now I am a thirty something and thought I would buy the book to see just what did happen to my hero.
What a read !!!! The first 2 chapters set the tone for an emotional read. It progresses to give you an true account of how badly certain people at the club treated their brightest star. The physical pain of an injury that was never going to get better due to being badly diagnoised by people a young Paul Lake trusted. The years of physical and emotional pain clearly come through the words on each page,but there are also some light hearted funny moments that make you laugh out loud. The Final chapter sees Paul "returning Home" back to City in his new role as club ambassador, Well done the club for not forgetting the best young homegrown footballer ever to play for City. Writing this book must of taken a lot of courage and soul searching but you get the sense that writing this book has probalbly helped Paul in his recovery. A must read for any football fan especially fans who like to read books written by players who are still in touch with reality. Well done Paul and Good Luck... (your still my hero :)
What a read !!!! The first 2 chapters set the tone for an emotional read. It progresses to give you an true account of how badly certain people at the club treated their brightest star. The physical pain of an injury that was never going to get better due to being badly diagnoised by people a young Paul Lake trusted. The years of physical and emotional pain clearly come through the words on each page,but there are also some light hearted funny moments that make you laugh out loud. The Final chapter sees Paul "returning Home" back to City in his new role as club ambassador, Well done the club for not forgetting the best young homegrown footballer ever to play for City. Writing this book must of taken a lot of courage and soul searching but you get the sense that writing this book has probalbly helped Paul in his recovery. A must read for any football fan especially fans who like to read books written by players who are still in touch with reality. Well done Paul and Good Luck... (your still my hero :)
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing!
I am not a City fan, but by far this is the best football journey I've ever read (and I've read a few). Read more
Published 15 days ago by Mr. B. A. French
I'm Not Really Here
Recommended as a really great read. This book gave me an incite into what footballers go through and how they think when they're at the top of their game. Read more
Published 1 month ago by JOE SUTHERLAND
One of the best books about the realities of being a pro footballer
The achievements, and tribulations, of a top pro whose footballing career ended too soon; but he still did things we mortals only dream about (e.g smashing man united 5 -1). Read more
Published 3 months ago by bobby chariots
Despite being a Blue Its A Good Read
I was lent this autobiography of Paul Lake off a blue friend who despite the fact that i support United said i would enjoy the book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by King Eric
Hubby says it's great.....
If you are reading the reviews then you are probably buying it for someone else. I got this my hubby after I found his City catalog and this book circled in it, he never reads... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Shelly Bobbs
A SUPERB READ .....
As a bloke brought up on proper football in the 70s & 80s having read the reviews on here thought i would give it a go.
I am so glad I did. Read more
I am so glad I did. Read more
Published 4 months ago by John O'Brien
Not the usual football autobiography
An extremely poignant read, with a relatively happy ending. Paul Lake is a remarkable man, an excellent role-model. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. T. Heald
I'm Not Really Here
I bought this book as I am a City fan and Lakey one of my blue heroes. The book is so well written and gives a fantastic insight into the game before the millionaires took over... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dave 11
A must for every football fan
I don't always agree with the supposition that every retired footballer has to release an autobiography, and let's be honest about it, there have been some shockers. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Teddy Ludford
I'm not Really Here.
Ordered this book for a present. It turned up in two days, and was just as described. Well packed, new, and almost half the price quoted in a local bookshop.
Published 6 months ago by M. Taylor
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
