Agassi Connects

Posted on May 23, 2010 
Filed Under Blog, Book Reviews, Career Launcher, Satya Speaks, Tributes

Agassi connects 

I picked two books since I had to cover a lot of time on flights over the past week.  One was the autobiography by Andre Agassi while the other was the Satyam story by an Indian journalist, Kingshuk Nag.

 ‘Open’ – Andre Agassi’s story

Agassi Connects. Andre Agassi always connected. During the two decade long career on the tennis tour, Agassi was not one to be disconnected from followers of the game. There might have been people who hated him for defeating their favourite player while at times even his fans hated him for losing some games silly.  In between these, he always  connected positively with his attitude, talent, constant growth, some great battles, commitment to the game, longevity etc,. 

 

Agassi’s book too connected for me. In fact, this is one of the most well-written autobiographies that I have read recently. Surely among the best among the sportsmen for a long time.  Terrific job – AA or the ghost writer for AA!

 

AA’s hatred (may not be the most accurate way of describing it) for his father, his proclaimed dislike for Tennis, his clear-headed views on a large number of players from McEnroe to Connors to Pete Sampras to Leander Paes or Srichapan,  relationship with Gil, Stefanie, Brooke Shields etc, - they all make for a very insightful read.

 

The pain or the easy shrug after a loss, the sleeping on the floor, the gil drink, the over-simplified arithmetic of grand slam path put out by his father are all nuggets or anecdotes that embellish this body of work immensely.

 Admiration for Stefanie :

Being an ardent admirer of Steffi, I found this part of the story very interesting. Agassi’s unqualified respect and admiration for her is all pervasive. Incidentally, there is not one place where Agassi uses anything but ‘Stefanie’ for the lady. I found the reason interesting. The hardwork that he put in to win her over is very cute.  You are reminded of the fact that achievers are human too. His shaving off their son’s hair and Stefanie going ballistic on her returning home (that too in German) was very cute too. 

 Quite Antiseptic :

Overall, a very thorough research and process of building a life of success into a book is very evident. Champs do not become one just like that, we know!  One disappointment though -  I refuse to believe that the crystal meth is the only solitary episode of ruckus in the life of some one like AA.  While this one scandalous paragraph was what got covered in the media reviews,  I think there is a lot more that I expect from a life time as colourful and super-achievement as Agassi.  Even lesser mortals who go to a hostel for a couple of years will have more stories to tell.

 

Go, Buy. Worth having it on your self.

 

The Double Life of Raju (the Satyam Story) – K Nag

This book could have been a best seller that captures the most gripping corporate drama of the decade, if not the Indian corporate fraud history. The fall of an icon and his empire from ionosphere to the ground is what the Satyam story is made of. This unique and immense opportunity is squandered  by this effort of a journalist.

 

I was reminded of P Sainath’s critique of the journalists of this era in India – Digital Stenography. This body of work can be called something close to that. A copy-paste of newspapers or magazines is what it came through to me as.

 

There is not enough research that I could see in spite of the claims by the author at various places. Shockingly, at one place the unit of currency is incorrect making it look like a piece of sub-amateurish work (The value of India world acquisition was Rs 499 Crores not USDollars). I just hope I am right J

 

I was left feeling that the author was too scared of being beaten to the market by some other book and did the whole job in haste.  To grab the FMA (First mover advantage), as they say in the world of marketing. Alas, this is a damp squib.

 

I still think and actually hope that some one puts in a 2 year research in the Satyam saga and brings out a body of work that can go to the shelves of many discerning readers but also into the teaching of business and management students across the globe.

 

Sorry, Mr Nag.  I have always been a votary of being a positive critique. Yet, I found myself with the above appraisal at the end of my journey with the book.

  

Satya

  

Comments

One Response to “Agassi Connects”

  1. Anupam Mukerji on May 24th, 2010 10:03 am

    Yep, u’r right abt the India World figure. Haven’t read Agassi’s autobiography, but will surely do.

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