For me, that would be-

The Michael Ainger biography of Gilbert and Sullivan. Why, partly because I like the stuff they wrote together, and I found the film Topsy Turvy inspired me to buy a boxed set of DVDs of their operettas, but mainly because I am fascinated by their working relationship and the way they needed eachother in order to produce such memorable works which are still being performed all over the globe over a century later.

A biography of the Carpenters (can't remember who wrote it, but I believe it was 'official'. Again, partly because of the music, and that voice, but mainly because of the relationship and how again they each needed the other to produce such marvellous songs.

If I had ever seen it in a library, I might well have read the autobiography of Albert Pierrepoint, but I didn't so I didn't. I suspect it was more a diary of the executions he carried out than anything very illuminating, so I propbably haven't missed much.

Anybody read any biographies they would like to mention, and the reasons for so doing?

The Man in the White Helmet - erm.. Ben Collins the lad who was the Stig.

Why? Cos I had a 12 hour plane journey to fill.

Was it worth it? God no. Just him making excuses and complaining about the fact he was never good enough for F1.

Jackie chan, i like him and it was worth reading
Mcraes no explanation needed
Steve Hislop met him a few times back in the day
Same for Foggy
Lee Evans i like him and it was ok, but not the best one ever
Peter Fonda just because

Not really a fan so ive only read a few.
The moons a balloon, David Nivan, worth a read.
Full time, Tony Cascarino, very very good.
Sid James, a biography, cant remember the exact title, a lot of st written about Sid, all after his death.
Thats it really.

Quite a few now. Mostly motor racing where James Hunt and Murray Walker were the best. Other than that I really enjoyed the Steve Jobs book. George W Bush was interesting too.

Jonny Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs : because i like the pistols, good read.

The Moon's A Balloon

A brilliant book but I feel there's huge lots more we won't ever read

Niven, just got to like the bloke

I enjoy the autobio aspects of books like "Apache" by Ed Macy and "Eye Of The Storm" by Peter Radcliffe

There is so much more that we don't get



I've decided not to write my own



there's so much more...





OK No there isn't

The Pierrepoint book is worth reading. Not so much of a "I hanged this person on that day" account, but more a how-it-was-done telling. No body count but strongly suggests that execution is wrong and not a deterrant.

"Dolgun" by Alexander Dolgun or the later version (not read) "Alexander Dolgun's story: An American in the Gulag" is my most read book. Grim, bleak but compelling reading.

William Hague's one of Pitt the Younger was very good. I also enjoyed Ulyssses S. Grant's memoirs of the civil war.

I've read quite a few mainly covering music and motorsport. Off the top of my head:

Murray Walker
Eddie Jordon
David Couthard
Nigel Mansell
Bernie Ecclestone
Ayrton Senna

Ozzy Osbourne
Slash
Mick Fleetwood
Ronnie Wood
Nick Mason (more a biography of pink floyd than himself)
Eric Clapton

The two Billy Connelly bio's by his missus (Pamela Stephenson?)
Shela Hancock's story of her and John Thaw
Both the Gordon Ramsey ones.
Richard Hammond 2 autobiographies

Probably more as well, but can't just remember them now.