Book reviews – autobiographies

Autobiographies come with built-in risk. Unless the author is a superb writer with a particularly interesting story to tell, is intensely observant with a genuine interest in others and has a healthy dose of modesty, humour and self-awareness, the book becomes a navel-gazing litany of I, I, I. The tension is inherent – those who are interested in others are less inclined to write about themselves; those who are interested in themselves are less inclined to be interested in others. Having read many, I’ve come to the conclusion that...