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super_tsundoku_guy's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Not an autobiography in the real sense, rather Pirlo reflecting on certain events or points in his career and opinions on certain aspects of the game. Was a little short and as a lot of other reviewers reported, ended quite abruptly with the reader not quite ready to leave the book.
Written as only an Italian man could, full of love and passion and filled with wit and humour.
A good read, but try to find it a lot cheaper than retail!
maitrey_d's review against another edition
3.0
Since the Football World Cup was cutting into so much of my reading time, I decided I'd read something on football. What better than the autobiography of one of my favourite players: the Italian, Andrea Pirlo.
I Think Therefore I Play (ITTIP) is of course a play on Descartes' famous statement. And boy does Pirlo open us to his thoughts.
The original is in Italian though, and this probably has a role to play in the jumble that is ITTIP. It doesn't stick to any chronological pattern, and the style is somewhat like a fireplace conversation with Pirlo on a cold, windy day with a hot beverage in hand where Pirlo recounts some of his most recent and famous exploits.
That doesn't take away anything from the excitement of reading about Pirlo though. This is the man who did win the World Cup in 2006 and single-handedly led Italy to the Euro '12 finals when he was 33 years old! The WC finals feature quite regularly, as do some of Pirlo's other famous appearances in the Azurri blue. Most of the book is Pirlo telling us what goes through his head on these momentous occasions and it was pleasing to read that Pirlo is at his heart, a simple and down to earth, yet at the same time a highly intelligent and resourceful player. Interesting asides about how he almost joined a host of clubs such as Real Madrid, Barca, Chelsea abound; and it was a shock when he confessed that he was a boyhood Inter Milan fan (yet he spent most of his career at arch rivals AC Milan) and almost joined Inter many times, yet it was never meant to be. He does talk about why he finally left Milan to join rivals Juventus, where he still plies his trade.
Another interesting bit was the 2005 Champions League Final against Liverpool which I confess, as a Liverpool fan, I'd always read from that point of view. Pirlo reveals that their shock defeat in that final was so great to him personally, he almost retired from football! Yet he doesn't gloat even though they did beat Liverpool in another final 2 years later. He also reveals his disgust at the prevalent match-fixing at the lower levels of Italian leagues, and even the rampant racism prevalent in Italian football.
All in all, it was excellent reading during the World Cup, and I finished it with the feeling that I'd have loved to read more, especially Pirlo's youth and more of his exploits with Milan.
3.5 stars on 5.
I Think Therefore I Play (ITTIP) is of course a play on Descartes' famous statement. And boy does Pirlo open us to his thoughts.
The original is in Italian though, and this probably has a role to play in the jumble that is ITTIP. It doesn't stick to any chronological pattern, and the style is somewhat like a fireplace conversation with Pirlo on a cold, windy day with a hot beverage in hand where Pirlo recounts some of his most recent and famous exploits.
That doesn't take away anything from the excitement of reading about Pirlo though. This is the man who did win the World Cup in 2006 and single-handedly led Italy to the Euro '12 finals when he was 33 years old! The WC finals feature quite regularly, as do some of Pirlo's other famous appearances in the Azurri blue. Most of the book is Pirlo telling us what goes through his head on these momentous occasions and it was pleasing to read that Pirlo is at his heart, a simple and down to earth, yet at the same time a highly intelligent and resourceful player. Interesting asides about how he almost joined a host of clubs such as Real Madrid, Barca, Chelsea abound; and it was a shock when he confessed that he was a boyhood Inter Milan fan (yet he spent most of his career at arch rivals AC Milan) and almost joined Inter many times, yet it was never meant to be. He does talk about why he finally left Milan to join rivals Juventus, where he still plies his trade.
Another interesting bit was the 2005 Champions League Final against Liverpool which I confess, as a Liverpool fan, I'd always read from that point of view. Pirlo reveals that their shock defeat in that final was so great to him personally, he almost retired from football! Yet he doesn't gloat even though they did beat Liverpool in another final 2 years later. He also reveals his disgust at the prevalent match-fixing at the lower levels of Italian leagues, and even the rampant racism prevalent in Italian football.
All in all, it was excellent reading during the World Cup, and I finished it with the feeling that I'd have loved to read more, especially Pirlo's youth and more of his exploits with Milan.
3.5 stars on 5.
kimu's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed it, more as a series of anecdotes than as a coherent whole.
huskerbee's review against another edition
4.0
Probably the most entertaining football biography I've ever read. Not the thing if you're looking for something serious or life-changing, but definitely the thing if you're looking for gems of quotes like describing free-kicks as children or wanting to kidnap Pep Guardiola.
doniniesta's review against another edition
4.0
"It's called an assist and it's my way of spreading happiness!"
Wouldn't have ever predicted that Pirlo was a hell of a prankster. A lovely, funny read with some beautiful insights on football in Italy and in general.
Wouldn't have ever predicted that Pirlo was a hell of a prankster. A lovely, funny read with some beautiful insights on football in Italy and in general.
kazi_nabil's review against another edition
5.0
A really fun read. Pirlo is pretty candid and the translation is lucid.