Allreaders.com
Author John McEnroe booklist (click here)

Book Review By Susan D. Minkalis
You Cannot Be Serious by John McEnroe

    John McEnroe was born on February 16, 1959, in Wiesbaden, Germany, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Air Force and then he grew up in the Long Island suburb of Douglaston, NY for most of his childhood. McEnroe, nicknamed Mac, is said to be one of the supreme Tennis stars of all times. In his younger years his passion for mastering tennis and his flaring temper gave him the combination to push amazing match wins. McEnroe made his debut in Paris, a boy playing on man's terrain. He won his first of 17 major titles there, the French mixed with childhood pal, Mary Carillo, as well as the French junior singles. He was a left hander with a skillful strategic volley and a hard mean serve shot which distinguished him over other legendary players. Brilliant in doubles and singles, McEnroe was extremely adaptable playing on grass or clay that gave him the winning edge. He revived American interest in the Davis Cup and made Wimbledon a competitive flare event for the sport of tennis.

    McEnroe divulges his personal life while sharing the difficulties of road trip relationships and emotional stability. He releases information of his marriage and divorce to Tatum O'Neal plus the children they had. In 1997, he remarried to musician Patty Smyth and now has a total of six children. In this book you will tour intriguing stories of his tennis days and the role of corporations in professional tennis.

    John McEnroe's catchphrase was “You cannot be serious”. He gives many examples of his uncontrolled anger escapades and other famous tennis players he has had war with.
The book educates one on the sport of tennis as you follow his 155 top-level titles throughout his career. Presently, McEnroe is active in tennis development and owns an art gallery in Manhattan.


Plot & Themes
Sports story? - tennis
Sports story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Century: - 1980's-Present

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - challenged
Pictures/Illustrations? - More 6-10 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book
Back To Main Menu