My Life in Red and White

This is my first review in Amazon. Two stars are not of the quality of the book but the quantity.

Arsene Wenger is my idol and a mentor I’ve never met. For a long time, it is hard for me to imagine Arsenal FC without him guiding it. Listening to his press conferences and interviews throughout the years, I am always awestruck by his observations and musings. They made a great impact to me more than any so-called self-help motivators. They are not simple cliches, they are not new buzzwords. They came from a competitive person who fought and thought hard everyday to keep his job and be a better human beings and a better coach.

When it was time for his to go, I eagerly waited for the compilation of his lifelong journey of thoughts. Several years already and I finally had two hundred pages. Always a gentleman, he avoid naming names to unsavory individuals, that’s understandable. He avoided going to the details, that’ s surprising as he always able to bring to bring out details everyone missed. I remembered the great pain in the season of RVP, the season before Ozil and the renew hope, the feeling of inevitable doom after a champion league defeat. I wanted to hear the good and the bad. Of how come, we out of all clubs, got smashed 5-1 to Bayern three times. Of what the hell happened, in the 1000th match. None of that are given.

This is a book of an old man remembering the best things in his life, not to dig up old grudges and old wounds. For better story, of the club during his years and his philosophies, I will have to look elsewhere. My disappointment is that I did not have the compilations of Arsene Wenger’s thought process I desired, but to anyone else, it is a highly recommended. Arsene Wenger is a competitor person who always tried to be better and made his environment better. His rise from an unknown small-town to a world-class coach, his struggles and success to remain there provide many great lessons.

Thorough story of Arsene’s amazing life.

I have always admired Wenger and so bought the book as soon as I could. But sadly it is a bland and boring read. If you are expecting any inside detail or insights don’t waste your time. It is basically a linear factual recollection of his career……interesting but lacking any spark. One does get some insight into the person but in a book of this nature I would have expected him to ‘tell-a-little’ more. I don’t think he even mentions Mourinho……….as an example….surely he could have commented!!! I think he was just too scared to annoy anyone.

I was expecting the book to share a bit more details. To be at one club for so long and all we get is 200+ pages makes me feel a bit cheated. Also, I felt like some stories couldve been elaborated on more instead of just giving a brief paragraph and then moving on to another topic. Loyal to Arsenal so I gave it 4 stars. But I would say that overall Im disappointed.

*I highly recommend reading Bendtners book!*

The book is more about Wenger’s journey, and how he developed his philosophy. He is all consumed by football.
If you are looking for anecdotes and inside stories of his days at Arsenal, this is not that book.
He does not throw anyone under the bus, but the hurt he felt on how his Arsenal days came to an end are very clear. He deserved a lot better.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member