Customer Reviews

The Agassi Story

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4 star:		(3)
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Let's face it, this book doesn't get written if he's not Andre Agassi's Dad. But that is not the overall theme of this book. Mike is an interesting story in and of himself. Most people know the short biography, emigrates from Iran after being an Olympic boxer, works at a Las Vegas casino, and becomes a typical stressful tennis Dad who raises a world champion. This book takes that sketch and fills in the blanks starting with the massive change in lifestyles from Iran to America as well as a touch into the political environment of Iran. After a very successful marriage while in Chicago, Mike moves his young family to the new frontier in Las Vegas. Mike makes no excuses for the tyrannical tennis coaching of his four kids that he acknowledges alienated two of his kids, particularly Rita to whom he did not talk to for years.

Eventually the book does drift to Andre and his relationship with Nick Bolliteri, his career and his two marriages. But more than anything this book is about an American family headed by a driven immigrant from Iran and how it puts itself back together after volatile relationships caused by his tennis obsession. After following Agassi's career somewhat put off by his early grandstanding, I must admit, this book does give me far greater appreciation for the struggles in his life. If you're a tennis fan, I strongly recommend this book.

This is a great book for Agassi fans who want an inside scoop on Andre's life. Mike is a very tough guy and tells it the way he sees it. They have been through a lot. For me, this book provides justification for the admiration I have developed for Andre over the years of watching him play and following his story. The book is a beautiful tale of determination, character, soul, and ultimately, family. It is a quick read, thoroughly enjoyable, and I appreciate Mike's efforts in making it available.

The stories of stage mothers is well known, this is the story of a tennis dad. Mike Agassi is Andre's father. Mike knew that he would never play at Wimbledon. With a lot of work he might have developed into a decent player, but not world class. He decided that he would work to have someone in his family reach those heights.

It took forty-four years, but in 1992 his son Andre got the golden ring. It was not a peaceful four years as the father tried to instill his dream onto his children. It makes you wonder if the price that Mike and the kids payed was worth the reward.

Unfortunatly, all of these years I wanted to find out more on Andre Agassi. This book explains in small details and pictures where this Grand Champion came about. You need a ton of guts to produce a story like this. I read so much about Andre's life, this book makes all the ajustment that I needed to know from my favourite player. If you are a tennis fan, buy this. Great job to Dominic Cobello, Mrs Welsh and mostly to Mr. Agassi. This is a good book.

Being a fan of Andre Agassi, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's a bag of mixed candies - Mike's biography, real life drama of an immigrant family, story behind Andre's "rise, fall and rise" .. and more.
If you're a tennis fan, buy this book.
Thanks to Dominic Cobello, Kate Welsh, and Mr. Agassi.

Usually these stories are dull and self aggrandizing. Kate Shoup Welsh weaves a facinating story about a man and a life that was hard and facinating. We pitty his children, one of whom is Andre Agassi, who were driven to a form of success that many of us yearn for our children. But at what price. Every parent who wants their child to be a sports star should read this book.

This is a book about Mike Agassi and his family. Mike looks back at his past and how he produced a star tennis player. Mike, is apologetic at times, and proud in others, revealing his true nature. I enjoyed Mike's character in the Agassi story and highly recommend this book for anyone interested in raising a family, as this book is more than just a book about raising tennis stars. The book offers many good insights into parenthood and family.

I was kind of expecting an Andre Agassi biography but this book is actually Mike Agassi's story of his family and extended family. I found it interesting to see their rise from poor conditions in Iran to the top of the tennis world.

Could not put it down. Amazing stories after stories. However, book is from the dad's perspective, which I knew to begin with.

This book is ostensibly the biography of Mike, but really ends up about how he raised a star tennis player, Andre. Nevertheless, I liked it. However, if you are not a tennis fan or at the very least and Andre fan, then this book is not for you.