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Out of My Comfort Zone: The Autobiography
Rarely does a truly great player reveal as much of himself and his sport as does Steve Waugh in his long awaited autobiography. "Out of my Comfort Zone" is a frank look into a unique life in cricket, a journey into Waugh's life on and off the field. He opens up on his personal life in a way few would expect and reveals the controversies and scandals, the clashes with other players, the media and the cricket administrators. He also offers honest and perceptive portraits of many of the people who have shared his adventure. Many of the photographs included in the book were taken by Waugh, providing a rare peek behind the dressing room door as well as reflecting his passion for travelling.
801 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2005
51 people are currently reading
1114 people want to read
About the author
Steve Waugh
41 books17 followersSteve Waugh, the embodiment of true Australian grit, evolved from a raw 20-year-old talented batsman into a cricketer who eliminated risk from his game. He led Australia in 15 of their world-record 16 consecutive Test wins and to the 1999 World Cup title, playing 168 Tests and collecting 10,927 runs on the way.
He retired in January 2004 as the most successful captain in the history of Test cricket, with 41 wins in 57 Tests.
In his time as captain, Waugh fashioned Australia into arguably the greatest team of all time. A batsman who mixed mental courage with natural ability, it was Waugh’s contribution as a captain that has seen him become a legend of the game.
In many ways, Waugh captained as he played: unyielding, aggressive, determined and with a never-say-die attitude. His brand of leadership revolutionised captaincy
Over the years, Waugh has also shown that he believes in using sport as a means to help the deprived and the underprivileged and he has backed those beliefs in India in a determined and practical way at a home built to house the children of lepers in Udayan, Calcutta. He has been helping Udayan since an aid group took him there in 1998, making regular visits and helping raise funds and donating his own money.
In Australia, the Steve Waugh Foundation provides support for young people, up to the age of 25, who suffer from chronic and rare illnesses. The Foundation particularly helps disabled, neglected, abused children, and street kids and youngsters from educationally, economically and/or emotionally disadvantaged backgrounds.
A popular figure in the eyes of the Australian public, Waugh has been included in a list of one hundred Australian Living Treasures by the National Trust of Australia, awarded the Order of Australia and the Australian Sports Medal
Waugh is a keen photographer and has an prolific author of thirteen books. He insists on writing them himself, in long hand, rather than with the assistance of professional journalists. His books, including his autobiography “Out of My Comfort Zone” provide an insight into the mind of Steve Waugh. Steve’s most recent book is “The Meaning of Luck”
He retired in January 2004 as the most successful captain in the history of Test cricket, with 41 wins in 57 Tests.
In his time as captain, Waugh fashioned Australia into arguably the greatest team of all time. A batsman who mixed mental courage with natural ability, it was Waugh’s contribution as a captain that has seen him become a legend of the game.
In many ways, Waugh captained as he played: unyielding, aggressive, determined and with a never-say-die attitude. His brand of leadership revolutionised captaincy
Over the years, Waugh has also shown that he believes in using sport as a means to help the deprived and the underprivileged and he has backed those beliefs in India in a determined and practical way at a home built to house the children of lepers in Udayan, Calcutta. He has been helping Udayan since an aid group took him there in 1998, making regular visits and helping raise funds and donating his own money.
In Australia, the Steve Waugh Foundation provides support for young people, up to the age of 25, who suffer from chronic and rare illnesses. The Foundation particularly helps disabled, neglected, abused children, and street kids and youngsters from educationally, economically and/or emotionally disadvantaged backgrounds.
A popular figure in the eyes of the Australian public, Waugh has been included in a list of one hundred Australian Living Treasures by the National Trust of Australia, awarded the Order of Australia and the Australian Sports Medal
Waugh is a keen photographer and has an prolific author of thirteen books. He insists on writing them himself, in long hand, rather than with the assistance of professional journalists. His books, including his autobiography “Out of My Comfort Zone” provide an insight into the mind of Steve Waugh. Steve’s most recent book is “The Meaning of Luck”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 7, 2024
A rarity in sporting biographies, one written by the person themselves with no ghosting. Because it has that authenticity, we get to see the real Steve Waugh, or at least that much of himself he wants to reveal.
It's actually quite a lot. The modest upbringing in a sport obsessed family, the rapid elevation to the Australian team, probably too early, for there was a long apprenticeship, but the success he enjoyed says a lot about the selectors faith: he turned himself into a redoubtable batter and a canny and tough leader, who led Australia through their most successful era.
This is impressive enough, but what really caught my eye was the man's approach to touring and by extension inwardly towards himself. He went out in the countries he visited, learned about the history and culture and immersed himself in his surroundings. He effectively grew up in the spotlight, changing before our eyes, taking snapshots, literally and figuratively of everything that was going on around him.
A long, exhaustive book, but he was never in it for the short glory.
It's actually quite a lot. The modest upbringing in a sport obsessed family, the rapid elevation to the Australian team, probably too early, for there was a long apprenticeship, but the success he enjoyed says a lot about the selectors faith: he turned himself into a redoubtable batter and a canny and tough leader, who led Australia through their most successful era.
This is impressive enough, but what really caught my eye was the man's approach to touring and by extension inwardly towards himself. He went out in the countries he visited, learned about the history and culture and immersed himself in his surroundings. He effectively grew up in the spotlight, changing before our eyes, taking snapshots, literally and figuratively of everything that was going on around him.
A long, exhaustive book, but he was never in it for the short glory.
December 19, 2020
So like most of my books, this book also had to wait around 7 years or more in the bookcase before I finally decided to start this biography and it was one of the very first cricket autobiographies I had picked and it turned out to be the last one to be read. But let's come to the book. No doubt Steve Waugh was good to a great player, definitely a great captain, but like most people have pointed out he isn't that good of an author but he isn't expected to be would you have preferred if he also used a ghostwriter, like few other sportspeople? It was fun to read about the history of the player and the recollections and all the struggles with the injuries and distance away from the family.
My only issue was the same that has been there for all the books by other Australian that even though Steve mentions multiple altercations where he or his teammates were involved and he acknowledged in a few places that their behavior could have been better but then there have been issues Steve mentions but always and it's always that nobody is ready to accept the wrongdoings of your teammates.
It took me more than 2 months to finish because of course, I read multiple books at the same time, and also my reading schedule is all out of whack due to the pandemic and whatnot. So I liked the book and also enjoyed all the pictures from Stephen's collection.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genres but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
My only issue was the same that has been there for all the books by other Australian that even though Steve mentions multiple altercations where he or his teammates were involved and he acknowledged in a few places that their behavior could have been better but then there have been issues Steve mentions but always and it's always that nobody is ready to accept the wrongdoings of your teammates.
It took me more than 2 months to finish because of course, I read multiple books at the same time, and also my reading schedule is all out of whack due to the pandemic and whatnot. So I liked the book and also enjoyed all the pictures from Stephen's collection.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genres but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
April 26, 2010
Excellent Captain.
Great Cricketer.
Okay Writer.
Waugh writes from the heart. Sad, I'm not a fan. If Rahul Dravid writes something 80% as good as this, I will declare it The Best Autobiography Evvvva! Sorry Steve. Like Dada said, you have to wait!
Great Cricketer.
Okay Writer.
Waugh writes from the heart. Sad, I'm not a fan. If Rahul Dravid writes something 80% as good as this, I will declare it The Best Autobiography Evvvva! Sorry Steve. Like Dada said, you have to wait!
February 24, 2015
An amazing book is what this is. Steve Waugh opens up about everything that a cricket lover would look forward to. He talks at length even about the smallest of things like taking guard before batting or what goes on in a fielder's mind just before a catch is taken.
The best thing about this book is how it brings forth how Steve is just a human after all. It talks about his ambitions, expectations from himself and others and his struggle throughout his playing period. It's a wonderful ride to read about the joy on being picked in a team to the frustration of getting out in the 90s to the disappointment of being dropped from a team. He has revealed the discussions in the team meetings, the wild celebrations after wins, the sadness lurking around after losses, how he bent the team rules as a youngster, his tiffs with his teammates and the opposition, the changing dynamics of the Australian team while it underwent changes in terms of coaches and the bickering with the cricket board while the players formed their association.
Even the parts about his life outside cricket, like his association with Udayan, the relationship with his family and his excursions on different countries, are very impressive. As a Mark Waugh fan, I looked forward to what Steve had to say about the apparent lack of conversations between them and I wasn't disappointed.
As a writer, Steve is exceptionally good. I especially loved the metaphors sprinkled throughout the text.
The book is a must read for anybody who followed cricket in the 90s.
PS: The afterword written by Lynette (Steve's wife) is not to be missed. It's so nice to see Steve write throughout about her as the main supporting force behind his successes while she talks everything down as being "just an ordinary person who did what had to be done".
The best thing about this book is how it brings forth how Steve is just a human after all. It talks about his ambitions, expectations from himself and others and his struggle throughout his playing period. It's a wonderful ride to read about the joy on being picked in a team to the frustration of getting out in the 90s to the disappointment of being dropped from a team. He has revealed the discussions in the team meetings, the wild celebrations after wins, the sadness lurking around after losses, how he bent the team rules as a youngster, his tiffs with his teammates and the opposition, the changing dynamics of the Australian team while it underwent changes in terms of coaches and the bickering with the cricket board while the players formed their association.
Even the parts about his life outside cricket, like his association with Udayan, the relationship with his family and his excursions on different countries, are very impressive. As a Mark Waugh fan, I looked forward to what Steve had to say about the apparent lack of conversations between them and I wasn't disappointed.
As a writer, Steve is exceptionally good. I especially loved the metaphors sprinkled throughout the text.
The book is a must read for anybody who followed cricket in the 90s.
PS: The afterword written by Lynette (Steve's wife) is not to be missed. It's so nice to see Steve write throughout about her as the main supporting force behind his successes while she talks everything down as being "just an ordinary person who did what had to be done".
June 4, 2007
Steve Waugh is closest to what I have as an idol. My interest in cricket grew with Waugh's career and is now in a semi-retired state.
Out of my comfort zone is a well chronicled autobiography from the iceman. Having youtube is a big help. I was able to search and play back some of the interesting moments that Waugh recollects. This is a treasure trove for any cricket enthusiast.
Out of my comfort zone is a well chronicled autobiography from the iceman. Having youtube is a big help. I was able to search and play back some of the interesting moments that Waugh recollects. This is a treasure trove for any cricket enthusiast.
November 30, 2015
so, what can you learn from Australian Cricket team's most successful captain ?
I'd say - a lot !
is this as close as anyone can get to the mind of a champion?
Definitely !
Steve Waugh to me was the model cricketer. Tough, relentless and committed to the teams objective. He was not as graceful as his brother or Brian Lara, he was not as much fun as Shane Warne was or Kevin Pietersen is, he was far from being as entertaining as Gilchrist is but even after all these 'deficiencies' he to my eyes was one of the 10 best players to ever play the sport.
It is a very honest portrayal of everything Steve would go through from his humble beginnings to the pinnacle of his career, i.e. winning a couple world cups and right up to his retirement.
I'd say - a lot !
is this as close as anyone can get to the mind of a champion?
Definitely !
Steve Waugh to me was the model cricketer. Tough, relentless and committed to the teams objective. He was not as graceful as his brother or Brian Lara, he was not as much fun as Shane Warne was or Kevin Pietersen is, he was far from being as entertaining as Gilchrist is but even after all these 'deficiencies' he to my eyes was one of the 10 best players to ever play the sport.
It is a very honest portrayal of everything Steve would go through from his humble beginnings to the pinnacle of his career, i.e. winning a couple world cups and right up to his retirement.
November 22, 2010
Having read a few other cricket biographies / autobiographies, I felt that the book was rather descriptive especially regarding what went inside the mind of Steve Waugh when he was on the cricket field. For a man who remained aloof and emotionally detached, the book does give a lot of insight behind the thinking process that went about playing his game and his captaincy. It was really hard to put the book down for even a minute! Very entertaining and insightful!
September 28, 2016
I read this. Cover to cover. Possibly the only non-writerly autobiography of a still-alive person I have ever read; but then, Steve Waugh remains, possibly, my strangest-ever crush. Since him, it's been English cricketers (I'm a dual citizen); but none so dogged and tenacious in his hold on my affections.
July 17, 2007
Like his cricket - not very attractive, but very effective and educational about the man and the sport.
July 15, 2017
3 star writing, 4 star stories, and allrounder 5 star captain. I enjoyed this immensely and it called for a 5 star for that reason only, I freely admit I'm extremely biased.
September 9, 2019
I got to page 264 out of 740 before I decided I best leave it there.
I started the book to gain an insight into Steve's life, his mental attitude and his exploration of the needy in India.
I gained insights into all this and realised I am far less keen on the insights into the cricketing stories.
I admire the diligence and effort to produce a mammoth book like this. A remarkable life, even though I am keenly aware that there was a lot of opportunity and privilege that Steve was born into, that enabled his growth and achievements.
I liked getting the insights into how Steve and his wife Lynne communicated during tours, and reading Lynne's reflections.
I started the book to gain an insight into Steve's life, his mental attitude and his exploration of the needy in India.
I gained insights into all this and realised I am far less keen on the insights into the cricketing stories.
I admire the diligence and effort to produce a mammoth book like this. A remarkable life, even though I am keenly aware that there was a lot of opportunity and privilege that Steve was born into, that enabled his growth and achievements.
I liked getting the insights into how Steve and his wife Lynne communicated during tours, and reading Lynne's reflections.
March 23, 2013
The Australian cricketer Steve Waugh started his career as a bowler who could also bat at the lower middle order. Contrary to the 'stone cold' image in the public, he often struggled with his mind doubting his own capabilities in the game. He battled through his negative thoughts in his career to emerge out as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and also one of the most successful Australian batsman and captain.
The first time I held this book in my hands it sent goosebumps down my body. I could feel this enormous (800 pages) strong volume breathing of life in my hands just like a horcrux would do. The book is so carefully crafted right from the outer cover to the magnificently easy to comprehend language and the pictures taken out of Steve's personal tour albums throughout the world. It had a very distinct personal touch to it, the kind which establishes a direct contact between the reader and the legend himself. 'Out of My Comfort Zone' chronicles the life of Steve Waugh right from his childhood till the last test he played, ending with a chapter by his wife Lynette. The book starts off with an 'explosive' foreword written by batting maestro Rahul Dravid, followed by one written by Steve's friend Tim May. It takes you through his childhood, the formative years of his cricketing career, the breakthrough, the two decades of Aussie cricket, his struggles with himself, his long struggles with the Australian cricketing body, his view about different countries, sledging, the different events in the cricketing world which took place during his career, his philosophies about life in general and most importantly you'll get to witness first hand from Waugh himself - the transformation of the Australian cricket team which was in disarray in the middle of the 80s (before the world cup) under the leadership of Allan Border to becoming the best cricketing side in the early 2000s under his own leadership.. The entire book was peppered with happenings from his personal life (marriage, kids etc).
Many people in India have criticized this book for being too harsh in his comments about the living conditions and the poverty of the country. I believe he gave an honest picture of the country. Imagine a young guy who lived his entire life in a highly developed country like Australia coming out and playing in a developing country like India. He'll definitely witness massive changes in his surroundings and this is what he has portrayed in the book. He doesn't criticize the country, he just gives a first hand account of what the country looked like to him when he stayed there for the first few times. And I believe most of us Indians would agree with his views. It's just that we're either too embarrassed to accept it or we're too ignorant about the realities of our country. On the brighter side, reading about his work for Udayan in Kolkata was very heart touching.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The detailed tour analysis and the tid-bits (the other side of the cricket away from the field) taken out of the countless tour diaries maintained by Steve Waugh throughout his career makes this book which dwarfs the Oxford dictionary in size an engaging read. It'll give a cricket enthusiast a word by word 'visual' of almost 20 years of pure Australian cricket. A must read!
Link to my blog: http://confusonomics.wordpress.com/20...
The first time I held this book in my hands it sent goosebumps down my body. I could feel this enormous (800 pages) strong volume breathing of life in my hands just like a horcrux would do. The book is so carefully crafted right from the outer cover to the magnificently easy to comprehend language and the pictures taken out of Steve's personal tour albums throughout the world. It had a very distinct personal touch to it, the kind which establishes a direct contact between the reader and the legend himself. 'Out of My Comfort Zone' chronicles the life of Steve Waugh right from his childhood till the last test he played, ending with a chapter by his wife Lynette. The book starts off with an 'explosive' foreword written by batting maestro Rahul Dravid, followed by one written by Steve's friend Tim May. It takes you through his childhood, the formative years of his cricketing career, the breakthrough, the two decades of Aussie cricket, his struggles with himself, his long struggles with the Australian cricketing body, his view about different countries, sledging, the different events in the cricketing world which took place during his career, his philosophies about life in general and most importantly you'll get to witness first hand from Waugh himself - the transformation of the Australian cricket team which was in disarray in the middle of the 80s (before the world cup) under the leadership of Allan Border to becoming the best cricketing side in the early 2000s under his own leadership.. The entire book was peppered with happenings from his personal life (marriage, kids etc).
Many people in India have criticized this book for being too harsh in his comments about the living conditions and the poverty of the country. I believe he gave an honest picture of the country. Imagine a young guy who lived his entire life in a highly developed country like Australia coming out and playing in a developing country like India. He'll definitely witness massive changes in his surroundings and this is what he has portrayed in the book. He doesn't criticize the country, he just gives a first hand account of what the country looked like to him when he stayed there for the first few times. And I believe most of us Indians would agree with his views. It's just that we're either too embarrassed to accept it or we're too ignorant about the realities of our country. On the brighter side, reading about his work for Udayan in Kolkata was very heart touching.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The detailed tour analysis and the tid-bits (the other side of the cricket away from the field) taken out of the countless tour diaries maintained by Steve Waugh throughout his career makes this book which dwarfs the Oxford dictionary in size an engaging read. It'll give a cricket enthusiast a word by word 'visual' of almost 20 years of pure Australian cricket. A must read!
Link to my blog: http://confusonomics.wordpress.com/20...
January 18, 2014
A truly tremendous sporting account and one of the greatest accompaniments to summer that a sports fan could discover. Revealing, yes, insightful too, and Steve tells some hidden tales on leading Australia's greats in a game at times tough and always testing. From Border's days and the Chappel era we could all associate with days long and hot in the backyard and the awesome climb to the pinnacle of a baggy green cap and representing our nation. Most impressive though were the thoughtful moments where Stephen was inspiring the team with music, team huddles and tips on gameplay, which although seemingly incongruous evolved into his record as Australian cricket's most successful captain. The glory of a century at the crease gained some appreciation and an understanding of the achievement, developing over a long career. With a test cricketer's glory were invoked memories of days of cricket for Sydney, a premiership and days with mates in Meadowbank inspired by Australia's best.
And yet, through all of the honours of cricket, the times are told of a down to earth Aussie bloke with an everyday life and a real gem of an innings. His family with his brothers, folks, partner and children are the most important through it all. He's known too for being an all-rounder and with twin brilliance with Mark Waugh and their individual selections to Australia. I could really appreciate the celebrations with Southern Comfort, as it's a favourite, and developed a sympathy for the times he found with Lynette, a high school girlfriend, whilst managing the responsibilities of the sport. Their times together are treasured through marriage and family and the reader can understand his true character through an epilogue by Lynette and his revelations throughout the biography of what is a private life too.
When he writes, which seems fairly often, he writes well. A really easy to read story on a favourite topic and well recommended. Great for those who love the game and certainly worthy of a tremendous cheer from an avid reader. Bravo Stephen Waugh. Out of my Comfort Zone was one of the most relevant books I've discovered. And thank you, marvellous effort that!
And yet, through all of the honours of cricket, the times are told of a down to earth Aussie bloke with an everyday life and a real gem of an innings. His family with his brothers, folks, partner and children are the most important through it all. He's known too for being an all-rounder and with twin brilliance with Mark Waugh and their individual selections to Australia. I could really appreciate the celebrations with Southern Comfort, as it's a favourite, and developed a sympathy for the times he found with Lynette, a high school girlfriend, whilst managing the responsibilities of the sport. Their times together are treasured through marriage and family and the reader can understand his true character through an epilogue by Lynette and his revelations throughout the biography of what is a private life too.
When he writes, which seems fairly often, he writes well. A really easy to read story on a favourite topic and well recommended. Great for those who love the game and certainly worthy of a tremendous cheer from an avid reader. Bravo Stephen Waugh. Out of my Comfort Zone was one of the most relevant books I've discovered. And thank you, marvellous effort that!
December 20, 2012
A stalwart, Steve Waugh epitomizes Aussie and the much revered Baggy Green spirit. This is a Cricketing biography in its truest sense and Steve Waugh talks about his struggles through injury and form issues and admits some of his fears. His experiences through India with the Udayan initiative and the other parts of the world, his confrontation with the board and absolute transformation to being 'The Invincibles' are engaging read.
He uses clever and very subtle humor when talking about cricketing issues and also when talking about some of his peers and team mates. It is amazing that he cracks the greatest cricketing code with the simplest of formula: Work ethic and attitude and these define Steve Waugh.
What is really missed in the book is his equation with his brothers and specially his twin. It is often assumed that the twins weren’t close enough and here he leaves a lot of things unsaid and unwritten. In fact, the book very briefly brings the contrast in the two and also talks about the assumed sibling rivalry during childhood days. It appears that neither of them was exactly comfortable with their identity as twins. The Waugh brothers really played a defining role in the Aussie game and it would have been great had he shared his and his brother's reaction. However, towards the end of the book you feel that the brothers were a comfortable lot and their comfort level with each other made them men of fewer words.
He brings out his equation with his partner really well and also acknowledges contribution of his team mates, friends and family in his development. The dressing room practices of the team shared in the book are an interesting read.
Like a typical Steve Waugh innings, the book gradually picks up intensity and pace and once its settles it is a lengthy stay. We expect some breakthrough theory, some innovations from him every time when he talks cricket and the man keeps it simple and engaging.
He uses clever and very subtle humor when talking about cricketing issues and also when talking about some of his peers and team mates. It is amazing that he cracks the greatest cricketing code with the simplest of formula: Work ethic and attitude and these define Steve Waugh.
What is really missed in the book is his equation with his brothers and specially his twin. It is often assumed that the twins weren’t close enough and here he leaves a lot of things unsaid and unwritten. In fact, the book very briefly brings the contrast in the two and also talks about the assumed sibling rivalry during childhood days. It appears that neither of them was exactly comfortable with their identity as twins. The Waugh brothers really played a defining role in the Aussie game and it would have been great had he shared his and his brother's reaction. However, towards the end of the book you feel that the brothers were a comfortable lot and their comfort level with each other made them men of fewer words.
He brings out his equation with his partner really well and also acknowledges contribution of his team mates, friends and family in his development. The dressing room practices of the team shared in the book are an interesting read.
Like a typical Steve Waugh innings, the book gradually picks up intensity and pace and once its settles it is a lengthy stay. We expect some breakthrough theory, some innovations from him every time when he talks cricket and the man keeps it simple and engaging.
April 26, 2012
If you are a cricket fan,go and grab this book now or else you are not exposed completely to what cricket is all about.The book that reveals the heart of a man who was one of the architechts of the Australian success in Cricket.Stephen Rodger Waugh is one of those very few cricketers whose life is a lesson itself...
He is a genius,not by birth ,but acuqired it through sheer grit,perseverence and hardwork.The book is foreworded by our very own Rahul Dravid who sums up everything in his last few words
"When I hit the winning runs in Adelaide,Steve found the ball and handed it to me.I still have it and it is signed by him."
His entire career can be divided into three periods, his early days where his place was insecure and as he fought against his mind and talent to fit into the Australian eleven,the days he shone with the bat and ball and went on to become the Australian captain,the days when he became the helm of Australian cricket,which reveals the true person in him.
Honesty is one thing that any true fan of him expects from him and he does not disappoint his fans.The match fixing incident,the controversial catch in WestIndies,the indifferences with ACB and every other things that an ordinary cricket fan wants to know about the life on the field, is beautifully presented.The facts like one of his 'backyard pitches' near his home produced enormous turn that actually made mark waugh to make that mid-wicket shot his very own,Steve Waugh's description of his character of wanting to be the best but not wanting to get the attension,how Shane Warne predicted the Gibbs dropped catch at the 1999 world cup are just amazing.
It is sure for sure that the book elevates our stand as a true cricket fan one step higher and help us understand how onw has to out of his comfort zone to acheive greatness..
He is a genius,not by birth ,but acuqired it through sheer grit,perseverence and hardwork.The book is foreworded by our very own Rahul Dravid who sums up everything in his last few words
"When I hit the winning runs in Adelaide,Steve found the ball and handed it to me.I still have it and it is signed by him."
His entire career can be divided into three periods, his early days where his place was insecure and as he fought against his mind and talent to fit into the Australian eleven,the days he shone with the bat and ball and went on to become the Australian captain,the days when he became the helm of Australian cricket,which reveals the true person in him.
Honesty is one thing that any true fan of him expects from him and he does not disappoint his fans.The match fixing incident,the controversial catch in WestIndies,the indifferences with ACB and every other things that an ordinary cricket fan wants to know about the life on the field, is beautifully presented.The facts like one of his 'backyard pitches' near his home produced enormous turn that actually made mark waugh to make that mid-wicket shot his very own,Steve Waugh's description of his character of wanting to be the best but not wanting to get the attension,how Shane Warne predicted the Gibbs dropped catch at the 1999 world cup are just amazing.
It is sure for sure that the book elevates our stand as a true cricket fan one step higher and help us understand how onw has to out of his comfort zone to acheive greatness..
November 16, 2010
Waugh writes like he batted. He assumes that the writer who accumulates the most pages wins. He is not a skilled author and one doubts whether an editor was allowed anywhere near this tome. The writer can’t see the woods for the trees and the book runs on for far too long – much like the batsman, Waugh did himself.
This cumbersome book is 800 pages long. It shows a boring, self-obsessed man pouring out his long-winded strangled attempts at description on many many pages. Its interesting to note that the legendary Bradman’s biographyis 316 pages. Surely even Steve Waugh can see that he’s not allowed to bore us senseless for another 500 pages.
Waugh glosses over important cricketing events, always managing to reveal how he was the star of the show and always right, to boot - and how everyone else was either unimportant or wrong.
The sad truth is that he gets close to revealing the true sportsman and then cops out – time and time again. For someone who admits to bottling up his emotions he sure managed to bring up a lot of empty ones on this 300 000 word publication. It’s a pity. Waugh was a great cricketer but this autobiography fails to inspire.
Great for a doorstop
This cumbersome book is 800 pages long. It shows a boring, self-obsessed man pouring out his long-winded strangled attempts at description on many many pages. Its interesting to note that the legendary Bradman’s biographyis 316 pages. Surely even Steve Waugh can see that he’s not allowed to bore us senseless for another 500 pages.
Waugh glosses over important cricketing events, always managing to reveal how he was the star of the show and always right, to boot - and how everyone else was either unimportant or wrong.
The sad truth is that he gets close to revealing the true sportsman and then cops out – time and time again. For someone who admits to bottling up his emotions he sure managed to bring up a lot of empty ones on this 300 000 word publication. It’s a pity. Waugh was a great cricketer but this autobiography fails to inspire.
Great for a doorstop
April 17, 2016
so, what can you learn from Australian Cricket team's most successful captain ?
I'd say - a lot !
is this as close as anyone can get to the mind of a champion?
Definitely !
Steve Waugh to me was the model cricketer. Tough, relentless and committed to the teams objective. He was not as graceful as his brother or Brian Lara, he was not as much fun as Shane Warne was or Kevin Pietersen is, he was far from being as entertaining as Gilchrist is but even after all these 'deficiencies' he to my eyes was one of the 10 best players to ever play the sport.
It is a very honest portrayal of everything Steve would go through from his humble beginnings to the pinnacle of his career, i.e. winning a couple world cups and right up to his retirement
I'd say - a lot !
is this as close as anyone can get to the mind of a champion?
Definitely !
Steve Waugh to me was the model cricketer. Tough, relentless and committed to the teams objective. He was not as graceful as his brother or Brian Lara, he was not as much fun as Shane Warne was or Kevin Pietersen is, he was far from being as entertaining as Gilchrist is but even after all these 'deficiencies' he to my eyes was one of the 10 best players to ever play the sport.
It is a very honest portrayal of everything Steve would go through from his humble beginnings to the pinnacle of his career, i.e. winning a couple world cups and right up to his retirement
October 8, 2018
I decided to reread this book and as it is about 800 pages long that decision was not taken lightly. First of all it s a cricket book, an Australian cricket book which is almost encyclopaedic in nature. There are some fascinating parts and parts of cricket history which are laid out bare. Being a Steve Waugh fan, I really enjoyed it but I could understand if someone else described it as tedious. All up it is a very well written and interesting book which all Australian cricket nuts would love to read.
July 19, 2013
Not the best book in the family, either.
November 6, 2017
A very well written magnum opus, which encapsulates all that is good about Steve Waugh, a modern batting legend.
Read
January 23, 2024"A quintessentially Australian tale, told in a straightforward, unpretentious style." The Age Rarely does a truly great player reveal as much of himself and his sport as Steve Waugh does in his long-awaited autobiography. Waugh opens up on his personal life in a way few would expect of a man known in cricket circles as "The Iceman". He provides revealing insights into life on and off the field; the controversies and scandals; and clashes with other players, the media and cricket administrators. He also offers honest and perceptive portraits of the people who have shared his adventure. Out of My Comfort Zone is a frank study of a unique life in cricket – a journey into the heart and soul of not just the game but also one of its most respected players and finest leaders.
May 8, 2020
As at teenager whilst my friends had crushes on pop stars I had a crush on Steve Waugh. I had his posters on my wall and he is the reason for my ongoing love of cricket. This book, however, is huge at almost 800 pages with a LOT of detail and whilst parts of it were interesting, I did find it tedious at times and only finished it because Steve Waugh wrote it and it was a gift from my husband as he knows my life-long crush on Steve Waugh!
January 1, 2020
Bloody good read.
January 5, 2021
One of the few cricketers whom i consider as an idol. A sneak peek into the life of a calm composed man of steel.
December 1, 2021
It remains the only autobiography of a cricketer that I've read. Book was a recap of his career/life. Indian readers may be disappointed as he didn't sing any praises of Sachin :-P
December 3, 2016
Steve 'Tugga' Waugh or Iceman Steve as he was popularly known never had the talent of a Tendulkar or the Charisma of Shane Warne nor was he intimidating on the field like McGrath nor was he as flamboyant as Jayasuriya but if you look into what he has achieved in his nearly 20 years of cricket you will easily acknowledge Steve as one of the greatest to have played the game, his sheer grit, discipline and never say die attitude is something cricket fans will speak for generations. This book is quite detailed I would say really detailed and is spread over 700 pages but still worth a look for anybody having interest not only in cricket but in general about sports leadership and management.
The initial parts of the book is from Steve’s younger days in school and local school cricket which I was not very interested in, the interesting part starts from his journey into the Australian team lead by Alan Border , his initial failures and successes , rapport he shared with some of his senior team mates from New South Wales and how they helped him gel into the national team , various anecdotes from his cricketing tours in the Subcontinent , the Ashes and the West Indies make it interesting to read.
I can only imagine what it means to win the Ashes for the Aussies or the English only after reading this book, the intensity in which the Ashes are played seem to be much more than a typical India VS Pakistan match. Many epic test matches and incidents over the 80S , 90s and 00S take you back down memory lane, most notable amongst them are the 1986 Chennai test against India which ended in a tie, the 1995 Trinidad and Tobago test against the windies and the famous face off he had with Ambrose, the Eden Gardens test against India which saw the heroic innings from VVS and Dravid, the 2003 Adelaide test which again saw VVS and Dravid get the better of the Aussies and the infamous incident involving McGrath and Sarwan.
Steve has also shared some memorable moments in the book, insights into Australian Cricket culture, the loneliness of being a captain, the highs and lows associated with the success and failures of your team, winning the prestigious Laureus award , playing the Ashes, the Frank Worrell Trophy ( version of Ashes aginst the Windies), his association with Udayan a NGO based out of Kolkatta and his love for India ( initially it was love to hate ), his first meeting with Mother Teresa , the bribing and match fixing controversies that rocked the cricketing world which involved senior layers from India, Pakistan , Australia and South Africa. The resurrection of Australian cricket under John Buchanan and Waugh himself is something worth going through, it offers lots of life lessons, be it on team play, strategy, planning fitness and discipline something that the previous generation of Aussie cricketers had not taken very seriously.
Some nice little superstitions which cricketers follow, Steve himself had this red handkerchief which he always carried with him while playing right from the days he started playing for Australia in mid 80s till the day he retired, he was so particular about it that in one of Ashes tour in England he had forgotten it back home and was going through a rough patch on the field, he immediately asked for this hankie to be couriered to him to England.
Steve hasn’t been very generous in his praise about other cricketers especially non Australians but the few that he has praised include our own Maestro Sachin ( for his talent and cricketing mind) , Dravid for his professionalism and perseverance( btw the foreword to this book has been written by Dravid and both of them have huge respect for each other ), Sehwag for his dare devil style of playing , Wasim Akram for his sheer bowling ability, Hansie Cronje, Ambrose, Walsh, Alan Donald ,Waqar, Imran, Muralidaharan and Lara .
BTW a quick fact Waugh made his test debut against India and also played his last test against India maybe that’s why his special love for India.
If you want to know the life story of an inspiring sportsman and what it takes to become one, do read this book.
The initial parts of the book is from Steve’s younger days in school and local school cricket which I was not very interested in, the interesting part starts from his journey into the Australian team lead by Alan Border , his initial failures and successes , rapport he shared with some of his senior team mates from New South Wales and how they helped him gel into the national team , various anecdotes from his cricketing tours in the Subcontinent , the Ashes and the West Indies make it interesting to read.
I can only imagine what it means to win the Ashes for the Aussies or the English only after reading this book, the intensity in which the Ashes are played seem to be much more than a typical India VS Pakistan match. Many epic test matches and incidents over the 80S , 90s and 00S take you back down memory lane, most notable amongst them are the 1986 Chennai test against India which ended in a tie, the 1995 Trinidad and Tobago test against the windies and the famous face off he had with Ambrose, the Eden Gardens test against India which saw the heroic innings from VVS and Dravid, the 2003 Adelaide test which again saw VVS and Dravid get the better of the Aussies and the infamous incident involving McGrath and Sarwan.
Steve has also shared some memorable moments in the book, insights into Australian Cricket culture, the loneliness of being a captain, the highs and lows associated with the success and failures of your team, winning the prestigious Laureus award , playing the Ashes, the Frank Worrell Trophy ( version of Ashes aginst the Windies), his association with Udayan a NGO based out of Kolkatta and his love for India ( initially it was love to hate ), his first meeting with Mother Teresa , the bribing and match fixing controversies that rocked the cricketing world which involved senior layers from India, Pakistan , Australia and South Africa. The resurrection of Australian cricket under John Buchanan and Waugh himself is something worth going through, it offers lots of life lessons, be it on team play, strategy, planning fitness and discipline something that the previous generation of Aussie cricketers had not taken very seriously.
Some nice little superstitions which cricketers follow, Steve himself had this red handkerchief which he always carried with him while playing right from the days he started playing for Australia in mid 80s till the day he retired, he was so particular about it that in one of Ashes tour in England he had forgotten it back home and was going through a rough patch on the field, he immediately asked for this hankie to be couriered to him to England.
Steve hasn’t been very generous in his praise about other cricketers especially non Australians but the few that he has praised include our own Maestro Sachin ( for his talent and cricketing mind) , Dravid for his professionalism and perseverance( btw the foreword to this book has been written by Dravid and both of them have huge respect for each other ), Sehwag for his dare devil style of playing , Wasim Akram for his sheer bowling ability, Hansie Cronje, Ambrose, Walsh, Alan Donald ,Waqar, Imran, Muralidaharan and Lara .
BTW a quick fact Waugh made his test debut against India and also played his last test against India maybe that’s why his special love for India.
If you want to know the life story of an inspiring sportsman and what it takes to become one, do read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2014
Many summers ago I read this book, I think almost immediately after it came out. Steve Waugh is one of my favorite cricketers. I am inspired by his never-say-die attitude, extremely strong mindset, and also how he made the most of whatever batting and bowling skills he possessed. He was not a very gifted batsman. However, by sheer hard work he retired as the highest run-getter in Test cricket. This book gives an insight into his life and his rise in cricket. More importantly through this book you get to navigate through his mind and appreciate his determination and mental strength and what kinds of thoughts really constitute his mental make-up. As Waugh signs off indeed, "the excitement of the unknown is fascinating. Once you are seduced, you are hooked for life."
June 4, 2012
I decided to read this book as i love cricket.
This book goes on my bingo board as the free category.
My favourite quote from the book was, "I can't remember any really technical coaching." This shows that you don't really need to be technically perfect to be good cricketer.
Something i learned from this book is that you dont need to be really technically perfect as he made it so far in life without that much technical coaching.
A character i found interesting was John Buchanan. He was the coach of the Australian cricket team. He didn't speak face to face much. He wrote letters to the players about their mistakes.
This book goes on my bingo board as the free category.
My favourite quote from the book was, "I can't remember any really technical coaching." This shows that you don't really need to be technically perfect to be good cricketer.
Something i learned from this book is that you dont need to be really technically perfect as he made it so far in life without that much technical coaching.
A character i found interesting was John Buchanan. He was the coach of the Australian cricket team. He didn't speak face to face much. He wrote letters to the players about their mistakes.
January 21, 2013
The most exhaustive account of Steve Waugh! Considering I'm not a crazy fan of cricket, still I could really appreciate the way he narrated his story. He was the guy I grew up watching, and it was nothing short of absolute delight than to get a peek in his personal life!!
Just a heads up, the book is of more than 800 pages, so unless you are not interested, the book is not going to add value to you!!
Just a heads up, the book is of more than 800 pages, so unless you are not interested, the book is not going to add value to you!!
September 21, 2014
Shows the mental side of a strong minded cricketer. Reading the battle between Waugh and Ambrose, Waugh and Lara from Waugh's point of view shows how much he enjoyed the mental aspect of the game. His commitment to kids in 'Udayan'and his experience with 'Mother Teresa' shows the great human being in him. I also enjoyed watching some youtube cricket clips correspond to certain matches which Waugh recollects. Great read for any Cricket fan!!!
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