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Dan Carter: My Autobiography
Dan Carter's last game as an All Black culminated with him declared Man of the Match following the 2015 Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham - an unforgettable ending to the career of the greatest fly-half of all time.
But along with the triumphs of his signature World Cup win, his performance against the Lions in 2005, and an unprecedented run of Bledisloe Cup successes, there was also the pain and doubt he felt during a prolonged period of injury and rehab following the 2011 World Cup.
He watched that victory from the sidelines, as he had the All Blacks' defeats in two previous tournaments. Indeed, heading into the 2015 World Cup he had never finished the competition on his own terms.
His autobiography tells of that redemption, and gets you up close and personal with one of the most celebrated sportsmen of our time.
Threaded throughout the book is an intimate diary of his final year as a Crusader and All Black, during which he worked tirelessly to make one last run at that elusive a World Cup victory achieved on the field.
Dan Carter's autobiography is essential reading for all sports fans.
But along with the triumphs of his signature World Cup win, his performance against the Lions in 2005, and an unprecedented run of Bledisloe Cup successes, there was also the pain and doubt he felt during a prolonged period of injury and rehab following the 2011 World Cup.
He watched that victory from the sidelines, as he had the All Blacks' defeats in two previous tournaments. Indeed, heading into the 2015 World Cup he had never finished the competition on his own terms.
His autobiography tells of that redemption, and gets you up close and personal with one of the most celebrated sportsmen of our time.
Threaded throughout the book is an intimate diary of his final year as a Crusader and All Black, during which he worked tirelessly to make one last run at that elusive a World Cup victory achieved on the field.
Dan Carter's autobiography is essential reading for all sports fans.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2015
40 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Dan Carter
63 books3 followersDaniel William Carter is a New Zealand rugby union player.
Carter plays for Kobelco Steelers in Japan and played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He is the highest point scorer in test match rugby, and is considered by many experts as the greatest ever first five-eighth (fly-half) in the history of the game. He was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015 (equaling the record three awards of Richie McCaw) and has won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and nine Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships with the All Blacks.
Carter injured himself during the 2011 Rugby World Cup but was a key member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning teams, becoming one of 20 players to have won multiple Rugby World Cups. In the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final against Australia, he kicked four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal, and was named the man of the match.
Carter plays for Kobelco Steelers in Japan and played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He is the highest point scorer in test match rugby, and is considered by many experts as the greatest ever first five-eighth (fly-half) in the history of the game. He was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015 (equaling the record three awards of Richie McCaw) and has won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and nine Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships with the All Blacks.
Carter injured himself during the 2011 Rugby World Cup but was a key member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning teams, becoming one of 20 players to have won multiple Rugby World Cups. In the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final against Australia, he kicked four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal, and was named the man of the match.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 15, 2024
Recognised as the best first five-eight in the world, Dan Carter is an international legend as well as a local one. As a fan of Dan Carter I tempered my expectations for this book, and was glad I did so.
Interesting, and still worth the read, but not a lot of groundbreaking stuff in here. Duncan Grieve has done a pretty good job of finding Dan's voice in the writing, but hard to go past the decision to stop the story at the end of the RWC2019 Semifinal. That really just clips the end of the narrative.
Beyond that, Dan provides some behind the scenes details of his Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks teams, a bit of his family background and a torturous catalogue of his injuries and rehabilitation processes.
I honestly hadn't realised just how injured he was and how much he had to fit a few games of rugby in between injuries.
3.5 stars, rounded down.
Interesting, and still worth the read, but not a lot of groundbreaking stuff in here. Duncan Grieve has done a pretty good job of finding Dan's voice in the writing, but hard to go past the decision to stop the story at the end of the RWC2019 Semifinal. That really just clips the end of the narrative.
Beyond that, Dan provides some behind the scenes details of his Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks teams, a bit of his family background and a torturous catalogue of his injuries and rehabilitation processes.
I honestly hadn't realised just how injured he was and how much he had to fit a few games of rugby in between injuries.
3.5 stars, rounded down.
February 2, 2022
Dan Carter is an honest and modest guy, the best combination in a sportsman. He has jock issues with hypermasculinity but he is a rugby player after all. His story leaves me feeling no animosity, only admiration for his consecutive comebacks from injury. As a 30-something, I can relate to the struggles 1 has with a body that is no longer 20-something.
November 26, 2015
Love Dan but not the book.
It was a great pity not to include the final.
I found the book lacking in passion and somewhat repetitive.
A bit like a report card.
Would have liked more about Dan's family. And especially his Mum who gets very little attention.
It was a great pity not to include the final.
I found the book lacking in passion and somewhat repetitive.
A bit like a report card.
Would have liked more about Dan's family. And especially his Mum who gets very little attention.
July 9, 2018
Interesting on the back of the other All Black centric books I recently finished. More current than the McCall bio Carter does not have the obsessive drive of a Wilkinson but the change in The Blacks culture started under their watch.
If he takes the lessons learnt into the business arena that will be an even more engaging story. The only downside is the presentation with diary insertions it looses flow and structure especially towards the end.
If he takes the lessons learnt into the business arena that will be an even more engaging story. The only downside is the presentation with diary insertions it looses flow and structure especially towards the end.
July 11, 2024
The absolute GOAT.
Enjoyed him talking about his early career and living in a garage with uni mates. Then hearing him talk about his doubts on himself and the prospect of retiring was also really interesting. As a NPSM (non-professional sportsmen lol) assumed it would always be the other way round when contemplating retiring.
Worth a read for sure.
Enjoyed him talking about his early career and living in a garage with uni mates. Then hearing him talk about his doubts on himself and the prospect of retiring was also really interesting. As a NPSM (non-professional sportsmen lol) assumed it would always be the other way round when contemplating retiring.
Worth a read for sure.
October 19, 2019
Being a great goalkicker doesn't just happen. It takes lots of work. Interesting insights to the life of a pro rugby player.
February 23, 2023
An okay book about an NZ rugby legend
February 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this. Insightful and an interesting read.
November 28, 2015
Sports biographies or autobiographies can be a hit and miss affair. Not often are they frank or convey a real sense of the subject. Dan Carter My Story is an exceptional exception to that viewpoint. For readers outside New Zealand Dan is sports royalty at home, but also recognised internationally as one of the best to have ever played the game of rugby, certainly at the top of the tree in his position as Number 10 or flyhalf. He recently played a man of the match performance at Rugby's World Cup at Twickenham helping our All Blacks attain the unique position as back to back champions following their win at home in 2011. There are many words used to describe Dan Carter, the one that this biography enshrines is modesty. Sure he's aware of his many talents but he doesn't display any sign of arrogance that many other sportsmen do. Quite the reverse. With co-writer Duncan Grieve has created a most readable story of his life from the small Canterbury town of Southbridge to the peak of his career as a professional sportsman, and to a sponsor's ideal and a worldwide recognition. Previously Andre Agassi's autobiography was the stand-out sports book. In my view Dan Carter My Story knocks Andre off his well earned perch.
April 7, 2017
From this book I expected to learn something about Dan Carter, but it actually deals with so much more. It's about growing up in small-town New Zealand, the problems of a sport that's only been professional for a relatively short amount of time, and making bad investment choices at a young age, among other things, and it is very well written.
I don't expect a sportsperson with no writing experience to write their autobiography on their own. There is always a professional writer involved. But what really surprised me was the very honest introduction in which Duncan Greive (said professional writer) explains how it all came to be and how much Dan Carter himself was actually involved in the writing process. Since I don't read a lot of autobiographies I don't know if such a frank introduction is a common thing these days but nevertheless it was a pleasant surprise and very interesting to learn a little bit about the process.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in rugby. It's a very entertaining read.
I don't expect a sportsperson with no writing experience to write their autobiography on their own. There is always a professional writer involved. But what really surprised me was the very honest introduction in which Duncan Greive (said professional writer) explains how it all came to be and how much Dan Carter himself was actually involved in the writing process. Since I don't read a lot of autobiographies I don't know if such a frank introduction is a common thing these days but nevertheless it was a pleasant surprise and very interesting to learn a little bit about the process.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in rugby. It's a very entertaining read.
February 7, 2016
Great read
This is a great read for all rugby fans, from beginner to the most knowledgeable this book makes you fall in love with all aspects of the game as well as gain huge respect for the man himself.
This is a great read for all rugby fans, from beginner to the most knowledgeable this book makes you fall in love with all aspects of the game as well as gain huge respect for the man himself.
August 13, 2016
Great
A most enjoyable book which illustrates the importance of advisors . This will help people in all walks of life
A most enjoyable book which illustrates the importance of advisors . This will help people in all walks of life
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews