The Autobiography

by Alastair Cook

Sir Alastair Cook is England's greatest batsman. In 12 years he achieved 12,472 runs, 161 Test matches, 33 hundreds, and 4 Ashes series wins.

But such records only tell half the story. Why, at the relatively early age of 33, did he suddenly quit?

Cricket, the sport of gleaming whites and gentility, is polite, friendly, and reserved. But beneath the surface anxiety looms, tensions run high and emotions can be explosive.

Alastair began and ended his England cricketing career on soaring highs, yet at times he feared for his career. He embodies the resilience, endurance and mental determination required at the highest level of international sport, fighting against the constant pressure and the ever-present fear of failure.

He recounts the fiery fall-out with Kevin Pietersen and the ruthless decisions a captain must make. He expands on the highs of leading England to their first series win in India in 28 years, the glory of four Ashes wins and what, finally, convinced him to leave international cricket.

To know Alastair Cook is to know what it takes to be successful, in any field. In this candid autobiography he captures not only what it takes to be one of England's greatest sportsmen but also the price paid by a professional athlete at the top of his game.

Genres: Sports, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Biography

370 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2019

About the author

Alastair Cook (CBE) is an English cricketer. He is regarded as England's most successful batsman. Alastair has written columns in the Telegraph and Metro. He is a talented saxophone player and donates his time to raising money for cancer charities. He is married with three children.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting book at the career of Alastair cook and gives an insight into the man and clears up some recent discussions about events, well worth reading for a cricket fan

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Autobiography by Alastair Cook is a captivating memoir that takes readers through the remarkable career of one of England’s greatest cricketing legends. Alastair Cook, renowned for his unyielding focus, determination, and record-breaking performances, offers a deeply personal and inspiring reflection on his journey from a young boy with a dream to becoming one of the most accomplished cricketers in history. This book not only delves into the high points of Cook's cricketing career but also reveals the struggles, sacrifices, and resilience required to succeed at the top level of international sport.

Writing Style and Structure

The narrative is straightforward and authentic, much like Cook himself. The tone is honest and grounded, offering insights into his mindset and approach to life both on and off the field. Cook’s humility shines through in his storytelling, and although he details many of his significant achievements, he never shies away from discussing his failures, frustrations, and personal challenges.

The book is structured in chronological order, beginning with his childhood in Bedfordshire, moving through his early years in county cricket, his meteoric rise to the England team, and finally, his legendary run as captain. The chapters follow key phases of his career, punctuated by personal reflections and anecdotes that provide a rich, behind-the-scenes perspective.

Key Themes:

Resilience and Hard Work: A major theme throughout Cook’s autobiography is his unrelenting work ethic. His drive to improve and push through adversity is a recurring theme, whether in his training regimen, preparation for matches, or mental fortitude. Cook openly discusses the long hours of practice and his efforts to continually evolve his technique, especially during periods of poor form.

Leadership and Responsibility: As the captain of the England cricket team, Cook had the burden of leading not just by performance but by example. His captaincy tenure came with highs—such as the historic Ashes victory in 2010-11—and lows, including England's disastrous Ashes series in Australia in 2013-14. Cook reflects on the pressure of leadership, the criticism he faced, and the emotional toll it took on him.

Family and Personal Life: Despite the global fame and intense spotlight, Cook's devotion to his family and life outside cricket is evident throughout the book. He frequently highlights the importance of his wife, Alice, and his two children in keeping him grounded. The balance between personal life and professional demands emerges as a central theme, especially when he discusses his decision to retire.

Self-Reflection and Growth: Another powerful aspect of the book is Cook’s self-awareness. He admits to being stubborn at times, resistant to advice, and overly critical of himself. However, as the autobiography unfolds, it becomes clear that Cook’s journey was not only about mastering the game of cricket but also about growing as a person and a leader.

Memorable Moments:

Cook recounts several unforgettable moments from his illustrious career, and his descriptions bring these moments to life. His debut century in India, his heroics during the Ashes series in Australia, and his record-breaking achievement of becoming England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket are among the highlights. The narrative offers readers an insider's view into the intense emotions and pressures that accompany such milestones.

One particularly moving section of the autobiography is Cook's account of his final Test match at The Oval in 2018, where he scored a century in his last innings. The emotion of that moment, the support from his teammates, and the adoration of the crowd are vividly captured, making it a standout passage in the book.

Strengths of the Book:

Honesty and Authenticity: One of the greatest strengths of this autobiography is Cook’s honesty. He is unflinching when discussing his vulnerabilities, including periods of self-doubt, struggles with form, and the psychological toll of professional sport. His willingness to open up about his insecurities makes the memoir feel genuine and relatable.

Insight into Cricket: For cricket enthusiasts, the book offers a wealth of technical insights into the game. Cook’s attention to detail when describing his preparation, his approach to facing certain bowlers, and his strategies as a captain will fascinate fans who want to understand the intricacies of cricket at the highest level.

Leadership Lessons: Cook’s experiences as captain of England provide valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, and resilience. His reflections on the challenges of managing egos, handling media criticism, and maintaining a positive team culture are instructive for anyone in a leadership role, not just in sport.

Weaknesses of the Book:

While the book is rich in cricketing detail, some readers who are not deeply familiar with the sport may find certain sections too technical or dense. Cook’s extensive focus on specific matches, players, and cricketing strategies may appeal more to die-hard cricket fans than to a general audience.

Additionally, Cook’s reserved nature comes through in the writing, which sometimes feels restrained. Though he opens up about his career and personal life, the narrative lacks some of the emotional depth and introspection found in other sports autobiographies.

Final Thoughts:

In his final chapter, Cook reflects on his decision to retire from international cricket, emphasizing his desire to leave the game on his own terms. He expresses gratitude for the opportunities cricket has given him and the personal growth he has experienced throughout his career. This sense of closure, paired with his final Test century, gives the autobiography a satisfying and poignant ending.

The Autobiography by Alastair Cook is an insightful, reflective, and inspiring memoir that gives readers a unique look into the life of one of cricket’s most iconic figures. Whether you're a passionate cricket fan or simply someone looking for a story of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, Cook’s autobiography offers valuable lessons and an authentic glimpse into the life of a modern sportsman.

[Daniel Sevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Workmanlike, reliable, unflashy. Sir Alastair carries his bat in a ghosted autobiography that perfectly reflects his personality and playing style. I’m fond enough of the people and the team he captained for this to have flown by but there is never any real sense of danger or excitement.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open, brash and honest. What a hero. Legend.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you pick this up hoping for an anti-KP diatribe or an attack on the media prepare to be disappointed. This is a Cook innings of straight-batted fairness but oddly absorbing for all that. The mental toughness & the occasional prickly nature is visible here along with the odd amusing gem such as James Anderson having a very unusual phobia & an absolutely priceless segue into life on a farm which includes the restorative advantages of putting live animals in the oven. Enjoy as a paean to the nice guy winning.

[Ryan Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Test cricket is the hardest sport in the world, mentally and physically. Sir Alastair has had a wonderful career and the insight behind the scenes, particularly about KP is interesting. Jimmy Anderson is scared of cattle, who knew?

[Jarvo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional christmas present, ideal for reading in a room full of other distractions. Single minded is the best phrase for this book. It is a bit like the man himself batting, focused trying to avoid distractions. When you read this book you find out a lot about Cook's approach to batting, and to captaincy, but there is very little tittle tattle about other players or incidents. There is no searching for easy headlines, and when you finish the book you don't think the worse of any of Cook's opponents or colleagues, a refreshingly old school approach.
Does this mean that it is a little bit boring? Maybe. When discussing the rise of T20 Cook observes that 'Innovation isn't a bad thing in itself', which is priceless. His views on test cricket are much more to the point perhaps. It is he says 'a game which will reveal what you are, or what your team is made of', and he says that his advice on the game can be summed up in four words 'don't let yourself down'. (Its a pity that about half of the current England team seem to ignore the first, and critical word).
The book is well accompanied by the excellent documentary The Edge (available on Amazon Prime), which covers much of the same ground and offers an excellent insight into elite sport.
I was fortunate enough to be there for Cook's last test innings, discussed at length, which featured a spontaneous out pouring of affection, partly I suspect, because Cook was always such a self-effacing character and partly because many of us worried that we may not see someone cut from the same cloth, capable of batting for ten hours for England again.

[Richard Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alastair Cook is a classy man, who has written a book which is totally true to him as a person. Understated but with plenty to share about the modern game. It is great to finally read a book by an England player after his international career was over. His treatment of the KP era is very gracious indeed and makes you appreciate his longevity as both a player and captain. He will be remembered as a true legend of the game.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

All good sporting autobiographies dig below the surface to expose inner feelings and motivations to underpin achievements. Alastair Cook succeeds in this by theming the chapters to deal with issues around life as an England cricketer and captain. An excellent read from cover to cover though a bit light on his childhood and upbringing and how they shaped his character.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really easy and enjoyable read. Very insightful look into the mind of one of the greatest Test cricketers of the modern age. Really interesting look at the highs and lows of the modern day sportsman and how the pursuit of greatness impacts their family and friends.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting autobiography from 'Sac' as he's now affectionately known by his Essex teammates. 'Chef' has had an interesting ride around the world collecting famous series wins and runs galore. He's a verified legend of English cricket.

Besides the Sanctuary chapter about working on the farm, taking up shooting and the ins and outs of the relaxation of finding a place of serenity away from the pressure of sport; this was all about Chef's views on the game.

It's not a traditional autobiography describing upbringing and his parents, it's straight into his thoughts on batting, the pressure and drive to succeed at the top level of sport and the fear of failure. All very worth reading as you get into the mindset of a record run-scoring opening batsman.

Coming from an ex England captain that has the record amount of appearances as a test captain (59) it was really entertaining reading about his outlook on captaining whilst dealing with individuals, relationships in the team and management. Unsurprisingly he was a fervent supporter of Peter Moores and was in stark contrast from KP's views from his book I read a few years back.

The whole KP incident wasn't as inciteful as I'd hoped but it took some guts to put into print that he thought the team would be better without KP. Considering he was the highest run scorer in that horrendous Ashes series and the media fallout. I'm glad he did.

He refutes all the badly aimed banter that KP claims went on and also the apparent jealousy that KP mentions. The latter I'm certain happened though when Chef talks about KP being destined for the IPL and the impact it had on the Test team at the time IPL was in it's infancy. What KP wanted to do is commonplace now. Players play IPL and represent England.
Still it's engaging to read both points of view and to see as an outsider that KP no longer playing for England was undoubtedly due to his own maverick personality and the unwavering ECB view of the team. The break was inevitable by the look of things.
I did find it funny that Matt Prior was one of the guys who wanted KP back in the team after the Strauss affair after the hammering Pieterson gave him in his book. Who knew?!
The fact that Chef mentions what happened to Monty Panesar, the inner workings of the Broad/Anderson partnership and the injuries that they've played through and his obvious admiration for Ben Stokes were worth picking this book up for alone.

I'm glad Graham Gooch got a mention in this book because he must have been doing a huge amount behind the scenes with Ramprakash for years.

Fallouts with Yorkshiremen Michael Vaughan and Geoff Boycott also made for interesting reading.

Overall an enlightening read. Much more than I expected to be honest.

[David Meldrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stimulating, enjoyable and well-written read in which we discover Cook is both what you expect him to be, and somewhat different also. I'd never have had him down as an Inbetweeners fan, for instance; but he does seem to be the single-minded character I assumed him to be. There are a couple of startling things that could bear more explanation - one his casual, unreflective response to a suffering teammate in Jonathan Trott when he said 'I'm battling a few things' - surely anyone would follow that up at some point? Rather differently, it's weird that he calls the unhelpful voice/demon on his shoulder 'The Gimp' without ever really explaining why or alluding to the more usual meaning of that word. There are a couple of factual inaccuracies about individual games that I picked up ... but other than that it's a read that's well worthwhile for anyone interested in one of the greats of Test cricket.

[Mark Querée · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable autobiography of a modern Test great. His commitment to his craft runs through this book, he is an advocate of hard work and dedication. The insights that he believes this drive comes partly from his schooling at a choir school, and how his farming work gave his life balance against his sporting career, were interesting. He commands respect, and I enjoyed his insight into the character of some of the England players he played alongside. The well-documented issues with Kevin Pietersen are covered in some detail, and in a considered and mature way. Cook has been a hero for England over 12 years of Test cricket, and I feel this book does his great career justice.

[Nigel Baylem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book really insightful into both the authors character, and that of the many other cricketers that he has played both with and sometimes against.

Very well structured, and throughout Sir Alastair comes across as highly intelligent and thoughtful.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining, and honest, look at cricket, the challenges of what is a unique sport with a lot of highs and lows. I did enjoy the occasional teasing dig at one of his teammates too, got a sense of very strong friendship

[james · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book big fan his, found it very interesting from is fantastic career on the pitch to his life in the farm and family life even trying to get other cricket players into the farming life great book to go with a great player

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is like the batsman - unflashy but effective. Generally well written and comes across as a nicer and more interesting bloke than he sometimes appeared. Good on team dynamics without sharing much int he way of dressing room gossip.

[Andrew Hartshorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. Alistair reads just as he speaks. It is a classy retrospective appraisal of his time as a cricketer and as a human being.

He was a stalwart as a batsman and a man. A worthy read for any cricket fan. NO SHOCKS!

[Susan Grimshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reminder of matches and players encountered during his career by the thoroughly decent, fair a, unpretentious and straightforward Alastair Cook. Best of all however were the parts about his alter ego as afarmer!

[Matthew Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing insight into the trials and tribulations of captaincy at International level. Extremely open and honest without suggesting any lingering doubts on his career.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy has natural talent, works hard, captains country, retires to life on a farm. Rounded portrait of a British sporting treasure, with great ghosting from Mike Calvin.

[Rosie Beveridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. The soundtrack to my long runs.

[Chris Kellaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun for cricket nerds but nothing too exciting!

[Stuart Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started with a ton, it ended with a ton. A great insight into the great SAC

[Mahesh Naidu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book but could’ve been better about sharing the inside stories of all the player controversies during his time with the ECB

[David Highton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insightful autobiography of a dedicated England captain with 161 Test appearances

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are an England cricket fan you will enjoy this book. If you are not an English cricket fan you will not enjoy it. Simple.
Although it didn't offer up any great revelations, I still really enjoyed getting an insight to his mindset and progression throughout his career.
Could be better written though as he often goes off on tangents making it hard to follow his train of thought and the message he wants to get across.

[phil mcveigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best sporting autobiographies I have read.

The book seems to somehow capture Cooks personality and the language and wording used helps you easily imagine that it could be Sir Alistair talking to you.

[Josh Wigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inevitably really interesting but could have given a bit more detail on the really juicy parts of his captaincy
Too diplomatic

[Ginny Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure to read such an honest autobiography of an incredible sportsman. Amazing integrity and insight for a 35 year old!