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Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses
"According to Mel Brooks, 'It's good to be king'. True, but I would argue that it's better to be Bo. Life has played some funny tricks on me and taken me on a wild ride. How did I ever get into this wonderful mess that is my life?"
Bo Derek vaulted into the national spotlight in 1979 as the perfect fantasy woman in 10, Blake Edwards's sophisticated film comedy. Her otherworldly beauty and voluptuous figure captivated men everywhere, while her cornrow hairstyle launched a fashion trend among women. Bo has always remained intensely private about her personal life, especially with regards to her May-December marriage to director John Derek, creating an intriguing sense of mystery that has led to much speculation. Here, for the first time, she reveals the truth about the woman behind the glossy image.
Born Mary Cathleen Collins and known as Cathy, she grew up in southern California, the horse-crazy oldest daughter of four. Her father, a public relations executive for the boat manufacturer Hobie Cat, and her mother, a hairstylist and makeup artist for a number of Hollywood figures, separated permanently while Bo was in her teens. During this time her mother was working for Ann-Margret, and it was backstage at one of the entertainer's Las Vegas shows that a theatrical agent approached Bo about pursuing a movie career. At one of her very first auditions the sixteen-year-old Bo met John Derek, a man thirty years her senior, with whom she would spend the next twenty-five years of her life.
Theirs was a love affair of epic proportions, but it was one that was widely misunderstood by the press and public alike. John was dubbed a Svengali, and his influence over the young Bo was thought to be limitless. With great candor and an endearing humor, Bo comes clean on a relationship that has long intrigued provided fodder for American gossip mills, and the result is an account that is far from what we may haveimagined. Bo lays bare the intimate moments and madcap adventures that she and John shared, revealing in the process that she has never, even for a moment, relinquished control of her own destiny.
Given her unusual story, her only-in-Hollywood childhood, her friendships with Ursula Andress and Linda Evans (both of John's ex-wives), her time spent living in a trailer home, her rumored relationship with Ted Turner, and her exhaustive work for the Republican Party, it often seems as if Bo has lived nine lives rather than just one. Whether spurning Life magazine or passing on the opportunity to work with legendary filmmaker Dino De Laurentiis, Bo has gone with her gut regardless of the consequences. And that's only fitting for the woman who has chosen to live life with no safety nets--and no regrets.
But as Bo makes clear in Riding Lessons, it is her passion for John and her love of all things equine that have been the constants in her life. Sharing her hard-won lessons on life and love, she draws on her intuitive understanding of horses to offer surprising insights into the dynamics of intimate relationships.
In this compelling memoir, Bo Derek writes openly of her growing self-awareness and of the coping strategies she has learned, whether faced with sudden stardom, the crazy and competitive world of moviemaking, or the death of her beloved husband. With Riding Lessons, she transcends her legendary physical beauty to reveal an inner wisdom certain to enlighten and enthrall readers of all ages.
Bo Derek vaulted into the national spotlight in 1979 as the perfect fantasy woman in 10, Blake Edwards's sophisticated film comedy. Her otherworldly beauty and voluptuous figure captivated men everywhere, while her cornrow hairstyle launched a fashion trend among women. Bo has always remained intensely private about her personal life, especially with regards to her May-December marriage to director John Derek, creating an intriguing sense of mystery that has led to much speculation. Here, for the first time, she reveals the truth about the woman behind the glossy image.
Born Mary Cathleen Collins and known as Cathy, she grew up in southern California, the horse-crazy oldest daughter of four. Her father, a public relations executive for the boat manufacturer Hobie Cat, and her mother, a hairstylist and makeup artist for a number of Hollywood figures, separated permanently while Bo was in her teens. During this time her mother was working for Ann-Margret, and it was backstage at one of the entertainer's Las Vegas shows that a theatrical agent approached Bo about pursuing a movie career. At one of her very first auditions the sixteen-year-old Bo met John Derek, a man thirty years her senior, with whom she would spend the next twenty-five years of her life.
Theirs was a love affair of epic proportions, but it was one that was widely misunderstood by the press and public alike. John was dubbed a Svengali, and his influence over the young Bo was thought to be limitless. With great candor and an endearing humor, Bo comes clean on a relationship that has long intrigued provided fodder for American gossip mills, and the result is an account that is far from what we may haveimagined. Bo lays bare the intimate moments and madcap adventures that she and John shared, revealing in the process that she has never, even for a moment, relinquished control of her own destiny.
Given her unusual story, her only-in-Hollywood childhood, her friendships with Ursula Andress and Linda Evans (both of John's ex-wives), her time spent living in a trailer home, her rumored relationship with Ted Turner, and her exhaustive work for the Republican Party, it often seems as if Bo has lived nine lives rather than just one. Whether spurning Life magazine or passing on the opportunity to work with legendary filmmaker Dino De Laurentiis, Bo has gone with her gut regardless of the consequences. And that's only fitting for the woman who has chosen to live life with no safety nets--and no regrets.
But as Bo makes clear in Riding Lessons, it is her passion for John and her love of all things equine that have been the constants in her life. Sharing her hard-won lessons on life and love, she draws on her intuitive understanding of horses to offer surprising insights into the dynamics of intimate relationships.
In this compelling memoir, Bo Derek writes openly of her growing self-awareness and of the coping strategies she has learned, whether faced with sudden stardom, the crazy and competitive world of moviemaking, or the death of her beloved husband. With Riding Lessons, she transcends her legendary physical beauty to reveal an inner wisdom certain to enlighten and enthrall readers of all ages.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 24, 2002
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Bo Derek
2 books6 followersBo Derek is a Golden Globe-nominated American film actress and model.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 24, 2017
More of a bio than I was expecting but interesting.
I'll take it that a non-horse savvy editor changed conformation to confirmation (wrong!) when Bo was talking of how a horse is built.
The best part were the horse quotes heading each chapter, several being from Shakespeare.
I'll take it that a non-horse savvy editor changed conformation to confirmation (wrong!) when Bo was talking of how a horse is built.
The best part were the horse quotes heading each chapter, several being from Shakespeare.
July 17, 2015
"Life has played some funny tricks on me and taken me on a wild ride. How did I ever get into this wonderful mess that is my life?"
I always liked Bo Derek. She may not be the greatest actress of our time but she's charming (as I like to say, she's the only one who can play Bo Derek) and seems to have gone her own way and focused more on her private life rather than her career. It was interesting to read her story of how she happened to become an actress and sex symbol, more or less by chance. Her marriage to John Derek seems to have been a happy one, but the book could have fleshed out the description of relationship (and their ongoing friendship with his ex-wives (Ursula Andress is mentioned quite often, Linda Evans less so)) a bit more. I also would have liked to read about their last movie, Ghosts Can't Do It (it's only alluded to once in the book but never mentioned again) and the 1990s movies she acted in that John didn't direct.
"Riding Lessons" is a light but entertaining read. Recommended for fans of Bo Derek and fans of celebrity memoirs. Also for people who are interested in horses like Bo is because she writes about them quite a bit. I'm not interested in hroses, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it, so don't get put off by the title if you're not either.
I always liked Bo Derek. She may not be the greatest actress of our time but she's charming (as I like to say, she's the only one who can play Bo Derek) and seems to have gone her own way and focused more on her private life rather than her career. It was interesting to read her story of how she happened to become an actress and sex symbol, more or less by chance. Her marriage to John Derek seems to have been a happy one, but the book could have fleshed out the description of relationship (and their ongoing friendship with his ex-wives (Ursula Andress is mentioned quite often, Linda Evans less so)) a bit more. I also would have liked to read about their last movie, Ghosts Can't Do It (it's only alluded to once in the book but never mentioned again) and the 1990s movies she acted in that John didn't direct.
"Riding Lessons" is a light but entertaining read. Recommended for fans of Bo Derek and fans of celebrity memoirs. Also for people who are interested in horses like Bo is because she writes about them quite a bit. I'm not interested in hroses, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it, so don't get put off by the title if you're not either.
September 22, 2017
While Bo writes as if she is speaking to a friend, it is what she does not say that stands out. What did she find attractive in John Derrick, a man 30 years older than she? What makes her tick? Yes, she loves horses, but what influences her choices in life? The pictures are awesome however.
April 18, 2020
I found her book quite interesting... though i did put the book down for quite a long time before I resumed reading it (a couple years). I wanted to finish it.
I realize once I went back to reading it even though it was interesting and there was a lot of information in it, it sort of felt detached. Probably because she was talking about a time that was so long ago to her was the conclusion that I came to. But then two-thirds of the way through the book she really became engaged and seem to have more confidence in her writing.
Though I still feel like it was a bit detached it really filled in a lot of the gaps that I didn't understand about what happens in the film industry and what happened with her and her husband in it.
It was definitely such an interesting time! I am glad i finally finished the book!
I realize once I went back to reading it even though it was interesting and there was a lot of information in it, it sort of felt detached. Probably because she was talking about a time that was so long ago to her was the conclusion that I came to. But then two-thirds of the way through the book she really became engaged and seem to have more confidence in her writing.
Though I still feel like it was a bit detached it really filled in a lot of the gaps that I didn't understand about what happens in the film industry and what happened with her and her husband in it.
It was definitely such an interesting time! I am glad i finally finished the book!
July 1, 2019
I was pleased to get acquainted with Mary Cathleen Collins, as she was named at birth. I was disappointed that the real horsey part didn't begin until about 2/3 of the way through the book, as the first part was her biography, specifically as it related to John Derek. It was interesting, but not the reason I read the book. Bo is a real horse girl, and reminds me of my wife: she hates working out in a gym, and would much rather dig a trench or hammer nails for exercise. She certainly has had an interesting life, in no small part due to having close friendships with Ann-Margret, who's her godmother, and Derek's exes Ursula Andress and Linda Evans.
May 28, 2018
Good day all is well please this is i faith a great book a story through a great person god bless proper have it good.
September 2, 2019
Interesting book. Not much in depth about her life though.
December 22, 2022
I thought there would be more about horses.
I knew nothing about Bo Derek before this book, and it was interesting getting to know her.
I knew nothing about Bo Derek before this book, and it was interesting getting to know her.
January 30, 2022
fantastic life and story; and all because she ran along a beach sporting cornrows....
July 26, 2007
Interesting to read Ms. Derek perspective. She remains a 'maverick' on many fronts in LaLa Land.
March 28, 2012
One of the best books I've ever read....recommend it to both horse and non-horse lovers alike. I want to read this again!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews