Open

My hold for the book Open by Andre Agassi finally came through at the library the other day. I got the book, and I saw that I only had two weeks to read it because it was a new release. And, I was, like, "Frick. Now I have to read this book under pressure." Which I don't like. I don't like to have to read a book under pressure.

I mean, sure, I did just read Kathy Griffin's latest book (that's right, I read Kathy Griffin's  book, people. Whatever. It was awesome) in only two days, but I don't like going into something with some external pressure telling me what to do and when to do it (story of my life, right?).

So, I thought, maybe I won't even bother with Open. Too much trouble. I'll just read a page or two to determine that I'm not missing out on anything and then I'll return it.

I start reading it, and by the first page... literally, the first PARAGRAPH, I am hooked. It is freaking awesome, that's what it is. Agassi is a surprisingly amazing writer. I'm serious. It is really, really, really well-written. And it is really, really good.

I've been talking about the book all the time. To Vernon, when he's nervous about starting something new... "You know, Andre Agassi was really nervous the first time he went to the U.S. Open. He felt like he didn't fit in there, but look at him rule those courts now."

"Did you know Andre Agassi used to start things on fire as a way of dealing with stress?"

"Andre Agassi actually hated tennis, you know."

"I like these pancakes. You know what Andre Agassi liked? Crack."

"Hey, Andre Agassi's father made him hit 2,500 balls a day, 17,500 balls a week, which equals nearly one million balls a year. His father said that a child who hits one million balls each year will be unbeatable."

Pretty much everything that comes out of my mouth right now has something to do with Andre Agassi. (Except for the part about how it hurts when I pee after having sex.)

Here's some of his words that I particularly enjoyed (from page 7):

"One things I've learned in 29 years of playing tennis: Life will throw everything but the kitchen sink in your path, and then it will throw the kitchen sink. It's your job to avoid the obstacles. If you let them stop you or distract you, you're not doing your job, and failing to do your job will cause regrets that paralyze you more than a bad back."

Love it.