Serious by John McEnroe & James Kaplan

Serious (Collectible Tennis Autobiography, 2003 Paperback)

John McEnroe's candid, funny account of his tennis career and temper, written with biographer James Kaplan

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Serious: The Autobiography
• Authors: John McEnroe & James Kaplan
• Publisher: Time Warner Paperbacks, London
• Publication Date: 2003
• ISBN-13: 9780751534214
• ISBN-10: 0751534218
• Edition Details: First published in Great Britain in 2002 by Little, Brown; this edition published by Time Warner Paperbacks in 2003. Reprinted 2003 (seventh impression).
• Binding: Publisher's illustrated card wrappers with photographic cover, perfect bound.
• Physical Format: Medium softcover (trade-size paperback), 352 pages. The cover carries photographs.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Good (G)
• Exterior / Wraps: The photographic wrappers show honest signs of handling. The spine carries several white creasing lines and a few light brown spots on the pale area. The front cover has scuffing and whitish scratches near the title and to the lower right, with some edge wear and rubbing at the corners. The back cover is fairly clean with light wear.
• Interior: The pages are toned and yellowed with age. The text block is sound and tight. No writing was seen on the pages examined. The top edge of the title page is slightly rough and uneven.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)

Synopsis & Historical Value

Serious: The Autobiography is the life story of tennis champion John McEnroe, written with James Kaplan. It follows his rise at Wimbledon as a teenager, his brilliant play and his notorious temper on court, and gives a frank, humorous account of his life and career.

The American edition appeared as You Cannot Be Serious, a title that recalls his famous 1981 Wimbledon outburst. The book is a candid look at life on the tour and his personal struggles. The Times called McEnroe a funny, wise and articulate raconteur.

This is the Time Warner Paperbacks edition of 2003, following the 2002 Little, Brown hardback. It is a readable, collectible copy for tennis and sporting memoir enthusiasts.

Author Profile: John McEnroe & James Kaplan

John McEnroe was ranked world No. 1 for a record 257 weeks and is one of the most celebrated, and most combative, players in the history of tennis.

His co-author James Kaplan has written biography, journalism and fiction for more than four decades. He is the author of the two-volume Frank Sinatra biography, Frank: The Voice and Sinatra: The Chairman. The latter won the Biographers International Organization's Award for Excellence in Biography. He also co-wrote Dean & Me: A Love Story with Jerry Lewis.

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