Guest Review: The Book of Fred By Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff

This is not a book of life lessons. But Freddie Flintoff has had a moment to reflect and he's noticed that throughout his four decades, although there's been little method in the madness, there has been the occasional common thread.

The Book of Fred is filled with anecdotes, observations and the odd opinion all told with Fred's trademark humour and no-nonsense style. Fred's approach to life draws on the sublime (his series winning performance in the 2005 Ashes) and the ridiculous (singing Elvis Presley's 'Suspicious Minds' in front of a live audience), from highs (making the transition to top TV presenter) to occasional lows (accidentally upsetting the lovely Bruce Forsyth), from the profane (discussing Shane Warne's barnet with Hollywood royalty) to the profound (why 'having a go' leads to self-respect).

Throughout, Fred shares his code for success, happiness and a life fully lived - and gives his readers a laugh, some joy, and (the occasional) pause for thought along the way.

Review: Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff is a former professional cricketer who played in 79 Test Matches for England, captaining the team on 11 occasions. Probably his greatest achievements came during the 2005 and 2009 Ashes-winning Test series against Australia. He retired from first class cricket after the final Test Match of the 2009 series. Following his cricket career, he has pursued a career in television and radio, featuring in such television programmes as “A League of Their Own” and being one of the presenters of “Top Gear”.

This is his latest book, which is a collection of anecdotes and opinions about life in general. It is divided into chapters covering different topics such as friendship, fame and money. “Freddie” Flintoff has always been a larger than life character, achieving notoriety for some of his off-field antics. What was not so apparent during his playing career was his struggles with mental health and the eating disorder bulimia, about which he has opened up in recent years. He bravely discusses these issues in the book.

Although I thought this was going to be a book mainly about cricket, it is more a personal insight into a person who, away from the cricket field and television cameras, is a very private character with much the same doubts and insecurities as most people. Although I found the writing style to be quite rambling, their are some interesting observations and a few humorous moments. If you are expecting a book about cricket, you will be disappointed, but it is a fascinating insight into the character of an individual to whom success and fame came at an early age, and who has now had the opportunity to reflect on his life.

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