Dan Carter: My Autobiography

I really enjoyed the walk through of Dan's career, but there was something missing for me here. Whether it was due to Dan's intense care to present the right picture or the author, it seemed slightly like an emotionless factual timeline of Dan's career (something I already knew a lot about) as opposed to a real, raw, behind the scenes look at his life and upbringing. Still interesting enough though.

It was a great pity not to include the final.I found the book lacking in passion and somewhat repetitive.A bit like a report card.Would have liked more about Dan's family. And especially his Mum who gets very little attention.

Dan allows us into his World of perceived glamour letting us realize it's made of incredible dedication and effort. I was particularly interested how he overcame the end years of his NZ career dealing with the thinning of his original counterparts to overseas deals or retirement.Thanks Dan. Super read.

Genial

I would recommend this book to any rugby supporter. NZ all the way. Great read. Also young kids upcoming should be inspired by wjat he has done.

Good read --- real insights into a great pro career. Thought Ritchie's bio gives a bit more context around how the game has evolved though. Would have liked more on the WC2015, though admittedly the timing of the release may have been a factor. Real legend.

Good dude and good read, respect from an Aussie that you broke the heart of many many times over the years

Perfect reading to motivate athletes to pursue their dream

Sorry, this was just a big disappointment. I only knew sketchy details about Dan Carter - my main reason for buying the book was precisely to fill in all those blanks and hear from one of the greatest sportsmen in his field about how it was and how he got there. His ghost writer has done him no favours at all. The book is very NZ centred - hardly a crime when you're an iconic Kiwi, but how much more rewarding it would have been for a phrase or word of explanation here or there. So many opportunities missed to inform, to entertain, and give details to remember. When insights come they're so worthwhile it almost makes the rest of the book more frustrating for not providing even basic details. It may be blindingly obvious to any Kiwi fan what Super Rugby is, who plays in the Bledisloe cup, and who Ben is on the current All Blacks team. Sorry, it wasn't obvious to Mr Ignorant here...one reason I buy a book is to become informed, and this volume missed this goal in a big big way.The accounts of the big big matches - Lions in 2005 and the RWC final, are there surely enough, but somehow insubstantial. The occasional gem - the right footed final conversion, the obsessive playing with an oval ball after school, how to deter paparazzi helicopters at your wedding...all terrific, but such diamonds were hard to find amongst the dross. But barely a word about how much work was involved, and who he worked with to achieve his kicking mastery. And intriguingly, the curtains are firmly closed following the shortest of accounts of one of his best mates being involved in the infamous spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll.DC is the most fabulous sportsman, no doubt. This volume does not do him justice - definitely on the list to borrow from the library if you're really interested, rather than cough up your hard-earned. Yep, I'm sorry about that too - it could have been so, so much better.DC

A real disappointment as many have said. Little insight into the real character of Dan Carter. What did he actually feel when Umaga and his mate Richie practically broke O'Discroll's neck in one of the most cynical tackles any rugby fan has witnessed in recent years? All he says is that Tana 'copped most of the flak but that united us even more'! No real insight into the mind of Carter but more a brief run through key moments of his career followed by key drinking sessions. Maybe that was his life and he had no real interests beyond rugby and booze.

Disappointed. This book is prefaced by the ghost writer, which is honest enough of DC to front up and acknowledge who did the work on this. The writer then claims that his desire was to write an account that showed us the real DC and would be better than the average sportsman’s autobiography which tends to show most sportsmen as rather cardboard cut out figures. Well IMHO he has failed majorly in his project. The writing is wooden and uninspiring and at no point do you ever get the impression that he’s telling us who the real Dan Carter is (or maybe Dan Carter is just a really boring person). It reads like a collection of anecdotes and titbits that DC has thrown to the writer and he’s then strung them together in a rather formulaic way. I’ve been reading Ben Ryan’s book about coaching the Fiji Sevens at the same time and the difference is huge - heart on the sleeve stuff , honesty and full of emotion and honesty.

Fantastic book! I've read Richie McCaw's book also and I enjoyed a different perspective on the big games together - 2007, 2011 etc.I learnt a lot about Dan - I didn't realise he had had so many injuries and it was good to hear his views on this. I always thought of him as a bit cocky, but reading this my opinion has changed.I agree with previous viewers, this book isn't just for the rugby fan - it doesn't go into technical detail at all and is accessible for everyone.Brilliant read.

Bought this for my dissertation and was actually really impressed by the book and the interesting stories told in it. Came really handy with the diss. The story about South Africa was insanely sad and incredibly frustrating to read about. Great book with some real insight into the game and off the field.