The Outsider: A Memoir

Written by Jimmy Connors

Narrated by Rich Orlow

The Outsider is a no-holds-barred memoir by the original bad boy of tennis, Jimmy Connors.

Connors ignited the tennis boom in the 1970s with his aggressive style of play, turning his matches with John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, and Ivan Lendl into prizefights. But it was his prolonged dedication to his craft that won him the public’s adoration. He capped off one of the most remarkable runs in tennis history at the age of 39 when he reached the semifinals of the 1991 U.S. Open, competing against players half his age.

More than just the story of a tennis champion, The Outsider is the uncensored account of Connors' life, from his complicated relationship with his formidable mother and his storybook romance with tennis legend Chris Evert, to his battles with gambling and fidelity that threatened to derail his career and his long-lasting marriage to Playboy playmate Patti McGuire.  

When he retired from tennis twenty years ago, Connors all but disappeared from public view. In The Outsider, he is back at the top of his game, and as feisty, outspoken, and defiant as ever.

This autobiography includes original color photographs from the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9780062189493

Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors won a record 109 men's singles titles (and fifteen doubles titles) from 1972 to 1989. He was ranked the world's number-one player for five consecutive years and won a total of ten Grand Slams. In 1998 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and he is arguably one of the top tennis players of all time. Originally from East St. Louis, he lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his family.

Reviews for The Outsider

[Paul Blom · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was actually expecting to turn it off quickly after reading some bad reviews, but it was more entertaining than I thought and stuck with it. Pretty good and insightful audiobook into the life of Jimmy Connors. I would give it 3.5 stars, but its not possible, so 3 stars.

[dpappas_25 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really loved that this book felt more like Jimmy was having a conversation with me than reading a book. Jimmy Connors still isn't well liked and he does come across as a jerk in this book but he doesn't really care. While I was annoyed with Jimmy through some (ok, maybe most) of the book I did enjoy getting to read his side of the story. I love watching tennis with my family and this made me want to sit down and watch some classic matches.

[brokentune · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Not much to say about this one: I have never been a big fan of Jimmy Connors and his autobiography has just confirmed that I never will be.

[olegalca · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I've read more than my share of sports biographies and this one doesn't rank up there with John McEnroe's or Andre Agassi's.