SG Reviews: Unbreakable by Ronnie O’Sullivan and Tom Fordyce
In his captivating memoir ‘Unbreakable’, Ronnie O’Sullivan takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the ups and downs of his life, offering an intimate portrait of a snooker legend whose resilience and indomitable spirit prove why he is ‘truly unbreakable’.
Stubborn, Driven and Disciplined – Three words Ronnie O’Sullivan uses to describe himself
Ronnie O’Sullivan is an icon of professional snooker and is considered one of the most talented yet complicated sportsmen in history. He has won seven World Snooker Championships, more than any other snooker player, and ranked number one in the world several times throughout his career. He is arguably one of the greatest snooker players with a dedicated fan base who adore his flamboyant play style and larger-than-life personality. After winning his seventh Championship, he played down this incredible win by saying to BBC Sport, “It is just a number – I do not get too caught up in that.” This adds to his complicated charm.
An up-to-date look at a very successful career.
Unbreakable gives you a glimpse inside the life of O’Sullivan, with the final chapters being about the World Snooker Championship 2022. O’Sullivan talks about his snooker career, family, and passion for the game and even gives us an insight into his addictive personality. His book challenges what people think they know about Ronnie; by his admission, he coasts through everything on sheer talent rather than hard work.
“The century breaks, cue-ball control, safety game, temperament, the killer instinct, he has got it all,” Stephen Hendry said to BBC Two.
Great themes for each chapter
As a Ronnie O’Sullivan fan from a young age, Unbreakable was a fascinating and enjoyable read. Unbreakable is ghost-written by Tom Fordyce and has 13 chapters. Each chapter has a distinctive theme which you can read independently, in no order. At times, you are drawn into an emotional narration/reflection written in the first person, which is highly revealing because it gives you an insight into how tough it can be inside Ronnie’s head. In a very personal way, Ronnie reflects on why and how each theme is essential to him and how it has impacted his life and changed him for the good.
How starting the sport early in life impacted O’Sullivan
Being a child prodigy, he talks about his ‘lost years’ practising snooker, accepting and overcoming his addictions and anxiety, what it takes to become a true champion, his relationship with his parents and his children, and his first and latest World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. I often re-read chapters to gather my thoughts and fully absorb the different layers of text that O’Sullivan was peeling back to show his fans how intimate and frank he could be. There are also commentary-style memory throwbacks from famous matches that give you real insight into what goes on in the mind of a genius at work.
Rebuilding
I was amazed at how hard on himself O’Sullivan was and understood that the book had a fundamental theme of being self-critical. He expands on how solitary snooker can be, citing how the ‘mental’ side of the sport is so crucial and needs constant maintenance and attention. I admire Ronnie’s love and respect for snooker greats Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, and Ken Doherty, who are players with whom he has a professional and personal relationship.
Running helped O’Sullivan fight his demons. His co-writer, sports journalist Tom Fordyce, admitted their love of running together, which helped them build a bond before writing this compelling book.
William Hill Sports Book Awards 2023
Unbreakable is one of the shortlisted books at the William Hill Book Awards 2023 at the BAFTA, Piccadilly London, on Thursday, 30th November. It is a compelling must-read, and as an avid snooker enthusiast, I would be thrilled for the book to win the award.
Whether you love or hate him, Ronnie O’Sullivan has become the number-one name on everyone’s lips.
Score: 5/5
