BEVERLY HILLS—“Open: An Autobiography,” by Andre Agassi, is the true story of an American icon, who played tennis professionally from 1986 to 2006. Agassi was often ranked number one, he captured eight Grand Slam singles championships. Founder of the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, he has also raised more than $85 million for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy for underprivileged children in Las Vegas, where he lives with his wife, Stefanie Graf, and their two children.

Agassi was perhaps best known for his temper on the court, but when one reads his story you see a different side to the man who worked very hard for his success and was very grateful to his fans. For ardent and diehard fans of the tennis legend, this book will not be disappointing. Though his often angry behavior seemed a bit unreal to me at times, it’s now clear. Agassi admits that he was a crystal meth user and at times it possibly clouded his judgment on the court and off. Many athletes are now coming out after their careers are over and admitting use of steroids and performance enhancing drugs. Though Agassi is in the small category of those admitting to outright illegal substances, but in doing so, he makes a point not to glorify it and even offers his advice to deter youth and any of his young fans from doing the same things he has in his past.

In an excerpt from the book, Agassi admits with real honesty that when he was caught in 1997 with the drug in his system that he lied about it and the complaint was thrown out. Making no such excuses today for his behavior he candidly admits, “Then I come to the central lie of the letter I wrote to the commissioners at the time,” Agassi writes. “I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of Slim's spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency and hastily sign it: Sincerely.” He adds today that he feels ashamed for the lie and made a decision never to ingest drugs again.

Agassi told People magazine recently, “I can't speak to addiction, but a lot of people would say that if you're using anything as an escape, you have a problem.” For many who read his book, they may find this statement to be a copout. That being said, I believe the great majority of readers will find the book brutally honest and extremely thought provoking. For parents who crave the limelight for their kids, whether it’s sports or acting, they need to take a look at the life and story of a man who has spent his entire adult life in the spotlight and now feels more at home being a father and husband.

“Open” makes the reader think. It’s an easy book to read but almost exhausting at times when Agassi explains in great detail what his life on the court and off was like and how he evaded many truths that he now faces both honestly and in a sober condition. This is a great book but not for everyone.