2300- Andre Agassi Book

I recently watched an interview with Andre Agassi about his new book “Open” with the New York Times. I found the video (here) to be full of talking points and those important things to discuss when trying to gain publicity- all things we have talked about in class.

The book was bound to be popular once people found out that he admitted to the use of drugs in the book, but I think that doing an interview such as the one I will talk about brought the spotlight back to the real reason he wrote the book. For many reasons his interview made me want to read the book. If it made me want to read the book, it will probably make media outlets want to talk about the book, which all in turn will mean increased sales for Agassi’s book.

In the interview the real reason for writing the book was showcased because of the talking points that I assume Agassi had set up before the interview. We have learned in class that by having clear and concise, outlined talking points we can make an interview, speech, or presentation work to our benefit. I believe in this case, having prepared for this interview; he was spared from having to talk about the drug part of the book.

Agassi stayed to the thread that he wrote the book because he disliked tennis. He continued to mention that his father, not unlike many West Europeans and Russians, caught the gold and glimmer and tennis and forced their children to train to become the best in the world. Agassi repeatedly mentioned that it was an unhealthy way to grow up. He said he found himself uneducated, in a life he didn’t want, and sad. He never had to justify his drug use because he didn’t vary to that subject of discussion. He answered the questions the interviewer asked him, but the never said more than he needed to.

The media that went into the interview was also very impressive. The music that led into the interview as well as faded out was the music that plays at Wimbledon. Also, prior and directly after the interview they filmed Agassi coming and leaving the room, very similar to what they do at tennis matches; showing them enter and leave the match.

I really thought the interview was professional, shed a positive light on his book, and made me want to learn more.