All In: The Autobiography of  Billie Jean King

All In: The Autobiography of Billie Jean King

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-10-29 06:51:10
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Billie Jean King
  • ISBN:0241988454
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

An intimate self-portrait encompassing the life, times, and career of one of the most transformative individuals--let alone athletes--of recent times。

Journeying from a blue-collar childhood to shatter tennis's exclusive country-club culture, Billie Jean King paved the way for a more open, inclusive, and equal sports environment。 In her memoir, she takes us behind the scenes of the pro tennis tour, through her five years as the top-ranked woman in the world, her twenty Wimbledon championships, her thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes。" With her ever-present candor, King also describes the high personal price of public greatness。 We see how she struggled to live authentically and the challenges she grappled with beneath the mask of fame, including entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, and struggles with her sexual identity until her "outing" by a former lover led her to embrace her true self。 We come to understand how, through it all, her unshakeable integrity, resilience, and sense of purpose allowed her time and again to overcome her obstacles, and, at a few dire moments, to rebound from near ruin。 Hers is the story of a pathbreaking fighter for equality, world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit。

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Reviews

Sandy Nawrot

This memoir was recommended to me by someone who doesn't normally read memoirs。 Combine that with my love for the genre and the love for tennis (played when I had younger knees, but still watch loyally on TV) pretty much sealed the deal with this one。 I'm not going to go into detail about BJK's life。 Because really, is there a person on earth who DOESN'T know who she is? This woman is a phenomenon, and her story just proves it。 I knew quite a bit about her going into this audio。。。her long and su This memoir was recommended to me by someone who doesn't normally read memoirs。 Combine that with my love for the genre and the love for tennis (played when I had younger knees, but still watch loyally on TV) pretty much sealed the deal with this one。 I'm not going to go into detail about BJK's life。 Because really, is there a person on earth who DOESN'T know who she is? This woman is a phenomenon, and her story just proves it。 I knew quite a bit about her going into this audio。。。her long and successful career in singles and doubles, her win at the Battle of the Sexes, her marriage to Larry King (not THAT Larry King) then coming out in the early 80's, her relationship with Elton John (Philadelphia Freedom, baby!), and her constant presence in the controversies of feminism and equal rights。 So what did I learn about her? She grew up just north of poor。 She had an abortion。 Her first affair with a woman ended in a publicly horrid and tragic way。 She started the women's tennis program almost single-handedly。 Her activism goes way beyond anything you could even imagine。 She has spent over 40 years now with the love of her life。 She really is an inspiration, and her voice in this book is raw and earnest and vulnerable。 So why only three stars? I often have a hard time separating my ratings between the brilliance of a person's life and the brilliance of how that life was revealed on the page。 And here is my naked truth。。。I had to turn the speed up to 1。5 to get through it。 I enjoyed the detail of the development of her tennis skills and career, but it was lengthy。 (The audio itself was over 17 hours long, the book about 500 pages。) Her descriptions of the world's injustices were even longer, and were intense。 And I get it。。。she has so much passion for these topics, but it made me antsy and agitated。 I also heard some revisionist history as well。 She's not the only person who seems to believe "if you say it, it is so", but it really bothers me。 And。。。she's not a great narrator。 I'm really glad she DID narrate, because I think memoirs should be narrated by the person closest to the material, but not everyone floods the auditory senses with happiness LOL。 。。。more

Justin Lahey

I am an avid tennis fan and player。 I not only follow it closely every year, but I am also a fan of its history。 I knew who Billie Jean King was in broad strokes, what she stood for then and what she represents now。 But I really didn’t know a lot about her life’s story, other than the big highlights that keep getting repeated over the years。 That’s why I just had to read her new autobiography “All In”。 I wanted to hear her story from her own voice and pen, for what a tale that must be!King takes I am an avid tennis fan and player。 I not only follow it closely every year, but I am also a fan of its history。 I knew who Billie Jean King was in broad strokes, what she stood for then and what she represents now。 But I really didn’t know a lot about her life’s story, other than the big highlights that keep getting repeated over the years。 That’s why I just had to read her new autobiography “All In”。 I wanted to hear her story from her own voice and pen, for what a tale that must be!King takes us on the detailed journey of her constant search for self-identity, self-image, and self-validation。 “All In” is a deep dive into how Billie Jean King came to be such an iconic activist known throughout the world。 More importantly, it also paints a very gut-wrenching picture of the many challenges she faced while living such a public life and the hefty price she paid to do so。 It’s also a painful reminder that not everything is clear and clean cut, and that not everything or everyone can/should be placed into clearly defined categories。 “All In” is an important book that should be required reading for any gender relation course。 It’s an eye-opening look at the evolution of the still ongoing quest for gender equality and rights, as well as the very definition of gender itself。 King’s life story is told on a backdrop of significant historical events such as the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, as well as other major social justice movements and milestones such as Title IX, LGBTQ+, and equal pay for equal work。 In the end, “All In” turns out to be a very interesting title for this book and for her story, given she definitely was “all in” on some things, believed she was “all in” on other things, and realized what “all in” really meant much later on in her life。 Then again, life is all about learning and discovering about oneself and one’s place in the world。 That applies to everyone, famous or not。 。。。more

Rachel

Loved it - learned a lot! Lots of tennis jargon - go figure。

Karissa Haugeberg

I didn’t think I’d connect with King’s story。 I was so wrong。 It’s worth it to listen to the audio version, which she narrates。 Her descriptions of the business and psychology of professional sports, the art of political negotiations, and overcoming internalized homophobia are riveting。 I’m so glad she wrote this book。

Mary Beth Crook

Excellent autobiography by Billie Jean King! I could not put it down。。。phenomenal woman who fought for parity for women in tennis and all women benefitted from her actions。 Compelling stories of her journey from modest means to a tennis champion including the "Battle of the Sexes" with Bobby Riggs。 She has incredible perseverance with business acumen who raised the lives of all women! Excellent autobiography by Billie Jean King! I could not put it down。。。phenomenal woman who fought for parity for women in tennis and all women benefitted from her actions。 Compelling stories of her journey from modest means to a tennis champion including the "Battle of the Sexes" with Bobby Riggs。 She has incredible perseverance with business acumen who raised the lives of all women! 。。。more

Barbara

3。5

Ed

I heard an interview where King said she had over 900 pages when she was done writing her memoir and had a tough time cutting it down to size。At almost 500 pages she would have been better served by biting the bullet and cutting another 100 pages。That being said, a captivating autobiography of the tennis champ and mega activist made more enjoyable by Billy Jean reading the audio book。

Alexandra

Billie Jean King is an absolute exceptional human being, my shero。 She has led a remarkable life and her legacy is inspiring。 I really enjoyed reading "All In" and learning what makes her so human。 The last few chapters gave me goosebumps and hope for what we can all achieve together。"The way we define success is by doing well AND doing good。" Billie Jean King is an absolute exceptional human being, my shero。 She has led a remarkable life and her legacy is inspiring。 I really enjoyed reading "All In" and learning what makes her so human。 The last few chapters gave me goosebumps and hope for what we can all achieve together。"The way we define success is by doing well AND doing good。" 。。。more

Darius Murretti

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This is 97% a sports book and a social reform book championing women's rights 。 She writes with clarity , compassion and well chosen words。 She is a lover of all humility and jot just women 。It is in every ones interest that women's rights are protected and everyone should protect them。 The book touches on sex change operations and the rights of born males who had sex change operations and as a surat shabd yogi I would like to offer a spiritual perspective on that。 For thsoe who dont know surat This is 97% a sports book and a social reform book championing women's rights 。 She writes with clarity , compassion and well chosen words。 She is a lover of all humility and jot just women 。It is in every ones interest that women's rights are protected and everyone should protect them。 The book touches on sex change operations and the rights of born males who had sex change operations and as a surat shabd yogi I would like to offer a spiritual perspective on that。 For thsoe who dont know surat shabd yoga is a science that enables practitioners to attain ONENESS with God during this life and thus to know all that God knows 。 First of all reincarnation is real 。 At the end of every life we receive a new body according to our predominating desires and actions in our pervious life。 It is not al all uncommon for a male to be reborn as a female and vice versa 。Nor it is at all uncommon for a human to be born as an animal and vice versa 。So if a person desires a sex change they will get they corrected in the next life。Secondly it is harmful to think of sexual experiences 。 It is beneficial to think of spiritual experiences such a seeing light at the eye center and merging in that light and traveling on it to higher planes up to the ultimate bliss of God realization 。By thinking of and engaging in sex we are descending and retreating from the light of who we really are >we are descending deeper into matter away from spirit which is our true self 。So it really si better to think of other things 。However it is also true that if we are having sexual thoughts and desires for some one other our legally marred spouse that we can not eliminate by staying buzy in higher pure nobles things that we tell a kind compassionate MATURE human being who is also struggling to stay pure and who understands the danger of keeping "shameful" bottled up。 Just by telling them we will often get the strength to get them out of our head 。 We should NEVER be all alone in our struggle to move form downward outward (yang) to upward inward ( yin) tendencies and no it is not moral or judgmental to say that a person whose hobby is sexual desires is of bad character and should be avoided and a person whose hobby is self or God realization (where self is ones pure essence not its coverings) is of good character and is a keeper。It is also true that we acquire the form we think about so a man who is constantly thinking about a woman's body will get one even fi he has no desire to become a woman 。There is also a law of karma which says that we must under go what we have caused others to under go。 So if , as a man , we thought often of women a sex objects and used them as such we may likely be born as women and sued as sex objects 。The best form to dwell on is the form of a human who had merged into God In light of the above those who are 60 and over and are retiring thinking that they will now jet and drive all around since global warming will not get bad before they die better rethink that 。Since They will be among the new generation who has face climate crisis。 。。。more

Elizabeth Mullen

This was a well-written memoir of much historical significance, re the women’s movement and all the work Billy Jean did to spearhead and succeed at equal purses at tennis tournaments for women and title 9 equality within the education system。 I knew her story and still enjoyed all the detail and honesty about her life’s crises。

Julie

I'm old enough to remember watching tennis star Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes, but that was just about all I knew about her until I became a tennis fan in the late 1980s。 Then I picked up other bits of information about her, and I realized that she was a force, not only in tennis, but in women's rights as well。 Billie Jean's autobiography filled in all the missing pieces: her role in pushing for Title IX, which guaranteed equality for women's sports in schools I'm old enough to remember watching tennis star Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes, but that was just about all I knew about her until I became a tennis fan in the late 1980s。 Then I picked up other bits of information about her, and I realized that she was a force, not only in tennis, but in women's rights as well。 Billie Jean's autobiography filled in all the missing pieces: her role in pushing for Title IX, which guaranteed equality for women's sports in schools and colleges; her place in the "Original 9" of professional women tennis players; her leadership in the formation of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA); her bravery in "coming out" at a time when that could be disastrous to a very public career; and finally, her advocacy for equity in all aspects of life。 The stories of all of this and more are told in this amazing book。 Highly recommended! 。。。more

The Amusing Muse

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways。I was not into tennis as a youth (I played many other sports), nor am I into it as an adult, however, what I found most interesting in this book were the chapters discussing feminism, Title IV, and equal pay for equal work。 I didn't realized that Ms。 King did so much for the women's movement both on and off of the court。I suspect that if I were someone who followed tennis, I would find the rest of the book's subject matter on the sport more interesting I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways。I was not into tennis as a youth (I played many other sports), nor am I into it as an adult, however, what I found most interesting in this book were the chapters discussing feminism, Title IV, and equal pay for equal work。 I didn't realized that Ms。 King did so much for the women's movement both on and off of the court。I suspect that if I were someone who followed tennis, I would find the rest of the book's subject matter on the sport more interesting, but as my interest in tennis is little, I don't feel I can truly comment on that aspect。However, this book is, overall, well-written, reads well, and has a variety of subject matter that I think many women would find interesting。 Thankfully, I know a handful of other women to who I can pass along this book。 。。。more

CherylR

very good I enjoyed this book。 Although I have always watched women’s tennis I did not realize how much Billie Jean King had done to get it to where it is today。 King is honest and forthright in this biography。

Terri ducay

I learned a great deal about how rapid sexism was during BJK's rise as a tennis superstar。 Although I lived through her reign, as a teenager, how naive I was。 I found this and her fight for fair compensation and fair treatment of ALL people, women, African Americans, and lgbtq+ the strength of this book。It's a long book with perhaps too much detail, but overall it's a solid book to read and to realize just how far women have come and risk in today's political climate。 I learned a great deal about how rapid sexism was during BJK's rise as a tennis superstar。 Although I lived through her reign, as a teenager, how naive I was。 I found this and her fight for fair compensation and fair treatment of ALL people, women, African Americans, and lgbtq+ the strength of this book。It's a long book with perhaps too much detail, but overall it's a solid book to read and to realize just how far women have come and risk in today's political climate。 。。。more

Keri

An amazing woman。 I loved reading about all of her accomplishments, her feelings, her troubles and her successes。 This book was definitely long, and could have used some editing (especially some of the tennis matches) but overall I highly recommend it。

Gabe

This was a phenomenal book。 Billie Jean King had an intense honesty that makes for a good autobiography。 She had an eye-opening effect on what it must be like to be: famous, gay, gay back in the day when it wasn't cool, be in a marriage that isn't the right fit, have big dream and achieve them, be a women, someone who loves a a sport with everything she's got。 It was entertaining and 。。。。 expanding of my world view。 This was a phenomenal book。 Billie Jean King had an intense honesty that makes for a good autobiography。 She had an eye-opening effect on what it must be like to be: famous, gay, gay back in the day when it wasn't cool, be in a marriage that isn't the right fit, have big dream and achieve them, be a women, someone who loves a a sport with everything she's got。 It was entertaining and 。。。。 expanding of my world view。 。。。more

paige

So good, so long。 Too long。

Di Richardson

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book! I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by Ms。 King。 Hearing this story in her own words, hearing her voice crack at emotional moments, hearing the smile in her voice, the hurt and the outrage, and the love…it was just perfect。 I was not a big sports kid (or adult), and have never been a big follower of sports or athletes。 Of course I knew who Billie Jean King was (is)I would stop on tennis once in a while, and of course I watched the Bob I cannot tell you how much I loved this book! I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by Ms。 King。 Hearing this story in her own words, hearing her voice crack at emotional moments, hearing the smile in her voice, the hurt and the outrage, and the love…it was just perfect。 I was not a big sports kid (or adult), and have never been a big follower of sports or athletes。 Of course I knew who Billie Jean King was (is)I would stop on tennis once in a while, and of course I watched the Bobby Riggs match。 But I can honestly say I had no idea what a bad ass she was (and is) off the court。 I don’t remember Title IX being enacted, but I knew it existed and how important it was for girls and women。 I had no idea how instrumental BJK was to all of this。 I think it would be easy for someone to assume her motives were completely self serving, but that is certainly not the case。 BJK is about lifting everyone, and I found this book to be very inspirational。 If you think you haven’t benefitted from BJK’s advocacy, you need to think again。 Her life certainly hasn’t been perfect, but what a life it’s been! 。。。more

Nancy Snyder

An honest portrayal of an amazing athlete and woman。 I knew she was involved in equality for women but I did not realize the extent of her contribution。 Her reach also went beyond gay and racial inequality but equality for all。 An important read to help understand the issues of the 70's and 80's。。。that is relevant to today。 An honest portrayal of an amazing athlete and woman。 I knew she was involved in equality for women but I did not realize the extent of her contribution。 Her reach also went beyond gay and racial inequality but equality for all。 An important read to help understand the issues of the 70's and 80's。。。that is relevant to today。 。。。more

Elizabeth Lindahl

Damn Billie Jean King is a badass。 I loved reading about her story and how she stands up for everyone, not just people who have the same circumstances as her

Jessi

Billie Jean King is an iconic champion both on and off the tennis court。 She is an inspiring woman who’s fights hard for everything she takes on。 I listened to the audiobook version of her autobiography and she narrated it herself - which was nice。 She’s a very relatable woman and I’m glad I was able to hear about her story though her eyes。 She fought for gender equality and equal pay in the tennis world and went so far as to help create the Virginia Slims Tour and the Women’s Tennis Associatio Billie Jean King is an iconic champion both on and off the tennis court。 She is an inspiring woman who’s fights hard for everything she takes on。 I listened to the audiobook version of her autobiography and she narrated it herself - which was nice。 She’s a very relatable woman and I’m glad I was able to hear about her story though her eyes。 She fought for gender equality and equal pay in the tennis world and went so far as to help create the Virginia Slims Tour and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)。 She talks about all of that and more in her autobiography。 She talks about the epic tennis match with Bobby Riggs, her life, her relationships, her sexuality, and her efforts in the name of equality。 🎾🏸 。。。more

Sherry Beth Preston

Mom assures me I watched the Battle of the Sexes from my highchair。 It was probably the last tennis match I watched, but I knew I wanted to read Billie Jean King’s book, “All In: An Autobiography” when it came out。 I went into this book knowing King was a very good tennis player and that she was one of the first famous people who had been “outed” as being a lesbian。King begins her story with her choice to play tennis because girls couldn’t play baseball in 1950。 She was very athletic as a child Mom assures me I watched the Battle of the Sexes from my highchair。 It was probably the last tennis match I watched, but I knew I wanted to read Billie Jean King’s book, “All In: An Autobiography” when it came out。 I went into this book knowing King was a very good tennis player and that she was one of the first famous people who had been “outed” as being a lesbian。King begins her story with her choice to play tennis because girls couldn’t play baseball in 1950。 She was very athletic as a child and knew she wanted to play sports。 She learned to play through a free city-wide tennis program。 King would follow the tennis pro’s schedule from park to park as the week went on, taking lessons every day, and by Friday, the pro would drop her off at her home after the lesson。Being an athlete, King spends quite a bit of time talking about tennis。 She goes over the details of matches thoroughly, maybe even exhaustively。 With my limited tennis experience, most of this went over my head, but she also talked about great tennis players she competed with。 King writes with kindness towards nearly everyone。 She discussed how Bobby Riggs changed his attitude towards women after literally losing his shirt to King after so much bragging that he would beat her, and how other men in tennis also came to understand that women in the sport had not been treated fairly。About her fight to change the entire culture of tennis, Kings says this: “Nothing about my sport had significantly improved-especially for women-。。。The clothes were still white, the balls and most of the players were white, and so were the spectators。” As early as 1964, King was campaigning the tennis association to allow women to be professional players。 “While Dennis Ralston, a top male player then, could turn pro and deflect the purists’ complaints about taking money by pointing out that he had a wife and kids to support, I didn’t have the pro option。 I was putting my husband through law school by hoarding every dollar of expense money I could get, and we were barely making it。 As usual, Larry worked hard。 Now he was a pot scrubber for $100 a week at a sorority on campus where they also gave him dinner。”She was born in time to live through the civil rights era, and then the second women’s liberation era and then the social justice era。 Once she retired from tennis, King continued to work for change - for blacks, for women, LGBTQ+ folks, and the poor。 On a personal level, King talks candidly about her husband and her wife, and her struggle with weight。I listened to this book on Overdrive, and Billie Jean King read it herself。 A professional reader would not have injected the heart that King did into the reading, but it would have been easier to listen to。 I would recommend “All In: An Autobiography” by Billie Jean King to anyone interested in social justice, women’s history, sports, and those who like an autobiography。 。。。more

Stephanie

Billie Jean King’s autobiography is her personal story and is also a historical commemoration of the changes in women’s athletics and women’s rights。 King played a huge role in the changes and I appreciated her leadership even more as we revisited them in this audio book read by the author。 Younger women and men would do well to listen and reflect on how different the world looked within their parent’s lifetime and to see how some are determined to turn the clock back。 King and her generation di Billie Jean King’s autobiography is her personal story and is also a historical commemoration of the changes in women’s athletics and women’s rights。 King played a huge role in the changes and I appreciated her leadership even more as we revisited them in this audio book read by the author。 Younger women and men would do well to listen and reflect on how different the world looked within their parent’s lifetime and to see how some are determined to turn the clock back。 King and her generation did their part and now she passes the torch to us。 。。。more

Jessi Collier Wakefield

Very, very good。

Douglas

Described as "an inspiring and intimate self-portrait", Bille Jean King does just that - inspires。 I was deeply moved by King's life (especially her positive, can-do spirit) as she sought to conquer obstacles that seemed beyond her reach, power, or ability。 I'm not much of a self-help kind of person, but life stories like King's help me shift my perspective - Maybe I can do that thing that seems impossible or Hard work does pay off 。 Much has recently been made about athletes’ mental health, b Described as "an inspiring and intimate self-portrait", Bille Jean King does just that - inspires。 I was deeply moved by King's life (especially her positive, can-do spirit) as she sought to conquer obstacles that seemed beyond her reach, power, or ability。 I'm not much of a self-help kind of person, but life stories like King's help me shift my perspective - Maybe I can do that thing that seems impossible or Hard work does pay off 。 Much has recently been made about athletes’ mental health, but as King points out, these issues are nothing new。 Thanks to trailblazers like King, we're just maybe more comfortable talking about them。 And that didn't happen overnight。 It took years and athletes like King to shift our perspective。 Billie Jean King was told she couldn't wear shorts, shouldn't eat too much, wasn't pretty, would ruin her career and legacy if she came out, and all this to her face。 I'm not suggesting it's easier to hear these things online, but there was a time when it was acceptable and reasonable to say these kind of things to a young girl and expect little to no retort。 Billie Jean King paved the way for all athletes and made our society better。 Her life, while not perfect, is an example of what can be done when influence and success is leveraged for good。 I'm truly honored to have read this book and imbibed the details of a life lived to the fullest in success and servitude。 Thank you, Goodreads。 。。。more

Cara

Phenomenal woman with an incredible and inspiring story, that goes far beyond tennis。

Terri

Billy Jean King is a solid good egg! She has had a front row seat to so much growth and change in our society。 This book is about social progress as much as tennis。 She’s a pioneering feminist who seeks a society that inclusively provides equal opportunity for all。 For those of us who are outraged with the current forces that are succeeding at creating a new dark age for women and other marginalized groups, BJK’s book is a reminder of America’s better ideas of justice and that good fights have b Billy Jean King is a solid good egg! She has had a front row seat to so much growth and change in our society。 This book is about social progress as much as tennis。 She’s a pioneering feminist who seeks a society that inclusively provides equal opportunity for all。 For those of us who are outraged with the current forces that are succeeding at creating a new dark age for women and other marginalized groups, BJK’s book is a reminder of America’s better ideas of justice and that good fights have been fought before and that they can and must happen again。 。。。more

Lane

An excellent biography that is well written about a very interesting individual, Billie Jean King。 For someone who is her age , I lived through many of the events presented but still found much new material。 A must read for anyone interested in today's world and how we have gotten there。My only complaint is the organization of the material。 A chapter may cover a few years and then the next chapter starts 20 years earlier and comes to the present day。 This results in the reader wondering where do An excellent biography that is well written about a very interesting individual, Billie Jean King。 For someone who is her age , I lived through many of the events presented but still found much new material。 A must read for anyone interested in today's world and how we have gotten there。My only complaint is the organization of the material。 A chapter may cover a few years and then the next chapter starts 20 years earlier and comes to the present day。 This results in the reader wondering where does this fit, was this covered before, how does this person fit in the story。 The result is some material repeated and at times the reader wondering how does this fit。Overall, an excellent read。 。。。more

Caroline

So interesting to learn about her life!

Felice Cohen

Great book about BJK's experience becoming a tennis superstar and advocate for (fill in the blank) but also a history lesson of the last 75 years。 Great book about BJK's experience becoming a tennis superstar and advocate for (fill in the blank) but also a history lesson of the last 75 years。 。。。more