In reply to Doug:
> I bought this when last in the UK but was a bit disappointed when I finally read it a few weeks later. Difficult to say why exactly, but it seemed to plod a bit, with far too much stuff on his childhood. Compared to the recent biography of Alex MacIntyre by John Porter it was a very dull read. That said, I'm looking forward to volume 2.
That was very much my thinking - far too much childhood reminiscing, and also very little light and shade, which made the whole thing seem quite pedestrian - pretty much the opposite of what it should have been, considering what he's achieved.