The Yorkshire Post can reveal that the former United chief has been working on the project with the ghostwriter who penned the memoirs of Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell.
The working title of the book is United We Fall: Boardroom Trut
hs Behind the Beautiful Game, and it will be published during the coming season, which kicks off on Saturday.
Written in conjunction with former Daily Mirror journalist Steve Dennis, who also penned Ashley Cole's autobiography last year, United We Fall... will be Ridsdale's account of the club's spectacular rise and fall during his reign of more than six years as chairman.
It is understood the current Cardiff City chief will also give his views on the state of the modern game and many of its major personalities.
Ridsdale, who could not be contacted by the Yorkshire Post last night, quit the United board in March, 2003, and has commented publicly in the past on his controversial reign.
However, this will be the first time he has given a definitive account of the period that he would later describe as "living the dream" as United tried to break into European football's elite.
Ridsdale is still reviled in Leeds for his role in the club's downfall as the head of the board that built up a debt that peaked at more than £100m.
A series of high-profile and expensive signings, with the accompanying salaries, plus a failure to qualify for the Champions League spelt disaster for United and they were relegated from the Premiership in 2004.
Worse was to follow with Leeds sliding into League One – and administration amid debts of £35m – last May.
A summer of uncertainty and worry has followed with the club only being granted their Football League share, suspended when they went into administration, last Friday.
It came at a considerable price with the League imposing a 15-point penalty on Dennis Wise's side.
Leeds have appealed against the deduction and their fate is at the mercy of the remaining League clubs.
All 71 chairmen have been summoned to a crucial meeting tomorrow where a vote will be taken on whether the original penalty should be imposed for what League officials see as a failure to follow their insolvency policy.
A straight majority is required to win the vote, which could see the original penalty upheld, reduced or wiped out completely.
So keen are the League to ensure the meeting does not become a media circus that the clubs, who have been warned they must be represented in person as no proxy votes can be made, will not be told where it is being held until tonight.
Leeds chairman Ken Bates has written to the other 71 clubs to plead United's case and argue that they have not broken any rules.
Such is the enormity of the issue, with a precedent likely to be set for the future, that League chairman Lord Mawhinney has also written to the clubs, outlining why the League have hit United with a record points deduction.
