Definitive and a great read, 30 Nov 2008
I have not read any other book about John Lennon so i cannot comment on the claims of "hackery" and my views are therefore only based on my reading of this book alone. And what a book. A brilliant read, very interesting details about his early life but also the book weaves the genesis of various songs and albums into the various stages of Lennon's life. I agree that the Yoko Ono years are slightly less interesting, however the final chapter, where Sean discusses some of his memories of John is really moving, sensitive and perceptive. Superb. A bout of flu has helped me devour the book in 4 days! I couldn't put it down. Wonderful.

BEATLES JOHN LENNON, 09 Nov 2008
Well I have just read what has been the most interesting book on John Lennon's life. I have a few books on the Beatles and John Lennon for me this was a wonderful time capsule of this life. I loved the letters that Aunt Mimi received from a fan at the time of the Beatles success which Mimi seemed happy to correspond with. She even tells her of the pending move to the South Coast, sharing all this with someone she never met. Ok, it was interesting for me to learn about John's grandparents and also that Julia gave birth to four children. It was also an eyeopener for me to learn about John's father Freddie and that he did try to keep in touch with John. The story did not end there for both of them because John did buy him a house and they kept in touch.
My only complaint is that the hardback version is heavy to hold up for a nightime read !! Joking aside - a publication well written and one I shall use as a reference to the life of John Lennon.


Haunting, 21 Oct 2008
In The Word magazine (October issue), Philip Norman suggested, in passing, that his latest book was intended to be a biography of Lennon to set alongside similar volumes devoted to Churchill, Ghandi and Hitler: - an antidote to the flimsy paperback pop-biog formula, and a reflection of the musician's huge place in 20th Century culture. The sheer size of the book (853 pp, not the 448 in Amazon's product details) testifies to this hubristic ambition, and, at over 1/3 million words, the result is a true epic, `half-as-long-again' as the Great American Novel, "Moby-Dick" (213,000 wds)...

Does the size of the book make it an equal to Kershaw's `Hitler', or Jenkins' `Churchill? No. But the lucid quality of the writing does. This book is by far the most literary volume ever written about the phenomenon of late 20th Century pop music, to rank alongside Peter Guralnick's `Elvis' tomes, and Greil Marcus's various studies. A skilled novelist and playwright, Norman shows his hand in the opening lines, neatly sidestepping biographical convention with a novelistic slight-of-hand which telescopes 100 years of history into a bewildering instant. From there, the opening chapter goes on for 18 pages, painting the scene of Lennon's boyhood with a poignancy and skill recalling the lives that make up Joyce's `Dubliners'.

To pick at such a book with eyes for nothing but `new tidbits' of information, and to reject it as such, seems faintly like passing on Broch's `The Death of Virgil', or Bergmann's `Fanny and Alexander', while complaining that they lack any new gossip. A new `fact' (the attraction to McCartney, say, or the identity of the girl in `Norwegian Wood') may be interesting, but it might just as soon appear on an internet blog. This book extends past these, on the other hand, into a subtle beast, resounding with the voices of those who knew Lennon, through Norman's voluminous interviews, and through correspondence (both his own, and some freshly discovered - such as the revealing letters from Mimi to Jane Wirgman).

The whole, it must be said, is certainly the best book by Philip Norman, catapulting him from the Beatles expert who wrote `Shout!,' and from his own novels and plays, into the poet chronicler of the 20th Century's `favourite pop icon'. More importantly, it is also the best book about John Lennon, easily eclipsing the risible Goldman, and surpassing the over-tired Coleman. In its 850 pages, we are offered a grand story that ranges from 1855 to 1980, of an Alice in Wonderland haunted childhood, through to an artistic re-awakening in the stormy waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Only Norman has the eye to see this for what it is: the Great (English) Novel, an epic story that he steers accordingly, drawing out all of the haunting and surprising parallels between three generations of the Lennon family (Alfred, John and Julian), and the distant calling of Yoko Ono (`ocean child') matching Lennon with the tale of her own prophetic ancestors (just check out p. 762)...

Right up to the hideous abruptness of its closing chapters, Norman's story is a rich and unforgettable one, horrible, inevitable, and full of grace. The book ultimately surpasses the intentions with which he supposedly began it: this is not a work to shadow Kershaw, or Jenkins. It begins with the faint shade of James Joyce (a favourite of Lennon's), travels through the prismatic ages of cinema and psychedelia, and ends up with the tragic surrealism of a room full of cats. A masterpiece.

Hackery, 20 Oct 2008
I was expecting great things of this book given that Norman had access to Yoko but this is really a compilation of all that's already been written about Lennon with no credits, footnotes or bibliography referring to the authors whose shoulders he stands upon. What's worse, he doesn't even seem to have read some of the best of the recent books. He overlooks Lennon's brief conversion to Christianity covered by Steve Turner's The Gospel According to the Beatles, Geoffrey Giuliano's Lennon in America, Frederic Seaman's Living on Borrowed Time and Robert Rosen's Nowhere Man. Turner did extensive coverage on how the 'more popular than Jesus' crisis broke but Norman just repeats the story without any reference to Turner's discoveries. He disses Albert Goldman's earlier biography (well he would, wouldn't he) but at least Goldman came up with a lot of new material - material which Norman has absorbed. What's actually new in this book could fill a couple of pages. Most of what's truly original is merely incidental, such as Mimi's postcard comments about John's hair. But even without sensational new material Norman could have achieved something if he'd striven to give a perspective on Lennon, if he'd taken the available material and made sense of it for us. But he just presents the findings documentary style and in the end we're left with the old received wisdom - boy damaged by death of his mother becomes rebel, sells rebellion, becomes wealthy and famous, dies. Surely there must be more to it than that? What about the childhood visions he discussed with Playboy (unmentioned by Norman)? What about his attraaction to the spiritual and his conflicted relationship with Christianity? He plays down the power that Yoko exerted over his life and the post Beatle years come over as a crashing bore. But why did a man whose vision helped shape the popular culture of the sixties become such an empty vessel in the seventies. Norman does not ask.

A serviceable biography, 14 Oct 2008
I'm not working just now and like one of the other reviewers I read it in three days. I really enjoyed it. I was 12 when Love Me Do came out and my sister and I bought all their albums on the day of release for several years.

I was also around in London in the late sixties so enjoyed reading the detail about that period.

There are several things about this book which really impressed me however. One is the carefully built up and three dimensional portrait of Lennon's childhood, particularly the portraits of his parents and aunt Mimi. They really come alive for me. So does the picture of Lennon as a 'Just William' character. Clearly for almost his whole life he was a relentless rebel, a continual thorn in the flesh to anyone in authority. I found the stuff about his interest in art and writing really interesting too, going back to his art school days and earlier.

The stuff on Hamburg is great too - that was a hard school, and made them as a band. There is of course a lot of detail on all the Beatles and the changing personnel and friendships. Many readers may be more familiar with this than I as I had never read a book about the Beatles before, but it is really good to get the lowdown on Stu Sutcliffe for example.

The nature of the Lennon McCartney relationship, the friendship with Jagger all add to the mix.

I was less interested in the Yoko Ono years as her work doesn't interest me but the book does bring out how Lennon's personality found his life in New York a new vehicle to express himself in a more explicitly radical way.

The section on the breakup with the Beatles seems to have as much to do with Paul's relationship with Linda as with John's with Yoko but armed with this support they both adopted different financial gurus and that was what really did it.

The is a comprehensive and disciplined book. It doesn't answer every question but for me really brought those years back.

Definitive and a great read, 30 Nov 2008
I have not read any other book about John Lennon so i cannot comment on the claims of "hackery" and my views are therefore only based on my reading of this book alone. And what a book. A brilliant read, very interesting details about his early life but also the book weaves the genesis of various songs and albums into the various stages of Lennon's life. I agree that the Yoko Ono years are slightly less interesting, however the final chapter, where Sean discusses some of his memories of John is really moving, sensitive and perceptive. Superb. A bout of flu has helped me devour the book in 4 days! I couldn't put it down. Wonderful.

BEATLES JOHN LENNON, 09 Nov 2008
Well I have just read what has been the most interesting book on John Lennon's life. I have a few books on the Beatles and John Lennon for me this was a wonderful time capsule of this life. I loved the letters that Aunt Mimi received from a fan at the time of the Beatles success which Mimi seemed happy to correspond with. She even tells her of the pending move to the South Coast, sharing all this with someone she never met. Ok, it was interesting for me to learn about John's grandparents and also that Julia gave birth to four children. It was also an eyeopener for me to learn about John's father Freddie and that he did try to keep in touch with John. The story did not end there for both of them because John did buy him a house and they kept in touch.
My only complaint is that the hardback version is heavy to hold up for a nightime read !! Joking aside - a publication well written and one I shall use as a reference to the life of John Lennon.


Haunting, 21 Oct 2008
In The Word magazine (October issue), Philip Norman suggested, in passing, that his latest book was intended to be a biography of Lennon to set alongside similar volumes devoted to Churchill, Ghandi and Hitler: - an antidote to the flimsy paperback pop-biog formula, and a reflection of the musician's huge place in 20th Century culture. The sheer size of the book (853 pp, not the 448 in Amazon's product details) testifies to this hubristic ambition, and, at over 1/3 million words, the result is a true epic, `half-as-long-again' as the Great American Novel, "Moby-Dick" (213,000 wds)...

Does the size of the book make it an equal to Kershaw's `Hitler', or Jenkins' `Churchill? No. But the lucid quality of the writing does. This book is by far the most literary volume ever written about the phenomenon of late 20th Century pop music, to rank alongside Peter Guralnick's `Elvis' tomes, and Greil Marcus's various studies. A skilled novelist and playwright, Norman shows his hand in the opening lines, neatly sidestepping biographical convention with a novelistic slight-of-hand which telescopes 100 years of history into a bewildering instant. From there, the opening chapter goes on for 18 pages, painting the scene of Lennon's boyhood with a poignancy and skill recalling the lives that make up Joyce's `Dubliners'.

To pick at such a book with eyes for nothing but `new tidbits' of information, and to reject it as such, seems faintly like passing on Broch's `The Death of Virgil', or Bergmann's `Fanny and Alexander', while complaining that they lack any new gossip. A new `fact' (the attraction to McCartney, say, or the identity of the girl in `Norwegian Wood') may be interesting, but it might just as soon appear on an internet blog. This book extends past these, on the other hand, into a subtle beast, resounding with the voices of those who knew Lennon, through Norman's voluminous interviews, and through correspondence (both his own, and some freshly discovered - such as the revealing letters from Mimi to Jane Wirgman).

The whole, it must be said, is certainly the best book by Philip Norman, catapulting him from the Beatles expert who wrote `Shout!,' and from his own novels and plays, into the poet chronicler of the 20th Century's `favourite pop icon'. More importantly, it is also the best book about John Lennon, easily eclipsing the risible Goldman, and surpassing the over-tired Coleman. In its 850 pages, we are offered a grand story that ranges from 1855 to 1980, of an Alice in Wonderland haunted childhood, through to an artistic re-awakening in the stormy waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Only Norman has the eye to see this for what it is: the Great (English) Novel, an epic story that he steers accordingly, drawing out all of the haunting and surprising parallels between three generations of the Lennon family (Alfred, John and Julian), and the distant calling of Yoko Ono (`ocean child') matching Lennon with the tale of her own prophetic ancestors (just check out p. 762)...

Right up to the hideous abruptness of its closing chapters, Norman's story is a rich and unforgettable one, horrible, inevitable, and full of grace. The book ultimately surpasses the intentions with which he supposedly began it: this is not a work to shadow Kershaw, or Jenkins. It begins with the faint shade of James Joyce (a favourite of Lennon's), travels through the prismatic ages of cinema and psychedelia, and ends up with the tragic surrealism of a room full of cats. A masterpiece.

Hackery, 20 Oct 2008
I was expecting great things of this book given that Norman had access to Yoko but this is really a compilation of all that's already been written about Lennon with no credits, footnotes or bibliography referring to the authors whose shoulders he stands upon. What's worse, he doesn't even seem to have read some of the best of the recent books. He overlooks Lennon's brief conversion to Christianity covered by Steve Turner's The Gospel According to the Beatles, Geoffrey Giuliano's Lennon in America, Frederic Seaman's Living on Borrowed Time and Robert Rosen's Nowhere Man. Turner did extensive coverage on how the 'more popular than Jesus' crisis broke but Norman just repeats the story without any reference to Turner's discoveries. He disses Albert Goldman's earlier biography (well he would, wouldn't he) but at least Goldman came up with a lot of new material - material which Norman has absorbed. What's actually new in this book could fill a couple of pages. Most of what's truly original is merely incidental, such as Mimi's postcard comments about John's hair. But even without sensational new material Norman could have achieved something if he'd striven to give a perspective on Lennon, if he'd taken the available material and made sense of it for us. But he just presents the findings documentary style and in the end we're left with the old received wisdom - boy damaged by death of his mother becomes rebel, sells rebellion, becomes wealthy and famous, dies. Surely there must be more to it than that? What about the childhood visions he discussed with Playboy (unmentioned by Norman)? What about his attraaction to the spiritual and his conflicted relationship with Christianity? He plays down the power that Yoko exerted over his life and the post Beatle years come over as a crashing bore. But why did a man whose vision helped shape the popular culture of the sixties become such an empty vessel in the seventies. Norman does not ask.

A serviceable biography, 14 Oct 2008
I'm not working just now and like one of the other reviewers I read it in three days. I really enjoyed it. I was 12 when Love Me Do came out and my sister and I bought all their albums on the day of release for several years.

I was also around in London in the late sixties so enjoyed reading the detail about that period.

There are several things about this book which really impressed me however. One is the carefully built up and three dimensional portrait of Lennon's childhood, particularly the portraits of his parents and aunt Mimi. They really come alive for me. So does the picture of Lennon as a 'Just William' character. Clearly for almost his whole life he was a relentless rebel, a continual thorn in the flesh to anyone in authority. I found the stuff about his interest in art and writing really interesting too, going back to his art school days and earlier.

The stuff on Hamburg is great too - that was a hard school, and made them as a band. There is of course a lot of detail on all the Beatles and the changing personnel and friendships. Many readers may be more familiar with this than I as I had never read a book about the Beatles before, but it is really good to get the lowdown on Stu Sutcliffe for example.

The nature of the Lennon McCartney relationship, the friendship with Jagger all add to the mix.

I was less interested in the Yoko Ono years as her work doesn't interest me but the book does bring out how Lennon's personality found his life in New York a new vehicle to express himself in a more explicitly radical way.

The section on the breakup with the Beatles seems to have as much to do with Paul's relationship with Linda as with John's with Yoko but armed with this support they both adopted different financial gurus and that was what really did it.

The is a comprehensive and disciplined book. It doesn't answer every question but for me really brought those years back.

NO GLITTER, 21 Oct 2008
Every time I fall into the 'Autobiography' trap, I swear I will never be caught again. Just because someone has led an interesting/extraordinary life, it does not follow that they can share this with us in writing! Craig Revel Horwood's book illustrates the point. Dreary, dull, lifeless writing. Craig.....you needed a ghost writer, or at the very least a crash course in creative writing!

Borrow a copy before you buy....wish I had!

Fabulous!, 02 Oct 2008
What a read! Craig is as honest and straightforward as you'd expect and so open about his life. His no holds barred style really takes you through the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears. It's a must-read for Strictly fans. I couldn't put it down.

Not bad, 01 Oct 2008
I found it interesting to discover what qualifies Craig to judge dancers, and his credentials hold up. I also enjoyed reading about his journey from Aus to a hugely popular BBC show. I did find the book a little rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed learning about him. I think it could have gone deeper though. It's more a 'coffee table' book than many other biographies I have read.


YAWN! Dull Dull Read, 30 Sep 2008
Not sure what the other people were reading but in my opinion this is a dull read merely for the people who laugh and titter at his feeble put downs on a dancing game show. Yes, wehave all the backstage glitter (if you can call it that) here and also his background, love life (painfully boring) but mostly it reads as someone who believes that are a star but are not merely a judge on a gameshow.

A-MA-ZING!, 14 Sep 2008
All Balls and Glitter was a sensational read - I could'nt put it down.

What ever you thought of Craig from Strictly (acid tongued and critical) certainly portrays himself in a very different light and openly exposes his secret past. He takes us back to his childhood of rural Australia and his desperate actions to get him out of a miserable childhood. Taking the reader on a wonderful and colorful journey to how Craig became the judge we all love to hate.

It has gossip, truth, scandal, sex and love everything you want in a good Barbara Cartland !! But this is Craigs real life and is no fictional story ! A wonderful addictive read.

It appeals to everybody, and highly recommend this book its certainly not DULL DULL DULL !!

Definitive and a great read, 30 Nov 2008
I have not read any other book about John Lennon so i cannot comment on the claims of "hackery" and my views are therefore only based on my reading of this book alone. And what a book. A brilliant read, very interesting details about his early life but also the book weaves the genesis of various songs and albums into the various stages of Lennon's life. I agree that the Yoko Ono years are slightly less interesting, however the final chapter, where Sean discusses some of his memories of John is really moving, sensitive and perceptive. Superb. A bout of flu has helped me devour the book in 4 days! I couldn't put it down. Wonderful.

BEATLES JOHN LENNON, 09 Nov 2008
Well I have just read what has been the most interesting book on John Lennon's life. I have a few books on the Beatles and John Lennon for me this was a wonderful time capsule of this life. I loved the letters that Aunt Mimi received from a fan at the time of the Beatles success which Mimi seemed happy to correspond with. She even tells her of the pending move to the South Coast, sharing all this with someone she never met. Ok, it was interesting for me to learn about John's grandparents and also that Julia gave birth to four children. It was also an eyeopener for me to learn about John's father Freddie and that he did try to keep in touch with John. The story did not end there for both of them because John did buy him a house and they kept in touch.
My only complaint is that the hardback version is heavy to hold up for a nightime read !! Joking aside - a publication well written and one I shall use as a reference to the life of John Lennon.


Haunting, 21 Oct 2008
In The Word magazine (October issue), Philip Norman suggested, in passing, that his latest book was intended to be a biography of Lennon to set alongside similar volumes devoted to Churchill, Ghandi and Hitler: - an antidote to the flimsy paperback pop-biog formula, and a reflection of the musician's huge place in 20th Century culture. The sheer size of the book (853 pp, not the 448 in Amazon's product details) testifies to this hubristic ambition, and, at over 1/3 million words, the result is a true epic, `half-as-long-again' as the Great American Novel, "Moby-Dick" (213,000 wds)...

Does the size of the book make it an equal to Kershaw's `Hitler', or Jenkins' `Churchill? No. But the lucid quality of the writing does. This book is by far the most literary volume ever written about the phenomenon of late 20th Century pop music, to rank alongside Peter Guralnick's `Elvis' tomes, and Greil Marcus's various studies. A skilled novelist and playwright, Norman shows his hand in the opening lines, neatly sidestepping biographical convention with a novelistic slight-of-hand which telescopes 100 years of history into a bewildering instant. From there, the opening chapter goes on for 18 pages, painting the scene of Lennon's boyhood with a poignancy and skill recalling the lives that make up Joyce's `Dubliners'.

To pick at such a book with eyes for nothing but `new tidbits' of information, and to reject it as such, seems faintly like passing on Broch's `The Death of Virgil', or Bergmann's `Fanny and Alexander', while complaining that they lack any new gossip. A new `fact' (the attraction to McCartney, say, or the identity of the girl in `Norwegian Wood') may be interesting, but it might just as soon appear on an internet blog. This book extends past these, on the other hand, into a subtle beast, resounding with the voices of those who knew Lennon, through Norman's voluminous interviews, and through correspondence (both his own, and some freshly discovered - such as the revealing letters from Mimi to Jane Wirgman).

The whole, it must be said, is certainly the best book by Philip Norman, catapulting him from the Beatles expert who wrote `Shout!,' and from his own novels and plays, into the poet chronicler of the 20th Century's `favourite pop icon'. More importantly, it is also the best book about John Lennon, easily eclipsing the risible Goldman, and surpassing the over-tired Coleman. In its 850 pages, we are offered a grand story that ranges from 1855 to 1980, of an Alice in Wonderland haunted childhood, through to an artistic re-awakening in the stormy waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Only Norman has the eye to see this for what it is: the Great (English) Novel, an epic story that he steers accordingly, drawing out all of the haunting and surprising parallels between three generations of the Lennon family (Alfred, John and Julian), and the distant calling of Yoko Ono (`ocean child') matching Lennon with the tale of her own prophetic ancestors (just check out p. 762)...

Right up to the hideous abruptness of its closing chapters, Norman's story is a rich and unforgettable one, horrible, inevitable, and full of grace. The book ultimately surpasses the intentions with which he supposedly began it: this is not a work to shadow Kershaw, or Jenkins. It begins with the faint shade of James Joyce (a favourite of Lennon's), travels through the prismatic ages of cinema and psychedelia, and ends up with the tragic surrealism of a room full of cats. A masterpiece.

Hackery, 20 Oct 2008
I was expecting great things of this book given that Norman had access to Yoko but this is really a compilation of all that's already been written about Lennon with no credits, footnotes or bibliography referring to the authors whose shoulders he stands upon. What's worse, he doesn't even seem to have read some of the best of the recent books. He overlooks Lennon's brief conversion to Christianity covered by Steve Turner's The Gospel According to the Beatles, Geoffrey Giuliano's Lennon in America, Frederic Seaman's Living on Borrowed Time and Robert Rosen's Nowhere Man. Turner did extensive coverage on how the 'more popular than Jesus' crisis broke but Norman just repeats the story without any reference to Turner's discoveries. He disses Albert Goldman's earlier biography (well he would, wouldn't he) but at least Goldman came up with a lot of new material - material which Norman has absorbed. What's actually new in this book could fill a couple of pages. Most of what's truly original is merely incidental, such as Mimi's postcard comments about John's hair. But even without sensational new material Norman could have achieved something if he'd striven to give a perspective on Lennon, if he'd taken the available material and made sense of it for us. But he just presents the findings documentary style and in the end we're left with the old received wisdom - boy damaged by death of his mother becomes rebel, sells rebellion, becomes wealthy and famous, dies. Surely there must be more to it than that? What about the childhood visions he discussed with Playboy (unmentioned by Norman)? What about his attraaction to the spiritual and his conflicted relationship with Christianity? He plays down the power that Yoko exerted over his life and the post Beatle years come over as a crashing bore. But why did a man whose vision helped shape the popular culture of the sixties become such an empty vessel in the seventies. Norman does not ask.

A serviceable biography, 14 Oct 2008
I'm not working just now and like one of the other reviewers I read it in three days. I really enjoyed it. I was 12 when Love Me Do came out and my sister and I bought all their albums on the day of release for several years.

I was also around in London in the late sixties so enjoyed reading the detail about that period.

There are several things about this book which really impressed me however. One is the carefully built up and three dimensional portrait of Lennon's childhood, particularly the portraits of his parents and aunt Mimi. They really come alive for me. So does the picture of Lennon as a 'Just William' character. Clearly for almost his whole life he was a relentless rebel, a continual thorn in the flesh to anyone in authority. I found the stuff about his interest in art and writing really interesting too, going back to his art school days and earlier.

The stuff on Hamburg is great too - that was a hard school, and made them as a band. There is of course a lot of detail on all the Beatles and the changing personnel and friendships. Many readers may be more familiar with this than I as I had never read a book about the Beatles before, but it is really good to get the lowdown on Stu Sutcliffe for example.

The nature of the Lennon McCartney relationship, the friendship with Jagger all add to the mix.

I was less interested in the Yoko Ono years as her work doesn't interest me but the book does bring out how Lennon's personality found his life in New York a new vehicle to express himself in a more explicitly radical way.

The section on the breakup with the Beatles seems to have as much to do with Paul's relationship with Linda as with John's with Yoko but armed with this support they both adopted different financial gurus and that was what really did it.

The is a comprehensive and disciplined book. It doesn't answer every question but for me really brought those years back.

NO GLITTER, 21 Oct 2008
Every time I fall into the 'Autobiography' trap, I swear I will never be caught again. Just because someone has led an interesting/extraordinary life, it does not follow that they can share this with us in writing! Craig Revel Horwood's book illustrates the point. Dreary, dull, lifeless writing. Craig.....you needed a ghost writer, or at the very least a crash course in creative writing!

Borrow a copy before you buy....wish I had!

Fabulous!, 02 Oct 2008
What a read! Craig is as honest and straightforward as you'd expect and so open about his life. His no holds barred style really takes you through the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears. It's a must-read for Strictly fans. I couldn't put it down.

Not bad, 01 Oct 2008
I found it interesting to discover what qualifies Craig to judge dancers, and his credentials hold up. I also enjoyed reading about his journey from Aus to a hugely popular BBC show. I did find the book a little rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed learning about him. I think it could have gone deeper though. It's more a 'coffee table' book than many other biographies I have read.


YAWN! Dull Dull Read, 30 Sep 2008
Not sure what the other people were reading but in my opinion this is a dull read merely for the people who laugh and titter at his feeble put downs on a dancing game show. Yes, wehave all the backstage glitter (if you can call it that) here and also his background, love life (painfully boring) but mostly it reads as someone who believes that are a star but are not merely a judge on a gameshow.

A-MA-ZING!, 14 Sep 2008
All Balls and Glitter was a sensational read - I could'nt put it down.

What ever you thought of Craig from Strictly (acid tongued and critical) certainly portrays himself in a very different light and openly exposes his secret past. He takes us back to his childhood of rural Australia and his desperate actions to get him out of a miserable childhood. Taking the reader on a wonderful and colorful journey to how Craig became the judge we all love to hate.

It has gossip, truth, scandal, sex and love everything you want in a good Barbara Cartland !! But this is Craigs real life and is no fictional story ! A wonderful addictive read.

It appeals to everybody, and highly recommend this book its certainly not DULL DULL DULL !!

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

Definitive and a great read, 30 Nov 2008
I have not read any other book about John Lennon so i cannot comment on the claims of "hackery" and my views are therefore only based on my reading of this book alone. And what a book. A brilliant read, very interesting details about his early life but also the book weaves the genesis of various songs and albums into the various stages of Lennon's life. I agree that the Yoko Ono years are slightly less interesting, however the final chapter, where Sean discusses some of his memories of John is really moving, sensitive and perceptive. Superb. A bout of flu has helped me devour the book in 4 days! I couldn't put it down. Wonderful.

BEATLES JOHN LENNON, 09 Nov 2008
Well I have just read what has been the most interesting book on John Lennon's life. I have a few books on the Beatles and John Lennon for me this was a wonderful time capsule of this life. I loved the letters that Aunt Mimi received from a fan at the time of the Beatles success which Mimi seemed happy to correspond with. She even tells her of the pending move to the South Coast, sharing all this with someone she never met. Ok, it was interesting for me to learn about John's grandparents and also that Julia gave birth to four children. It was also an eyeopener for me to learn about John's father Freddie and that he did try to keep in touch with John. The story did not end there for both of them because John did buy him a house and they kept in touch.
My only complaint is that the hardback version is heavy to hold up for a nightime read !! Joking aside - a publication well written and one I shall use as a reference to the life of John Lennon.


Haunting, 21 Oct 2008
In The Word magazine (October issue), Philip Norman suggested, in passing, that his latest book was intended to be a biography of Lennon to set alongside similar volumes devoted to Churchill, Ghandi and Hitler: - an antidote to the flimsy paperback pop-biog formula, and a reflection of the musician's huge place in 20th Century culture. The sheer size of the book (853 pp, not the 448 in Amazon's product details) testifies to this hubristic ambition, and, at over 1/3 million words, the result is a true epic, `half-as-long-again' as the Great American Novel, "Moby-Dick" (213,000 wds)...

Does the size of the book make it an equal to Kershaw's `Hitler', or Jenkins' `Churchill? No. But the lucid quality of the writing does. This book is by far the most literary volume ever written about the phenomenon of late 20th Century pop music, to rank alongside Peter Guralnick's `Elvis' tomes, and Greil Marcus's various studies. A skilled novelist and playwright, Norman shows his hand in the opening lines, neatly sidestepping biographical convention with a novelistic slight-of-hand which telescopes 100 years of history into a bewildering instant. From there, the opening chapter goes on for 18 pages, painting the scene of Lennon's boyhood with a poignancy and skill recalling the lives that make up Joyce's `Dubliners'.

To pick at such a book with eyes for nothing but `new tidbits' of information, and to reject it as such, seems faintly like passing on Broch's `The Death of Virgil', or Bergmann's `Fanny and Alexander', while complaining that they lack any new gossip. A new `fact' (the attraction to McCartney, say, or the identity of the girl in `Norwegian Wood') may be interesting, but it might just as soon appear on an internet blog. This book extends past these, on the other hand, into a subtle beast, resounding with the voices of those who knew Lennon, through Norman's voluminous interviews, and through correspondence (both his own, and some freshly discovered - such as the revealing letters from Mimi to Jane Wirgman).

The whole, it must be said, is certainly the best book by Philip Norman, catapulting him from the Beatles expert who wrote `Shout!,' and from his own novels and plays, into the poet chronicler of the 20th Century's `favourite pop icon'. More importantly, it is also the best book about John Lennon, easily eclipsing the risible Goldman, and surpassing the over-tired Coleman. In its 850 pages, we are offered a grand story that ranges from 1855 to 1980, of an Alice in Wonderland haunted childhood, through to an artistic re-awakening in the stormy waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Only Norman has the eye to see this for what it is: the Great (English) Novel, an epic story that he steers accordingly, drawing out all of the haunting and surprising parallels between three generations of the Lennon family (Alfred, John and Julian), and the distant calling of Yoko Ono (`ocean child') matching Lennon with the tale of her own prophetic ancestors (just check out p. 762)...

Right up to the hideous abruptness of its closing chapters, Norman's story is a rich and unforgettable one, horrible, inevitable, and full of grace. The book ultimately surpasses the intentions with which he supposedly began it: this is not a work to shadow Kershaw, or Jenkins. It begins with the faint shade of James Joyce (a favourite of Lennon's), travels through the prismatic ages of cinema and psychedelia, and ends up with the tragic surrealism of a room full of cats. A masterpiece.

Hackery, 20 Oct 2008
I was expecting great things of this book given that Norman had access to Yoko but this is really a compilation of all that's already been written about Lennon with no credits, footnotes or bibliography referring to the authors whose shoulders he stands upon. What's worse, he doesn't even seem to have read some of the best of the recent books. He overlooks Lennon's brief conversion to Christianity covered by Steve Turner's The Gospel According to the Beatles, Geoffrey Giuliano's Lennon in America, Frederic Seaman's Living on Borrowed Time and Robert Rosen's Nowhere Man. Turner did extensive coverage on how the 'more popular than Jesus' crisis broke but Norman just repeats the story without any reference to Turner's discoveries. He disses Albert Goldman's earlier biography (well he would, wouldn't he) but at least Goldman came up with a lot of new material - material which Norman has absorbed. What's actually new in this book could fill a couple of pages. Most of what's truly original is merely incidental, such as Mimi's postcard comments about John's hair. But even without sensational new material Norman could have achieved something if he'd striven to give a perspective on Lennon, if he'd taken the available material and made sense of it for us. But he just presents the findings documentary style and in the end we're left with the old received wisdom - boy damaged by death of his mother becomes rebel, sells rebellion, becomes wealthy and famous, dies. Surely there must be more to it than that? What about the childhood visions he discussed with Playboy (unmentioned by Norman)? What about his attraaction to the spiritual and his conflicted relationship with Christianity? He plays down the power that Yoko exerted over his life and the post Beatle years come over as a crashing bore. But why did a man whose vision helped shape the popular culture of the sixties become such an empty vessel in the seventies. Norman does not ask.

A serviceable biography, 14 Oct 2008
I'm not working just now and like one of the other reviewers I read it in three days. I really enjoyed it. I was 12 when Love Me Do came out and my sister and I bought all their albums on the day of release for several years.

I was also around in London in the late sixties so enjoyed reading the detail about that period.

There are several things about this book which really impressed me however. One is the carefully built up and three dimensional portrait of Lennon's childhood, particularly the portraits of his parents and aunt Mimi. They really come alive for me. So does the picture of Lennon as a 'Just William' character. Clearly for almost his whole life he was a relentless rebel, a continual thorn in the flesh to anyone in authority. I found the stuff about his interest in art and writing really interesting too, going back to his art school days and earlier.

The stuff on Hamburg is great too - that was a hard school, and made them as a band. There is of course a lot of detail on all the Beatles and the changing personnel and friendships. Many readers may be more familiar with this than I as I had never read a book about the Beatles before, but it is really good to get the lowdown on Stu Sutcliffe for example.

The nature of the Lennon McCartney relationship, the friendship with Jagger all add to the mix.

I was less interested in the Yoko Ono years as her work doesn't interest me but the book does bring out how Lennon's personality found his life in New York a new vehicle to express himself in a more explicitly radical way.

The section on the breakup with the Beatles seems to have as much to do with Paul's relationship with Linda as with John's with Yoko but armed with this support they both adopted different financial gurus and that was what really did it.

The is a comprehensive and disciplined book. It doesn't answer every question but for me really brought those years back.

NO GLITTER, 21 Oct 2008
Every time I fall into the 'Autobiography' trap, I swear I will never be caught again. Just because someone has led an interesting/extraordinary life, it does not follow that they can share this with us in writing! Craig Revel Horwood's book illustrates the point. Dreary, dull, lifeless writing. Craig.....you needed a ghost writer, or at the very least a crash course in creative writing!

Borrow a copy before you buy....wish I had!

Fabulous!, 02 Oct 2008
What a read! Craig is as honest and straightforward as you'd expect and so open about his life. His no holds barred style really takes you through the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears. It's a must-read for Strictly fans. I couldn't put it down.

Not bad, 01 Oct 2008
I found it interesting to discover what qualifies Craig to judge dancers, and his credentials hold up. I also enjoyed reading about his journey from Aus to a hugely popular BBC show. I did find the book a little rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed learning about him. I think it could have gone deeper though. It's more a 'coffee table' book than many other biographies I have read.


YAWN! Dull Dull Read, 30 Sep 2008
Not sure what the other people were reading but in my opinion this is a dull read merely for the people who laugh and titter at his feeble put downs on a dancing game show. Yes, wehave all the backstage glitter (if you can call it that) here and also his background, love life (painfully boring) but mostly it reads as someone who believes that are a star but are not merely a judge on a gameshow.

A-MA-ZING!, 14 Sep 2008
All Balls and Glitter was a sensational read - I could'nt put it down.

What ever you thought of Craig from Strictly (acid tongued and critical) certainly portrays himself in a very different light and openly exposes his secret past. He takes us back to his childhood of rural Australia and his desperate actions to get him out of a miserable childhood. Taking the reader on a wonderful and colorful journey to how Craig became the judge we all love to hate.

It has gossip, truth, scandal, sex and love everything you want in a good Barbara Cartland !! But this is Craigs real life and is no fictional story ! A wonderful addictive read.

It appeals to everybody, and highly recommend this book its certainly not DULL DULL DULL !!

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

Read and then return to his cookbooks, 22 Nov 2008
This book was a present: purchased because I like autobiographies and cooking programmes. Whilst this book is not the greatest literacy piece ever written, it is an easy book to read which maintains the same energy & pace exhibited by Mr Ramsay himself. The story outlines his life and experience, peppered with his views on the people around him and the restaurant industry. This book won't earn Ramsay a literary award to run alongside his Michelin stars (which won't bother him) but it is worth the read and is readable - unlike some many other celebrity autobiographies.

Bloody phenomenal, 11 Nov 2008
As soon as i picked this book up and turnt that first page i was hooked, i couldn't put it down i was up until around 4 in the morning until i had read cover to cover. It is so well worded and put together it grabs hold of you and drags you in, its like you are there, you share his feelings. Some parts made me cry so much i had to stop reading until i got myself together. I definately recommend this read. I can't wait to get playing with fire.

A great read, 20 Oct 2008
Gordon Ramsay Humble Pie is a great piece of reading to really enjoy. Gordon Ramsay comes across as an outspoken, loud mouthed and rude individual on television. The book reveals a different side to the chef.

As readers, we learn a great deal about Ramsay's life. It is quite emotional and interesting read. Do you want to know about what inspired Ramsay to become a world leading chef with a CV boosting remarkable achievements on the culinary front? He is hugely knowlegeable about the resturant trade. What route did he take to become one of Britain's most profilic chef? What was his childhood like? What were the up's and down he experienced in life? As you read the details, you will be drawn deeper into the chef's life. As a reader, you will start to appreciate and understand the hardships he experienced to become a hugely successful chef today and a popular TV personality. The books will reveal a full picture of Gordon Ramsay, as you never discovered before.

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

Definitive and a great read, 30 Nov 2008
I have not read any other book about John Lennon so i cannot comment on the claims of "hackery" and my views are therefore only based on my reading of this book alone. And what a book. A brilliant read, very interesting details about his early life but also the book weaves the genesis of various songs and albums into the various stages of Lennon's life. I agree that the Yoko Ono years are slightly less interesting, however the final chapter, where Sean discusses some of his memories of John is really moving, sensitive and perceptive. Superb. A bout of flu has helped me devour the book in 4 days! I couldn't put it down. Wonderful.

BEATLES JOHN LENNON, 09 Nov 2008
Well I have just read what has been the most interesting book on John Lennon's life. I have a few books on the Beatles and John Lennon for me this was a wonderful time capsule of this life. I loved the letters that Aunt Mimi received from a fan at the time of the Beatles success which Mimi seemed happy to correspond with. She even tells her of the pending move to the South Coast, sharing all this with someone she never met. Ok, it was interesting for me to learn about John's grandparents and also that Julia gave birth to four children. It was also an eyeopener for me to learn about John's father Freddie and that he did try to keep in touch with John. The story did not end there for both of them because John did buy him a house and they kept in touch.
My only complaint is that the hardback version is heavy to hold up for a nightime read !! Joking aside - a publication well written and one I shall use as a reference to the life of John Lennon.


Haunting, 21 Oct 2008
In The Word magazine (October issue), Philip Norman suggested, in passing, that his latest book was intended to be a biography of Lennon to set alongside similar volumes devoted to Churchill, Ghandi and Hitler: - an antidote to the flimsy paperback pop-biog formula, and a reflection of the musician's huge place in 20th Century culture. The sheer size of the book (853 pp, not the 448 in Amazon's product details) testifies to this hubristic ambition, and, at over 1/3 million words, the result is a true epic, `half-as-long-again' as the Great American Novel, "Moby-Dick" (213,000 wds)...

Does the size of the book make it an equal to Kershaw's `Hitler', or Jenkins' `Churchill? No. But the lucid quality of the writing does. This book is by far the most literary volume ever written about the phenomenon of late 20th Century pop music, to rank alongside Peter Guralnick's `Elvis' tomes, and Greil Marcus's various studies. A skilled novelist and playwright, Norman shows his hand in the opening lines, neatly sidestepping biographical convention with a novelistic slight-of-hand which telescopes 100 years of history into a bewildering instant. From there, the opening chapter goes on for 18 pages, painting the scene of Lennon's boyhood with a poignancy and skill recalling the lives that make up Joyce's `Dubliners'.

To pick at such a book with eyes for nothing but `new tidbits' of information, and to reject it as such, seems faintly like passing on Broch's `The Death of Virgil', or Bergmann's `Fanny and Alexander', while complaining that they lack any new gossip. A new `fact' (the attraction to McCartney, say, or the identity of the girl in `Norwegian Wood') may be interesting, but it might just as soon appear on an internet blog. This book extends past these, on the other hand, into a subtle beast, resounding with the voices of those who knew Lennon, through Norman's voluminous interviews, and through correspondence (both his own, and some freshly discovered - such as the revealing letters from Mimi to Jane Wirgman).

The whole, it must be said, is certainly the best book by Philip Norman, catapulting him from the Beatles expert who wrote `Shout!,' and from his own novels and plays, into the poet chronicler of the 20th Century's `favourite pop icon'. More importantly, it is also the best book about John Lennon, easily eclipsing the risible Goldman, and surpassing the over-tired Coleman. In its 850 pages, we are offered a grand story that ranges from 1855 to 1980, of an Alice in Wonderland haunted childhood, through to an artistic re-awakening in the stormy waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Only Norman has the eye to see this for what it is: the Great (English) Novel, an epic story that he steers accordingly, drawing out all of the haunting and surprising parallels between three generations of the Lennon family (Alfred, John and Julian), and the distant calling of Yoko Ono (`ocean child') matching Lennon with the tale of her own prophetic ancestors (just check out p. 762)...

Right up to the hideous abruptness of its closing chapters, Norman's story is a rich and unforgettable one, horrible, inevitable, and full of grace. The book ultimately surpasses the intentions with which he supposedly began it: this is not a work to shadow Kershaw, or Jenkins. It begins with the faint shade of James Joyce (a favourite of Lennon's), travels through the prismatic ages of cinema and psychedelia, and ends up with the tragic surrealism of a room full of cats. A masterpiece.

Hackery, 20 Oct 2008
I was expecting great things of this book given that Norman had access to Yoko but this is really a compilation of all that's already been written about Lennon with no credits, footnotes or bibliography referring to the authors whose shoulders he stands upon. What's worse, he doesn't even seem to have read some of the best of the recent books. He overlooks Lennon's brief conversion to Christianity covered by Steve Turner's The Gospel According to the Beatles, Geoffrey Giuliano's Lennon in America, Frederic Seaman's Living on Borrowed Time and Robert Rosen's Nowhere Man. Turner did extensive coverage on how the 'more popular than Jesus' crisis broke but Norman just repeats the story without any reference to Turner's discoveries. He disses Albert Goldman's earlier biography (well he would, wouldn't he) but at least Goldman came up with a lot of new material - material which Norman has absorbed. What's actually new in this book could fill a couple of pages. Most of what's truly original is merely incidental, such as Mimi's postcard comments about John's hair. But even without sensational new material Norman could have achieved something if he'd striven to give a perspective on Lennon, if he'd taken the available material and made sense of it for us. But he just presents the findings documentary style and in the end we're left with the old received wisdom - boy damaged by death of his mother becomes rebel, sells rebellion, becomes wealthy and famous, dies. Surely there must be more to it than that? What about the childhood visions he discussed with Playboy (unmentioned by Norman)? What about his attraaction to the spiritual and his conflicted relationship with Christianity? He plays down the power that Yoko exerted over his life and the post Beatle years come over as a crashing bore. But why did a man whose vision helped shape the popular culture of the sixties become such an empty vessel in the seventies. Norman does not ask.

A serviceable biography, 14 Oct 2008
I'm not working just now and like one of the other reviewers I read it in three days. I really enjoyed it. I was 12 when Love Me Do came out and my sister and I bought all their albums on the day of release for several years.

I was also around in London in the late sixties so enjoyed reading the detail about that period.

There are several things about this book which really impressed me however. One is the carefully built up and three dimensional portrait of Lennon's childhood, particularly the portraits of his parents and aunt Mimi. They really come alive for me. So does the picture of Lennon as a 'Just William' character. Clearly for almost his whole life he was a relentless rebel, a continual thorn in the flesh to anyone in authority. I found the stuff about his interest in art and writing really interesting too, going back to his art school days and earlier.

The stuff on Hamburg is great too - that was a hard school, and made them as a band. There is of course a lot of detail on all the Beatles and the changing personnel and friendships. Many readers may be more familiar with this than I as I had never read a book about the Beatles before, but it is really good to get the lowdown on Stu Sutcliffe for example.

The nature of the Lennon McCartney relationship, the friendship with Jagger all add to the mix.

I was less interested in the Yoko Ono years as her work doesn't interest me but the book does bring out how Lennon's personality found his life in New York a new vehicle to express himself in a more explicitly radical way.

The section on the breakup with the Beatles seems to have as much to do with Paul's relationship with Linda as with John's with Yoko but armed with this support they both adopted different financial gurus and that was what really did it.

The is a comprehensive and disciplined book. It doesn't answer every question but for me really brought those years back.

NO GLITTER, 21 Oct 2008
Every time I fall into the 'Autobiography' trap, I swear I will never be caught again. Just because someone has led an interesting/extraordinary life, it does not follow that they can share this with us in writing! Craig Revel Horwood's book illustrates the point. Dreary, dull, lifeless writing. Craig.....you needed a ghost writer, or at the very least a crash course in creative writing!

Borrow a copy before you buy....wish I had!

Fabulous!, 02 Oct 2008
What a read! Craig is as honest and straightforward as you'd expect and so open about his life. His no holds barred style really takes you through the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears. It's a must-read for Strictly fans. I couldn't put it down.

Not bad, 01 Oct 2008
I found it interesting to discover what qualifies Craig to judge dancers, and his credentials hold up. I also enjoyed reading about his journey from Aus to a hugely popular BBC show. I did find the book a little rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed learning about him. I think it could have gone deeper though. It's more a 'coffee table' book than many other biographies I have read.


YAWN! Dull Dull Read, 30 Sep 2008
Not sure what the other people were reading but in my opinion this is a dull read merely for the people who laugh and titter at his feeble put downs on a dancing game show. Yes, wehave all the backstage glitter (if you can call it that) here and also his background, love life (painfully boring) but mostly it reads as someone who believes that are a star but are not merely a judge on a gameshow.

A-MA-ZING!, 14 Sep 2008
All Balls and Glitter was a sensational read - I could'nt put it down.

What ever you thought of Craig from Strictly (acid tongued and critical) certainly portrays himself in a very different light and openly exposes his secret past. He takes us back to his childhood of rural Australia and his desperate actions to get him out of a miserable childhood. Taking the reader on a wonderful and colorful journey to how Craig became the judge we all love to hate.

It has gossip, truth, scandal, sex and love everything you want in a good Barbara Cartland !! But this is Craigs real life and is no fictional story ! A wonderful addictive read.

It appeals to everybody, and highly recommend this book its certainly not DULL DULL DULL !!

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

Read and then return to his cookbooks, 22 Nov 2008
This book was a present: purchased because I like autobiographies and cooking programmes. Whilst this book is not the greatest literacy piece ever written, it is an easy book to read which maintains the same energy & pace exhibited by Mr Ramsay himself. The story outlines his life and experience, peppered with his views on the people around him and the restaurant industry. This book won't earn Ramsay a literary award to run alongside his Michelin stars (which won't bother him) but it is worth the read and is readable - unlike some many other celebrity autobiographies.

Bloody phenomenal, 11 Nov 2008
As soon as i picked this book up and turnt that first page i was hooked, i couldn't put it down i was up until around 4 in the morning until i had read cover to cover. It is so well worded and put together it grabs hold of you and drags you in, its like you are there, you share his feelings. Some parts made me cry so much i had to stop reading until i got myself together. I definately recommend this read. I can't wait to get playing with fire.

A great read, 20 Oct 2008
Gordon Ramsay Humble Pie is a great piece of reading to really enjoy. Gordon Ramsay comes across as an outspoken, loud mouthed and rude individual on television. The book reveals a different side to the chef.

As readers, we learn a great deal about Ramsay's life. It is quite emotional and interesting read. Do you want to know about what inspired Ramsay to become a world leading chef with a CV boosting remarkable achievements on the culinary front? He is hugely knowlegeable about the resturant trade. What route did he take to become one of Britain's most profilic chef? What was his childhood like? What were the up's and down he experienced in life? As you read the details, you will be drawn deeper into the chef's life. As a reader, you will start to appreciate and understand the hardships he experienced to become a hugely successful chef today and a popular TV personality. The books will reveal a full picture of Gordon Ramsay, as you never discovered before.

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

Fantastic Book and An Inspiration , 25 Oct 2008
I thought this book was very honest and says it all about what really happens in the Entertainment business, its all about connections. It also shows that if you have ambition no matter what age you are you can still achieve your goals. Fabulous

great idea, 03 Jun 2008
I think this book was written by Simon's brother which was a great idea as it means he has all the details of their childhood - which reads like something out of a film! You can see why Simon was so steeped in the entertainment business as a boy, having met so many big stars. Only bad thing about this book is that it's now out of date - a new version with the X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent is overdue.

Okay read for the price paid?, 04 May 2008
I bought this book 2 weeks ago on a whim.... and to be honest I was slightly disappointed.
Why?
Well,its my own fault really as I didn't actually look to see when this book first came out and with it saying fully updated I assumed it would be up to the present day.Duh!!!
Anyway,I digress,it ends where Michelle McManus won Pop Idol so its quite old but even so,I would have liked more spice and juicy insider gossip to what it actually contains.I'm sure there was a lot more he could have told us about Westlife,Louis Walsh, Randy Jackson and Paul Abdul,Simon seems to be mincing his words for once!
Anyway,for the price I paid [which wasn't much],it wasn't a bad read and it did pass a few hours.
PS Simon,your predictions about which famous couple would stay together weren't very good where they???

Why on earth would you buy this?, 01 May 2008
Why on earth would anyone want to read a book about Simon Cowell? The man has no personality and every page is full of dribble. The man knows how to make money from other people's talent and how to be nasty simply because he is so damn miserable and has nothing nice to say about anything. Entertaining on screen perhaps but for only so long and this book is just boring.

I've read Gordon Ramsey's books but Gordon's an achiever in comparison and doesn't have his head up his own arse. Sorry, not a book worth reading I'm afraid. I borrowed it from a friend as I would not spend money on his book. I don't support Cowell, I'm not a fan and would never want to be him, even with all the money he has in the bank. I don't think he is even happy being him. Those expensive cars he drives at night with the roof down and lights on (inside the car!) just so everyone can see his face just confirms the fact Cowell is all about EGO and nothing else. That's why he can only write abook about himself. As boring as he is. Maybe something he can read at night. As for the gneral public.... don't bother.

He Based His Act on Garry Bushell, 08 Apr 2008
A brilliant book that tells the story of X Factor guru Simon Cowell - the man who made Robson & Jerome.
The biog contains plenty of exclusives and my only `sadness` is that Simon doesnt pay tribute to Garry Bushell and admit that he based his Mr Nasty act on TV pundit Gal Bushell or admit that Britain Has Got Talent is based on Bushells TV show `Big Night Out`.
Please can you change this in the reprint Simon?
In fact Bushell and Cowell have a lot in common.
Simon discovered Paul Potts.
And Garry discoverd Frankie Flame...and both taught Piers Morgan all he knows.
Garry Bushell was his mentor at The Sun and Simon his mentor on TV.
A great book that is on a par with Bushell On The Box by Garry Johnson.

Definitive and a great read, 30 Nov 2008
I have not read any other book about John Lennon so i cannot comment on the claims of "hackery" and my views are therefore only based on my reading of this book alone. And what a book. A brilliant read, very interesting details about his early life but also the book weaves the genesis of various songs and albums into the various stages of Lennon's life. I agree that the Yoko Ono years are slightly less interesting, however the final chapter, where Sean discusses some of his memories of John is really moving, sensitive and perceptive. Superb. A bout of flu has helped me devour the book in 4 days! I couldn't put it down. Wonderful.

BEATLES JOHN LENNON, 09 Nov 2008
Well I have just read what has been the most interesting book on John Lennon's life. I have a few books on the Beatles and John Lennon for me this was a wonderful time capsule of this life. I loved the letters that Aunt Mimi received from a fan at the time of the Beatles success which Mimi seemed happy to correspond with. She even tells her of the pending move to the South Coast, sharing all this with someone she never met. Ok, it was interesting for me to learn about John's grandparents and also that Julia gave birth to four children. It was also an eyeopener for me to learn about John's father Freddie and that he did try to keep in touch with John. The story did not end there for both of them because John did buy him a house and they kept in touch.
My only complaint is that the hardback version is heavy to hold up for a nightime read !! Joking aside - a publication well written and one I shall use as a reference to the life of John Lennon.


Haunting, 21 Oct 2008
In The Word magazine (October issue), Philip Norman suggested, in passing, that his latest book was intended to be a biography of Lennon to set alongside similar volumes devoted to Churchill, Ghandi and Hitler: - an antidote to the flimsy paperback pop-biog formula, and a reflection of the musician's huge place in 20th Century culture. The sheer size of the book (853 pp, not the 448 in Amazon's product details) testifies to this hubristic ambition, and, at over 1/3 million words, the result is a true epic, `half-as-long-again' as the Great American Novel, "Moby-Dick" (213,000 wds)...

Does the size of the book make it an equal to Kershaw's `Hitler', or Jenkins' `Churchill? No. But the lucid quality of the writing does. This book is by far the most literary volume ever written about the phenomenon of late 20th Century pop music, to rank alongside Peter Guralnick's `Elvis' tomes, and Greil Marcus's various studies. A skilled novelist and playwright, Norman shows his hand in the opening lines, neatly sidestepping biographical convention with a novelistic slight-of-hand which telescopes 100 years of history into a bewildering instant. From there, the opening chapter goes on for 18 pages, painting the scene of Lennon's boyhood with a poignancy and skill recalling the lives that make up Joyce's `Dubliners'.

To pick at such a book with eyes for nothing but `new tidbits' of information, and to reject it as such, seems faintly like passing on Broch's `The Death of Virgil', or Bergmann's `Fanny and Alexander', while complaining that they lack any new gossip. A new `fact' (the attraction to McCartney, say, or the identity of the girl in `Norwegian Wood') may be interesting, but it might just as soon appear on an internet blog. This book extends past these, on the other hand, into a subtle beast, resounding with the voices of those who knew Lennon, through Norman's voluminous interviews, and through correspondence (both his own, and some freshly discovered - such as the revealing letters from Mimi to Jane Wirgman).

The whole, it must be said, is certainly the best book by Philip Norman, catapulting him from the Beatles expert who wrote `Shout!,' and from his own novels and plays, into the poet chronicler of the 20th Century's `favourite pop icon'. More importantly, it is also the best book about John Lennon, easily eclipsing the risible Goldman, and surpassing the over-tired Coleman. In its 850 pages, we are offered a grand story that ranges from 1855 to 1980, of an Alice in Wonderland haunted childhood, through to an artistic re-awakening in the stormy waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Only Norman has the eye to see this for what it is: the Great (English) Novel, an epic story that he steers accordingly, drawing out all of the haunting and surprising parallels between three generations of the Lennon family (Alfred, John and Julian), and the distant calling of Yoko Ono (`ocean child') matching Lennon with the tale of her own prophetic ancestors (just check out p. 762)...

Right up to the hideous abruptness of its closing chapters, Norman's story is a rich and unforgettable one, horrible, inevitable, and full of grace. The book ultimately surpasses the intentions with which he supposedly began it: this is not a work to shadow Kershaw, or Jenkins. It begins with the faint shade of James Joyce (a favourite of Lennon's), travels through the prismatic ages of cinema and psychedelia, and ends up with the tragic surrealism of a room full of cats. A masterpiece.

Hackery, 20 Oct 2008
I was expecting great things of this book given that Norman had access to Yoko but this is really a compilation of all that's already been written about Lennon with no credits, footnotes or bibliography referring to the authors whose shoulders he stands upon. What's worse, he doesn't even seem to have read some of the best of the recent books. He overlooks Lennon's brief conversion to Christianity covered by Steve Turner's The Gospel According to the Beatles, Geoffrey Giuliano's Lennon in America, Frederic Seaman's Living on Borrowed Time and Robert Rosen's Nowhere Man. Turner did extensive coverage on how the 'more popular than Jesus' crisis broke but Norman just repeats the story without any reference to Turner's discoveries. He disses Albert Goldman's earlier biography (well he would, wouldn't he) but at least Goldman came up with a lot of new material - material which Norman has absorbed. What's actually new in this book could fill a couple of pages. Most of what's truly original is merely incidental, such as Mimi's postcard comments about John's hair. But even without sensational new material Norman could have achieved something if he'd striven to give a perspective on Lennon, if he'd taken the available material and made sense of it for us. But he just presents the findings documentary style and in the end we're left with the old received wisdom - boy damaged by death of his mother becomes rebel, sells rebellion, becomes wealthy and famous, dies. Surely there must be more to it than that? What about the childhood visions he discussed with Playboy (unmentioned by Norman)? What about his attraaction to the spiritual and his conflicted relationship with Christianity? He plays down the power that Yoko exerted over his life and the post Beatle years come over as a crashing bore. But why did a man whose vision helped shape the popular culture of the sixties become such an empty vessel in the seventies. Norman does not ask.

A serviceable biography, 14 Oct 2008
I'm not working just now and like one of the other reviewers I read it in three days. I really enjoyed it. I was 12 when Love Me Do came out and my sister and I bought all their albums on the day of release for several years.

I was also around in London in the late sixties so enjoyed reading the detail about that period.

There are several things about this book which really impressed me however. One is the carefully built up and three dimensional portrait of Lennon's childhood, particularly the portraits of his parents and aunt Mimi. They really come alive for me. So does the picture of Lennon as a 'Just William' character. Clearly for almost his whole life he was a relentless rebel, a continual thorn in the flesh to anyone in authority. I found the stuff about his interest in art and writing really interesting too, going back to his art school days and earlier.

The stuff on Hamburg is great too - that was a hard school, and made them as a band. There is of course a lot of detail on all the Beatles and the changing personnel and friendships. Many readers may be more familiar with this than I as I had never read a book about the Beatles before, but it is really good to get the lowdown on Stu Sutcliffe for example.

The nature of the Lennon McCartney relationship, the friendship with Jagger all add to the mix.

I was less interested in the Yoko Ono years as her work doesn't interest me but the book does bring out how Lennon's personality found his life in New York a new vehicle to express himself in a more explicitly radical way.

The section on the breakup with the Beatles seems to have as much to do with Paul's relationship with Linda as with John's with Yoko but armed with this support they both adopted different financial gurus and that was what really did it.

The is a comprehensive and disciplined book. It doesn't answer every question but for me really brought those years back.

NO GLITTER, 21 Oct 2008
Every time I fall into the 'Autobiography' trap, I swear I will never be caught again. Just because someone has led an interesting/extraordinary life, it does not follow that they can share this with us in writing! Craig Revel Horwood's book illustrates the point. Dreary, dull, lifeless writing. Craig.....you needed a ghost writer, or at the very least a crash course in creative writing!

Borrow a copy before you buy....wish I had!

Fabulous!, 02 Oct 2008
What a read! Craig is as honest and straightforward as you'd expect and so open about his life. His no holds barred style really takes you through the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears. It's a must-read for Strictly fans. I couldn't put it down.

Not bad, 01 Oct 2008
I found it interesting to discover what qualifies Craig to judge dancers, and his credentials hold up. I also enjoyed reading about his journey from Aus to a hugely popular BBC show. I did find the book a little rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed learning about him. I think it could have gone deeper though. It's more a 'coffee table' book than many other biographies I have read.


YAWN! Dull Dull Read, 30 Sep 2008
Not sure what the other people were reading but in my opinion this is a dull read merely for the people who laugh and titter at his feeble put downs on a dancing game show. Yes, wehave all the backstage glitter (if you can call it that) here and also his background, love life (painfully boring) but mostly it reads as someone who believes that are a star but are not merely a judge on a gameshow.

A-MA-ZING!, 14 Sep 2008
All Balls and Glitter was a sensational read - I could'nt put it down.

What ever you thought of Craig from Strictly (acid tongued and critical) certainly portrays himself in a very different light and openly exposes his secret past. He takes us back to his childhood of rural Australia and his desperate actions to get him out of a miserable childhood. Taking the reader on a wonderful and colorful journey to how Craig became the judge we all love to hate.

It has gossip, truth, scandal, sex and love everything you want in a good Barbara Cartland !! But this is Craigs real life and is no fictional story ! A wonderful addictive read.

It appeals to everybody, and highly recommend this book its certainly not DULL DULL DULL !!

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

Read and then return to his cookbooks, 22 Nov 2008
This book was a present: purchased because I like autobiographies and cooking programmes. Whilst this book is not the greatest literacy piece ever written, it is an easy book to read which maintains the same energy & pace exhibited by Mr Ramsay himself. The story outlines his life and experience, peppered with his views on the people around him and the restaurant industry. This book won't earn Ramsay a literary award to run alongside his Michelin stars (which won't bother him) but it is worth the read and is readable - unlike some many other celebrity autobiographies.

Bloody phenomenal, 11 Nov 2008
As soon as i picked this book up and turnt that first page i was hooked, i couldn't put it down i was up until around 4 in the morning until i had read cover to cover. It is so well worded and put together it grabs hold of you and drags you in, its like you are there, you share his feelings. Some parts made me cry so much i had to stop reading until i got myself together. I definately recommend this read. I can't wait to get playing with fire.

A great read, 20 Oct 2008
Gordon Ramsay Humble Pie is a great piece of reading to really enjoy. Gordon Ramsay comes across as an outspoken, loud mouthed and rude individual on television. The book reveals a different side to the chef.

As readers, we learn a great deal about Ramsay's life. It is quite emotional and interesting read. Do you want to know about what inspired Ramsay to become a world leading chef with a CV boosting remarkable achievements on the culinary front? He is hugely knowlegeable about the resturant trade. What route did he take to become one of Britain's most profilic chef? What was his childhood like? What were the up's and down he experienced in life? As you read the details, you will be drawn deeper into the chef's life. As a reader, you will start to appreciate and understand the hardships he experienced to become a hugely successful chef today and a popular TV personality. The books will reveal a full picture of Gordon Ramsay, as you never discovered before.

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

Fantastic Book and An Inspiration , 25 Oct 2008
I thought this book was very honest and says it all about what really happens in the Entertainment business, its all about connections. It also shows that if you have ambition no matter what age you are you can still achieve your goals. Fabulous

great idea, 03 Jun 2008
I think this book was written by Simon's brother which was a great idea as it means he has all the details of their childhood - which reads like something out of a film! You can see why Simon was so steeped in the entertainment business as a boy, having met so many big stars. Only bad thing about this book is that it's now out of date - a new version with the X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent is overdue.

Okay read for the price paid?, 04 May 2008
I bought this book 2 weeks ago on a whim.... and to be honest I was slightly disappointed.
Why?
Well,its my own fault really as I didn't actually look to see when this book first came out and with it saying fully updated I assumed it would be up to the present day.Duh!!!
Anyway,I digress,it ends where Michelle McManus won Pop Idol so its quite old but even so,I would have liked more spice and juicy insider gossip to what it actually contains.I'm sure there was a lot more he could have told us about Westlife,Louis Walsh, Randy Jackson and Paul Abdul,Simon seems to be mincing his words for once!
Anyway,for the price I paid [which wasn't much],it wasn't a bad read and it did pass a few hours.
PS Simon,your predictions about which famous couple would stay together weren't very good where they???

Why on earth would you buy this?, 01 May 2008
Why on earth would anyone want to read a book about Simon Cowell? The man has no personality and every page is full of dribble. The man knows how to make money from other people's talent and how to be nasty simply because he is so damn miserable and has nothing nice to say about anything. Entertaining on screen perhaps but for only so long and this book is just boring.

I've read Gordon Ramsey's books but Gordon's an achiever in comparison and doesn't have his head up his own arse. Sorry, not a book worth reading I'm afraid. I borrowed it from a friend as I would not spend money on his book. I don't support Cowell, I'm not a fan and would never want to be him, even with all the money he has in the bank. I don't think he is even happy being him. Those expensive cars he drives at night with the roof down and lights on (inside the car!) just so everyone can see his face just confirms the fact Cowell is all about EGO and nothing else. That's why he can only write abook about himself. As boring as he is. Maybe something he can read at night. As for the gneral public.... don't bother.

He Based His Act on Garry Bushell, 08 Apr 2008
A brilliant book that tells the story of X Factor guru Simon Cowell - the man who made Robson & Jerome.
The biog contains plenty of exclusives and my only `sadness` is that Simon doesnt pay tribute to Garry Bushell and admit that he based his Mr Nasty act on TV pundit Gal Bushell or admit that Britain Has Got Talent is based on Bushells TV show `Big Night Out`.
Please can you change this in the reprint Simon?
In fact Bushell and Cowell have a lot in common.
Simon discovered Paul Potts.
And Garry discoverd Frankie Flame...and both taught Piers Morgan all he knows.
Garry Bushell was his mentor at The Sun and Simon his mentor on TV.
A great book that is on a par with Bushell On The Box by Garry Johnson.


Very Poor, 18 Oct 2007
I have read better and more comprehensive biographies of Cash on magazine specials.

The book is quite superficial and quite frankly, I doubt many people care how many grandchildren Cash had.

If you were looking for some insights into what inspired the Man in Black you are better off looking elsewhere.

An honest and humorous book - but the man is, most certainly, not purely an angel, 23 Sep 2007
I enjoyed reading this book, though, as another reviewer stated, he does praise other people a lot, perhaps too much. It became a bit too much, but I also think he came across as fundamentally sincere, so ok with me - I didn't think it a biggie when reading. Also, there are some good stories, as one might expect. He has a knack for spinning a good yarn, but some parts of the book is also just facts, and that is less than inspiring - but it IS an autobiography, so that has to be in there too. Overall, a good read, in my opinion, for me it has been inspiring, if a bit disturbing hearing him battling it out with his demons, and I am not sure he ever - truly - beat them, I think he went out/down fighting. I had hoped that a man who is (I assume) as spiritual as him, would have been able to find more peace in his life. I don't think the book really gives the impression that he succeeded fully on that account.

As I said, I liked the story, and as a person who has a growing interest in religion, the many stories Johnny Cash shares about his own path towards redemption (setbacks and all) inspires me. However, for people who find religion distasteful (for whatever reason) I wouldn't recommend this book, since he has a lot of words to spare for christianity, or religion. In my opinion, since it has had a large influence on his life, I can't see why it shouldn't be in his autobiography. My only problem with it is, that there is a sense that he is 'too hungry for the spotlight for his own good', and it is a shame and a painful truth that he was not able to balance that more in his life. But at least he has been honest in sharing, for which I will give him credit.

Sincerely,

J

disillusioned, 27 Jul 2007
The first half chronicles the trials and tribulations of his early career and gives a fascinating description of the life of a hero of mine, an outspoken rebel with values. The second half cranks on about the influence of God on his life, his socializing with past presidents and the rich and famous. It is boring, repetitive and has changed my perception of Cash. To be honest, I wish I hadnt read the book and still had only the images he created in my mind through his music.

WELL WORTH THE CASH!, 20 Mar 2007
I read this book on holiday last week and thought it was great. It was a truthful, thought provoking book by someone who is not a professional author but gave it a jolly good shot. His stories of drug addiction and the destruction it causes seemed very real, as did his genuine love for June.

I really enjoyed this book and having read about 20 autobiographies, will be reading this one again definately.

Not Worth The Cash, 27 Feb 2007
I love Johnny Cash's music, but his attempts at being an author are pitiful.

He seems to be so content in his old age that he can't risk saying one contraversial word about anyone or anything that appears in his book. I lost count of the times that so-and-so was described as a "very good man" or such-and-such as "also a very good man," or somebody else as "the kindest person I've met." One poor woman's entire existence is summed up as being a "similar sort of person to her husband." I bet she was well chuffed with that critical dissection.

His stories are generally banal and un-interesting and his mystical beliefs infuriating to the extent that I belive that there are lot of people out there who've helped Cash along the way, but have received little acknowledgement here (I love the way that when he was in the holy land making a film, some ancient church that was never open happened to have been opened on the day that Cash was visiting. The caretaker "just knew someone" was visiting. No mention of thanks to the production team by Johnny there, who doubtless contacted the caretaker to inform him that "someone" was visiting.)

Perhaps I'm being a being a little harsh. There ar