3.92 AVERAGE


Overall I liked it, even though it took me months to read. The beginning was very tedious. It seemed like I was reading an encyclopedia. Lots of names, dates, places, bands who played that he saw, things he did as a child, plus throw in some British word choices that I am unfamiliar with and I just wasn’t into it. When it finally got to a point in time that I actually knew about Phil Collins and Genesis it got much better. Maybe because I did know that music and was a big fan of it or maybe it just got better.

I can’t say there were any great revelations or juicy bits that you might think you’d find in a musician’s memoir. He wasn’t a druggie or cheater (for the most part). This was not sex, drugs, and rock n roll. Just rock n roll. I’m glad. What it was seemed more like a telling of all the good in his life, mainly his career and, even though he was married and divorced 3 times, his kids and his family really mean the world to him. Funny how it wasn’t until he decided to retire in his mid-50s that having so much time on his hands he became an alcoholic. As well, his body began falling apart. Deaf in one ear, no feeling or strength in one hand, back surgery, fractured ankle, brittle bones, plus pancreatitis from drinking. It actually amazes me that he is out touring right now. I just can’t imagine he has much left to give.

I hope Phil Collins gets the happy ending he is looking for.

My expectations were low. And yet there were very few pages I did not enjoy. So, it gets a 5! There are some great - and funny - stories about Tony Bennett, about Cher, Disney. There are some great -- and touching -- stories about Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney. And a bunch of good intell on Genesis/Peter Gabriel/the solo career. A great read!

3.5 stars. Phil Collins' memoir won't win any awards for great writing, but the voice is humble, honest and intimate, which was refreshing. The beginning was a little slow for me but things picked up once Phil joined Genesis and moved swiftly throughout the rest of the book. I learned a lot and enjoyed it, and it also gave me pause when listening to his songs again.
emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

not to be biased but i genuinely think this is the best memoir i've read! 
i love this man so much, he is to his core my biggest musical inspiration in so many ways. his talent, commitment, passion and creativity for it is something that i admire so much. 
also, i grew up on his music with my family. so it has a huge special place in my heart. and having read so many autobiographies, it's quite clear that he actually has a skill with language/writing, and it truly feels like it's his voice. i keep saying that it feels like you're reading a story, and actually seeing events unfold in real time through the way he relays everything. i genuinely feel like he put his everything into this and you can tell. and i love him even more for it. the way he acknowledges his own mistakes and tells about them, rather than downplaying or what have you is really admirable. as is his empathy for everyone around him, and his love for his kids. his undying love as he'll tell you. you can tell by how he mentions them and tries for them. which is why it's so nice to see that (apparently) all is well (or on the come up) in his relationships in them. dang it that i won't be able to meet him one day and tell him how much his music means to me but alas. because through this book you kind of feel like you get a sense of who he really is. and i think that's awesome! big love to my favourite musician of all time.

Really interesting memoir by Collins. Great mix of music and life. The highs and the lows.
Best to read while listening to the music.
informative inspiring lighthearted reflective
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carman1972's review

3.0

In my pre- and early teen days in the 80's, Collins' music was about as cool as it could get. I recall listing "Phil Collins and the Hot Tub Club" as my favorite band on my 8th grade "About me..." sheet that was published for our graduation. Soon after, I decided that I could only like music from certain genres, and Collins (not to mention Genesis) was gone from my collection.

Nostalgia for that era piqued my curiosity (that and a low price advertised on book bub). I was hoping for a bit more detail into his songwriting process but aside from the "Face Value" album, there isn't much detail. Still, Collins' personality does shine through and does make for an enjoyable read. There were some details of his later career that were unknown to me -- and some things from the 80's (such as the Live Aid stuff) that I was too young to care about as they were happening -- that were interesting to read but a bit tough to get through at the end.

Familiar refrain with the rock biography genre... this is the 3rd one I've read this year (and this is the best of those three) and all had the same lesson: success is possible if you want it bad enough and the cost is... your family.

Collins is very honest, or at least seems to be (I don't personally know him), and he doesn't attempt to paint himself in a good light. He just tells it like it happened, from his point of view. As with the other rock biographies I've read recently (Tom Petty, Jonathan Cain), I most enjoyed learning about how my favorite songs were written and how those great albums came together. However, none of the rock biographies I've read to this point have been inspirational. If anything, they are each cautionary tales of what the true cost of success really is.

Though most of us are not rock stars, these books still serve as a warning that any of us who put our careers before our families may well find some measure of success but may also have no one to share it with when we reach the end of our respective journeys.

Bloody fantastic!