Customer Reviews

All Men Have Secrets

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3 star:		(1)
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This is the type of book that should be available in reference to all great bands (eg., The Stone Roses, the The, New Order, etc.), but it is especially apropos that it is a book about songs by the Smiths. Each chapter is devoted to what people think concerning all the Smiths' songs, and the most interesting stories by far are those concerning the first time someone heard a specific song by the Smiths and how it touched them. "All Men Have Secrets" is not only wonderful for those who identify with the songs, but also for those interested in the general melancholy undertones to the 80s that are often not depicted in films from the time period. It's unfortunate that this book is out of print. Really it is quite splendid. Most Smiths fans will identify with at least one of the pieces concerning a song - and all will find differences between themselves and the opinions of others.

Well, I was amazed to read that the reviewer above thought the book contained some lies...well, I contributed several pieces to the book, and can say, hand on heart, all mine were true.

The book is, agreed, more of a fan's thing, but anyone who's just getting to know this wonderful band should have a peek....it always fascinates me when I read or hear about other people's interpretations of what they think a song means, or what the track means to them personally.... it deepens the whole meaning of a song, and helps you look at the track with a different perspective, from a new angle....

Anyway, the book's a gem, highly recommended, I just hope it's not been deleted?

I like this book very much. I think the best thing about this book is that perhaps not only Smiths fans will like it. There are lots of really awesome stories in it, that any miserable person would like to read. The stories all relate to Smiths songs of course, but some of the writers are really good at telling and the result is very emotional stuff. I am a devout fan of the Smiths and Morrissey, and I enjoyed not only seeing how other people found the music to be life altering, but also seeing how these people lived in their own words. It's an awesome book.

If you are a new Smiths fan looking for tons of info, you've come to the wrong place. All Men Have Secrets is great for those who have grown up with The Smiths and can relate to the tales told by the other Smithsonians. However, anyone with anything less than an obession with the band, would probably be bored with the content. While some of the stories told by the various Smiths fans interviewed for this book are boring, and others are obvious lies, every Smiths fan who has ever been badgered for their good taste, will put this book down with the knowledge that not everyone in the world is cursed with no sense of musical taste, and have them constantly thinking "I know exactly what they mean."