Feel Robbie Williams [Paperback]

Chris Heath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2005

This is the second book from Robbie Williams, written with acclaimed music writer Chris Heath. For the first time the full, unexpurgated story of his life - brutally frank, funny and honest. First came Ebury's massively successful, 2001 illustrated account of Robbie's touring world, "Somebody Someday". Now the time has come for the complete, intimate story of Robert P Williams. Spanning his childhood through Take That to his current status as rock icon, probing his love life and his family relationships, this is closer than you'd ever thought you'd get to Robbie Williams. Written by Chris Heath, who has spent nearly two years working with Rob on this book, every word is imbued with Rob's humour, charisma, talent, memories and complexity. But more than ever before, this book tells the truth about his extraordinary life. Billy Connolly told his story through his wife, and with Rolling Stone journalist, Chris Heath, Robbie's own story promises to be as brilliantly and insightfully told. You may have seen his face a million times, heard his music every day, followed him from the beginning of Take That, but this is a man with some serious surprises in store. "Robbie Williams" is a ground-breaking package; a truly original and brilliantly written book; a grippingly honest story of an extraordinary man.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robbie Williams first conceived the idea for this book when Chris Heath came to interview him in 2002. Rob felt that between them, he and Chris, a friend and respected music journalist, would write the very best and most honest book. Chris, also an investigative news writer, has written for Rolling Stone, Details, Telegraph and Sunday Times, amongst many others. His subjects have varied from Madonna and Lisa Marie Presley to politicians, murderers and artists. Chris and Robbie have spent nearly two years working on this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Random House; First Edition edition (January 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0091897548
• ISBN-13: 978-0091897543
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,277,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, disturbing view into celebrity life, May 25, 2005

By 

K. Blonde (Fort Worth, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Feel (Hardcover)

I am an unabashed fan of Robbie Williams, I love his voice, his swagger and his mischief with reporters. I picked up this book as a fan, but it turned out to be much more interesting than a simple biography.

Chris Heath spent (by my guess) upwards of a year with Robbie Williams, sometimes living with him, sometimes through correspondence. The result of that time together is this book. The book doesn't really go into drawing conclusions about Robbie as a person or a professional, but rather it shows us a very thorough snapshot of life as a mega-celebrity (albeit an unapologetically self-centered one). He shows us behind the facade of Robbie Williams, the over-the-top charismatic performer, and gives readers a disturbing glimpse as to what its like to be Robbie everyday.

Robbie, from what I can tell from the book seems to be a reasonably normal guy in his late 20s. He has issues, especially with social anxiety and depression, and is a recovering addict, but he comes across as pretty funny, charming and generally vivacious. Chris Heath shows us the dark side of being a mega-celebrity, Robbie is constantly hounded and haunted by false tabloid reports, he is chased incessantly by paprazzi and he often deals with fans who feel like Robbie "owes" them something for helping to make him a star. Through this Robbie proves to be quite resilient, extremely creative and reasonably productive. There is little gossipy writing and the book focuses more on the process it takes to turn Robbie Williams the person into Robbie Williams the persona.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a fascinating and well written character study and I don't think it should be relegated only to the legions of Robbie fans. I always wished he was a bigger star in the States so he would tour here, but after reading this, I don't begrudge him the relative anonymity he enjoys here.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating insight into a musical genius, April 7, 2005

By 

Eva South "Eva South" (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feel (Hardcover)

I couldn't put this book down. It's a fascinating insight into Robbie Williams, one of the greatest artists of our time I think. I am so surprised that Americans are so slow to appreciate his talent. His solo work has proven time and time again that he is SO much more than an ex boy band member. This book is a kind of journal kept by Heath who spent lots of time with Williams. Robbie is complex but a genius - you only have to listen to his music to know that. He certainly has issues (who doesn't?) but it's added to the depth of his musical talent. I've been a fan ever since I bought the Albert Hall DVD. I've now got three more of his CD's - it won't be the last.

Note to Robbie: Please come to South Africa - at least we recognise brilliance when we see it!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous expose of the downside of fame, October 6, 2006

By 

avidreader "Sue" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feel Robbie Williams (Paperback)

At a time when more and more people seem to court 'celebrity', this book is forewarning of the unwanted consequences of fame: media intrusions, obsessive fans and inevitably self absorption and self doubt.

You don't need to like Robbie Williams, or even know who he is, to appreciate this book. It is much more than a biography. This is not the place to look for titillation or scandal on the man (try the papers). It is instead a philosophical yet highly readable account of what can happen when a normal but talented person finds extreme success.

I found the writing non-judgemental. The reader is free to make up their own mind on the merits of the main character, if they feel the need to do so at all, and I disagree with a previous reviewer that the text is sycophantic.

Frankly, if this is fame, who'd want it?