Customer Reviews

Learning to Sing

5 star:		(148)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was amazed to see people writing reviews before reading the book, both overly enthusiastic fans and sarcastic non-fans. I have read it, and will read it again. There is a lot to absorb in it, but the first thing that I found is that there is a strong message for young people struggling with acceptance in school. This is a major issue in schools today, and here is someone who has been through it. Aiken is young enough to remember it vividly, and can relate to those going through it now.

The book also has a strong message for those children of broken homes and abusive family situations. If parents in these situations read this book, they may also get a good look at the pain they are causing, and realize that they have the ability to change.

This book challenges young people to consider a life of service, and talks about the great rewards of helping others. It encourages young people to consider the less glamorous, but equally or more rewarding career of teaching.

I found the book to be sad, funny, and encouraging, written by a young man with a pretty level head on his shoulders.

Do NOT mistake Learning to Sing for some standard-issue ghost-written celebrity autobiography with all the content of a marshmallow. Neither should you discount singer Clay Aiken's life history because of his youth. Capably assisted by Alison Glock, Clay tells his story with his trademark wit and charm, and without a trace of ego or self-pity. Plenty of people would pity themselves if faced with the situations he has seen. Instead, Clay's heart, brains and faith led him into a career path he thought settled--teaching children with special needs--before the mother of one of his students encouraged him to enter a TV talent show, and his life changed forever. He is as honest, sometimes brutally so, about himself, his shortcomings and fears, as he is about the strange new world of pop superstardom he now lives in.

If you are a fan, read this book. If you just wonder what all the fuss over Clay Aiken is about, read this book. If you want to be moved by an uplifting story of human faith and spirit...well, you get the idea. This is one powerful book, and not to be missed!

I loved this book. It reminds us that many of the things that we go through as children and teenagers can be overcome as adults if we have the right positive attitude... and the right role model whoever that may be. I found "Learning To Sing" inspirational and plan to share it with my church and their library.

Wow, Elrica, hate much??? You haven't even read the book, by your own admission, & already you run over here to try & discourage prospective buyers. It's pretty obvious where your type is coming from ... the Kelly & Ruben boards, as usual. Amazon, watch out, you can expect a whole bunch of 1-Star ratings from jealous fans of other "Idols." I have read the book in its abridged form selling now at Christian bookstores & everyone in the shop was raving about it. It's been a long time since a celebrity has been so brutally honest with the details of his life so early in his career. Clay's experiences with a violent, alcoholic & disinterested birth father, a strictly religious mother & a hard-nosed military step-dad & his ability to emerge as a level-headed, positive & upbeat young man with a burning faith in his Creator & in the inherent goodness & generosity of mankind is extremely inspiring to all but the hardest of hearts. I highly recommend this lovely book to Christians everywhere. But please don't be put off by the "inspirational" moniker - this is a story that all young people of middle school age & beyond should read, no matter their religious beliefs. And plenty of adults will gain insight into their own life experiences as well by the example Clay has set in learning from his misfortunes & mistakes. If Clay Aiken isn't a fine role model for the youth of this day & age, then no one is.

Okay, this book should put the naysayers of Clay Aiken at rest unless that is, they have no soul because to read this book is to read the life of a man who has been through hard times (the teasing I can relate to, I too was a "geek"), has had anything and everything thrown at him and perservered despite all of that. He shows us that with extreme devotion to everything that is important to him and also being accountable for his flaws and faults he can still rise up and be the man that God intended him to. He shows us that as a celebrity you don't have to be just in it for the "bling bling"; the fame, the fortune and every salicious temptation that comes with it. He shows us what a celebrity should and could be if extreme egoism and selfishness didn't get in the way. He shows us what it is to look deep inside yourself and find an inner peace, to reach out to those less fortunate and do everything you can to help. He shows us that despite those that give him bad reviews (not just those here on Amazon that profess to be giving "honest" opinions but as was evidenced last year when MOAM was released are simply out to derail his success. Hello, he does not have to fail for your favorite to be successful. Read the book and you will see) he can stand up, rise up and display the maturity that he did on American Idol. This is a must read for everyone I truly believe.

My sister-in-law is a big Clay Aiken fan, a fact which I teased her about quite a bit due to her being in her 40's. Through an unseemly amount of pressure and a bit of bribery, I agreed to read this book which she loaned me.

i have to admit I've found myself very curious as to Clay's incredible popularity, particularly among women in their 30's and 40's. These "clay-maniacs" are really fanatical about Clay in an almost Beatles-like way.

But I have to say I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It's quite refreshing to read about a celebrity who is SO down to Earth and not all ego. Almost forgotten is that Clay finished 2nd on idol and yet has perhaps become the show's biggest star out of its three seasons.

Here's a guy who seemed to have such a hard early childhood and fought so hard to gain acceptance. And in now finding such sudden fame its clearly NOT gone to his head as he remains so rooted in his faith in God and family.

He poigniantly tells of resisting any attempts to perhaps go for a younger audience by writing songs with more of an edge to them. Thankfully he is sticking to his guns as there are more than enough foul-mouthed, gyrating acts in music today with a lot of flair and no substance.

I was really touched by the book and have found a new respect for the man and the star.

I loved this book. It is up there with three other of my favorite books "The Little Guide to Happiness", He's Just Not that into you", "He Never Called Again". If you are a fan of Clay Aiken you will love him more, if you're not a fan- you will be. I found "Learning To Sing", very inspirational and plan to share it with my friends. This book is uplifting, it's focus on human faith is what people need in the world today. This book will lift you're spirits. I will even buy a couple of them to give away as Christmas presents, that's how much I loved it.

I learned a lot from this book. It's one of the most inspiring I have ever read. Clay has such a vision, even bigger than I thought. God has given him a desire to make a difference, and put so much love and compassion in his heart. I have come to believe that God has been grooming him for this life for quite some time. His love for kids, and his passion for those with special needs, is so heart-warming.
Some parts of this book, I cried so hard. He has been through so much, and come thorugh it all having learned something from each experience. Some parts, I laughed. Mostly, I was inspired. His love for his fans is so special. His willingness to accept the restrictions that come with his new life speak of a maturity and peace I sometimes wish I had, and I'm older than he is. He relies on God in a way that is refreshing to see in a pop star.
This book changed some of the things that I thought I knew about him. However, the most inportant things...his love and compassion for others, his faith in God, and his generosity of spirit, remain unchanged. He is every bit the man I always thought he was...and so much more. I highly recommend this book to even the non-fan. For the fan, it is a must!

After seeing Clay Aiken on Larry King, I picked up the book when it went on sale yesterday. I am an avid reader, but only have a few minutes each day to spend reading. Last night I picked up the book, intending to spend only a few moments ... and the next thing I knew it was 3:00 a.m. To paraphrase Larry King, this is a remarkable young man. I commend him for writing such an open, honest, vulnerable and touching memoir. Clay touched on things that were similar in my life, so I am grateful to him for sharing. What an outlook he has on life! I highly recommend this wonderful book!!!

I read Clay Aiken's book of inspirational anecdotes when it was first released and was taken with its honest and open outlook on the various journeys Clay's taken to get to his present point in life. It should be pointed out that Learning to Sing is not in any way shape or form an autobiography. It doesn't discuss every important (and not so important) event that has occured in Clay's relatively young life. Today, on Dr. Phil, the focus was on bullying, and Clay Aiken made an appearance since some of the anecdotes shared in the book addressed the bullying he'd been subjected to as a child.

I highly recommend this book. There are several reasons, among them being it offers the readers some insight on events that helped to shape Clay's life and how he came to be the type of person who decides to complete his Bachelors degree while on a multi-state American Idol concert tour; the type of person who manages to form a foundation at the age of 24 and two years later receives a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education to develop a curriculum on Inclusion; the type who visits tsunami-devasted Banda Aceh, as a UNICEF Ambassador for Education, to offer whatever comfort he can and bring whatever attention his pop star status can lend to this still needy area; the type of person who manages to go triple platinum on his debut album and then platinum on a Christmas cd and still seemingly keep himself centered and know what's really important as he makes appearances on behalf of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation and various groups such as Caregivers and Best Buddies; the type who appears on talk shows to talk with two scared teens about how he got over being bullied and to have confidence that they will, too.

If you're expecting a 'tell-all' book that dishes dirt and gossip about the music world, forget about purchasing Learning to Sing. If you want to gain some insight on what goes into the making of a 'different kind of pop star' such as the one Clay Aiken has become, then Learning to Sing is a fine gift to yourself and to those who might need some inspiration in being the best person they can be.