Customer Reviews

Michael Moore: A Biography

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The cover is great. For a second, you'd think this was finally the definitive guide to Michael Moore's life. Something that documents his struggles and embellishments. Alas, this book is another failed attempt to make a buck.

First, anyone passing by the book and checks it out will notice the font. It is a large, child sized font. Basically, about 100 words average each page. Roughly, it's size is actually a quarter of the length you'd expect it to be.

Then there's the content. Take the chapter on "The Awful Truth". I was a big fan of the show and I expected that the chapter would actually be about how Michael Moore stuggled to make the show with a small budget, getting the show off the ground, and dealing with the lower ratings than "TV Nation". Almost an entire HALF A PAGE is dedicated to all that information! The truth is: the chapter deals with little else than a disgruntled part-time intern/fact-checker getting fired so the show could save more money. I do not care about this part time employee. Especially when it turns out that he stalks Moore. The book tries to set Mike up for being the bad guy for taking legal actions about said ex-employee. Despite the attempts, the fact that Moore receives death threats everyday and does not have secret service to protect him, makes his paranoia reasonable. The ex-employee also comes off as a jerk in the prose, which shows how the propaganda of the novel fails considerably.

Expect every chapter to be vaguely written with little to no details about what is actually interesting in Moore's life. The book takes about a hour or two to read (pretty much, you could read it in Borders and save some money).

What I will say is the best thing about the book are the pictures of a young (and thin) Michael Moore. It's interesting to know that he was once a normal guy. He may be rich now, but he wasn't born that way. I think that is a much better book, but apparently Schultz disagrees with me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

As a Biography this is a poor effort,it consists mainly of 'what this person and that person' thought of Michael and his productions.There was nothing of Michaels' life that isn't already known. That born in Flint. Mich, he is Irish/ American, once thought of the priesthood and his wife is Kathleen Glyn. I could have done better myself,never having even met the man. I would be surprized if the author has either. A waste of money & time in my opinion.

Sure, this isn't the entire Michael Moore story, but the guy's still alive and from what i can tell, protective of his privacy. "A Biography" does put his often conflicting stories in order and perspective and the really well researched chapter on his ousting from Mother Jones should be hilarious to anyone who's survived publishing or lefty politics. Best of all, the book doesn't try to knight him or drag him through the mud. It just tells his story in clear, and sometimes even witty, language. Best: a long interview with tv nation producer John Deleverany (aka Crackers the Crime Fighting Chicken!) . And yes, the skinny hippy photos are pretty damn cool.

Ok, I will admit it, I am a Michael Moore devotee, have everything he has done and will confess that he can do no wrong in my eyes.

With that in mind, I bought this book and found that it was a quick and easy read. Gave a history of Moore from his school days until today and was quite breezy. There was not a lot of depth in the book but I gather this is due to Moore, while being a very public figure, is quite guarded about his own life.

Overall, it is a good overview of Michael Moore and will serve us well until Moore himself writes his biography.

It was interesting to see Michael in a new light, and learn about the Eagle Scout and how well he did with it. I also enjoyed the enthusasim from Fan Ryan Eashoo from Flint Michigan where Michael Moore was born.

Ryan Eashoo did say a ton of good points that I agree with whole heartedly. Its a shame that people in Davison are such small minded. Its a small that they didn't honnor Michael Moore, a citizen hands down is one of the most FAMOUS in Michigan History. After reading the Biography I see Michael Moore in a new light....

I just finished the book and think its fair and balanced. It was interesting to read that Michael went to Germany, and was able to protest Ronald Reagan at a memorial. I also never knew he was the youngest ever to be elected to public office..

The Rabbit Lady is nuts, and Fred Ross was just doing his job I now realize. It would be great to do a book on Flint Now. I also found how people treat him in Flint is very sad, the people of Flint could really piggy back off Michael Moore and draw people to Flint. I wonder what its like now in Flint since Mike did his movie??

I also found Mike has made a lot of money doing films and has given lots back to the community. But Mike is RICH! he is not one of us for sure. He portrays himself as a lower to middle class guy, but in the book it shows he is very well off. He shouldn't try to deceive people into thinking he is lower to middle class. Ryan Eashoo also left an impression on me, I think people like him are important to get Mike some recognition in his home town. I can't believe everyone in Flint hates Mike, just a few with really big mouths.

Overall I would highly recommend the book as a must have for any Michael Moore Fans! I have read another "supposed ed" Biography on him and it was one sided, and too much PRO Michael.

I just finished the book and I think Emily did a wonderful job. It was awesome to see the pictures of Michael Moore when he was younger. Flint and the world should be grateful to have such a man. Also I found it interesting on all the things about Flint Michigan I never knew. It was also good to see Ryan Eashoo again be talked about, I read about him last year trying to get Michael Moore into his high school hall of fame. I also seen him on the news. What a great young man, he reminds me of a young John F. Kennedy.

To the world we hope Michael Moore can do more good! :)

I haven't even seen the book, but I just read its review in the Washington Post, which points out that there isn't a single interview with Michael Moore cited by Schultz in her bibliography. Whether this is her fault or Moore's, why does the publisher say above that interviews inform this biography??? Not true.

Michael Moore a True and endearing man. Mr. Moore has shown great strengths on and off the TV set. He is an artist, human rights activist, a film maker, and writer. Mr. Moore's hometown of Flint Michigan is hard hit by GM plant closings. I read in the newspaper today about more Plant Closings in Flint. Looks like Michael Moore was right, almost all the plants are closed now. :(

It was also sad to see his former High School Hall of Fame being so childish and not allowing him into it. Who else from Davison High could be so famous or accomplished so much? I commend Ryan Eashoo and his efforts to get Mike into the hall of fame. I seen him on the news, he seems like a bright young man. I hope he keeps up his pressure on Davison High to get Mike in.

Praise Allah for Michael Moore. He has demonstrated great success and courage. Mr. Moore is a hero in my mind, and is a American Legend.

Flint Michigan should be happy to have Mr. Moore, the book showed some finer sides that I never seen or heard about before about him.

I think its sad the Republicans hate him because of F-911. Its said to say because he gets in the democrats, and yells at them just as much.

I also think Mr. Moore should go back to Flint and make it a better place. He and Ryan Eashoo could do wonders to that city. I also sounds like Flint is coming back slowly but surely as it says in the book.