Customer Reviews

Neil and Me

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

 

 

The first thing you must know about this book: Scott Young adores his son. This adoration pours out in every mention of Neil, whether he's breeding chickens or playing Carnegie Hall. Whether the senior Young was quite so emotional about his other children or not, it's really touching.

The book is utterly unique, as far as I can tell: with the exception of A.A. Milne, fathers just don't seem to write biographies of their children, much less legendary newspapermen of exceedingly legendary rock stars. You do get the Neil Young story in this book, with most of the milestones carefully included, but it's far less interesting than the story of the Young family from its beginnings and its contortions and realignments over the years.

Don't pick this up because you think it will let you understand Neil Young -- even the most milquetoast of men is ultimately unfathomable to others, and NY's inner landscape is craggy and forbidding indeed -- but if you want an account of one family's life, go ahead!

It's appropriate to the man that the two worthwhile biographies (this, by Neil's father, and Shakey, by Jimmy McDonough) of Neil Young have extremely unreliable narrators. This isn't to say that either is intentionally deceptive or misleading, but both have such powerful feelings about Young that their books say more about who they see Neil as (Scott as the caring family man who wants simplicity, JMcD as a chronic deal-breaker and hellraiser) than who he actually is (somewhere in the boundary layer, I'd bet). It's something that Neil himself might well savor.

This book depicts Neil's life as seen from the eyes of his father's. Early childhood stories quickly give way to Neil's first meeting with Stephen Stills in New York, the journey to California from Ontario, formation of Buffalo Springfield etc. Chocked full of trivia, who met who and why various bands were formed. CSN&Y years up through the tour with the Shocking Pinks (and Dad)in the early 80's. I couldn't put this book down. Rather than have a fatherly perspective, Scott Young tells this tale as a biography of his best friend. I highly recommend this book if you're into Neil at all, you won't be sorry.

This book is hard to put down. Scott gives a detailed description of his career, his relationship with Neil as a friend and as a son, Neil's rise to Stardom and plenty of interesting stories. It is a must for anyone wanting to explore Neil Young as a musician and as a person.

Loved the book, bought others for friends. It's been several years, so I might read it again. Just gave one to 19 year female college student, she was very grateful! So Neil lives on!!Thanks Neil for all the hours of great music!!!!!

I was glad to see the childhood pictures of Neil as well as pictures of his family and learn a bit about what he was like as a youngster.

I think Neil Young is a genius and his music resonates with me just as much as it did in the 70's. I can also tell what a fine man he is.

For me, Scott Young spoiled the book by insinuating his own accomplishments and life into the book to the point it was a bio about him as much as Neil Young. It might not have annoyed me so much except that his personality bothered me with ongoing whining about how he had to pay alimony to 2 different women... - this all throughout the book. The author's way of thinking comes through the entire length of the book as always looking out for 'Number One' and making certain to 'stay in' with his hugely talented son and those people Neil cares about.

I now know a bit more about Neil Young and a great deal about Scott Young. For instance his writing career, his 3 wives, his interest in sports. How he one time lent Neil $400 and never got back some second hand stuff he lent him. How Neil's mother Rassi did not have the dignity to refuse alimony when poor Scott suddenly had still more alimony to pay to his 2nd wife. How he got married a 3rd time - as though this is in some way - interesting to someone reading a Neil Young bio.

I think a biographer should attempt to stay respectfully in the background and give as much description as possible about the exciting parts of his subject's life.

I bought this for my husband as he is a Neil Young fan. So far he is very pleased with it.

This book was very entertaining and fun to read. Very informative from a very cool point of view.

I can understand Scott Young's failure as a writer having read the opening pages of this biography.
Not only does this seem to be much more a biography of Scott Young, rather than Neil Young, the writing is awkward and the editing is poor.

Not worth spending my money on.....