Customer Reviews

Sting: The Secret Life of Gordon Sumner

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

 

 

This is possibly the first attempt to write a 'definitive' biography of Sting, and in our view it fails spectacularly. Borrowing extensively from previous books - especially Sutcliffe and Fielder's "L'Historia Bandido" - and press cuttings the book is littered throughout with careless errors, and dwells, tabloid fashion, on the more sensationalist and 'media friendly' issues such as drugs, his sex life, and his involvement in the rainforest. In an 'exclusive' interview he gave to the Daily Express newspaper at the time of the book's release, Sting said - "I have led a pretty wild life, but none of it's in the book". He gave a more succinct review on Virgin radio when he said that the book was "crap". We don't disagree - it was fun to read at the time because it is about Sting, but it left you feeling a guilty and a little queasy afterwards.

This is by far the worst book ever written about Sting. Just by reading it you can tell that the author does not like Sting at all. Sting himself even said the book was (bad)and that none of it is true. So if you are a Sting fan or just want to learn more about the man, don't buy this book, get the "all this time" dvd and you can actually see what of person he is.

If you're looking to learn about Sting, this is not the book for you. It reads like a cheap tabloid story, quoting anonymous sources for wild accusations, being downright mean to its subject (and also Sting's former bandmates in The Police, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers). While Sting may have his share of skeletons in his closet and has no doubt lived a wild life, there is little in this book to lead you to actually believe the stories Clarkson tells. Reading this book also left me feeling vaguely uneasy and embarassed, as if I was taking part in spreading and giggling over naughty, mean-spirited gossip like teenage girls in a schoolyard. It's just that juvenile. NOT recommended.

After Sting has published his own autobiography Broken Music this month, this so-called "complete biography" on Sting has made itself superfluous....Sting beats Wensley Clarkson in style, authenticity and truthfulness. Readers may look at it as a kind of reference to Broken Music, but they'll discover quite quickly that Wensley Clarkson nearly got everything wrong which, of course is to blame partly on questionable sources - British tabloid papers.

You cant really close the book...If you are a real fan and interested in his past life with his family/parents/sex life/marrige then this is the book for you.The only problem that I found was the way the book makes you believe (at the end) that he is a total snob and womanizer. This reason why I gave it a seven is because the author (i feel ) did not like him too much. That is the feeling I got.

This writer's 1999 rendering of Sting's life is pitiful. Its "Hardline"/docudrama treatment of Sting's experiences make what would be a compelling, intriguing topic an absolute bore. Do not read this book.

I found this book about Sting a very interesting read. However, I do question some of the authors sources. I feel he bases some of his facts on hearsay. Sometimes, you get the feeling that the author resents Sting, thus criticizing him and his lifestyle.

I had never had the opportunity to read any type of in depth articles or biographies about the life of Gordon Sumner prior to this biography. For this reason, I am rating this book with 5 stars. If you've been hungry for something for quite a few years, and you've finally been given a small taste of it, it is going to be quite satisfying. This small piece of such a great mans life was certainly satisfying for me.