U2 by U2 [Paperback]

U2 (Author), Neil McCormick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2009

In 1975, four teenagers from Mount Temple School in Dublin gathered in a crowded kitchen to discuss forming a band. More than thirty years later, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr are still together, bound by intense loyalty, passionate idealism, and a relentless belief in the power of rock and roll to change the world.

In an epic journey that has taken the band from the clubs of Dublin to the stadiums of the world, U2 has sold more than 130 million albums, revolutionized live performance, spearheaded political campaigns, and made music that defines the age in which we live. Told with wit, insight, and astonishing candor by the band members themselves and manager Paul McGuinness, with pictures from their own archives, U2 by U2 allows unprecedented access into the inner life of the greatest rock band of our times.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 1975, four teenagers from Mount Temple School in Dublin gathered in a crowded kitchen to discuss forming a band. The drum kit just about fit into the room, the lead guitarist was playing a homemade guitar, the bassist could barely play at all and nobody wanted to sing. Over thirty years later, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. are still together, bound by intense loyalty, passionate idealism and a relentless belief in the power of rock and roll to change the world.

Watch a video introduction to U2 by U2

In a epic journey that has taken them from the clubs of Dublin to the stadiums of the world, U2 have sold over 130 million albums, been number one all over the world, revolutionized live performance, spearheaded political campaigns and made music that defines the age we live in.

From the anarchic days of their Seventies punk origins through their Eighties ascent to superstardom with the epic rock of The Joshua Tree, the dark post-modern ironies of Achtung Baby in the Nineties and their 21st-Century resurgence as rock's biggest and boldest band, this is a tale of faith, love, drama, family, birth, death, survival, conflict, crises, creativity . . . and a lot of laughter.

Told with wit, insight and astonishing candour by the band themselves and manager Paul McGuinness, with pictures from their own archives, U2 by U2 allows unprecedented access into the inner life of the greatest rock band of our times. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Fascinating details.” (Entertainment Weekly )

“...U2 BY U2 sure feels a lot like gospel.” (Chicago Sun-Times )

“Arguably the greatest rock band on the planet, U2 now offers the definitive version of how it got there.” (USA Today )

“...a definitive retrospective based on more than 150 hours of interviews.” (Rolling Stone )

“The book is sure to satisfy even the truly dedicated.” (Vanity Fair )

“Recommended for all popular music collections.” (Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: It Books; Reprint edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006190385X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061903854
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beatles Anthology Book Done U2 Style, October 1, 2006

By 

Brian Hedden (Concord, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U2 by U2 (Hardcover)

If anyone here owns the Beatles Anthology companion book to the TV series/CD's, this isn't much different. The story is "written" by the band, quotes culled from over 150 hours of interviews done for Neil McCormick. Every phase of the band's career, from it's earliest days straight through to "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is told solely through quotes from each band member, making this is as definitive, brutally honest, unflinching and uncompromising a book on the band as we'll ever see. These aren't moments plagiarized from magazine articles or other books, but personal recollections.

The pictures were taken from the band's personal archives. As much as there is to read here there's just as much to look at. You can honestly say, "I have NEVER seen this shot before" over and over again. This is a beautifully laid out book.

Moreso than any other book on U2, this book can be accurately described in two words: "definitive" and "essential". The band has the last word on it's personal history and here it is. Now If only there were a Beatles Anthology style DVD set on U2 to go along with this....

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEEP, RICH SELF-PORTRAIT OF THIS INCREDIBLE BAND, September 26, 2006

By 

BMK (Twin Cities, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U2 by U2 (Hardcover)

This book is a mind-blower for even the most fervent U2 fan. Read all the other books on the group? Well, this one adds to everything you already know about them, plus takes it to all-new levels and truly lets the fan inside U2's circle. The text is all written by the bandmembers themselves (and Mr. McGuinness, of course), and what comes through is an epic story of 4 humble, generous, talented -- and very different -- individuals who came together and jelled into a searching, spiritual (and occasionally stumbling) supergroup that has found a way to soar. The best aspect of the self-narrative by Bono, Edge, Larry, and Adam is the great depth of feeling and respect for each other that comes through -- whether it's Adam and Larry discussing the bond they have on stage, or Edge expressing protectiveness of Bono in the face of myths that have grown up around him and how they make him (Bono) vulnerable. On top of all this is the incredible wealth of photos that span U2's great career. There's just tons of great stuff here. I loved the books on U2 by Flanagan, Corbin, Stockman, et al, but this one is far and away the best. It's like really, TRULY meeting the band for the first time. Wow.....wow.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't get any better than this, September 27, 2006

By 

Jen G. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U2 by U2 (Hardcover)

Owning this book is literally like owning their history. The pictures are just beyond amazing. Every U2 picture you've ever seen do NO justice to how beautiful and charming these four men really are. Page after page after page reveals a facet to their lives with new, never-before-seen views into their past with humorous commentary to go with it. Just when you thought you'd seen and heard everything about U2... oh no my friend, you ain't seen NOTHIN' yet.

Definitely a must-have for die-hard fans!