I love this book. Written in the vein of how Neil really thinks and feels about life. Its a journey through "The Past" up to "Nowadays" and is a fascinating read.
If you, the reviewer want literary genius forget it....if you want an account of what has actually taken place in Neil's life chronologically, then also forget that too. However if you want feelings and memories of things that have occurred and how Neil sees these events, in his own mind, then read this compelling autobiography.
Yep it's true, Neil's memory may not be as accurate as the real timing of events but his feelings relayed here are in real time, up to date and true, in thought and words. The reading is compelling, totally absorbing and quite witty to boot. Neil can be so funny, but also, so matter of fact at the same time, so much so, that you can even get a laugh out of his narrations. It's like he's just messaging you back on a phone text or just making an "off the cuff" remark, like you just passed him in the supermarket aisle and asked "How you doing Neil?" and got an answer that you were not totally expecting.
When you have loved and followed this guy for as long as his many lifetime fans have done, in particular all the "Rusties" then most of this book's facts are not surprising, but his thought processes and retelling of the events are!!! The reason why most of us love Neil is because he has not stuck to anyone's expectations of what should be imparted to his loyal following. Neil just does not question what bits of his life should be given out to the general public...and for most of his loyal fans, we all applaud his stance on this. I mean when one gives of themselves to others, then they are subject to ridicule and further questioning, which Neil will naturally not give a hoot about and even when he is pressed for a response, you are likely to get one of his "WTF" comebacks to; I mean this is his life, his memory and HEY if is doesn't exactly line up with your accuracy of what may have occurred, well that's not his problem, only yours...and GOD love the man, I totally agree with him.
The book is told in the fashion of one of his songs, it starts off jumping all over the place, goes nowhere and yet it takes you on a journey of the soul and ends with a crescendo with the listener wanting more....yep it truly does this, and if it doesn't for you, then as Neil himself says, give the book to someone else to read..Hahaha! If you don't and keep reading you are likely to get very disappointed, if you wanted to hear snippets of Neil dishing out the dirt on someone and someone, then you will be wasting time looking for those "Words"!
Personally I loved the book. It was Neil wearing his "Heart on a Sleeve" in regards to things that really matter to Neil and SHOULD matter to the rest of the world in general. Yep Neil has done his utmost to convey to anyone whom may care to listen, about the environment; issues such as fossil fuel and finding alternatives that are relevant to the 21st century. He has done his utmost to improve services for children with severe disabilities, like his son Ben Young. More recently he is on a mission to improve the sound we hear today through computerised technology. PONO may be the best new technologically advancement music needs even if you may not be able to afford it or can't wait long enough for the implementation to become available. In the book he certainly doesn't mind reiterating the fact many times over that "Sound" matters and as one of his fans, I agree wholeheartedly with what he is trying to achieve. The rest of the world will just have to catch up with Neil in his thought processes but for us fans, he is making a stand which we all applaud and hope that his endeavours will be successful. Neil himself realises that he out on a limb monetary wise, however he has his heart and soul into this project and hopes that we ordinary folk may eventually hear music the way it is originally recorded, in all its' glory...and I for one cannot wait for that day to occur! If I could digress here and borrow some of the words to the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth" and say.."Hey what's that sound, everybody look what's going down"...lol!
In the book Neil relays his passion of things that matter to him, his family, his wife, his love of cars, trains sets and the quality of music. He is passionate and a willing believer that eventually the world may become a better place to live in, with projects like LincVolt (his car conversion from fossil fuel dependency to battery/generated electro power)and cleaner Greenhouse gas emissions, most of us would agree, that he has his work cut out for him but want him to succeed, despite the setbacks and disappointments he has been through.
Neil talks about writing more books "cause that's what aging Rock Stars do to earn money" in order to survive in this cut throat world of technology. Especially, when people can download your songs for nothing, give back nothing to the creator, artist and instigator of such works there has to be another way of procuring some monetary gain and books seem like the next best things!
I think personally, I would rather pay for another vinyl record or CD from Neil, either from himself or whomever he wishes to collaborate with at the time! I don't download from "world wide web" sites and still prefer to buy hard copies and pay for them, hoping that some royalties will eventually go back to the artist....unfortunately not everyone feels as I do!
In closing I would like to say, if you are a Neil Young Fan then you will love this book and love the man, like he is one of your own off spring, warts and all. "Long May You Run" Neil and if you ever give up your day job, keep writing books!
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Neil, I hope you're listening!
Hi Neil, I hope you’re listening!JUST this second finished your book.I was that 14-year-old kid in 1970 in his upstairs room in Almaden Valley, San Jose, California, building cool model airplanes (B-17s, Mustangs) and listening to Harvest and all of your early albums.As soon as they ended on the turntable I lifted the needle and went right back to the beginning as my mother yelled up for the twelve time:"It’s Time for dinner."I am now 64 years old and you are the musician I have been most absolutely thrilled with longer than any other.It goes back to the 70s, in fact this photo of me (above) I'm singing Down By the River for my San Fran State Univ. broadcast class... I then turn to the camera and say, "Neil Young... remember him? His put more passion into his work than anybody else."And Neil, your book completes the picture of who you are and how you strive for the best you can produce.I learned about your book accidentally.I work for a company that makes mastered audio clips, gps-triggered to tell drivers what is on historical markers as they approach them...Last week, while prepping cool stories from the road I discovered Egger Point up on Skyline Drive where you sat in your old car and wrote "Like a Hurricane."That’s how I learned about your book, because Wikipedia says Egger overlook is where you wrote that great song.I'm a slow reader but DAMN! I ripped thru your book in THREE days... and am looking forward to your next one. Thank You for being such a lifelong inspiration! -Clay Feeter, former Santa Cruz surfer (who was bummed more than once when word got out "Did you hear Neil Young showed up at such and such bar to play last night?").
Top reviews from other countries
Tony Hayton
Enigmatic, Eclectic, Eccentric and a Survivor
Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2021
