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A review by jonscott9
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
4.0
Yes, the man is verbose. But this is a sterling, pack-it-in career that calls for being loquacious as hell (and heaven).
Dear reader, I inhaled this – even over the 18.5 hours of audiobooking it. And as it turns out, this is the No. 1 audio experience of my reading (and "reading") life to date. Fantastic samples of songs, from U2 and others, throughout, plus an invigorating array of sound effects and other sonic touches. I've been obsessed with Gary Numan's "Cars" – a jam from 1979, from before my birth – since listening to this book.
Bono's bits about the band's this-and-that are amusing and interesting, as are his sidebars about various foibles and friendships and relationships that the band members have had. His perspectives on life with wife Ali Hewson are profoundly simple and enjoyable. And I completely forgot that U2 bassist Adam Clayton dated Naomi Campbell. Vignettes about relationships and just the general life and times of guitarist extraordinaire The Edge and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. als0 pull back the proverbial veil on how these kids-turned-60-somethings came to be and came to rock.
U2's best songs, for me, are some of their quietest. Those are spoken to here at some length, even as the arena-rocking catalog take the obvious center stage.
One of my favorite things about this book, and on audio, are the impressions that Bono performs of other public figures, especially Bill Clinton. Amusing, by intent. Beyond that, the scenes that include meetups with Frank Sinatra and other cultural and vocal icons are delightful and captivating.
The political dealings with presidents Clinton, W. Bush and Obama are spellbinding. I get such (cliche alert) palace intrigue from the litany of latergrammed, inner workings of Congress and the White House. Bono's conversations with Condoleezza Rice, George W. Bush and many more titans of politics are a treasure to the public record. I'm forever thankful for the gift of PEPFAR's activation for HIV/AIDS relief in Africa; for me, that's the shining outcome of the W. Bush administration, and in no small part was Bono involved, as I knew then and reconsider all the more now.
Bono's recollections of his beloved mother, Iris, are so touching, it almost hurt. I just love how he says her voice, even. Beyond that, his takes on relations with his father (Brendan, or Bob) and brother (Norman) are illuminating. His father, an opera singer, told Bono that he truly was a baritone masquerading as a tenor. I could see that, and better yet, hear it; somehow it's some kind of heart-rending and live-giving at the same time.
Bono has a great memory, and that serves well the likes of an autobio such as this. I'd love a 2nd volume of it, though I am not sure he (or, well, Babs Streisand) will have that. Small matter. There's such a generosity of storytelling and personal, pained experience in this tome to more than satiate this reader and (on levels) listener. Thank you, Paul Hewson.
Dear reader, I inhaled this – even over the 18.5 hours of audiobooking it. And as it turns out, this is the No. 1 audio experience of my reading (and "reading") life to date. Fantastic samples of songs, from U2 and others, throughout, plus an invigorating array of sound effects and other sonic touches. I've been obsessed with Gary Numan's "Cars" – a jam from 1979, from before my birth – since listening to this book.
Bono's bits about the band's this-and-that are amusing and interesting, as are his sidebars about various foibles and friendships and relationships that the band members have had. His perspectives on life with wife Ali Hewson are profoundly simple and enjoyable. And I completely forgot that U2 bassist Adam Clayton dated Naomi Campbell. Vignettes about relationships and just the general life and times of guitarist extraordinaire The Edge and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. als0 pull back the proverbial veil on how these kids-turned-60-somethings came to be and came to rock.
U2's best songs, for me, are some of their quietest. Those are spoken to here at some length, even as the arena-rocking catalog take the obvious center stage.
One of my favorite things about this book, and on audio, are the impressions that Bono performs of other public figures, especially Bill Clinton. Amusing, by intent. Beyond that, the scenes that include meetups with Frank Sinatra and other cultural and vocal icons are delightful and captivating.
The political dealings with presidents Clinton, W. Bush and Obama are spellbinding. I get such (cliche alert) palace intrigue from the litany of latergrammed, inner workings of Congress and the White House. Bono's conversations with Condoleezza Rice, George W. Bush and many more titans of politics are a treasure to the public record. I'm forever thankful for the gift of PEPFAR's activation for HIV/AIDS relief in Africa; for me, that's the shining outcome of the W. Bush administration, and in no small part was Bono involved, as I knew then and reconsider all the more now.
Bono's recollections of his beloved mother, Iris, are so touching, it almost hurt. I just love how he says her voice, even. Beyond that, his takes on relations with his father (Brendan, or Bob) and brother (Norman) are illuminating. His father, an opera singer, told Bono that he truly was a baritone masquerading as a tenor. I could see that, and better yet, hear it; somehow it's some kind of heart-rending and live-giving at the same time.
Bono has a great memory, and that serves well the likes of an autobio such as this. I'd love a 2nd volume of it, though I am not sure he (or, well, Babs Streisand) will have that. Small matter. There's such a generosity of storytelling and personal, pained experience in this tome to more than satiate this reader and (on levels) listener. Thank you, Paul Hewson.