Rating: 
Summary: Silly & superficial
Review: A pleasant but very superficial account of what Michael DID and who he MET, but very little about how he FELT or what he THOUGHT.There are several incredibly silly stories about his early sexual encounters, which seem to be included for the sole purpose of "proving" he isn't gay (methinks he doth protest too much...). He devotes 3 sentences to the child he fathered out of wedlock. Why mention it at all? Well, as more "proof" I guess. No "behind the scenes" stories or gossip. Michael seems to find everyone and everything completely wonderful, a Pollyanna attitude that's a stark contrast to his deep, mysterious Phantom of the Opera. I wish he hadn't written this book.
Rating: 
Summary: The "Phantom" Writes of Beginnings and Endings
Review: Born in secret, Michael Crawford remains a well-kept secret tome after reading his autobiography he wrote himself about himself. So many times I wanted to ask Michael Crawford, "how did that make you feel?" When I finished Michael Crawford's biography, I just wanted to give him a hug. I got the feeling that he's tiptoed over life thus far, never really wanting to get into it with abandon. And at the very end when he made the effort to reach out from his heart, the response was "Michael who?" Ironically, Michael Crawford's book left me asking, "who are you really, Michael Crawford?; what do you dream for yourself, Michael Crawford?; and, most importantly, what do you need to do to give you the confidence you say you lack to marry again, if marriage is what you seek?" So, with all these questions left at the end of the book, why the 5-Star Rating? Because the first rule of the author is to make you care about the characters. I came to care about Michael Crawford and the wonderful woman who spent half of her 99 years on earth loving him unconditionally. And,it took great courage for this singer/actor to write his own book, in his own words, exactly as he remembered it.
Rating:
Summary: Baffled by the Phantom
Review: Gee, is it just me, or do I need to study two forms of English to understand books nowadays? Interestingly, the copy of Michael Crawford's autobiography that I read was an English printing and utilized words and phrases that may as well have been Greek as far as my understanding of them went. That said, I can't recommend much about this book other than the beginning, where some good detail was given on the actor's early years. I was especially looking for some good stories about the making of "Hello, Dolly!" but that experience was pretty much given short shrift in the book. What I found consistently dull was the actor's frequent references to sexual matters and certain bodily functions which I found neither amusing nor interesting, certainly not topics that you would enjoy sharing with several million people whom you don't know. Sorry, Michael, the story of your life and career could have been much more interestingly told.
Rating: 
Summary: Parcel Arrived Very Good If Not Perfect
Review: I agree with another reviewer that the first part of the book dealing with Mr. Crawford's childhood was the best and that I was hoping for more details about his work in various shows, but I really liked the book. I found it to be warm, funny, and well told. It made me laugh more than once and brought a tear to my eye in the more touching parts. Although not as much as I would have liked, there are a lot of back stage details and insights about the productions in which the author has appeared. I regret that this book has not been publicized in the US. It is available mainly online, and I believe that a lot of Americans are missing out on a good read because they don't know it is available.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!!
Review: I have just started reading Michael Crawford's bio but must comment on the service.I ordered the book on Tuesday and was amazed to find it in my mailbox on Thursday.Never have I received such speedy service before.Thank you Ed Silver!
Rating: 
Summary: At Turns, Candid, and At Turns Pretty Irreverent
Review: I have long been enthralled by the beauty of Mr. Crawford's choir-boy voice, and humourous anecdotes he tells a la Mark Twain style. I've developed a healthy respect for most British entertainers who first became internationally famous in the mid-to-late 1960s because they are the more celebrated "children of the Blitz" that the average American reads about in history class, who, aside from what they may have done to ruin their own lives later on, are lucky to have lived to maturity thanks to Hitler's bombs. When I watch British antiwar movies from the Vietnam era such as "How I Won the War", I see Michael, and arguably the World's Most Famous Battle of Britain Baby, John Lennon, using the nightmares that were their early lives to make Americans rethink what we were doing to others. As for the man himself I'm already familiar with most of the warm-hearted platitudes in the book, and I would agree with the reviewer who stated that details of certain medical examinations,etc. could have been avoided. At least he's enough of a gentleman to spare us the full details about the infidelity that destroyed his marriage. For my part, I remain greatful to Mr Crawford; several years ago, after I wrote to his fan club, a stuffed doll of Corneilius the Badger, the character he voiced in "Once Upon A Forest" was sent to a local children's hospital, so I can personally vouch for the work he does on behalf of children. I myself have received three letters from Michael, which enables me to vouch for the man's personal generosity towards his fans. All in all, this bio is a pretty warm-hearted, expressive piece, just like the singer's voice itself.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable!
Review: I loved this book! It's a truly delightful story, told in typical "Crawford style," with candor, wit, warmth and a great deal of hilarity. Anyone who appreciates Michael Crawford's ability to "embroider a tale" will thoroughly enjoy his autobiography. Stories of his early life with his mother and grandmother are shared with deep tenderness and reverence and woven all together very personally. The chronicle of his professional journey--from the boys' choir, to a starring role in a British TV comedy and on to his fantastic success as the original Phantom of the Opera--includes many touching, and many uproariously funny accounts. I found myself laughing out loud in several places, and to the point of tears in others. I appreciated Crawford's willingness to be deeply personal and to share candidly about both his trials and triumphs. In the end, it's clear that success did not come easily to him; he worked very hard for it. Michael Crawford's usual generosity with his audience carries through to this sharing of his life story. Touching, inspirational, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable!
Review: I loved this book! It's a truly delightful story, told in typical "Crawford style," with candor, wit, warmth and a great deal of hilarity. Anyone who appreciates Michael Crawford's ability to "embroider a tale" will thoroughly enjoy his autobiography. Stories of his early life with his mother and grandmother are shared with deep tenderness and reverence and woven all together very personally. The chronicle of his professional journey--from the boys' choir, to a starring role in a British TV comedy and on to his fantastic success as the original Phantom of the Opera--includes many touching, and many uproariously funny accounts. I found myself laughing out loud in several places, and to the point of tears in others. I appreciated Crawford's willingness to be deeply personal and to share candidly about both his trials and triumphs. In the end, it's clear that success did not come easily to him; he worked very hard for it. Michael Crawford's usual generosity with his audience carries through to this sharing of his life story. Touching, inspirational, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Just finished it. Stayed up all night. Very depressed now. He better write another one soon. I'm going in to withdrawal.
Rating:
Summary: So Much More Than The Phantom
Review: Michael Crawford's autobiography is so well-written that it's easy to forget the author is a massively talented actor and singer. His self-deprecating writing style is easy to read and relentlessly enjoyable, whether describing hilarious moments or poignant periods in his life. The reader does not have to be Phantom fan to appreciate the trials, tragedies and triumphs that have shaped Michael Crawford: the lessons he learns -- and shares -- will be familiar to Everyman. This is a great book, worth sharing.
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