Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: My review is a bit biased because I am a true Yanni fan that has been very moved by his music. His book is a candid look at the artist with fascinating details of the music business and the arduous road to stardom. Yet I have found its greatest value in the example of Yanni's pluck, drive, and determination to create his own musical genre and to have it heard even against insurmountable obstacles. A true "believe in yourself" kind of book that will encourage the reader to appreciate their own journey and to live with no limits. While his words can never compete with the depth of emotion and awakening his music gifts the listener, it is still a fascinating read of an exemplary life. Hard to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Bob's your uncle, and Yanni's your aunt
Review: This book is unlike anything I have ever experienced. It's, like, whoooah. It kinda made me ... well ... y'know. All over. Inside, too. Yanni manages to transcend the ephemera of life amazingly, making it all transparent to searchers. Even the most sceptical of readers will not fail to benefit from his eclectic witch's brew of spirituality and folk wisdom. The only reason it gets three stars rather than five is because I got it accidentally, whilst trying to buy a(nother excellent) book about Yannick Noah.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE YANNI!
Review: This books rocks! With Greek mania occuring at every corner (think Olympics, think Greek Weddings, think George Michael, think YANNI!), there could not be a better time for Yanni to have his memoir published. I loved the descriptive accounts of Yanni's boyhood in Greece and how his career despite seeming complacent and together took as many spills and tumbles as someone you'd expect to be spotlighted on Behind the Music. And the photos! I'd never thought these words would ever come out of my mouth but YANNI WAS A HOT BABE!!! Check it out, you'll probably surprise yourself with how much of a fan you'll become by the end.
Rating:
Summary: Candid and Encouraging
Review: This is "can't put down" reading! How enormous a task it must be to bare your soul like Yanni has done! He has exposed himself for the human being that he is, warts and all. I find that very refreshing. Anyone who has a spark of creativity, whether it be music, art, writing, etc. will find inspiration in Yanni's words. This book is so loaded with powerful thoughts on how to pursue a dream that it not only serves as an autobiography of Yanni, but a thought provoking textbook for "you can do." I feel I could really use a hi-lighter and red pen to mark areas to read again and again. Yanni went to college to become a psychologist but instead entered the world of music. While reading his words, one realizes he has immense talent in both areas. If you love Yanni's music, but want him to remain a Greek god on a pedestal, this book may disappoint you. If you want to know how he attained his goals in life and be inspired by this talented, but also very human man, this is a must read!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book - Better Music
Review: This is a book that Yanni fans should enjoy, assuming they are capable of remembering that Yanni is a human being. (Which means that...pause for a shudder...he actually did some not nice things in younger times.) Sheesh, people, get real. Is it really a shock?What are really amazing, though, are the stories of the travails that Yanni experienced while getting his music out to the many millions who now listen to it. It wasn't easy. The story behind the Acropolis concert, and then the tales from the Taj Mahal and Forbidden City concerts is worth the price of admission. Both the good and the bad! But you also have the story of Yanni discovering true, deep, and sadly rare love, and losing it. You have the driven nature, the obsession with making the music perfect, and giving the gift of his wonderful music to the masses, and the ensuing breakdown. You easily understand and appreciate the ties that bind, the family love and support, and the friendships that Yanni has formed over the years. This is an inspirational book. It does not come close to a masterpiece--you should listen to the music for masterpieces. But it is a good book for those fans that want to know more, or even those who don't much like the music but enjoy stories of hardship, perseverance and success.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book - Better Music
Review: This is a book that Yanni fans should enjoy, assuming they are capable of remembering that Yanni is a human being. (Which means that...pause for a shudder...he actually did some not nice things in younger times.) Sheesh, people, get real. Is it really a shock? What are really amazing, though, are the stories of the travails that Yanni experienced while getting his music out to the many millions who now listen to it. It wasn't easy. The story behind the Acropolis concert, and then the tales from the Taj Mahal and Forbidden City concerts is worth the price of admission. Both the good and the bad! But you also have the story of Yanni discovering true, deep, and sadly rare love, and losing it. You have the driven nature, the obsession with making the music perfect, and giving the gift of his wonderful music to the masses, and the ensuing breakdown. You easily understand and appreciate the ties that bind, the family love and support, and the friendships that Yanni has formed over the years. This is an inspirational book. It does not come close to a masterpiece--you should listen to the music for masterpieces. But it is a good book for those fans that want to know more, or even those who don't much like the music but enjoy stories of hardship, perseverance and success.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational & Informative
Review: This is a book you will not want to put down. Having been a fan of Yanni's for many years, its nice to finally get to know the man behind the music. I have a new appreciation for Yanni and his music. It is very inspirational to all who read it when you hear of his struggles and perserverance. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Book Review
Review: This is a terrific autobiography about how Yanni achieved his success. By telling many of vivid real stories, we could see the pictures of the self-confident Greek young boy got National swimming championship at his 14, and then he moved to the United States to study and achieve his B.A. degree in Psychology at University of Minnesota. To pursue the musical dream, he overcome the pain of losing the love ones, being cheated by his best friend, being satirized by others, putting all of the money into adventure, etc. Eventually, Yanni gained the spectacular recognition from the world. Especially, the book also shows extreme love and respect to Yanni's parents, who give him a beautiful childhood and taught him about truth, imagination, creativity, love, kindness, and compassion.
As Yanni said in the book, "you don't have to follow", he did what he felt right. With his persistence and Linda's enlightenment, Yanni created the unique music, which like his personality-- passionate, inspirational, and natural.
However, nothing can be perfect in life. Yanni is not a perfect musician; he has shortcomings as well as the ordinary individual. Just because of this, we could see the integrity of him.
Rating:
Summary: Book Review
Review: This is a terrific autobiography about how Yanni achive his success.By telling many of vivid real story,we could see the pictures of the self-confident Greek young boy got National simming championship at his 14, then he moved to the United States to study and achive his M.A drgree in Paychology at University of Minnesota. To persue the musical dream, he overcome the pain of losing the love ones,being cheated by his best friend, being satirized by others, putting all of the money into adventure,etc. Eventually, Yanni gained the spectacular recognition from the world. Especailly, the book also shows extreme love and respect to Yanni's parents, who give him a beautiful childhood and taught him about truth, imagination, creativity,love, kindness, and compassion.
Like Yanni said in the book, "you don't have to follow", he did what he felt right. With his persistence and Linda's enlightenment,Yanni created the unique music which like his persnality-- passionate,inspirational, and natual.
However, nothing can be perfect in life. Yanni is not a perfect musican, he has shortcoming as well as ordinary individual. Just because of this, we could see the integrity of him.
Rating:
Summary: Yanni's Evolution in Words
Review: Those of us with a good ear for music know how far Yanni has come in his musical evolution. The story behind how he accomplished his goals is awe inspiring. Yanni begins with his meager beginnings and how his achievements as a national champion swimmer in Greece helped lay the groundwork for his accomplishments that followed. Yanni explains the "fear factor" in all his time and money invested in his Acropolis and Taj Mahal/Forbidden City concerts. He invested his life savings and had no guarantee they would be allowed to go on. He explains how at one point he was just days before his Acropolis concert and he suddenly had no orchestra. One wonders what would have happened had the Royal Philharmonic been booked too far in advance. Yet, Yanni admits that without several factors, such as coming to America at a young age as well as meeting Linda Evans, he could not have reached the level to which he aspired. Women undoubtedly contributed to the rise of Yanni who was once considered to be the "sexiest man alive" by Ophra Winfrey (1992). As for the details of Yanni's personal relationship with Linda Evans, we can all form our own opinions about how he should have waited until he wasn't so stressed to reconsider staying in the relationship. Though I do appreciate Yanni's new materials he's worked hard on, I just thought his letting go of Linda Evans was a self-destructive act and that he should have obeyed her wishes to relax a little together after the Taj Mahal concert. They were both a match made in heaven and it is bad karma to have ended it the way they did over the phone, under pressure and stress in what appeared to be a very flippant manner. I consider Linda Evans to be the main reason Yanni made it as far as he did, and she is his other half and soul mate.
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