Rating: 
Summary: Print the legend - Not the facts!
Review: John Ford is oft quoted as saying, "Print the legend, not the facts." His point was not justification of a lie or a twisting of reality. It was to make the point that within the media environment, success was often made more certain by appealing to the cultural self-image of the target population. Success is, of course, being defined here as sale of the product. In Ford's case it was the motion picture AND its use to foster the clean cut American image of The Western Hero. This Neil Young song title is used as the segue into my comments about 'Shakey', because Jimmy McDonough may just be guilty as done that with the cooperation of one of the more enigmatic legends in rock. This large (some 600 pages) biography is a skillful combination of a massive give-and-take conversation with Neil, that is interspersed within the basic biographical text format. It is without a doubt one of the best structured books I have read in the recent past. It is also chock full of a richness in detail that makes this book so much more than any of the other 'search and destroy' bios on Young that have been published of late. I would think the the subject's cooperation permitted McDonough access to many, many of Young's family, friends, associates, and enemies. But, why did Neil Young cooperate? McDonough lays no claim to a special relationship with the man. In fact, he seems himself to be a tad bemused by the whole situation. It gave me pause to wonder - cynical scorpio that I am (as is Mr. Young) - that Mr Bernard Shakey might have been having McDonough and the rest us on with some of his musings. Or maybe, as I have also pondered since the issue of 'Sleeps with Angels', is Neil Young weary? Has he grown tired of being the cantankerous individual he is? It's a lot of work to be that strong-willed. To paraphrase Young, maybe he's decided to swerve out of the ditch and drive down the middle of the road again for a while. And, as the story runs down sometime in 1998/1999, it may be the case that Young lost interest in the project. This trait does occur with the man's music, so why not with his bographer. So, what do we have here? We have a story of a musician who has maintained his independence despite the financial and professional repercussions. The story fits what most Neil Young fans - fanantics, running-dogs, casual; what have you - want to believe about him. It is presented with a level of personal detail that we seek to know about our heroes and villians. Who cares how much is true and how much is false? Print the legend, not the facts.
Rating: 
Summary: THE NEIL PARADOX
Review: READING THIS BOOK REVEALS THE NEAL YOUNG PARADOX. HE WANTS TO BE ACCEPTED FOR NOT WANTING TO BE ACCEPTED. HE HAS SUCCEEDED.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent biography
Review: Well researched, well written and hard to put down. A must read for fans of Neil Young.
Rating:
Summary: Real COOL
Review: I have a Few Albums of Neil Young's&He is a Cat that has always been His Own Man.this Book Explores that&so much more.it's cool reading about His Creative Vibe&His Surroundings.I was also Happy to Read about Him&Rick James.they were Band Mates back in the late 60's.some funny stories there.a very detailed read.the kind of Book that you will find something new out of it with each passing Read.
Rating:
Summary: Over 300 persoanl interviews....
Review: Good reprtage..& documentation+ photos..What Neil would not reveal is..meaning --(significance) of any of his songs--he refused to intpret the lyrics,so we're left to speculate. See M. Browns review in Rocky Mountain News...
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Amazing story, finally a full bio of Young, who is up there with legends like Cobain, Page+Plant, Tyler and Hendrix.
Rating:
Summary: Too much for the likes of the NY Times
Review: Here we get the amazing sight of media monsters spilling true feelings instead of spin. This book redefines what it means to write about the so-called "rock star." And wouldn't you know it. The NY Times attempts to minimize "Shakey" by saying that it "soft peddles" and tries to be "too hip." What they're saying, really, is that this book attempts things that should not be done by a Random House book, one that would have to be reviewed by the New York Times. It's truly curious to accuse "Shakey" of soft-peddling, when it reveals its subject to often be vicious, creepy, self-serving. Author Jimmy McDonough needs and deserves hardcore psychotherapy for the ten years he spent spilling his life into this remarkable book, which edges a little too close to the truth, both for salaried merchants of the status quo and the degraded value of Neil Young.
Rating:
Summary: REAL NEIL
Review: SHAKEY by Jimmy McDonough is as Relentless,Truthful,Brutal and Restless as Neil Young himself.
Rating:
Summary: Rock N Roll Masterpiece
Review: Shakey is one of the best Rock and Roll bio's I've ever read, ranking equal with Nick Tosches Hellfire. Author Jimmy McDonough manages to capture the genius, stupidity, humor and relevance of Neil Young without whitewashing Young's career and life or exploiting it. It's both personal and critical, the author obviously admiring Young as an artist, but unafraid of delving into the darker aspects of the rocker's character. It's also a great read and you'll find yourself keeping yourself awake just to get to the next page. Young's life goes through so many changes and he works with, sleeps with, fights with or just bumps into so many people, rock and pop icons that the book also serves as a great historical survey of pop culture from the 1960's-today. For Young fans and Rock n Roll fans alike, this is the bio of the year. Shakey is simply a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book - long over due!
Review: I couldn't wait to read this - despite my mixed emotions about Neil Young's wishes (there was a lawsuit between the author and with Neil Young trying to prevent the publication of this). The book, 10 years in the writing, was written with the help and aid of Neil Young and his circle of friends and collegues. The book is intimate and explores Neil Young beyond the typical super star bio. Indepth look at his relationship to his family. His hobbies - (i.e Lionel Trains!). And his life behind the stage. His feelings for his native land - Canada. And much more. The book confirms and fills in details about what an awesome and multifaceted artist Neil Young is.
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