Rating: 
Summary: Rollins Has Matured
Review: It is obvious from his latest work that Henry Rollins has matured greatly since his days in Black Flag. Not only his style but also his outlook has changed. Whether it is his own wry way of viewing the poverty of Africa versus American life or the realization that he is no longer punk rock and is now an icon. Rollins' self-awareness has consistently been his strongest artistic virtue. His writing in "Smile" shows he recognizes his growth and evolution. Rollins does not fear aging. He embraces it. Covering the period before the end of the previous incarnation of the Rollins Band, he shows us that 20 years in the business have made him not only wise but ready for any challenge he faces. Solitude truly is his hard won ally.
Rating: 
Summary: Henry brings you the world.
Review: It's funny how people in the western world have become so thoroughly accustomed to fakes. People without the mental energy to take that small leap to reality are shocked that they've actually purchased a book off the modern shelves written by someone willing to be completely human in his prose. Readers not smart enough to realize how attuned they've become to charlatans whine that there are "contradictions," even "hypocrisies" in the text. Almost every other nonfiction book about a person's life or actions, biographical or autobiographical, provides a one-dimensional, public-validated, fake version of the subject. So a REAL human comes off as "contradictory" for those who can't escape their media training.How would those critics hold up if they were to keep a journal and be completely, brutally honest about what they were feeling and how they saw the world? There would be much LESS consistency than in Henry's fantastic books about seeing places that most of his readers will never get to see. Humans feel both good and bad. Yin and yang, babydoll. I'd highly suspect anyone trying to come off real who DOESN'T display a few double standards. That's the way we all are. I sure am -- and so are you. Awesome days alternate with utter travesties. Henry pulls no punches, and he doesn't lie to his journal. It's addictive, fascinating, warm, funny and galvanizing to read about where our collective friend has been and what he thinks. He happens to be superintelligent and he has a perspective based on experiences at the top of the mountain alternating with being burnt in the lava inside the cone. No hypocrisies...just a human being, willing to let it all hang out and show his readers why they should realize, every day, that they're ALIVE. Thanks again, Henry. For everything. For the fantastic books, for the wonderful Black Flag tribute album in support of the WM3, for all the hard work you do. It's inspiring and exactly what some of these feeble minds need. ALSO RECOMMENDED: Broken Summers by HR.
Rating:
Summary: Too Big For Most
Review: It's going to take a fairly intelligent person to fully understand this book to its full potential. There is a lot going on here and even more to criticize. But that's what makes it so great; its complete honesty. It's interesting to see how this man's mind works and how he deals with the world around him. I don't believe it's a book to agree or disagree with but just to "watch". Only a pretty bright person can really relate to his base "you have to be alone to really create something worthwhile" attitude. I think for most people this book will be an all or nothing experience.
Rating:
Summary: At times a downer, but still interesting
Review: Mind you, I am hesitant in my criticism -- one would be hesitant in criticizing Rollins about anything after reading this book. These journal entries, from '97 to '98, have a lot to say about the meaningless and mean (yeah, mean) "criticism" our man Rollins has had to endure since his beginnings with Black Flag, and it makes you inclined to shy away from adding to that dung heap more out of pity than defense. However, Rollins does leave himself open, especially if he's printing his journals for public consumption, so hey, fair is fair, right? These entries show us that Rollins is growing up...er, well, at least he's trying. And hard. He's scored huge brownie points for not throwing us the "I'm an impenetrable mystery" shlick that most utterly self-absorbed persons do, which leads me to believe he's is doing sincerely what he claims: trying to figure himself out before he dies. Good luck, Hank, you're gonna need it. On the other hand, his full-throttle musings in the "lone man wandering the vast desert" vein (he even drags in dear, dead Hemingway for reference) in defense of his burdensome loneliness and incapacity for relationships with women get irksome, as it is quite transparent. He fiercely avows never to marry or have kids to the extent that one hears a voice from the wings: "Hank doth protests too much, methinks." At these points in the book, Rollins is little more than a case study in avoidant-ambivalent attachment style, and it gets depressing after a while. This is especially so due to his frequent mentioning of difficult bouts of depression and loneliness. There are enjoyable points, don't get me wrong. He does express well and clearly his great affection for music, from his youthful giddiness over Black Sabbath to his near-mystical adoration for jazz and its decorated heroes like John Coltrane. Wonder why Rollins is so lippy towards musicians that don't meet his approval? The reason is made clear here: He loves music. He really LOVES music. And like anyone with some sense and a heart, he abhors witnessing the thing he loves most being kicked about in the dirt by low-wit thugs or parceled out indifferently by agenda-serving leeches. There's no shame in that, even though oddly many think Rollins ought to be shamed. So in the end, we find Rollins digging in his heels and U2 and Sheryl Crow supporters whining and sniffling. Hysterical, really. The other thing that is enjoyable about this book is the evidence that Rollins does things with very good intentions. Sometimes he doesn't make the best choices and other times he is overcome by his own shortcomings. But while he exhibits a tense bitterness edging towards cynicism, he doesn't mean to be mean. Good example is his regret over his defensive hostility towards to two fans that approached him at an inopportune time in a parking lot in Ohio, and his small, but thoughtful gesture to make amends for it. It's things like these that make this book an interesting read. Yet among other frustrating bits is his agitation that results from a combination of his poor social skills and his inability to cope with himself. Some of this gets aimed at innocent by-standers, which gets painful to read at times. Otherwise, it's leveled, deservingly, at the music industry. However, since Rollins is honest enough to see some pretty hard truths about life, he eventually (we can only hope) will realize and accept that he must walk a different path apart from a majority of the human race, and that's not something he needs to be hostile about. He longs still, nearly forty, to be understood, and one is inspired to awe at how hard he will work and how far he will go for that. At the same time, he succeeds well at grating your nerves to point you want to shove some of his own witty snideness right back down his throat. When that happens, just flip to some point where he's describing as eloquently as he can a moment of thoughtful meditation or some time in solitude, where you can see that he's actually a decent man once he's in his element. Yeah, you read me right, the "Hot Animal Machine" is a thinking man after all. Hooray, or something. The thing with Rollins is that his major talent is not writing or music, but simply being honest and "putting it out there." He's on the verge of making his truthfulness an art form. You get out of him what you do, and that's that. No apologies. I, for one, can dig that. Maybe you can too, but one observation should be made. The printing I have contains a multitude of typos. Hopefully this will be corrected if it goes to print again. Another thing is that there is a section of '97 entries tagged on the end, in a section after the '98 entries, with no explanation. Strange. But rather than leaving us with heartaching thoughts at the year-end anniversary of his friend's senseless and tragic death, he lets us off the train somewhere in October, a "magical" month for him he says, with the line "I have a good life." Now that's keeping your chin up, Hank.
Rating: 
Summary: Blah, Blah, Blah, I got it soooo bad!
Review: The only good thing about this book is the celebrity bashing. The rest is all pissing and moaning about how bad Henry Rollins day-to-day life is. Whatever! I wish I could travel around the world and play it off like I'm some anti-establishment hero. Go do some more GAP commercials, come out of the closet, and quit putting out terrible records!
Rating:
Summary: Complicated, but very simple.
Review: This book shows what seems to be a more grown up Rollins. This is a good read, I'd even say at times it is hard to put down. But at other times, I have to set it down and walk away...away from the almost journal to journal contridictions.
Rating: 
Summary: That One Observation
Review: This is an entertaining piece and thoughtful piece, although not the greatest in the universe, but a great one in it's own category. It is a journal of Rollins experience. A very good piece of literary work, Rollins seem to find structure and order in the chaos of his life and events that surround it. Down to earth, no holds barred opinions rages out from his mind and we love him for it. Rollins is ignored as a credible author, simply because he doesn't follow the structure and language that is required of the critics today. What matters is the heart and the form that flows from the heart and how we comprehend it, even a journal can be considered a work of art. The human body and soul is not structured according to lines. Why should languange be? EXPLORE NEW VENUES.
Rating:
Summary: Smile - You're Reading
Review: This is an entertaining piece and thoughtful piece, although not the greatest in the universe, but a great one in it's own category. It is a journal of Rollins experience. A very good piece of literary work, Rollins seem to find structure and order in the chaos of his life and events that surround it. Down to earth, no holds barred opinions rages out from his mind and we love him for it. Rollins is ignored as a credible author, simply because he doesn't follow the structure and language that is required of the critics today. What matters is the heart and the form that flows from the heart and how we comprehend it, even a journal can be considered a work of art. The human body and soul is not structured according to lines. Why should languange be? EXPLORE NEW VENUES.
Rating:
Summary: Set the world on fire
Review: This is pure crass class! I have read all the Coffee Blues books and they get more positive with time. This book for me was a kick in the (...) that I so rightly deserved. I work in an office. Rollins would call me a god damn coward and he's right as well. The message from this book is loud and clear. Get off your ass and do all those things you want to do, or be damned. This book made me want to (...) myself - just check out the man's reviews of some tracks for MTV. If that doesn't make you laugh nothing will. I am now returning to my cold, fluorescently lit, crummy small room. BUY IT OR DON'T BUY IT!
Rating:
Summary: Impressive Travelogue/Memoir
Review: This was my introduction to Henry Rollins, the writer, and I was incredibly impressed. The minute after I finished the book, I started reading it again -- and planning my next trip to an exotic location. Rollins writes and lives fearlessly.
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