Rating: 
Summary: Essential Reading for Joe Jackson Fans
Review: Joe Jackson defined music for many fans, particularly in the 30-45 age group. We developed with him from the early pop days into more introspective, searching concepts and, ultimately, into experimentation with grander musical explorations. In this book, he drops his guard and finally invites us to share the development of his musical identity. As in his music, his searches through uncharted territory don't always work perfectly, but the results are funny, engaging, and consistently readable. Very highly recommended for anyone who has enjoyed the music.
Rating:
Summary: For the Love of Music
Review: This book is one of those great surprises that you discover once in a blue moon. It is a memoir of Jackson's early years--from birth to the release of his first album. It is often hilarious in its description of near escapes from rioting skin heads and sad in its descriptions of how a young boy in a working class area who chooses to learn the violin is harrassed and bullied and taunted by hardnuts--the same ones, as Jackson writes, that he hears on tv complaining that the arts are unnecessary luxuries and students should be taught marketable skills and not about music. But what made this memoir special for me is Jackson's love of music in all its forms. For him, the existence of music is unexplainable. Where could something so beautiful and awsome come from? And for Jackson good music is good music. He is no snob. Quite correctly, he assails those who would put down classical music in favour of rock and pop as snobs. As more than one artist in the pop arena has discovered, there is much more openness and diversity to be found in the classical field than in rock. And thus Jackson, a graduate and fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (apparently Simon Rattle was there at the same time), has returned to his roots, which were in classical music. He writes as well as anyone I have read on what music can mean to us. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: For the Love of Music
Review: This book is one of those great surprises that you discover once in a blue moon. It is a memoir of Jackson's early years--from birth to the release of his first album. It is often hilarious in its description of near escapes from rioting skin heads and sad in its descriptions of how a young boy in a working class area who chooses to learn the violin is harrassed and bullied and taunted by hardnuts--the same ones, as Jackson writes, that he hears on tv complaining that the arts are unnecessary luxuries and students should be taught marketable skills and not about music. But what made this memoir special for me is Jackson's love of music in all its forms. For him, the existence of music is unexplainable. Where could something so beautiful and awsome come from? And for Jackson good music is good music. He is no snob. Quite correctly, he assails those who would put down classical music in favour of rock and pop as snobs. As more than one artist in the pop arena has discovered, there is much more openness and diversity to be found in the classical field than in rock. And thus Jackson, a graduate and fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (apparently Simon Rattle was there at the same time), has returned to his roots, which were in classical music. He writes as well as anyone I have read on what music can mean to us. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: He is an artist, not an entertainer.
Review: This super songwriter/performer with over a dozen hit albums to his credit reveals intimate details of how he got started and where his inspiration both as a songwriter and a person come from. If you are a Joe Jackson fan or an aspiring artist, you really have to read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Lesson on Pursuing One's Passions...
Review: This was a very interesting book both in terms of its content and in the approach that Joe Jackson chose to write it. At first, one may suspect that this would be another story of his successful music career as he rode through the fame and glitter. I was somewhat surprised and delighted that he avoided this all-too-predictable approach. We really don't need him to explain what we, as fans, already know. This is the story of the man named David Jackson and his experiences that shaped his persona into becoming the pop star Joe Jackson that we all later came to know him as. His story is very interesting because of the interesting perspectives through which he viewed his environment; the world of music; his peers; and the deeper meanings of life that come with the wisdom of a slightly older age. As a long time Joe Jackson fan, I was always interested in how he was able to take the different approaches to music that he did. Aside from the first two releases by the Joe Jackson Band, he never did the same thing twice. As he mentioned toward the end of the book: "I was at a crossroads. Where did I want to go? Did I want to continue doing the same thing and become a Pop cartoon character or, instead, grow up in the public eye?" The answer is obvious. I've always respected Joe Jackson as a very talented and entertaining performer. When I finished reading this fascinating story, I came to see that David Jackson is also a thoughtful and intelligent human being.
Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Insight
Review: This was a very interesting book both in terms of its content and in the approach that Joe Jackson chose to write it. At first, one may suspect that this would be another story of his successful music career as he rode through the fame and glitter. I was somewhat surprised and delighted that he avoided this all-too-predictable approach. We really don't need him to explain what we, as fans, already know. This is the story of the man named David Jackson and his experiences that shaped his persona into becoming the pop star Joe Jackson that we all later came to know him as. His story is very interesting because of the interesting perspectives through which he viewed his environment; the world of music; his peers; and the deeper meanings of life that come with the wisdom of a slightly older age. As a long time Joe Jackson fan, I was always interested in how he was able to take the different approaches to music that he did. Aside from the first two releases by the Joe Jackson Band, he never did the same thing twice. As he mentioned toward the end of the book: "I was at a crossroads. Where did I want to go? Did I want to continue doing the same thing and become a Pop cartoon character or, instead, grow up in the public eye?" The answer is obvious. I've always respected Joe Jackson as a very talented and entertaining performer. When I finished reading this fascinating story, I came to see that David Jackson is also a thoughtful and intelligent human being.
Rating: 
Summary: A delight
Review: Warm, honest, intelligent and engaging- A must-read for JJ fans and anyone who seriously loves music (or loves 'serious' music). Joe Jackson does not possess great literary style, but the anecdotes in this work are so charming that one overlooks any technical flaws.
Rating:
Summary: All aspiring musicians should read this book!
Review: What I liked best about the book was how straightforward and honest it is. There's some great vignettes and insights into what it means to be a professional musician. It's both humorous and poignant.I am a fan of his music, but I've never really understood what makes the man tick until now. That prickly character is a sensitive perfectionist-- a man who sets high standards for himself and who has always wanted to challenge himself musically. It's remarkable, but not surprising, that he's as good a memoirist as he is a musician.
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