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Rating: 
Summary: Michelle Phillips- Underrated and outdoes herself
Review: Having been a die hard fan of The Mamas and The Papas since age 10 (now 21), I purchased this book along with John's with the greatest enthusiasm, and set out to read what the two Phillips' had to say about those glorious and the not so glorious moments they have shared.
I can only say I never got around to finishing John's book, Michelle's however, I finished reading for the second time last week and found it to be every bit as exciting and enjoyable as I did the first time around...
It is a a very personal book, Michelle certainly chooses the path of honesty in this book, she speaks the words of a woman who was a...lot more than just a shallow hottie as 'some' might put it, but as a woman who loved passionately, who was hurt deeply, what always strikes me as powerful is the pain I think she feels to this day over the death of Cass Elliot. In interviews she says very little, and not a lot of emotion is shown up front in the book, but when she speaks of it, something happens, be it facial, or something in the words, but you just find yourself missing a beat with her and empathising as she remembers the good friend she lost.
For a non-writer, this biography is top knotch, not nearly half as self indulgent and hedonistic as John Phillips' biography is.
I highly recommend this book, it will unveil the many depths of this wonderful lady I can only hope to meet one of those days.
Rating:
Summary: Mama Michelle Sets the Record Straight
Review: I have read the three definitive books on the history of the Mamas and the Papas (including "Papa John" by bandleader John Phillips and the recently published "Creeque Alley" by Matthew Greenwald) but the only book that really captured my interest and gave me a truly in-depth view into the Mamas and the Papas was the wonderful "California Dreamin'" by Michelle Phillips. I bought this book when it was first published in 1986 while I was in college. I had always loved the music of the Mamas and the Papas but I really never knew how the band got together, how their relationships fueled their music and why the group eventually disbanded. It's all here - Michelle's coming of age, her romance with John Phillips, the burgeoning New York folk scene, the first fateful meeting with Mama Cass Elliot, their vacation in the Virgin Islands and then on to California where they met record producer Lou Adler and the rest was history. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the detailed images of what it must have been like to have lived during the late 60's - Flower Power, the hippie scene and the "Summer of Love". The relationships between the band members, especially that of Michelle and Mama Cass was especially riveting. They were very close and their friendship survived bitter jealousy and deception. I also didn't realize the impact the Mamas and the Papas had on that generation and all they accomplished in just 3 years - several hit singles, four successful albums, a Grammy Award for "Monday, Monday", sold-out concerts from The Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall and their participation (and headliners) with the Monterey Pop Festival in the Summer of 1967. I loved Michelle's writing style - you felt the gamut of emotions from her budding romance with John Phillips, her humilation of being briefly fired from the group, her enthusiasm for being a part of one of the most successful pop groups in history and, finally, the pride of having been so fortunate to have been so resilient and "better off for all you have read". I know I was!
Rating: 
Summary: Should be titled "My Life As a Tramp"
Review: While watching VH1's "Behind the Music" about the Mama's and the Papa's, I became curious about Michelle Phillips. She came off as flaky and shallow in her interviews. I wanted to read this book to see if I could find a shred of depth to this woman.I didn't. This autobiography, while poorly written, does give some insight as to why Michelle Phillips was INCAPABLE of being faithful to
any man. She blames all of her actions on being "young and inexperienced". In fairness, her parents certainly didn't set the best example with all their infidelities. She clearly never witnessed any healthy relationships among her elders, and carried this "love the one you're with" mentality into her marriage to John Phillips. She loved being the "hottie" of the group, and used it to her advantage. Interesting sidenote: Her daugher, Chynna (of the group "Wilson Phillips") married actor Billy Baldwin. I read an article a few years back that Chynna was frustrated that Michelle kept hitting on Billy. Big surprise.
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