Bing Crosby: The Hollow Man

Rating:
Summary: A frustrating and irritating read
Review: I approached The Hollow Man with the knowledge that it would be a less than glowing review of the life of Bing Crosby. In that respect, I got what I expected. What I didn't expect however, and what drove me to distraction, was the constant substantiating by the authors of every statement that they made that they felt might suffer some criticism. I became annoyed with the lengthy explanations of the logic they used to come to their conclusions. And the way they used quotes from obscure players to back up their assertions reminded me of the tabloids. Another major drawback is that while they review Bing's early performing days quite extensively, they then skip through huge chunks of his life with hardly a mention. A thoroughly dissatisfying read.

Rating:
Summary: Honest,and well deserved criticism of a hollow-man
Review: I found this book to be a very sincere and well researched look at one of the world's most famous crooner's. Crosby's well documented selfishness and mistreatment of his own sons and first wife was documented by Dixie (Crosby's first wife, who died of cancer), all 4 of his sons by Dixie. Only one son remains living, and the other 3 all committed suicide by gunshot. Crosby was an ill tempered and mean drunkard, which was substantiated not only by the authors, but by co-workers and studio heads. The authors seemed to have gone to great lengths to establish facts of Crosby's early years with his beginnings with the Rhythmn Boys Trio back in the late 1920's. Crosby's early years near Spokane, Washington, where he grew up are very well documented. I found this to be a very insightful read. The authors intentions to me did not seem to be that of trying to be vindictive or hateful, just factual.Authors show that just because Bing was an alchoholic, didn't mean he wasn't likeable.An enjoyeable read!

Rating:
Summary: NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
Review: When BING CROSBY became a superstar in the early thirties with records and movies,it was the JAZZ age.BING made a lot of money,alienated a few friends on his way to stardom,married DIXIE LEE,had many affairs with other women on the cover,and then after winning a battle with the bottle continued to neglect his wife who became an alcoolic and died from cancer in the early fifties.Many aspects of this biography will disappoint the CROSBY fans who thought he was a saint.The authors i think tried simply to tell the truth about the man and his complexity.You'll learn many things about him if you read that book,not only the negative side of course.