Rating: 
Summary: Bill deserves better....
Review: Cynthia True's book is a softbound equivalent of a fluff piece in a celebrity magazine. I read this book based on a recommendation from a friend, and was certainly disappointed. If I wanted a transcription of Bill's routines on his four widely-released CD's, I could have done it myself. The book does have some nice pictures, and you could write a 100-word bio of Hicks that would hold a minimum of interest as he was such an enigmatic character, but this "book" (and I use the term lightly) is a disgrace.
Rating:
Summary: Bill deserves better....
Review: Cynthia True's book is a softbound equivalent of a fluff piece in a celebrity magazine. I read this book based on a recommendation from a friend, and was certainly disappointed. If I wanted a transcription of Bill's routines on his four widely-released CD's, I could have done it myself. The book does have some nice pictures, and you could write a 100-word bio of Hicks that would hold a minimum of interest as he was such an enigmatic character, but this "book" (and I use the term lightly) is a disgrace.
Rating: 
Summary: Every comic should read this book
Review: Every comic should be made aware of the genius of Bill Hicks.
Cynthia True's biography is both accessible and facinating. She educates the reader without talking down to him. I believe that Bill would beam at this account of his life. It is specific, concientious and fearless. Just like it's subject.
Rating:
Summary: BURN THIS BOOK
Review: First...a writer should be able to write before a writer makes a book...if you want your eyes to burn from crap, read this book. The author is bad....REALLY BAD....NO TALENT AT ALL
Rating: 
Summary: No Mentor but Himself
Review: For fans of Bill's or anyone with an open sense of humor, this is a worthwhile book. Having all but memorized Bill's albums and checked the web for little bits of his legend, this book offers some insights not found elsewhere. It is interesting to learn about his relationship with his parents, especially his father, and how Bill felt so alone in the world. It shows how his career and craft were elevated after he found sobriety. Also, it shows how his consciousness was expanded by psychedelic mushrooms and the positive effect it had on his craft. Usually, psychedelics are depicted as that which destroys artists, but Bill wonderfully demonstrated that the opposite is quite possible, all the while he's blowing the whistle on hypocritical myths that created our social acceptance of alcohol and condemnation of psychedelics. His story is engagingly told by True and I imagine that Bill's family and friends would approve of the book. We get a sense of his philosophy of life, see how it evolved and how he made his artistic statement with TRUTH, reason and humor.
We need Bill's voice right now. Man, do we need it.
Maybe this book might inspire more folks to think for themselves and speak up at all the jive America peddles. Bill will always be a major inspiration to me.
Rating: 
Summary: True's Hicks -- More Whisper than "Scream"
Review: For those like myself previously unfamiliar with Bill Hicks' comedy career, this average bio might not leave one interested in actually buying his CDs or videos -- which seems to be the main reason for "American Scream"s publication. The book's title, by the way, would be better suited for a Sam Kinison bio. Though Hicks has been said to be "this generation's Lenny Bruce," and died in a manner eerily similar to that of Andy Kaufman, his act doesn't translate into print as well the acts of those two comedians -- not to mention Denis Leary and Kinison, with whom Hicks had been professionally associated. Author Cynthia True's frequent insistence on Hicks' genius can become quite annoying. While his fans may also insist on Hicks' talent, it simply doesn't come across as anything terribly ground-breaking. Though True shows Leary to be guilty of "lifting" some of Hicks' material, apparently Leary's career has been better managed -- seeing how more well-known he has become. If anything, "American Scream" reads as a cautionary tale of poor career (and personal) management.
Rating: 
Summary: For the book, not Bill Hicks
Review: I am a HUGE fan of Bill Hicks. I got his first 4 CDs the same week when I discovered him. As a Hicks fan ANYTHING about him is great... But while I know more about Hicks now than I did before there is a lot wrong with this book. There are some ridiculous errors. I'm not sure that Somy was in the video game business when Bill was going strong, but apparently he liked Nintendo Playstation. So the book was not really proof read. Additionally as someone else pointed out a LOT of the book comprises of quoting Bill's routines verbatim from his first 4 CD's (the one he oversaw). That is not the biggest crime however. The worst thing this book does is gloss over EVERYTHING. There are hardly any insightful comments from those close to Bill. People recount events, but there is very little of the little things. I think you would be hard pressed to say you know the man much better. It is a whiplash account. For example Bill proposes marriage to a woman and after initiating this topic the author drops it like a hot potato. While the people are involved are entitled to their privacy, to bring up something like that requires it be finished. Bill didn't start a premise on stage without seeing it through. I wish the author showed the same determination and conviction. Ultimately this is a fluffy, pop read. It is fact at times so shallow as to be the very kind of book Bill would despise. It's a little hard to feel it's more than cashing in on the fact that this is THE book on Bill Hicks. We have no alternative but must we settle for mediocrity? Would Bill let us?
Rating:
Summary: For the book, not Bill Hicks
Review: I am a HUGE fan of Bill Hicks. I got his first 4 CDs the same week when I discovered him. As a Hicks fan ANYTHING about him is great... But while I know more about Hicks now than I did before there is a lot wrong with this book. There are some ridiculous errors. I'm not sure that Somy was in the video game business when Bill was going strong, but apparently he liked Nintendo Playstation. So the book was not really proof read. Additionally as someone else pointed out a LOT of the book comprises of quoting Bill's routines verbatim from his first 4 CD's (the one he oversaw). That is not the biggest crime however. The worst thing this book does is gloss over EVERYTHING. There are hardly any insightful comments from those close to Bill. People recount events, but there is very little of the little things. I think you would be hard pressed to say you know the man much better. It is a whiplash account. For example Bill proposes marriage to a woman and after initiating this topic the author drops it like a hot potato. While the people are involved are entitled to their privacy, to bring up something like that requires it be finished. Bill didn't start a premise on stage without seeing it through. I wish the author showed the same determination and conviction. Ultimately this is a fluffy, pop read. It is fact at times so shallow as to be the very kind of book Bill would despise. It's a little hard to feel it's more than cashing in on the fact that this is THE book on Bill Hicks. We have no alternative but must we settle for mediocrity? Would Bill let us?
Rating:
Summary: Informative and better than I expected
Review: i disagree w/some of the other reviews here: this book is actually quite good. it's a straightforward, informative bio w/lots of information i never knew about someone that is one of my heroes. the book doesn't blaze any trails stylistically but if you just want a detailed, mostly chronological account of Hicks' life you'll be more than satisfied.
Rating:
Summary: Good - but I've got mixed feelings...
Review: I fall into the "fanatical" camp when it comes to Bill Hicks. He's still the greatest comedian I've ever heard and his material has made a lasting impact on me ever since I first heard his albums when I was 18. Considering how Bill was so enthralled with the legacy left behind by Hendrix, The Stones etc I think it quite ironic that Bill, to me, is probably MORE 'rock and roll' than any one of them... But anyway, the fact remains that fans have pretty much been starved of ANY new Bill material for years, and despite his growing cult status there are still just the same albums and videos around on the market. So for other Hicks fans like myself, whether this biography is good or bad is largely irrelevant - we'll buy it regardless. But for those who haven't yet invested in a copy I would make the following comments... Overall this book is a detailed and interesting account of Bill's life but it won't blow you away. It maps Bills life in quite good detail from an early age - some periods more interesting than others, and it certainly begins to pick up steam by the time it reaches 1990 (or, roughly, around the time Bill records "Dangerous") a period I think that should have taken up a greater chunk of the book. Unfortunately I found True's style of writing to be quite matter-of-fact, and the lack of emotional involvement does make the book rather dry and often unengaging. I don't question True's credentials, but the feeling that were someone else given the same information who was perhaps as passionate about Bill as Bill was about, well....everything, then a better more vivid book would have been written. Ultimately, it's a worthy addition to a far too small canon. ...and I really miss the guy.
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