Rating: 
Summary: One read wonder
Review: Yes, I admit it; I watch American Idol, so when I saw that Simon Cowell, one of the judges on the show had written a book...well, I decided to read it.Now, it has absolutely no redeeming value to anyone other than a fan of the show, but as such, it was entertaining enough to me. In the book, Simon spends the first third talking about who he is, and how he got there. The remainder of the book is basically his thoughts about the first two seasons of American Idol. Like I said, nothing of interest if you don't watch the show. Would I read it again? Nah, but I don't feel like I wasted my time reading it once.
Rating: 
Summary: A viewer of AI
Review: I watched AI and I have to say, nobody seems to understand Simon Cowell because the other two judges butter up the contestents before they get the cold hard truth from Simon. Randy doesn't know what he is talking about half the time, but Simon knows exactly what the music business is all about. I fyou read this book, you will truly understand why he is the way he is, and this is coming from an ex-contestent of American Idol.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Success Story
Review: If you ever wanted to know what it takes to make a hit in the entertainment industry, this is the book for you.
Simon Cowell describes his journey from the mailroom at EMI, to his discovery of pop star Sinitta, to his work with writer/producers Stock, Aitken, and Waterman in transforming Sinitta into his first million-dollar hit, all the way through the 90s to the phenomenal hit show American Idol. The book was published in December 2003, and so includes the first two seasons of the show.
For anyone interested in the business side of the pop music industry (and the entertainment industry in general), this book should be inspiring. Simon describes how he constantly had to fight to convince record execs that his vision was true and profitable. There are also many juicy stories along the way involving Eddie Murphy, David Hasselhoff, and Ryan Seacrest among others.
But for me, the real strength of this biography is the inspiring tale of Simon's persistence and business savvy as he rose through the ranks of the music industry to become the world's best known (and maybe most hated) music producer. Simon clearly explains what makes Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, and Kelly Clarkson stand out from so many other talented singers, and the lasting impression is that anyone who is willing to work hard enough, has luck and talent on their side, has stage presence, mental focus, and at least some business savvy can succeed in the entertainment industry.
In many ways, it is a business just like any other. This book is a roadmap to success.
Stacey Cochran
Rating:
Summary: Funny, but harsh in too many places
Review: Simon Cowell wrote a good book, but he lets the rudeness go into overload far too many times. He didn't have to say that about Madonna saying that she's over. Madonna will do what she wants and can get away with it on her own terms! He liked Kelly and Ruben and Tamyra, but was cold on some of the other singers, like Clay. And he even bashed the legendary BOB DYLAN! To me, Bob Dylan is a dynamic songwriter and artist and Simon's going to ruin his credibility by saying that. He could have explained more about the pressures of the music industry now to have a quick hit, because that's what they're doing now. But Simon plays that rudeness factor a bit too much. He has too much of a Type A personality in thinking that the artist has to have everything in them to impress him. This perfectionist thing is what drags the book down and keeps you from hearing what he really thinks. Simon is funny on much of the book, but offensive, arrogant, cocky and outlandish in others. I can't imagine him doing a novel anytime soon and saying "dreadful" maybe 563 times in that book. Because "dreadful" is said over and over and overdone to ad nauseum in this music advice book.
Simon has so much of that bad boy, rude, bully persona that P Diddy could put him in any of his videos.
Rating:
Summary: SIMON COWELL'S REAL TALENT IS....
Review: Comedy writing. Simon's less than angelic episodes are good for a delightful chuckle. After reading this book cover-to-cover in one sitting because it's impossible to put down once you get started, I have a totally new opinion of Simon: he is a very funny guy. I was entertained & intend to recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting!
Review: The only reason I gave this very thin book 2 stars, was because I am acknowledging that chances are, I would not watch 'American Idol', if Simon Cowell was not on there. Having said that, this book reads like regurgitated gossip from the tabloids. With the exception of his boring beginnings, I had heard or read, almost every cheesy piece of gossip he had to tell, from some other news source. And that's what surprised me. Simon should've known much more than he told! There was a part in this book that I found so outrageous(meaning I knew Simon was either lying or didn't know what he was talking about), that I e-mailed the contestant he had been referring to and asked her if what Simon had said about her was true. She first thanked me for 'renting his copy of the National Enquirer from the library and not buying it', then she gave me a totally different explanation, and some surprising gossip that Simon never mentioned in the book, about another contestant as well. I wouldn't recommend buying this, unless you can get it for under $5 or at a garage sale.
Rating:
Summary: ...but only because the book validated my opinion of Simon
Review: I did read this book and understand why I still don't like Simon's behavior on AI. He is just brutally trite but never contrite. He mixes no metaphors and takes no prisoners. His redeeming humor is the only thing that makes the book worth finishing. I have this admission - he does have an incredible sense of humor. I wanted to hate this book. I didn't hate the book because it's a well written book with lots of sarcasm and wit and some very practical advice if you're looking to create a recording career. But more importantly the book sure did validate my opinion of this opinionated, self-promoting barbarian. I despise the way Cowell behaves on AI. He deliberately takes a sledgehammer to kids, some of whom are socioeconomically less advantaged than this pompous, wealthy, influential, middle-aged white English male. Someone apparently forgot to tell him Brits lost the revolutionary war so he's pounding on American kids who have no leverage. I think the appropriate definition of his role is class bully. Given his position of incredible power I have always thought the way he conducts himself is barbarically disrespectful. He insists it's honesty. I insist it is disrespectful. He could use a feather and get the same effect but chooses to beat young adults into the ground and justify it as being just an honest decision. Simon reiterates some obvious stuff about Britney Spears, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Do we really need HIM to tell us Michael Jackson has fallen on his own sword? Does it take a record producer to remind us that Madonna hasn't had a hit in a long while? I didn't like the "behind-the-scenes gossip" either but I suppose that's what sells the book. Do we need him to literally kiss and tell about Paula Abdul? Yuck. He speaks of one contestant who was just a toxic personality (big surprise - a diva) and another who just had only one miserable night and lost. Huge revelations huh? Not hardly. He "doesn't mean to be rude"? He most certainly has every intention of being rude and then some. His life as a scrappy brat is just as annoying as ever. If you're looking for something witty that'll appeal to your dark side by all means enjoy this book. Be forewarned though, you're still gonna "dislike" him.
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