Rating: 
Summary: Could've been much better...
Review: The fact that the book starts off with the author telling you how he never interviewed the band should say something about this work. What I found makes the book worthwhile is his description of the Christian scene in Dublin during U2's early days. However, the author consistently kills any momentum by giving one monster religious sermon after another. He carries too many of his own issues with Christianity into this book and has no problem venting them. I was particularly dismayed to hear him rail against the Catholic Church with same old clichés about it being too rigid, blah blah blah. He doesn't stop there and pretty much bashes any organized form of Christianity, even though he himself is ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church. I could go on and on about this but back to U2... I was impressed at how much information he was able to find about U2's quest for God. However, almost all of it has to do with Bono. While Bono is a very deep and inspirng man, and a great example of someone who wears his faith on his sleeve (even through the 1990s), I would've loved to have heard more from The Edge, who is also very quotable on this matter, and especially Larry, who is barely mentioned at all in the book. U2 is indeed a band to be admired and respected for so publicly searching for God in its work and focusing so much of its talents on social justice issues. It's just that this book made me think I'd get to the heart of that search, but Stockman had a nearly impossible time removing himself from his analysis. Again, this book needed interviews with the band by Stockman to gain credibility. I can only assume he didn't have interviews because either the band wouldn't give him one or he didn't have the journalistic strength to doggedly pursue an interview. Without it, this book reads like a glorified term paper. I hope someone else with better access to the band can put together a more comprehensive analysis of U2's admirable spirituality.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok for serious U2 fans
Review: Ehh, I'm honestly kind of jaded on Bono lately, what with his J-Lo duets and his anti-war nonsense. But in all fairness, U2's music is something special. I literally got goosebumps during the Elevation concerts whenever Bono sang out his Psalms of praise before "Streets", or sang the countless "Hallelujia"s at the end of "Walk On". This book basically recaps the spirituality of U2 through the years... arguing that even their days of backsliding during Achtung, Zooropa, and Pop were Biblical in some senses. Their last album has kind of solidified them again as "Christians", but the interesting dialogue examines what happene during those 5 or 6 years when U2 became a dark and dirty band with obscure, cynical references to the Bible... Whatever, you'll like it if you love U2, and I imagine you'd be bored to tears if you don't.
Rating: 
Summary: An Inspirational journey
Review: I am a long time U2 fan and a Christian. I've have read numerous books about my favorite band but never one like this. Usually the Christianity of the band is down-played or not even mentioned but Stockman covers the Christian aspect of U2's lives and lyrics so sensitively and beautifully. This book is totally inspirational. Anyone that truely listens to U2 lyrics cannot argue that they are not profound, but really listening to the true message within the lyrics is inspiring. I read this book in a matter of a few hours and have passed it on to many friends.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mockery of Christianity
Review: In short, this book feebly attempts to link a secular pop group with Bible Christianity - and fails. The questions remain, why does Bono run around dressed up as Satan? Is a rock star lifestyle compatible with the teachings of Christ? Is being filled with Jack Daniels the same as being filled with the Spirit? The book sets out to answer these and other anomalies in the theory, but really creates more questions than it deals with. The writing style is mediocre to poor and in no way justifies the purchase price even when obtained from bargain on-line dealerships such as this one. The bible states "Let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" and yet Stockman eulogises men whose lifestyles embody fleshly perversion, amd the denial of Christ's claims. May I instead recommend you purchase a bible and read that for that is what testifies of Christ (John 5:39)
Rating:
Summary: Learn about yourself, not just U2
Review: This is a very well written book. It is written from the view of someone who knows what he is talking about. Whether it is the Dublin music scene or the bible, the author shows his knowledge in the various subjects of the book.
The best areas of the book are the areas that look not at U2 but at how dogmatic organized religion has become. Even those evangelical Christians who rather die than be compare to Catholics have almost become as bad. The stigmata of Christian music becomes very apparent in this book. There many great comments on the church today that should be listened to and taken to heart.
If you read this book, you should learn to take out more than just a biography of U2's spiritual journey. You should expect to learn about an walk with Christ that is not compromised by organized religion or society.
I recomend this book to anyone searching, and I also recomend this book to any Christian that is tired with the Church.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Stockman does a nice job of putting together what have been mostly rumors about U2 and their "spiritual journey." Depending on who you talk to, or who you read, they are all Christians, or all agnostics. This book does a good job of weaving together U2's thoughts on God, their lyrics, and how their music developed. A pick I have with this book is the author projects his interpretations on U2's music not always with the back up of Bono, or one of the band seconding what he is saying. I would be interested to know what Bono thinks about this book, and if it portrays him accurately. I think it probably comes close, and Stockman did a pretty good job of researching this work. Evangelicals do need to wake up and realize their are believers out there who go about their lives affecting people much differently than preaching or attending church on Sunday. Bono is a positive force for the kingdom, and this book ties that all together pretty well. B+ Joseph Dworak
Rating:
Summary: In 18 years I still hadn't found what I was looking for...
Review: U2 has been one of the biggest parts of my life for the last 18 years and will be for the rest of my life. I have received U2 books as gifts and bought them too, but I have struggled to read them. One Sunday morning recently I went to a record store and saw this book on sale. Albeit I had these other unfinished books (which weighed on me), and I dislike some "religious" interpretations of U2's music, I decided to buy the book. It seemed short and sweet and it was just that. I went home and read it in two days! The best part is it got me going with my other books and now I've read all four of them and I finally feel justified in buying all the other U2 books I want. Any U2 fan or lover of spirituality will enjoy WALK ON---it uplifts the reader without dogmatic religion, just like the band does its listeners.
Rating:
Summary: Introduction to the Band.
Review: I was not a fan of U2 until 2000. I had heard many of my Christian peers gush about the band as well as dj's on radio stations all around the USA. I admit I was always struck by the spirituality found in many of U2's songs and was even more intrigued by many of the cleary Biblical allusions and refrences to Jesus. U2 was always a group of muscians that I wondered "Are they Christian?" because if they were, that was awesome! And if they weren't, I was sure they would convert because they were so close to finding the truth. Therefore, as a new fan of U2, I found this book rather interesting. It answered many of the questions I had about the band and made me rejoice to know of Bono's faith. It introduced me to all of U2's albums and several other projects U2 has been involved with. It served as a great introduction about where U2 came from and why they have done the things they have done. However, the book does have a few drawbacks. The book focuses mainly on Bono and not on the other Christian members of the band; to completely be about U2, there should have been more info about the other band members. Also, the author really should have attempted to get an interview with the band so as to bring something fresh to the work he presents. As I have discovered discussing with Christian U2 fans, the book really does not present any new information about the band; it just rehashes things that have been said and written before. Nevertheless, for a new fan like me, the book was an interesting read and gave me a greater understanding about the band and the art they create.
Rating:
Summary: Stockman worships Bono
Review: I love my Christian faith and I love U2, and have long wanted a book of this nature to be written, but it wasn't worth my time. The title would more aptly be The Spiritual Movement of Bono, who Steve Stockman all but deifies, writing from a standpoint that he could do no wrong and has always epitomized the Christian life and calling. I am highly impressed with U2's spirituality, but this book is so obviously biased in their favor that it makes everything in it obsolete. Stockman's long preaching tangents made me groan; I can read sermons elsewhere. Additionally, a book of this nature needs to be written in collaboration with the band. I admire Stockman's effort, but someone outside the U2 camp and so ridiculously venerating them can't be the author.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God U2 is not Christian Rock
Review: Steve Stockman manages to do two things in this highly remarkable book. He certainly shows how the faith of the band, notably Bono as songwriter and frontman, has been a constant undercurrent of both the music and the social activism the band engages in. However, more importantly, he distinguishes and distances U2 from the kind of Christian "Gospel" rock that most of today's Christians allow to pass as music. What U2 are is universal: they could never bear to be shackled to the mediocre, circumscribed chord patterns, the tired platitudes that make up such an art form. U2 broke out of that pattern in Dublin when they were all 16 or 17 years old, and through three reinventions, through crises of faith and sanity and love, even through the admitted absurdity and play-acting of Popmart, these guys are not simply the number one rock act on earth, but they are the voice of a generation that is tired of Korn-shaped cynicism and Bizkit-mouthed obscenity. U2, in its very essence as U2, even in its essence as a rock band, has a need to reach out to the whole world. Anyone who wants to listen is welcome. It is one of the saddest aspects of Christian rock that it is incapable of doing this. It is a musical form turned in on itself, capable of speaking to only those who already know everything an artist has to say before he says it. Christian rock is tired; the music is boring, and the lyrics are platitudes that challenge few to real action. While I disagree with Mr. Stockman when he seems to think that the only real righteousness for the Church is to reach out in social work, I nevertheless applaud his insight that it is a real comment on the Church's priorities when it falls to a rock star to gain a sufficient knowledge of economics to start programs to really end hunger, because the Church has defaulted on its care of the poorest of the poor. Are there atheists who greatly enjoy, and bear fruit in their lives because of, the work of U2? Certainly. Should we then condemn the band for catering to a lower common denominator? Only if we condemn Christ for coming down to our level and showing us something higher. U2 is far more than Christian Rock: they are Christians who rock the whole world.
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