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Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2

Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2

List Price: $13.99
Your Price: $11.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I was compelled to read it in a day!
Review: Thank you Steve Stockman for writing this book, for a long time ( 22 yrs.) I have followed U2 through every album and concert tour with a careful eye to the group's committment to Jesus Christ. They have never left me down and this book just reinforced all my pride in what they have accomplished. I was pleasantly suprised that I was not too far off the mark on the meaning of may of the songs and really amazed at the insight the writer gave me into their music. I read this book in less than 24 hrs because I just had to read it in it's entirety. I now will go back and listen to each one of the songs sited again and really enjoy the insight Mr. Stockman has provided. This book is a must read for anyone who really cares about this group and wants to know what motivates them. Hey and if you really want to know, go get a Bible and start reading the Psalms, especially Psalm 116. I hope Mr. Stockman writes a follow up book someday when he and Bono get together and discuss those questions.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: How sweet the sound
Review: I thought I was the only one who thought that U2 had been unfairly treated by the mainstream Christian Press. At last we now have a studied and sympathetic analysis of their faith and their struggles.

Steve Stockman takes us on their journey from The Shalom Fellowship and near abandonment of their musical lives to meetings with the Pope, World Leaders and the magnificent All That you Can't Leave Behind. We see U2 as artists who have taken their faith and doubts where few other Christians could have dreamt. Why is it that they would have more been accepted if they had performed overtly christian material to entertain exclusively christian audiences? For the answer you should read this book.

It is not a complete biography. It doesn't pretend to be. But it does give a real insight into the World's Greatest and probably least understood band.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great for fans and non fans alike!
Review: I have never been a U2 fan but this book was recommended by a friend in Singapore. I have throughly enjoyed many aspects of this bands journey ... Albums and songs used as snapshots of what they were feeling and going through at different times of their lives. Well written ... good pace ... a great read for a lazy day.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Flawed But Definitely Worth Reading
Review: This book is worth reading if for no other reason than the fact that it so effectively points out the problem with Christianity as an institution. So many people who are disciplined and involved in the Church have completely lost sight of what being a Christian really means. This book makes that point very well and illustrates the fallacy so many Christians fall into in isolating themselves in their own little world...and how they lose perspective of what really matters.

Unfortunately, you get the feeling that Stockman is more a part of mainstream institutional Christianity's world than he is the world of genuine Christianty. Even as he effectively makes his points about organized religion and modern-day Pharisees, he lapses into defenses of the band-members' lifestyles and occasional failings at good moral behaviour or living a healthy lifestyle. Just as he's driving home the significance of Grace Vs. Works, he starts worrying about what the Pharisees might think about Bono getting drunk every Thursday night.

Bono's love for Guiness is no more obscene than a fat Baptist preacher's love for fried chicken. Stockman seems to recognize the failings of his organized religion but still can't quite get away from being a part of it. In my mind, the spiritual relevance of U2's music is in no way bound to the band's success in living a moral life. I'm worshipping God, not Bono.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What I've been looking for
Review: As a person only recently exposed to U2's music (I'm only 18 years old), I have wondered and wrestled with their spiritual journey and what it means in our world. "Walk On" answers this issue directly. Stockman uses quotes from the band members, their lyrics, and other peoples' encounters with U2 as a basis for describing the spiritual journey of U2, from a very fresh and relevant perspective. Definitely a must read for any fan of U2.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: The upsurge of prophetic substance.
Review: The charismatic pentecostalism of joy which permeates their spiritual members drives one into the heart of Dake and the baptism of the holy spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. The revelation of Dake's spiritual discipleship through the giving of the STUDY BIBLE gives one food for spiritual digestion and milk of nursing. Often times depth results and the Rev. Finis Jennings Dake raises someone to experientialism.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stockman's Got a Good Handle on the Issue
Review: Initially I approached the book skeptically--I hate reading books written by obsessed fans that most likely have no alignment to the artist's true intentions.

No true fan will be satiated with any book unless it's an autobiography.

Stockman is definitely a fan, but I think he does a pretty good job containing himself and writing from an objective stance. I enjoyed the philosophical endeavors, and, while you can tell he's not written tons of books, the heart of the matter is evident and I think he does a good job delving into the main issues one thinks of when a band's spirituality is on the table.

I enjoyed the picture he painted of the context in which the band was developed. I believe he does a good job contextualizing the band- even currently, although I did wonder at times if his lyrical opinions were just that and not totally aligned with Bono and the band's original intentional intentions.

If this aspect of the band interests you-even remotely-then this is a must read.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: Briefly - If you are a U2 fan- a Big U2 fan that cares about the band and their beliefs more than than the "average" fan - READ THIS BOOK.

What I found most enlightening about the book was Stockman's almost philosophical views about why the three Christian members of U2 (although I found the focus on Bono mostly)were drawn to their version of Christianty. His account is not personal though. You will not find there the persoanl motivations of the band members move twords Christianity, more of what was going on at the time. I almost expected to read more about how their upbringings or other emotional things could have contibuted- but I did not find that. Which is okay since the book was not meant to give biographical account of the band.

This book is what the realm of U2 has been missing for a very long time.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Dissapointed
Review: I bought this book with high expectations and alot of anticipation. Finally a book that tackles a subject matter that needed to be addressed. How many fans would love to know the source of U2's inspiration and majic. Has a writer finally articulated and deciphered U2's passion?....No. This book is not what a U2 fan is looking for.

During the past few years a number of fine books have been written about U2 including "Until the End of the World" by Bill Flanagan and "U2 Live - A Concert Documentary" by the late Pimm Jal de la Parra. These books act as bibles to fans and works of accomplishment. Walk On by Steve Stockman unfortunately is a thin, second rate effort with few insights considering the 'importance' of the subject tackled. It simply re-hases countless U2 biographies and histories that have been continually written over the years. This book does not adequetly address the weight of its topic and subsequently suffers miserably. It lacks real depth and insight.

When I read this book I see the author sitting in Irish kitchen gossiping and observing in a way the Irish have made an art form. When making a reference to Bono's wife, Ali, the author notes that "She has a Master's Degree." I can almost hear his Irish accent ringing through those words while drinking Barry's Tea. This comment adequetly defines the authors refernce background and unfortunatley loses credibility (within this reviewers mind). This sentence is as revealing about the authors understanding as George Bush using the word 'strategery'.

Unfortunately, Mr. Stockman has bit off her more than he can chew addressing such a weighty topic. I applaud his tenacity and effort, unfortunately, the result is a mere secondary source and observation from Flanagan's work, numerous bootlegs and web based U2 histories. This author unfortunately has "nothing much to to say I guess, just the same as all the rest". This topic unfortunatley, is too weighty for Mr. Stockman.

Taco Pubba

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
Review: "Walk On" gave me an incredible crash course in the "Spiritual Journey" of U2. Before reading this book I thought of U2 as mixed-up guys who didn't have a real grasp on Christianity. After reading this book I have a better idea where U2 came from and where their roots began. I have a better respect for these fellows as well.

Steve Stockman DEFINITELY did his work in writing this book! I am very glad to have had the opportunity to read this book.


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