Rating: 
Summary: A very wonderful book!
Review: I really enjoyed reading Andrea Bocelli's biography.
I would highly recommend it to anyone, and would give it more stars if I could. It is very entertaining and inspiring!
It has some great photos in it as well. Andrea Bocelli does a great job telling about his life and career.
Rating:
Summary: Andrea Bocelli's book is inspirational and frank...
Review: Note: I purchased this Harper Collins book, but my review is based on the reading of the Virgin Publication (same text & translator). This book will not teach you anything about opera or even music for that matter. We get something much better; a frank and introspective story of a life (so far), one full of all those things which make each one of us ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. The story of a man who never let go of his dreams, even when time and many other obstacles lay in his path. It shows how important a wise and loving family and caring friends can be in the big scheme of things. In this case, the life of a man whose voice has captivated millions of fans, myself included.
It is a rare glimpse into a man's conscience, not just in it's bright and shiny refined state of maturity, but in the beginnings when we all strive to determine who we are and make our own way. Andrea shares openly incidents in his life where retrospect reveals mistakes and misguided notions. He comes out the other end of self-discovery with a philosophy and attitude towards life to be admired. He shows that one cannot merely "wish" for something to be so. Effort and action need to accompany any goals in life, and is courageous in his quest. The seed of an idea to become a singer grew through the years, instead of fading. It is a book of hope, which should inspire even the most jaded of souls, who have given up their dreams merely because the passage of time has dimmed their flame. On page 115, he writes: "every man distinguishes himself by his unique qualities, but all men resemble each other in their defects, which are universal." Reading this book, you will come to know the boy and the man from Tuscany whose life is infinitely unique, just as we all are. Just as we all resemble each other. If you admire this man for his voice, or just want to read an amazing, inspiring story, written by a man not afraid to reveal his mistakes or insecurities, alongside his most proud moments, I recommend this book. Then you can go learn more about opera!
Rating:
Summary: Andrea Bocelli's book is inspirational and frank...
Review: Note: I purchased this Harper Collins book, but my review is based on the reading of the Virgin Publication (same text & translator). This book will not teach you anything about opera or even music for that matter. We get something much better; a frank and introspective story of a life (so far), one full of all those things which make each one of us ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. The story of a man who never let go of his dreams, even when time and many other obstacles lay in his path. It shows how important a wise and loving family and caring friends can be in the big scheme of things. In this case, the life of a man whose voice has captivated millions of fans, myself included.
It is a rare glimpse into a man's conscience, not just in it's bright and shiny refined state of maturity, but in the beginnings when we all strive to determine who we are and make our own way. Andrea shares openly incidents in his life where retrospect reveals mistakes and misguided notions. He comes out the other end of self-discovery with a philosophy and attitude towards life to be admired. He shows that one cannot merely "wish" for something to be so. Effort and action need to accompany any goals in life, and is courageous in his quest. The seed of an idea to become a singer grew through the years, instead of fading. It is a book of hope, which should inspire even the most jaded of souls, who have given up their dreams merely because the passage of time has dimmed their flame. On page 115, he writes: "every man distinguishes himself by his unique qualities, but all men resemble each other in their defects, which are universal." Reading this book, you will come to know the boy and the man from Tuscany whose life is infinitely unique, just as we all are. Just as we all resemble each other. If you admire this man for his voice, or just want to read an amazing, inspiring story, written by a man not afraid to reveal his mistakes or insecurities, alongside his most proud moments, I recommend this book. Then you can go learn more about opera!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: The autobiography of Andrea Bocelli has everything. His joy as a youngster, ready to experience all, his sense of humor, his courage at the loss of his sight, his loyalty to friends, and his dedication to music. I have read this book four times and have enjoyed it each time. Some of his boyhood pranks will bring a smile. Not all of these pranks ended well. When he holds his first born son for the first time was a very tender moment which brought a tear or two to my eye. He is just what he seems to be, a humble man with a deep faith in God, and a great love for his family and friends. He has a remarkable talents in his voice as well as his writing. Hopefully, there will be more writing.
Rating: 
Summary: an excellent read for all
Review: This book is an excellent and inspiring book for even those who do not like Andrea Bocelli's singing. It is an earnest and vivid account of his life up until 1998, when this book was published. I found I could not put it down and read it in a single day. It is captivating, and the English translation seems very faithful to Bocelli's original Italian text.
There were, however, several things i did not like about this book. First of all, basically nothing was said about the music itself. Being a singer ad musician, it would have been far more interesting if Bocelli had mentioned some of the technical aspects of his vocal development. For example, at one stage, fairly late in the book, he talks about the need to extend his range further into his upper register, but he does not specify WHICH notes in particular he is referring to, which would have been interesting. I would have liked for him to specify exactly what were his abilities and short-comings as a singer at different stages in his career.
Also, it I find his adoption of a persona to write about himself incredibly irritating. When I initially began to read his book, I thought that he would begin to call himself by his real name once the book had moved out of childhood stages, but, alas, no. He continued. The adoption of this persona seemed at times to be an excuse to heap praise upon himself in childhood. "Amos' voice rang clear and pure throughout the room", or something of the like, and there are many other such examples.
But, apart from these aspects, this is a fanastic book. It is a factual modern day fairytale, and should be an inspiration to all never to give up on their dreams.
Rating:
Summary: The Music of Silence
Review: This book was a very insightful look at a very unique person. Mr. Bocelli writes honestly about his feelings about life and his music. I learned alot about him and his homeland. I really did enjoy reading it. I hope that in the future he will share more with his many fans. I consider it an honor to be one of them.
Rating:
Summary: As Talented a Writer as a Singer
Review: This is a beautifully written memoir by Andrea Bocelli, who brings to his writing the same qualities he does to his singing--passion, emotional intensity, and love of life.
In recalling the people and places that shaped his life, he is detailed, but also gives his impressions.
A reflective and spiritual man, he is also very active, a man of the world, determined to prove to himself and others that "it was possible for a blind person to do anything he set his mind to. If people judged that something was beyond my capacities, I felt obliged to prove them wrong."
With his usual honesty and insight, he also realizes how much of his identity is based on his extra-ordinary talent: "Day after day, the idea that only my vocal talents could attract the attention and respect of others became more and more rooted in my mind. Singing came for me an identity from which it was impossible to flee."
One can see from these two quotes that his need to prove himself and his strong sense of identifcation with his singing, were the cornerstones on which he built his amazing career.
I was surprised to find that contrary to the somewhat stiff and formal image he sometimes conveys, he is actually an extrovert, tempestuous, and even led a rather desultory exitence during certain periods of his life (especailly when he was playing piano in piano bars in and around Pisa). His relationship with Enrica seemed largely based on the fact that he felt she would help keep him on the straight and narrow.
Expressive, poetic, and even philosophical (he comes to the conclusion we all have destinies we are meant to fulfill), this memoir is a fascinating look into the personality and character of a very gifted and courageous man, who writes, as he sings, from the heart.
Rating:
Summary: As Talented a Writer as a Singer
Review: This is a beautifully written memoir by Andrea Bocelli, who brings to his writing the same qualities he does to his singing--passion, emotional intensity, and love of life.
In recalling the people and places that shaped his life, he is detailed, but also gives his impressions.
A reflective and spiritual man, he is also very active, a man of the world, determined to prove to himself and others that "it was possible for a blind person to do anything he set his mind to. If people judged that something was beyond my capacities, I felt obliged to prove them wrong."
With his usual honesty and insight, he also realizes how much of his identity is based on his extra-ordinary talent: "Day after day, the idea that only my vocal talents could attract the attention and respect of others became more and more rooted in my mind. Singing came for me an identity from which it was impossible to flee."
One can see from these two quotes that his need to prove himself and his strong sense of identifcation with his singing, were the cornerstones on which he built his amazing career.
I was surprised to find that contrary to the somewhat stiff and formal image he sometimes conveys, he is actually an extrovert, tempestuous, and even led a rather desultory exitence during certain periods of his life (especailly when he was playing piano in piano bars in and around Pisa). His relationship with Enrica seemed largely based on the fact that he felt she would help keep him on the straight and narrow.
Expressive, poetic, and even philosophical (he comes to the conclusion we all have destinies we are meant to fulfill), this memoir is a fascinating look into the personality and character of a very gifted and courageous man, who writes, as he sings, from the heart.
Rating:
Summary: A Gladsome, Modest Memoir!
Review: This is the memoir music-lovers have waited for. This liquid golden-voiced Italian tenor from Tuscany, tells of his blindness & how music soothed him; of his struggles as a boy to live a normal life; his studies to become a lawyer & how he found his world-class voice. Andrea Bocelli is a refreshingly simple, humble fellow imbued with love, humor & a sense of the Grand Adventure. Andrea Bocelli wrote this memoir himself on a special Braille computer, without a ghostwriter & Stanislav Pugliese translated it into English. This is the angel who sang for Mayor Juiliani during a Memorial for those who perished in the September 11 attacks & I only wish there had been a CD of his favorite songs attached to this memoir.
Rating:
Summary: The Music of Silence, reviewed by Pim
Review: What one can say about the Story of Amos Bardi. A Beautiful introduction, with "A" level, to which, in fact everyone of us have someone looking to us at all time. The story begins and as we read through, we find that what happens to Amos Bardi, is not bowring, on the contrary, very interesting to follow the life of this little boy, and the adolescent and the man. All of us, would like to have had someone in our lives that would dedicate to us as much time, as Amos Bardi was granted, when he had to go to University. Its unbelievable how one can be able to accept the destroy of our own concepts and ideas through some one that possesses more knowledge, and throws us upfront, to see whats around us with another perspective. How honest and sincere one speak about oneself, without the presumptious, that all of us are empowered, because we do not like others to see our week points. All in all a great book. A book that is a non-stop reading book. The final letter to his parents and wife are, what all of us, inside ourselves, would like to say, but sometimes it is not possible. This perspective of God and about the Human being is written so well, that this book is Literature, not a mere story, told by one more writer. Pitty, is that the public in general do not buy it. Its a legacy of strenght, of faith, of endurement and of achievement, when us human beings, barely reach to our final purpose. We are mere spectators of whats around us, and live what is more immediate.
And this book was written by Andrea Bocelli, in moments of solitude and deep lonliness. A GREAT MAN. To him, I wish he continues to write, because his book is as good as his music.
I would have given more stars, if they were. In fact, he has all the stars of the Universe. Pim
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