Patti’s lyrical prose has such beauty and depth, even as she recounts the tough parts of her life, she takes us along on her journey. As a fan of not just Patti’s books, but her music, I especially enjoyed the stories of the “craft,” how she came up with certain lyrics, her bandmates, and so on. I had to force myself to read in smaller segments, rather than devour in one sitting. This book has a lot to relish. When I finished reading, I closed the book, kissed it, and held it to my heart for a while. As with all Patti’s books, I will reprise. This book is a special gift to us.

Patti Smith is one of the few modern artists whose life is worth reading about. She tells her story of an impoverished yet magical childhood and a life of both tragedy and success skillfully and without self-pity. I particularly enjoyed the first part of the book about her childhood and the section on her time as a wife and mother in Michigan. I skipped most of the section on her 1970s New York years as much of it seemed just a condensed version of material in “Just Kids.” It’s a worthy addition to her existing memoirs.

I’ve been a Patti Smith fan since a friend took me to see her at a small bar on San Pablo Ave in Berkeley, probably 1975. Have wondered about those unseen years and Detroit life, and beyond. Really enjoyed her filling some blank spaces. However, hindsight not always 20/20. Doubt very much Fred and Patti’s Detroit to Miami flight stopped in Ft Lauderdale to refuel as MIA only 21 miles beyond FLL. Also, at Paramaribo they crossed the Paramaribo River and probably took a bus (ours was an old Bluebird school bus) for 3 hrs to the Maroni River to cross into French Guiana.

This is almost as good as Just Kids. Highly recommended!

wonderful beginning…have not read it all yet

The book, like all of Patti Smith’s writing is wonderful. Sadly my copy arrived with a small smudge on the cover above the ‘l’ in angels. It would be nice is they properly wrapped and protected these books when they ship them.

Received it quickly.

Fabulous.

I’ve been waiting for this book since it was announced, so I happily devoured it today! It was beautifully done, well put together, a well organized mishmash of papers and artwork. A lot of folks were worried about Layne’s privacy being compromised, but it’s really not. His family was extremely respectful. There is no “tea” and if you’re interested enough to buy this book, you probably won’t learn anything new. The journal entries aren’t really personal, they are rough drafts of lyrics mainly. It feels like going through a family album! Very sweet. It included mostly childhood pictures with his siblings. The art work was cool to see! But my point is, is this is very respectful. The best parts in my opinion, are the into’s from the family. The inclusion of fan art was a pleasant surprise!

First off, thank you to Nancy McCallum, Layne’s mom.This book is hauntingly beautiful look into Layne’s life, personality, addiction and mental health, his art, and the impact he left on the world. This book was well put together, allowing readers insight through Layne’s loved ones, Layne’s own writing, his art, and photos of Layne. I love the fan art as well, and the additional letters from other artists and various professionals -this drives home the influence he had and the love people had for him whether they knew him or not.It’s a heartbreaking read but also has some humorous and heartwarming stories. I’m glad the Layne Staley Foundation was discussed as well, since I only heard of it when I found it by accident a while back, but they’re doing such great work in memory of Layne and in honor of his legacy of inspiration and motivation for change.

To the reviewer ripping Nancy for this book, you couldn’t be more wrong. I can’t image what she went through putting this book together. It was very well done. Nice glimpses into his life, beginning lyrics of what would eventually become incredible songs, art work, old family pics, etc. I think any true AIC and Mad Season fan knows the darkness is their in his beautiful songs and lyrics. We didn’t another lets see how sick a musician can be story. If you want that, read Lanegan’s “Sing Backwards and Weep”. You’ll definitely find those in there along with a few about Layne and other Seattle musicians.Thank you Nancy, family , and friends for making this book possible. Proud to own it.And by the way, I named my first son after him.RIP Layne, thanks for the music

If you’re going into this expecting untold revelations about the fascinating career of Alice in chains you’re probably gonna be disappointed. It’s mostly pictures, lyrics, poetry, and some very moving words from his parents. Nancy McCallum is a wonderful person and I’m not dissatisfied with the purchase but I was hoping we’d get a glimpse into the very dark isolation era of laynes life. Obviously I can see why she’d want to keep that part of her sons legacy minimized. But as a huge fan of the band it is cool to see early drafts of nutshell and some of their other hits. It’s well made and doesn’t feel cheap, nor does it feel like a cash grab. I guess I just wish there were a few entries that gave insight into laynes mind after, say, the metallica tour, the unplugged show, tensions during the tripod album sessions, really anything of substance. The pictures are cool and his artwork is cool and AICs music saved my Iife many a time so this was a must buy regardless.If you really want insight into layne I can’t recommend mark lanegans sing backwards and weep enough. The audio version especially as his voice adds to the richness of the stories.

A book worthy of Layne! Beautifully and heart-fully put together on quality paper. Well, well worth the price! A huge thank you to Layne’s family for such a precious gift.

I absolutely love Layne Staley and i try to purchase anything and everything that has to do with him. This isn’t so much a book where you read his life story, as it is a collection of items from his life. It’s very similar to the book that was written by Adriana Rubio Angry Chair. Some of the Art in her book is in this. However, there is definitely some new art and the writings and lyrics are amazing!! This book is Beautifully Crafted. The pictures are in Color and the pages are bright and vivid. there are a few filler pages but not many at all. A Definite bonus, underneath each image it has a written description of what the images are. All in all this is absolutely worth every penny. I’m going to purchase a second to store away untouched.

I never would’ve bought this book. It seems like she’s trying to make a profit off of a book which you know diehard fans would want to read. However, reading this makes me feel dirty. I thought this was being written by a fellow musician, and he was going to share his thoughts about working with Layne. I’m so disappointed. The mother actually put this out here ???? I’m embarrassed for her. How could she do this? I wish I had never bought it. Again I’ll repeat. I thought it was from a fellow musician that just wanted to share some stories.

Beautifully done! Seeing his artwork as a child up through scratching lyrics onto scraps of paper… It makes him even more human. His parents did a wonderful job of putting this together. It’s literally a gift from them to his fans. They know how loved their son is and wanted to share an intimate side of his life without digging into the dark times. It isn’t necessarily informative so much as it is a peek into his musical process. Seeing the sketches and drawings done both by Layne and his fans was awesome! He was a beautiful human inside and out in spite of his addictions. My only wish is that he had been the one to release something like this, himself.

This is probably my favorite Dolly book (I have them all!) because it truly gives her career life story, beginning to now. The photos are beautiful and not a detail was spared. As with all her books, it’s told in her own voice and you can almost hear Dolly when reading it. It’s aesthetically beautiful with a touch of glam with the gold cover. Highly recommend for any Dolly fan! I love everything she touches and this is no exception.

Was bought as gift for a dear friend! They loved it as they are a big fans❤️ wish to meet Dolly one day the book is big and heavy lots of great stories and beautiful photos. Advise anyone to buy it !

Just received this week – can’t wait to read. Dolly’s fourth book. I have her other book about her custom costumes (fashion). I love her & these books. She is such a genuine lady & does so much to help others.

A ‘must-have’ for any Ozzy fan. I made myself late for work reading this book when my copy arrived. Once it went on sale I snapped up a copy.A huge “thank you!” to Jack, (Ozzy’s son), who mentioned the pre-sale of his father’s book on the Good Morning America program.Whether you’re familiar with Ozzy since the beginning of his solo career beginning in 1980, Or, if you grew up seeing Ozzy on “The Osbournes” reality TV show, then this book is fantastic, yet a real tear-jerker, and difficult read as you can’t help but feel the immense emotions that Ozzy felt and expressed.I’ve been an Ozzy fan since the start of his solo career. I grew up listening to Ozzy on the radio and watched his first videos on MTV (when the station was still in it’s infancy). I bought most of Ozzy’s albums all throughout my teenage years eons ago and I knew him as the “lovable lunatic” from the music magazines.If ever Ozzy was featured in Rockline!, Hit Parader Heavy Metal Heroes, Blast, Metal Edge music magazines I always read the articles, and when I had the allowance money, I’d buy a copy of said magazines back in the day.The Madman is witty, brutally honest, and you’ll laugh with him in parts, turn the page and cry at the sheer physical pain he lived with, especially after his horrendous ATV accident that almost killed him.This book also gives the reader a “heads up” on what’s it’s like to grow older, and essentially there’s a deep sense of sadness pouring out of the Madman that I detected. Ozzy also goes in great detail about what its like living with “Parks 2”, which is in the same family as Parkinson’s disease and how debilitating that has become for him.Ozzy really grabs you and pulls you into his reality of what it’s like to undergo risky and dangerous surgeries, doctor visits, and a long list of various medications that he needed to control the onset of Park’s 2.Ozzy became the literal version of “Iron Man” and never gave up his determination to return to the stage and to his adoring fans, whom he loved and appreciated.I’m only half through this book and already I can tell to have a box of tissues ready. ???? I have a feeling the end is going to be extremely emotional. ????When you’re growing up and you see Ozzy for the first time ever on MTV, it was special, it was incredible. And then to see young Randy Rhoads just shredding classical riffs like it was nothing was even more phenomenal for me! I was captived and I knew heavy metal was taking shape back then. I was in utter shock when Randy sadly, and tragically passed away on March 19th, 1982 at the young age of 25. Ozzy also discusses that fateful and tragic day in his book too. That’s my review of this incredible read!Rest in peace dear Ozzy! Love and miss you always, you lovable lunatic, you! Thank you for your music and your legacy!✌️????????????????- Amy

I bought this book because Ozzy is fun to read and I am interested in his amazing life he led. It is like he’s in your Living Room telling stories about his outrageous moments, his sobriety journey, and his decent into hell with his illness. Some has been discussed in “I Am Ozzy” but it’s still fun to read. He had such amazing spirit and will to do his last concert and it is shown in both “No Escape from Now” and “Sharon and Ozzy: Coming Home”.If you love Ozzy, you will love this book and it’s a wonderful reminder for the rest of us to live our lives as fully as we are able.

I’m Gen X with a healthy love for Ozzy Osbourne, nothing obsessive. This book felt like an opportunity to get to know him and what a sweet, funny, considerate and smart person he was. He’s a great writer with tons of entertaining stories that no one would have known about otherwise. His relationship with his wife could actually teach us married folk a few things about how to have a good marriage. Very easy read got through it in a few nights. The only thing missing was pictures!

THE ABSOLUTE BEST! BOTH ENDEARING & HEARTBREAKING!! ONCE I STARTED READING I COULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE END. OZZY WAS A VERY HONEST, HUMBLE, & GIVING MAN. REST IN PEACE- YOU WERE NO ORDINARY MAN & I WILL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.

What a fantastic autobiography. It’s raw, honest, funny and unapologetically Ozzy. I loved it so much. RIP Ozzy. ????????

Of course being a big fan, I loved Ozzy’s autobiography “I Am Ozzy”.His latest, and last book,”Last Rites” has been on my radar for a while, and ordered it as soon as I could after its release. It did not disappoint.It’s funny and sad at the same time. The hell that poor man went through with his health those last 6 years of his life made his Back to the Beginning concert that much more meaningful.Coauthor Chris Ayres did a great job capturing Ozzy’s humor, pain, attitude, heart and soul for this book. I recommend it for any Ozzy fan or any fans of music biographies.

I can hear Ozzy’s voice as I read. Honestly written in true Ozzy fashion, I thoroughly enjoyed his book, and was left very impressed by his strength learning all that he went through. Sharon is one strong, supportive, and protective woman. 5 STARS!

Last Rights is a captivating and brutally honest memoir told in the only way Ozzy Osbourne could. With humor and heart, he opens up about his lifelong struggles with addiction, his journey through Black Sabbath and his solo career, and his battles with declining health leading up to his final performance, Back to the Beginning.Beneath the rock legend’s larger-than-life persona, Ozzy reveals a man defined by resilience, love, and loyalty. Above all, his devotion to his family—especially Sharon—shines through every page. A raw, moving, and unforgettable reflection from the Prince of Darkness himself.

I studiously avoided reading reviews of this book until I was done because I (correctly) predicted there would be those who praised it as a new book of holy scripture and those who would utterly trash the work as thin and inconsequential. Neither of those two camps is right. And while I do not condone tossing a book before you’ve given it a fair chance (though I have utterly given up on a book or two, opinions will differ on what a fair chance is. I can see the naysayers who feel that the book is a bunch of twitter quotes strung together, and I can even see why people who went into it not expecting a philosophically-oriented book would be turned off to it (though why you would think that a book about creativity would NOT have a philosophical orientation is beyond me). That said, I lean towards the cult of those who sing this books praises. I’m not all-in drinking the Kool-Aid, but I am at the edge of the clearing watching everyone line up, considering.If one reads the book to the end, one finds the admission:You are you.The work is the work.Each person in the audience is themselves. Uniquely so.none of it can truly be understood, let alone distilled to simple equations or common language.And herein lies the heart of the matter. Creativity is very difficult to pin down. There are exceptions and contradictions. What works one time doesn’t work the next. That’s the whole point of creativity. If you’re looking for an end-all-be-all truth, study Accounting. Paint-by-numbers is not creativity, and it never was. It’s good practice, and one can learn principles from it, but the true teachers in creative acts are experience, intuition, and failure.Rubin does, however, share practical ways of thinking/being for those who might be struggling through the creative process. He also shares ways to ensure that you are creating good art when you think you’ve got a finished product. Any writer who’s been writing for a while will tell you that the most difficult part of writing is editing. And if they don’t, you can bet that their work shows it. I can categorically state that my early work, even those for which I was paid good money, could stand another edit. Or two. Or ten. Here Rubin doesn’t spare the rod, but reminds us of our responsibility to create the best work we can, while giving us some tools to work with.Now many of these tools come in the last third of the book, but if one doesn’t buy into the foundational principles (remember that old concept of “willing suspension of disbelief”?), then the latter parts of the book are going to be far less impactful. No, you don’t have to drink all the Kool-Aid, but you have to be willing to read and observe with an open mind. If you can’t at least accept, theoretically, that “art is our portal to the unseen world,” then this book is not for you. But if you’ll give that thought a serious chance, the rest of the book will make sense to you. Again, if you want paint-by-numbers-so-you-can-monetize-everything-with-high-productivity, you need to look elsewhere.If you’re onboard with exercising a little faith, you’ll be able to grok the book. The practicum really starts with the chapter on “Seeds,” about a third of the way in. From here to the end, I’ve marked so many passages and taken so many notes that I won’t take the time to put them all (if any) into this review. I’ve begun marking it up (in pencil – yes, I write in my books) with marginal notes, much like the ancient rabbinical scholars used to litter a verse of scripture with their annotations. As a result, this book has become highly personal to me and will continue to do so as I revisit it. It serves as a mirror to my own creative process, revealing all of its beauty and flaws. I will gaze into this book many times in the future both for inspiration and for practical solutions when I’m stuck (and there are many methods given for how to become un-stuck in the last third of the book).I have a handful of reference books that I keep “hot at hand” in my writing area. An old Roget’s Thesaurus, Tim D. White’s Human Osteology, Francis D.K. Ching’s A Visual Dictionary of Architecture, and now: Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being.

Rick Rubin knows how to create art. He also knows how others create art, in this case it’s even more important – his observations lead to very deep and profound conclusions on what does it mean being and artist and how do you approach making great art. A must read.

Easy to read and very insightful. It’s an eloquent reminder that creativity starts with awareness, truth, and trust in the process… with more intention and calm. Less chasing trends, more creating what resonates. Quiet, wise, and grounding—this one stays on my desk.

AMAZING AMAZING BOOK! I’m not even kidding as an artist this book opened my eyes. I checked out this book at the library and after reading it I had to buy it so I can keep it forever!

I’m a lifelong musician, composer, creative, performer, etc. This book has always been recommended to me by colleagues, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I agree with many of the common points that came up in the majority of reviews, and I’ll discuss them here:1. Perfect Coffee Table Book: Yes, this is a wonderful application. It’s an easy book to pick up, put down, and resume later. The chapters are short and are packed full of simple, quiet advice that you can consider and ponder throughout your day.2. It’s “the book”: This one depends where you are on your creative journey. I believe that I will read this book again, probably several times, in the future. There is a ton of excellent advise and wisdom in there, and reading through it quickly causes a lot of information to be passed over. It should be digested and internalized slowly. Most of the wisdom was old information that I’ve heard from teachers, colleagues, friends, or through personal musical discovery and experience. However, it’s invaluable to have these shared experiences collected in one place. If you are just starting out on your creative journey or don’t currently consider yourself a creative person, I expect that you’ll actually learn a lot from this book.3. The prose meanders. Yes, it does. I think you could largely read the chapters out of order and it wouldn’t matter. That’s okay – as Rick writes, language is an imperfect filter. Much of what he shares is a different viewpoint or expression of the same idea, so one chapter may be passed over while another may unlock something important in you. The whole book works together to instill growth, confidence, and creative openness – the colorful prose is a necessary feature.This is a book about growth that instills growth. It’s going to take time to marinate and be useful to your creative process. I will say that reading Rick’s knowledge has helped me find ways to streamline my personal writing process, trust the art, and better navigate roadblocks like doubt and lost direction. I’ve rated it four stars for its nature – it is not a solution, but a tool. A reference. I’ll use this book when I’m stuck in my creating. Maybe it will help, maybe it won’t, but something in it will help move the creative flow eventually.It’s also necessary to address several popular reviews that mention, and in some cases fixate, on religion. This is not a sacred text or religious doctrine. It is a way of structuring your life and workflow to increase and invite creative moments and creative energy to help you achieve your goals and be more creative. I can’t speak for Rick, but if you’re viewing everything he writes through a strict religious lens, you’re missing the entire point. It is frequently emphasized how important it is to have, nurture, and cultivate an open mind. To see and experience the world though many lenses and experiences. To explore diversity, open thought, and the self. To listen, observe, and connect with the world around us. Practicing these methods is necessary for encouraging creaticity. Reading this book through an extraordinarily narrow lens may help a little, but the majority of the contents will be misconstrued. There are a couple key chapters about that. 😉

One of the best books I’ve ever read! Very inspirational and uplifting! Easy to read and gives you confidence and reminders to just be yourself while expressing creativity. I’ll read this again and again…

I love this book. It has given me a new creative outlook, not just on art, but as a way of living. This is one book everyone should read.

This book is filled with so much digestible, bite-sized information about creativity in art, business, or whatever you are pursuing.I highly recommend it. What a fun read.The author has the unique skill to explain extraordinarily complex terms in very simple language.I learned so much from this book.Highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

This was a really good book. It gave insight to what people with mental illnesses go through. I think it was really brave for him as a black man to not only speak up, but to write it out and attempt to help others.

Lots of transparency and openness. He does not hold back from his truth, but also acknowledges his flawed behaviors.

Phenomenal read! As a huge Gucci fan, I knew I had to grab this book. It’s very well written and described viral moments that took me down memory lane. Loved reading the back round account of certain songs, incidents, and time periods of his life. Gucci has overcome a lot, this is a must read for sure!

A great read I purchased the audio and hardcover version!! Love that he’s discussing such a vulnerable and difficult topic. I’m very proud of him! I want to give him and Kiesha k big hugs!!!!!

I appreciate the openness and honesty of this book, as well as its purpose, which serves to honor his family, friends, and colleagues, some of whom didn’t make it out like he did. It also does a good job of exposing some of the unfair business practices of the music industry. It’s a worthwhile read!

Very inspiring and very helpful for many that may be struggling with mental illness. Lessons of triump and Gods glory!

This was by far one of the best books I have read. I couldn’t put it down. Gucci’s life story took me on a whole roller coaster ride. Some parts made me very sad, some moments I was scared (LIGHTS OUT)(LIGHTS ON) but the best part was knowing he over came it ALL. God is GOOD. I love that for him.

Read it in one day! I couldn’t put it down. I am a long time Gucci fan. I love to see his growth. Proud of him for taking his mental health seriously and being venerable and speaking about something so many people struggle with.