- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Three Rivers Press (May 27 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 076792536X
- ISBN-13: 978-0767925365
- Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 2.3 x 20.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 363 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #45,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Readers hoping for sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll won't be disappointed by the legendary guitarist's autobiography. As he retraces every step of his career, from the early stints with the Yardbirds and Cream to his solo successes, Clapton also devotes copious detail to his drug and alcohol addictions, particularly how they intersected with his romantic obsession with Pattie Boyd. His relationship with the woman for whom he wrote Layla culminated in a turbulent marriage he describes as drunken forays into the unknown. But he genuinely warms to the subject of his recovery, stressing its spiritual elements and eagerly discussing the fund-raising efforts for his Crossroads clinic in Antigua. His self-reckoning is filled with modesty, especially in the form of dissatisfaction with his early successes. He professes ambivalence about the famous Clapton is God graffiti, although he admits he was grateful for the recognition from fans. At times, he sounds more like landed gentry than a rock star: bragging about his collection of contemporary art, vigorously defending his hunting and fishing as leisure activities, and extolling the virtues of his quiet country living. But both the youthful excesses and the current calm state are narrated with an engaging tone that nudges Clapton's story ahead of other rock 'n' roll memoirs. (Oct. 9)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
“Like the bluesmen who inspired him, Clapton has his share of scars . . . his compelling memoir is . . . a soulful performance.”
—People
“An absorbing tale of artistry, decadence, and redemption.”
—Los Angeles Times
“One of the very best rock autobiographies ever.”
— Houston Chronicle
“A glorious rock history.”
—New York Post
“This book does what many rock historians couldn’t: It debunks the legend . . . puts a lie to the glamour of what it means to be a rock star.”
—Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune
“Strong stuff. Clapton reveals its author’s journey to self-acceptance and manhood. Anyone who cares about the man and his music will want to take the trip with him.”
—Anthony DeCurtis, Rolling Stone
“Clapton is honest . . . even searing and often witty, with a hard-won survivor’s humor . . . an honorable badge of a book.”
—Stephen King, New York Times Book Review
“Riveting”
—Boston Herald
“An even, unblinking sensibility defines the author’s voice.”
—New York Times
“An unsparing self-portrait.”
—USA Today
—People
“An absorbing tale of artistry, decadence, and redemption.”
—Los Angeles Times
“One of the very best rock autobiographies ever.”
— Houston Chronicle
“A glorious rock history.”
—New York Post
“This book does what many rock historians couldn’t: It debunks the legend . . . puts a lie to the glamour of what it means to be a rock star.”
—Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune
“Strong stuff. Clapton reveals its author’s journey to self-acceptance and manhood. Anyone who cares about the man and his music will want to take the trip with him.”
—Anthony DeCurtis, Rolling Stone
“Clapton is honest . . . even searing and often witty, with a hard-won survivor’s humor . . . an honorable badge of a book.”
—Stephen King, New York Times Book Review
“Riveting”
—Boston Herald
“An even, unblinking sensibility defines the author’s voice.”
—New York Times
“An unsparing self-portrait.”
—USA Today
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Most helpful customer reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book rocks,
This review is from: Clapton: The Autobiography (Hardcover)
I came away from this book with a new respect for Mr Clapton. His book is very candid, honest, tragic & heartfelt. This man lead a very troubled life. He treated the women is his life terribly & he knows it. He comes across as very down to earth. I am not going to beat him up just because he was a cad. We all have our faults & his book made me reflect upon that. At least Eric was honest enough to put his past out there for the whole world to read. 'I would not!' The chapter about his son was very hard to get through for me. It makes one realize rich or poor, famous or not everyone has trials & tragedies one must get through. I also LOVE his music!! The guitar man's music still sends shivers up my spine.Also recommended, the book "Understanding Train of Thought".
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this book,
By
This review is from: Clapton: The Autobiography (Paperback)
Totally loved this book. I read it twice and will read it again. Clapton is one of the best and having seen him live I had to know the man a little more. Great book highly recommended and funny too.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the better ones out there,
By Sharon McCarthy (Paddington) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Clapton: The Autobiography (Hardcover)
I found this to be a most compelling read. Our book club lately has picked only fiction (Eugenides Middlesex, the novels Bark of the Dogwood and Love in the time of Cholera) and so for me, picking this myself, well, it was a way of getting away from all that. What I found was not the seedy sex, drugs and rock and roll that was so expected, but a portrait of a man as a human being rather than an icon. Clapton's life has not been the easiest road, and he admits to most of his bad behaviors and takes responsibility for what he's done, but there's an element of "that's all in the past" which I suppose is at once correct--if one is to get on with one's life--and somehow casual. Even so, Clapton comes across as honest and the section involving his son is painful and heartwrenching. If you think this is some "look at me I hurt" book out to make money, don't--this is one man's confession and should be treated as such. I was amazed to learn of his troubled life. I knew of his great music but just assumed he'd "made it" and that everything was behind him. If you want to truly experience the man and hear his music in a new light, I very much recommend reading his autobiography.
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