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This book far exceeded my expectations. Bono is a multi-faceted, supremely talented, complicated man. Skillfully blending stories of his music with his activism and his personal life, it‘s a great read (and audiobook).

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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Parts of this were great, parts were a little navel gazey. Seems like a good guy. Married to his high school sweetheart, who he obviously cherishes, which I find very sweet. He narrates and intersperses with music, which is great, except I was listening to the narration at 1.5x, so it was a little distorted. A pick for anyone who thinks it might be interesting, but not a universal must read.

“Edge is from the future, and he says it‘s better there.”

Bono long ago surrendered himself to working for a better future, whether it was his activism, his songwriting, or his embrace of technology in music, it‘s distribution, and it‘s presentation. This book discusses much of it. However, it‘s his faith in God, family and friendship that stuck out most to me. This is more than a memoir… it‘s a sacred text, essential to music history.

I loved this book!! If you are a U2 fan, it would be hard not to love it! If you‘re not a U2 fan, I think you could enjoy it bc Bono is a great writer, but it is definitely for the long-time U2 lover!

I really enjoyed listening to this! Bono performs his memoir, not just reads it, and there is music sprinkled in. (The audiobook is 100% the way to go). I‘m not a U2 super fan but I like them and am just the right age to have always had their music as part of my life. I went to one of their shows and it was a huge spectacle. This book reminded me of all the songs I loved and also about the work Bono has done as a humanitarian.

Gray and yellow is apparently the official color scheme for memoirs and biographies.

This was a powerful autobiography, an exploration of his life, his family, band of brothers, and the through line of music and religion that runs through his life. I loved the insights into the inspiration and process of their music, his humanitarian work, and his decades long relationship with his wife. Really wonderful!Great on #audio read by the author. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I thoroughly enjoyed a peek into Bono‘s world. From his family to the band, his activism, highs and lows and of course, the music ❤️
Bono narrates the audio and added music and other sound effects. It‘s long, but well worth the listen if you‘re a U2 fan.
#Pop23 ~ a celebrity memoir

#currentlisten Reliving my childhood and loving every minute!

★★★★☆

Bono's voice is always with me, even if I'm not always with him. His memoir took me not only through his life, but through my memories of my life with his performances.

#UniteAgainstBookBans

'[Desmond Tutu] talked about the philosophy behind truth and reconciliation-- his deep belief that they have to happen in that order, that we need to see ourselves before we can be redeemed. Only after the truth has its way can a clenched fist become an open hand.'

'It was part reverie and part revelry, part rosary and part rosé. The day I fell asleep in the Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, the mesmerizing little church designed and constructed by Henri Matisse just after World War II. Was it an excess of humidity or a lack of humility?'

I love his wordplay.

'Over time Mr. [Gavin] Friday has found a role as a kind of midwife to our albums, arriving late, when everyone knows everyone else's opinion on everything and can't stand the sight of each other. Gavin will walk into the room with fresh ears and a pair of forceps.'

I love 'Mr. Friday'

'"There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall," is how the English critic Cyril Connolly summed it up. Unless, that is, you want to write about the contradictions of your new life.... The tearing. The tension. This fear of either losing creativity or mistreating creation. There's nothing any man can make--can imagine, write, draw, or sing into being--that is as beautiful as that child in that pram.'

'[U2]'s deep hope is that Ireland will, by peaceful and democratic means, one day become a united Ireland again.'

This powerful statement hit like a thunderbolt. I've been a fan of the band for 25 years and have read countless books, profiles, etc, and never knew where the band members stood on reunification.

'“So you're not a Christian band then?“ such people would ask Adam.

“I'm in a band with Bono,“ he'd laugh. “For that alone I deserve an access-all-areas pass through the pearly gates.“'

'Ten, nine, eight, seven has nothing on a punk rock singer yelling ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.'

'It was almost as messy, but for me [writing original songs with early U2] was just like being born. Punk rock slapped me on my naked arse and I just started wailing.'

Come on, did you honestly think we‘d escape a memoir? If you‘re looking for a well-crafted musical memoir in the spirit of Patti Smith‘s Just Kids, this ain‘t it. Granted, there are plenty of anecdotal Bono bonbons/brushes with greatness (Johnny Cash! Pavarotti! Gorbachev!) but the name-dropping eventually lost steam, much the same way that U2‘s late-career output has left me wanting. I longed for more stories from the early years.

This makes my Gen-X heart so happy! I highly recommend the audio of this as Bono weaves his personal story of faith, love, and reconciliation through 40 of U2‘s classic songs. With snippets of original recordings, this is my favorite audiobook of the year (just under the wire)!

I‘m so glad @Cinfhen ‘s review encouraged me to read this, as it is certainly the best celebrity memoir I‘ve ever read. Too many of them are either overly curated or a bit shallow, but this one is deep, meaty, and immersive. Bono comes across as a deeply thoughtful man. Audio is for sure the way to go.

The library has a way of derailing the best laid plans. I did finish A Christmas Carol (the 1st of the 5 stories in my print edition), and I‘ll finish the audiobook I started this morning, but everything else is getting shoved aside for this audiobook memoir and an ebook for #readingtheamericas2023 #dominicanrepublic that caught my eye. I mean, when the library gets a book you asked for, you kinda have to read it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ #weeklyforecast(revised)

Poetic. Reflective. Inspiring. Superb.

Its 20 hour length nearly steered me away from this audiobook but while it is a bit overly long it is also really engaging. Bono is a magnetic storyteller and he displays that brilliantly here. There is nothing really revelatory and I did find myself wishing for a memoir from Larry Mullen. I would love his perspective on decades with U2 and Bono.

I won‘t lie…this memoir is long & Bono gets a twee too “preachy” at times, but then Bono has been putting out music & working as a social activist for decades!!!!! If you‘re a U2 fan this is a MUST LISTEN but even for those who just enjoy memoirs, music, reflections, poetry, and hearing the thoughts of a global citizen, then you will 💯 appreciate the lyrics and stories shared by Bono. 👇🏼

Day 4 of Cindy & Bono ♥️🎧🎊🙌🏻 I won‘t lie, this memoir is LOOOOOOONG but I‘m still enjoying ☺️🎶 {{Hopefully I‘ll have new flowers when I post my review 😉}}

Swooning!!! Loving this memoir 🥰Audio is a MUST!! If your an #80sGirl or guy this is a trip down memory lane!! Bonus if you‘re participating in #ReadingAmericas23 this could count towards #Jamaica BTW: War is STILL one of my all time favorite albums 🙌🏻

Enjoying an afternoon tea and listening to Bono sing and reminisce about growing up in Ireland. Audio is FABULOUS with a total immersive experience. @TrishB he just sang a few bars of Cars #Numan 🙌🏻I can‘t believe im the first to post about this audiobook 🫶🏼