Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5568 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-03
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
This fascinating autobiography of the country music legend recounts the highs and lows, the struggles and hard-won triumphs of his remarkable life. The story takes us from Johnny Cash's childhood on an Arkansas cotton farm to his early years at Sun Records. We read of his life on the road and meetings with, and performances for, world leaders. There is also the darker side of his life: the years of addiction to amphetamines and pain killers, a suicide attempt and the spiritual awakening that pulled him through. He looks unsparingly at his turbulent past, but remains a man of honesty, humility and humour. His memoir reveals his friendships with Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Billy Graham.

Customer Reviews

Very Poor
I have read better and more comprehensive biographies of Cash on magazine specials.

The book is quite superficial and quite frankly, I doubt many people care how many grandchildren Cash had.

If you were looking for some insights into what inspired the Man in Black you are better off looking elsewhere.

An honest and humorous book - but the man is, most certainly, not purely an angel
I enjoyed reading this book, though, as another reviewer stated, he does praise other people a lot, perhaps too much. It became a bit too much, but I also think he came across as fundamentally sincere, so ok with me - I didn't think it a biggie when reading. Also, there are some good stories, as one might expect. He has a knack for spinning a good yarn, but some parts of the book is also just facts, and that is less than inspiring - but it IS an autobiography, so that has to be in there too. Overall, a good read, in my opinion, for me it has been inspiring, if a bit disturbing hearing him battling it out with his demons, and I am not sure he ever - truly - beat them, I think he went out/down fighting. I had hoped that a man who is (I assume) as spiritual as him, would have been able to find more peace in his life. I don't think the book really gives the impression that he succeeded fully on that account.

As I said, I liked the story, and as a person who has a growing interest in religion, the many stories Johnny Cash shares about his own path towards redemption (setbacks and all) inspires me. However, for people who find religion distasteful (for whatever reason) I wouldn't recommend this book, since he has a lot of words to spare for christianity, or religion. In my opinion, since it has had a large influence on his life, I can't see why it shouldn't be in his autobiography. My only problem with it is, that there is a sense that he is 'too hungry for the spotlight for his own good', and it is a shame and a painful truth that he was not able to balance that more in his life. But at least he has been honest in sharing, for which I will give him credit.

Sincerely,

J

disillusioned
The first half chronicles the trials and tribulations of his early career and gives a fascinating description of the life of a hero of mine, an outspoken rebel with values. The second half cranks on about the influence of God on his life, his socializing with past presidents and the rich and famous. It is boring, repetitive and has changed my perception of Cash. To be honest, I wish I hadnt read the book and still had only the images he created in my mind through his music.