Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life
by Clay Aiken, Allison Glock
List Price:
Our Price: $1.50
You Save: $6.49 (81%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Allison Glock, Clay AikenEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-11-29
ISBN: 0812974107
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Fawcett
Book Reviews of Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life
Book Review: A great book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't really like to write reviews, but I couldn't resist this one. Let me just start by saying I wasn't a fan of Clay when he was on Idol. I guess I was a bit young to really appreciate his talent. Well I've rediscovered him and have become a HUGE FAN. I can call myself a claymate.
Anyway, this book is great. I finished it in a day. I couldn't put the book down, not even for a minute. From the very beginning Clay opened himself up and showed that he's vulnerable. He says that he wants people to realize what you see is what you get when it pertains to him. You can't help but cry when things are rough, and smile when he sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
This may be a spoiler, but one of the many things that really stood out for me was when he was talking about his stepdad. When his stepdad died, you can tell at that time, Clay felt incomplete, not knowing whether he was loved by him or not. Then he remembered a story his mom told him; his mom said, a friend of his dad had visited him and he was talking about his brother Brett and how he knew he would turn out to be a great man. Then his stepdad said, "my other son is going to be a famous singer one day because he has the most beautiful voice."
That part of the book really touched me bc I felt like he got his closure and he knows his stepdad really loved him.
Anyway, I don't mean to go on and on, but this is a great book and is a page turner. You can't help but love Clay more and I'm sure people who read this book can relate to him in so many levels.
Summary of Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life
?My mother prophesied years ago that my voice would take me places. She was certain that there was a reason I was able to sing. I am still discovering what that reason is, what it is that God wants to happen.??CLAY AIKEN, from Learning to Sing
When he was a kid singing in his church choir, Clay Aiken never dreamed of becoming a pop music star. His ambition was to be a teacher, maybe even a high school principal. But Clay?s mother was right, and the music that was Clay?s joy in life was destined to lead him to unexpected triumphs.
In Learning to Sing, Clay details what his astonishing success has meant to him. He writes from the heart about his life before and since his instant stardom on American Idol, how he has changed, and how he struggles to adapt to life in the public eye. He speaks candidly about his lonely childhood: the father who abandoned him, the school bullies who tormented him, the mother who taught him to be strong, and the friends and teachers who?more than they ever knew?kept him going. He describes his new high-profile life in Los Angeles? the awards shows, the free clothes, the unfortunate presence of avocado on all the food. More significant, he reveals what he has discovered from diving into the white-hot center of pop culture: what it takes for him to stay true to himself and remember the lessons he learned growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Clay shares his struggle to remain a man his mother can be proud of, and writes about the faith that sustains him today just as it did when he was an awkward, unpopular outsider. ?I believe God has a direction for me. He did not give me this life just so I could buy a big house and an SUV. My job is to give back and to be a decent human being no matter how many people cheer my name.?
Clay?s friends?the old ones from North Carolina and the millions of new ones who love his voice?will hold this inspiring memoir as close to their hearts as they do his music. Learning to Sing reminds you that anything is possible. Like a perfect song, it will send your spirit soaring.
From the Hardcover edition.
Clay Aiken, the undeniably talented American Idol runner up and self-proclaimed "nerdy, geeky, momma's boy" (and boy, does he love to talk about his momma), has written a strange hybrid of memoir, self-help and religious testimony--and in spite of it being so slight that it feels like it will float right out of your hands--he almost pulls it off. Learning to Sing is a book only his most rabid fans (and admittedly, there are millions of 'em) will be able to fully embrace. Anyone looking for American Idol dirt will have to go elsewhere, as Aiken always takes the high road, whether discussing his Idol experience (given surprisingly short shrift), the torment and damage done by the bullies of his youth, or his fractious, difficult relationship and ultimate estrangement from both his birth father and stepfather. When recounting the origin and progression of his true passion--teaching special needs children--his sincerity and dedication feels real and admirable. Towards the end of Learning to Sing, Aiken's writing teeters from subtly spiritual to zealously polemic, but surely there are worse things for young people (and some adults) to be exposed to than a wildly successful entertainer advising them to embrace their inner nerd, find and follow their passion and treat others with respect and kindness. We should all be so nerdy. --Terry Goodman
Pop Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Pop Books
Michael Jackson: Visual Documentaryby Adrian Grant
Omnibus Press; Published: 1997-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $228.96
Backstreet Boysby Omnibus Press
Omnibus Press; Published: 1997-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.78
FRANK SINATRA: MY FATHERby Nancy Sinatra
Pocket; Published: 1986-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.01
Let the Good Times Roll: The Story of Louis Jordan and His Music (The Michigan American Music Series)by John Chilton
University of Michigan Press; Published: 1994-07-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $79.71
Madonna: An Intimate Biographyby J. Randy Taraborrelli
Berkley; Published: 2002-06-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazilby Caetano Veloso
Knopf; Published: 2002-09-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $55.22
Mariah Carey: Her Storyby Chris Nickson
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1995-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Robbie Williams: Facing the Ghosts: The Unauthorized Biographyby Paul Scott
Andre Deutsch; Published: 2007-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops:
Five against Oneby Kim Neely
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1998-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presleyby Peter Guralnick
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 1994-10-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.59
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Clay Aiken - Clay Aiken ChristmasRelease date: 2007-08-28; DVD
Best price: $8.71
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken: From Second Place to the Top of the Chartsby Kathleen Tracy
Mitchell Lane Publishers; Published: 2004-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
Bring Back My LoveDecca Crossover; Decca Crossover; Release date: 2011-12-20; Published: 2011-12-20; MP3 Download; Digital Music Track
Best price: $0.99
Clay Aiken - Merry Christmas With LoveRelease date: 2009-08-18; Music CD
Best price: $2.56
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken - Super HitsRelease date: 2010-11-09; Music CD
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken - Measure Of A ManRelease date: 2003-10-14; Music CD
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken - A Thousand Different WaysRelease date: 2006-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $0.60
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken: Tried & True Live!Universal Studios; Release date: 2010-07-27; DVD
Best price: $12.60
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken - Tried and TrueRelease date: 2010-06-01; Music CD
Best price: $5.22
Price in other shops:
Clay Aiken - Playlist: The Very Best of Clay AikenRelease date: 2009-03-31; Music CD
Best price: $4.57
Price in other shops: