Take Me Home: An Autobiography
by John Denver
Our Price: $80.00
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $9.70 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: John DenverEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1994-10-11
ISBN: 0517595370
Number of pages: 262
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Book Reviews of Take Me Home: An Autobiography
Book Review: The man behind the music
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember the first time I heard John Denver sing in one of his TV specials when my son was still a baby, now 30 years ago. I was sure he would remain a major star. His obvious singing skill and message with heart were, and remain, a winning combination. Unlike many of his avid fans, somewhere along the line I lost track of what John was doing as the years went by. I was shocked at his early death, but unaware at the time at the enormity of his contributions on so many fronts.
Recently I came across several songs of his I had never heard before. I was enthralled, touched and saddened that so much of his work had escaped my notice for so long. The songs seemed so haunting. My immersion in the scope of topics, and what the songs revealed about their originator, brought me to a mild state of shock. I found myself embarrassed and guilty not to have taken the full measure of fruits of his extraordinary efforts seriously before.
Needing more information about the man, to flesh out true intent of many of his works and learn more about his dreams, I found only 1 autobiography in the entire Washington, DC library system. Subsequently I found there were only 7 in the Montgomery County, MD, system. I was sad and disappointed to find so little has been written about him....
His autobiography reveals the huge amount of courage John brought to many of his efforts, and in revealing the less flattering facts and deeds of his own life. In many ways the words in the book are a fuller extension of what he has already given voice to in his songs.
How is an artist made? Many strong feelings and experiences of childhood and adolescence can give rise to the need for artistic self expression, especially when other outlets are difficult. Beginning with his boyhood and family relationships, John talks about the feelings and events that lead to his own use of the guitar and songwriting as a means to self expression, finding friends and relationships, and making the contributions he was so driven to make.
John discusses the development of his musical career, while trying to balance marriage and the many issues with which all adults must cope. He describes the fabric of his many victories, losses and frailties in both his personal and professional life without shrinking from unflattering facts. We are given a rare view into how an artist translates the complexity of his thoughts and feelings into a communication to which others can relate. Often the most poignant moments in John's life led to his strongest and most striking compositions.
It is rare that anyone relates such a brutally honest examination of his life and his dreams as in this book. I now have a much deeper understanding and appreciation for John Denver the man, his music and the environmental causes to which he gave so much time, effort and financial support. It seems to me he may well have sacrificed a great deal to be able to give so much to the rest of us. In the end, it remains up to us that remain after him to carry on the work he so poetically outlined and gave his life to.
What's missing? Like John's life, this autobiography ends too soon. I hope someone will write more details about what John was doing in the late '80s and '90s. We have few in the Baby Boomer generation who have contributed as much as John Denver, without the acknowledgment he should have had during his lifetime. Only five years older than me, his life begs the question of each of us, asking what have we contributed and what will live on after each of us?
Summary of Take Me Home: An Autobiography
The internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and environmental activist describes his youth in a conservative military home, striking out on his own, early success, uneasy dealings with fame, and concern for the environment. 75,000 first printing. Tour.Composers & Musicians 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 Composers & Musicians Books
Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams--The Early Years 1903-1940by Gary Giddins
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2001-01-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.14
Price in other shops:
Willie Nelson: An Epic Lifeby Joe Nick Patoski
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2008-04-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.87
Price in other shops:
Stoned : A Memoir of London in the 1960sby Andrew Loog Oldham
St. Martin's Press; Published: 2001-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $72.99
Belle and Sebastian: Just a Modern Rock Storyby Paul Whitelaw
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 2005-08-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops:
Elvis: My Best Man: Radio Days, Rock 'n' Roll Nights, and My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presleyby George Klein, Chuck Crisafulli
Crown Archetype; Published: 2010-01-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $114.72
Johnby Cynthia Lennon
Crown; Published: 2005-09-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.17
Price in other shops:
Aaron Copland: THE LIFE AND WORK OF AN UNCOMMON MAN (Music in American Life)by Howard Pollack
University of Illinois Press; Published: 2000-03-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $37.49
Price in other shops:
Visions of Jazz: The First Centuryby Gary Giddins
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2000-05-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops:
The Oxford Companion to JazzOxford University Press, USA; Published: 2000-10-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.93
Price in other shops:
Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafiaby Alanna Nash, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker, Lamar Fike
Harpercollins (Mm); Published: 1996-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $89.75
Similar Books and other products
John Denver - Poems Prayers & PromisesRelease date: 1988-03-23; Music CD
Best price: $2.74
Price in other shops:
Oh, God!by Avery Corman
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2003-06-01; DVD
Best price: $8.62
Price in other shops:
Foxfire (Hallmark Hall of Fame)Published: 2003; DVD
Best price: $20.19
John Denver: Man for the World (Now You Know Bio's)by John Stansfield
Filter Press LLC; Published: 2008-07-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.95
Around The World LiveUniversal Studios; Release date: 2009-10-13; DVD
Best price: $45.43
Price in other shops:
John Denver - A PortraitRelease date: 1998-10-07; DVD
Best price: $81.43
Rocky Mountain High: Live In JapanUniversal Studios; Release date: 2009-10-13; DVD
Best price: $7.30
Price in other shops:
Higher GroundSony; Release date: 2009-01-27; DVD
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
John Denver - The Wildlife ConcertSony; Release date: 1999-09-21; DVD
Best price: $7.49
Price in other shops:
A Song's Best Friend - John Denver RememberedSony; Release date: 2005-06-07; DVD
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops: