Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story by PETER COAN
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Book Reviews of Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story
Book Review: Hitch a ride on this taxi
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love the man and his music, you will undoubtly enjoy this book, blemishes and all, about one of the greatest humanitarians that ever lived. Read it, and keep the change!Book Review: Until a proper biography of Harry Chapin comes along...
Summary: 3 Stars
So far, Coan's"Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story" is the only book-length biography of singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. To Chapin's cult following of fans, that is reason enough to read it, but Coan's work is woefully inadequate. There is certainly a great deal of biographical information about Chapin, but the veracity of some of it is rather dubious. Much of it came directly from the author's interviews with Chapin himself, and the controversy with Chapin's estate concerning the book's release should be a red-flag. Furthermore, the book is marred by a glut of typographical errors, some of which involve fairly crucial details such as dates. If it wasn't properly edited, was it even fact-checked?
Music biography too often falls into the trap of being either a gushing tribute or an unsympathetic tell-all. Coan manages to do both; simultaneously fawning over Chapin's music while dishing the more salacious details of his life. His personal attachment to Chapin compromises his objectivity, and while the stories of Chapin's personal failings attempt to humanize him, the portrayal of Chapin is also somewhat deified by Coan's musings. The writing is amateurish at best, and Coan's skills as journalist and historian are questionable.
If you're one of the many Harry Chapin fans who still clings to his music nearly thirty years after his death, then you will probably find this an interesting and informative read. However, the book's more glaring flaws call its accuracy into doubt. A proper definitive biography of Harry Chapin has not yet been written, so Coan's inadequate book will have to suffice until one is.
Book Review: Ya gotta be a Harry fan
Summary: 3 Stars
Having been a great fan of Harry Chapin, I was excited to come across a biography of him. Sadly, the book is rather poorly written. There were numerous typos in the book, photographs were of dismal quality. Still, it provided fascinating information about the growth and development of a talented entertainer and humanitarian.
The author concedes that the widow of Harry Chapin tried to block publication of his book. I'm curious about the grounds for her (unsuccessful) court action. Was it simply to protect her privacy and that of her family or did she feel there were inaccuracies?
I miss Harry Chapin and wish he were still around to provide information of his own about his life. I'm certain that would be a better read.
Book Review: Average Book but Coan's Attack on Chapin's Family Are Sorry
Summary: 1 Stars
Coan did a mediocre job writing the book. Provides some insight in Harry's life. The book might have even gone over well if Coan did not constantly slam Harry's widow Sandi at every opportunity in the prologue and epilogue. His actions showed NO CLASS which Harry had a lot of. I imagine Harry Chapin would roll over in his grave if he saw it. If he had problems with Sandi, he should have left them unspoken. I do not recommend wasting your money on this book. I sure wish I had my money back.
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