Who I Am

By: Pete Townshend

Narrated by: Pete Townshend

Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

From the voice of a generation: the most highly anticipated autobiography of the year, and the story of a man who...

• ...wanted The Who to be called The Hair.
• ...wanted to be a sculptor, a journalist, a dancer, and a graphic designer.
• ...became a musician, composer, librettist, fiction writer, literary editor, sailor.
• ...smashed his first guitar onstage, in 1964, by accident.
• ...invented the Marshall stack, feedback, and the concept album.
• ...inspired Jimi Hendrix's pyrotechnical stagecraft.
• ...is partially deaf in his left ear.
• ...stole his windmill guitar playing from Keith Richards.
• ...followed Keith Moon off a hotel balcony into a pool and nearly died.
• ...did too much cocaine and nearly died.
• ...drank too much and nearly died.
• ...detached from his body in an airplane, on LSD, and nearly died.
• ...was embroiled in a tabloid scandal that has dogged him ever since.
• ...planned to write his memoir when he was 21.
• ...published this book at 67.

©2012 Pete Townshend (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Average biography

He is mostly honest and forthcoming, what I value most in biographies, but he tended to ramble on. I found myself wanting to listen to something else. I admire his creativity and artistic vision, but he comes across as always up in his head and self obsessed. Didn’t find myself thinking I’d love to grab coffee or lunch with him after I finished this biography.

Pete Townshend - Once was a note...Listen!

What did you love best about Who I Am?

I absolutely love a book read by it's author...unless it's Stephen Hawking. Almost kidding. You get more than the words when you hear the author actually recalling and reflecting on his own life. The emotions conveyed by the voice of the one who lived it adds a three-dimensional quality that mere printed words can not adequately convey. I have always been a Pete Townshend fan and wish to say thanks from the very bottom of my heart. You are truly one of rock and roll's greatest in one of the greatest rock and roll bands that will ever be. Many thanks to you, Roger, Keith, and John for the music you have given the world to enjoy. Tommy remains light years ahead of any modern composition. It has the same effect on me today as it did the first time I ever heard it some forty plus years ago. Wow! What an accomplishment.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Who I Am?

Your comment on Mick Jagger was sincere...honest...and hilarious!

Which scene was your favorite?

Plenty of funny moments between the bandmates especially Keith but I also enjoyed the backstories behind the creative engine that drove Pete to make his art. Truly a master craftsman.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Pete - Pure and Easy

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book. Delightful. Money well spent.

An intimate conversation

What made the experience of listening to Who I Am the most enjoyable?

The author is reading his autobiography, and you can hear the passion in his voice in certain passages. Conversely you hear the humor in other funny (or bizarre) stories about his life as a rock icon. It is like he is sitiing in a coffee shop with you and telling you his life story.

What did you like best about this story?

You get to understand the man a bit better. It is more than just a travel log.

What about Pete Townshend’s performance did you like?

It is his story. He is the only one who can truly tell it.

Any additional comments?

If you are a Who fan, this is a must!

Loved It!

Would you listen to Who I Am again? Why?

Yes, Definately!

What did you like best about this story?

Honesty

What about Pete Townshend’s performance did you like?

I loved listening to Pete read the book. When he chuckled at some of the stories, it made it more personal. Like he was sitting there telling you personally the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Pete's telling of the loss of Keith Moon & John Entwistle

Rock stars!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No! This book dragged on for way too long. I kept hoping the Townsend would give me some reason to like him but it never happened. Perhaps if someone else had narrated, I would have liked him better.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Different narrator.

What three words best describe Pete Townshend’s performance?

Ho-hum, dull, so-so

Was Who I Am worth the listening time?

no!

Any additional comments?

I suppose if you're a huge Who fan, then you'll appreciate this book more than I. I wanted to learn more about Townsend and the band but instead I ended up not liking him as a person at all. Spoiled, cheating, arrogant rock star!

Thank you Mr. Townshend

Where does Who I Am rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

#1!
Excellently performed autobiography.

What about Pete Townshend’s performance did you like?

Personable, heartfelt performance.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for this enlightening and entertaining autobiography. I am grateful that you chose to tell your own story. Listening to your voice was like listening to a good friend. Best wishes to you for the rest of your life, and beyond.

Who is Pete Townshend? definitely read the book.

On any given night or in many particular moods the Who are my go to band. I am so lucky to have enjoyed them so often performing live with Keith Moon, Kenny Jones, Zak Starkey & Pino Palladino.
Their music has always expressed depths and heights for me that mimic what I feel. Their songs are raw and/or sensitive. Their playing is an emotional journey through happiness, sadness, rage, love, insecurity and personal growth. Though the Who are all magnificent artists, it is Pete who makes the Who who they are. He is most qualified to write this book. He is the only one to write this book because it is Pete Townsend's story.
I'm not surprised at all bye Pete's story of who he is, a sensitive, kind, angry, proud artist and performer. He is mercurial & he knows this, he accepts this and he uses it to make his music.
The book rarely is a drag. It, provides plenty of insights into Pete's rock life & private life. It gracefully avoids too much criticism & embarrassment for the other band members or characters. The bands many classic rock moments are discreetly retold with gusto. I think he does a fine job being honest, fair and giving the benefit of the doubt.
Pete does a grand job as narrator with his Cockney accent. I don't think anyone else could have read the story.
I loved the book and am very glad that I had the opportunity to merge the man and the myth.

Essential read for WHO fan ( which I'm not)

What did you like best about Who I Am? What did you like least?

Compelling insight into Pete Townshend and the WHO among others.

Tedious at times but overall well worth the time.

What other book might you compare Who I Am to and why?

None

Have you listened to any of Pete Townshend’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did Who I Am inspire you to do anything?

Investigate some early WHO recordings and investigate some references
Pete made in his book

Bravo Maestro!

I never wanted the story to finish and given Pete Townsend's career and life story I'm sure the story won't.
Bravo Maestro!
Next, I'm waiting for your musician master classes.

Pete and the "truth" are not well acquinted

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I am certain this is how Pete recalls the major incidents of his life. Reading this book must have been brutal, but listening to Pete makes the audible worthwhile.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Pete's reading was the most interesting aspect. The story itself was least interesting