Love Is the Cure

On Life, Loss, and the End of AIDS

By: Elton John

Narrated by: Elton John

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Nonfiction, 2013

In the 1980s, Elton John saw friend after friend, loved one after loved one, perish needlessly from AIDS. In the midst of the plague, he befriended Ryan White, a young Indiana boy ostracized by his town and his school because of the HIV infection he had contracted from a blood transfusion. Ryan's inspiring life and devastating death led Elton to two realizations: His own life was a mess. And he had to do something to help stop the AIDS crisis.

Since then, Elton has dedicated himself to overcoming the plague and the stigma of AIDS. He has done this through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised and donated $275 million to date to fighting the disease worldwide.

Love Is the Cure is Elton's personal account of his life during the AIDS epidemic, including stories of his close friendships with Ryan White, Freddie Mercury, Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, and others, and the story of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. With powerful conviction and emotional force, Elton conveys the personal toll AIDS has taken on his life - and his infinite determination to stop its spread.

Elton writes, "This is a disease that must be cured not by a miraculous vaccine, but by changing hearts and minds, and through a collective effort to break down social barriers and to build bridges of compassion. Why are we not doing more? This is a question I have thought deeply about, and wish to answer - and help to change - by writing this book."

Sales of Love Is the Cure benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

©2012 Elton John (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"My friend Elton John has touched us all with his music and with the countless lives he has saved through his AIDS Foundation. Now he has given us a deeply personal story of struggle and perseverance in the fight against this terrible disease. Few people know more [than] Elton what it will take to end AIDS. His wonderful new book will convince you there's cause for hope - and inspire you to be part of the solution." (President Bill Clinton)

Where we’ve come

To hear the history behind the fight against AIDS is scary. Elton puts it in plain English so all can understand. Unfortunately, it will just make you mad when you here hoe government bureaucracy has gotten in the way.

Sir Elton's passionate mission to end AIDS

If you could sum up Love Is the Cure in three words, what would they be?

Informative, moving, and inspirational

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

His determination to educate, and financially assist, as many people and organizations as possible as to the spread/stopping of AIDS on a global level.

What does Elton John bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His emotion; his voice (it's impossible to think of anyone else but him as you listen.)

If you could give Love Is the Cure a new subtitle, what would it be?

Sir Elton's very personal battle of spreading compassion and education about AIDs to an audience of fear and ignorance; and, his determination to make the world understand that, in the end, love is all you need.

Any additional comments?

I love Sir Elton John - his music, his humor, and mostly, his heart!

Very informative and interesting

Amazing book filled with facts and compassion. Elton is an astounding humanitarian and we should all strive to be more like him.

Amazingly moving

This book brings the bigger-than-life and, sometimes fantastical, figure of Elton John down to earth. It makes one realize that at his core, he is a compassionate, caring individual - who just happens to also be a rock star. I knew that Elton John had an AIDS foundation, but I had no idea about the events in his life that moved him to create the foundation and that move him still to continue its incredible work. It is hard to put into words how much this book moved me. The fact that Elton John narrated the book himself brings a deeply personal touch to this audiobook and his pleading for the end of stigma against those who are the least fortunate around the world makes one realize just how deeply his compassion for mankind goes.

Wonderful narration and touching stories

Elton John always does a wonderful job narrating his books. This book is filled with touching stories and sobering facts. I look forward to a time in my life when AIDS is just a bad chapter in civilization.

Inspiring book

Where does Love Is the Cure rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best books I have heard in a long time. I knew that Elton John was involved in the AIDS fight, but I had no idea how much the foundation has achieved since its inception. Elton chronicles the history of not only the foundation but the fight against AIDS as well. It is a virtual primer on the fight and the efforts (for and against) to end this virus once and for all.

His account is clear, honest, perceptive, and cuts through the political nonsense that has surrounded the AIDS crisis.

If you want some plain and simple facts, get the book. He knows what he is talking about and has worked tirelessly to help end AIDS.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Love Is the Cure?

I liked how honest he was in the book. His honesty extends not only to others who did nothing to fight AIDS, but also to himself and how he did not act when he could have. After looking into his foundation some more, I think he has done a brilliant job making up for lost time.

Love Is The Cure

I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you, Elton John.
I glad you have children now...
Enjoy them as they grow up Fast!

Cogently Written and Provocatively Read

Here is what one cannot help but feel is an earnest book written by someone moved to write for the best of reasons. It is a rhetorical masterpiece delivered by a smooth, distinguished, and caring voice whose sincerity seems beyond question. There is thankfully very little time devoted to the author's own tribulations (only a chapter or so), while many of the stories are touching descriptions of HIV sufferer's whose plight has affected the, author and coloured the passages in this book. The author does not restrict himself to pathos in order to make his arguments, but has sound, logical justifications for ending the disease, which, as far as I know being a lay-person, are economically as well as ethically sound. Too many writers for a cause ignore the realities of the market-driven world we live in, and even if I agree with their sentiments, I cannot help but find their credibility diminished because of their naiveté. This need not be your concern if you read this book. The sentiment delivered in the book's title is the guiding force, but so is the grown-up sense of reality. This is a marvellous book that deserves everybody's attention.

Highly Recommend

Wonderful book, well written and solid content for educating people about HIV/AIDS, the obstacles, and the devistating truth every person living with this horrible disease faces.

Everyone Must Hear This Book

The message is clear, compelling, and brilliantly presented by Elton John, putting correlation between stigma and epidemic. Impressive information, and meaningful for everyday social life amongst those affected by the disease.
He makes the proposal: We can end AIDS.