On Bowie

By: Rob Sheffield

Narrated by: Tristan Morris

Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of Love Is a Mix Tape, a thoughtful and loving meditation on the life of the late David Bowie that explores his creative legacy and the enduring and mutual connection he enjoyed with his fans.

Innovative. Pioneering. Brave. Until his death in January 2016, David Bowie created art that not only pushed boundaries but helped fans understand themselves and view the world from fantastic new perspectives.

When the shocking news of his death on January 10, 2016, broke, the outpouring of grief and adulation was immediate and ongoing. Fans around the world and across generations paid homage to this brilliant, innovate, ever evolving artist who both shaped and embodied our times.

In this concise and penetrating book, highly regarded Rolling Stone critic, best-selling author, and lifelong Bowie fan Rob Sheffield shares his own feelings about the passing of this icon and explains why Bowie's death has elicited such an unprecedented emotional outpouring from so many lives.

©2016 Rob Sheffield (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Since he was gone

Since he was gone, it has been hard to read anything about him due to the strong feelings I get when thinking about the influence his music has had on me throughout my life. This book, as well as Simon Critchley’s book of the same title have filled in some of the gaps in my Bowie listening history due to my hanging on to my favorites, Hunky Dory, Station to Station, and Lodger. I just ordered a copy of Moonage Daydream…I wish Bowie could have narrated it. In any case, this book is a fine remembrance of the author’s love of the icon Bowie was and still is.

Just what I needed to help me cling to the memories

The fact the he went to Yale and writes for Rolling Stone makes me feel better that I am not as crazy as I may think, in my like of this book. I loved this book, because he loves Bowie. It's an endearing story of a person who is able to help us understand through his experience while the world won't be the same without David.

We can we heroes

Loved this book! All the in depth references. It's a must read for all 70's and 80's kids who felt lost until BOWIE!

A walk, hand in hand, with Bowie and his music

This book was an experience of sound and emotion. As I listened I would pause in many different parts and pull up the album or songs that was being talked about. My love of music started with Motown and continued through my teens with Bowie. I hear his influence in every song. This book also made me realize how much I miss him and sad knowing there will be no new Bowie albums.

Short Theory on Starman

Wonderfully narrated leaving me wanting for more, more. Perhaps because I still grieve and consume everything I can DB, I was hoping this book could fill some of the void that his passing created, but of course it can't. Life without Bowie, to me, has left an indelible hole.

I state theory as the author has never personally met nor communicated with David. It was still an enjoyable read. It is good to hear someone's else view of my rock god. My other complaint was his rush to finish through the period of the early 2000's. The only time he actually attended a concert and an experience he stated was one of the best concerts he has enjoyed.

Amazing

Sheffield has the words to describe the feeling you get when you listen to music. On Bowie is indeed a love letter to an iconic artist.

I loved Bowie since I first heard him on the radio, on cassettes, and watched him in labyrinth. There was something about him that made you take notice and feel like something important was happening. Rob Sheffield took that feeling and wove it beautifully with a history of Bowie's life and even managed to highlight Bowie's most prominent collaborators as well as his own experiences.

It was as heartfelt as his other books, yet stands on its own as part of the epic story of David Bowie. This book helped me feel a little less alone in a world without Bowie.

Loving And Lovely

On Bowie is, just as the author mentions, a love letter... One of those that makes us cry tears of joy, of sadness, and of the love that remains for that, which we have apparently lost...
This is how it made me feel.
Then, I remembered and relived moments that went from my childhood and seemed to stop today, but, that just as Bowie, through his music and his whole Bowieness will continue to live forever in many different ways.

As a forever Bowie fan and follower, I am deeply grateful for this love letter. I have already read it twice and will soon embark on the third time because it is not only David Bowie who is portrayed here but rather, a little bit of each of us who grew with him and got courageous to be who and what we are today.

Thank you, Rob Sheffield for your brilliant and heartfelt account of his life.
#loveletter #rockgod #bowieforever #davidbowie #inspiring #heartwrenching #celebratory #listentimeandagain #tagsgiving #sweestakes

On Bowie

This book lives up to its stated intention to be, “a love letter to David Bowie.” The best book on Bowie I’ve ever read. It is so beautifully written.

negative

I thought this was a very negative book about the life of David Bowie and I was not impressed with the views of the writer