• Catch a Fire

  • The Life of Bob Marley
  • By: Timothy White
  • Narrated by: Peter Macon
  • Length: 17 hrs
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (135 ratings)

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Catch a Fire  By  cover art

Catch a Fire

By: Timothy White
Narrated by: Peter Macon
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Publisher's summary

Bob Marley: One Love is coming to theaters in January 2024 from Paramount Pictures.

This is the classic biography of reggae legend Bob Marley, updated and revised for the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death.

Bob Marley left an indelible mark on modern music, both as a reggae pioneer and as an enduring cultural icon. Catch a Fire, now a classic rock biography, delves into the life of this man, the leader of a musical and spiritual revolution that continues today. The book chronicles Marley's life and career, as well as the milieu that shaped his spiritual and political beliefs.

Under the supervision of the author's widow and with the collaboration of a Marley expert, this fourth edition contains a wealth of new material, including many revisions made by the author before his untimely death. This new edition, factually updated throughout, chronicles Marley's legacy in recent years, as well as the ongoing controversy over the possibility that Marley's remains might be exhumed from Nine Mile, Jamaica, and reburied in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where hundreds of Rastafarians live.

Fascinating inside information about the intrigues of the reggae music business, the dramatic rise of Marley's musical offspring, the complex legal struggles surrounding the Marley estate, and a sweeping social history of modern Jamaica, as well as the Rastafarian religion, also make up this expanded edition.

©Timothy White. “Notes on the New Edition” by Judy Garlan (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A gripping biography. I enjoyed it immensely.” (James A. Michener, #1 New York Times bestselling author)
“Probably the finest biography ever written about a popular musician.” ( San Francisco Chronicle)
“White has a deep appreciation for reggae’s immediacy, hypnotic power, and contradictions…An exhaustively researched labor of love.”—Chicago Sun-Times

What listeners say about Catch a Fire

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Missed the mark....

I feel badly giving this book a poor review just because the writer put so much passion into it (per the introduction). However, this book missed the mark in so many ways. The picture the author tried to paint especially in the beginning of the book is so inaccurate. I am not sure how thorough his research was but you can tell nuances of the way of life - the practices, lifestyle, day to day language, etc. was way off. The researcher either did not understand what was told to him or just plainly made up things that had nothing to do with Marley's early life. He would reference palettes for beds - the poorest people in Jamaica do not sleep on palettes. Back then the poorest people slept on proper mattresses filled with processed coconut coir. People didn't have clans in Jamaica, nor used that term. Parents would tell their children about Blackheart Man but that was because it was not unusual for little children as young as three years old to walk in clusters to school or Sunday school and this was a way to get them to avoid strangers. The concept of the Blackheart Man was not steeped in mysticism, as White presented it. Marley being psychic - never heard of that before. There were just many words and phrases and depictions of life that I know to be inaccurate and it made me wonder about others "facts" in the book. The narrator could have at least gotten with a Jamaican person to find out how some of the patois words were pronounced. The accent of course was off but I am not that picky as I know many narrators seldomly capture many unfamiliar accents well. The book took a while to tell Marley's story and there were many things included about other people that I felt unnecessary. I almost gave up a few times. I will not tell other readers not to get this book but I will say that there are many better books on Marley - not sure if in audio but at least in print.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Good read

Where does Catch a Fire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the middle.

Would you recommend Catch a Fire to your friends? Why or why not?

No,because the narrator's voice sounds fake & the story seems to be missing something I can't quite put my finger on.There was a lot more controversy surrounding his music than what was mentioned in this audio book.

What three words best describe Peter Macon’s performance?

Puffed-up,weird,unrealistic sounding voice.

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

When Bob's mother visited his father's house after he had left them.

Any additional comments?

No.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting

Would you listen to Catch a Fire again? Why?

Probably not -. While I did find the information contained within the story somewhat riveting, at times it could be a tough listen.

What did you like best about this story?

I would never think that the Marley legacy was marred in such struggle and down right disgust. Not on Bob's part, but the people that are so fricken greedy and would stop at nothing to exploit a fellow human

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to mention.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really - there was a lot of information to digest

Any additional comments?

The narrators use of certain past tense suffixes "ed" and possessives plurals "'s" was somewhat though to listen to time after time. But I would definitely recommend to a friend

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional

Exceptional dedication and research by Mr. White fantastic writer who made Bob Marley come alive as a mystic, prophet and supremely talented singer and songwriter

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The attempts at Jamaican patois was embarrassing

The reader's attempts at Jamaican Patois were really uncomfortable to listen to.
The author spends a great deal of time talking about people and moments in history that don't have any direct relationship to Bob's life either before or after his death,
He spent a great deal of time talking about Bob's early days and his upbringing in both Nine Mile and Kingston which is really informative. However, he starts to skim through his years up until his death in comparison. Exodus is the biggest selling most popular album before Legend and it's mentioned briefly.

With nearly 3 1/2 to go in the audiobook, Bob has passed away and the rest of the audiobook isn't of much interest apart from the court cases.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

JAH LIVES

very Vivid account of a unique Legend. when you begin to listen to Bob Marley's music you truly understand all he had was Redemption songs. beautifully put together, and the narration is exquisite

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

NOT about Bob Marley

This book is more about what was happening in Jamaica while he was growing up. There are stories of Bob Nesta Marley throughout the book but I want to know about Bob Marley not a history of Jamaica. I don't think I can finish this book. Rarely do I not finish a book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great well researched biography

All of the things you wanted to know about BM! Also the reader was great. Not too much background but enough. I enjoyed the book very much. Go to Jamaica, you too will love it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very powerful book

If You didn’t know Bob Marley after this you will and you’ll get a insight to what we all should be thinking alike. One love and jah bless

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Making of Bob Marley

What shaped Marley and his music? Superstition, poverty, politics, murder, and attempted murder. His life was a life of unrest, and, after his death it continued to be restless. Not actually a biography in the traditional sense, but very enlightening.

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