Like a Rolling Stone

A Memoir

By: Jann S. Wenner

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris, Jann S. Wenner

Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Rolling Stone founder, co-editor, and publisher Jann Wenner offers a once-in-a-generation memoir from the beating heart of classic rock and roll.

Jann Wenner has been called by his peers “the greatest editor of his generation.”

His deeply personal memoir vividly describes and brings you inside the music, the politics, and the lifestyle of a generation, an epoch of cultural change that swept America and beyond. The age of rock and roll in an era of consequence, what will be considered one of the great watersheds in modern history. Wenner writes with the clarity of a journalist and an essayist. He takes us into the life and work of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bono, and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. He was instrumental in the careers of Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe, and Annie Leibovitz. His journey took him to the Oval Office with his legendary interviews with Bill Clinton and Barak Obama, leaders to whom Rolling Stone gave its historic, full-throated backing. From Jerry Garcia to the Dalai Lama, Aretha Franklin to Greta Thunberg, the people Wenner chose to be seen and heard in the pages of Rolling Stone tried to change American culture, values, and morality.

Like a Rolling Stone is a beautifully written portrait of one man’s life, and the life of his generation.

©2022 Jann S. Wenner (P)2022 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

“If you were young, alone and in the far lands of New Jersey, Rolling Stone was a dispatch from the front, carrying news of a bigger world and another life awaiting. Like A Rolling Stone is a touchingly honest memoir from a man who recorded and shaped our times and of a grand life well lived. It is wonderfully deep and rewarding reading. I loved it.”—Bruce Springsteen

“A high-octane story of a visionary editor, a sweeping portrait of a generation. When it comes to readable prose, political instincts, rock ’n roll, unvarnished truth-telling and passion for life itself, Wenner is in a league of his own. This memoir is utterly intoxicating."—Douglas Brinkley, Author of Silent Spring Revolution

“Jann Wenner has written a rip-roaring and speedy ride through the excesses, excitements, and tragedies of our generation. Alternately thrilling, bedeviling, and deeply moving, he was the voice, the editor, and the arbiter of all things Rock and Roll. His accomplishments, jaw-dropping experiences, and extraordinary friendships with the most accomplished artists and journalists of his day are unparalleled reading.”—Bette Midler

A roller coaster through history

What a great read from someone that lived history . All the money in the world would have not gotten you a better seat . One of the best accounts of musical history . We must not forget the ones that came before us . Truly a great adventure. Most books of this length will lag but you never know what is coming around the corner . Great read .

Fascinating!!!

I work at the far opposite end of the magazine industry than Jann did. While I think anyone would find his life stories to be incredibly interesting, I felt a comfortable understanding of so many of the parties involved. Excellent!!!

Like A Man Rolling Stoned

I enjoyed this book. There’s no question that Rolling Stones was the cultural and musical history of this country for 50 years. Founder Jann Wenner clearly deserves much credit for building such an iconic brand. And he spends much of the book telling you this very thing. This is just as much detail of a jet setting and boy letting you in on his privileged endeavors as much as it is a history of the magazine. Yet for those of us who grew up with Rolling Stones or cultural touchstone, if conjured up memories familiar and endearing. The narrator was spot on and capturing Mr. Wenner I believe. Kudos to him.

A Privileged Life

A fascinating person with a huge “Carbon Footprint”! Self aware and yet not. How real is the world he lives in?

The Untold History

Outstanding autobiography by Jann Wenner about the most influential counterculture era in the 20th century, and the the broader cultural absorption of that counterculture into American life and politics.

Webber’s self narration is unmatchable.

He Was There

I prefer the more objective Sticky Fingers but this is still worth a listen. He drops a lot of names because he knew a lot of names.

More than a little boastful but...

There's enough in here about the magazine to make it a worthwhile read. Jann's pretentiousness and conceit can be stomach-churning at times, and you'll roll your eyes on a continual basis, but the stuff about the actual magazine is worth putting up with all of the name-dropping and bravado. (There's actually a chapter where Jann rights about all the nice things people said about him at a birthday party he threw for himself. An entire chapter!)

Excellent story and reader

Excellent story of the 60s generation and the important interplay of music, identity and politics of that time evolving into current events of the 80s, 90s and today. Loved the excerpts read by Jann along with the main narrator who actually sounded like Jann which made listening to the audible version great. Strongly recommend for any Rolling Stone fan or anyone who wants to learn about an icon in music, pop culture and politics from the 60s to today. Plus an interesting sneak peak into the lives of some iconic musicians, politicians and celebrities from an author who knew them as friends.

fun

great stories, cool history, the guy knows everybody and has been everywhere. very honest and fun.

Lots of History

The book contains an excellent chronicle of the 7+ decades. Baby boomer will enjoy and reflect.