- The other five-star reviews capture the eloquence, energy, and passion Dave Grohl leaves on the pages of this eminently readable memoir. I really couldn’t put it down, which is saying something for me as I don’t usually find biographies and autobiographies to be page-turners. Also, I really enjoyed his stories about his kids and his tributes to his mother. Loved it!But I want to mention something that, for me, was a big missing piece, which was a description of the beginning of putting the Foo Fighters band together. Dave leaps from the intermission between the end of Nirvana to suddenly the release of FFs’ second album and world tour. How did FF come together? He mentions the band members at the end, almost as a tribute (which moved my review from a 4- to a 5-star), but I really wanted more insight into the origins of the Foo Fighters. I guess that’s my own personal obsession, and shouldn’t distract from the joy of reading this wonderful memoir. Congrats, Dave. It’s a great read. If this rock star thing doesn’t work out, you have a career as a writer.
- You wouldn’t think a huge rock star/legend like Dave Grohl could write a book that you would read and nod your head to on every page turn, but Dave wasn’t born into stardom. He grew up just like most of us in GenX and his stories are relatable because we’ve all been there. His take on life and what matters to him is inspirational and I have to think it’s a big reason for his success. It’s not what drove him (except to shove it in Sandy’s face, and we all have had that dream growing up), but the passion for music and life. The best guitar is not the pristine one in the case but the worn one that has a story to tell because it was used in life. Dave is very much on his way to being the used guitar with the patina, but that’s the one I would want in my collection every day because it outshines the one in the case in ways that aren’t so obvious. Thanks for writing this story and I look forward to following all your next set of adventures in life! Thank you too for giving us all years of joy and emotion through your music. You make life worth getting out of bed for and living as we all write new pages in our own books with your tunes featuring prominently in the soundtrack of our lives.
- I feel terrible for writing this since I am a huge Dave Grohl fan and find him extremely gifted, authentic, generous, etc… The book felt a tad juvenile and over exuberant in describing seemingly basic stories. I’m only on page 50 and not sure I can muscle through the rest. I thoroughly enjoyed his interview with Howard Stern and his storytelling is far better when he breathes life into it through his verbal words rather than his written ones. I gave it 3 stars because he’s still God like in my eyes.
- I think I’ve just outgrown David Grohl. A reviewer rightly posted a three star ho hum review while everyone else is falling all over themselves, giving this five stars. I watched the Back and Forth documentary three times and loved it. Loved the first few albums. I don’t know if Grohl is planning on writing a second book because there’s a lot missing here. At 376 pages, you’d expect more meat, less sugary prose. Very little on Nirvana, almost nothing on the debacle firing of past Foo members, no Taylor Hawkins OD story, no Letterman final gig, no insight on songwriting and no mention how’s he gone from singer to screamer.What there is a lot of, however, is sweetness and light. A lot of aw, shucks, how did I get here. Gee, do I deserve all this. A lot of, oh man, there’s Paul McCartney, there’s Little Richard, there’s John Fogerty, here’s every artist I admired as a kid, HOW DID I GET HERE?! The last hundred pages are so sticky sweet with him professing his undying love of his wife, kids and especially his mother. Yes Dave, we all love our wives, kids and mother. And the part where he flies 14 hours from Australia to take his little daughter to a father-daughter dance for two hours and then fly back 14 hours. Dad of the Year.The guy has led a blessed life and wants you to know it. For god sakes, he was a millionaire at 21 years old. Like I said, I’ve just outgrown the toothy smile, hair behind the ears, aw shucks shenanigans. Maybe I shouldn’t have read Mark Lanegan’s memoir first.THE BEST, THE BEST, THE BEST.
- So I may have a little thing for rock musician biographies. I’m kind of fascinated by their lives and inspirations, what moves them and influences their music… and there’s one memoir in particular I’ve been hoping to read for what seems like forever. Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller. I am a HUGE fan, and have been since the very first time I heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on MTV. And yes, I may have preordered “The Storyteller” before I finished reading the press release announcing it. So you might think that my review is a little bit prejudiced — but truthfully, he has earned every one of these stars with this well-written, completely absorbing memoir. You’ll cheer for him as he realizes his dream of becoming a touring musician, cry with him as he loses friends, family, and bandmates, and share his wonder at the incredibly blessed life he has led.The Storyteller is jam-packed with non-stop story after incredible story, and yet will still leave you wanting more and more… just like a great Foo Fighters concert. Don’t miss it!“Someday I’ll have to tell you the rest.” Oh, Dave… Trust me, we’re going to hold you to that promise. 😉
- We have really been enjoying reading this as a family in the evening! The stories are written in a very authentic and enjoyable way. We are excited to keep reading the chapters. Thank you Dave for writing this book; perfect timing! This book has great life contrasting stories for kids that are into music or other activities that don’t realize how good they really have it.
- Dave Grohl is an artist with a heart. This book shares the story of his courage to embrace his passion for music at a young age. His musical and family priorities have guided him throughout his life. Humble, Humorous and Hard-working (with a little mischief added). Love Dave!
- My Day couldn’t have got any better when I finally received this book. I have been so excited to read it and now the time has come and I started reading Dave Grohls stories. Reading the first few Pages describing situations from his early years starting on the drums and his children. This is not supposed to be a spoiler I am just absolutely in love with his writing. To be honest if you love this man as much as I do, you will not be disappointed with this book. I am about halfway through and I will probably have finished it by tomorrow. And then I will read it again. Because I want to hear these so personal stories again. THANK YOU Dave for this. I feel like I know you, as if you were my family. And I will appreciate this with all my heart and soul. “I’m lookin’ to the sky to save melookin’ for a sign of life lookin’ for somethin’ to help me burn out bright. ” x[Edit:Read it and I’m reading it again.. just a pleasure imagining Dave in these situations of his life. I am a happier person]
- As an avid fan of rock autobiographies, this book was a good read but is only as interesting as the subject of the book. Granted that Dave is a nice and a good-hearted guy who has done amazing things and met amazing people, but he goes on about how the universe fell together for him and repeats himself throughout the book about how thankful he is to his mother. Personally I got a lot more enjoyment out of Ozzy Osbourne’s and Anthony Kiedis’ books due to the debauchery, over-indulgence, and knowledge of their imperfection and limitations. Yes this is Dave’s life and no-one else’s but if you’re looking for funny and otherworldly anecdotes I would look elsewhere.
- Couldn’t love this guy more. Very interesting, down to earth and genuine.
- Arrived on Tuesday in perfect condition. Started reading immediately and forgot to come up for air. It’s been a while since I was totally immersed in a book but you can’t help it. The writing and stories are so wonderful that you get swept along with it. I laughed, I cried and I gasped in shock/awe/horror (depending on the chapter). I think even people who are not familiar with his work (is there anyone left out there who doesn’t?) will enjoy this book. From humble beginnings to rock super stardom, what a journey he’s been on, and now we all get to go along too.
- There’s a saying that goes something along the lines of “if you’ve not got anything nice to say about someone, better to say nothing”. Never before have I seen that principal applied so thoroughly to an autobiography. I’m not saying that’s necessary a bad thing, but I did feel a little short changed on the whole Nirvana story. People close to that story (such as Courtney Love) were a little conspicuous in their absence.That minor gripe aside, it’s clear Dave has lived a blessed life and has taken advantage of many of the amazing opportunities that came his way. Ultimately, you have to admire him for that.
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