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Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
Bono--artist, activist, and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2--has written a memoir: honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he's lived, the challenges he's faced, and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him.
"When I started to write this book, I was hoping to draw in detail what I'd previously only sketched in songs. The people, places, and possibilities in my life. Surrender is a word freighted with meaning for me. Growing up in Ireland in the seventies with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept. A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim's lack of progress ... With a fair amount of fun along the way." --Bono
As one of the music world's most iconic artists and the cofounder of the organizations ONE and (RED), Bono's career has been written about extensively. But in Surrender, it's Bono who picks up the pen, writing for the first time about his remarkable life and those he has shared it with. In his unique voice, Bono takes us from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was fourteen, to U2's unlikely journey to become one of the world's most influential rock bands, to his more than twenty years of activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Writing with candor, self-reflection, and humor, Bono opens the aperture on his life--and the family, friends, and faith that have sustained, challenged, and shaped him.
Surrender's subtitle, 40 Songs, One Story, is a nod to the book's forty chapters, which are each named after a U2 song. Bono has also created forty original drawings for Surrender, which appear throughout the book.
"When I started to write this book, I was hoping to draw in detail what I'd previously only sketched in songs. The people, places, and possibilities in my life. Surrender is a word freighted with meaning for me. Growing up in Ireland in the seventies with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept. A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim's lack of progress ... With a fair amount of fun along the way." --Bono
As one of the music world's most iconic artists and the cofounder of the organizations ONE and (RED), Bono's career has been written about extensively. But in Surrender, it's Bono who picks up the pen, writing for the first time about his remarkable life and those he has shared it with. In his unique voice, Bono takes us from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was fourteen, to U2's unlikely journey to become one of the world's most influential rock bands, to his more than twenty years of activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Writing with candor, self-reflection, and humor, Bono opens the aperture on his life--and the family, friends, and faith that have sustained, challenged, and shaped him.
Surrender's subtitle, 40 Songs, One Story, is a nod to the book's forty chapters, which are each named after a U2 song. Bono has also created forty original drawings for Surrender, which appear throughout the book.
564 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2022
About the author
Bono
74 books392 followersPaul David Hewson, also known by his stage name Bono, is the main vocalist of the Irish rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his wife, Ali Hewson, and the future members of U2. Since that time he has been referred to as Bono, his stage and nickname, by his family and fellow band members. Bono writes almost all U2 lyrics, often using political, social and religious themes. During their early years, Bono's lyrics contributed to U2's rebellious tone. As the band matured, his lyrics became inspired more by personal experiences with members of U2.
Among his non-U2 endeavors, he has collaborated and recorded with numerous artists, sits on the board of Elevation Partners and has refurbished and now owns a hotel with fellow band member, The Edge. Bono is also widely known for his activism concerning Africa, for which he co-founded DATA. He has organized and played in several benefit concerts and has met with influential politicians. He is the co-founder of EDUN, the ONE Campaign and Product Red. Bono has been praised and criticized for his activism and involvement with U2. Bono has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was granted an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom, and was named as a Person of the Year by Time, among many other awards and nominations.
Among his non-U2 endeavors, he has collaborated and recorded with numerous artists, sits on the board of Elevation Partners and has refurbished and now owns a hotel with fellow band member, The Edge. Bono is also widely known for his activism concerning Africa, for which he co-founded DATA. He has organized and played in several benefit concerts and has met with influential politicians. He is the co-founder of EDUN, the ONE Campaign and Product Red. Bono has been praised and criticized for his activism and involvement with U2. Bono has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was granted an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom, and was named as a Person of the Year by Time, among many other awards and nominations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,133 reviews
November 22, 2022
"There is something about our band that can never be too cocky or cool. Our best work is never too far from our worst, and when we get too professional or too hip, our audience seems to shrink. It’s as if we need to be up against the odds."
Bono, being the driven, outspoken individual that he is, has always had a tendency to rub some people the wrong way. The thing is, he knows this very well. And that's one of the reasons why Surrender is such a pleasure to read. It's one of the most self-aware rockstar memoirs I have ever come across. He's as willing to talk about the band's failures (the iTunes fiasco for example) as their years of glorious success, and cringe at some of his own missteps, that mullet at Live Aid hilariously included.
The book is divided into 40 chapters, each structured around a particular U2 song. It's a concept that works well. One finds the quartet at a creative crossroads during the recording of Achtung Baby, doubting their abilities, but its beautiful result unites them into something even stronger. Even Better Than The Real Thing provides the backdrop to Adam Clayton's lowest point in Sydney, a wake-up call for the band. With or Without You frames Bono's alliance with soulmate Ali, a romantic account of their early marriage, living in a windswept Martello tower on the Irish coast.
You get a real sense of what matters most to Bono, and family means everything. He talks candidly about the death of his mother Iris at 14. It left him a lost boy in a house of taciturn men, who never spoke about the heartbreaking loss they all felt. There was an age gap to older brother Norman, and his father Bob was the strong, silent type. Their frosty relationship thawed as both men grew older and a mutual respect blossomed. Bono also talks lovingly about his four children and you get the feeling that the actress Eve is the apple of his eye.
Of course, Bono has a second family, that of his legendary band. I loved his memories of their early days in the group, rehearsing in Larry's tiny kitchen, their parents driving them to gigs. It was a struggle, but he seems to remember that time fondly, badgering their manager Paul McGuinness to get them a van they could travel in and that all-important record deal. He speaks respectfully of his relationship with each band member, but doesn't go into too much detail. On this side of things, U2 fans probably won't learn anything new.
The final third of the book takes a look at his other job - Bono the statesman. And I must admit it's the part I found least interesting. There is no doubt his achievements in cancelling African debt and the fight against AIDS are commendable, and a testament to his unbending will. But the reports of his efforts to sway the minds of politicians like George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice go on for too long and probably need to be reined in.
The book is lightly edited - however, Bono's eloquent writing and the structure make it work. He has a lyrical way of looking at the world, which some might regard as blather, but it won me over. Surrender will leave you in no doubt that Bono's intentions are admirable, and these self-deprecating, witty recollections of his colourful life are an undeniable treat.
December 11, 2022
I love U2. I admire Bono a whole lot, especially after reading this book. His commitment to his faith, his family, and his band over 40 years is incredible. He has so many interesting stories to tell, and for the U2 fan this will be a great read. I don’t imagine many casual readers or non-U2 fans would pick this up, but if they did they’d probably find it a bit tedious because of how much he writes. Even I found some parts a bit dragged out. I was most engaged when he talked about the band’s formation, their internal politics and how they created the art they have created thus far. I also loved any time he talked about his family, both the one he was born into and the one he created with his wife, Ali. All in all a really great memoir that spans a career and a life that’s still going strong.
November 19, 2022
Bono’s book is GOOD!
He narrates, and there are snippets of songs to help tell the story - so the audiobook is amazing!
And his prose is poetic.
A wonderful book!
He narrates, and there are snippets of songs to help tell the story - so the audiobook is amazing!
And his prose is poetic.
A wonderful book!
May 26, 2023
Bono is a multifaceted person who has done a lot more for humanity than simply front U2. He has interesting stories to share, which could have been more engaging if the book had actually been edited. Bono humble brags his way through an exhaustingly verbose manuscript that ultimately smacks of a guy indulging in self-therapy.
November 4, 2022
Do yourself a favor and listen to this audio book. It's a feast for the ears. If you're a fan of the band and the man, you'll love reliving the journey.
November 15, 2022
I went into this with low expectations despite the glowing reviews it's getting. I thought the excerpts I read were fine and I know that Bono is a fantastic storyteller -- rather, the challenge is that I've been a massive U2 fan since I saw the video for Gloria in fall 1981. I've read nearly everything you can read about them. So I've heard the majority of these stories before.
That aside, the book is too long by about one-third. Bono's long asides on various topics aren't that interesting to me, and the endless "(insert famous person's name) is (amazing, wise, deep, etc.)" got old. I mean, I get that's the world he lives in, but I just got tired of the parade of famous, wealthy people. It would be SO much more interesting to hear about his songwriting process or about the realities of wrestling with the band's status in the world than hearing about Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Nelson Mandela, and supermodels.
I love the guy and U2 will always be my favorite band (I have an image from Zooropa tattooed on my left wrist), but I blew through the last 150 pages because they just weren't interesting. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could.
That aside, the book is too long by about one-third. Bono's long asides on various topics aren't that interesting to me, and the endless "(insert famous person's name) is (amazing, wise, deep, etc.)" got old. I mean, I get that's the world he lives in, but I just got tired of the parade of famous, wealthy people. It would be SO much more interesting to hear about his songwriting process or about the realities of wrestling with the band's status in the world than hearing about Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Nelson Mandela, and supermodels.
I love the guy and U2 will always be my favorite band (I have an image from Zooropa tattooed on my left wrist), but I blew through the last 150 pages because they just weren't interesting. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could.
March 16, 2023
Even if you don't love U2, this is a book to read! Bono's memoir, a phenomenal feat, reads like a lyrical song. A man with a plethora of accomplishments and talents, writes with comfort and ease, like a memorable poem.
It wasn't until my late teens that I I fell into U2, but when I did, their music became an intricate part of my life. Seeing them in concert was a bucket list moment, I feel blessed to experience.
When I saw Bono wrote a book, I was all over it!
What a man! Political activist--campaigning debt relief for over 14 poverty stricken countries, helping introduce AIDS medication in Africa, standing up for the Bosnian Genocide--just to name a few.
Bono, literally, is the kindest human on the planet. Honest, selfless. His words reveal how much time he vested in helping those in need, especially the poor. For months he lived in Washington DC, rallying for various platforms.
Bono starts from the beginning, recounting his early days growing up in Dublin. A confounding relationship with his father, and the heartache of losing his mother at an early age. He goes on to share lighthearted stories about finding true love, his wife Ali, his four kids, and the lasting relationship between band members and great and prominent people throughout time.
An Irishman, Bono has done more for America than almost any artist. His list of friendships included Presidents, Mandela, Sinatra, to name a few. He was able to form bonds with people whose political, moral views didn't always align, but he formed relationships in order to improve the world.
Clever, humorous, entertaining, honest, and above all humble. Bono is an amazingly accomplished man, and he remembers the people and places that got him to the top, helped him to improve the world.
The beauty of his music is reflected in his passion for singing...
Impressively, a famous person writing a book and not indulging in the assistance of a ghost writer is worthy of praise. If you are looking for a book that is informative and well written, this is the one to read.
5/5 + stars
**Also, this came in my Libby as a book and some reviewers said to check out the audiobook. I vacillated between the two. His voice is a song, worthy of a listen!
It wasn't until my late teens that I I fell into U2, but when I did, their music became an intricate part of my life. Seeing them in concert was a bucket list moment, I feel blessed to experience.
When I saw Bono wrote a book, I was all over it!
What a man! Political activist--campaigning debt relief for over 14 poverty stricken countries, helping introduce AIDS medication in Africa, standing up for the Bosnian Genocide--just to name a few.
Some part of us wanted to be men of the world, but a greater part knew we were so much more powerful as boys who didn’t know too much about “the world.”
Bono, literally, is the kindest human on the planet. Honest, selfless. His words reveal how much time he vested in helping those in need, especially the poor. For months he lived in Washington DC, rallying for various platforms.
The arc of the moral universe does not bend toward justice. It has to be bent, and this requires sheer force of will. It demands our sharpest focus and most concentrated effort. History does not move in a straight line; it has to be dragged, kicking and screaming, all the way down the line.
Bono starts from the beginning, recounting his early days growing up in Dublin. A confounding relationship with his father, and the heartache of losing his mother at an early age. He goes on to share lighthearted stories about finding true love, his wife Ali, his four kids, and the lasting relationship between band members and great and prominent people throughout time.
An Irishman, Bono has done more for America than almost any artist. His list of friendships included Presidents, Mandela, Sinatra, to name a few. He was able to form bonds with people whose political, moral views didn't always align, but he formed relationships in order to improve the world.
Clever, humorous, entertaining, honest, and above all humble. Bono is an amazingly accomplished man, and he remembers the people and places that got him to the top, helped him to improve the world.
To kneel down, to implore, to throw yourself out into space, to quietly whisper or roar your insignificance. To fall prostrate and ask to be carried. To humble yourself with your family, your bandmates, and to discover if there’s a face or a name to that silence
The beauty of his music is reflected in his passion for singing...
Songs are my prayer
Impressively, a famous person writing a book and not indulging in the assistance of a ghost writer is worthy of praise. If you are looking for a book that is informative and well written, this is the one to read.
5/5 + stars
**Also, this came in my Libby as a book and some reviewers said to check out the audiobook. I vacillated between the two. His voice is a song, worthy of a listen!
October 25, 2023
I found this book left behind by some stranger on a beach in Portugal. No coincidence I believe. This is a really interesting story told by one of the world greatest rock singers and activists. It sheds some real insight in how Bono came to all the things he has has realised. Recommend it not only to U2-fans but to all lovers of life.
January 7, 2023
4 stars - I enjoyed it, but it’s seriously hella long! I found it really interesting to learn how those U2 songs got named or written, and history of Bono & U2, the man & the band, which was why I read it. Will always fondly remember seeing them get started way back in the early 80’s in a very small club, what crazy times they were with dear friends long gone…
January 20, 2023
When I think of my most played albums in my CD collection (still enshrined in a couple of good ‘ol CaseLogic binders!), I think of my “Best Of” U2 albums. In tribute to those albums, here’s a “Best of” list of what I enjoyed most about Surrender:
Bono’s Backstory: The way he writes about the death of his mother, Iris, at 14 and his complicated love for his father, Bob. Broke my heart multiple times.
U2’s Origin Story: I’ve been a casual U2 fan for years, but I never knew the band formed in Larry Mullen’s kitchen when the foursome were young teens. What a fateful meeting that was!
Bono’s Love for Ali Hewson: Good GRIEF does this man love his wife! They met at 12, married at 21, and have been together 40 years. Surrender is his love letter to her and it’s a hell of a good one.
Art Meeting Life Experience: I loved learning about the trips Bono took in his 20s that shaped his songwriting for The Joshua Tree (ie, his trip to El Salvador in ’86 and the resulting “Bullet the Blue Sky” and Ethiopia inspiring “Where The Streets Have No Name”)
Live Aid Memories: Bono writing about his bad haircut for this famed concert and how much (but how little) help it provided Africa.
Bono Getting In The Way of the Band: Bono takes the fault for the many ways his ego and quest to “break the mold” of U2’s sound led to some less than stellar results (Pop being one example).
Bono as a Parent: I adored Bono’s writing about his kids, even as he acknowledged his guilt of not being as present in their lives as he should have been. “Your children take you back to being children” is a line to remember …. as is “We begin by looking out for our children and, in time, if we are so blessed, we find they are looking out for us.”
Bono and Michael Hutchence: Bono writes about the halcyon years (“a 90s carnival”) when he and Ali spent so much time with Michael Hutchence (of INXS) and his girlfriend, Helena Christensen. To have been a fly on the wall for one of their vacations! I was saddened to read about Bono’s frustrations at Hutchence’s drug use and his grief over his death. I had no idea how close those two were.
Bono and Debt Relief: It was enlightening to read about Bono’s work—especially with US officials—to persuade the world to erase the debts of poor countries, particularly in Africa. I was too busy being a self-absorbed high school senior to remember Jubilee 2000, so this was an informative behind-the-scenes look into his humanitarian efforts.
Bono on Mortality: Being 40 myself, and worrying about my aging parents, this scene hit me like a truck. In his words: “I was crossing the 40th birthday threshold, the halfway mark of a good life, and for the first time noticing my mortality and those of the people I loved, like Michael Hutchence, like my dad.” Bono put his feelings into a song, “Kite” (from my favorite U2 album, All That You Can’t Leave Behind). Knowing what I do now, I’ll never listen to it the same again.
The Apple Partnership: A fascinating peek behind the curtains into Bono’s close relationship with Steve Jobs, the development of the black U2 iPod, and Bono’s regret over pressing Tim Cook to put Songs of Innocence on the iPhone 6. An experimental mistake he owns.
Bono’s Voice: Bono’s dad loved to tell him “You’re a baritone who wants to be a tenor.” After his dad (a singer himself) passed in 2001, Bono writes about his voice changing. “I feel like he gave this gift to me in passing … I’m a tenor now.”
Bono on Religion: Bono writes often about his Christian faith but divulges he’s never found a church he could call a home. “It’s more likely that church is not a place but a practice, and the practice becomes a place.” I relate to this sentiment.
U2 as Family: I got teary-eyed at Bono’s parting thoughts about his bandmates—the “beloved brothers” he’s worked beside for more than 40(!) years. “These fellow travelers, who had no idea when we first met what kind of road we’d be taking…thank you for giving me a great life, thank you for letting me be in your band…”
Bonus Content:
— This audiobook has the best sound design of any I’ve read. My admiration went beyond the song snippets Bono performs to all the immersive sound elements in between. A treat to listen to, start to finish.
— Bono is a musician who writes like a musician. But just as often he writes like an artist, poet, spiritualist, humanitarian, and punny wordsmith, rolled into one. Hard to describe what I mean until you listen to his musings in Surrender. A unique soul, this one.
— Bono’s real name is Paul David Hewson. “Bono” was bestowed upon him by his childhood BFF, Guggi. It comes from the Latin word, Bonavox, or “good voice”.
— Bono does impressions in the book…not all of them great. (Bono, please, no more Bill Clinton!) I love the guy, so whenever he’d break into one, it felt like my corny dad embarrassing me as I listened. Ha!
Bono’s Backstory: The way he writes about the death of his mother, Iris, at 14 and his complicated love for his father, Bob. Broke my heart multiple times.
U2’s Origin Story: I’ve been a casual U2 fan for years, but I never knew the band formed in Larry Mullen’s kitchen when the foursome were young teens. What a fateful meeting that was!
Bono’s Love for Ali Hewson: Good GRIEF does this man love his wife! They met at 12, married at 21, and have been together 40 years. Surrender is his love letter to her and it’s a hell of a good one.
Art Meeting Life Experience: I loved learning about the trips Bono took in his 20s that shaped his songwriting for The Joshua Tree (ie, his trip to El Salvador in ’86 and the resulting “Bullet the Blue Sky” and Ethiopia inspiring “Where The Streets Have No Name”)
Live Aid Memories: Bono writing about his bad haircut for this famed concert and how much (but how little) help it provided Africa.
Bono Getting In The Way of the Band: Bono takes the fault for the many ways his ego and quest to “break the mold” of U2’s sound led to some less than stellar results (Pop being one example).
Bono as a Parent: I adored Bono’s writing about his kids, even as he acknowledged his guilt of not being as present in their lives as he should have been. “Your children take you back to being children” is a line to remember …. as is “We begin by looking out for our children and, in time, if we are so blessed, we find they are looking out for us.”
Bono and Michael Hutchence: Bono writes about the halcyon years (“a 90s carnival”) when he and Ali spent so much time with Michael Hutchence (of INXS) and his girlfriend, Helena Christensen. To have been a fly on the wall for one of their vacations! I was saddened to read about Bono’s frustrations at Hutchence’s drug use and his grief over his death. I had no idea how close those two were.
Bono and Debt Relief: It was enlightening to read about Bono’s work—especially with US officials—to persuade the world to erase the debts of poor countries, particularly in Africa. I was too busy being a self-absorbed high school senior to remember Jubilee 2000, so this was an informative behind-the-scenes look into his humanitarian efforts.
Bono on Mortality: Being 40 myself, and worrying about my aging parents, this scene hit me like a truck. In his words: “I was crossing the 40th birthday threshold, the halfway mark of a good life, and for the first time noticing my mortality and those of the people I loved, like Michael Hutchence, like my dad.” Bono put his feelings into a song, “Kite” (from my favorite U2 album, All That You Can’t Leave Behind). Knowing what I do now, I’ll never listen to it the same again.
The Apple Partnership: A fascinating peek behind the curtains into Bono’s close relationship with Steve Jobs, the development of the black U2 iPod, and Bono’s regret over pressing Tim Cook to put Songs of Innocence on the iPhone 6. An experimental mistake he owns.
Bono’s Voice: Bono’s dad loved to tell him “You’re a baritone who wants to be a tenor.” After his dad (a singer himself) passed in 2001, Bono writes about his voice changing. “I feel like he gave this gift to me in passing … I’m a tenor now.”
Bono on Religion: Bono writes often about his Christian faith but divulges he’s never found a church he could call a home. “It’s more likely that church is not a place but a practice, and the practice becomes a place.” I relate to this sentiment.
U2 as Family: I got teary-eyed at Bono’s parting thoughts about his bandmates—the “beloved brothers” he’s worked beside for more than 40(!) years. “These fellow travelers, who had no idea when we first met what kind of road we’d be taking…thank you for giving me a great life, thank you for letting me be in your band…”
Bonus Content:
— This audiobook has the best sound design of any I’ve read. My admiration went beyond the song snippets Bono performs to all the immersive sound elements in between. A treat to listen to, start to finish.
— Bono is a musician who writes like a musician. But just as often he writes like an artist, poet, spiritualist, humanitarian, and punny wordsmith, rolled into one. Hard to describe what I mean until you listen to his musings in Surrender. A unique soul, this one.
— Bono’s real name is Paul David Hewson. “Bono” was bestowed upon him by his childhood BFF, Guggi. It comes from the Latin word, Bonavox, or “good voice”.
— Bono does impressions in the book…not all of them great. (Bono, please, no more Bill Clinton!) I love the guy, so whenever he’d break into one, it felt like my corny dad embarrassing me as I listened. Ha!
November 27, 2022
A must read for any fan of U2, say what you will about Bono that he's full of himself, and a pretentious a-hole (for the record, he can be) he's still a great singer and front man and U2 is and still remains one of the best bands of the last 40 years. Not only is this an autobiography but a look into the stories, meanings and inspirations behind 40 of Bono's favorite songs from their extensive catalogue.
December 13, 2022
2.5 stars. I'm torn on this one. This is basically three different books. One is autobiographical, and it's... Fine? I don't feel there's a lot more to the autobiography that isn't already known about Bono or U2. For example, it's known that a crisis of faith nearly caused the band to break up in the early 80s. The troubles recording Achtung Baby are well documented. What would have been great is a deeper look at some of the lesser known stories, and that was missing.
The second book is a book on songwriting, and it's fantastic. Hearing how Bono developed the songs, what messages were being shared, and what impact he was going for was brilliant and fascinating. By framing things in the context of the songs, it provided a lot of depth and context that helps me see some of my favorite songs in a new light and gives me a greater appreciation for some songs that I overlooked.
The third book is Bono at his most pretentious, and it's what knocks it down to 2.5 stars instead of 3.5 or 4. Most of the last third of the book is Bono discussing his activism. Now, Bono's activism is legendary and worth praise - for all his pretentiousness and grandiose, he does seem to be a good person underneath it. The problem with the way it's described in the book is that it's boring. At the end of the day, it's a telling of a series of meetings with wealthy and powerful people - there are only a few stories of the people he is trying to help shared. To some extent, I get that they are not his stories to tell - but I am more interested in the stories of Bono interacting with nurses treating AIDS patients in Africa than I am his meetings with Steve Jobs, while waxing on about what a great person he is. The problem isn't necessarily the story - it's that it's boring.
That all said, I probably enjoyed the book more than most because I love U2 and their music. I know a lot of the stories Bono shares in the book, so the book was nice in that it provided some context. I also liked and appreciated the references to the music and songs throughout the book - even the subtler ones. Seriously, if you are a fan of U2, the book is worth reading.
However, were I not a U2 fan, I think this book would have been a slog to get through (even as a fan, it was a slog at times) and I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it at all. Would love to hear any non-U2 fans' thoughts.
The second book is a book on songwriting, and it's fantastic. Hearing how Bono developed the songs, what messages were being shared, and what impact he was going for was brilliant and fascinating. By framing things in the context of the songs, it provided a lot of depth and context that helps me see some of my favorite songs in a new light and gives me a greater appreciation for some songs that I overlooked.
The third book is Bono at his most pretentious, and it's what knocks it down to 2.5 stars instead of 3.5 or 4. Most of the last third of the book is Bono discussing his activism. Now, Bono's activism is legendary and worth praise - for all his pretentiousness and grandiose, he does seem to be a good person underneath it. The problem with the way it's described in the book is that it's boring. At the end of the day, it's a telling of a series of meetings with wealthy and powerful people - there are only a few stories of the people he is trying to help shared. To some extent, I get that they are not his stories to tell - but I am more interested in the stories of Bono interacting with nurses treating AIDS patients in Africa than I am his meetings with Steve Jobs, while waxing on about what a great person he is. The problem isn't necessarily the story - it's that it's boring.
That all said, I probably enjoyed the book more than most because I love U2 and their music. I know a lot of the stories Bono shares in the book, so the book was nice in that it provided some context. I also liked and appreciated the references to the music and songs throughout the book - even the subtler ones. Seriously, if you are a fan of U2, the book is worth reading.
However, were I not a U2 fan, I think this book would have been a slog to get through (even as a fan, it was a slog at times) and I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it at all. Would love to hear any non-U2 fans' thoughts.
January 18, 2023
Who better to write and narrate a memoir than one of the best storytellers and artists of our time. I was captivated by the beautiful, poetic, sometimes playful writing. In fact, I think this may be the best written memoir I've read. My only criticism is that it could have been a bit shorter, but hey, it's Bono and every fan knows how much he loves to "speechify".
I got the audible and listening to this accomplished performer use his beautiful voice and his talent for imitating accents made this a very special experience. I also loved listening to snippets of the 40 songs heading up each chapter. He shares stories about his childhood, his band, his faith, his love for his wife and children and his work in politics. What makes this interesting is that he not only tells these stories, but reflects and analyses his thoughts, behaviors and relationships in them. His self-deprecating humour, self-awareness and passion for everything he does makes this a autobiography you need to add to your to-read list.
I got the audible and listening to this accomplished performer use his beautiful voice and his talent for imitating accents made this a very special experience. I also loved listening to snippets of the 40 songs heading up each chapter. He shares stories about his childhood, his band, his faith, his love for his wife and children and his work in politics. What makes this interesting is that he not only tells these stories, but reflects and analyses his thoughts, behaviors and relationships in them. His self-deprecating humour, self-awareness and passion for everything he does makes this a autobiography you need to add to your to-read list.
December 6, 2022
DNF!
U2 has been my favorite band for 30 years. I've seen them live many times. I love Bono's lyric writing, so I was excited for this book.
After five chapters, I quit.
This book is a rough slog through the adolescent solipsism of an egomaniac--basically, all the worst criticisms of Bono come out on steroids on these pages. In story after story, he ponderously fellates himself, swimming in a narcissism that teases elucidation of the musical catalog, but rarely delivers much of substance.
This isn't a book where Bono sheds light on his art, it's a book where the art is supposed to shed light on the real subject here, Bono himself, or maybe Himself, the only hero who seems to matter in Bono's world. This isn't a memoir at all. It's an attempt at mythology.
Consider his writing style: every other line is a terse fragment, a mere hint at thought. The tone always implies that these nuggets are pearls of wisdom too pure to need fleshing out into full sentences. Do you dare expect coherent and logical narrative from a storyteller? Philistine! Bono would rather treat his every pronouncement like a poorly translated fortune cookie--maybe containing the secrets of the universe, but too mystical and too cool to actually spell it out clearly.
I'm always going to love U2's music, but after three chapters, I was already giving up hope. I skipped to the middle and read two more chapters ostensibly about a couple of my favorite songs, but alas, all I got was more turgid wankery. Oof, what a waste of time.
U2 has been my favorite band for 30 years. I've seen them live many times. I love Bono's lyric writing, so I was excited for this book.
After five chapters, I quit.
This book is a rough slog through the adolescent solipsism of an egomaniac--basically, all the worst criticisms of Bono come out on steroids on these pages. In story after story, he ponderously fellates himself, swimming in a narcissism that teases elucidation of the musical catalog, but rarely delivers much of substance.
This isn't a book where Bono sheds light on his art, it's a book where the art is supposed to shed light on the real subject here, Bono himself, or maybe Himself, the only hero who seems to matter in Bono's world. This isn't a memoir at all. It's an attempt at mythology.
Consider his writing style: every other line is a terse fragment, a mere hint at thought. The tone always implies that these nuggets are pearls of wisdom too pure to need fleshing out into full sentences. Do you dare expect coherent and logical narrative from a storyteller? Philistine! Bono would rather treat his every pronouncement like a poorly translated fortune cookie--maybe containing the secrets of the universe, but too mystical and too cool to actually spell it out clearly.
I'm always going to love U2's music, but after three chapters, I was already giving up hope. I skipped to the middle and read two more chapters ostensibly about a couple of my favorite songs, but alas, all I got was more turgid wankery. Oof, what a waste of time.
February 20, 2023
Audiobook. People love this book, but I have to say I hated it. It started off okay and more like a traditional memoir (and I even enjoyed some of the parts about his family), but it quickly became Bono waxing poetic about every topic under the sun, from Aids in Africa, Warren Buffet, Apple, the Beatles, the French inventing revolution, any celebrity you can think of, and everything in between. I found Bono pretentious and annoying. And cite your sources, please! (Maybe the hard copy has footnotes, but I highly doubt it.)
This book was in desperate need of serious editing. Twenty hours of Bono going on and on and on and on. I was getting very mad by the end, but I'd already invested fifteen years of my life into listening to it, so I pushed through the last five. It also was all over the place and jumped back and forth, and with an audiobook that can be very disorienting - and even more so with Bono's erratic, ADD writing style.
It seems like I'm in the minority, though, regarding this book. So, if you are looking for a memoir, do not read this. Go for THE STORYTELLER, CRYING IN H MART, or OPEN BOOK.
This book was in desperate need of serious editing. Twenty hours of Bono going on and on and on and on. I was getting very mad by the end, but I'd already invested fifteen years of my life into listening to it, so I pushed through the last five. It also was all over the place and jumped back and forth, and with an audiobook that can be very disorienting - and even more so with Bono's erratic, ADD writing style.
It seems like I'm in the minority, though, regarding this book. So, if you are looking for a memoir, do not read this. Go for THE STORYTELLER, CRYING IN H MART, or OPEN BOOK.
November 11, 2022
Memoirs don’t get better than this. A beautifully personal and artistic look at an incredible life. Like any rebel artist, he pushes us to frustration and anger and then inspires us with undeniable truth. Not an endorsement of all his views, but a fascinating conversation any of us would be better for.
June 11, 2023
As a lifelong U2 fan, I approached this with some trepidation. Bono, it is well known, can be a bit much. The book mirrors the band. When it's about the music, it soars, especially in their early days. Around the millennium, when the charity work and poverty campaigning takes over, as worthy and laudable and needed as it is, the story drags a bit. He is also a student of religion, and isn't afraid to show it. But that's who he is, and is it worth wading through this side of him to get back to the band and the music? Yes, it absolutely is.
November 28, 2022
36 years ago, back in 1987, on the island of Ibiza, swiftly careening around mountain corners in a crowded family car, I flipped a cassette in my giant yellow Walkman to discover a recording a friend had made for me. The Joshua Tree was my musical awakening. Eno and Lanois' production of U2's vivid songs became an utterly enthralling soundtrack to the scorching, dry and sun-filled drives through and around the island. I slept in the headphones; listened to the music on a loop day-'n-night. I'm no u2 fan and moved through that faze in my early teens, but The Joshua Tree and that experience of discovery meant I had to read this, to honour that memory and moment in time which transformed my relationship with music and art and everything.
January 8, 2023
Love the band. Love their music. Love Bono's memoir. Enough said.
Want to read
October 31, 2022This interview was a great listen: https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the...
November 16, 2022
Summary: A memoir framed as a description of 40 songs.
I am a man of a certain age. One of the first CDs I ever purchased was Rattle and Hum. I had a bootleg VHS version of the Rattle and Hum movie, and I watched it so many times it was warped. I saw the ZooTV tour during my first year in college. I was excited to see the Red Rocks venue because U2 had recorded there. (My kids like Sing 2, which has a Bono character and several U2 songs, and I keep trying to get them to listen to more U2 without much real success so far.)
I cannot fully read this apart from the nostalgia of growing up a U2 fan. I started listening to this as an audiobook because I assumed it would include clips of songs, and I like listening to memoirs in the author's voice when that makes sense. I eventually also purchased the kindle edition because I wanted to see what additional material might be in the print version that was not in the audiobook. The audiobook and the print text were close but not entirely the same. There were several times when Bono would expand a line or add a sentence that was not in the print version, but nothing was fundamentally different. I noticed two misspelled words in the kindle book that were read correctly. But most important was that because the book is framed using songs, the print version just has a few lines of the song at the start of each chapter, and the audiobook has Bono singing at least those lines, often 1-2 minute sections of the songs. I assume they didn't put the whole songs in for licensing reasons.
The main thing in the print version that was not in the audiobook was Bono's drawing and some photographs. While I looked at them all, I don't think it was a reason to get the print version, and I think the audiobook version is the one to get if you do audiobooks. I am not a fan of Bono's interviews on TV. He comes across as a bit too earnest and sometimes too silly. But as a narrator, he had a consistent low rumble to his voice. He read with emotion and felt like he was telling a story. One person I know thought the book felt too self-indulgent and pompous, but he read the book in print, and I think that the tone of the audiobook would have made it hard to have that impression. Much of the book was self-deprecating and making fun of himself.
As with any memoir, there are stories that are important to the author and less important to the reader. Some memoirs are all about the people they met and worked with in a name-dropping way. But while Bono did drop a lot of names, I felt the purpose in most of those stories.
There was a lot of humor, most with himself as the butt of the joke. And I enjoyed most of it because it felt appropriate and charitable toward everyone in the story. That isn't to say that he always has it perfect, but I think it is done well overall.
A few years ago, Abby Perry had an article about two people asking for forgiveness after accusations of sexual assault. Generally, the article was about how non-Christians seem to have a better handle on how to ask for forgiveness and take responsibility than many Pastors have done. Bono is well known for being a Christian, and this book contains discussions of faith, scriptural references, and imagery. But I think it is an example of someone that is not known as a "Christian Leader" getting faith right because if there is a theme in the book, it is that while he has tried to live rightly, but he has failed, and he wants to apologize for that and do better. The book is about how he tries to do better, not just move on and ignore the past.
In his interview with Stephen Colbert, at the end of the interview, Colbert gives Bono a list of things he didn't apologize for but will in his next book. They were funny things like apologizing for "How to Disable an Atomic Bomb," not including instructions on how to disable an atomic bomb, and apologizing to Adam Clayton and Larry Mullin for having to be in a band with guys named Bono and The Edge. He didn't know they could just use their regular names. But Colbert gets at this same theme. Bono wants to be a better husband and father, and bandmate. He knows he wasn't as good of a son as he should have been. He knows he prioritized some things he shouldn't have and underappreciated how hard some of his friends were trying. But he also embraces grace as a reality. It isn't just a 'do better' book, but a man grappling with human weakness and limitations who, at the same time, can see the level of grace that others have given to him, which makes him want to be a better man.
I do not look to Bono as a theologian or model of Christianity. But there is grace here, even if he isn't who I want to be. I assume it is a mistake more than a sign of a lack of understanding, but the book had however many people editing it and reading it, and it still he says that it was David who was calmed by music when he had an evil spirit instead of David using music to calm King Saul. It is a minor detail and likely an editing issue, but I don't look to musicians to be theological leaders. But when I see honest grappling and spiritual insight, I think it is worth acknowledging.
For many books like this, my evaluative point is whether I am ready for the book to be done and for me to move on or whether I was disappointed that it was done. At 20 hours or 500 pages, it probably could have been edited down a little. But still, I did want more, even though it was longer than most memoirs. And I have been listening to U2 albums since I finished. Which I think is a good sign that it was well-written and worth the time.
I am a man of a certain age. One of the first CDs I ever purchased was Rattle and Hum. I had a bootleg VHS version of the Rattle and Hum movie, and I watched it so many times it was warped. I saw the ZooTV tour during my first year in college. I was excited to see the Red Rocks venue because U2 had recorded there. (My kids like Sing 2, which has a Bono character and several U2 songs, and I keep trying to get them to listen to more U2 without much real success so far.)
I cannot fully read this apart from the nostalgia of growing up a U2 fan. I started listening to this as an audiobook because I assumed it would include clips of songs, and I like listening to memoirs in the author's voice when that makes sense. I eventually also purchased the kindle edition because I wanted to see what additional material might be in the print version that was not in the audiobook. The audiobook and the print text were close but not entirely the same. There were several times when Bono would expand a line or add a sentence that was not in the print version, but nothing was fundamentally different. I noticed two misspelled words in the kindle book that were read correctly. But most important was that because the book is framed using songs, the print version just has a few lines of the song at the start of each chapter, and the audiobook has Bono singing at least those lines, often 1-2 minute sections of the songs. I assume they didn't put the whole songs in for licensing reasons.
The main thing in the print version that was not in the audiobook was Bono's drawing and some photographs. While I looked at them all, I don't think it was a reason to get the print version, and I think the audiobook version is the one to get if you do audiobooks. I am not a fan of Bono's interviews on TV. He comes across as a bit too earnest and sometimes too silly. But as a narrator, he had a consistent low rumble to his voice. He read with emotion and felt like he was telling a story. One person I know thought the book felt too self-indulgent and pompous, but he read the book in print, and I think that the tone of the audiobook would have made it hard to have that impression. Much of the book was self-deprecating and making fun of himself.
As with any memoir, there are stories that are important to the author and less important to the reader. Some memoirs are all about the people they met and worked with in a name-dropping way. But while Bono did drop a lot of names, I felt the purpose in most of those stories.
There was a lot of humor, most with himself as the butt of the joke. And I enjoyed most of it because it felt appropriate and charitable toward everyone in the story. That isn't to say that he always has it perfect, but I think it is done well overall.
A few years ago, Abby Perry had an article about two people asking for forgiveness after accusations of sexual assault. Generally, the article was about how non-Christians seem to have a better handle on how to ask for forgiveness and take responsibility than many Pastors have done. Bono is well known for being a Christian, and this book contains discussions of faith, scriptural references, and imagery. But I think it is an example of someone that is not known as a "Christian Leader" getting faith right because if there is a theme in the book, it is that while he has tried to live rightly, but he has failed, and he wants to apologize for that and do better. The book is about how he tries to do better, not just move on and ignore the past.
In his interview with Stephen Colbert, at the end of the interview, Colbert gives Bono a list of things he didn't apologize for but will in his next book. They were funny things like apologizing for "How to Disable an Atomic Bomb," not including instructions on how to disable an atomic bomb, and apologizing to Adam Clayton and Larry Mullin for having to be in a band with guys named Bono and The Edge. He didn't know they could just use their regular names. But Colbert gets at this same theme. Bono wants to be a better husband and father, and bandmate. He knows he wasn't as good of a son as he should have been. He knows he prioritized some things he shouldn't have and underappreciated how hard some of his friends were trying. But he also embraces grace as a reality. It isn't just a 'do better' book, but a man grappling with human weakness and limitations who, at the same time, can see the level of grace that others have given to him, which makes him want to be a better man.
I do not look to Bono as a theologian or model of Christianity. But there is grace here, even if he isn't who I want to be. I assume it is a mistake more than a sign of a lack of understanding, but the book had however many people editing it and reading it, and it still he says that it was David who was calmed by music when he had an evil spirit instead of David using music to calm King Saul. It is a minor detail and likely an editing issue, but I don't look to musicians to be theological leaders. But when I see honest grappling and spiritual insight, I think it is worth acknowledging.
For many books like this, my evaluative point is whether I am ready for the book to be done and for me to move on or whether I was disappointed that it was done. At 20 hours or 500 pages, it probably could have been edited down a little. But still, I did want more, even though it was longer than most memoirs. And I have been listening to U2 albums since I finished. Which I think is a good sign that it was well-written and worth the time.
November 15, 2022
I have the book and the audiobook. I highly recommend the audiobook. Hearing Bono's words, in his own voice, with snippets of music was perfection. Like going to a U2 concert I didn't want the book to end so it took much longer than usual for me to read - listening along to Bono reading will do that. I'm amazed Bono could remember so much from so many different periods of his life. From starting the band to hanging around with Presidents and meeting with politicians who could help with his charitable endeavors but really weren't the type to appear in U2's orbit, he's covered everything. At times he gets incredibly personal. He's honest and candid about his family, his health, his friends. He covers it all. If you are fortunate enough to see his "Stories of Surrender" book tour in person he will bring some of these stories to life.
November 10, 2022
pompous
painful
prattling
painful
prattling
January 2, 2023
At sixty-two, Bono is clearly very concerned about stewarding his legacy. Actually, at every age, Bono has told his story in carefully curated ways. He has an engaging stance of performing honesty and transparency—but never revealing anything more than he has decided beforehand is the right amount of detail to be honest and transparent about. Over the years, this has resulted in the same stories being told over and over again. We fans of U2 can know Bono as well as he wants us to know him. More than a songwriter, Bono is a storyteller, and he revels in re-presenting his stories in interviews, songs, concert banter, and now this memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.
His performance of candor and self-reflection is always interesting, but for us who have followed the ongoing, and amazing, story of U2 for many years, it can also be disappointing. Why these same stories, again and again? Who is the real person behind and within the consistent and repetitive mythology? Surrender continues this legacy, with Bono again telling the same history in mostly the same way. Again we hear about the Shalom community that nearly broke up the band before it got started. Again the story of the Hansa recording sessions a decade later that really nearly broke up the band as they wrestled with what to do after becoming the top band in the world. And, for what feels like more than half of the book, the chronicle of Bono’s increasing involvement in political advocacy and international activism. All good stories, and all told with the usual carefully cultivated honesty and self-deprecation. But they’ve all been told so many times before. For fans of U2, we can be grateful for Surrender, but we might also ask, Why another retelling? Why this format? Why now? It can be discouraging for those of us who mostly want U2 to be a band, and who therefore mostly want a new album and a concert tour. (All the while understanding that four guys in their sixties, who have spent decades as one of the world’s top bands, have certainly earned retirement, if they so choose.)
Yet in the midst of the same-old, there are glimpses of the wisdom Bono has acquired over the years. I appreciated his perspective on the artist as someone who is drawn to borders and boundaries, for example:
Other readers will be as frustrated as they always have been when reading about Bono’s reinvention as political activist in around 2000. I find his reflection on this work partly admirable and partly (mostly?) eye-rolling, as he and his rich-and-famous friends sit in fancy restaurants and discuss ways they might save the world. I don’t want to be skeptical or condescending, but even when Bono writes about it in a self-deprecating, questioning way, I have a hard time taking any of it seriously. Again we see the performance of honest self-reflection, but there are obvious missteps that Bono very obviously avoids. A major elephant in the room, for example, is Aung San Suu Kyi. U2 supported her publicly during the 360 tour and then revoked that support several years later in the midst of the violence against the Rohingya. The “Ambassador of Conscience” stopped taking their calls. If Bono had written about this in his memoir, that would have been new, and extremely interesting. But she’s not mentioned at all. As always, Bono is cautious about the missteps he acknowledges and the ways he apologizes.
The other major issue I’d hoped Bono would address in the memoir is his role in handing over artistic ownership to CEOs of tech companies rather than to the artists themselves. How does he feel now about his part in giving authority to someone like Steve Jobs, so that now music is owned and traded by businesspeople who don’t understand music? Bono does touch on this subject in the book (490–93), but clearly it’s something he’s still working through. In the book, it appears in the context of Paul McGuiness’s retirement from managing U2—which is actually a new story with details I hadn’t heard before, so I liked that part of it, while also wishing for more reflection from Bono on his influence in the music industry.
For U2 fans, a big disappointment in Surrender is how the band all but disappears from the narrative in about 2000. Surprisingly, there is no discussion of the 360 tour, and only minor mentions of the Innocence + Experience tour and other recent live performances. For the frontman of a band that’s known to be one of the best live acts ever, this seems strange. I would have preferred much more content about the music, post-2000, than about Bono’s activism. Of course this is Bono’s story, not the band’s story, but still, the band vanishes halfway through the book. In fact, though the subtitle promises “One Story,” I had a hard time seeing the book as a single story. It's partly about the band, partly about Bono’s family, partly about his spiritual journey, partly about his activism. More careful editing could have shaped this into one story, and that would have been fascinating. But instead, it's the a collection of the usual (separate) stories.
Surrender concludes with a couple of chapters that I really loved. But the journey getting there was quite tedious, especially through the second half of the book. For someone who hasn’t read a lot about U2, this wouldn’t be a bad introduction and overview. But for anyone who really wants a comprehensive understanding of the band, I highly recommend these books:
His performance of candor and self-reflection is always interesting, but for us who have followed the ongoing, and amazing, story of U2 for many years, it can also be disappointing. Why these same stories, again and again? Who is the real person behind and within the consistent and repetitive mythology? Surrender continues this legacy, with Bono again telling the same history in mostly the same way. Again we hear about the Shalom community that nearly broke up the band before it got started. Again the story of the Hansa recording sessions a decade later that really nearly broke up the band as they wrestled with what to do after becoming the top band in the world. And, for what feels like more than half of the book, the chronicle of Bono’s increasing involvement in political advocacy and international activism. All good stories, and all told with the usual carefully cultivated honesty and self-deprecation. But they’ve all been told so many times before. For fans of U2, we can be grateful for Surrender, but we might also ask, Why another retelling? Why this format? Why now? It can be discouraging for those of us who mostly want U2 to be a band, and who therefore mostly want a new album and a concert tour. (All the while understanding that four guys in their sixties, who have spent decades as one of the world’s top bands, have certainly earned retirement, if they so choose.)
Yet in the midst of the same-old, there are glimpses of the wisdom Bono has acquired over the years. I appreciated his perspective on the artist as someone who is drawn to borders and boundaries, for example:
Our work is borders, crossing them. Borders are a big attraction for me, leaving one country on the way to another, leaving one thought on the way to another. . . . The liminal is the place to be. The bleeding edge. . . . An artist searches for territories yet to be discovered and, better still, places on the way to somewhere else. The poet loves a crossroads. (121)This reminded me of what Makoto Fujimura has written about the artist as a mearcstapa, a “border-stalker”:
Artists are instinctively uncomfortable in homogeneous groups, and in “border-stalking” we have a role that both addresses the reality of fragmentation and offers a fitting means to help people from all our many and divided cultural tribes learn to appreciate the margins, lower barriers to understanding and communication, and start to defuse the culture wars. (Culture Care, 58)Surrender is also probably the fullest presentation of Bono’s spirituality and Christian faith as it is now. We see him as unorthodox in his perspective on church (“I’ve never quite found a church I could call home, and I tell the kids to be wary of religion, that what the human spirit longs for may not be corralled by any sect or denomination, contained by a building,” 530), but deeply dependent upon the Bible:
Why am I always talking about the scriptures? Because they sustained me in the most difficult years in the band and they remain a plumb line to gauge how crooked my ego has become. To getting the measure of myself. This is where I find the inspiration to carry on. The exhortation that makes this struggle with the self workable. The wisdom that makes it doable. (529)His spirituality comes from a place of seeking and wandering, and it almost seems that he wants this restlessness rather than the stability he might have if he were to give such a life priority:
I’m always looking for the liminal space, the outer edges of emotion. If I write a song about faith, I express it through doubt, because “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” If I write a song about a “beautiful day,” it’s also about the longing for a lost friend. (502)Crossing borders, spiritual restlessness, distance from established church and religion . . . these are the things that have always made Bono beloved of some Christians and extraordinarily frustrating for others.
Other readers will be as frustrated as they always have been when reading about Bono’s reinvention as political activist in around 2000. I find his reflection on this work partly admirable and partly (mostly?) eye-rolling, as he and his rich-and-famous friends sit in fancy restaurants and discuss ways they might save the world. I don’t want to be skeptical or condescending, but even when Bono writes about it in a self-deprecating, questioning way, I have a hard time taking any of it seriously. Again we see the performance of honest self-reflection, but there are obvious missteps that Bono very obviously avoids. A major elephant in the room, for example, is Aung San Suu Kyi. U2 supported her publicly during the 360 tour and then revoked that support several years later in the midst of the violence against the Rohingya. The “Ambassador of Conscience” stopped taking their calls. If Bono had written about this in his memoir, that would have been new, and extremely interesting. But she’s not mentioned at all. As always, Bono is cautious about the missteps he acknowledges and the ways he apologizes.
The other major issue I’d hoped Bono would address in the memoir is his role in handing over artistic ownership to CEOs of tech companies rather than to the artists themselves. How does he feel now about his part in giving authority to someone like Steve Jobs, so that now music is owned and traded by businesspeople who don’t understand music? Bono does touch on this subject in the book (490–93), but clearly it’s something he’s still working through. In the book, it appears in the context of Paul McGuiness’s retirement from managing U2—which is actually a new story with details I hadn’t heard before, so I liked that part of it, while also wishing for more reflection from Bono on his influence in the music industry.
For U2 fans, a big disappointment in Surrender is how the band all but disappears from the narrative in about 2000. Surprisingly, there is no discussion of the 360 tour, and only minor mentions of the Innocence + Experience tour and other recent live performances. For the frontman of a band that’s known to be one of the best live acts ever, this seems strange. I would have preferred much more content about the music, post-2000, than about Bono’s activism. Of course this is Bono’s story, not the band’s story, but still, the band vanishes halfway through the book. In fact, though the subtitle promises “One Story,” I had a hard time seeing the book as a single story. It's partly about the band, partly about Bono’s family, partly about his spiritual journey, partly about his activism. More careful editing could have shaped this into one story, and that would have been fascinating. But instead, it's the a collection of the usual (separate) stories.
Surrender concludes with a couple of chapters that I really loved. But the journey getting there was quite tedious, especially through the second half of the book. For someone who hasn’t read a lot about U2, this wouldn’t be a bad introduction and overview. But for anyone who really wants a comprehensive understanding of the band, I highly recommend these books:
--North Side Story: U2 in Dublin 1978–1983, by Niall Stokes (A collection of articles about U2 from the very beginning. It’s a fantastic history of the music and culture of Dublin that formed U2.)These books give a wonderfully comprehensive picture not just of U2 or of Bono but of the cultural context in which they grew and developed. Surrender includes some good moments, but having read all of those other books (and more besides), and having spent a lifetime learning about and enjoying U2, it felt overall unnecessary. I think Bono’s live performance of sections of the book on his book tour was probably the best thing to come of the project, but unfortunately, the tour didn’t come anywhere near me, so I missed that experience. I continue to live in hope of another U2 album, and another concert tour with the whole band. The legacy I most want is not a careful retelling of the same stories, but for the band to find ways to continue doing what I’ve always loved them for doing.
--U2 at the End of the World, by Bill Flanagan (Flanagan traveled with U2 during the ZOO TV tour, and this book is one of the most thoughtful, in-depth pieces of journalism I’ve ever read.)
--U2 by U2, by Bono, Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. (Though it only takes the story up to 2005, it’s still the best history of the band, and the only volume that each of the four band members contributed so much to.)
--Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, by Michka Assayas (For anyone interested in Bono’s spiritual journey and political activism, I actually recommend this book more than Bono’s own memoir.)
May 12, 2023
Profundamente espiritualizada, a autobiografia de Bono é uma ode aos sentimentos e sensações do cantor frente as batalhas que escolheu viver, como a do ativismo e também àquelas que foram postas em sua trajetória, como a morte prematura da mãe e os conflitos com o pai. Mais que isso, atrelando sua vida a do U2, é também por meio da trajetória da banda que o cantor conta, por meio de 40 canções os mais de 50 anos de sucesso, decaídas e ascensão de uma das maiores bandas ainda em atividade.
Narrando não somente sua vida, mas daqueles ao seu entorno, Bono traz para a narrativa figuras como Obama, Bush, Clinton, Mandela, Bill e Melinda Gates, Pavarotti, Steve Jobs, Condoleezza Rice, João Paulo II e tantos outros personagens do século para discorrer acerca das políticas de governança para a erradicação da pobreza, da fome, do combate ao HIV, ou, em prol do fim de conflitos armados como o do Bósnia na década de 90.
Aos poucos, mas profundamente, Edge, Larry e Adam também adentram na história, seja como integrantes do U2, seja como amigos, suas fragilidades e a do próprio U2 são expostas, discorridas e superadas ao longo das páginas, em especial, acerca do conflito espiritual que Bono e Edge são postos, quando desejam deixar a banda. Ademais, diversas canções são aqui analisadas, desde seus processos de criação, sua recepção e situações conflitantes por elas criadas, bem como a relação do cantor para com sua esposa e família.
De modo que a quem muito gosta da banda, como o meu caso, a leitura é de um prazer singular, como um álbum de 600 páginas, todavia, a quem não agrade, também pode ser interessante, dado que mais da metade foca no ativismo e combate às desigualdades do mundo, em especial do continente africano, portanto, uma excelente leitura. Que bom que ainda há figuras como Bono e U2 por aí.
Narrando não somente sua vida, mas daqueles ao seu entorno, Bono traz para a narrativa figuras como Obama, Bush, Clinton, Mandela, Bill e Melinda Gates, Pavarotti, Steve Jobs, Condoleezza Rice, João Paulo II e tantos outros personagens do século para discorrer acerca das políticas de governança para a erradicação da pobreza, da fome, do combate ao HIV, ou, em prol do fim de conflitos armados como o do Bósnia na década de 90.
Aos poucos, mas profundamente, Edge, Larry e Adam também adentram na história, seja como integrantes do U2, seja como amigos, suas fragilidades e a do próprio U2 são expostas, discorridas e superadas ao longo das páginas, em especial, acerca do conflito espiritual que Bono e Edge são postos, quando desejam deixar a banda. Ademais, diversas canções são aqui analisadas, desde seus processos de criação, sua recepção e situações conflitantes por elas criadas, bem como a relação do cantor para com sua esposa e família.
De modo que a quem muito gosta da banda, como o meu caso, a leitura é de um prazer singular, como um álbum de 600 páginas, todavia, a quem não agrade, também pode ser interessante, dado que mais da metade foca no ativismo e combate às desigualdades do mundo, em especial do continente africano, portanto, uma excelente leitura. Que bom que ainda há figuras como Bono e U2 por aí.
November 13, 2022
This is an extraordinary work of art.
I’ve long believed that in another life Bono would’ve been a great poet: this confirms he is also one this life.
Not only is it an utterly beautiful version of autobiography, telling of a wonderful life in 40 songs rich with detail, anecdotes, wisdom, doubt, struggles, philosophical wonderings, quotations from an eclectic range of artists, writers & thinkers, spiritual searching, meetings with some of the most brilliant humans of the last 50+ years, & perhaps surprisingly for those that don’t “get” Bono or U2, with lashings of wit, wicked humour, laughter & absurdity.
The audiobook is also: an extraordinary achievement with music, song snippets, & sound effects but most affecting of all, a warmth and intimacy of narration which makes it feel like you’re sitting across the kitchen table from (or more probably) in a restaurant or beer garden drinking wine with the gregarious, vivacious, messiah-anical, charming, self-deprecating, soul-searching, erudite man himself.
I read much of this book with my ear buds in: just us two in “conversation” & it was such an intimate & profound experience of Bono as artist, husband, friend, father, activist that I’m hard pressed to recall any other audiobook I’ve lived or enjoyed more. I feel the need to repeat: it was such an intimate personal experience.
I’m going to take a few day’s break then I’ll start again jumping between the audio & hard back versions depending on my mood/activity.
Disclaimer: I am a die-hard U2 fan & have been since I was 13, but this is so much more than I conceived a memoir could be. It felt like a personal tale that Paul had written just for me to hear. It’s entirely likely most people who read it will feel the same.
I’ve long believed that in another life Bono would’ve been a great poet: this confirms he is also one this life.
Not only is it an utterly beautiful version of autobiography, telling of a wonderful life in 40 songs rich with detail, anecdotes, wisdom, doubt, struggles, philosophical wonderings, quotations from an eclectic range of artists, writers & thinkers, spiritual searching, meetings with some of the most brilliant humans of the last 50+ years, & perhaps surprisingly for those that don’t “get” Bono or U2, with lashings of wit, wicked humour, laughter & absurdity.
The audiobook is also: an extraordinary achievement with music, song snippets, & sound effects but most affecting of all, a warmth and intimacy of narration which makes it feel like you’re sitting across the kitchen table from (or more probably) in a restaurant or beer garden drinking wine with the gregarious, vivacious, messiah-anical, charming, self-deprecating, soul-searching, erudite man himself.
I read much of this book with my ear buds in: just us two in “conversation” & it was such an intimate & profound experience of Bono as artist, husband, friend, father, activist that I’m hard pressed to recall any other audiobook I’ve lived or enjoyed more. I feel the need to repeat: it was such an intimate personal experience.
I’m going to take a few day’s break then I’ll start again jumping between the audio & hard back versions depending on my mood/activity.
Disclaimer: I am a die-hard U2 fan & have been since I was 13, but this is so much more than I conceived a memoir could be. It felt like a personal tale that Paul had written just for me to hear. It’s entirely likely most people who read it will feel the same.
April 29, 2023
I was hesitant to start this 20-hour audiobook journey because let’s face it Bono has often used his soap box of fame for unasked for opinions and fiery activism. But Bono is convincing in his authenticity and honesty. He is also self-deprecating and often very funny.
I did find some of his political opinions a bit odd. His comparison of Volodymyr Zelensky to Nelson Mandela made me laugh out loud and I am sure that was not how it was intended.
Surrender is not your usual rock biopic. Each chapter opens with a song that sets the tone for exploring his early life growing up in Dublin, his family, band mates, his spirituality, and of course, his activism.
This is a story of a complex man with a complex life, and I am glad I took a chance on it.
I did find some of his political opinions a bit odd. His comparison of Volodymyr Zelensky to Nelson Mandela made me laugh out loud and I am sure that was not how it was intended.
Surrender is not your usual rock biopic. Each chapter opens with a song that sets the tone for exploring his early life growing up in Dublin, his family, band mates, his spirituality, and of course, his activism.
This is a story of a complex man with a complex life, and I am glad I took a chance on it.
November 2, 2022
3 1/2 stars.
Not an easy read.
A big book!
It’s like lots of short stories—Lots of jumping all over the place. Prose/poetry.
I liked it, but wanted more about the family I guess.
Not an easy read.
A big book!
It’s like lots of short stories—Lots of jumping all over the place. Prose/poetry.
I liked it, but wanted more about the family I guess.
November 6, 2022
Obviously, I'm going to give the 5 stars. I've loved Bono and U2 since the 80s, and cannot see that ever changing, so the chance to spend 550 pages with my fav person I don't actually know is something I will happily do. I really loved that even someone like me, who reads EVERYTHING put out by (and usually about) the band, there was some new info in this. Highly recommended! ]
I also appreciated that, in the afterword, Bono comments on changing some of the lyrics he uses in the book - it happened just enough to make me wonder if I was going crazy and somehow didn't know all of these lyrics as well as I know I do :-D
I also appreciated that, in the afterword, Bono comments on changing some of the lyrics he uses in the book - it happened just enough to make me wonder if I was going crazy and somehow didn't know all of these lyrics as well as I know I do :-D
January 11, 2023
I’ve been a U2 fan since 1982, so yeah I’m biased, but I thought it was great and I’m rounding up.
I had already learned that Bono is a deep and introspective thinker when I read Bono: A Conversation… a few years back, but I was still surprised here by the quality of the writing. Of course I should have expected that a skilled and clever lyricist would also write beautifully and insightfully.
Bono tells his personal story and the history of the band using 40 different U2 songs as episodes, or themes. He tells some great stories about his experiences with other famous people (Johnny Cash, Prince, Sinatra, Warren Buffett, etc), discusses his own issues, family life, and faith, and recounts some of his work in the halls of government pushing for humanitarian causes, such as African debt relief, fighting global poverty, and access to treatment for AIDS & malaria. I have to admit this political section, while often interesting, started to feel a bit too long.
My favorite parts of the book are when he explains what was going on his life and in his head when he penned the lyrics to specific songs, providing additional insight to the meanings of songs that I already love. For instance, he wrote “One Tree Hill” after a close friend was killed in a motorcycle accident. When I later went back to listen to the song I was crushed. So much more impactful now.
I should also mention that I listened to this as an audiobook, and I highly recommend this format— it’s read by Bono himself, and he emotes perfectly, is appropriately self-deprecating, and does some amusing impersonations. Plus there are multiple musical clips along the way to burnish the experience. It almost seems like it’s the audio to a movie version of the book — an excellent production overall.
Adam wrote a great review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I had already learned that Bono is a deep and introspective thinker when I read Bono: A Conversation… a few years back, but I was still surprised here by the quality of the writing. Of course I should have expected that a skilled and clever lyricist would also write beautifully and insightfully.
Bono tells his personal story and the history of the band using 40 different U2 songs as episodes, or themes. He tells some great stories about his experiences with other famous people (Johnny Cash, Prince, Sinatra, Warren Buffett, etc), discusses his own issues, family life, and faith, and recounts some of his work in the halls of government pushing for humanitarian causes, such as African debt relief, fighting global poverty, and access to treatment for AIDS & malaria. I have to admit this political section, while often interesting, started to feel a bit too long.
My favorite parts of the book are when he explains what was going on his life and in his head when he penned the lyrics to specific songs, providing additional insight to the meanings of songs that I already love. For instance, he wrote “One Tree Hill” after a close friend was killed in a motorcycle accident. When I later went back to listen to the song I was crushed. So much more impactful now.
I should also mention that I listened to this as an audiobook, and I highly recommend this format— it’s read by Bono himself, and he emotes perfectly, is appropriately self-deprecating, and does some amusing impersonations. Plus there are multiple musical clips along the way to burnish the experience. It almost seems like it’s the audio to a movie version of the book — an excellent production overall.
Adam wrote a great review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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