cels's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Jimmy, how are you still alive? That rock n roll lifestyle
zarasecker23's review against another edition
5.0
This is the sequel to Jimmy Barnes autobiography and what a ride it was.
This book does focus a lot on Jimmy’s time with Cold Chisel for the vast majority of the book, and whilst they may bother some people, I found it very interesting; Cold Chisel was such a huge part of Jimmy’s life that to gloss over this part of his life would not do him, or the book justice. If you find excessive swearing in a book hard to cope with then it may be advisable to stay away from this book. If you can look past that it is worth the effort. You don’t need to read the first book to read this one but it will provide some background to the lead up to this book.
Jimmy was into drinking, women, and hard drugs which, according to his account, he was under the influence of every time he went on stage to perform with the band. He admits that he couldn’t sing with the band unless he was drunk and drugged beforehand. He was a very angry man. It became clear that he was running away from the life that was his past but it took many years for him to come to the realisation that if he didn’t get his life under control, and face his demons, he stood to loose all that was good and right in his life.
In amongst all this he found a beautiful lady, Jane, whom he fell in love with, married and had four children with. For him, Jane was his stabilising influence and a huge support to and for him. If he had to travel without her he was afraid that without her there he would fall off the wagon and resort to his bad habits. This did happen but eventually he decided he needed to do something about getting his life back on track before it was too late.
This is a very emotional book, raw, flawed, just like its author but that’s what makes this such a powerful story. Cold Chisel was the family he never had and it came across at just the right time. In a way, as rough as the band was, it saved him and for a time it gave him a sense of security he hadn’t experienced to date. Over time, he tried going out on his own, which worked in their favour because when he did eventually come back they had all grown up a lot.
This is a very honest and raw book about the life of a pop icon and his growth from a scared child, to a man who has reconciled with himself that he doesn’t want to numb the pain of his past, but that he owes it to himself and his family (children, grandchildren, and great grandchild) to live fully and completely in the moment. Well worth the read.
This book does focus a lot on Jimmy’s time with Cold Chisel for the vast majority of the book, and whilst they may bother some people, I found it very interesting; Cold Chisel was such a huge part of Jimmy’s life that to gloss over this part of his life would not do him, or the book justice. If you find excessive swearing in a book hard to cope with then it may be advisable to stay away from this book. If you can look past that it is worth the effort. You don’t need to read the first book to read this one but it will provide some background to the lead up to this book.
Jimmy was into drinking, women, and hard drugs which, according to his account, he was under the influence of every time he went on stage to perform with the band. He admits that he couldn’t sing with the band unless he was drunk and drugged beforehand. He was a very angry man. It became clear that he was running away from the life that was his past but it took many years for him to come to the realisation that if he didn’t get his life under control, and face his demons, he stood to loose all that was good and right in his life.
In amongst all this he found a beautiful lady, Jane, whom he fell in love with, married and had four children with. For him, Jane was his stabilising influence and a huge support to and for him. If he had to travel without her he was afraid that without her there he would fall off the wagon and resort to his bad habits. This did happen but eventually he decided he needed to do something about getting his life back on track before it was too late.
This is a very emotional book, raw, flawed, just like its author but that’s what makes this such a powerful story. Cold Chisel was the family he never had and it came across at just the right time. In a way, as rough as the band was, it saved him and for a time it gave him a sense of security he hadn’t experienced to date. Over time, he tried going out on his own, which worked in their favour because when he did eventually come back they had all grown up a lot.
This is a very honest and raw book about the life of a pop icon and his growth from a scared child, to a man who has reconciled with himself that he doesn’t want to numb the pain of his past, but that he owes it to himself and his family (children, grandchildren, and great grandchild) to live fully and completely in the moment. Well worth the read.
hayley_loves_books's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to Working Class Boy last year and loved it. I had no idea as to Jimmy’s upbringing and found the story gritty, touching and sad but hopeful. Working Class Man continues on from then but to me is just a book about sex, drugs and rock and roll. Although maybe therapeutic for Barnes to write, I found it rather repetitive and much of a muchness. This is no way meant to insult Jimmy Barnes and I admire the fact that he is still here to tell his tales but I did need enjoy this as much as his first book. I do wish him much success with the future and hope that he remains strong and sober.
knrt_17's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audiobook. Jimmy narrates his own story and adds heart and soul to the continuing tale of his life. If the book doesn’t rip you to shreds then the epilogue will. Thank you Jimmy for sharing your story.
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I did not grow up with Jimmy Barnes’ (or Cold Chisel’s) music, and to be honest, I’m still pretty ambivalent. I am not ambivalent about this book though. It is such an excellent Australian story and, to be frank, it’s a miracle Barnes is still around to write it. To gain such insight into an Australian icon, one who came from such tragic and traumatic circumstances (read the first book to find out about that) is wonderful in itself, but this book goes further in its real examination of the damage people can inflict on themselves and those around them. Barnes is open and honest about everything, never blaming anyone but accepting his demons. The reader can only imagine the struggle drawing all this up must have been.
I won’t say this is brilliantly written - Barnes is a songwriter, not a novelist. But the story is so raw and honest that it doesn’t matter, and I’m so glad it is his voice (and it is so distinctive) rather than a ghostwriter. It may not be a perfect narrative, but you cannot miss the emotion and that’s what makes this book such a worthy read.
I won’t say this is brilliantly written - Barnes is a songwriter, not a novelist. But the story is so raw and honest that it doesn’t matter, and I’m so glad it is his voice (and it is so distinctive) rather than a ghostwriter. It may not be a perfect narrative, but you cannot miss the emotion and that’s what makes this book such a worthy read.
archytas's review
3.0
There are a lot of drugs in this book. Also lots of gig anecdotes, and many characters introduced with a quick positive description and genuine warmth. Unfortunately, there is less insight, and well, point. I'm probably being a little hard on the book here, given the expectations set by the rawness and power of Barnes' first instalment. In retrospect, the second instalment is a much harder proposition. Barnes can see the child he was a victim now, and it is socially acceptable for him to tell that story. But in this sequel - the one where the price of that childhood is exacted on Barnes, on people around him, on all of us - Barnes can't quite forgive himself. This biography looks squarely in the face of what his life has been (in much-repeated detail) but it can't look at what that means (although it also skims over how Barnes cooperated with biographers and writers who told a different version of his life at the time). Barnes is desperate not to write a memoir that denies his personal responsibility (and if he did, he'd probably have been lynched) but neither can you explain this as just personal failing, so the book is stuck in recollection without constructed meaning. The emotion that fuelled Working Class Boy is tied in agonised knots. And unless you are a Chisel or Barnes fan, or after recording industry anecdotes, it is pretty hard going.
For me, perhaps the most interesting part is simply how much Barnes' story challenges our usual narrative of drug use. Clearly, Barnes has had a very unhappy life, and clearly his drug use created problems for those around him. Nevertheless, it would be hard to argue he hasn't been enormously productive for decades despite carrying horrendous levels of drug abuse. He built and maintained strong and loving relationships while getting blasted. If only we were prepared to admit that drug users, in general, are not criminals or even necessarily an economic drain, we might achieve a saner, more sensible approach to reducing the harm caused by drug abuse, and get decent psychological help to those who need it.
For me, perhaps the most interesting part is simply how much Barnes' story challenges our usual narrative of drug use. Clearly, Barnes has had a very unhappy life, and clearly his drug use created problems for those around him. Nevertheless, it would be hard to argue he hasn't been enormously productive for decades despite carrying horrendous levels of drug abuse. He built and maintained strong and loving relationships while getting blasted. If only we were prepared to admit that drug users, in general, are not criminals or even necessarily an economic drain, we might achieve a saner, more sensible approach to reducing the harm caused by drug abuse, and get decent psychological help to those who need it.
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