Reviews

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, by Bono

zrees's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

angieinbooks's review

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Some of y'all probably hate U2 and/or Bono, but not me. U2 was the first band I latched onto once I reached the age when I started forming my own musical opinions, not simply listening to the stuff my parents or older sister listened to or even the stuff most of my friends listened to. Nope, this band was mine to discover and whose music I devoured. They were also my first real concert--a gift from my much cooler older sister, who isn't a U2 fan, for my 18th birthday.

Admittedly, I haven't listened to them in a while, venturing off into other musical interests and phases, but I knew when this book came out, I would be reading it. Or rather listening to it. Because this book should be an audiobook experience since it's read by Bono and includes music to add to the listening experience. I knew in the first 20 minutes that this book would astound me, and it did. I'm also not surprised that it inspired me. Because that's what U2's music has always done for me.

This is an absolute must for any U2 fan.

jslagle2022's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

rigglet's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

derrickmitchell's review against another edition

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5.0

I really enjoyed this. Listened to the audiobook. So much of it almost has a poetic feel, which I guess makes sense considering Bono is a lyricist. Each chapter was named after a song and Bono (possibly the band) did a new version of it (usually under a minute).
I knew a lot of the band stories but Bono spends a lot of time talking about his charitable work which I didn’t know as much about.

grafe_'s review

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informative slow-paced

1.75

kieral's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

x24gee's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

pat_walsh_19's review against another edition

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funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

meesm's review against another edition

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4.0

Would like to rate it 3.5* : 4* as an audio book and 3* if you read it. Not a book I would probably have read, but I heard an interview with Bono that intrigued me. The audiobook is very well done! There are snippets of songs as well as other enhancements to the narration, plus Bono narrates it and his personality definitely comes across. (Make sure to stay listening at the end past the credits) The book is about family, friendship and faith and how these pillars shaped his songs, actions and career. It was interesting to hear what events influenced many of his songs. That said, I am not sure I would have finished the book if I was reading it. The book is long (20 hours narration), skips around in time so that sometimes it was hard to follow what point of his life he is referring to, and is a bit self promoting at times. I would definitely recommend it as an audio book.