Me by Elton John

Me

by Elton John

'The rock memoir of the decade' Daily Mail

In his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life, which is also the subject of the smash-hit film Rocketman. The result is Me - the joyously funny, honest and moving story of the most enduringly successful singer/songwriter of all time.
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Read by actor and star of Rocketman, Taron Egerton, with an introduction and epilogue read by Elton John.

Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.

His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.

In Me Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.
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'Self-deprecating, funny . . . You cannot help but enjoy his company throughout, temper tantrums and all' The Times

'Chatty, gossipy, amusing and at times brutally candid' Telegraph

Reviewed by lindsey on

5 of 5 stars

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I've been a fan of Elton John's music for years but never gave much thought to how things were behind the scenes. I knew a little bit about him before reading this - bits and pieces picked up over the years by reading snippets on entertainment sites - but I definitely know a lot more now. He doesn't seem to hold back at all and it doesn't seem like he tried to hide the truth about anything that's happened in his life, whether it might make him look bad or not. He goes into detail about the things he's been through - his addiction, family problems, relationship issues, business drama - with an honest and upfront, yet ultimately optimistic, attitude. He's been through a lot and from reading this book, it seems like he's aware of just how outrageous his life has been.

Open and honest, this is one of the best celebrity autobiographies I've ever read. If you're a fan of his, or just a fan of good autobiographies in general, I would highly recommend this one.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 October, 2019: Finished reading
  • 19 October, 2019: Reviewed