I am Brian Wilson: A Memoir

Wilson fans like myself already deeply admire this man for his music, courage and triumphant return to the glory and recognition he deserves possibly more than anybody in show business, period. Others familiar with the Beach Boys but not so much Brian should read his memoir and discover a person who is brutally honest about himself, his mental illness, the people in his life and outlook on everything. The movie "Love and Mercy" did a good job and with Wilson's memoir we get a privileged look into the life of one of history's greatest musicians and producers. The book is in tell tale form, as if Brian is sitting with us in our living rooms and talking to us personally. The most amazing thing of all to me is his humility and genuine goodness. He has met and been friends with the most famous people in the world - presidents, The Beatles, especially Paul McCartney, and a list of other musicians too long to mention in a review. He has received the Kennedy Award and is enjoying tremendous success touring behind his "Pet Sounds" 50th Anniversary tour. Still, there remains the feeling that nobody could be more approachable if the circumstances permitted, nor be more gracious and kind to you and I in person than Brian Wilson. His first solo album from a couple decades ago, "Brian Wilson", contained extra tracks and snippets, among them his thoughts on "Love and Mercy", and while at the time the notorious monster Eugene Landy, the psychotic psychiatrist and crook was abusing Wilson terribly, Brian still had the wish that love and mercy should be extended to all, and that his true reward was giving his music and gifts rather than receiving. This is so rare in the age where narcissism reigns supreme that you can't help but be moved. The book is a must have for all Brian Wilson fans, and I will be checking out his new live CD/DVD soon. I wish I could one day meet this great man, who has overcome so much adversity and came out as one of the most beloved rock stars of all time. It won't happen, but in the very remote chance he might just read this review, I want to say to Mr. Wilson: thank you so very very much for all you have accomplished and taught us. There will never be another one like you.

Brilliant Brain Wilson! Talks about real things that we may even been through in a different sense. Him & his brother’s were / are so Gifted! I realize he’s the best only player left but their music still Lives! I grew up in 70’s listening! Brian, you are Loved! Thank you for hanging in there! I’ve lost 3 Significant People to Suicide! My dad, Papa & Husband. I’ve contemplated on more than one occasion. But I’m still here for my children!! Which now every day, I pray to God I don’t get a phone call one of them is gone! My Admiration for you is Unbelievable! Your music will Always be such a Gift to future generations! You are an Inspiration Despite Your Past! Thank you for sharing your history & your Brilliant Musical Talent! You are Gifted & Loved! No One Will EVER Not Know Your Name!

I have been a Brian Wilson fan since I first heard Surfin’ Safari on a re-issue in the early 80s. I became fascinated by his songs and the emotion that came through in the melodies and harmonies. I remember getting a vinyl record of his solo album in 88 and listening to it with the headsets. My parents got me his first autobiography, and even had it signed by him (but didn’t get me out of school to meet him!). Everyone knows that first one was largely a work of fiction—as this memoir makes very clear. What I loved about this was how it really reads like you’re hearing Brian tell anecdotes about his life, in no particular order. That’s also something that at first was a little odd to me. But, it is a memoir, so it is linked together by theme, not by chronology. I also like that it doesn’t give juicy details of his life, but rather the overall state of his mind, his concerns and his struggles. He doesn’t throw anyone “under the bus” which is to his credit. He’s not shy about the harm that Dr. Landry did to him and the suffering he experienced. There is no attempt in this book to present an image of Brian. He exposes himself with his ego, sometimes very odd sense of humor, musical ambition and fears of intimacy. Great book.

A must for a true Beach Boys and Brian Wilson fan providing insights into the creative process of their music.

Lovely to read Brian's story in Brian's own words. He puts many things to rest regarding his father, Landy, and Love. I got the feeling that he held back quite a bit on what he could have said regarding his professional relationship with Mike Love (maybe for fear of further lawsuits!!!) but he certainly put the record straight on the bullying control-freak that was Eugene Landy. His father, Murry Wilson, seemed to be a product of the times, where many men took the biblical quote of not sparing the rod of correction as a literal entity to beat the crap out of his kids, whereas nowadays, it's correct to be tough with your kids - but without the violence. I think Brian has been aware that in recent years, his father has come in for severe criticism especially when he had been blamed for Brian's near total deafness in his right ear. In some interviews Brian said his father whacked him so hard as a kid that he lost his hearing in that ear. Other interviews had hinted that he was born with the ear defect. In this book, Brian puts the blame onto some neighbourhood kid who hit him across the ear with a piece of lead piping, causing him to be virtually deaf in that ear. So, that is three different explanations. Maybe it was a combination of any of those reasons. Maybe Brian didn't want his dad to continue to take all the blame for that ear loss? All in all, this is a very good book and a wonderful insight into a truly astonishingly talented man.

Once you start reading you can’t stop…

...E merece todo o reconhecimento possível. Inspirou até mesmo Paul McCartney, criou tendências musicais até então inéditas e mudou a história da música do século XX.

Impressive auto-portrait of the life of a genius. Thanks lord to gave us Brian Wilson! I read this book together with Mike Love's Good Vibrations in order to have the two sides of the coin. Brian Wilson always "wins". Enjoy!