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Life Audiobook
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(3.00) - 24,107 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
Many fans of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards wonder how he's managed to survive the last half-century of raucous rock and roll behavior and drug use. This suspicion is only intensified after reading Life, his 2011 autobiography.
Richards has always been just who he is, leaving the facades for others and choosing instead to just be himself. His open honestly is evident in Life, when he discusses not only the tunes made famous by his legendary band but the men behind them. Keith writes about his past addictions at length, and the isolation both his drug use and the band's fame brought. The book even includes many pictures from Keith's personal collection. These are available as a PDF download with the audiobook version on Life.
Richards talks about the early days of the Rolling Stones, when the band did a lot more listening than playing. He, along with vocalist Mick Jagger and fellow guitarist Brian Jones, would sit for hours dissecting and digesting records by Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. From there, they developed their own sound, and formed a band to play the music the y loved.
Jagger and Richards soon found they worked well together as a songwriting team, and the Rolling Stones were born. He offers a look at their rise to fame and all of the events of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s that contributed to their legendary status.
Richards wrote Life with help from journalist James Fox. Fox is best known for his book about an infamous 1941 murder in Kenya called White Mischief. His other works include Five Sisters: The Langhornes of Virginia. He has also worked as a reporter for London's Sunday Times.
The Life audiobook is narrated by Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley.
"I leaned my phone on the back of the chopsaw while doing carpentry, played the book in my car hoping for bad traffic, shared with family. The Keith book kept me company - out of body experience drifting through the history of rock and roll, the albums and the women, drug busts, life and death, glory and hardships. I recommend this for all adult ages."
— Nick Danger (5 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
The long-awaited autobiography of Keith Richards, guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones.
With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life.
Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones's first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women." His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever.
With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.
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Quotes
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“One of the greatest rock memoirs ever.”
— Rolling Stone -
“Richards delivers recipe after recipe for everything rock ‘n roll, and let me say it’s quite an education…Reading Life is like getting to corner Keith Richards in a room and ask him everything you ever wanted to know about the Rolling Stones and have him be completely honest with you.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Rollicking and raw.”
— People -
“Richards writes with disarming introspection about his childhood, family, and fame. And it’s quite likely that no rock musician has ever written so keenly about the joys of making music. With a warm sense of humor and willingness to share his grief, Mr. Richards in Life defies almost every public perception about him.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“The most scabrously honest and essential rock memoir in a long time…The voice that emerges is unmistakably the dark lord’s: growly and profane and black with comedy.”
— Washington Post -
“Richards is funny, sharp, and insightful…The book is an important addition to the canon of rock lit, chronicling not just the life of an iconic musician and a seminal band but a significant slice of the golden age of rock.”
— Boston Globe -
“A fast-paced, pull-no-punches autobiography…Richards is at his best when digging into the reasons he plays music and how he creates it.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“Dickensian street urchin meets A Clockwork Orange—it’s a great combo to tell the story of rock’s ultimate outlaw.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month, November 2010
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A 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Best Book for Nonfiction
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A USA Today bestseller
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Winner of a 2011 Audie Award
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A 2010 Time Magazine Top 10 Book for Nonfiction
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New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Nonfiction, 2010
Life Listener Reviews
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" Life as only Keef could see it. the only problem I had was the narrator barely spoke English.. It was like Esperanto or some language twins speak. Throw me a figgin bone. "
— Patrick, 2/14/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this, way more than I thought I would. It is fairly amazing he is still alive. And Johnny Depp was a fantastic reader. "
— Al, 2/5/2014 -
" Second chapter is tough to get through, but really a fantastic story about an incredible life. "
— Robert, 2/3/2014 -
" Still not sure what I think of Keith the human being, but tis is certainly NOT a boring book! And it is well written "
— Marc, 2/2/2014 -
" Great, engrossing, couldn't wait to spend time with it, until 50 pages left then just wanted to start over. Isn't that what a great book should do? "
— Diana, 2/1/2014 -
" Surprisingly humble and engaging, especially in the early chapters. "
— Holly, 2/1/2014 -
" What can I say. I love Keith and yes, he's full of himself, but he's a fucking rock star, man. And a legend, not just in his own mind. "
— Robin, 1/26/2014 -
" Loved it! Big stones fan though so totally biased. "
— Leigh, 1/17/2014 -
" I picked it up to read in pieces--I didn't think I'd want to read the entire work. But I did. I'm not a Stones fan but I find Richards' take on the band/era smart. In the end, a fun read. "
— Dale, 11/28/2013 -
" Will miss Keef in my bed tonight "
— Jennifer, 11/5/2013 -
" Great book, Keith is the man, Mick Jagger's a dick. "
— Billy, 11/3/2013 -
" The best rock n roll memoir ever written. I was already a big fan and after reading I became even more amazed. "
— Jonathan, 11/2/2013 -
" I loved this - thought it was a fascinating look into that time and world. And surprisingly, I found him to be a good story teller. Thoroughly enjoyed. "
— Heather, 10/17/2013 -
" Love this book. Probably the best book I read in 2011. Love his insight into early blues music, guitar playing and the stories behind the Stones' songs. "
— Mk, 8/11/2013 -
" I HIGHLY recommend this audiobook. It's like having Keith Richards ride around in the car with you telling you his life story (while not read by Keith, it quickly *seems* like it is). "
— Matt, 5/1/2013 -
" Excellent read with quite a few surprises from one if the biggest party animals in the history of rock. "
— Gerard, 2/7/2013 -
" I listened to the audio version, which is read (mostly) by Johnny Depp. It does go on. I probably wouldn't invite Keith to move in, but there were many enjoyable moments in his memoir. "
— Jeannine, 1/16/2013 -
" Interesting. Stark. Overwhelmingly honest. Really did stay up for nine days. Eccentric, but how else could you be if most of your life has been as a rebel rockstar living out of hotel rooms? Not a life many of us have led, but a colourful romp none the less ... Final word? Intriguing. "
— Sally, 12/30/2012 -
" Very Interesting read. A bit rambly but I think this must give an idea of how his brain must work! "
— Martina, 6/27/2012 -
" It's Keef, how could it not be good? "
— Npaw, 4/18/2012 -
" It was an interesting book about Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Lots of names of musicians I didn't know but all in all I enjoyed reading about his life. He came across as a nicer man than we were led to believe but it was an autobiography. "
— Alison, 10/9/2011 -
" Fascinating account of a true musical master. "
— Shauna, 9/22/2011 -
" did not read, bookclub pick for january 2012 "
— Melissa, 8/16/2011 -
" Really enjoyed the first half of the book, but began to tire of the Jagger bashing and self promoting later on. "
— Jerome, 6/12/2011 -
" Keith is my favorite guitar player of all time. I loved reading every word of the 500 something pages. "
— Jessica, 5/21/2011 -
" Killer page turner of one of the most important guitar players in popular music. "
— Alex, 5/21/2011 -
" Keeeef!! I really enjoyed this. IF you are even a remote fan of the Stones or play the guitar read this book. Covers his entire career he leaves nothing out. Talks about Mick and all the fights they have had but you can tell he still loves playing with him. "
— Steven, 5/18/2011 -
" Really enjoyed this story. Well written and very well read (audible). "
— James, 5/15/2011 -
" Written very scatter shot, but given Keith Richard's life, not surprising. Lots of great guitar theory. Was hopeing for more stories of life. But got lots of paragraphs repeating how great it was to listen to/eventually meet Muddy Waters, The Everly Bros, etc. "
— Angela, 5/14/2011
About the Authors
Keith Richards was born in London in 1943. A guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and cofounder of the Rolling Stones, he has also released solo albums with his band, The X-Pensive Winos. He was voted the tenth greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Patti Hansen.
James Fox has narrated numerous audiobooks, including titles by John Buchan and John le Carré.
James Fox was born in Washington, DC, in 1945. A lifelong friend of Keith Richards and a former journalist for the Sunday Times in London, his books include the international bestseller White Mischief. He lives in London with his wife and sons.
About Keith Richards
Johnny Depp is an actor and film producer who first rose to fame on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street. He has since appeared in several well-known films including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Chocolat, Donnie Brasco, and the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. A frequent collaborator of director Tim Burton, Depp has also played a lead role in Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, and a screen adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Depp has been nominated for several Academy Awards, and won Best Actor awards from both the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden Globes.