... this book is about much more than how Lenny found his sound and all the challenges he overcame to claim it. This story goes deeper, delivering an emotional examination of his cherished relationships by introducing us to the friends and relatives who most influenced his life. We grow to love them all ... after decades of putting on a show, Lenny (with writer David Ritz) peels off the costume and invites readers into his life and into his heart ... a poignant memoir written for all readers, music fans or not. By opening the curtains to offer pure vulnerability and relatable authenticity, Lenny Kravitz leaves readers feeling inspired to find our own true voice. And to let love rule.
In a new memoir, the rock musician breaks down the first 25 years of his life, when he found his sound, his voice and his commitment to love and nonviolence. The story he tells isn’t about stardom (that will come next, he says), but about the influences that inspired his distinctive musical hybrid of soul and classic rock.
... Kravitz does a nice job addressing the grey areas of the human psyche ... Kravitz’s intelligence, introspection, and dedication to emotional truth will serve him well in the next volume chronicling an amazing life. Clearly, he has some highs and lows to reveal in part two. Luckily for him and us, he possesses the talent and perspective to examine and share that story with a hard-won grace and maturity.
... [a] rapidly paced, mildly engaging memoir ... the narrative, co-authored by veteran ghostwriter Ritz, has the slick feel of a standard-issue celebrity memoir. The text lacks the grit and deeper, soul-baring substance of notable recent music memoirs by the likes of Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, and Flea. In comparison, this book reads like an extended acknowledgements page; the author is grateful to those who helped him, but he rarely expresses the sensation of meeting and overcoming obstacles along his journey. A readable account for Kravitz fans.
