[.ca] Take Me Home: An Autobiography (ISBN 0517595370)

take me home:
This was John at his best. He opens up all of his feelings to us. He even exposes himself as the not so nice guy that everyone pictured him as. If you want to know the real John Denver and appreciate him even more read this book.

Reality is more interesting than fiction...:
From 1978 on I was a fan of John Denver, not because he was hip, not because he was dazzling, but because he was genuine, honest, and straight-forward. What I loved about his music and what I loved about his live performances is it was not a show. It came from the heart. This autobiography is just like his performances, it hides nothing. It is difficult to name autobiographies that paint an ugly picture of their author. I think people misunderstand how this book was written as much for John as it was for us. There is a lesson to be learned here about what works and doesn't work in living life. I am thankful to John for sharing with me what doesn't work. I learned from reading this book. I played his songs when I came to chapters that the songs coincided with. For such beauty to be created in the midst of a normal, flawed, human life, "it amazes me!" Think about your life story, all the stuff you did you are proud of, and all the stuff you did you are ashamed of. If you could imagine allowing everyone in to read about it all, then maybe you can begin to appreciate what it took to write this book. Remember he published this before his death. If you loved the man, you should read this book to know the false front he put on, and the dark face he now reveals. God bless you, John.

Parting Reflections....:
John really opens up here. For an entertainer to be as candid about himself as he is here...and there's a lot to be read between the lines as well...is very unusual. The reader gets a glimpse of the "back stage" John Denver. For all his laid-backness, he was extremely tough on himself, his own worst enemy, forever with a monkey on his back that demanded success and respect despite the lack of support he got from those who were most important to him. Self critical yet so caring, indeed his life was structured around the pursuit of approval. He bares his soul, admits to personal inadequacies, showing the reader that besides being the voice for all of nature, he was just a human being as well...a person who stumbles from time to time while attempting to do what he thought was best. I listened to the audio book which is read by John while he sat on his deck at his home in Aspen. He prefaced his reading by warning the reader/listener that from time to time there might be the sound of a plane taking off from the nearby airport but that there would also be the sound of a stream and some windchimes hanging nearby. Indeed there are those sounds in the background. Together, with his voice it makes for a very intimate setting... just you and John, sitting on his deck, enjoying his story telling one more time in what probably was one of his favorite spots. A very nice feeling to be with John again.

Good biography, more on person than music:
This enjoyable and candid autobiography by Denver is a good overall view of his life. I personally would have preferred it if he had emphasized his musical and film career a bit more, and he could have easily done so by cutting some rather tedious digressions such as diet and psychotherapy techniques. There are also some odd omissions, especially the small amount on his second wife and the children he clearly viewed with affection. But still it's a good balance overall, and fun to read. In view of his squeaky-clean media image, some people find his flaws a shock, in particular his free use of marijuana and alcohol and his inner turmoil manifested in conflicts with wives and father. Yet the positive side of Denver prevailed through his inspiring music and social activism. His well-known efforts in environmental protection, ending world hunger, and promoting peace are amply detailed here. Upon finishing the book one knows John Denver well, and he seems a likable guy after all.

Excellent book--helps one's understanding of his life:
I highly recommend John Denver's autobiography, Take Me Home. It is a candid introspective work which is a valuable read for anyone who seeks to better understand the man's life. His honesty is welcomed, for it points to the fact that he was a human being who admittedly made mistakes, yet never strayed from a deep desire to make a difference in the world. His struggles and joys shared so openly make this book a treasure...there is much to be learned from his life. Christine Smith