A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck

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A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 179 ratings · 48 reviews

Country music superstar Trace Adkins isn’t exactly known for holding back what’s on his mind. And if the millions of albums he’s sold are any indication, when Trace talks, people listen. Now, in A Personal Stand, Trace Adkins delivers his maverick manifesto on politics, personal responsibility, fame, parenting, being true to yourself, hard work, and the way things oughta b...more

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published October 23rd 2007 by Villard (first published 2007)

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Sep 29, 2010 Buggy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: shelf-09, bio-memoir, cowboy-up

Opening line: "It's a damn good thing I wasn't the president after 9/11 because I would have...lets not go there yet"

This is not really an autobiography but as it states on the cover, "a collection of observations and opinions from a freethinking roughneck." That's too bad because the best parts of this book are the stories about his life. Trace doesn't hold back here, insulting just about every nationality except Americans.

This would have been a 5 star read too if Trace could have just stopped...more Opening line: "It's a damn good thing I wasn't the president after 9/11 because I would have...lets not go there yet"

This is not really an autobiography but as it states on the cover, "a collection of observations and opinions from a freethinking roughneck." That's too bad because the best parts of this book are the stories about his life. Trace doesn't hold back here, insulting just about every nationality except Americans.

This would have been a 5 star read too if Trace could have just stopped going off the rails with redneck 'observations' and concentrated on writing his autobiography a little more. However, he writes like he talks and I did get some laughs in during a couple of his life stories. But mainly I just laughed at his views of the world.

Having been a fan of his music and after seeing him on Celebrity Apprentice Mr. Adkins seemed like an intelligent, interesting and gentle family man. This book has however changed my view of him and I no longer consider myself a fan. I found Trace's 'views' naive. He admittedly has only been out of America once, playing on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf and it is my opinion that he needs to get out from behind the windows of his tour bus and see some of the world. This would possibly open up his 'observations' a bit. However even if you don't agree with him he at least tries to explain why he feels that way.

In between his many rants you do get to learn about Trace's life; growing up in Louisiana (pop 924) he spent time working on the oil rigs and playing in honky-tonk bars before he became a country star. You'll learn of his problems with drugs and alcohol, his many brushes with death and his family. An oddly amusing story is how he got shot by his second wife. He describes the history behind some of his hit songs, what fame is like and how he still likes to get his hands dirty on his farm. There is a lot of time spent on politics and oil as well as his dislike of unions, illegal immigration, the tobacco industry and his love of Wal-Mart and NASCAR.

As a well travelled, informed Canadian, I took particular offence to the following quote.(Regrettably it was written in the last 6 pages of the book or I would have stopped reading sooner)

"Supposedly Canada has the cleanest water and the best beer and a whole lot of oil. They've been sucking on our tit for so long now, and that's another thing I would do if I was President. I would make a call to the Canadians and say "look fellas, the only reason the Russkies didn't come over here in the 1970's and kick your ass is because we're your neighbor!" The time is now to start paying for the protection that we provide you. No more free ride eh."

In summery I suppose this was an eye-opening read, about a country singer from small town USA whose views are completly different than my own. It sure explained a lot about what I see on Fox News anyway. (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Adkins book is an interesting read with a folksy flavor that I couldn't put down. The book's tone was down to earth and really captured Adkins personality. The biographical elements which really don't get meaty till about chapter 9 were explored simplistically but with brilliance and great pacing. I would have given the book 5 stars BUT Adkins spent far too many pages giving his thoughts on politics and solving the worlds ills. All were driven by Adkins ultra right wing ideology. If only the wor...more Adkins book is an interesting read with a folksy flavor that I couldn't put down. The book's tone was down to earth and really captured Adkins personality. The biographical elements which really don't get meaty till about chapter 9 were explored simplistically but with brilliance and great pacing. I would have given the book 5 stars BUT Adkins spent far too many pages giving his thoughts on politics and solving the worlds ills. All were driven by Adkins ultra right wing ideology. If only the world was that uncomplicated. Opening with 911 was fine but too many times between describing tours and his drinking he went back to beating the reader with politics. I even managed to mostly ignore Adkins uncomplimentary comments on California. He said CA shouldn't be part of the US? Huh? And though I may vehemently be opposed to most of Adkins views I enjoyed the tone and flow of this book. However, I couldn't help but wonder if some of the negative bits of Adkins life were left out of the narrative. For example Adkins admits he was a mean drunk. He tells of one incident that while that drunk he tried to take a loaded gun away from his second wife, telling her he was going to take the gun away and beat her to death with it, but that he was only joking. She shot him and Adkins almost died. That scenario among other revelations made me wonder if Adkins might have taken a hand to the ladies in his life on occasion when he was drinking. Currently Adkins is sober, happily married and a father to multiple girls. A number of years ago I traveled to Nashville for the Country Music Awards and watched the rehearsals at Opryland while enjoying a backstage pass. Trace Adkins was new to the industry. I got to watch him up close and personal at rehearsal. I found Adkins to be a big man with an interesting stage presence and a consummate performer. He seemed to really care about the music and his audience. I also found the fact that Adkins live shows before being signed included gospel and R&B tunes (like Cropper-Pickett classics) were often included in his repertoire which I found to be a gutsy move and for me musically satisfying. Too many country artists today don't show any soul. Whether you agree with Trace Adkins politics or not (I do NOT), Adkins is a country artist with soul. This book is a read if you don't mind his political ramblings. (less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Tamara rated it 4 of 5 stars

A PERSONAL STAND by Trace Adkins was part autobiographical, part personal commentary, and completely enjoyable.

Anyone who knows Trace Adkins’ music knows there are two sides to the country singer. He’s got his alcohol induced, rebel rousing anthems, such as Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, One Hot Mama, and I Got My Game On. And then there are his introspective tunes like You’re Gonna Miss This, I Wanna Feel Something, She Thinks We’re Just Fishing, and the haunting Arlington. And now, in the pages of A...more A PERSONAL STAND by Trace Adkins was part autobiographical, part personal commentary, and completely enjoyable.

Anyone who knows Trace Adkins’ music knows there are two sides to the country singer. He’s got his alcohol induced, rebel rousing anthems, such as Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, One Hot Mama, and I Got My Game On. And then there are his introspective tunes like You’re Gonna Miss This, I Wanna Feel Something, She Thinks We’re Just Fishing, and the haunting Arlington. And now, in the pages of A PERSONAL STAND, you get to hear Trace Adkins’ opinion on hot topics like, Immigration, 911, the wars we are waging on foreign soils, the economy, and you get a feel for his passion for history and his beloved South.

I finished A PERSONAL STAND in one day because it was so different from the fiction I usually read. In a word, I would call the country singer with the bad-boy image a conservative. Though he expresses his disappointment with the Republican Party of late, his values and principles line up with what this country was founded on. Freedom. Not the freedom to burn the flag, abuse free speech, or turn the other cheek when others walk all over our constitution, but the freedom to disagree with the government without personal threat, to put in a hard’s day work for a hard’s day pay, the importance of military involvement versus tolerance of radicals, why deportation of illegal’s is not us as a nation being intolerant, but the U.S. needing to protect its borders and following the laws on the books to protect our own economy, and numerous other topics.

A PERSONAL STAND was a great read! Though Adkins’ doesn’t sugarcoat his personal abuses of alcohol or the break-up of his marriages, he sure hits the nail on the head in regards to the state of our union. If we could only rally together the Republicans in office right now, and force them to read our constitution for themselves–instead of allowing the liberal media to interpret it for the nation unchallenged–they could get our country back to the basics of why we left Europe hundreds of years ago. Our forefathers wanted a strong, free, republic, not a hand-holding, passive, milk-toast society that is more interested in being everyone’s friend then wielding our strength when injustice calls for it.

On a personal note: I could’ve done without some of the swearing. I feel strongly that someone does not need to swear or use vulgar language to get their point across. In fact, sometimes I feel the use of inappropriate language devalues the speaker’s impact. Even if you are a good-ole-boy, allow your passion to speak for yourself instead of the shock value of crude language.
(less)

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Oct 31, 2009 MaryHelen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Trace Adkins was born and reared in Louisiana and has made it BIG in the country music genre. This book is his biography plus his stand on various and sundry contemporary issues. He is a true conservative and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Hannity & Colmes, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. According to the book's jacket, "he delivers his maverick manifesto on politics, personal responsibility, fame, parenting, being true to yourself,...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Terrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Country music idol Trace Adkins tells stories of his life and how his experiences have shaped his conservative ideologies. Trace is obviously intelligent. He really knows how he feels about things and isn't afraid to express that opinion. While you may or may not agree with his opinions on the Middle East, immigration, American politics and many more topics, he does give you something to think about. Easy to read, his writing comes across as though you were sitting on the porch just chattin'. To...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Allen 'gramps' rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindel

I have always enjoyed Trace's songs, even though not the old style twangy country he still sings the type of country I like because of this I was interested in what he had to say about various issues. The book is more like a book of short stories than a true book with a plot. This book has not plot and is more like reading a blog. Still makes for interesting reading. You do find out somethings about Trace's life that I wasn't aware of but then I don't read the tabloids or believe what they have...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Itsjustme-wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well... Let me start by saying that I LOOOVE this man! LOL
Trace Adkins is my favorite male Country singer (maybe my favorite male altogether, except for maybe my hubby... well...).
This book was so funny! Trace just puts it all out there. He has an opinion about EVERYTHING and is not afraid to share it! Some of it I highly agreed with and some of it I did not but it was all very entertaining and fun to read if I agreed or not!
Trace talks about his time spent working on the offshore drilling rigs,...more Well... Let me start by saying that I LOOOVE this man! LOL
Trace Adkins is my favorite male Country singer (maybe my favorite male altogether, except for maybe my hubby... well...).
This book was so funny! Trace just puts it all out there. He has an opinion about EVERYTHING and is not afraid to share it! Some of it I highly agreed with and some of it I did not but it was all very entertaining and fun to read if I agreed or not!
Trace talks about his time spent working on the offshore drilling rigs, his so many injuries and how he cheated death several times. His drinking problem, his failed marriages and his now successful one, his relationship with his 5 daughters, His years spent on the road playing Honky-tonks, and his career as a singer. But he also talks about - Wal-mart (he's a fan),

"Wal-mart - You don't have to go anywhere else. Everything you need is in one big place! There's a rickety old man who smiles through yellow dentures, says hello when you walk through the door and shoves a basket at you. I mean, you can have your tires rotated, buy some groceries, get your hemorrhoid cream, pick up some golf balls, and fill a prescription all under one roof. Plus they sell more of my records and CDs, hands down, than anybody!"

the public school system, politics, airport security, playing overseas for the troops in the Persian Gulf, foreign policy, 9/11 (he was the first country singer to visit the disaster site), tobacco crops, oil and natural gas, and sooooo much more! See, I told you he has an opinion on everything!

"Honky-tonk-Badonkadonk" is one of his songs that is basically about women's behinds (you know - butts) -

"It was number two the same week Carrie Underwood went number one with "Jesus Take the Wheel". Right behind me, at number 3 was Brad Paisley's "When I get to Where I'm Going" a song about Heaven. So there I was, in a sticky position. I couldn't pray to the man upstairs, asking, "Lord, could you please make my 'ass' record number one instead of the two Jesus songs?" It would have been wrong. And that's probably why it didn't go number one. I has 'ass' and they had Jesus, and Jesus won, which I guess is the way it ought to be."

That's pretty much the way the whole book is. Its Trace just telling it like it is in his laid-back style. This won't win any literary awards, but it does make you feel like you are just sitting having a conversation with him.(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been a huge Trace Adkins fan for years, so I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally get around to reading his book. Imagine my surprise and delight to find that this big sexy man with a voice that could melt butter is actually packed with incredible common sense! His insights into today's society, politics, and even basic human nature is so worth the read! The book is rather disjointed; more or less, a collection of random thoughts and opinions, but it's packed full of wisdom and the...more

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May 16, 2010 Luckngrace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: politics

Commonsense reading from a music and TV legend. I've found that everyone of us should attempt to gather the opinions of many different sources before cementing our own ideas. As we all know, media and news sources are not always reliable. Besides books and biographies, I also seek out overseas media such as YNET and the BBC to try to sift through all the clutter for the truth. Times have changed my friends and we are all responsible for keeping America free and independent.

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Jun 15, 2010 Keilani Ludlow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: life, humor

This book is funny, really enjoyable. My husband loves to listen to Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and so on. He reads tons of books in the same vein. I've read Glen Beck's books and I pretty much agree with them, but even though he writes what he believes, it's also his job. I liked reading about this guy's views on what's screwed up in our country, along with what is good, and his life story, and some very interesting views on why the South is like it is today, and his general musings. It was much...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Amblingbooks.com marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, people-biographies, arts-entertainment

Country music superstar Trace Adkins isn't exactly known for holding back what's on his mind. And if the millions of albums he's sold are any indication, when Trace talks, people listen. Now, in A Personal Stand, Trace Adkins delivers his maverick manifesto on politics, personal responsibility, fame, parenting, being true to yourself, hard work, and the way things ought to be.

Listen to A Personal Stand on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.

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Jun 04, 2013 Jason M Waltz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bios

After reading this book I still like Trace, agree with many of his observations, applaud his stances and willingness to put them in print, say them aloud, and live them (and believe that more of us should believe & live the same creed)...but this book pretty much sucked. I'm giving it a 2 because I did learn about the man's life and beliefs; other than that, poorly written, atrociously edited/laid out, and just pain lame overall. I honestly must advise against reading it unfortunately.

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Oct 09, 2011 Sheila rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm not quite done but this would a five star if Trace would've stuck more to talking about himself and family. I like that he gives opinion on things but there's just too much politics. I love him, I'm a big fan but, I hear that stuff all the time on the news & I'm already ticked off about illegas I don't want to read another person talking about 'em, when I read I want to leave this world behind. So, about the middle of the book I started skipping the 'political' pages.

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Mar 15, 2011 Lynne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

Anyone who loves Trace will love this book. That counts me in! It reads just like interviews with him, funny, humble not afraid to share his opinions. I may not agree with all of his opinions and ideas but I admire the man for his integrity and honesty.

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Mar 21, 2013 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

I like Trace even more after reading this-he is a true American!! He needs to run for President. Plus I liked his comments at end of book-"Sometimes I can't help feeling like somethings lost. While life is faster and supposedly easier ,it's not necessarily a whole lot better..." So very true!

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Jan 27, 2009 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

While I didn't necessarily agree with his view on everything, I think that he has a great way of expressing his views. It wouldn't hurt for more people to have a look at this book and come up with their own stands.

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Mar 21, 2009 Siobhan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I actually laughed outloud a couple times while reading this. I also agreed with him a lot more than I thought I would. Either he is not as conservative as he thinks, or I'm not as liberal

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Apr 04, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

It of course helps that I agree with most of Trace's opinions but he also has a hilarious ability to tell his opinions. Enjoyable to read from start to finish!

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Nov 04, 2009 Mashell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

Trace Adkins for President!! That is the thought I had going through my head while reading this book. I began to admire Trace after seeing him on Celebrity Apprentice. When he had something to say it was valid and thoughtful and I wanted to know more about him. I expected the personal history in this book but I didn't expect the political views. I found Trace to be very educated in history and current government workings. I agree with most of the things he mentioned (except he doesn't like the g...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Janet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

200+ pages of brutal, gritty, and refreshing honesty. Adkins pulls no punches and tells it like it is. Not for the faint of heart or those easily offended.

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Jan 07, 2008 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Since Trace and I sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum, I honestly did not think I would find much to get excited about - I was wrong. Although the book is choppy and doesn't flow as well as I think it could have, "The Man" has a lot to say and a whole lot of it makes sense. His thoughts on immigration were very insightful and some of his suggestions for turning things around are things I'm going to try in my daily life.

I have spent some time with Trace and this book reads just like he...more

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Nov 21, 2007 Jim Caldwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

If I could write a book about my personal philosophy, this would be it. Trace Adkins is a country music singer, most famous for performing "Honky-Tonk Badonkadonk". I like that song (and the video) so much that it was my ring tone for almost a year. Trace's personal philosophy is a pleasant surprise, and his writing style is very engaging. He is articulate and thoughtful, and rather than espouse some good ole boy rhetoric, he presents a very balanced view of America and its place in the world. I...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Kellie Harrington rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved hearing all about Trace, his family and views. I would love to read another book If there ever is one.

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Aug 19, 2009 Klasko rated it 4 of 5 stars

A quick and easy read. Some no-nonsense conservatism and common sense.

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Apr 19, 2009 Bernie rated it 4 of 5 stars

a frank, humble life guided by hard knocks, but ultimately common sense.

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Jan 03, 2011 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was already a fan of his after he was on Celebrity Apprentice, and the description of the book sounded pretty good. I enjoyed reading it...it had a little bit of everything. I would have liked it if he included more stories about his family. He went back into politics often, which I understand he is passionate about, but it became redundant. His honesty and voice is refreshing. Even if I didn't agree with him, I could respect his opinion...he makes good arguments. It did make me go out and buy...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Michelle Stevens rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting book, I enjoyed reading his view on subjects, i'm more of a fan of his now after reading this.

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Jul 22, 2010 Amy Bell rated it 4 of 5 stars

He's got a great sense of humor.

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Jan 10, 2013 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you love Trace Adkins' music and see him live whenever possible this is the book for you. If gives his no holds barred somewhat conservative perspective on a wide variety of issues often told in a humorous way. I listened to the audiobook and was disappointed he wasn't the reader but still enjoyed it. Worth it if you're a fan...maybe not if you aren't.

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Nov 09, 2012 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies-auto

I really enjoyed reading about Trace's viewpoints on a lot of things we face in our everyday lives - politics especially. What I like about this work is that he doesn't go on a rant about his life-story; it's more about the important things (not trying to say his life isn't important, but I already know all there is to know about him as a fan). He opens up about things that many artists wouldn't. Great job Trace!

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