book data
1,372 ratings,
4.06
average rating, 202 reviews
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published
October 1st 2003
(first published 1997)
by HarperSanFrancisco
binding
Paperback, 320 pages
isbn
0060727535
(isbn13: 9780060727536)
description
He was the "Man in Black," a country music legend, and the quintessential American troubadour. He was an icon of rugged individualism who ha
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avg 4.06
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
This isnt one of those ghostwritten autobiographies. Neither is it some crazy tell all, get the skeletons out of the closet, woe is me story.
This is exactly what it says: Cash by Johnny Cash. It's the Man In Black telling his own story. In his own voice.
He tells you how to pick cotton, the real story of blue suede shoes, what it feels like to dig imaginary spiders out of your own skin, and why he painted the windows on his camper black. Answer: so he could sleep dur...more
This is exactly what it says: Cash by Johnny Cash. It's the Man In Black telling his own story. In his own voice.
He tells you how to pick cotton, the real story of blue suede shoes, what it feels like to dig imaginary spiders out of your own skin, and why he painted the windows on his camper black. Answer: so he could sleep dur...more
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Read in May, 2009
recommended to El by:
The movie, High Fidelity.
The thing about a lot of memoirs written by celebrities in their later years is that they're given a lot of leeway to... ramble. Johnny Cash was no exception, and let's be honest - it's Johnny Cash. Who in their right mind would tell him, "Hey, why don't you reign it in a little, huh buddy?" That was never going to happen. So Cash wrote about his life, and sometimes it made sense and sometimes it made something a little shy of sense, but it's still his memoir. And he deserved the ...more
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Read in January, 2007
If "Walk The Line" had followed this book more closely, it wouldn't have been such a tremendous cinematic failure. Of course, I don't mean success-wise. That sentimental cheese-fest did just fine at the box office and the Academy. But The Man In Black, good Christian though he was, was also one of the biggest rebels in rock and roll history. "Walk the Line" made him look like such a pussy.
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johnny cash was a good man! he tells honest stories of music history and little secrets of his life. he lends great knowledge on how he overcame his hardships, dealt with success, and being a man of God. and you'll never hear a love story better than johnny and june carter.
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Read in December, 2008
My neighbour lent me this after I said I liked his music - but truthfully I used to dislike his stuff when I was growing up (always thought of it as my parent's music - Ring of Fire, Boy named Sue etc) - his later stuff 1994 onwards is truly magnificent and irresistable. For most of its length this book is pretty compelling, despite the cliche a page quota, because his life is amazing and packed with incident, but the last few chapters about God and such (may be fascinating to some I'm sure) wer...more
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recommends it for:
people who only saw 'i walk the line'
probably the best book i ever read. better than the bible, and i've never even read that! plus, and not that it's preachy, i almost believe in god after reading this. take that bible (which i've never even read)!!
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Read in February, 2009
Did you know that Johnny Cash was attacked and seriously wounded by an ostrich?
"The Man in Black" is one of the great musicians of the 20th century, and one of my all time favorites. This is an honest, revealing biography of one of country music's most famous outlaws: straightforward and upfront about the demons (particularly alcohol and some seriously hard-core drug use that might put Ween to shame) that derailed his career and personal life, he is as equally honest abo...more
"The Man in Black" is one of the great musicians of the 20th century, and one of my all time favorites. This is an honest, revealing biography of one of country music's most famous outlaws: straightforward and upfront about the demons (particularly alcohol and some seriously hard-core drug use that might put Ween to shame) that derailed his career and personal life, he is as equally honest abo...more
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Great book. Only for the true Johnny Cash fans? NO! It's a great book! I personally love Johnny Cash so this is a great book to me!
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Ostrich wounds and flying hospitals. 'Nuff said.
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2 comments
Read in February, 2009
“Cash: The Autobiography” is a comfortable read that recalls much of the early life of the iconic music maker. Often related from the comforts of his many houses, the warmth and sincerity of a lifetime on the road lends an air honesty and peace with the man who has been everywhere.
The paperback, released along with the motion picture “I Walk the Line,” provides a tapestry that is layers deep. John’s voice, along with that of Patrick Carr is simple and honestly reflective. ...more
The paperback, released along with the motion picture “I Walk the Line,” provides a tapestry that is layers deep. John’s voice, along with that of Patrick Carr is simple and honestly reflective. ...more
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One night I met a stripper who insisted that she loved reading. Her favorite genre? Autobiographies. And so in an effort to win her affection I mentioned in a self-deprecating manner that one of my favorite autobiographies was Cash by Johnny Cash. The opportunity to say such an awesome sentence only comes around once in every millennium (and High-Fidelity quotes). It not only revealed by taste in music, it was atypical and it has a cool title.
In the end, we ended up starting a book ...more
In the end, we ended up starting a book ...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Everyone
I've read this book twice now, and I think it's one of the best books I've ever read. It's certainly one of the best autobiographies I've ever read.
This is not just a history of Johnny Cash's career and life. It's a journey through Johnny's everyday life as he was writing it. He brings you with him to his house in Jamaica, his farm in Tennessee, and on the road to all manner of cities and towns where he performs. He shares his insights on music, books, religion, and the world in ...more
This is not just a history of Johnny Cash's career and life. It's a journey through Johnny's everyday life as he was writing it. He brings you with him to his house in Jamaica, his farm in Tennessee, and on the road to all manner of cities and towns where he performs. He shares his insights on music, books, religion, and the world in ...more
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Read in April, 2008
Basically this book is about as close as you’ll get to sitting on the back deck of Johnny Cash’s house at 8:00 in the morning, drinking a cup of coffee and hearing him tell a bunch of stories. The book is not chronological, and it doesn’t even fit into any logical order. But, somehow the stories all connect to one another and give the book this perfect flow. It’s like when he finishes telling one story that will somehow remind him of something else so he just starts talking about that...more
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10/24/07
Jennifer
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who likes Cash, Country, or biographies
Well, I've never read his other books, or any other books about Mr. Cash, for that matter... He wrote this one, and I think this is the one they used as the basis for the movie... It's written in his later years, 1997 I believe, and it's a look back over nearly 50 years of his life on the country music scene... he talks openly and directly about his addictions, and his many setbacks in conquering them... he talks about his band, the various guys who have played with him over the years, some funn...more
Read in September, 2007
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Cash's music. As well, anyone who knows me knows that I hate country music. I grew up with his music, since my dad was a huge fan. When I was younger, I didn't appreciate Johnny Cash or what he stood for really. But as I got older, and started to learn more about him, my respect and admiration for him grew. At the time he debuted, he was singing about subjects that most didn't even think about at that time. He defended those who couldn't defend themselve...more
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Read in March, 2007
From the man himself. It's written in a very conversational, non-linear style. It's what I imagine you'd come away with if you sat down with Johnny for a few hours over some beers. He's a proud family man, good Christian, and great musician who has had had everyone and their grandma in his band at one point.
It is long on anecdotes and short on rumination about his place in music and where country and rock are today. These are the things that I think I really wanted out of the book. B...more
It is long on anecdotes and short on rumination about his place in music and where country and rock are today. These are the things that I think I really wanted out of the book. B...more
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Read in October, 2003
Long story short, I was in a car with some of my friends and I was actually thrown out and started walking home because of some comments I had mistakenly made about Johnny Cash. I just didn't understand why my friends loved Johnny Cash's music so much! I finally decided to go to the source and read His autobiography to prove to my friends that Johnny Cash was a loser! Well I read the book and actually realized he was such a loser that I wished I could have a life story so full of God's grace! Go...more
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Read in October, 2007
Started but couldn't finish:
It's not what I expected- this reveals a different view of Cash than we initially see on the surface. In this, his memoir (a better name for it), Cash comfortably reveals himself to the reader as if we were sitting in an easy-chair across from him. He takes his time, meanders, goes off on tangents, talks about people he knew a bit like your grandpa always did- stories that mean things to him but not so much to you. Yet it's not without it's charms. Johnny Cash s...more
It's not what I expected- this reveals a different view of Cash than we initially see on the surface. In this, his memoir (a better name for it), Cash comfortably reveals himself to the reader as if we were sitting in an easy-chair across from him. He takes his time, meanders, goes off on tangents, talks about people he knew a bit like your grandpa always did- stories that mean things to him but not so much to you. Yet it's not without it's charms. Johnny Cash s...more
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Read in March, 2009
I wished Patrick Carr would have exerted more influence over the quality of the writing, but as documentation of Cash's life and exploits, it's an enjoyable read. It's conversational and fun to hear his opinions on CM's great performers. I especially loved his beginnings in Arkansas in the cotton fields and descriptions of Cinnamon Hill in Jamaica. I definitely want to visit the Southern U.S. and Sun Records after reading this, and check out some music I've never heard.
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Read in May, 2008
I'm reading this because a fictional character -- the guy from High Fidelity -- recommended it to me (well, and also because I liked Walk the Line. Problematic? Am I becoming one of those annoying movie-book people? Discuss.
Also, a free musing: the guy from High Fidelity is one of those characters that is not all defined or delineated by his name. As opposed to, say, everyone created by Dickens. Or, for that matter, Johnny Cash, who would be pretty different by any other name....more
Also, a free musing: the guy from High Fidelity is one of those characters that is not all defined or delineated by his name. As opposed to, say, everyone created by Dickens. Or, for that matter, Johnny Cash, who would be pretty different by any other name....more
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