This is the second-best way to expose yourself to the particular genius of Frank Zappa (music is the best, after all)--through his own words. In ad...
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Jan 09, 2009
Katie
rated it: 
Whether you like Frank Zappa's music or not (of course you do), I can't recommend this book enough...it is Hilarious (note the capital "H")...he had a terrific perspective on the world, and the most perfect sense of humor. I want to read it again just thinking about it.
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Nov 09, 2007
Michael
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This is a brilliant and very funny book. It has great insights into the current state of America, music, politics, televangelism, and much more. The biography of Zappa is only a small part of the book. The rest is devoted to his thought on various issues, and deserves reading. An excellent read!
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Jun 17, 2010
Greg
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This book should get a 6 star rating. It is easily the best autobiograpy ever written. The wit and wisdom of Frank Zappa translate beautifully to the page and you will be laughing rom the beginning to the end of this awesome book. No one can cut through crap quite like Zappa could and thi book is a great example of this, he talks about everything from his problems with orcestra musicians to his views on government and political science. He writes about the crazy random adventures and bizzare tou
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Mar 13, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
Originqlly posted here: http://nancythroughthelookingglass.blogs...
I'm a big frank zappa fan and it's hard to find information about him that is reliable, so it was refreshing to read a book written in his own words as this one is. His narrative style is similar to his lyrical style, I found it very funny and a pleasure to read. The book is also illustrated throughout with funny little cartoons in a similar style to many of his album covers. Bold and italics are used in the text to hi More...
I'm a big frank zappa fan and it's hard to find information about him that is reliable, so it was refreshing to read a book written in his own words as this one is. His narrative style is similar to his lyrical style, I found it very funny and a pleasure to read. The book is also illustrated throughout with funny little cartoons in a similar style to many of his album covers. Bold and italics are used in the text to hi More...
Mar 13, 2009
Robin
rated it: 
I greatly enjoyed the first part of this book. Zappa’s humorous look at his early years and musical experiences is entertaining and somewhat informative. As the book progresses, though, it becomes more of a series of rants against his various critics and pet peeves. Several of Zappa’s associates have noted that this account is largely fictionalized, tending to reflect Zappa as a more just and generous character than he actually was. I recommend reading Barry Miles’ “Frank Zappa” first, to break
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Nov 03, 2010
O'linda
rated it:
Frank Zappa was a genius and he never made a secret of it. His autobiography is an interesting tale of weasels ripping his flesh, groupies tearing clothing, and problematic band members with pumpkins for brains. Highlights include his middle and high school years spent writing scores that so impressed his music teacher that the school band played them, his time as a writer of knock off surf songs, and the lurid details of his early studio years spent throwing boogers on a wall and letting them
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Jan 15, 2010
Bob
rated it:
Frank said books made him sleepy but he was glad they existed. This is the story of a true original. To state the obvious, Frank Zappa was a fearless artist who lived free of the conditions of worth that imprison most people. This way of living coupled with sheer creative genius to provide a body of work whose value is inestimable.
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Jan 24, 2012
Craig
rated it: 
I'm not much of a Frank Zappa fan, although I do like some of his music, and generally liked the guy as a human being. However, a friend of mine suggested I give this a read, so here I am. My only complaints are the sections where the book becomes bogged down with very technical music talk (which is to be expected) and, as an autobiography, it's very scattershot and quickly glosses over Zappa's life. Nevertheless, the artwork that is spread throughout the book, not to mention the almost manic
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Nov 15, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
As irreverent and sarcastic as its author and subject, The Real Frank Zappa Book is a wellspring of hilarious and/or shocking vignettes from his life as he tries to paint for the reader a picture of himself and the world as he sees it. Within the covers of his autobiography, Frank Zappa details his life, a mixture of the mundane and the extraordinary, from stem to stern; from the fire that inspired Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”, to his prolonged legal battle with the Royal Philharmonic Symp
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Jan 05, 2009
Lisbeth
rated it:
Made my way about a third through this years ago; finally picked it up and started over. Finished! Now it's out of my "stack."
Here's a quote:
I suggest we learn how to take anything bad that happens to us and polarize it. Instead of being overwhelmed by a negative event, dodge to the side like those t'ai chi guys and let it whizz by your pants. Maybe it makes a little breeze--big deal. (Please, don't mistake this for optimism.)
This is not a representative s More...
Here's a quote:
I suggest we learn how to take anything bad that happens to us and polarize it. Instead of being overwhelmed by a negative event, dodge to the side like those t'ai chi guys and let it whizz by your pants. Maybe it makes a little breeze--big deal. (Please, don't mistake this for optimism.)
This is not a representative s More...
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Oct 26, 2009
Declan
rated it:
Look, I love Zappa. I think the world would be a better place if he'd survived to see the Bush administration...and suitably roasted it as he did Reagan's presidency. But even I get sick of him pushing his political theories ("practical conservatism") for over a third of the book...especially when parts of them are downright silly. Legalising and taxing drugs and using the profits to lift taxpayer deficit. Really? And the amount of the attention paid to the new electronic wonder (
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May 07, 2008
Nick
rated it:
Music is the best, and Zappa's music is among the best. What a shame then that most people know him for his reputation for being outspoken, for defending the right to swear on a record and for recording smutty lyrics. That was just the day job. Zappa wasn't interested in fashion, and so he was not that interested in getting airplay on the record-industry controlled airwaves. What comes across clearly in this conversation with Peter Occhiogrosso (doesn't that sound like a name Zappa would invent
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Mar 19, 2008
Needleroozer
rated it:
I read this book so long ago.
It belonged to my boyfriend, Michael Schneider. We were on a road trip from New Orleans to Milwaukee, where he grew up. We were going to visit his family. I was meeting his family for the first time. We had car trouble and ended up getting stuck in Effingham, Illinois. I read this book while we waited for car repairs. It was hilarious and I laughed out loud a lot. It saved my sanity.
Here's the poem i wrote about that trip, which include More...
It belonged to my boyfriend, Michael Schneider. We were on a road trip from New Orleans to Milwaukee, where he grew up. We were going to visit his family. I was meeting his family for the first time. We had car trouble and ended up getting stuck in Effingham, Illinois. I read this book while we waited for car repairs. It was hilarious and I laughed out loud a lot. It saved my sanity.
Here's the poem i wrote about that trip, which include More...
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Mar 07, 2008
Bruce
rated it:
Regarding my thoughts on Zappa and his excellent ouerve, see my review of Kelly Fisher Lowe's book.
This autobiography/polemic makes for a zestier read, although the last 50-90 pages of it descend rapidly through stages of acerbic wit from critical observation to rant to diatribe to screed. (You know there's trouble any time a writer begins moving from italics to boldface to BOTH IN ALL CAPS WITH MULTIPLE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!) I'm guessing that Zappa lost interest in self-censoring More...
This autobiography/polemic makes for a zestier read, although the last 50-90 pages of it descend rapidly through stages of acerbic wit from critical observation to rant to diatribe to screed. (You know there's trouble any time a writer begins moving from italics to boldface to BOTH IN ALL CAPS WITH MULTIPLE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!) I'm guessing that Zappa lost interest in self-censoring More...
Feb 13, 2008
Adam
rated it:
I am a Frank Zappa fan, in a big way. This was the first that I had read about him, when I was in High School.
The book has a great way of keeping the reader constantly enthralled. There are little pictures scattered throughout the text that show some of the scenes being described. There are many stories of him as a child, which are fascinating, as well as stories from his adolescence all the way through the Mothers of Invention and his own solo efforts.
The end of the book is very d More...
The book has a great way of keeping the reader constantly enthralled. There are little pictures scattered throughout the text that show some of the scenes being described. There are many stories of him as a child, which are fascinating, as well as stories from his adolescence all the way through the Mothers of Invention and his own solo efforts.
The end of the book is very d More...
Feb 07, 2008
tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE
rated it:
When I discovered the music of Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention way back in 1970, I wasn't ready for it. W/in a few mnths I was all about it. I was 16 & this was, indeed, the music that got me really excited. It was experimental, it was rock'n'roll, it had some politics, it had some satire, it was complicated, it did the trick for me. I 1st heard the Mothers of Invention live when I skipped school on my graduation day to hitch-hike north of Baltimore to hear them in Harrisburg. THEY W
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Jul 14, 2010
Roel
rated it:
I miss FZ. What a genius, and to think that he had time to write, arrange and record all this incredible music, tour on his releases, run a record company (lotsa help from wife Gail) AND raise children is amazing. This book not only chronicles his early life and beginnings in music, but also contains some great rants about politics, people in general and the music biz. The tag line for this book reads: "This book belongs in every home." I agree.
Jan 02, 2009
I.haveanidea
rated it:
This could actually be my favourite book of all time. It's just...amazing. I first read this as someone who hadn't even [b]heard of[/b] Frank Zappa, and I fell in love with it. I've read it at least 4 times since, now a fan of Frank Zappa, and it has never failed to amaze me. Absolutely amazing. Sometimes I just reach towards it and open a random page and read. It's my bible, and how I lead my life.
Jul 06, 2011
Kirei
rated it: 
I always thought Frank Zappa was overrated. I wasn't quite sure why he was famous.
Anyway, this book was boring and full of hot air. I started reading it and after a while I realized it wasn't getting better. I skimmed it, which is pretty easy to do because it is divided into little tiny sections with headings like, "Why People Don't Understand My Stuff." I guess I am one of those people.
Anyway, this book was boring and full of hot air. I started reading it and after a while I realized it wasn't getting better. I skimmed it, which is pretty easy to do because it is divided into little tiny sections with headings like, "Why People Don't Understand My Stuff." I guess I am one of those people.
Nov 28, 2011
Scott
rated it:
Being a Zappa fan, I was excited to finally get my hands on this. And it's fantastic, pure Zappa, lots of great anecdotes and brilliant commentary... until towards the end. It felt as though Frank kinda ran out of story and starting ranting a bit. While I agreed with what he said for the most part, it was a tangent to all the great stuff before it. Still awesome, though.
Sep 05, 2011
21csm
rated it:
Книга, полная Запповской сатиры, скепсиса, а местами и цинизма. В общем, всё то, чем полны его музыкальные произведения :) Очень интересно почитать биографическую часть. И есть, также, над чем задуматься.
Jan 16, 2008
Karl
rated it:
Not so much a book as a "conflicted document," perhaps. Zappa wasn't going to write an actual autobiography; nor did he necessarily have the patience to serve as a subject for a biographer (nor would his aims probably have consistently aligned with a proper biographer's). So this book has the curious characteristics of (a) often sounding like Zappa himself chit-chatting, (b) some actual biographical information (probably), (b1) some of that of actual interest, and (c) a paradigm shi
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May 07, 2011
Emily
rated it:
I love this book. I've read it about three times. It is very entertaining and raw and real and comes straight from Zappa himself. I like how it's divided and the stories that can only be told from the real man who knows the truth, or at least most of it. Some of the things are surprising, but it's great.
Jan 19, 2010
Eric
rated it:
The man gives his controversial opinions, which in the light of the last twenty years, make a great deal of common sense, and talks about his life's work. One of the most interesting men of the twentieth century, who I think will be even more well-remembered as time goes on.
Sep 23, 2010
John
rated it:
I would recommend this book whether or not you're a fan of Frank Zappa. It's enjoyable, easy to read, and filled with the same humor and commentary found throughout in the rest of his endeavours. In other words, even if you're not a fan, this book might make you one.
Aug 21, 2010
Brent
rated it:
Frank Zappa was a pioneer against censorship in America. His common sense approach when delivering his opionion on societal and political issues is entertaining and insightful. I wonder what he would be saying about the current state of the music industry.
Jan 14, 2012
Leben
rated it:
I found this book to be unexpectedly fantastic. This book is frank Zappa telling his life and also giving his point of view on a whole range of topics. I found myself laughing out loud and this is definitely a cant-put-down sort of read. As well as an informative rock history and auto biography.
Aug 03, 2010
Chris
rated it:
A nice mix of Zappa's life and views. I found parts of this book to be eerily prophetic and his comments about Reagan and CNN were almost identical to the types of things you hear about George W. Bush and Fox News. If you want to get to know about Frank Zappa, this is a good place to start.
May 27, 2009
Pz
rated it:
amusing as hell. the second part of the book gets a little slower as he recounts some of his political life. Zappa himself is amusing but the people he surrounds himself with are the really eccentric ones
Feb 01, 2012
Bryon
rated it: 
This book is what it was desighned to be: entertaining. Frank Zappa's wit shines through and you also get an element you might miss in his recorded music: a little hint of sentimentality. Zappa-isms abound in this book, and you really get a feel for how Zappa talks. We can't call Zappa back from the grave but, thanks to this book we can all feel like we've spent a little time with him over lunch and cup of coffee.
He talks about his upbringing, the buisness, and everything else, from polit More...
He talks about his upbringing, the buisness, and everything else, from polit More...
