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A Better Me: The Official Autobiography
**The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller**
Gary Barlow is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time, but fifteen years ago, as he himself admits, he hit rock bottom - he was out of shape, out of work and depressed.
Faced with an underperforming solo career, tireless media taunts and the other cruel twists of fate, Gary turned to food. For nine years, he struggled with his weight and went on every diet imaginable before eventually asking a doctor what the 'cure' for obesity was. That was when he realised that he would have to change his life dramatically.
So how did he go from an obese, out-of-work pop star to becoming a hugely successful superstar of music and TV, as well an accomplished musical songwriter and producer who is full of vitality, fitter, happier and more successful than ever before?
In this extraordinarily honest memoir, Gary tells of his journey back to professional success, as well as mental and physical health. A Better Me is a remarkably frank account of Gary's life as he battled with his demons, endured personal tragedy, and staged one of the most thrilling professional comebacks in decades. In his warm, witty and authentic voice, Gary recounts his story with compelling insight, captivating sincerity and a human side that people rarely see.
From returning with a critically and commercially successful Take That and reigniting his own legendary songwriting career, going beyond recorded music to forge success on TV with The X Factor and Let It Shine, to overcoming his weight problems and crippling obsession with food, this is the story of how Gary found balance in both his personal and professional life.
Here is one of the UK's most beloved pop stars, more open, honest and raw than ever before.
Gary Barlow is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time, but fifteen years ago, as he himself admits, he hit rock bottom - he was out of shape, out of work and depressed.
Faced with an underperforming solo career, tireless media taunts and the other cruel twists of fate, Gary turned to food. For nine years, he struggled with his weight and went on every diet imaginable before eventually asking a doctor what the 'cure' for obesity was. That was when he realised that he would have to change his life dramatically.
So how did he go from an obese, out-of-work pop star to becoming a hugely successful superstar of music and TV, as well an accomplished musical songwriter and producer who is full of vitality, fitter, happier and more successful than ever before?
In this extraordinarily honest memoir, Gary tells of his journey back to professional success, as well as mental and physical health. A Better Me is a remarkably frank account of Gary's life as he battled with his demons, endured personal tragedy, and staged one of the most thrilling professional comebacks in decades. In his warm, witty and authentic voice, Gary recounts his story with compelling insight, captivating sincerity and a human side that people rarely see.
From returning with a critically and commercially successful Take That and reigniting his own legendary songwriting career, going beyond recorded music to forge success on TV with The X Factor and Let It Shine, to overcoming his weight problems and crippling obsession with food, this is the story of how Gary found balance in both his personal and professional life.
Here is one of the UK's most beloved pop stars, more open, honest and raw than ever before.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2018
309 people are currently reading
782 people want to read
About the author
Gary Barlow
53 books31 followersGary Barlow (born January 20, 1971 in Frodsham, Cheshire, England) is an English singer, pianist, songwriter, bandleader and producer. He is a member of the pop group Take That, and was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1990s, penning no fewer than 16 hit singles during the decade. Barlow had 2 #1's and 5 further Top 40 UK Singles as a solo singer in the final half of the 1990s alone. He is also a 4 time recipient of the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
August 16, 2020
An absolutely absorbing read.
I borrowed the audio book from my library and occasionally followed along in the book when I could.
I loved that Gary himself read his own book it added to it and makes the reader feel like he’s talking to you.
The bonus bit is good, it’s added to the audio but not in my copy, it will be in future ones. You’ve not missed out so don’t rush and go buy it just for that.
No holds barred in this book.
He tells it as it is.
What I liked was that there was no pulling anyone down.
He saw faults in himself.
He admitted his mindset with various events in his life.
When he got to his “dieting” bit in the book he was so honest, and so exact.
He had me laughing out loud in some places as I could relate so much to what he said about being fat.
There were some gems in here that I shall take away with regards to his thoughts and where he’s at now with his health.
The loss of their daughter Poppy was so upsetting and heartbreaking as I can relate to how that feels having gone through that myself.
The rise to fame and fortune, the depths of despair is paramount and no amount of money can shield you from that.
His wife Dawn sounds like his perfect partner by his side. I’m very sure life was difficult for her at times watching him go through this.
You don’t have to be a fan of Gary Barlow to read this, just an open mind.
Brilliant songwriter, very well know in Take That!
And just a normal human being going through things in the limelight.
Loved it for lots of reason.
I borrowed the audio book from my library and occasionally followed along in the book when I could.
I loved that Gary himself read his own book it added to it and makes the reader feel like he’s talking to you.
The bonus bit is good, it’s added to the audio but not in my copy, it will be in future ones. You’ve not missed out so don’t rush and go buy it just for that.
No holds barred in this book.
He tells it as it is.
What I liked was that there was no pulling anyone down.
He saw faults in himself.
He admitted his mindset with various events in his life.
When he got to his “dieting” bit in the book he was so honest, and so exact.
He had me laughing out loud in some places as I could relate so much to what he said about being fat.
There were some gems in here that I shall take away with regards to his thoughts and where he’s at now with his health.
The loss of their daughter Poppy was so upsetting and heartbreaking as I can relate to how that feels having gone through that myself.
The rise to fame and fortune, the depths of despair is paramount and no amount of money can shield you from that.
His wife Dawn sounds like his perfect partner by his side. I’m very sure life was difficult for her at times watching him go through this.
You don’t have to be a fan of Gary Barlow to read this, just an open mind.
Brilliant songwriter, very well know in Take That!
And just a normal human being going through things in the limelight.
Loved it for lots of reason.
January 8, 2019
I was always a bit too ‘young’ for Take That the first time round. The band split when I was in primary school, and I was much more interested in making up imaginary games than crying over a boyband. However, when they returned following a documentary in 2005, their music had evolved, I’d grown up, and it was the right side of pop for me to enjoy.
Gary has always struck me as quite a private person. The driving force behind the original band in terms of musical direction and creativity, but not really someone who enjoys the fame - and indeed this really comes across here. Although we get snippets of deeply harrowing parts of Gary’s life from recent years, such as his obsession with food, his depression following the band’s initial breakdown and the deeply harrowing time in 2012 when he lost his baby Poppy to stillbirth, sometimes I still felt he was holding back. He doesn’t really give anything away that we, the public, don’t already know about and I think this is because he’s become wary over the years of giving too much of himself. Years of ridicule over your weight, your unsuccessful solo career when your band mate has become a global phenomenon, and just generally being seen as a laughing stock in the music industry for a while would be enough to make anyone quite closed off.
I particularly liked the stories about the various tours that Take That have done in recent years (from a personal perspective I went to see the Progress tour and it was nice to get an ‘inside look’ at what went into making such an enormous and enjoyable stadium production), and Gary’s side of the story with regards to mending bridges with Robbie. Again, I felt like a lot of this aspect is heavily edited. Gary mentions that this is just his ‘side’ of the story, but I felt there was a lot more to that little reunion than is mentioned, and Gary remains quite guarded about the subject throughout.
There is hardly any mention of Take That from the 90’s other than a brief run down of how Gary joined the band, which was a little disappointing. Gary, again, mentions that it’s all be told before - but a part of me felt like this was a bit of a cop out to tell some really interesting stories about what went in back in the original haydays of the band.
An interesting read if you like Gary and Take That, with some really emotional sections on stillbirth and the hopelessness and despair that brings. But it’s rather heavily edited by Gary himself.
Gary has always struck me as quite a private person. The driving force behind the original band in terms of musical direction and creativity, but not really someone who enjoys the fame - and indeed this really comes across here. Although we get snippets of deeply harrowing parts of Gary’s life from recent years, such as his obsession with food, his depression following the band’s initial breakdown and the deeply harrowing time in 2012 when he lost his baby Poppy to stillbirth, sometimes I still felt he was holding back. He doesn’t really give anything away that we, the public, don’t already know about and I think this is because he’s become wary over the years of giving too much of himself. Years of ridicule over your weight, your unsuccessful solo career when your band mate has become a global phenomenon, and just generally being seen as a laughing stock in the music industry for a while would be enough to make anyone quite closed off.
I particularly liked the stories about the various tours that Take That have done in recent years (from a personal perspective I went to see the Progress tour and it was nice to get an ‘inside look’ at what went into making such an enormous and enjoyable stadium production), and Gary’s side of the story with regards to mending bridges with Robbie. Again, I felt like a lot of this aspect is heavily edited. Gary mentions that this is just his ‘side’ of the story, but I felt there was a lot more to that little reunion than is mentioned, and Gary remains quite guarded about the subject throughout.
There is hardly any mention of Take That from the 90’s other than a brief run down of how Gary joined the band, which was a little disappointing. Gary, again, mentions that it’s all be told before - but a part of me felt like this was a bit of a cop out to tell some really interesting stories about what went in back in the original haydays of the band.
An interesting read if you like Gary and Take That, with some really emotional sections on stillbirth and the hopelessness and despair that brings. But it’s rather heavily edited by Gary himself.
November 20, 2018
I loved this book. I have read so many fantastic autobiographies lately and this is one of the best. It’s so emotional and honest and I learnt so much about Gary and Take That as I read (and haven’t stopped listening to them on Spotify since). It really makes you think about their music more when you realise just what went into it and the story behind some of the songs. I found myself putting my Kindle down and listening to a certain song when Gary wrote about its meaning here in the book.
Gary talks a lot about food in this book and by a lot I mean it’s mentioned in pretty much every single chapter but I found this fascinating because it was a real insight into his struggle with his weight and with food in general and I think this is something that most of us can relate to, certainly I know that I can. Whilst it’s admirable to read about his now obsession with everything natural and organic and all of that has helped him to find happiness and healthiness, I still think that’s out of reach for most people that have busy lives. He points out the ease at making healthy, quick meals but I still think that’s difficult for people on a budget or who just don’t have the time. Apparently this book was originally intended as a diet/fitness book which makes sense when looking back at just how much food was spoken about.
I loved getting an insight too into the inner workings of Take That including the return of Robbie Williams, and how he and Gary learnt to work through their issues and just how the band worked and wrote music in general. There’s also some fantastic anecdotes throughout the book of people Gary has met, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, how he really felt doing the X Factor, the pressure of organising the birthday party of one of the world’s most famous people (the Queen), and lots about his family too. I read the chapters about the death of his daughter Polly on the verge of tears. The whole book was just a really enjoyable read from start to finish and if you’ve ever been a fan of Take That or Gary Barlow over the years then it is definitely worth the read.
Gary talks a lot about food in this book and by a lot I mean it’s mentioned in pretty much every single chapter but I found this fascinating because it was a real insight into his struggle with his weight and with food in general and I think this is something that most of us can relate to, certainly I know that I can. Whilst it’s admirable to read about his now obsession with everything natural and organic and all of that has helped him to find happiness and healthiness, I still think that’s out of reach for most people that have busy lives. He points out the ease at making healthy, quick meals but I still think that’s difficult for people on a budget or who just don’t have the time. Apparently this book was originally intended as a diet/fitness book which makes sense when looking back at just how much food was spoken about.
I loved getting an insight too into the inner workings of Take That including the return of Robbie Williams, and how he and Gary learnt to work through their issues and just how the band worked and wrote music in general. There’s also some fantastic anecdotes throughout the book of people Gary has met, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, how he really felt doing the X Factor, the pressure of organising the birthday party of one of the world’s most famous people (the Queen), and lots about his family too. I read the chapters about the death of his daughter Polly on the verge of tears. The whole book was just a really enjoyable read from start to finish and if you’ve ever been a fan of Take That or Gary Barlow over the years then it is definitely worth the read.
October 11, 2018
This is a brutally honest book. I laughed and cried. This really depicts the highs and lows of Gary’s life... I’ve also found some things out about Gary that I didn’t know which is always interesting. An incredible read which inspires you to be the best you. This book deals with a lot of issues including bereavement and mental health. It’s a life-affirming read. Sometimes, such brutal honesty is something which gets lost in this world of social media and glitz and glamour. This book paved the way for Gary to pour his heart and soul out into the world so we can unearth what makes him tick. I was impressed, surprised and implored by Gary’s book. A fantastic read!
May 23, 2019
Listened to in audio format.
I was a great fan of Take That when I was teenager. I actually saw them in 1991 at an under 18 gig before they hit the big time.
Although Gary Barlow was the songwriter he was definitely overshadowed by Mark and of course Robbie Williams.
Gary started his latest biography after the band ended. I remember that he lost his solo contract after a year and then fell into obscurity. Every now and then Gary`s photo would appear in the newspaper and I remember he had put on weight.
I remember watching a documentary to mark the tenth anniversary of when Take That ended. Although Robbie had become a successful solo artist, Gary was happily married to Dawn and had two beautiful kids.
Gary explained how he suffered depression when he was no longer in Take That. He would spent hours in his recording studio just staring into space. He only started to recover when he started song writing with a friend.
Gary talked a lot about food in this book and his battle to keep his weight down. I felt sorry for him because he obviously loves food but cannot eat what he wants. The `clean eating` obviously worked for him. When Gary appeared on the EX Factor he looked fit and healthy, better than he looked in the nineties.
I liked Gary and he seemed very down to earth. In fact at the begin of the book he explained he was recording the audio book at home, and apologised for any traffic noise in the background.
Gary seemed a family man who adored his wife Dawn and three kids. The chapter about his daughter Poppy was absolutely heart breaking but I am glad the family pulled through. I wish them all the best for the future.
I enjoyed this book which was filled with wit, hope and heartbreak.
I was a great fan of Take That when I was teenager. I actually saw them in 1991 at an under 18 gig before they hit the big time.
Although Gary Barlow was the songwriter he was definitely overshadowed by Mark and of course Robbie Williams.
Gary started his latest biography after the band ended. I remember that he lost his solo contract after a year and then fell into obscurity. Every now and then Gary`s photo would appear in the newspaper and I remember he had put on weight.
I remember watching a documentary to mark the tenth anniversary of when Take That ended. Although Robbie had become a successful solo artist, Gary was happily married to Dawn and had two beautiful kids.
Gary explained how he suffered depression when he was no longer in Take That. He would spent hours in his recording studio just staring into space. He only started to recover when he started song writing with a friend.
Gary talked a lot about food in this book and his battle to keep his weight down. I felt sorry for him because he obviously loves food but cannot eat what he wants. The `clean eating` obviously worked for him. When Gary appeared on the EX Factor he looked fit and healthy, better than he looked in the nineties.
I liked Gary and he seemed very down to earth. In fact at the begin of the book he explained he was recording the audio book at home, and apologised for any traffic noise in the background.
Gary seemed a family man who adored his wife Dawn and three kids. The chapter about his daughter Poppy was absolutely heart breaking but I am glad the family pulled through. I wish them all the best for the future.
I enjoyed this book which was filled with wit, hope and heartbreak.
Want to read
August 18, 2018Soon!! It's coming 😱😍
February 25, 2021
This would never have been a book I’d choose to read, so, when I received it as part of a subscription, I was apprehensive. I felt like I should read it, get it out of the way and pass it on. I went in with zero expectations, just with an urge to get it over and done with. I am blown away with how much I enjoyed Gary’s story.
I grew up with Take That, so I’m not unfamiliar with the background. I wasn’t a super fan, so there’s a lot I don’t know and time moved my music taste along so that Take That were no longer in my orbit. They’ve always just been there, in the background.
I found Gary’s memoir riveting. I had absolutely no idea about some of the things that he has had to overcome and I truly see him in a different light after reading this book. I connected with his battle with food, I have a tricky relationship with food myself and a lot of what he said really resonated with me and gave me a boost in determination to do better.
It was genuine and warm and heartbreaking. The way it’s written draws you in. It was as if Gary was sitting in my front room telling me his tale, Northern accent and all.
(ABoS Book Two)
I grew up with Take That, so I’m not unfamiliar with the background. I wasn’t a super fan, so there’s a lot I don’t know and time moved my music taste along so that Take That were no longer in my orbit. They’ve always just been there, in the background.
I found Gary’s memoir riveting. I had absolutely no idea about some of the things that he has had to overcome and I truly see him in a different light after reading this book. I connected with his battle with food, I have a tricky relationship with food myself and a lot of what he said really resonated with me and gave me a boost in determination to do better.
It was genuine and warm and heartbreaking. The way it’s written draws you in. It was as if Gary was sitting in my front room telling me his tale, Northern accent and all.
(ABoS Book Two)
July 1, 2019
Read via Cloudlibrary (My local library's e-book service!)
I've grown up listening to Take That songs, most notably 'Shine' which was featured in an old TV advert for UK supermarket Morrisons. Gary's memoir is both raw and brutal. Opening up about mental health struggles is never easy. I admired how honest he was, as fame can have both upsides and downsides. I will be looking at the band's music in a new light after reading A Better Me.
T/W- Depression, Eating Disorders, Death, Grief
I've grown up listening to Take That songs, most notably 'Shine' which was featured in an old TV advert for UK supermarket Morrisons. Gary's memoir is both raw and brutal. Opening up about mental health struggles is never easy. I admired how honest he was, as fame can have both upsides and downsides. I will be looking at the band's music in a new light after reading A Better Me.
T/W- Depression, Eating Disorders, Death, Grief
December 25, 2018
A very honest biography from Gary Barlow which makes a really encouraging read for those of us struggling with anxiety, weight and self image. No one is immune.
October 8, 2018
My main issue with ‘A Better Me’ is that Gary himself admitted that it originally started as a fitness book, including exercises and even recipes. Since the initial conception it evolved into a memoir, but it is quite clear which sections were intended for its original iteration.
Sections on the death of his father, his depression and overeating, and the loss of his daughter are interesting, but are then followed with tedious accounts of the various diets he has tried and his opinions on the various trainers he has had over the past few years.
What was also disappointing is that if you are a Barlow fan and have already read his first autobiography ‘My Take’, some of the stories are repeated with no further examination or information.
It took me less than 24 hours to read 'A Better Me' because there is nothing of weight in this book, easily digestible like one of Gary’s newfound diets. I really enjoyed ‘My Take’, but I will not be returning to this one.
Sections on the death of his father, his depression and overeating, and the loss of his daughter are interesting, but are then followed with tedious accounts of the various diets he has tried and his opinions on the various trainers he has had over the past few years.
What was also disappointing is that if you are a Barlow fan and have already read his first autobiography ‘My Take’, some of the stories are repeated with no further examination or information.
It took me less than 24 hours to read 'A Better Me' because there is nothing of weight in this book, easily digestible like one of Gary’s newfound diets. I really enjoyed ‘My Take’, but I will not be returning to this one.
February 8, 2023
He writes. In very. Short sentences. It makes. You feel. As if. You are jerking. To and fro.
I admire the man's musical talent and have liked the persona that comes across on any TV work that he has done. However this book presented a very self absorbed person with some quite resentful grievances. The diet and health sections were quite tedious with plenty of money thrown at every approach, and the whole lacked crafting or effective editing.
I admire the man's musical talent and have liked the persona that comes across on any TV work that he has done. However this book presented a very self absorbed person with some quite resentful grievances. The diet and health sections were quite tedious with plenty of money thrown at every approach, and the whole lacked crafting or effective editing.
October 5, 2018
Take That and books are the two biggest loves of my life so when a book like this comes along I was bound to devour it, just like Gary devours kefir and sauerkraut. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of food talk in this book. But the book is entitled 'A Better Me' and it's well known that one of the major ways Gary bettered himself was by eating good food. It's hard not to feel hungry whilst reading this book.
Course it's not all about food, there's heartache and triumph, doubts and fears and tragedy. I laughed so hard at this book and at other parts I'd be absolutely sobbing, like the kind of sobbing where I was glad I wasn't out in public when reading most of it.
You can hear Gary's voice whilst you're reading it. He has a very dry of sense of humour, Northern as we're repeatedly reminded, and there are moments where your heart glows and you go 'Oh Gary' with a sappy grin on your face.
The way he talks about the Take That boys is heartwarming and he gives a real insight into some of the biggest pop tours in British history, along with the juggernaut that is The X Factor.
He's a hard worker, is Gary, loyal and self depricating and always a family man. By the end of the book, you want to give him a hug, tell him well done we're proud, and maybe think about eating some more greens. 5 stars for the popstar from Frodsham.
Course it's not all about food, there's heartache and triumph, doubts and fears and tragedy. I laughed so hard at this book and at other parts I'd be absolutely sobbing, like the kind of sobbing where I was glad I wasn't out in public when reading most of it.
You can hear Gary's voice whilst you're reading it. He has a very dry of sense of humour, Northern as we're repeatedly reminded, and there are moments where your heart glows and you go 'Oh Gary' with a sappy grin on your face.
The way he talks about the Take That boys is heartwarming and he gives a real insight into some of the biggest pop tours in British history, along with the juggernaut that is The X Factor.
He's a hard worker, is Gary, loyal and self depricating and always a family man. By the end of the book, you want to give him a hug, tell him well done we're proud, and maybe think about eating some more greens. 5 stars for the popstar from Frodsham.
November 6, 2018
I had no idea what to expect upon opening this; I bought it really, because he was my best friends heartthrob and I wanted to know what it was she might have seen in him. Yes, he's a talented song writer. Yes, he can sing (I've never heard him hit a bum note) but that was all. I thought maybe this book would change my opinion - and it did, just not in the way I expected.
I had this image (as you do when you don't know someone) that GB was a bit of a loner, pushover and all-round nice guy. What I learned from this book is that he's actually quite an arrogant arse and I found myself not liking him anywhere near as much as I could.
There are a few bits-and-pieces that were interesting, however, for the most part this is nothing more than a food journal, and with the amount of health kicks I've tried over the years, I could have written my own version of one of those.
One thing I did notice though, is that no matter how much he says his fallout with Robbie has ended, he is still very much angry at him, and so bitterly jealous of him. I don't think Robbie needed any kind of mention (other than when they made up) but every now-and-then he is talked about, and GB does so with a bitter undertone.
Maybe the book should have been titled "A BITTER me".
I had this image (as you do when you don't know someone) that GB was a bit of a loner, pushover and all-round nice guy. What I learned from this book is that he's actually quite an arrogant arse and I found myself not liking him anywhere near as much as I could.
There are a few bits-and-pieces that were interesting, however, for the most part this is nothing more than a food journal, and with the amount of health kicks I've tried over the years, I could have written my own version of one of those.
One thing I did notice though, is that no matter how much he says his fallout with Robbie has ended, he is still very much angry at him, and so bitterly jealous of him. I don't think Robbie needed any kind of mention (other than when they made up) but every now-and-then he is talked about, and GB does so with a bitter undertone.
Maybe the book should have been titled "A BITTER me".
December 31, 2018
omg what a brillant book loved it from start to finish, the book had me crying in places and it had me laughing aswell
February 19, 2019
I was given this for Christmas, and was thinking I have such a huge reading pile I was never going to get around to reading it. Then the universe intervened and a massive and debilitating dose of flu consigned me to bed for a few days. How handy. I literally read this in a day and a half and loved all of it. I liked Gary Barlow's first book and was deeply impressed by his commitment and vision back in the days before Take That even got going. In this latest autobiography there's nothing held back. There's a potted, earlier, history of Take That which is interwoven with this text for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with their past, but the focus is firmly on the depression Barlow suffered with his weight problems and the way he found his way to good health through the mire of dodgy diets out there. There's actually some good dietary advice here too - I was happy to see how he blows the lid on organisations that make money out of providing diet food and plans which don't work, just leaving him hungry. As he learns, real food doesn't have 'ingredients' and taking this on board actually resulted in him starting to create and enjoy meals cooked from scratch. Just like his music, there really is something for everyone here: we follow him through the Take That reunion (discovering also the reasons for the split in the first place), the row with Robbie, the creation of their stunning sets and tours, and it's a joy to watch a calmer, happier man emerge from the shadows of what he believed he used to be - a chain-smoking obsessive control freak. His brave discussion of the devastating loss of his daughter - and his ability to go ahead with the Olympics Closing Ceremony just 10 days later - bears witness to the strength of the human spirit and I'm sure will act as a beacon of hope for parents going through a similar loss. Fabulous book. I was really sad to finish it.
April 15, 2019
I’m not sure you can get better than listening to the author read their story? In my world Gary Barlow is a guilty pleasure, always has been.
Love or hate Take That, it doesn’t matter! This autobiography is brutally honest, cathartic and incredibly sad.
Personally, I’ve held G.B. in high regard from the very early days of T.T. Seeing the boys jump around in Lycra, throwing paint at each other in one of their first videos. He always looked awkward but to me, he stood out,as it takes an incredible amount of bravery to be involved in something you know you’re just not good at. The underdog, and who doesn’t love them!
I’ve read earlier books about his life and marvelled at his sheer tenacity. Undoubtedly a very talented musician, songwriter but being in the right place at the right time is a lesson for everyone. Never give up even when you’re self belief is so strong. The earlier books really concentrate on this, allowing you a brief glimpse into the world of a young lad who knows just how hard he has to work to get anywhere.
This book is, most likely, the book that fans will have been waiting for, as it
covers more of the band’s antics, gigs & fallouts but this is the important book for Gary Barlow to have written!
I said before, it’s brutal in his honesty. I can only imagine how incredibly tough this was to firstly write about the very lowest points in his life but then to agree to read & record it, Wow! I’m in awe of this man’s courage, his bravery and compassionate humanity and strength.
He’s been ridiculed, mocked and bullied throughout his life but probably no more than by himself. The weight battles, the mental struggles, the fractious band, the devastating losses are all covered in these pages and each reader will take from it what they will. For me, there’s a strong affinity with his struggles and from it an better understanding. Powerful stuff!
Love or hate Take That, it doesn’t matter! This autobiography is brutally honest, cathartic and incredibly sad.
Personally, I’ve held G.B. in high regard from the very early days of T.T. Seeing the boys jump around in Lycra, throwing paint at each other in one of their first videos. He always looked awkward but to me, he stood out,as it takes an incredible amount of bravery to be involved in something you know you’re just not good at. The underdog, and who doesn’t love them!
I’ve read earlier books about his life and marvelled at his sheer tenacity. Undoubtedly a very talented musician, songwriter but being in the right place at the right time is a lesson for everyone. Never give up even when you’re self belief is so strong. The earlier books really concentrate on this, allowing you a brief glimpse into the world of a young lad who knows just how hard he has to work to get anywhere.
This book is, most likely, the book that fans will have been waiting for, as it
covers more of the band’s antics, gigs & fallouts but this is the important book for Gary Barlow to have written!
I said before, it’s brutal in his honesty. I can only imagine how incredibly tough this was to firstly write about the very lowest points in his life but then to agree to read & record it, Wow! I’m in awe of this man’s courage, his bravery and compassionate humanity and strength.
He’s been ridiculed, mocked and bullied throughout his life but probably no more than by himself. The weight battles, the mental struggles, the fractious band, the devastating losses are all covered in these pages and each reader will take from it what they will. For me, there’s a strong affinity with his struggles and from it an better understanding. Powerful stuff!
January 14, 2019
As a big fan of Take That and Gary's songwriting in general, this book was a must-buy for me. He talks with searing honesty throughout, something you don't always find and something I appreciate greatly. His struggles to overcome his dad's death, as well as cope with the loss of his daughter Poppy, make for difficult reading but are worth it simply because he describes his feelings so vividly.
There's a strong dose of nostalgia too as he dedicates much of the book to his successes and failures in the music industry and beyond.
The one negative of this book is the near-preachy nature in which he talks about food. You can tell from the book that food and weight are an obsession with Gary and, while in some parts it's interesting to read about those struggles and how he overcame them, it can become a little overbearing. I would hazard a guess that he talks about food in at least 50-60% of the pages of this book and he definitely mentions it in every chapter. It wasn't enough to make me dislike the book but it irritated me enough to drop the rating from four stars to three.
There's a strong dose of nostalgia too as he dedicates much of the book to his successes and failures in the music industry and beyond.
The one negative of this book is the near-preachy nature in which he talks about food. You can tell from the book that food and weight are an obsession with Gary and, while in some parts it's interesting to read about those struggles and how he overcame them, it can become a little overbearing. I would hazard a guess that he talks about food in at least 50-60% of the pages of this book and he definitely mentions it in every chapter. It wasn't enough to make me dislike the book but it irritated me enough to drop the rating from four stars to three.
November 14, 2018
What an incredibly honest and heartfelt book. I was very interested to read about Gary's struggles with food. He goes into great detail about his eating disorder. He's painfully honest and that made me just love him. He talks very candidly about his depression - about the great lows after the band & the horrible time when he felt like the nation hated him. He just hid himself away for years and sounded so depressed. He wanted to put on weight so that people wouldn't recognise him.
This is a story of his survival - of picking himself up and moving of. Of being creatively blocked and then finding joy in creativity returning.
I came to this book as an unbiased reader - I wasn't a Take That fan - I was just interested in his eating disorder and depression story. But I came away falling a little bit in love with this incredibly honest man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_77cd...
This is a story of his survival - of picking himself up and moving of. Of being creatively blocked and then finding joy in creativity returning.
I came to this book as an unbiased reader - I wasn't a Take That fan - I was just interested in his eating disorder and depression story. But I came away falling a little bit in love with this incredibly honest man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_77cd...
March 31, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
October 23, 2018
I'm going to be honest : I knew very little of Gary Barlow before buying this. I think I was too young and missed my window. My babysitters were TT fans, I was too late to the party, Robbie was already a bad boy with a solo career when I started to listen to anything that was not curated by the conservatory.
But few days ago, thanks to the little bits on Facebook, I watched him on Graham Norton's talk about his book. A nice, sweet moment, ending in a hug because in very few words, he managed to touch everyone around him.
Yes, even cold-hearted me.
Dang but this man is a good narrator. He gets you into it, the 90s frenzy, the depression, the food addiction, loss, happiness. You follow everything, and I kept stopping what I was doing because his life, from my point of view, is no amazingly interesting ! I had no idea about most of it, the feud, the band coming back, the Circus Tour, The Jubilee (!!!), the Olympics... Brilliant, really brilliant. He's a brilliant (yes I used brilliants three times, sue me) story teller, but I think what was most impressive was telling his story without an ounce of boasting or cockiness. Subtle when the subject grazes something too hurtful or personal, boisterous when talking about art and the people he loves.
Loved every part of it. Great read !
But few days ago, thanks to the little bits on Facebook, I watched him on Graham Norton's talk about his book. A nice, sweet moment, ending in a hug because in very few words, he managed to touch everyone around him.
Yes, even cold-hearted me.
Dang but this man is a good narrator. He gets you into it, the 90s frenzy, the depression, the food addiction, loss, happiness. You follow everything, and I kept stopping what I was doing because his life, from my point of view, is no amazingly interesting ! I had no idea about most of it, the feud, the band coming back, the Circus Tour, The Jubilee (!!!), the Olympics... Brilliant, really brilliant. He's a brilliant (yes I used brilliants three times, sue me) story teller, but I think what was most impressive was telling his story without an ounce of boasting or cockiness. Subtle when the subject grazes something too hurtful or personal, boisterous when talking about art and the people he loves.
Loved every part of it. Great read !
October 21, 2018
I'm gonna start by saying I know I'm likely biased because I LOVE Take That. But the truth is, the most interesting part about this book is Gary's relationship with food and with himself, which technically doesn't have that much to do with TT at all... We all know (or at least I definitely know) the public story - the fact that he's "grown into himself", how he went from hero to zero and back again, blah blah blah - but it's still super interesting to read about the process of how he did that, the behind the scenes story.
***SPOILER ALERT***
(And not super related to the book...)
It scares me though, the ending - how he feels like this upcoming 2019 tour might be the last one for a while.... they are still not coming to Asia Pacific and I couldn't get tickets for London so... I suppose my dream to see them in a stadium setting might not even come true. Oh well. I'll just have to put a CD on now and dream....
***SPOILER ALERT***
(And not super related to the book...)
It scares me though, the ending - how he feels like this upcoming 2019 tour might be the last one for a while.... they are still not coming to Asia Pacific and I couldn't get tickets for London so... I suppose my dream to see them in a stadium setting might not even come true. Oh well. I'll just have to put a CD on now and dream....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2019
Having seen the documentary that Gary Barlow did with James Corden a few years ago, I was really interested in picking this up. I was a kid when Take That were around and I loved them but then never listened to them as I grew older. Now I've got back into them and this autobiography has reinforced my admiration for Gary Barlow.
I have read reviews saying that there was nothing new in this autobiography but I feel that Gary Barlow really expanded on some of the rumours in the press as well as delving into his issues with eating disorders, depression and the loss of a child.
The writing wasn't spectacular but I think it sounded like Gary was speaking to me through the page which I like in a memoir or autobiography. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested. There was is so much to learn from this about life, fame and self love, and it was a brilliant read.
I have read reviews saying that there was nothing new in this autobiography but I feel that Gary Barlow really expanded on some of the rumours in the press as well as delving into his issues with eating disorders, depression and the loss of a child.
The writing wasn't spectacular but I think it sounded like Gary was speaking to me through the page which I like in a memoir or autobiography. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested. There was is so much to learn from this about life, fame and self love, and it was a brilliant read.
February 14, 2019
I do not usually read autobiographies, read this one on a friends recommendation and found it to be completely different than what I was expecting.
His narration is so natural and down to earth, It gives it a whole new warmth and excitement. This book has given me some insight in to famous peoples lives and I won’t look at a pop star again and take them at face value.
His narration is so natural and down to earth, It gives it a whole new warmth and excitement. This book has given me some insight in to famous peoples lives and I won’t look at a pop star again and take them at face value.
March 22, 2019
A struggle to get through.
April 16, 2019
My teenage crush... Curiosity got the better of me and I had to read it.
January 7, 2020
Hmm.
Very similar to his other biography a few years back. A lot of the same things covered again.
Very similar to his other biography a few years back. A lot of the same things covered again.
January 31, 2021
This came as one of a mystery box of books and I didn't have high hopes as I don't normally read autobigraphies and particularly not ones of people I have absolutely no interest in! It turns out Gary Barlow has done a lot of interesting things. He just didn't write enough about them in this book and kept on blathering on about diets and feeling fat! It was about 20% interesting, hence the 1 star for that 20%.
July 3, 2022
I might be biased cause i love him. But i couldnt stop reading until the end. Brave and honest. Funny and witty. Great reading.
June 19, 2024
This is my idea of a very honest Barlow book
February 17, 2021
In zwei Tagen durchgesuchtet, dieses Buch, auch um der Frage nachzugehen, warum Mister Barlow nach "My take" noch ein Buch geschrieben hat.
Die großen Ernährungsprobleme, mit denen er zu kämpfen hatte, waren mir neu, dominierten das Buch aber nicht zu sehr. Seine "nordenglische" Selbstironie ist sehr angenehm --- und Himmel, was für eine Achterbahn war seine Karriere.
Ich finde es toll, dass er jetzt da ist, wo er ist und bin sicher, sie werden ihn für das nächste Thronjubiläum der Queen wieder engagieren.
Die großen Ernährungsprobleme, mit denen er zu kämpfen hatte, waren mir neu, dominierten das Buch aber nicht zu sehr. Seine "nordenglische" Selbstironie ist sehr angenehm --- und Himmel, was für eine Achterbahn war seine Karriere.
Ich finde es toll, dass er jetzt da ist, wo er ist und bin sicher, sie werden ihn für das nächste Thronjubiläum der Queen wieder engagieren.
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