Total Control : The Michael Nesmith Story

by Randi L. Massingill

Hey! Hey! Its the untold story of The Monkees "Wool-hat" Michael Nesmith with the behind the scenes scoop about touring with Jimi Hendrix, filmmaking with Jack Nicholson and so much more. Also covered is his invention of MTV and his mother Bette who invented Liquid Paper. Approximately 105 photos.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

327 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Bryan Harwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. Like any biography, there's both inaccuracies and opinions, but that doesn't matter much here. The book was very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put it down. Well done!

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, Michael Nesmith was my favorite Monkee, but part of that reason was his musical influence in the group. He was Country Rock before anyone had even coined the term. Plus, with everyone heralding him as the guy who created MTV, why wouldn't I want to read a biography?

Unlike other reviewers who say the author sounds like she didn't like Nesmith, I thought she sounded like someone who was a young lady when the Monkees came out and never quite grew out of her crush. I also thought her warning about her satirical writing style wasn't so much that she was trying to write satire as trying to put her opinion of situations into the book instead of just offering the facts.

The author also relied heavily on court documents for any sort of legal action Nesmith was in at the time. It seemed the last 1/3 of the book was all about legal proceedings. She also relied heavily upon interviews someone else did (Gary Strobl) in the 1980s. Which is all well and good, but I found myself wondering if Strobl ever did write a book since he had talked to all the major players.

Don't get me wrong--I don't hate the book. I applaud Massingill for compiling the information, but I just don't think she knew how to present it.

The book has a lot of good information about an enigmatic guy who has tried a lot of experimental media, from music to video to the internet. And, oh, yeah, he happened to be one of the Monkees, too.

[Kerry Gans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randi Massingill is touted as a foremost expert on Michael Nesmith, and she surely is that. The book is meticulously researched, and gives a great deal of information about Nesmith and his many experiments (up through 1996, when the book was published). Unfortunately, since Nesmith was not actually involved in this project, you do not ever get to see inside Nesmith's mind. He is "present" in that Massingill culls interviews with him for quotes, but the book lacks what you might call the "spirit" of Nesmith. Massingill also warns the reader in the intro that she wrote with a satirical style. She might have done well to write in a more mainstream voice, since there are places where the satire comes off as snark or sounds forced, further distancing the reader from her subject.

This is a must-read for any Nesmith fan, because it details a great deal of his life that we rarely saw, but do not expect to get a look at the man behind the curtain--Nesmith remains as enigmatic as always.

[Jason McKinzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, possibly because it's the only book of its kind. No other author has yet elected to devote an entire book to this unique artist. The upside of this book is that if you are a Nesmith fan you'll get to read all about Nez's decades-long, multifaceted career. On the downside, it frequently comes across as if the author doesn't even like Nesmith, and goes out of her way to portray his as an egomanical jerk. If you are going to write a book about an artist with a small but devoted following, it might be in your best interest to speak of your subject positively, otherwise you are essentially alienating the very readers to whom you wish to sell your book. But if you like Nez, read it anyway. You're not going to find a better book about him.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Michael Nesmith but didn't feel the author even cared about him or his accomplishments. I would have also liked to have read more about his personal life and his family.

[Elaine Stone]

An odd book... although the author claims to be a fan the style of writing would suggest the opposite. Worth reading for other people who are connected with the Monkee phenomenon's take on Mike. Mike's autobiography is a much better read in my opinion