Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley

This is truly a well written book. From the moment I received it I did not put it down until I finished it. Thanks to the wonderful writing of Mr Farley. I look forward to his other books as well as more info on Bob Marley.

Well-written, entertaining, illuminating, engrossing and intelligent, this is a must-have book for anyone who loves reggae music, and for anyone who wants to find out more about the formative years of the man behind the myth. This book will doubtless enter into the pantheon of great music biographies. Farley brings to his subject a deftness of touch and a fluid, anecdotal style, not to mention a gargantuan knowledge of the socio-political context of the music, together with a razor-sharp clarity of vision. Farley is clearly in awe of his subject, but does not genuflect before him, retaining the correct critical and aesthetic distance. He also feels every lilting rhythm and harmonious melody of the music which he writes about, and manages to convey that passion with aplomb. Farley's grasp of the material is exemplary, and the narrative he gives us is concise yet powerful. We are left at the end wanting him to write the subsequent chapters in the Marley life, a chapter we are far more familiar with. Out of deference to the memory of a true musical genius and a towering social and racial luminary, and also Farley's consummate skill as a biographer, big tings deserve to gwan for this book!

The legend of Bob Marley comes to life in this thoroughly researched, vivid account. The author seems to have trucked all over Jamaica finding people close to Marley to interview for this book...like Marley's mom and wife. I learned a lot about what Marley's long, slow struggle to stardom was like and was surprised at how many setbacks he had to endure. The author includes a lot of interesting tidbits, like the kinds of jobs Marley had to take while working on his music. This is an excellent book for young and old fans alike because it delivers fresh information while also going over the basics if you don't know much about Marley. It will help you to appreciate and enjoy Marley's music even more. I highly recommend reading it.

I think that Christopher John Farley is an author who distinguishes him self in all media. He can write hard news, entertainement news, financial news, novels and biographies. In all of his work you can see a true love of writing, the english language and often, as in this book, respect for the subject. It is clear that Mr. Farley is a fan of Marley, yet this does not get in the way of his recounting of some of the less than sterling moments in Marley's life. The research, the attention to detail, and the desire to round out the reading public's knowledge of Marley are all evident in this book. I recomend it to both Marley fans and music historians. I promise that new readers who have not had the opportunity to enjoy any of Mr. Farley's earlier works will come away as Farley fans as well.

Come witness historical accounts blend richly with facts and reality. The author aptly captures salient points about his subject (Marley) from weighty conversations and tremendous research. Reading this very well crafted piece will take one on a tour with Chris John Farley staying as the noble guide, seeking to educate and enlighten readers about why this man, 'Bob Marley' is indeed a legend. And I must honestly say I found it page-turning and exciting. I believe you'll find it so, too.