Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas

This book was excellent. If you're a Bono fan, this is a great read. It helps to clear up some of the things he does, and it shows him as a good person. He seems like the kind of guy it would be fun to hang out with. The questions were great and well written. Overall I think the author did a great job with this book.

Though I enjoy their music, I'm still not a huge fan of U2. However, I have become quite interested in the band's front man, Bono. Bono has used his celebrity and fame in a way that many others would benefit from by example. I find the man fascinating and I was looking forward to learning more about him. BONO is an extended interview that Michka Assayas had with Bono over a period of several years. The project originally didn't start out as book, but as Assayas discusses, a book-length interview seemed to best way to present everything that he and Bono had discussed. I was a bit leery about the book before reading it because I had never read a book-length interview before and I was concerned the book might start repeating itself. Thankfully, BONO doesn't. Assayas doesn't do much sugar-coating and asks Bono tough questions. Bono seems to like this though, as it forces him to do some serious reflection and self-evaluation. What follows, then is a written conversation that is candid, often insightful, and sometimes humorous. The only repetition in the piece is brought up by Bono himself in regards to his work with Africa. Had another celebrity mentioned the cause, it might seem like fluff. But Bono is serious and since the book takes place over a series of years, one can see how serious Bono is about the problem and what he has done over time to find a solution. Bono is a Christian and I especially enjoyed reading about his faith. There aren't very many Christians who are also world famous rock stars, so he isn't a typical Christian and I found it interesting to read how Bono balances between his faith and his fame. Bono does uses some foul language every once and awhile and some people might be taken back by that. Personally, I found it refreshing to read an authentic account of faith instead of tired and overused clichés that many evangelicals often use in discussing their lives. A great book for anyone who is a fan of U2 or Bono or for someone looking to read about a famous Christian who tries to use their celebrity for Biblical purposes.

Since hearing "Sunday Bloody Sunday" on a friend's record player in the early 80s, I've been a die-hard U2 fan. Even during their ironic and self-mocking gestures of ZooTV and PopMart, I found reasons to remain loyal. I still maintain that "Please" and "Wake Up, Dead Man" (both on the "Pop" album) are some of the best songs in their impressive catalog. Although Bono has been thrust into the spotlight for over two decades--often by his own choosing--he remains somewhat elusive. Celebrities and rock stars, for reasons of survival, must maintain a distance of sorts. This I understand. But I've wanted more insight, more understanding of the things that motivate U2, and Bono in particular. Michka Assayas has an advantage over other would-be chroniclers of Bono's mindset; Assayas has known the band and followed them from early on. For this reason, Bono's dialogue throughout the book seems more open, less guarded. Not only is Bono more candid, but Assayas refuses to be blinded by Bono's star status. He confronts Bono at times, challenging his thought processes. Bono, for the most part, comes clean. Once or twice he holds back. For all his gestures of honesty, he is still supremely aware of the impact of his words. Despite this, the book is a detailed look into Bono's evolution as a rock star, an activist, and a human being. His thoughts on faith, old age, and other stars were particularly interesting, and his ideas for helping the poor are examples of his faith in action. This book may not go deeply into Bono's personal life, but it does delve with great insight into his political, spiritual, and public perceptions. When it's all said and done, I feel as though I could join him at a local pub and drink pints together while shooting the breeze. Megalomaniac? Maybe. Self-proclaimed messiah? Not quite. Ambassador of forgiveness and equality? Absolutely.

If you wanted to ask Bono a question, what would it be? Would it be about the music? Would it be about his personal life? Perhaps the deaths of his parents? Would you ask about the formation of the most successful band in history? Perhaps you'd want to know more about his work in support of AIDS and hunger releif. All of these questions, and many, many more are asked and answered in this book. In fact, almost the whole book is a series of questions that ramble from subject to subject with no pattern. These questions and answers are like a normal conversation flows between friends. Because they are friends, a true respect exists between the two men and it comes out in the book. This means that there is great insight shown into how Bono thinks. And it comes out that he thinks very well indeed. This is a fascinating book, not just because of the fascination with the singer, but because of the insight he brings to us about places like Africa and the Soviet Union.

A long-time fan of U2's music and impressed by Bono's activisim, I was anxious to read this new book. And I loved it! I couldn't put it down! Written in a coversational style, I at first thought it may be difficult to follow. Instead, I pleasantly realized that it made me feel as if I was listening to Bono talk to a group of which I was part. Because we are actually reading his words, I think we really get a look into Bono's mind - or even his soul. Every topic I could want to hear Bono talk about is covered - his music, the band, his family, his belief in God, and his activism. It had it all. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about what makes Bono tick. It confirmed to me that he has a very big heart, a great intellect, and incredible talent. Enjoy!