Walk on: The Spiritual Journey of U2

This is one of the best books I have ever read about U2's lyrics and the theological perspectives there in. Steve Stockman leads the reader into a deeper awareness of U2's lyrics, and gives you the biblical verses that help to translate these U2 lyrics. This book is a moving experience-- and makes one appreciate the deep, spiritual side of U2's music. Like the song Mysterious Ways-- I say this: "Move Spirit Move Me..." I highly recommend this book to any U2 fan or anyone who enjoys spiritual enlightenment. Love and Peace or Else, The BoNo FReaK (-; St. Charles, MO

Walk On, The Spiritual Journey of U2 brilliantly tells the story of the spiritual side of U2, arguably the biggest band in the world. The author does a good job of not spending too much time on any certain period of time. Rather, he outlines the changes the band has gone through, and the frustration of being typecast by the church and the media alike. The author describes the feeling you get at a live U2 concert. How does one retain their Christian views when you're not able to attend church without a crowd gathering? This book answeres this question and many more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys U2's music, or anyone who still hasn't found what they're looking for.

For me this book was brilliant. Yes I am a U2 fan. My pre-Christian days U2 always led me beyond earth to the spiritual. But after becoming a believer in Christ, to express that you still love them met with frowns from the Theological Police. As a journalist and a writer of fiction (first book in the process of being published) the creative and artistic side of worship is BEYOND important it's essential, and until I came across Stockman I thought I was alone. If you are a christian and wanting to EXPRESS and use your GOD GIVEN gift... Then DO IT! It's allowed, you were made by Him to create... Obey! If you are a U2 fan but don't share the Faith then you will still enjoy the read, as there are some great insights to what drives the band.This book has done so much for me - its like a revelation. Thanks to the publisher and to Steve Stockman - Brilliant...!

As a practically lifelong fan of U2 who has appreciated their musical depth and spiritual conscience since the mid-80s, "Walk On" is overdue and an essential read! I have come across "surface" U2 fans for years with very limited understanding of the band beyond their radio hits and catchy choruses. Some of these and other fans also grew frustrated with the likes of "Still Haven't Found" and the 90's version of U2. These folks would benefit greatly by taking the time to look beyond the surface and into the heart of this legendary group. "Walk On" affords that opportunity as it reveals the true meaning behind the songs that have fielded the most questions. When discovering the true meaning of such songs in "Walk On," the reader finds that the songs that seem the most vague or confusing are actually the deepest and most meaningful spiritually. The greatest discovery for me by reading "Walk On" is the revelation of some of the '90s songs and concerts. The songs on "Pop," for example, that initially raised my eyebrow and begged my questions happen to be the most spiritually deep songs of the 90s from U2!For me, having 25 years of key interviews, lyrics, albums, concerts, and many of the spiritual and social involvements of U2 elaborated upon and summed up in one book is invaluable. Finally, someone (Stockman) with spiritual depth and musical understanding has written a book from the important standpoint, "To understand the music of U2, you must know where they are coming from spiritually." How true!

U2 has been a formidable group for two decades, and have always had something worthwhile to say, as Steve Stockman skillfully reminds us. I do remember at age 20 (in 1987) being deeply touched by their songs "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." But then my passion for Bob Dylan's songs kicked in, and I forgot about this great group. In recent years I've realized how extensive Dylan & Bono's history is (in 1984, Bono interviewed Dylan, and sang onstage with him; in 1987-1988 they wrote & recorded together; Dylan joined U2 onstage in 1987; in 1997, Dylan invited Bono to participate in his tribute album to Jimmie Rodgers; and Bono joined Dylan onstage in 1989 & 1999).But Steve Stockman points out the wide range of figures that have influenced Bono and U2--from Dylan to Joey Ramone, from Martin Luther King to C.S. Lewis! Also helpful was his chapter on the band's roots in Dublin and how they shaped the band's direction. I recently watched MTV's 20 year annniversary retrospective and was amazed at the diversity of artists who paid their respects to U2 (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Marilyn Manson and Smashing Pumpkins, if I recall correctly!)Although Stockman is a believer in Jesus, he doesn't force-feed the reader his beliefs, but instead, asks probing questions both about the Church, and those who happen not to believe--and all in the larger context of U2's art and career. I got an education on things I was unaware of... In chapter 1, Stockman writes: "The Christian press and Christians in general have been the doubters [to U2's faith]. There seems to have been a keen enthusiasm to denounce the band's Christian members as lost...in the very early days when the band did speak to Christian magazines, they were often misquoted and felt used and abused. The evangelical Christian world seemed to claim U2 as its property, and therefore, U2's members found their faith defined and explained by magazines rather than by the members themselves. Aligning themselves with the Christian press would have pigeonholed their faith and their art, squeezed them into the mold of other people's expectations, and narrowed the focus of the band's influence and scope."No point in questioning Stockman's research, he cites many interviews (mostly Bono quotes) which is helpful in the context of the spiritual story he is telling. Here are two examples: "For many years the band members said that their faith--not their rock 'n' roll lifestyle--was the real rebellion."..."For a long time, Bono and the rest of the U2 guys were amused by the absurdity and obscenity of how important rock stardom had become."Huh? This flew in the face of the stereotype of Bono as narcissistic. Stockman reminds us that Bono spoke at Harvard University's commencement ceremony (June 2001) and railed against materialism & narcissism.The book covers the entire career of U2 (albums, tours, interviews) and ends with their release, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000). S