Neil Young

At first I thought it was a novel about a man, his cars and his dogs. It's much more.
Neil's passions, except for his music are exposed. They are cars, dogs, family and nature.
It's how he can see an evolution to change away from fossil fuels. That's the energy required for one of his great passions, big old chrome gas gusseling cars.
I can relate to his love of the old belmonths, they touch me to, but they are a thing of our and our fathers generations.
He is committed to use his money and name to bring about change fighting governments and big petrol companies.
I was able to see part of the music industry of which he was able to survive eventually on his terms. The touring, drugs, managers, swindlers, the money his talent and life long friends who are no longer here.… (more)

I am a huge fan of Neil Young I think he is one of the most versatile and prolific songwriters with the span of 50 years. Unfortunately being a great musician and a great songwriter doesn’t always translate into being a great narrative writer. Of the different rock memoirs I’ve read, I consider Keith Richards book, Life, the gold standard. I was excited to read Neil Young’s Waging Heavy Peace but quickly lost my enthusiasm soon into the book. It seemed very uneven and disorganized with some moments where he’s about to go into some understanding of his life for writing and then veers away. There are other times it seems like he’s reading into a tape recorder trying to fill up space talking about going to Costco in Hawaii and buying an electric toothbrush. He makes a remark 3/4 of the way into the book about writing being very easy. I think that’s a telling, because good writing takes time and so much of the book seems to be his stream of consciousness for that moment of his day. The acknowledgments may offer some clues as he never names anyone— an editor or other person who might have helped read and organize the book. It’s almost as if he wanted to have it untouched by an editor when having input clearly would have strengthened the book. I wish I could give a stronger recommendation but I don’t feel it’s worth the 500 page read.… (more)