 | |
| Author | Elton John |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Taron Egerton |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Autobiography |
| Published | 15 October 2019 |
| Publisher | Macmillan Publishers |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 350 |
| ISBN | 1-509-85331-6 |
Me is the autobiography of the English singer, pianist and composer Elton John. It was released on 15 October 2019 by Macmillan Publishers. It was ghostwritten by journalist Alexis Petridis, [1] who worked on the book with John for three and a half years. [2]
The book recounts events from John's childhood in Pinner through to his final tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road. [3] He describes his depression and suicide attempts as well as drug addiction and his prostate cancer diagnosis. [4] He admits he spent his whole career "trying to show my father what I'm made of". [5] He explains the reasons behind his advocacy against AIDS. [6]
In the book, despite being good friends with him, John said that the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson was "genuinely mentally ill" and "disturbing to be around". [7] The comments arose from a lunch John hosted to introduce his husband David Furnish to Jackson in 1993. [8] [9]
Me was released by Macmillan Publishers on 15 October 2019. Excerpts read by Taron Egerton (who portrayed John in the biographical film Rocketman ) aired on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week in the first week of its release. [5]
Hadley Freeman, a writer for The Guardian , called the book "racy, pacy and crammed with scurrilous anecdotes", saying: "Elton makes fun of no one more than himself. He is utterly, astonishingly, hilariously self-lacerating." [2]
Variety dubbed the book "deeply dishy". [10]
A Time review said: "Like John’s songs, Me overflows with whimsical characters, twisted humor, winking self-aggrandizement and stark pathos. True to his spirit, it's a little silly and over the top, but it's also an absorbing and unfettered joy." [3]
In The Daily Telegraph , Neil McCormick said: "If you are in the market for an autobiography crammed with sex, drugs and rock and roll, Elton is clearly your man." [11]
In The Times , Will Hodgkinson said that John's "sad, funny memoir reveals the insecurities that drive his needy behaviour." [12]
