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Staff Pick

This riveting autobiography by celebrated (and famously hard-living) guitar legend Keith Richards reads with the unforgettable hook and crisp ferocity of the best Rolling Stones songs — most of which you'll rush to replay after learning about their creation.
Recommended by Rico, Powells.com

Admit it, you didn't expect Keith to remember much, did you? Well, you were so wrong. His story is off-the-charts awesome, and, taken along with the Stones in Exile documentary, it made my year. Together they are everything I always wanted from my favorite genius outlaw.
Recommended by Cindy P., Powells.com

Review-A-Day

"Keith Richards, 19 years old and a good kid at heart, wrote a letter to his Aunt Patty in 1962. After joking about the English weather — "I wonder which day summer falls on this year?" — he describes meeting Mick Jagger on a train station..." Jeff Baker, The Oregonian (Read the entire Oregonian review)

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sharrona, November 11, 2012 (view all comments by sharrona)
A terrific fun read! This autobiography gave me lots of insight into Keith Richards' world, and some fascinating background information on The Rolling Stones. Not one to "dish dirt," Richards wrote mostly about his own experiences, and took full responsibility for the bad and good things that have happened to him.

Within this unfiltered picture of the "sex, drugs, rock&roll" sixties (and well beyond) he focuses mainly on the music. I found myself unable to give the book away after reading it, because there are so many parts I want to read again. For example, he talks a lot about unusual music techniques used in specific songs, making me want to grab the right CD and listen to each with his explanation in mind.

Richards' story is not told in strictly chronological order. Chapters are short and peppy. Many times he'll mention a person or situation briefly, and add "But that's another story," and the reader can look forward to finding that story later in the book.

Even though I've been a fan of the Rolling Stones' music for more than 50 years, I knew little about the individual band members beyond what appeared in newspapers. Having attended a number of their concerts, I had some appreciation for Keith Richards as a musician. This book surprised me by making me fond of him as a person.

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MusicLvr, August 13, 2012 (view all comments by MusicLvr)
A recent post on Facebook showed a recent image of Keith Richards, jammining next to a headline that reads: Outlived Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Donna Summer--didn't see that coming. Keith has staying power and musical passion that can't be matched. When a 40th anniversary edition of Exile on Main Street sold millions of copies, even he was impressed. He knew the music was great when they created it, and was glad to see it still holds up. Despite the drug use and addiction and definance to rules and reckless living, he shows himself to be a guy's guy, interested in music and open to life's experiences. That he survived to tell it all is a fun read for the rest of us.

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MusicLvr, August 13, 2012 (view all comments by MusicLvr)
A recent post on Facebook showed a recent image of Keith Richards, jammining next to a headline that saves: Outlived Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Donna Summer--didn't see that coming. Keith has staying power and musical passion that can't be matched. When a 40th anniversary edition of Exile on Main Street sold millions of copies, even he was impressed. He knew the music was great when they created it, and was glad to see it still holds up. Despite the drug use and addiction and definance to rules and reckless living, he shows himself to be a guy's guy, interested in music and open to life's experiences. That he survived to tell it all is a fun read for the rest of us.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780316034388

Author:

Keith Richards and James Fox

Publisher:

Little Brown and Company

With:

Fox, James

Author:

Richards, Keith

Subject:

Composers & Musicians - General

Subject:

Rich & Famous

Subject:

Composers & Musicians - Rock

Subject:

Personal Memoirs

Subject:

Biography-Composers and Musicians

Copyright:

2010

Publication Date:

20101031

Binding:

Hardcover

Language:

English

Pages:

576

0 stars - 0 reviews

$9.50 In Stock

"Staff Pick" by Rico,

This riveting autobiography by celebrated (and famously hard-living) guitar legend Keith Richards reads with the unforgettable hook and crisp ferocity of the best Rolling Stones songs — most of which you'll rush to replay after learning about their creation.

by Rico

"Staff Pick" by Cindy P.,

Admit it, you didn't expect Keith to remember much, did you? Well, you were so wrong. His story is off-the-charts awesome, and, taken along with the Stones in Exile documentary, it made my year. Together they are everything I always wanted from my favorite genius outlaw.

by Cindy P.

"Review A Day" by Jeff Baker, The Oregonian, "Keith Richards, 19 years old and a good kid at heart, wrote a letter to his Aunt Patty in 1962. After joking about the English weather — "I wonder which day summer falls on this year?" — he describes meeting Mick Jagger on a train station..." (Read the entire Oregonian review)

"Synopsis" by heidi@powells.com, In a voice that is uniquely and unmistakably him — part growl, part laugh — Keith Richards brings us the truest rock-and-roll life of our times, unfettered and fearless and true.