Synopses & Reviews
He Is...I Say examines Neil Diamonds singular place in the pantheon of popular music. David Wildwho has written about Diamond for
Rolling Stone, penned the liner notes to a number of Diamonds anthologies, and produced Diamonds scandal-free episode of
Behind the Music. Now he dares to turn on his Heartlight,” offering a moving and hilarious salute to his own Jewish Elvis based on his past interviews with the Solitary Man himself.
An illuminating snapshot of a beloved American icon, He Is...I Say endearingly speaks to the condition of being a Diamondhead in a hipper-than-thou world, while fully illustrating exactly what it is that makes the man and the artist so special.
Review
Milwaukee Shepherd Express, 10/16/09 “An enjoyable read, a highly personal take on ‘the Jewish Elvis.’ Aside from revealing the subject of his extended essay as something of a contrarian and more down to earth than even a fan would expect, Wild makes many interesting comments about critics, hipsters and their influence on the way cultural history in the 20th century was written.”
Jewish Herald-Voice, 10/22/09
“A tribute—no, more than that, it’s a love letter—to Neil…Wild is the ultimate (literate) fan of ‘the Jewish Elvis.’ And if you think of Diamond’s lyrics as poetry…then this book is for you."
Midwest Book Review
“David Wild has interviewed Neil Diamond for Rolling Stone and written the liner notes to several of his anthologies, so is the perfect choice for chronicling his life and times. Perfect for any popular music or general lending library.”
American Profile, 1/10/2010
“A witty, heartfelt and insightful biography-tribute to the Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter.”
Florida Jewish Journal, 2/3/10
“Wild has fully succeeded in setting forth the life and experiences of Neil Diamond…The result is a warm-hearted portrait of Diamond that will appeal to lovers of music and to a broader audience as well.”
Sacramento Book Review, 5/6/10
“A loving biography of Neil Diamond…It becomes a real page-turner…A deeply personal tribute to Neil Diamond written by someone who respects him and has a deep affection for him…The most satisfying thing about this book is learning that Neil Diamond really is a very nice man who has managed to avoid the mistakes and controversy of so many other superstars in the music industry.”
Synopsis
Drawing on exclusive interviews with the legend himself, "New York Times"-bestselling author Wild delivers an intimate portrait of Neil Diamond, the singer-songwriter behind such enduring anthems as Cherry, Cherry, Sweet Caroline, and America.
About the Author
David Wild, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, is a music, film, and television journalist, and an Emmy-nominated television writer. Wild lives in Los Angeles.