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Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good
For the first time, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor speaks directly to his fans and shares his worldview about life as a sinner. And Taylor knows how to sin. As a small-town hero in the early ’90s, he threw himself into a hard-drinking, fierce-loving, live-for-the-moment life; when his music exploded, he found himself rich, wanted, and on the road. But soon his extreme lifestyle led him to question what it means to sin and whether it could—or should—be cast in a different light. After all, if sin makes us human how wrong can it be?
Now updated with a new Afterword by the author, Seven Deadly Sins is a brutally honest look “at a life that could have gone horribly wrong at any turn,” and the soul-searching and self-discovery it took to set it right.
Now updated with a new Afterword by the author, Seven Deadly Sins is a brutally honest look “at a life that could have gone horribly wrong at any turn,” and the soul-searching and self-discovery it took to set it right.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
435 people are currently reading
3895 people want to read
About the author
Corey Taylor
55 books791 followersHe is the lead singer and songwriter of Slipknot and Stone Sour.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
December 17, 2014
2.5
I have been in love with Corey Taylor since the sixth grade. I never quite fit in. I always cracked the joke that no one found funny, I talked too loudly, and I was the nerd who got all A’s and actually enjoyed reading. When I first heard the song Wait and Bleed by Slipknot I knew it was for me. That song was written for me to listen to. It was meant for me to feel like I belonged to something larger than I could comprehend. It whispered in my ear and told me “It’s ok to be you.” Heavy metal has been a huge part of my life ever since. Those of you that are metal heads like me completely understand what I’m saying. It’s a lifestyle not just a music choice.
When I saw that Corey Taylor had written a book I literally squeed out loud and nearly peed my pants. Every interview with him that I had watched and his lyrics that I know inside and out led me to believe that this would be nothing short of amazing. I confess myself disappointed; severely and utterly disappointed.
In this book he is arguing that the Seven Deadly Sins are outdated and completely ridiculous. If you have read or heard any of his music you would know that he believes already that organized religion is a means to controlling the general population mostly through fear. I can’t say I don’t agree with him. I’ve never been a religious being and when I tell people I don’t believe in god I get the typical response of “There’ll come a time when…” . Well, my time came and went. I’m too stubborn to change my mind. Either way, one of the many valid points Corey makes in this book is that rape and murder aren’t even listed on these Seven Deadly Sins. Hmm…. SO you think indulging in too many chocolates is a sin, but murdering another human being isn’t?
When you break them down, as he does, you can’t help but notice how right he is.
So why the 2.5 star rating you ask? Well, I will tell you. In this book he lists his own Seven Deadly Sins and they include rape, murder and pedophilia. The one that he loses probably everyone on is bad music. I see what he means because he makes the point that the music industry is flooded with bad music. It was an industry where people needed actual talent to create music. Nowadays I could walk into a studio and hit a button and become America’s Next Pop Star. (I suppose this would have more of an effect if I explained how awful of a singer I am. Imagine the worst performance you’ve ever heard and multiply it by 9 ¾ and you’ll have meee!) I can totally see why someone like Corey Taylor would see this as a huge sin. Music is life to him and of course he hates seeing what has become of it over the years. I think this happens to everyone in their lives. Kids these days…and all of that.
MY point is that Corey just committed a sin according to his own rules. He is now coming into the book world and writing a book that is really just a long written rant. It screams “I’m important, listen to me!” He digresses more than he doesn’t and it’s so all over the place it left me feeling personally offended. I defend him constantly because people don’t understand what metal is. They say “it’s just a bunch of screaming.” And “you can’t even understand what they’re saying.” Maybe there is some sliver of truth in that, but metal is also about defining who you are. It’s about not fitting in. It’s about standing up for what you believe. It’s about getting out from underneath the crushing weight of conformity and owning your individuality. It’s about raw emotion. It’s about so much more than screaming and shouting.
Why would you write this book the way you did when for so long you’ve been asked to be taken seriously? Why would you think that just because you have the money and resources available to write a book that you should? Not even that, but it’s more of how you went about it. I’m really bothered that you think it is ok for you to write a book this way yet you are so upset that talent is no longer required to be considered a musician. It’s not ok to consider yourself an author if you write a book that reads like your run of the mill stoner conversation. “Religion man….it ruins everything{deep inhale}. They try to control us, dude.{exhale, excessive coughing] People just don’t get it!” Trust me, I had enough of those conversations in my younger days to know one when I hear one. That is what this book is.
The things I DID like. Yes, there are a few things.
Disclosure These are things that are spoken by the fan in me, not the book reader/critic. There is a clear distinction!
1.)It’s Corey Fucking Taylor so he can say what he wants
2.)The chapter on Lust was by far the best thing ever written. Hearing him talk about his sexual adventures, what he likes, what he doesn’t like (which isn’t a lot!), and all the kinky weird things that you really didn’t need to hear about had me giggling like a damn school girl in Sex Ed. I could hardly contain myself. I believe I even blushed, which if you know me, is really saying something.
3.)Finding out that we share a love of both M&M’s and Cherry Coke convinced me that he and I are in fact soul mates.
4.)His wife’s name is Stephanie. See #2 to understand further why this makes me as happy as it does. (Yes, I am being a total perv)
5.)It’s Corey Fucking Taylor
6.)He confesses that he is a giant nerd….which only further convinced me of our soul mate status.
7.)Listening to him read his book was amazing. I could listen to that voice forever.
8.)I did agree with 98.7% of the things he said in this book. (I just feel like he could have put forth better effort to make it read like an intellectual wrote it)
9.)He says that he is a keyhole into another dimension which made me think of the Dark Tower series which made me geek out on multiple levels.
10.)Corey. Fucking. Taylor.
I have been in love with Corey Taylor since the sixth grade. I never quite fit in. I always cracked the joke that no one found funny, I talked too loudly, and I was the nerd who got all A’s and actually enjoyed reading. When I first heard the song Wait and Bleed by Slipknot I knew it was for me. That song was written for me to listen to. It was meant for me to feel like I belonged to something larger than I could comprehend. It whispered in my ear and told me “It’s ok to be you.” Heavy metal has been a huge part of my life ever since. Those of you that are metal heads like me completely understand what I’m saying. It’s a lifestyle not just a music choice.
When I saw that Corey Taylor had written a book I literally squeed out loud and nearly peed my pants. Every interview with him that I had watched and his lyrics that I know inside and out led me to believe that this would be nothing short of amazing. I confess myself disappointed; severely and utterly disappointed.
In this book he is arguing that the Seven Deadly Sins are outdated and completely ridiculous. If you have read or heard any of his music you would know that he believes already that organized religion is a means to controlling the general population mostly through fear. I can’t say I don’t agree with him. I’ve never been a religious being and when I tell people I don’t believe in god I get the typical response of “There’ll come a time when…” . Well, my time came and went. I’m too stubborn to change my mind. Either way, one of the many valid points Corey makes in this book is that rape and murder aren’t even listed on these Seven Deadly Sins. Hmm…. SO you think indulging in too many chocolates is a sin, but murdering another human being isn’t?
When you break them down, as he does, you can’t help but notice how right he is.
So why the 2.5 star rating you ask? Well, I will tell you. In this book he lists his own Seven Deadly Sins and they include rape, murder and pedophilia. The one that he loses probably everyone on is bad music. I see what he means because he makes the point that the music industry is flooded with bad music. It was an industry where people needed actual talent to create music. Nowadays I could walk into a studio and hit a button and become America’s Next Pop Star. (I suppose this would have more of an effect if I explained how awful of a singer I am. Imagine the worst performance you’ve ever heard and multiply it by 9 ¾ and you’ll have meee!) I can totally see why someone like Corey Taylor would see this as a huge sin. Music is life to him and of course he hates seeing what has become of it over the years. I think this happens to everyone in their lives. Kids these days…and all of that.
MY point is that Corey just committed a sin according to his own rules. He is now coming into the book world and writing a book that is really just a long written rant. It screams “I’m important, listen to me!” He digresses more than he doesn’t and it’s so all over the place it left me feeling personally offended. I defend him constantly because people don’t understand what metal is. They say “it’s just a bunch of screaming.” And “you can’t even understand what they’re saying.” Maybe there is some sliver of truth in that, but metal is also about defining who you are. It’s about not fitting in. It’s about standing up for what you believe. It’s about getting out from underneath the crushing weight of conformity and owning your individuality. It’s about raw emotion. It’s about so much more than screaming and shouting.
Why would you write this book the way you did when for so long you’ve been asked to be taken seriously? Why would you think that just because you have the money and resources available to write a book that you should? Not even that, but it’s more of how you went about it. I’m really bothered that you think it is ok for you to write a book this way yet you are so upset that talent is no longer required to be considered a musician. It’s not ok to consider yourself an author if you write a book that reads like your run of the mill stoner conversation. “Religion man….it ruins everything{deep inhale}. They try to control us, dude.{exhale, excessive coughing] People just don’t get it!” Trust me, I had enough of those conversations in my younger days to know one when I hear one. That is what this book is.
The things I DID like. Yes, there are a few things.
Disclosure These are things that are spoken by the fan in me, not the book reader/critic. There is a clear distinction!
1.)It’s Corey Fucking Taylor so he can say what he wants
2.)The chapter on Lust was by far the best thing ever written. Hearing him talk about his sexual adventures, what he likes, what he doesn’t like (which isn’t a lot!), and all the kinky weird things that you really didn’t need to hear about had me giggling like a damn school girl in Sex Ed. I could hardly contain myself. I believe I even blushed, which if you know me, is really saying something.
3.)Finding out that we share a love of both M&M’s and Cherry Coke convinced me that he and I are in fact soul mates.
4.)His wife’s name is Stephanie. See #2 to understand further why this makes me as happy as it does. (Yes, I am being a total perv)
5.)It’s Corey Fucking Taylor
6.)He confesses that he is a giant nerd….which only further convinced me of our soul mate status.
7.)Listening to him read his book was amazing. I could listen to that voice forever.
8.)I did agree with 98.7% of the things he said in this book. (I just feel like he could have put forth better effort to make it read like an intellectual wrote it)
9.)He says that he is a keyhole into another dimension which made me think of the Dark Tower series which made me geek out on multiple levels.
10.)Corey. Fucking. Taylor.
November 15, 2015
“The seven deadly sins are bullshit.”
And so it begins… the book I’ve wanted to read the second I found out about it. And I’m so very happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed, displeased, or dissatisfied in anyway. This book is not; however, for the masses. For starters, this book is not an autobiography of Corey Taylor’s life and is not some in-depth heartfelt retelling of his life of sin. It may be a retelling of his life of sin, but it’s far from heartfelt. It’s honest, straightforward, brutal, and in your face. It’s definitely off the wall and all over the place; but that’s what makes it great.
“This book is a few parts flight, a handful of fancy, and a lot of why there is such a thing as freedom of the soul.”
This book is not only entertaining and funny as hell, but Corey Taylor’s thoughts and opinions were pretty damn great. This is where the honest and in your face comes into play. His thoughts and opinions totally go against every typical conformist belief and will more than likely succeed in offending many. I on the other hand, think he’s brilliant.
“So the misguided acts of my past have brought me to the virtues of my present and will hopefully lead me to the grace of my future. But I do not consider them “sins.” I consider the mistakes, capriciousness in the face of youthful abandon.”
The few reviews I have read on this book show people complaining about the lack of depth and how he’s one big narcissist and needs to be more socially responsible. Number one, this is Corey fucking Taylor and he’s wearing horns, smoking a cigarette, and drinking on the very front cover. What’d you expect? Number two, the man is only speaking the truth. He may be a little crazy and may not be the socially responsible human being you’d like him to be, but personally, I’ll take this Corey Taylor any day. He’s hilariously entertaining and I hope he continues writing in the future.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
And so it begins… the book I’ve wanted to read the second I found out about it. And I’m so very happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed, displeased, or dissatisfied in anyway. This book is not; however, for the masses. For starters, this book is not an autobiography of Corey Taylor’s life and is not some in-depth heartfelt retelling of his life of sin. It may be a retelling of his life of sin, but it’s far from heartfelt. It’s honest, straightforward, brutal, and in your face. It’s definitely off the wall and all over the place; but that’s what makes it great.
“This book is a few parts flight, a handful of fancy, and a lot of why there is such a thing as freedom of the soul.”
This book is not only entertaining and funny as hell, but Corey Taylor’s thoughts and opinions were pretty damn great. This is where the honest and in your face comes into play. His thoughts and opinions totally go against every typical conformist belief and will more than likely succeed in offending many. I on the other hand, think he’s brilliant.
“So the misguided acts of my past have brought me to the virtues of my present and will hopefully lead me to the grace of my future. But I do not consider them “sins.” I consider the mistakes, capriciousness in the face of youthful abandon.”
The few reviews I have read on this book show people complaining about the lack of depth and how he’s one big narcissist and needs to be more socially responsible. Number one, this is Corey fucking Taylor and he’s wearing horns, smoking a cigarette, and drinking on the very front cover. What’d you expect? Number two, the man is only speaking the truth. He may be a little crazy and may not be the socially responsible human being you’d like him to be, but personally, I’ll take this Corey Taylor any day. He’s hilariously entertaining and I hope he continues writing in the future.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
March 10, 2012
I could not bring myself to finish this book. I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters but then it started to wear thin really quick. Reminded me of talking to an annoying drunk guy at a party you can't get away from. Still a fan of his music just not his literary rumblings.
April 4, 2012
To be honest this book is pretty poor,if i was still an angry 18 year old i think i'd probably like it, but there again when i was 18 i hadn't read the Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey which is where the whole premise of this book is lifted from.In the Satanic Bible the idea that the seven deadly sins are merely part of human nature and to be harnessed for your own gain is covered in about ten pages tops, this book drags this out over the entire book interspersed with autobiographical examples of each of the sins.This entire book is a rant and whilst ranting is great when you're an angry young man, when you're a 34 year old like myself it gets tiresome and old very quickly.Due to the restrictions of the topic the author repeats himself several times and gives the impression at times that he's trying to increase his wordcount with filler.Not recommended for adults.
May 11, 2012
A strong-willed rant against organized religion (not much of an autobiography). It’s tone is a mixture of Chuck Klosterman’s (Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story) easy going story telling and the unnecessary anger of a high school dropout metalhead. It is written with 6th grade bathroom stall humor and somewhat forced college textbook philosophy. The philosophy is one-sided and filled with holes. Taylor makes some valid points about social class and politics, but rarely a sound one. Most of this book is a long rant that reads like it was written while on a three day speed bender, drinking way too much coffee, and smoking an entire carton of Marb Reds.
This book is a “gateway” book to higher thinking. I would give this book to high school “fuck ups” hoping that they would be interested in more engaging and thought provoking philosophy or sociology (unfortunately, most of these kids would probably only pick up on the surface bullshit jokes or misinterpret the key points into thinking that it’s okay to not take responsibility for their actions). I have no idea who Taylor’s audience is? One moment he is a half-ass philosopher and the next he is recounting late night "pop gossip" reruns. He has some clever one-liners, but that's about it.
Not terrible, but not anything worthwhile. I can tell that Corey Taylor is a smart and driven guy, but his points are not clear in this book. I think that he should have had a better editor.
This book is a “gateway” book to higher thinking. I would give this book to high school “fuck ups” hoping that they would be interested in more engaging and thought provoking philosophy or sociology (unfortunately, most of these kids would probably only pick up on the surface bullshit jokes or misinterpret the key points into thinking that it’s okay to not take responsibility for their actions). I have no idea who Taylor’s audience is? One moment he is a half-ass philosopher and the next he is recounting late night "pop gossip" reruns. He has some clever one-liners, but that's about it.
Not terrible, but not anything worthwhile. I can tell that Corey Taylor is a smart and driven guy, but his points are not clear in this book. I think that he should have had a better editor.
July 20, 2011
Anyone who has listened to Corey voice his opinions before had a good idea of what we were going to get when we picked up this book. Anyone who read his columns in Rock Sound or was a fan early enough to frequent an old message board years ago when 'GBM' used to post his thoughts knew we were going to get something honest, brutal, funny but something that also made you think things through a little more.
Like he mentions in the book, you don't need a degree to write about something if you have lived it, most of us wont admit to 'sins' like envy, greed and gluttony but here is this guy, who is adored by ALOT of fans, admitting to each and every one and giving us very explicit examples.
Great book Corey, I hope we get to hear more from you in this capacity again.
Like he mentions in the book, you don't need a degree to write about something if you have lived it, most of us wont admit to 'sins' like envy, greed and gluttony but here is this guy, who is adored by ALOT of fans, admitting to each and every one and giving us very explicit examples.
Great book Corey, I hope we get to hear more from you in this capacity again.
March 5, 2016
I don't even know how to rate this. First don't read it get the audio and let Corey read to you. He writes it more like he is talking to you anyway so I think it comes across best from his own mouth. There is only a slight bit of the usual rock star you won't believe I did this. Mostly breaking down the 7 deadly and making a new list. I agree with several of his points. I disagree with several of his points. if you are at all a free thinker you should end like that or the book was a waste. I don't think Corey wants people walking away saying he was right on every single point he made anyway.
July 18, 2023
This was honest, funny, sad, and, as expected, very well written. While I think at times he was a little repetitive with the points he was trying to make, this was ultimately successful and a very entertaining read. I feel fortunate to get to know more about this man's mind, past and ideas on morality, most of which I have to agree with.
July 26, 2013
The way the book is written just, with constant rambling, takes me out of the moment and makes it hard for me to stay interested.
Corey Taylor is wicked talented, there is no doubt or argument from me on that point. I just couldn't get into this book at all. The writing I found annoying and it continually took me out of the narrative.
That's not to say that I'm done with Taylor's writing. I plan on giving his new book, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven, a read, and I hope that holds my interest more.
Corey Taylor is wicked talented, there is no doubt or argument from me on that point. I just couldn't get into this book at all. The writing I found annoying and it continually took me out of the narrative.
That's not to say that I'm done with Taylor's writing. I plan on giving his new book, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven, a read, and I hope that holds my interest more.
November 30, 2016
Enjoyed that! Agree with a lot of what he says... had plenty of chuckles along the way and didn't mind being addressed as a 'kid' by Father Corey.
So, read it... blow your mind, but most importantly- enjoy your life!
So, read it... blow your mind, but most importantly- enjoy your life!
February 7, 2017
This book is tedious and pretentious. I was not even halfway through and I didn't know how I'd find the motivation to get through to the end.
Just because someone is a great singer/songwriter doesn't mean they should also write a book, and what's more, if you ARE going to write a book, advertise it more honestly as a book of your rants and musings because then people like me will be expecting to have their time wasted before they commit.
I was under the impression that this was as much about the man as his anti religious opinions. Its not autobiographical.. its just a think piece. A really long winded essay with the occasional fun anecdote thrown in to make it less numbingly boring.
He's a very talented man with words, his writing is beautifully poetic.. but this book sorely missed the mark with me.
Just because someone is a great singer/songwriter doesn't mean they should also write a book, and what's more, if you ARE going to write a book, advertise it more honestly as a book of your rants and musings because then people like me will be expecting to have their time wasted before they commit.
I was under the impression that this was as much about the man as his anti religious opinions. Its not autobiographical.. its just a think piece. A really long winded essay with the occasional fun anecdote thrown in to make it less numbingly boring.
He's a very talented man with words, his writing is beautifully poetic.. but this book sorely missed the mark with me.
June 15, 2017
I've read all of Corey Taylor's books, and loved this one the most. It's funny, thoughtful, and gives insight into his rock star lifestyle, which makes it even more engaging. I'd recommend it for, not only metal fans of the man behind the awesome Slipknot and Stone Sour bands, but also for readers interested in a discussion about whether "sin" is really, well...sin. I really love this guy as a genius musical artist, and now as an author. *horns up*
October 31, 2023
4 ⭐️ for this strongly written scream at the seven deadly sins from Corey's viewpoint. This man has lived, and whether you love/loathe him, you can't deny he has picked up some wisdom along the way. This is a very funny, often sad, and very well written account of parts of his life . Oh, and get the audio. That way, Corey can read it to you. Nothing is lost on the delivery ❤️ a x x
March 24, 2012
Like everyone else in the reviews, I expected an autobiography and some crazy tour diary of one of the world's best front-men. In a way, this IS an autobiography - not of Corey's life, but of his thoughts. I sure as hell didn't get what I came for and that's okay - I got something different.
There are some great thoughts and quotes in here. Creatively, his writing shines through crazy metaphors and his sense of humor. I like the whole idea of "sins" being an outdated dogma and coming at something in different angles.
"BUT".
This book could be a LOT more organized. Corey himself said that he wrote the entire book in two weeks. There is quite a bit of redundancy and thoughts that could be better expressed using fewer words. This makes you wonder how good of a read this would be if only he sacrificed a bit of this spontaneity.
All in all, I enjoyed this read. After picking his brain through this book, now I can see that there is an intelligent, honest, not-always-perfect-but-still-a-good-guy behind the mask.
There are some great thoughts and quotes in here. Creatively, his writing shines through crazy metaphors and his sense of humor. I like the whole idea of "sins" being an outdated dogma and coming at something in different angles.
"BUT".
This book could be a LOT more organized. Corey himself said that he wrote the entire book in two weeks. There is quite a bit of redundancy and thoughts that could be better expressed using fewer words. This makes you wonder how good of a read this would be if only he sacrificed a bit of this spontaneity.
You see, it has not really taken me very long to write this book. It all started with one chapter done in rapid fire typing and fingernails blazing. Then I finished another, and another and another.
All in all, I enjoyed this read. After picking his brain through this book, now I can see that there is an intelligent, honest, not-always-perfect-but-still-a-good-guy behind the mask.
June 5, 2012
Seven Deadly Sins presents memoirs of Corey Taylor's past, intertwined with hilarious and thought provoking ravings opposed to the idea of religious sin. This style of memoir is something I prefer as it takes no chronological order of the subject's life span, however places events within the text in relation to each topic (sin). This makes for a really interesting read. With the funniest metaphors I have heard imaginable and some completely relatable anecdotes about everyday things, like how movie nachos are not real nachos - so true. I had to stop myself from laughing out aloud (and crying in a couple of parts) whilst on a train. If you want to read something with brutal honesty and guts, then this is a book you'll enjoy. If you love thy god, probably not your cup of tea.
June 20, 2015
Well, admittedly, this was my first "famous person" memoir, and I have little doubt why I've shied away from such works in the past. Now before I dig in to Seven Deadly Sins, I'd like to say that I'm a huge fan of Corey Taylor the singer/songwriter, and have been since Slipknot's first album way back when (1999). For five years I lived in the Des Moines area and met several people that knew him at a younger age. From what I've heard about Corey, from what I've heard Corey talk about on satellite radio and during an amazing Stone Sour acoustic show in a downtown Des Moines bar/bistro, and from what I've heard other musicians share about Corey Taylor, I felt like I knew him. In fact, one of the most memorable stories I've heard was on Sirius/XM's commanding Liquid Metal channel, where two guys from The Acacia Strain [I think] shared a beautiful scene when they walked into a random karaoke bar somewhere [L.A., I believe] and were shocked to see, and hear, Corey on stage nailing Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" to a rapt, crypt-silent audience. Basically summarized, I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy this read.
Corey and I are the same age and oddly enough our childhood traumas occurred at the age of eleven. That's where the similarities basically end. While I didn't grow up in white-trash-land, didn't lose my virginity at a pre-teen age, and was never molested or raped as a kid, I grew up under different circumstances that led me into heavy metal at an early age, latching onto some of the vices Corey here embraces with rock-star hubris.*
Here Corey breaks his secrets open to share his perspectives of "sins," with the intent of sharing his personal history and, through some unarticulated use of universalism, how our childhood experiences shape us all. I've read a tremendous amount of memoir, and even wrote my own as a Master's thesis. Sadly, I find Corey's approach too rough, too chest-thumping polemical, with so many lost opportunities to dig deep into his past and truly expunge demons within his psycho-emotional makeup. Of course he's done this through music, and oftentimes he's done it incredibly, powerfully well. In this book, I almost envision him with a megaphone in his mitt. Time and time again he claims to not be bragging, but unfortunately that's how many of his stories come off to me. Dusting off my narrative therapist hat and slapping it on, I see Corey choosing his meta-theme of plasticized "deadly sins" and embracing them unabashedly, while letting loose the barest threads to WHY he is the way he is. Yes, he tries to downplay his acts with a few lines of humility, all the while going through a blue-collar form of self discovery, just as much as he shares deeply personal snippets with the same downplay. He doesn't seek sympathy and f#ck us for wanting to give him some. This is not a bad thing at all. Everyone should have a strong sense of self, but at Corey's level of stardom, I suppose I was hoping for more cerebral insight, more humanism and a striving towards catharsis, perhaps even with the help of a professional therapist, a squad of Tibetan monks, or at the very least, psychological theories and loads of research. Maybe these rock-star spectacles all follow the same path: the tough childhoods, the wanton adolescent debauchery that can last into late middle age, the "I found God/Buddha/piety" moments, all while enjoying a lap-of-luxury life? I'll never know. Here is a well-off rock star standing on a soapbox and giving middle fingers to everyone who doesn't agree, just like Jax Teller would. Fine, he's entitled, and he calls himself an asshole, but this book doesn't have half the weight as most serious memoirs do.
I've worked with kids as a counselor, many of whom had very similar traumatic and painful experiences like Corey did. Kids whose caregivers were monsters, kids who were abandoned, abused, tortured, neglected, raped. Like all of us, kids look to others as heroes and in this day and age musicians, athletes, and YouTube twits seem to hog it all. I can see this book being a helpful eyeopener for some, with the power of writing, communicating one's feelings, tackling shit head-first, learning from one's experiences to make healthier choices, etc., but for most others I could see it being a very confusing read favoring bad behaviors over healthy choices simply because "Corey survived it just fine." Yeah, he f#cked a thousand women, did a truckload of drugs, has fifty million fans, etc. and is now a husband to a saintly women and I'm guessing an awesome father to his kids. However, many, many kids do not survive such childhoods fine, and many grow up emotionally unwell, reproduce recklessly, and create cycles of trauma across generations, compounding problems within families, communities, and society at large. I'm truly glad Corey has reached the level of artistry he has. Obviously it's been a tough road with casualties along the way. No matter what, this was a brave undertaking for someone who's been through so much. I personally prefer to hear his pain and anger through music. It just resonates better.
Like I said, this was my first celebrity memoir, and I doubt I'd venture into another. Maybe ten or fifteen years from now, Corey will write a new memoir, reflecting back upon this one with wisdom and true self-reflection as grandkids bounce around his home. That, I would read.
2.5 stars
*FUN FACT: as Spotify has validated (http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/802-fea...), metal fans are the most loyal, yet least recognized group of music lovers. We know what we like, and we know why we like it, because metal strikes deep into the cerebellum of many of us, for reasons both sun-bright obvious and impenetrably secret. In the immortal lyrics of Ronnie James Dio, we're The Last in Line.
Metal for life, mofos.
May 17, 2019
Don’t go reading this if you are expecting an autobiography as it most definitely isn’t. Corey tells you a few stories from his past and you find out how he had quite a challenging, traumatic childhood. However this book is all about Corey saying how the Seven Deadly Sins are not really sins at all and gives his own view on them and his experiences of them. It sounds quite random but it’s highly entertaining. I found myself laughing and then later cringing at some parts of the book.
Corey is very opinionated and some might not agree with his points of view but he gives very good strong arguments and shows how intelligent he is which people might not expect who do not know a lot about him.
This is totally worth a read even if you are not a big fan of his music.
Corey is very opinionated and some might not agree with his points of view but he gives very good strong arguments and shows how intelligent he is which people might not expect who do not know a lot about him.
This is totally worth a read even if you are not a big fan of his music.
May 6, 2024
should've just stuck to singing... then again hes not any good at that either
August 11, 2011
As a fan of Corey Taylor's musical output I will admit to being surprised that he has chosen to write a book, especially one that does not fit the stereotype of the rock and roll frontman autobiography, i.e. i drank this and then had sex with her for 400 pages. He has for the last decade written an opinion piece in the British Music Publication Rocksound, which although the magazine does not cover my music tastes is an amusing read, which has showcased his sense of humour and his view on a wide range of issues and topics.
The overall subject matter of the publication is Taylor's view on the standard seven deadly sins from religious literature and why they are no longer applicable to the modern world. He does make several valid points and has a number of amusing anecdotes which help to reinforce his overall argument, that the 'standard' seven deadly sins are not really that sinful and that they are committed by pretty much all people regardless of their moral compass.
Taylor then offer's his own revised list of new deadly sins, which he then justifies in his own unique style. While these sins are highly subjective and are entirely Taylor's personal opinion they are thought provoking and a presented in a humorous yet serious way.
This is a well written book, which in in places genuinely funny and is well worth a read. Not a bad start to Corey Taylor's literary career.
The overall subject matter of the publication is Taylor's view on the standard seven deadly sins from religious literature and why they are no longer applicable to the modern world. He does make several valid points and has a number of amusing anecdotes which help to reinforce his overall argument, that the 'standard' seven deadly sins are not really that sinful and that they are committed by pretty much all people regardless of their moral compass.
Taylor then offer's his own revised list of new deadly sins, which he then justifies in his own unique style. While these sins are highly subjective and are entirely Taylor's personal opinion they are thought provoking and a presented in a humorous yet serious way.
This is a well written book, which in in places genuinely funny and is well worth a read. Not a bad start to Corey Taylor's literary career.
August 3, 2025
First off, I love Corey Taylor's music and I love hearing him on podcasts. That being said, this book is hot garbage.
This is basically a junior-high level interpretation of Satanism. So much of this is a straight up retread of Anton LaVey's work with more shock humor, hot takes, and attempts at comedic punchlines. Check out The Satanic Bible, the Satanic Witch, Satan Speaks by LaVey for a more mature discussion of this topic.
In this book, Taylor defines each Deadly Sin and then expounds on his own unique or watered-down definition that's easy to poke holes in. Then he proceeds to straw-man his own weak definitions before concluding that the Deadly Sin is irrelevant and misguided.
This book could have been about 75 pages after cutting out all of the punchlines, unfunny jokes, shock language, and digressions. It fails as a philosophy book because it lacks maturity and perspective. It fails as a memoir because there's only about 25 pages of that sort of thing. The fact that in a later edition of this book Taylor adds another chapter to address criticisms and complain that his readers missed his point should tell you all that you need to know about his writing chops and lack of a focused topic.
I'm now torn... I wanted to read Taylor's other book but now I'm not so sure. I really hated this book.
This is basically a junior-high level interpretation of Satanism. So much of this is a straight up retread of Anton LaVey's work with more shock humor, hot takes, and attempts at comedic punchlines. Check out The Satanic Bible, the Satanic Witch, Satan Speaks by LaVey for a more mature discussion of this topic.
In this book, Taylor defines each Deadly Sin and then expounds on his own unique or watered-down definition that's easy to poke holes in. Then he proceeds to straw-man his own weak definitions before concluding that the Deadly Sin is irrelevant and misguided.
This book could have been about 75 pages after cutting out all of the punchlines, unfunny jokes, shock language, and digressions. It fails as a philosophy book because it lacks maturity and perspective. It fails as a memoir because there's only about 25 pages of that sort of thing. The fact that in a later edition of this book Taylor adds another chapter to address criticisms and complain that his readers missed his point should tell you all that you need to know about his writing chops and lack of a focused topic.
I'm now torn... I wanted to read Taylor's other book but now I'm not so sure. I really hated this book.
February 23, 2012
I noticed one reviewer would recommend this book for satanists. And I would almost have to agree. It comes off in a way that seems like he is attempting to make some of the messed up things he has done in his life ok. It's like he is preaching to his congregation about how all the "sins" they commit are fine. He does seem to draw the line at murder, rape, child abuse and so on. In my opinion it becomes very obvious, Mr. Taylor is an athiest or even perhaps believes in a darker spiritual being. And to each his own. However, I do feel sorry for Corey. All the things he seems to attempt to do to fill a void in his life, seem like nothing more than someone needing God or some form of positive Higher Power in his life. I have listened to Slipknot and Stone Sour, and enjoy most of their music. I will continue to buy their music, going forward, I know however I will listen to it much differently now. It is very obvious the Corey is avery intellectual person. It also bcomes clear that perhaps his intelligence is what has caused him to become what he is. An over indulgent rock star, who wants to lose total control of himself and have that be ok.
August 5, 2011
Great book, fantastic read! I got stuck in as soon as we got home from the book reading. The book details the 'seven deadly sins' and how Taylor himself perceives them, he also adds snapshots from his own life throughout to show certain things which are perceived as deadly sins but which he uses to prove they are not really deadly but normal traits that normal people do all the time. He almost uses the book to reassure people that the things they feel guilty about such as slothfulness and envy are not really sinful and that we shouldn't worry about them. It is almost a bit of a self-help book for people that dont usually read self-help books.
He comes up with his own list of deadly sins which are much more sinful such as murder, things that are actually illegal and cause harm to others, he points out that the other sins are not exactly sinful, it depends on how they are implemented. I thoroughly enjoyed the book throughout and found it an easy and interesting read, it certainly gave me a lot of things to think about!
He comes up with his own list of deadly sins which are much more sinful such as murder, things that are actually illegal and cause harm to others, he points out that the other sins are not exactly sinful, it depends on how they are implemented. I thoroughly enjoyed the book throughout and found it an easy and interesting read, it certainly gave me a lot of things to think about!
August 13, 2016
Barely, barely worthy of two stars (I'm feeling magnanimous, so I'm taking into account the sparsest whispery fragmented hints of socioeconomic analysis he includes occasionally). I legitimately can't tell if Corey's this shitty at writing, or if this was written in the middle of a meth binge. I'd probably prefer the latter, given the smug, self-congratulatory tone in which this is written; at least then I could believe that Corey doesn't actually think he's a member of the intelligentsia for cracking onto a few of organized religion's inconsistencies - the ones that float around the modern North American zeitgeist, anyway. I also find the absurdly laudatory reviews sadly humorous: proof positive that people will eat up anything when it's delivered by their favorite celebrity.
June 19, 2025
Three disclaimers:
1. I have only ever not finished a book ONCE. I hate not completing things and I fight for my life to get through books I’m not loving.
2. I LOVE Slipknot.
3. I LOVE rockstar “autobiographies”.
I have never read (two chapters of) a book that tried so hard in my life.
The first time I sat down with it, I hated it, but I made concessions for him, and told myself I have to keep myself open to other mindsets. I convinced myself that it would show me a different perspective, that it’s Corey Taylor so it’s worth it to tough it out.
Luckily, I’ve learned that my brain space is valuable.
His lack of self-awareness aside, this is so poorly written and reeks of a desperate attempt to sound intellectual, yet still tosses in the r-word so purposefully.
Did not finish. Will not finish. Will stick to the tunes with this gent moving forward.
1. I have only ever not finished a book ONCE. I hate not completing things and I fight for my life to get through books I’m not loving.
2. I LOVE Slipknot.
3. I LOVE rockstar “autobiographies”.
I have never read (two chapters of) a book that tried so hard in my life.
The first time I sat down with it, I hated it, but I made concessions for him, and told myself I have to keep myself open to other mindsets. I convinced myself that it would show me a different perspective, that it’s Corey Taylor so it’s worth it to tough it out.
Luckily, I’ve learned that my brain space is valuable.
His lack of self-awareness aside, this is so poorly written and reeks of a desperate attempt to sound intellectual, yet still tosses in the r-word so purposefully.
Did not finish. Will not finish. Will stick to the tunes with this gent moving forward.
February 9, 2013
This book is brutally honest and in your face. If Corey Taylor has something to say, believe me, he says it. This book had me mesmerized from beginning to end. Actually, I read it twice. Even if your not a fan of Slipknot or Stone Sour, this is a very compelling book that you either love or hate, agree or disagree. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is a firm believer in the seven deadly sins, because Corey dissects the so called sins one by one calling bullshit on each of them while adding his own perspective and talking about his own personal experiences. Corey is a very well spoken individual and you can hear his voice while reading this, almost as if he is in the room reading it to you. Highly recommended!!
October 27, 2022
Truly awful. I love Slipknot but Corey is by no means an author. I was under the illusion this was going to be about the story of his life and about Slipknot. Unfortunately that's about 5% of the book, and whilst those parts are interesting, the rest is only worth skimming through at best. He seems to think he's a one part philosopher, one part Hunter S Thompson. I wish he'd just written a blow by blow book about his struggles growing up and how he broke through these with music - now that would've been something. I applaud his bravery in trying a different approach (especially in a world where everyone seems to have a bio), but for me he fell short. I hope it doesn't spoil the music too!
November 22, 2012
I love this book. And I'm also a faithful church going Christian. The concept that he's preaching is actually quite accurate if you ask me.and there's also some really good advice for someone who may be feeling lost if they find themselves in a similar situation. His stories at hilarious. It's extremely vulgar, that's something you are either cool with or you are, Ian find with it. This is one of my faves, I've read it time and time again.
August 5, 2011
Absolutely fantastic. An amazing read. I laughed so hard and I agreed with pretty much all of his ideas/ideals. This was a big surprise and I hope to see more of the same from Mr. Corey F****** Taylor!
November 8, 2011
The reviews I've seen of this book around the web amuse me.
It's Corey Taylor. What the hell did you expect, a book about his love for rainbows and puppies? Have you actually listened to his lyrics?
Full review to come.
It's Corey Taylor. What the hell did you expect, a book about his love for rainbows and puppies? Have you actually listened to his lyrics?
Full review to come.
July 25, 2019
We all know that Corey Taylor is rude, obnoxious and highly opinionated which makes his books far more entertaining than they should be. For most, this book would be highly offensive, but to be fair, a lot of his opinions make sense. Seven Deadly Sins is a book designed to make you think, and sometimes you'll even laugh at loud. We all know what these sins are, and let's be honest here, they are a little outdated. You don't even have to agree with him about any of this, but the book is still a worthy read that makes you forget that this is the guy from Slipknot. He comes off sometimes as abrasive, but that's just who he is. We got the unfiltered guy who decided to write a book, and he did a decent job in keeping things focused.
It's a testament to his talent. While most people may not like his music, you can enjoy this book because it's written for those who are looking for something different, a new way to look at the world around them. Why not start with a book debunking the seven deadly sins? The points he makes intertwine with his own personal experience to give them more weight and to add a bit of honesty to them. When you look at these sins you begin to see they aren't all that deadly at all. Most of us knew this going in, but some people of course don't or maybe even don't care. What you take away from the book is entirely up to you. In the end, you may not even agree with the guy, but at least you didn't waste your time reading a boring book written by someone just looking to bash your head in with boring facts that have no real use or validity.
I may not like Slipknot, I do like Taylor's writing. His personality bleeds through the pages and you can sense the honesty he puts into it. He's not out to change the world, but maybe he is. The idea is to get people to think for themselves, to see the world not as it is, but as it could be. There are those who find this book boring, and often frustrating because of his opinions, but that to me is what makes it so good. This is a guy who doesn't care what you think about him, or maybe he does. The whole point of the book though is to show these sins as what they are which is total bullshit.
It's a testament to his talent. While most people may not like his music, you can enjoy this book because it's written for those who are looking for something different, a new way to look at the world around them. Why not start with a book debunking the seven deadly sins? The points he makes intertwine with his own personal experience to give them more weight and to add a bit of honesty to them. When you look at these sins you begin to see they aren't all that deadly at all. Most of us knew this going in, but some people of course don't or maybe even don't care. What you take away from the book is entirely up to you. In the end, you may not even agree with the guy, but at least you didn't waste your time reading a boring book written by someone just looking to bash your head in with boring facts that have no real use or validity.
I may not like Slipknot, I do like Taylor's writing. His personality bleeds through the pages and you can sense the honesty he puts into it. He's not out to change the world, but maybe he is. The idea is to get people to think for themselves, to see the world not as it is, but as it could be. There are those who find this book boring, and often frustrating because of his opinions, but that to me is what makes it so good. This is a guy who doesn't care what you think about him, or maybe he does. The whole point of the book though is to show these sins as what they are which is total bullshit.
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