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Every Little Step: My Story
For the first time ever, the controversial and polarizing bad boy of R&B tells the raw and unvarnished story of his life from New Edition to Whitney and beyond. In MY PREROGATIVE, Brown will for the first time tell the full story of his life and set the record straight, particularly about his relationship with Whitney Houston.
Bobby Brown has been one of the most compelling American artists of the past 30 years, a magnetic and talented figure who successfully crossed over many musical genres, including R&B and hip hop, as well as the mainstream. In the late 1980s, the former front man of New Edition had a wildly successful solo career-especially with the launch of DON'T BE CRUEL-garnering multiple hits on the Billboard top ten list, as well as several Grammy, American Music, and Soul Train awards. But Brown put his career on hold to be with the woman he loved-American music royalty Whitney Houston. The marriage between Brown and Houston was perhaps the most closely watched and talked about marriage of the 1990's-a pairing that obsessed the public and the gossip industry. Now, for the first time, the world will be able to hear the truth from the mouth of America's "bad boy" himself. Raw and powerful, MY PREROGATIVE is the story of a man who has been on the top of the mountain and in the depths of the valley and who is now finally ready to talk about his career and family life, from the passion and the excess to his creative inspirations and massive musical success.
On the process of writing this book, Bobby says, "Right after I signed on to write my story, I went through one of the most agonizing traumas I had ever experienced with the death of my daughter. But I was surprised by how therapeutic it was to work on this project, to look at the entire arc of my life and to realize that although there has been considerable pain, I have also been incredibly blessed. I hope my fans and other readers of this book will be entertained by this trip into the crazy, exciting, fascinating world of Bobby Brown. And I hope they will feel that I have been as honest and open with them in these pages as I have tried to be my entire life."
Bobby Brown has been one of the most compelling American artists of the past 30 years, a magnetic and talented figure who successfully crossed over many musical genres, including R&B and hip hop, as well as the mainstream. In the late 1980s, the former front man of New Edition had a wildly successful solo career-especially with the launch of DON'T BE CRUEL-garnering multiple hits on the Billboard top ten list, as well as several Grammy, American Music, and Soul Train awards. But Brown put his career on hold to be with the woman he loved-American music royalty Whitney Houston. The marriage between Brown and Houston was perhaps the most closely watched and talked about marriage of the 1990's-a pairing that obsessed the public and the gossip industry. Now, for the first time, the world will be able to hear the truth from the mouth of America's "bad boy" himself. Raw and powerful, MY PREROGATIVE is the story of a man who has been on the top of the mountain and in the depths of the valley and who is now finally ready to talk about his career and family life, from the passion and the excess to his creative inspirations and massive musical success.
On the process of writing this book, Bobby says, "Right after I signed on to write my story, I went through one of the most agonizing traumas I had ever experienced with the death of my daughter. But I was surprised by how therapeutic it was to work on this project, to look at the entire arc of my life and to realize that although there has been considerable pain, I have also been incredibly blessed. I hope my fans and other readers of this book will be entertained by this trip into the crazy, exciting, fascinating world of Bobby Brown. And I hope they will feel that I have been as honest and open with them in these pages as I have tried to be my entire life."
336 pages, ebook
Published June 13, 2016
406 people are currently reading
2031 people want to read
About the author
Bobby Brown
28 books22 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Bobby Brown is a R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer and actor. Brown began his career with the pop band New Edition in 1982. His signature hit My Prerogative was released in 1988 followed by a Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance. Brown was married to the late pop star Whitney Houston for 14 years. Their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, died in 2015. Brown has six children and is currently married to manager Alicia Etheredge.
Bobby Brown is a R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer and actor. Brown began his career with the pop band New Edition in 1982. His signature hit My Prerogative was released in 1988 followed by a Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance. Brown was married to the late pop star Whitney Houston for 14 years. Their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, died in 2015. Brown has six children and is currently married to manager Alicia Etheredge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
June 14, 2016
This book was true to what I know of Bobby Brown. Some of his stories were so outlandishly hilarious that they bordered on sounding completely unreal. However, when one considers the source, you can kind of assume he's not lying. There was triumph, tragedy, and lots of interesting tidbits. I've always wondered why Bobby kept silent for so long. Perhaps for the sake of his late wife and his late daughter? He certainly told his side of things with this memoir.
Ladies and gents, the king of R&B. :)
Ladies and gents, the king of R&B. :)
April 5, 2017
Just wow!!!
Bobby let it all out in this book. It was great to get to know him on a personal level. He told it all. He discussed his loves, his fears, the drug use, his marriage and his lost. Say what you want about Bobby, he without a doubt has made many mistakes but he is just a man trying to make it through life. This book left me with a strong admiration for his strength through his many struggles, losing Whitney and the ultimate heartache of losing his child. I'm rooting for him and hoping he continues his journey successfully. I definitely recommend this book.
Bobby let it all out in this book. It was great to get to know him on a personal level. He told it all. He discussed his loves, his fears, the drug use, his marriage and his lost. Say what you want about Bobby, he without a doubt has made many mistakes but he is just a man trying to make it through life. This book left me with a strong admiration for his strength through his many struggles, losing Whitney and the ultimate heartache of losing his child. I'm rooting for him and hoping he continues his journey successfully. I definitely recommend this book.
June 14, 2016
An American Classic to be honest. Get into it.
February 9, 2017
I'll admit, I am an incorrigible fan of biographies, but I've discovered that biographies are usually one of two things: profound hits or astronomical misses; often filled with so much fluff the story gets lost in loads of overzealous and gregarious bull. So when a copy of Every Little Step was made available to me, I was excitedly hesitant. I questioned whether I'd even read this book, after all, I knew this story. In fact, the entire world knew this often sordid, perhaps morbid, story. For over a decade Bobby Brown, and ultimately Whitney Houston (as a couple), were headline fodder. Their lives were broadcast as a national or romantic tragedy on the evening news, supermarket tabloids, and sadly, their short-lived reality television show, Being Bobby Brown.
Already steeped in a methodically, if not intentionally, developed controversy, Bobby Brown became infamously iconic through the dismally painted images he willfully projected: Pop singer, reality star, Whitney Houston's husband, and father. His nauseating story played out in the media but never gave us a full image or explanation of the man. We often wondered if he knew himself or if he was simply a chameleon who changed his colorful facade to meet the moment. The jury is still out, even after reading Every Little Step.
Bobby built a reputation as a 'bad-boy,' but it limits the shallow depth of a much more complex character. He carried it -- that bad boy image -- and indeed, after thirty public years of wearing that proverbial and penetrating mask, it became his honest demeanor, bolted in a safe and protected by demons resembling padlocks. His world revolved around extremism, over indulgence, and the therapeutic attempt to conceal pains that clawed at his being. He states:
TO SOME DEGREE, I UNDERSTAND. THAT'S HOW PUBLIC IMAGES WORK. THEY SLAP A LABEL ON YOU, AND THAT'S WHO YOU ARE-- THE FACTS BE DAMNED. EARLY ON, I CEMENTED MY REPUTATION AS THE "BAD BOY OF R & B." AND IT STUCK. FOR THE MOST PART, I EMBRACED IT--FOR THIRTY YEARS. IT WAS FUN -- WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND FOOLISH. BUT NOW THAT LABEL; FEELS TOO ONE-DIMENSIONAL.
It was easy to lose himself in sex, drugs, and music; to falter as a father, husband, and musician; to flounder in the land of Oz, just long enough for the world (and himself) to believe it. Being Bobby Brown (both the show and the person) was a platform; a diving board on the deep end of the shark infested pool. He jumped, after Whitney, according to legend, jumped first. Unfortunately, they hadn't realized, until the currents pulled them further from safety and sanity, that they couldn't swim. There wasn't too much more we wanted or, perhaps, needed to hear. Yes, another biography, I decided, that would become a 'half read.'
But then the surprise. With Nick Chiles' word wonderment, Brown's biography sizzled then unexpectedly exploded. Despite a plethora of predictable and almost surreal events, Every Little Step astonishingly delivered. Readers are taken through the maze of "life according to Bobby Brown" and are presented the opportunity to amble through the jigsaw pieces of his madness. Revealed during this trek is what had long been hidden and many essential curiosities are answered, yet some of the revelations seem too convenient and occasionally it is questioned whether the book represents a real person or the person he truly wanted to be. Indeed there is proof of his antics and some clues that point to actual occurrences, but some of the events are forced and seem to be included more for dramatic effect than comprehensive information.
Every Little Step can essentially be summed up as the story of two luxurious ships. One is fantastically pristine with a wooden deck that glistened like polished gold under the Pacific coast sun and the other, of equal magnificence, but moving in circles under a dismal and constant shade of gray, attempting to share a small Roxbury-Newark pond. Which ship represented who is up for individual interpretation. But little can be gleaned from the book which merely highlights the highlights.
Every Little Step was mammoth, larger than the superstar players that controlled their kingdom with mythological fervor. Bobby and Whitney's roles were almost, perhaps mostly, make-believe; bitter, blind, ignorant, faithful, prophetic, and destructive. The dissolving of the family and the under-appreciation of their height of fame was certain to disappear. It was only on loan; only temporary, and they had no idea. So much, according to the book, was squandered, and the chaos from years of their animated immaturity and abuses cover each page like locusts in a wheat field. There were moments when we didn't know whether to laugh, cry, cheer, or turn our backs. We did all of the above because we had no choice.
We know this story, maybe better than we should. But like most fairytales happier endings exist, and Bobby, seeing the possible end of an unforgiving road, attires himself in battered armor, relinquishes his every worldly possession, and sets out to start again. Sadly, and almost as if by a sinister curse, the whole of his former life is inexplicably extinguished, and once again with all the glitter gone, he is back where he started with nothing but material proof of where he'd been.
Already steeped in a methodically, if not intentionally, developed controversy, Bobby Brown became infamously iconic through the dismally painted images he willfully projected: Pop singer, reality star, Whitney Houston's husband, and father. His nauseating story played out in the media but never gave us a full image or explanation of the man. We often wondered if he knew himself or if he was simply a chameleon who changed his colorful facade to meet the moment. The jury is still out, even after reading Every Little Step.
Bobby built a reputation as a 'bad-boy,' but it limits the shallow depth of a much more complex character. He carried it -- that bad boy image -- and indeed, after thirty public years of wearing that proverbial and penetrating mask, it became his honest demeanor, bolted in a safe and protected by demons resembling padlocks. His world revolved around extremism, over indulgence, and the therapeutic attempt to conceal pains that clawed at his being. He states:
TO SOME DEGREE, I UNDERSTAND. THAT'S HOW PUBLIC IMAGES WORK. THEY SLAP A LABEL ON YOU, AND THAT'S WHO YOU ARE-- THE FACTS BE DAMNED. EARLY ON, I CEMENTED MY REPUTATION AS THE "BAD BOY OF R & B." AND IT STUCK. FOR THE MOST PART, I EMBRACED IT--FOR THIRTY YEARS. IT WAS FUN -- WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND FOOLISH. BUT NOW THAT LABEL; FEELS TOO ONE-DIMENSIONAL.
It was easy to lose himself in sex, drugs, and music; to falter as a father, husband, and musician; to flounder in the land of Oz, just long enough for the world (and himself) to believe it. Being Bobby Brown (both the show and the person) was a platform; a diving board on the deep end of the shark infested pool. He jumped, after Whitney, according to legend, jumped first. Unfortunately, they hadn't realized, until the currents pulled them further from safety and sanity, that they couldn't swim. There wasn't too much more we wanted or, perhaps, needed to hear. Yes, another biography, I decided, that would become a 'half read.'
But then the surprise. With Nick Chiles' word wonderment, Brown's biography sizzled then unexpectedly exploded. Despite a plethora of predictable and almost surreal events, Every Little Step astonishingly delivered. Readers are taken through the maze of "life according to Bobby Brown" and are presented the opportunity to amble through the jigsaw pieces of his madness. Revealed during this trek is what had long been hidden and many essential curiosities are answered, yet some of the revelations seem too convenient and occasionally it is questioned whether the book represents a real person or the person he truly wanted to be. Indeed there is proof of his antics and some clues that point to actual occurrences, but some of the events are forced and seem to be included more for dramatic effect than comprehensive information.
Every Little Step can essentially be summed up as the story of two luxurious ships. One is fantastically pristine with a wooden deck that glistened like polished gold under the Pacific coast sun and the other, of equal magnificence, but moving in circles under a dismal and constant shade of gray, attempting to share a small Roxbury-Newark pond. Which ship represented who is up for individual interpretation. But little can be gleaned from the book which merely highlights the highlights.
Every Little Step was mammoth, larger than the superstar players that controlled their kingdom with mythological fervor. Bobby and Whitney's roles were almost, perhaps mostly, make-believe; bitter, blind, ignorant, faithful, prophetic, and destructive. The dissolving of the family and the under-appreciation of their height of fame was certain to disappear. It was only on loan; only temporary, and they had no idea. So much, according to the book, was squandered, and the chaos from years of their animated immaturity and abuses cover each page like locusts in a wheat field. There were moments when we didn't know whether to laugh, cry, cheer, or turn our backs. We did all of the above because we had no choice.
We know this story, maybe better than we should. But like most fairytales happier endings exist, and Bobby, seeing the possible end of an unforgiving road, attires himself in battered armor, relinquishes his every worldly possession, and sets out to start again. Sadly, and almost as if by a sinister curse, the whole of his former life is inexplicably extinguished, and once again with all the glitter gone, he is back where he started with nothing but material proof of where he'd been.
April 23, 2017
…what has been said about me has been speculation from people who didn’t know what they were talking about. It’s usually wrong—and usually intended to make me look bad.
…That’s how public images work. They slap a label on you and that’s who you are—the facts be damned.
…Coming from the projects, to me money did mean everything—it was always a major motivating force in my life. But what happens when that motivator is taken away? What’s going to drive you if you were raised in the suburbs and didn’t want for anything? Money can make you soft, entitled, lazy….
Talking about a tell all! I’m surprised I haven’t read about Bobby Brown being sued for slander by those pissed off because Bobby Brown allowed us to see them for who they are!
Every Little Step was an enjoyable read and I appreciated Bobby Brown’s candor. Though I always understood his bad boy act was a ruse or what some may call show business. Bobby Brown learned the hard way that most people don’t have the intellect to separate the on-stage persona from the off-state persona and how the on-stage persona and how Bobby Brown, himself, didn’t, realize how the on-stage persona would stick.
Bobby Brown had no delusion of his behavior and had the courage to share it with us.
Bobby Brown appeared to have given an honest account of his life from pre-teen through the writing of the book. Every Little Step was a great read and I highly recommend that everyone who enjoys reading memoirs to add it to their to-read list. Bobby Brown’s story was amusing and heartbreaking simultaneously.
One thing in particular of the many things I took away from the book is how many celebrities who came from improvised backgrounds make the same mistakes. Instead of starting their own traditions they take on the traditions of those from other cultures. To me it shows how they run away from the culture that made them who they are, the good and the bad, giving the illusion that they can be that which they can never be and will never be because they will always be perceived as the culture to which they were born.
…That’s how public images work. They slap a label on you and that’s who you are—the facts be damned.
…Coming from the projects, to me money did mean everything—it was always a major motivating force in my life. But what happens when that motivator is taken away? What’s going to drive you if you were raised in the suburbs and didn’t want for anything? Money can make you soft, entitled, lazy….
Talking about a tell all! I’m surprised I haven’t read about Bobby Brown being sued for slander by those pissed off because Bobby Brown allowed us to see them for who they are!
Every Little Step was an enjoyable read and I appreciated Bobby Brown’s candor. Though I always understood his bad boy act was a ruse or what some may call show business. Bobby Brown learned the hard way that most people don’t have the intellect to separate the on-stage persona from the off-state persona and how the on-stage persona and how Bobby Brown, himself, didn’t, realize how the on-stage persona would stick.
Bobby Brown had no delusion of his behavior and had the courage to share it with us.
Bobby Brown appeared to have given an honest account of his life from pre-teen through the writing of the book. Every Little Step was a great read and I highly recommend that everyone who enjoys reading memoirs to add it to their to-read list. Bobby Brown’s story was amusing and heartbreaking simultaneously.
One thing in particular of the many things I took away from the book is how many celebrities who came from improvised backgrounds make the same mistakes. Instead of starting their own traditions they take on the traditions of those from other cultures. To me it shows how they run away from the culture that made them who they are, the good and the bad, giving the illusion that they can be that which they can never be and will never be because they will always be perceived as the culture to which they were born.
March 25, 2017
Bobby Brown as a person never impressed me much, he was simply a man married to Whitney Houston. To my surprise, I was shocked with the misconceptions about him as a person, he had to endure a lot to be seen in the public eye at the age of 14. Now I am aware that he was in a vocal group, New Edition but honestly never really had interest to hear any of his music. Mainly because I never knew much about him to determine whether his music appealed to me or not. Back to the review, this really changed my opinion about Bobby Brown and the assumptions I had about him.
Told with vulnerability, Brown takes the reader on a journey on how he became famous. Listening to all types of music compelled him to go into the music world. Being introduced to sex and drugs at a young age, he had a rough life growing up in the ghetto. Yet it did not sway him from pursuing music as a career, with supportive parents he took his fame into new heights. There were many highlights of this book, but the main one was the chapter on how he met the late Whitney Houston. Brown quickly dispels the myths about their relationship, by stating that the media gives him a hard time and blames him for Whitney drug usage. I actually felt sorry for him reading how he was treated, especially learning that Houston had severe problems before she met him. Clearly it was evident that he loved her to death, thus it was hard reading through the chapters how he overcome her death.
Losing close relatives right next to him was hard to imagine, it just seemed like if it was not one thing than it was another. I have a new fond of respect of Brown, this is one of the best memoirs I read about someone's life, a lot of things I knew nothing about.
I will recommend this to anyone who wants to know about him as a person, do not let the media define your perception about him.
Told with vulnerability, Brown takes the reader on a journey on how he became famous. Listening to all types of music compelled him to go into the music world. Being introduced to sex and drugs at a young age, he had a rough life growing up in the ghetto. Yet it did not sway him from pursuing music as a career, with supportive parents he took his fame into new heights. There were many highlights of this book, but the main one was the chapter on how he met the late Whitney Houston. Brown quickly dispels the myths about their relationship, by stating that the media gives him a hard time and blames him for Whitney drug usage. I actually felt sorry for him reading how he was treated, especially learning that Houston had severe problems before she met him. Clearly it was evident that he loved her to death, thus it was hard reading through the chapters how he overcome her death.
Losing close relatives right next to him was hard to imagine, it just seemed like if it was not one thing than it was another. I have a new fond of respect of Brown, this is one of the best memoirs I read about someone's life, a lot of things I knew nothing about.
I will recommend this to anyone who wants to know about him as a person, do not let the media define your perception about him.
October 13, 2016
giving this 3.5 stars ~ it was entertaining! So the question is....who should read this book?? Fans of Bobby Brown. I grew up in the New Edition/Bobby Brown era. My friends and I knew all the dance moves from the Every Little step video >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0FKz... <<<< just went and watched it and that was a trip down memory lane!
Anyway - my opinion on this book...it was only written so Bobby could tell his side of the Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina story - which was interesting. He would never have publicly said these things if either of them had been alive. Sadly, he only touched on his early life with New Edition and solo touring a little, they were so young!!! Although once he hit stardom, how many stories can you tell about sleeping around and the behind the scenes drama of managing a boy band that quote "thought we were gangsters".
The book had many guest appearances throughout - parts written by friends and family. Again, interesting!! I can understand how he wanted to try and set the record straight what with the media coming down on him and Whitney their whole marriage. But as he admitted to, their life was a mess! And it all ended tragically. If you want a glimpse of that, here it is.
Anyway - my opinion on this book...it was only written so Bobby could tell his side of the Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina story - which was interesting. He would never have publicly said these things if either of them had been alive. Sadly, he only touched on his early life with New Edition and solo touring a little, they were so young!!! Although once he hit stardom, how many stories can you tell about sleeping around and the behind the scenes drama of managing a boy band that quote "thought we were gangsters".
The book had many guest appearances throughout - parts written by friends and family. Again, interesting!! I can understand how he wanted to try and set the record straight what with the media coming down on him and Whitney their whole marriage. But as he admitted to, their life was a mess! And it all ended tragically. If you want a glimpse of that, here it is.
June 23, 2016
This was an interesting read, and a fast one, but I felt like there was information missing and incomplete. He was very honest about his failures and successes, which I appreciated. I would have liked to have read more about New Edition, especially his life-long friendship with Ralph Tresvant, but those years were shortchanged so he could spend several chapters trashing Whitney Houston and her family. The interludes from his children, family, and friends were a nice touch.
June 4, 2018
I started out with the audio version of this book and 2 minutes and 35 seconds in, I said out loud to myself...."what in the hell were they thinking?" I felt like Bobby was not the best choice to read his story, but then I thought about it. It's HIS story....whom better to tell it. So after getting over my snobbish reaction to his unedited reading skills, I was floored. I really didn't know much about Bobby Brown (outside of his music), but like the majority of the world, I credited him with Whitney's downfall. After hearing his story, I feel really shitty about my judgment and assumptions.
Bobby is just a guy trying to get through this life like the rest of us, of course, money and fame makes it a hell of a lot harder. He's been through so much in his life and suffered so much lost. I think I have a new found respect for "The Original King of R&B".
Bobby is just a guy trying to get through this life like the rest of us, of course, money and fame makes it a hell of a lot harder. He's been through so much in his life and suffered so much lost. I think I have a new found respect for "The Original King of R&B".
June 30, 2016
This book was actually way better than I anticipated it to be. I have a new found respect for Bobby after reading this.
September 21, 2018
I'll be the first to admit that I've always viewed Bobby Brown as a over the top jerk who acts without thinking and could care less about anyone else. After I finished reading his biography, however, I realize that he is an actual person who have managed to survive and thrive despite being faced with tragedy.
Throughout the course of the book, the reader is given a front row seat to Bobby's childhood as well as the start of his music career, his role as a member of New Edition and his eventual solo career. I enjoyed that throughout the book, Bobby provides essays from friends and family on their perspective on events during certain points on his life to add clarity and contrast to the life experience he's written about.
It was also interesting to read Bobby's perspective on his and Whitney's relationship as well as the untimely deaths of Whitney and his daughter Bobbi. While Bobby remains strong, he is still grieving and will probably be grieving such losses for the rest of his life.
If you choose to read this book, I would recommend you read this book with an open mind: don't read this book looking to blame Bobby or Whitney, view this book as a tale of success, love, and loss.
Throughout the course of the book, the reader is given a front row seat to Bobby's childhood as well as the start of his music career, his role as a member of New Edition and his eventual solo career. I enjoyed that throughout the book, Bobby provides essays from friends and family on their perspective on events during certain points on his life to add clarity and contrast to the life experience he's written about.
It was also interesting to read Bobby's perspective on his and Whitney's relationship as well as the untimely deaths of Whitney and his daughter Bobbi. While Bobby remains strong, he is still grieving and will probably be grieving such losses for the rest of his life.
If you choose to read this book, I would recommend you read this book with an open mind: don't read this book looking to blame Bobby or Whitney, view this book as a tale of success, love, and loss.
July 15, 2016
I am going to be real I didn't think I would like this book but I really enjoyed it. It was written as if you were hanging out with Bobby and he was telling you about different things that happened in his life. Bobby Brown is a character which I think made this book that much better to read. Do I believe everything in the book??? I don't know but I didn't live the life he did and it is his perspective of how things were. I would definitely recommend this book though.
July 17, 2016
I really enjoyed how well this book was put together. It was as if Bobby Brown was having a conversation with his readers. Its was filled with laughter and pain. I recommend to fans.
September 13, 2016
What a life!! Great book, and so glad Bobby Brown finally put his story out!
February 26, 2024
The whole story of Whitney Houston is sad. As with Robyn Crawford, I'm glad Bobby has found love and happiness!!
August 30, 2016
INTRO: This book is NOT appropriate for children. He glorifies drugs, alcohol and illicit sex with no remorse or maturity.
BAD: A financial ripoff! It's over 330 pages. But after nearly every chapter there is a "pro-Bobby essay" from his relatives, friends and music colleagues. One of the essays (10 pages) is written by his former mistress (now wife). Then there's a lot of very negative stuff about Whitney, of course. The remainder of the text is 1.5 spaced instead of single-spaced, thus increasing the pages and asking price of the book. If this was really an autobiography, it would've been LESS than 100 pages.
GOOD: The biggest reason I gave this book 3 stars is because BB is the ONLY person who has ever suggested that WH's finances/career were mismanaged by C.Davis! No one has had the courage to say this. Overall, the book has some lies, inconsistencies and self-aggrandizement as could be expected by BB and his current wife.
CONCLUSION: This book is mildly entertaining, written by a 50-year old hasbeen singer. It seems like nothing more than a vengeful, jealous attack on WH's professional image. Let's face it. If it weren't for the mention of WH's name, pain and shame, this book would NOT sell. Seeing that BB has no real career, this autobiography is little more than an EBT card for the 3 young children he has by his 42-year wife. (Now I'm hoping that Robyn might someday publish a fair, balanced book on WH.)
BAD: A financial ripoff! It's over 330 pages. But after nearly every chapter there is a "pro-Bobby essay" from his relatives, friends and music colleagues. One of the essays (10 pages) is written by his former mistress (now wife). Then there's a lot of very negative stuff about Whitney, of course. The remainder of the text is 1.5 spaced instead of single-spaced, thus increasing the pages and asking price of the book. If this was really an autobiography, it would've been LESS than 100 pages.
GOOD: The biggest reason I gave this book 3 stars is because BB is the ONLY person who has ever suggested that WH's finances/career were mismanaged by C.Davis! No one has had the courage to say this. Overall, the book has some lies, inconsistencies and self-aggrandizement as could be expected by BB and his current wife.
CONCLUSION: This book is mildly entertaining, written by a 50-year old hasbeen singer. It seems like nothing more than a vengeful, jealous attack on WH's professional image. Let's face it. If it weren't for the mention of WH's name, pain and shame, this book would NOT sell. Seeing that BB has no real career, this autobiography is little more than an EBT card for the 3 young children he has by his 42-year wife. (Now I'm hoping that Robyn might someday publish a fair, balanced book on WH.)
September 19, 2016
Bobby Brown tells his side of the story, how Whitney introduced him to cocaine, how he made the decision to get off of drugs and how he tried to get Whitney to stop. How he wished he had been a better father to Bobbi Christina and ultimately how he remarried and found the love and peace he had been looking for. Read: September 2016
June 18, 2016
I enjoyed this
August 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this surprisingly..... he tells his life story which was really interesting. How he started the group, all the money he made, going out on his own, the relationships with his band members, relationships with women, marriage to Whitney Houston...... I would def recommend this book.
August 12, 2016
This reads like Bobby wrote it himself . . . in a not so good way. It was written with a co-author, who does a lot of these as-told-to books, but it doesn't seem like he's done much here other than present (very) lightly edited transcripts of interviews. It's also padded out quite a bit with interviews with other random people in Bobby's life, including his brother, some of his kids and Ralph Tresvant.
There's a huge emphasis on gossip, particularly as it relates to the deaths of Whitney and Bobbi Kristina, but also various celebrities he banged back in the day, including Janet Jackson and Madonna. There's relatively little on his time with New Edition or even the massive success of Don't Be Cruel. Some of the stuff on his relationship with Whitney is kinda interesting, but it mostly just confirms what you already suspected, and you can never really know what to believe and what not to believe. Of course he either denies or glosses over anything that reflects poorly on him personally, and who's even alive anymore to confirm or deny? All of the best celebrities are dead now. All we've got it MFN Beyoncé. LOL
There's a huge emphasis on gossip, particularly as it relates to the deaths of Whitney and Bobbi Kristina, but also various celebrities he banged back in the day, including Janet Jackson and Madonna. There's relatively little on his time with New Edition or even the massive success of Don't Be Cruel. Some of the stuff on his relationship with Whitney is kinda interesting, but it mostly just confirms what you already suspected, and you can never really know what to believe and what not to believe. Of course he either denies or glosses over anything that reflects poorly on him personally, and who's even alive anymore to confirm or deny? All of the best celebrities are dead now. All we've got it MFN Beyoncé. LOL
November 8, 2016
Bobby was a bubble ready to burst! I'm glad he finally had the opportunity to share it. Believe me, he has no cut cards in this book. He seemed very honest about his tough upbringing in Boston, and being with the group New Edition. He shares his side about his marriages to Whitney Houston and his current wife, and he doesn't hold back about the baby mama drama he's experienced nor with his opinions about the entertainment industry's impact on his life. Having grown up with no guidance or role models, his freedoms were used to do whatever he so desired- right or wrong. Therefore, he was a man who had to learn everything from experience. Although Hollywood depicts Bobby Brown as a bad boy; after reading his book, I’d depict him (back-then), as a troubled young man in need of parental guidance and genuine love. Through all of Bobby’s highs and lows, he seems to be a man who finally came into his own after many trials and painful losses. I’m glad Bobby extended the invitation for us to take a look inside his life and judge for ourselves.
April 11, 2023
Re listening to this years after it came out and it is absolutely heartbreaking to know Bobby Jr is no longer with us. Not as heartbreaking to know Nick Gordon is no longer with us. May Pat Houston and everyone else who didn't have Bobbi Kris's best interests in mind have a horrible rest of their lives. Bobby has been through so much. I wish him and Alecia and all of the kids the best.
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I can honestly say I look at Bobby in a different way now. A very good read about his life as a young teenager in New Edition and his ups and downs as an adult. He spilled some really juicy t on his marriage to Whitney. Of course the media had everyone thinking he put her on to drugs when she was on them before he came along. He talked about Bobbi Kris's death which was hard to read as she was so young and it wasn't that long ago when she passed. I like that throughout the book his kids, friends, and wife had small parts where they talked. Thank God for Alecia coming into Bobby's life when she did. Love those two together. If you grew up with Bobby Brown then you'll love this book.
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I can honestly say I look at Bobby in a different way now. A very good read about his life as a young teenager in New Edition and his ups and downs as an adult. He spilled some really juicy t on his marriage to Whitney. Of course the media had everyone thinking he put her on to drugs when she was on them before he came along. He talked about Bobbi Kris's death which was hard to read as she was so young and it wasn't that long ago when she passed. I like that throughout the book his kids, friends, and wife had small parts where they talked. Thank God for Alecia coming into Bobby's life when she did. Love those two together. If you grew up with Bobby Brown then you'll love this book.
October 4, 2016
This book was awesome.. It was excellent. It told the story of Mr. Brown's life through his eyes. I believe he told his truth from his childhood until the loss of his beloved Bobbi Kristina. The media portrayed this man as a beast however he was human and had a heart. There was a lot of cursing and language from the streets but Bobby kept it real. This is a great gift for a avid book reader.
August 3, 2016
This book was moderately interesting because of Whitney Houston and, by extension, Bobbi Kristina. Bobby Brown made one good album in the 1980s. He's made a lot of mistakes. I suspect he's a narcissist, and that's my armchair diagnosis. What I do know is that he's a windbag.
Read this if you really loved Whitney Houston.
Read this if you really loved Whitney Houston.
February 23, 2021
WOW...Bobby gave us a lot in this book....I did really appreciate his truth in this 9 hour audio book....I really feel this Story was overwhelming filled with love....you can really see how big this guy's heart really is....I really believe he loves his family & friends hard. I enjoyed listening to him account his story.
July 20, 2016
I enjoyed this book. The only problem I had with it is that I listened to it on audio....for some reason Bobby sounded like this was his first time reading the book.... his reading wasn't fluid, it was choppy like he had to read each word 1 by 1, like he was sounding the word out.
February 7, 2017
I was hoping to get more in depth stories about his New Edition days and solo career, but that part felt glossed over to spend more time on his drama days with Whitney. Probably what other people want in this bio, but not me.
June 14, 2016
I listened to this book and it was interesting to get his perspective from his mouth.
August 9, 2016
GREAT BOOK
July 20, 2017
Very eye-opening.
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