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Neil Diamond, Solitary Star
Profiles the successful popular singer and songwriter
324 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 29, 2026
I’m Gen X, so growing up, I heard Neil Diamond, and I love his song writing. My mom met him back in 1975 and became an instant fan (he was very pleasant, polite, and quiet and since my mom is too, it was a good interaction). I grew up listening to him. So I was very excited to come across this biography at a library book sale.
I’m on the fence about this book. On one hand, it was fascinating, with a lot of great detail about Neil’s albums, songs, and touring. Stories of making the recordings and the production. The making of Hot August Night, one of the better live albums ever.
I also liked that it was not a story that focused on Neil’s personal life. Jaye and Marcia Diamond were mentioned, but the biography didn’t focus on them (it ended with 1986). I didn’t want tawdry stories. Well, that’s not true; I want all the dirt. But the better part of me was happy it focused on the artist and the man and not his romantic partners or children, who deserve privacy.
What I did not like was that the biographer seemed to actively dislike his subject. The tone was negative. Neil Diamond is notoriously hard to nail down, as he is a very private person. But the author seemed to take this personally, along with the fact that Diamond didn’t cooperate with the biography.
So I’m giving the book four stars for detail and research, but three stars for the lack of objectivity, which averages out to 3.5 stars, but Goodreads only does whole stars, so here you go.
I’m on the fence about this book. On one hand, it was fascinating, with a lot of great detail about Neil’s albums, songs, and touring. Stories of making the recordings and the production. The making of Hot August Night, one of the better live albums ever.
I also liked that it was not a story that focused on Neil’s personal life. Jaye and Marcia Diamond were mentioned, but the biography didn’t focus on them (it ended with 1986). I didn’t want tawdry stories. Well, that’s not true; I want all the dirt. But the better part of me was happy it focused on the artist and the man and not his romantic partners or children, who deserve privacy.
What I did not like was that the biographer seemed to actively dislike his subject. The tone was negative. Neil Diamond is notoriously hard to nail down, as he is a very private person. But the author seemed to take this personally, along with the fact that Diamond didn’t cooperate with the biography.
So I’m giving the book four stars for detail and research, but three stars for the lack of objectivity, which averages out to 3.5 stars, but Goodreads only does whole stars, so here you go.
October 5, 2024
I have no great passion for Neil Diamond's music but there was a fair amount of it around my world early years because my mom liked him and one her friends liked him. The read was interesting I have grown to appreciate some of his music unique figure. I would love additional writing about his sessions with Rick Rubin. He has been called the Jewish Elvis or he aspired to be the Jewish Elvis interesting story....
April 23, 2026
Very informative, you learned another side of Neil. Alot of collaboration on his songs, his work ethic surprised me with the way he is on stage. I wish it was in more of a story format.
July 16, 2012
I don't think mr wiseman likes neil diamond very much, he certainly did not interview many other people who did either. Would not advise any fans to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews