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Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story
The definitive biography of musician Harry Chapin, a modern-day Woody Guthrie, selfless humanist, and poet laureate to cabdrivers, housewives, and common folk alike, written by a longtime friend and confidant. Chapin is known for his ballads and "story songs," among them his signature song, the hugely popular "Taxi." He died in an auto crash in 1981, just as his fame was burgeoning and his albums were selling out in record stores. Though the broader recognition due him has been late in coming, his music, his beliefs, and his social activism are now widely appreciated by increasing numbers of fans here and abroad.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionMusic
480 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
65 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Peter Morton Coan
11 books7 followersPeter Morton Coan (b. 1956) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and adopted and raised by an affluent Jewish family in Manhattan. After graduating high school he befriended singer-songwriter Harry Chapin offering to write his biography. Like the movie Almost Famous, he went on to spend the next seven years traveling with Chapin and his band all the while attending college—the University at Buffalo and later Boston University. He is the former Executive Editor of World Tennis magazine and Boating Industry magazine. He is married with two daughters and lives in Manhattan.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 27, 2020
I highly recommend this biography written by Harry’s actual biographer who traveled with Chapin and interviewed colleagues, friends, and family for years. It becomes clear why Sandy fought its publication. Be sure to watch YouTube videos of songs mentioned to extend your reading experience.
“Oh all the times I’ve listened and all the times I’ve heard
All the melodies I missing, and all the magic words,
And all those potent voices, and the choices we had then,
How I’d love to find we had that kind of choice again.”
“Oh all the times I’ve listened and all the times I’ve heard
All the melodies I missing, and all the magic words,
And all those potent voices, and the choices we had then,
How I’d love to find we had that kind of choice again.”
September 11, 2013
Very good book. Loved reading about his life, his music and humanitarian work. I have always been a fan of his. And more of a fan after this book. True loss to the world of music and for what he did to help put end of child hunger. Highly recommend book
March 16, 2009
It wasn't the best written book, but I loved Harry Chapin and enjoyed learning more about him.
October 17, 2009
I've read this before, at least twice, and am moved every time by the words, by the man, and by the man's words.
November 25, 2013
A great book, almost 500 pages. I was almost sad when it ended. absorbing book about Harry's life, loves of his life and all of his humanitarian work.
May 31, 2017
I am big Harry Chapin fan and its a fantastic bio
December 31, 2023
It was honestly tough to give this book a rating because it had many aspects that I found highly enjoyable, but was not particularly well written. I'm giving it a 3.5 rounded up to 4, and it is an obvious must-read for any fan of HC. I picked this up recently because my parents were visiting me and we listened to a few Chapin songs that I heard many times as a kid; I heard the lyrics differently through my late 30s adult ears and started wondering about what made this man tick. He clearly had an old soul in a young person's body, and this book helped me to understand how the remarkable creature that Harry Chapin was, was formed.
On the positive side:
-overall, this book has so much heart and it's painfully clear that Coan adored and admired Harry. That love comes through very clearly
-there are clear and intimate descriptions of Harry and those close to him, which really helped me to understand what made him tick
-Coan's chronology of Harry's discography and overlays of songs with what was happening in Harry's life at the time he wrote memorable songs was very interesting and helpful
-it felt like there was really a lack of censorship about the raw and unfiltered way in which Harry expressed himself (even if it wasn't always flattering to Harry to portray him accurately)
-I found the long road of trial and error that led to Harry's eventual hard-fought / hard-won stardom so interesting (I grew up listening to Chapin with my parents and never would have guessed that there was so much tumult and uncertainty in his younger years, and that he really had his own "Hamburg period" of learning what audiences responded to)
-the description of the Chapin family dynamics when Harry was growing up. I also grew up listening to Tom Chapin (who primarily wrote kid's songs) and it was interesting hearing about Tom as the kid brother when he was also such a fixture in my house when I was a kid
-the evolution of Harry's humanitarian efforts and how much of himself he poured into them
On the negative:
-overall, this book needed a editor who loved Harry and the material as much as Coan did. It almost felt like reading someone's journal, which was part of the fun, but also made certain parts of it tough to follow -- almost like reading the books in the Bible that are just lists of names of people with no other context. Interesting, but hard to follow and not broadly applicable
-It felt like sometimes there was a lack of integration at the end of chapters -- of tying together broader themes
-perhaps this is just me, but the first half of the book felt really compelling, while I struggled to get through the last 150 pages
I am incredibly curious to hear what Sandy's current thoughts on the book are because I can certainly understand why she didn't want this published (even though I think Coan treated her very fairly in his portrayal).
On the positive side:
-overall, this book has so much heart and it's painfully clear that Coan adored and admired Harry. That love comes through very clearly
-there are clear and intimate descriptions of Harry and those close to him, which really helped me to understand what made him tick
-Coan's chronology of Harry's discography and overlays of songs with what was happening in Harry's life at the time he wrote memorable songs was very interesting and helpful
-it felt like there was really a lack of censorship about the raw and unfiltered way in which Harry expressed himself (even if it wasn't always flattering to Harry to portray him accurately)
-I found the long road of trial and error that led to Harry's eventual hard-fought / hard-won stardom so interesting (I grew up listening to Chapin with my parents and never would have guessed that there was so much tumult and uncertainty in his younger years, and that he really had his own "Hamburg period" of learning what audiences responded to)
-the description of the Chapin family dynamics when Harry was growing up. I also grew up listening to Tom Chapin (who primarily wrote kid's songs) and it was interesting hearing about Tom as the kid brother when he was also such a fixture in my house when I was a kid
-the evolution of Harry's humanitarian efforts and how much of himself he poured into them
On the negative:
-overall, this book needed a editor who loved Harry and the material as much as Coan did. It almost felt like reading someone's journal, which was part of the fun, but also made certain parts of it tough to follow -- almost like reading the books in the Bible that are just lists of names of people with no other context. Interesting, but hard to follow and not broadly applicable
-It felt like sometimes there was a lack of integration at the end of chapters -- of tying together broader themes
-perhaps this is just me, but the first half of the book felt really compelling, while I struggled to get through the last 150 pages
I am incredibly curious to hear what Sandy's current thoughts on the book are because I can certainly understand why she didn't want this published (even though I think Coan treated her very fairly in his portrayal).
August 11, 2022
What a legend
I am in awe of this man although sadly, before getting this book, I was also a "Harry who?" person. Having heard some of his music but never having our such a legend behind the music seems so sad.
This book tells the story of a super-hyperactive Harry Chapin, no holds barred, all bones bared with all his humanity naked for the world to see and appreciate, yet appreciated far too little and too late.
It also shows how an incredible author out so much time and passion into telling the world about the incredible story-teller, musician and humanitarian.
I am in awe of this man although sadly, before getting this book, I was also a "Harry who?" person. Having heard some of his music but never having our such a legend behind the music seems so sad.
This book tells the story of a super-hyperactive Harry Chapin, no holds barred, all bones bared with all his humanity naked for the world to see and appreciate, yet appreciated far too little and too late.
It also shows how an incredible author out so much time and passion into telling the world about the incredible story-teller, musician and humanitarian.
December 8, 2022
I could not finish the book. It dragged on and on with numerous examples of how dysfunctional Harry Chapin was in society. The author could have stated that he had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cut out at least a third of the book. I am so sorry because I loved the songs Harry wrote and sang his willingness to give to others and was very upset when I learned of his car accident which took his life.
March 5, 2023
Can I make this 4.5 stars? I really, r-e-a-l-l-y liked the book. But there were a few editing glitches (typos that slipped through?) that made my inner-editor wince.
I've been a fan of Harry's music since as far back as I can remember, but there was all this behind-the-scenes and underlying and in-the-background things that I never knew. Thank you, Mr. Coan, for showing the man behind the music. I used to admire him; now I'm in awe.
I've been a fan of Harry's music since as far back as I can remember, but there was all this behind-the-scenes and underlying and in-the-background things that I never knew. Thank you, Mr. Coan, for showing the man behind the music. I used to admire him; now I'm in awe.
May 27, 2023
Harry Chapin — human being of note
I’ve been a Chapin fan for decades. Harry was amazing. Like a match that gave all the light he had and burned out too quickly, his charities and foundations are his legacy. What an incredible ball of energy and love.
I’ve been a Chapin fan for decades. Harry was amazing. Like a match that gave all the light he had and burned out too quickly, his charities and foundations are his legacy. What an incredible ball of energy and love.
December 31, 2018
Love Chapin
Learned a lot about the man. We come from different political spectrums, yet I admire him greatly. I loved learning more about Harry, the man.
Learned a lot about the man. We come from different political spectrums, yet I admire him greatly. I loved learning more about Harry, the man.
November 4, 2020
Gapin Chapin !
Interesting and informative book - I really did not know what happened to Harry Chapin - maybe a little too detailed but a good read
Interesting and informative book - I really did not know what happened to Harry Chapin - maybe a little too detailed but a good read
August 9, 2010
"I never had a sense I was going to be star-crossed, or had a destiny. But I always had a sense of hunger, of desire, that life was to be used." -Harry Chapin
"Still, I had a vision that there should be some moments od absolute effortlessness where all the happy-ending movies came true. Where you were living a musical, where, at the right moment, the girl came around the corner, the orchestra struck up a beautiful chord, the camera rolled and focused on her gorgeous eyes and she smiled at you, and then, for the first time, you knew everything was right with the world." -Harry Chapin
"You know, Jim, when someone tells me something can't be done, what they're really saying is that they can't do it. That doesn't mean I can't." -Harry Chapin
"Nothing is worthwhile unless you are involving other people in an experience where they are stimulated to have an experience of their own...I believe that because you learn to fly doesn't mean that you go off on your own trip. You have the personal responsibility to turn around and reach out your hand to teach somebody else to fly too." -Sandy Chapin
"I believe the genius of America is a collective genius of all different kinds of people working together, maybe having to make some compromises, but arriving at decisions on an open basis rather than have small groups of leaders sit in board rooms and make decisions for all of us." -Harry Chapin
"Well my basic message is involvment. Selfishness doesn't score. History isn't changed by a bunch of people sitting safely in their rooms." -Harry Chapin
"But then I started to realize that, like anything else, you have to do things and not assume there's going to be one moment when it all falls into place. It's an effort if I'm going to be a person who wants to do things, and that when things are not easy I still do 'em and not find excuses." -Harry Chapin
"I was working on the external agenda of being an institutionalized good guy. But I realized I wasn't solving my personal questions. I realized you can be a hero to the world, profit the multitudes and still be a louse or a nonfactor in terms of home." -Harry Chapin
"It was like the encore of a play, with all the cast marshaled for the final curtain call."
"Still, I had a vision that there should be some moments od absolute effortlessness where all the happy-ending movies came true. Where you were living a musical, where, at the right moment, the girl came around the corner, the orchestra struck up a beautiful chord, the camera rolled and focused on her gorgeous eyes and she smiled at you, and then, for the first time, you knew everything was right with the world." -Harry Chapin
"You know, Jim, when someone tells me something can't be done, what they're really saying is that they can't do it. That doesn't mean I can't." -Harry Chapin
"Nothing is worthwhile unless you are involving other people in an experience where they are stimulated to have an experience of their own...I believe that because you learn to fly doesn't mean that you go off on your own trip. You have the personal responsibility to turn around and reach out your hand to teach somebody else to fly too." -Sandy Chapin
"I believe the genius of America is a collective genius of all different kinds of people working together, maybe having to make some compromises, but arriving at decisions on an open basis rather than have small groups of leaders sit in board rooms and make decisions for all of us." -Harry Chapin
"Well my basic message is involvment. Selfishness doesn't score. History isn't changed by a bunch of people sitting safely in their rooms." -Harry Chapin
"But then I started to realize that, like anything else, you have to do things and not assume there's going to be one moment when it all falls into place. It's an effort if I'm going to be a person who wants to do things, and that when things are not easy I still do 'em and not find excuses." -Harry Chapin
"I was working on the external agenda of being an institutionalized good guy. But I realized I wasn't solving my personal questions. I realized you can be a hero to the world, profit the multitudes and still be a louse or a nonfactor in terms of home." -Harry Chapin
"It was like the encore of a play, with all the cast marshaled for the final curtain call."
March 31, 2014
Great singer. Great humanitarian. Unfortunately the biography itself is not nearly as intriguing as Harry Chapin deserved. It's simply a chronological nearly run-on recitation that's, at best, very basic on every literary level. The writing lacks imagination. And it definitely needed a good editor and an even better proofreader. Having said all that, just listen to Chapin's music. It tells so many great stories and almost every one of them is better than the book about the man. How sad.
September 12, 2011
It took me many years to be objective about his song "Cat's in the Cradle" because it was so overplayed on the new FM stations of his day. Now it sounds timeless and relevant. His short life was fascinating, with his approach to life not quite what one would expect. His humanitarian efforts preceded Bono by 30 years and were about as effective, unfortunately.
April 18, 2012
I read this book in my freshman year of high school as part of our "Person of the Millennium" project. I have been listening to Harry Chapin's records for years and I believe he is one of the finest songwriters of all time. I found his biography to be as engaging as his songs. The only reason why gave this book a 4 instead of a 5 is because I question the accuracy of some of the passages.
January 14, 2015
One star short...informative, fed my interest, stoked my musical and socially-conscious heart, but it lacked the poetry I know was part of Harry Chapin's soul.
August 9, 2013
I don't read much nonfiction, but I was interested to learn more about Chapin's life. The book paints an interesting picture of an unusual man, and it adds more meaning to his music for me.
April 22, 2021
I love Harry Chapin's music, but this book did not shed a ton of positive light on anyone, including the author himself. Everyone was all over the place, no consistency in anyone's behavior.
May 24, 2023
Good Insight
I was glad to finally get around to reading the book. I held off for years worried I’d like him less if I knew him better, but that was a poor assumption.
I was glad to finally get around to reading the book. I held off for years worried I’d like him less if I knew him better, but that was a poor assumption.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews