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More Myself: A Journey
An intimate, revealing look at one artist’s journey from self-censorship to full expression.
As one of the most celebrated musicians of our time, Alicia Keys has enraptured the nation with her heartfelt lyrics, extraordinary vocal range, and soul-stirring piano compositions. Yet away from the spotlight, Alicia has grappled with private heartache―over the challenging and complex relationship with her father, the people-pleasing nature that characterized her early career, the loss of privacy surrounding her romantic relationships, and the oppressive expectations of female perfection.
Since her rise to fame, Alicia’s public persona has belied a deep personal truth: she has spent years not fully recognizing or honoring her own worth. After withholding parts of herself for so long, she is at last exploring the questions that live at the heart of her story: Who am I, really? And once I discover that truth, how can I become brave enough to embrace it?
More Myself is part autobiography, part narrative documentary. Alicia’s journey is revealed not only through her own candid recounting, but also through vivid recollections from those who have walked alongside her. The result is a 360-degree perspective on Alicia’s path―from her girlhood in Hell’s Kitchen and Harlem, to the process of self-discovery she’s still navigating.
In More Myself, Alicia shares her quest for truth―about herself, her past, and her shift from sacrificing her spirit to celebrating her worth. With the raw honesty that epitomizes Alicia’s artistry, More Myself is at once a riveting account and a clarion call to readers: to define themselves in a world that rarely encourages a true and unique identity.
As one of the most celebrated musicians of our time, Alicia Keys has enraptured the nation with her heartfelt lyrics, extraordinary vocal range, and soul-stirring piano compositions. Yet away from the spotlight, Alicia has grappled with private heartache―over the challenging and complex relationship with her father, the people-pleasing nature that characterized her early career, the loss of privacy surrounding her romantic relationships, and the oppressive expectations of female perfection.
Since her rise to fame, Alicia’s public persona has belied a deep personal truth: she has spent years not fully recognizing or honoring her own worth. After withholding parts of herself for so long, she is at last exploring the questions that live at the heart of her story: Who am I, really? And once I discover that truth, how can I become brave enough to embrace it?
More Myself is part autobiography, part narrative documentary. Alicia’s journey is revealed not only through her own candid recounting, but also through vivid recollections from those who have walked alongside her. The result is a 360-degree perspective on Alicia’s path―from her girlhood in Hell’s Kitchen and Harlem, to the process of self-discovery she’s still navigating.
In More Myself, Alicia shares her quest for truth―about herself, her past, and her shift from sacrificing her spirit to celebrating her worth. With the raw honesty that epitomizes Alicia’s artistry, More Myself is at once a riveting account and a clarion call to readers: to define themselves in a world that rarely encourages a true and unique identity.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published March 31, 2020
1507 people are currently reading
19881 people want to read
About the author
Alicia Keys
65 books1,676 followersPassionate about my work, in love with my family and dedicated to spreading light. It's contagious! ;-)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,935 reviews
April 9, 2020
More myself is the perfect title for this book. This book is about every aspect of Alicia Keys’ life. Her journey as a woman, mother, wife and becoming who she is today. It is a beautiful journey and very relatable. It is also...... very boring. I didn’t go into this book looking for drama or a hugely interesting story. I really didn’t know what to except but I did think it would be interesting. I thought she might talk about how she was able to have such a wonderful relationship with her husband’s ex- wife, how she was able to deal with some negative aspects of being famous. I was wrong. I didn’t hate this book, it just wasn’t for me.
April 9, 2020
Listened to the audio which included a star studded line up of readers. Remarkable reflective life, admire her on so many fronts. Was a wonderful audio experience.
March 31, 2020
So here’s the thing, I like Alicia Keys, I think her music is fantastic, she seems cool, but I was not into this book. Everything about this book felt so surface level to me. There was nothing in the book that felt brand new to me. At one point, she describes the rules of The Voice, which I feel like anyone who paid for this book would know. She talks so much about her relationship with Prince but somehow it felt so impersonal. I wanted more depth from this book that I just didn’t get at all unfortunately.
April 18, 2020
I have purchased every single one of Alicia Keys’ albums. I’ve seen her perform live twice. I tuned in when she performed original work on Def Poetry and when she hosted the Grammy Awards. I’ve bought every magazine she’s been on the cover of. I am a true Alicia Keys fan, and I’ve always been in her corner.
Unfortunately, I felt like her book was merely a brag fest of her accomplishments, awards, and her and her husband’s outlandish contests to outdo each other when it comes to birthdays. I expected more; I wanted more. What I learned in Alicia Keys’ journey are all the things I already knew from magazine articles and television interviews.
In the book, I felt like she was constantly patting herself on the back for her woke-ness, her activism, her singing, her song writing, her EVERYTHING. I think it’s healthy to believe in yourself, but this journey just felt like a narcissistic love letter to all her accomplishments. Her journey felt like revisionist history...it reminds me of Dr. Dre and his role in bringing Straight Outta Compton to the big screen...in the film they conveniently forgot to mention that he used to beat his woman. I feel like Alicia left out all the ugly, and just focused entirely on how wonderful she is. She touched very vaguely on the Mashonda controversy, but only to make herself appear like the bigger person.
I came away feeling this book was just a superficial homage to her life. So, so disappointing. I gave her two stars because I love her music, but I’m not sure this book deserved even two stars...
Unfortunately, I felt like her book was merely a brag fest of her accomplishments, awards, and her and her husband’s outlandish contests to outdo each other when it comes to birthdays. I expected more; I wanted more. What I learned in Alicia Keys’ journey are all the things I already knew from magazine articles and television interviews.
In the book, I felt like she was constantly patting herself on the back for her woke-ness, her activism, her singing, her song writing, her EVERYTHING. I think it’s healthy to believe in yourself, but this journey just felt like a narcissistic love letter to all her accomplishments. Her journey felt like revisionist history...it reminds me of Dr. Dre and his role in bringing Straight Outta Compton to the big screen...in the film they conveniently forgot to mention that he used to beat his woman. I feel like Alicia left out all the ugly, and just focused entirely on how wonderful she is. She touched very vaguely on the Mashonda controversy, but only to make herself appear like the bigger person.
I came away feeling this book was just a superficial homage to her life. So, so disappointing. I gave her two stars because I love her music, but I’m not sure this book deserved even two stars...
June 18, 2020
To sum it up in one word: boring.
Alicia does not have the type of career or life that warrants a biography. She’s simply not compelling enough despite being very talented.
She had a great opportunity to come clean about dating a man who was not yet divorced (his divorce was finalized in 2010 and they married the SAME year. TRASH) but chose to paint herself as the “coparenting hero”.
Since I’m an equal opportunity hater and know it takes two to tango, her husband Swizz Beatz bears the major part of the blame and should have finalized his divorce before his involvement with another woman. We see you, ol Toucan Sam lookin a**. 😒
Truly disappointed in her and this saccharine-filled book of boredom.
Alicia does not have the type of career or life that warrants a biography. She’s simply not compelling enough despite being very talented.
She had a great opportunity to come clean about dating a man who was not yet divorced (his divorce was finalized in 2010 and they married the SAME year. TRASH) but chose to paint herself as the “coparenting hero”.
Since I’m an equal opportunity hater and know it takes two to tango, her husband Swizz Beatz bears the major part of the blame and should have finalized his divorce before his involvement with another woman. We see you, ol Toucan Sam lookin a**. 😒
Truly disappointed in her and this saccharine-filled book of boredom.
June 25, 2020
I have grown up listening to Alicia Keys and she has been such an inspiration. She is amazingly talented and I enjoyed this memoir about her life, family and career.
April 7, 2020
The first few chapters where we learn about Alicia’s beginnings were nice. Everything else was either a self-glorification or a detailed description of how lavishly she and her husband celebrate each others birthdays and similar occasions. I really did not need a list of their wedding guests nor a history lesson about Egypt, or the Trump campaign. I’m a really big fan of Alicia but this book was disappointing to say the least. A superficial touch on events in her life and a lot of name dropping. I do feel like this was not her honest intention but it just came off that way and left me mostly bored and skipping through chapters.
April 13, 2020
First, let me just say that Alicia deserves every bit of recognition and appraise she gets from her music, to her persona, to this newly released book. I had no idea that she had such a complex story to share - let alone so similar to my own.
She brings us on a journey through her life growing up in the little condo in New York City - Hell's kitchen - and discusses the struggles her mother faced being a single parent and hustling around to make enough to provide. Above that, she's had to overcome challenges with her father being out of the picture, providing for his second wife and children. She had to deal with many issues of abandonment and loneliness. One thing I found so relatable was that she leans on music for comfort through this loneliness and pain.
Of course, she showed us the many struggles that musicians face in the music industry - self image, being seen through the public eye, meeting other people's expectations, trying to fit in to the current trends. What I love about Alicia is how resilient she is. She faced struggles about how to respond to these issues, but she still chose to keep her identity and rise above it, and I think that is so important.
She had challenges with relationships but the relationship she had that broke my heart was when she was talking about the passing of her grandmother. I literally started balling my eyes out, because I could sense the amount of pain she must have been feeling based on her word choice and the way she mentioned her throughout the book. This made her so much stronger, because with pain comes strength and I think that's a great life lesson to learn from.
Honestly, I loved this book. I read the entire thing in two days, and saw some of herself in me. I think most of us can agree that during some point in our lives we come to the question: who am I really? Being in my 20's, still relatively new to being an adult and figuring out who I am, she really made me feel like I'm not alone and there are ways to cope. She is so beautiful and resilient and I am so proud of her. I have been a fan since her first debut - Fallin'. When I was a little girl, I remember singing it in the car with my siblings. "No one" and "Brand New Me" still rank as my favorites, but you can't go wrong with any of her songs, because she is so original. The fact that she writes all her own music while playing the piano really has lots to say about her talent, and the explanation for all her success and grammy awards.
I want to thank her for sharing her growth and experiences with the world, because I really feel like she has impacted me in a significant way. After she discussed how she went to Egypt because she needed that time for herself - a chance to heal and listen to her inner voice - that really made me want to hop in my car and drive as far away from here as possible, because I can relate to feeling that way all the time! It's unfortunate that many woman don't see their true independence and strength and just take a break from the world and say "I'm doing this for me because I'm worth it". She represents the exact image of what it means to be a woman: strong, powerful, resilient, beautiful, and unique.
I loved this book so much, and would highly recommend! If you aren't already a fan, you will be when you're done reading this!
She brings us on a journey through her life growing up in the little condo in New York City - Hell's kitchen - and discusses the struggles her mother faced being a single parent and hustling around to make enough to provide. Above that, she's had to overcome challenges with her father being out of the picture, providing for his second wife and children. She had to deal with many issues of abandonment and loneliness. One thing I found so relatable was that she leans on music for comfort through this loneliness and pain.
Of course, she showed us the many struggles that musicians face in the music industry - self image, being seen through the public eye, meeting other people's expectations, trying to fit in to the current trends. What I love about Alicia is how resilient she is. She faced struggles about how to respond to these issues, but she still chose to keep her identity and rise above it, and I think that is so important.
She had challenges with relationships but the relationship she had that broke my heart was when she was talking about the passing of her grandmother. I literally started balling my eyes out, because I could sense the amount of pain she must have been feeling based on her word choice and the way she mentioned her throughout the book. This made her so much stronger, because with pain comes strength and I think that's a great life lesson to learn from.
Honestly, I loved this book. I read the entire thing in two days, and saw some of herself in me. I think most of us can agree that during some point in our lives we come to the question: who am I really? Being in my 20's, still relatively new to being an adult and figuring out who I am, she really made me feel like I'm not alone and there are ways to cope. She is so beautiful and resilient and I am so proud of her. I have been a fan since her first debut - Fallin'. When I was a little girl, I remember singing it in the car with my siblings. "No one" and "Brand New Me" still rank as my favorites, but you can't go wrong with any of her songs, because she is so original. The fact that she writes all her own music while playing the piano really has lots to say about her talent, and the explanation for all her success and grammy awards.
I want to thank her for sharing her growth and experiences with the world, because I really feel like she has impacted me in a significant way. After she discussed how she went to Egypt because she needed that time for herself - a chance to heal and listen to her inner voice - that really made me want to hop in my car and drive as far away from here as possible, because I can relate to feeling that way all the time! It's unfortunate that many woman don't see their true independence and strength and just take a break from the world and say "I'm doing this for me because I'm worth it". She represents the exact image of what it means to be a woman: strong, powerful, resilient, beautiful, and unique.
I loved this book so much, and would highly recommend! If you aren't already a fan, you will be when you're done reading this!
May 18, 2020
Probably more like a 3.5⭐️ but the audiobook is so damn good.
July 30, 2020
I'm a fan of Alicia Keys; she's actually one of my favorite musicians. That said, I never planned to read this memoir of hers. Celebrity tell-alls aren't my thing so More Myself: A Journey wasn't on my radar until I randomly stumbled across a YouTube video of Alicia reading an excerpt. The excerpt she read, the book's opening chapter, had me completely captivated and I immediately went and put the book on hold at my library.
For the most part, I enjoyed this read - especially the first half. Alicia is an interesting person who has led an interesting life. I learned a lot about her as an artist and also about the music industry and the process of creating an album from start to finish. For that "behind the scenes" insight alone I would recommend this book to anyone interested in pursuing a career in music. (And, conversely, if you have zero interest in how albums are made, probably best to steer clear because at least 40% of this book is about song writing and producing!) I liked hearing the stories behind each of her songs; learning what inspired them and then playing them on Spotify and getting to listen with a new perspective.
There were parts of her memoir, however, that really rubbed me the wrong way. Her tone, at times, came across as pretty pompous and self-important ... almost as if she was trying too hard - which is ironic, given how often she spouts authenticity and realness as her primary objectives. I guess I just found her really hard to relate to. She writes about her jet-setting lifestyle, her celebrity friends, her whirlwind courtship with her husband Swizz (spoiler: for their first date, he flew in an entire collection of paintings from France and created a private gallery for her to tour) ... and all of it just seemed SO unnecessarily over the top. Another reviewer referred to it as a "brag fest" and yeah, it definitely had that vibe. I haven't read many celebrity memoirs but the few that I have read left me feeling more connected to the author, like I'd just sat down with them over coffee and we were now good pals. I definitely didn't feel that way upon finishing this. I got the sense while reading that Alicia is the kind of person I might respect and admire from afar, but we'd never be besties. We're just too different.
3 stars.
For the most part, I enjoyed this read - especially the first half. Alicia is an interesting person who has led an interesting life. I learned a lot about her as an artist and also about the music industry and the process of creating an album from start to finish. For that "behind the scenes" insight alone I would recommend this book to anyone interested in pursuing a career in music. (And, conversely, if you have zero interest in how albums are made, probably best to steer clear because at least 40% of this book is about song writing and producing!) I liked hearing the stories behind each of her songs; learning what inspired them and then playing them on Spotify and getting to listen with a new perspective.
There were parts of her memoir, however, that really rubbed me the wrong way. Her tone, at times, came across as pretty pompous and self-important ... almost as if she was trying too hard - which is ironic, given how often she spouts authenticity and realness as her primary objectives. I guess I just found her really hard to relate to. She writes about her jet-setting lifestyle, her celebrity friends, her whirlwind courtship with her husband Swizz (spoiler: for their first date, he flew in an entire collection of paintings from France and created a private gallery for her to tour) ... and all of it just seemed SO unnecessarily over the top. Another reviewer referred to it as a "brag fest" and yeah, it definitely had that vibe. I haven't read many celebrity memoirs but the few that I have read left me feeling more connected to the author, like I'd just sat down with them over coffee and we were now good pals. I definitely didn't feel that way upon finishing this. I got the sense while reading that Alicia is the kind of person I might respect and admire from afar, but we'd never be besties. We're just too different.
3 stars.
August 24, 2020
Finally a book that I’ve loved and can recommend to everyone! Alicia Keys is not only a talented musician, singer and songwriter but she’s got a depth to her that I truly admire and aspire to! In my opinion, this book is up there with Michelle Obama, Glennon Doyle, Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert. I listened to this book and would recommend that you do too. Don’t speed it up.... take the time to learn at a slower pace and be soothed by her voice and wisdom.
Some favorite quotes that resonated with me and that I want to remember:
“It dawned on me how often I’d suppressed myself over the years, how I dim my light so it wouldn’t blind others or make them uncomfortable around me.”
“At certain moments, I even dumbed myself down or chose not to talk about the many blessings I had received. I fear that if I shared my experience in its entirety, if I took the lid off my joy, it would push others away or make them feel small.”
“Some parts of my spirit was always signing up for less because that is what I believed I deserved. For so many years I thought I was just being modest. I never wanted to come across as self absorbed. It’s how we women are brought up; don’t ask for more, don’t take credit, don’t outshine others.”
“My alleged modesty was just a disguise, a mask for a lack of self worth. It was a huge revelation. For me, the seed of worthlessness was planted in childhood.”
“And when I reveal my true heart, not everyone is going to approve. What I know know is that I don’t need them to.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment when we internalize others assessments; it’s usually not just a single experience but rather a series of moments that bruise the spirit and lead us to distrust ourselves and those around us. And then we wake up at 17 or 25 or 37 and realize we don’t know the last time we’ve lived life to only please ourselves.”
“An aha moment is not a happy ending-it’s an open doorway, one you have to choose to walk through.”
Some favorite quotes that resonated with me and that I want to remember:
“It dawned on me how often I’d suppressed myself over the years, how I dim my light so it wouldn’t blind others or make them uncomfortable around me.”
“At certain moments, I even dumbed myself down or chose not to talk about the many blessings I had received. I fear that if I shared my experience in its entirety, if I took the lid off my joy, it would push others away or make them feel small.”
“Some parts of my spirit was always signing up for less because that is what I believed I deserved. For so many years I thought I was just being modest. I never wanted to come across as self absorbed. It’s how we women are brought up; don’t ask for more, don’t take credit, don’t outshine others.”
“My alleged modesty was just a disguise, a mask for a lack of self worth. It was a huge revelation. For me, the seed of worthlessness was planted in childhood.”
“And when I reveal my true heart, not everyone is going to approve. What I know know is that I don’t need them to.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment when we internalize others assessments; it’s usually not just a single experience but rather a series of moments that bruise the spirit and lead us to distrust ourselves and those around us. And then we wake up at 17 or 25 or 37 and realize we don’t know the last time we’ve lived life to only please ourselves.”
“An aha moment is not a happy ending-it’s an open doorway, one you have to choose to walk through.”
October 15, 2020
3.75|5
Wow, I definitely haven’t expected to like this book so much. I adored listening to this narrated by Alicia and her guests (Oprah and Michelle are there 🤯), she’s such a ray of light and such a force of nature in the same time. Her writing can be poetic but factual also, you can definitely see her talent bleed into everything she wrote.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Alicia before, but after this book I understand her so much better and I will follow her projects more closely. She’s a truly inspiration.
Wow, I definitely haven’t expected to like this book so much. I adored listening to this narrated by Alicia and her guests (Oprah and Michelle are there 🤯), she’s such a ray of light and such a force of nature in the same time. Her writing can be poetic but factual also, you can definitely see her talent bleed into everything she wrote.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Alicia before, but after this book I understand her so much better and I will follow her projects more closely. She’s a truly inspiration.
July 6, 2021
This is a great autio book read by the author. It was a faboulas account of her struggles through life and her tryumphs which were many.
April 8, 2020
What do you do when you think one of your favorite artists is sugar coating parts of her journey? I also took issue with all her famous friends joining into the story, it was as if they were telling us the part of the story that she wanted us to hear and not what might truly be their experiences with her.
It was well written and I appreciated that and expected it. The story is just hard for me to take in as is.
It was well written and I appreciated that and expected it. The story is just hard for me to take in as is.
January 25, 2022
I enjoyed the peek into Alicia's world...I loved how she talked about trying to resolve some life issues, finding and understanding real love, self-discovery, awakening, sisterhood and forgiveness....This was a really nice read and her adding people to contribute to her story like her husband, her parents, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Bono to name a few....Alicia narrated the book...who better to tell her story.
February 20, 2024
I have always loved alicia keys + hearing some of her story was wonderful. I listened to the audiobook while reading! her voice is so angelic, it was such a great reading experience!
August 4, 2020
I'm a few generations away from being in Alicia Keys' main demographic music-wise. . .and really didn't follow her on her rise up in the world. My girls may have? I picked up this book because it was recommended, and I was hoping it would prove me wrong about my theory of young celebrities writing their memoirs. . . .they are too young to really have a clear hindsight perspective. . . .of course everyone gets to have thoughts on the backward looks at their experience. No doubt about that. It's just if you have something to cast out on the waters to the rest of the world, it really helps to have a variety of experiences and years in the saddle. Other than that no judgment here - it was an interesting read, she's got a great support group, she's a hard-worker, and seems to be generous and kind. She's talented in the ways the world wants her to be, as they prove with each and every dollar.
She's just so young. I will revisit when she does her later memoirs.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
She's just so young. I will revisit when she does her later memoirs.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
April 11, 2020
I enjoyed that she narrated this herself! Celebrities never share much on these memoirs but still thoroughly enjoyed the vibe.
October 17, 2020
2.5 stars
After reading a memoir i want to feel like the author and i just sat down over coffee and they told me their story. Not just the things they did right but also their mistakes. This was not like that.
This was a prime example that not every famous persons story needs to be told. I know I’m in the minority here considering the raving reviews, but this was unfortunately bland. I wanted to love it, and certain aspects of it I did but for the most part i was underwhelmed. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters and could relate to a few of the issues she experienced. After that it was a brag fest and a “I’m not like other girls” reiteration. I didn’t swoon at the incessant oneupmanship between she and her husband nor did I like the tasteless way she made herself out to be the hero in every story.
Unfortunately there wasn’t enough for me to love to enjoy this overall and they weren’t strong enough to overcome the downfalls. I think Alicia is dope and I like some of her songs and i really love how accepting and confident she is in herself and I appreciated that aspect of her journey. Simply put, there wasn’t enough substance here imo to make for an entertaining and engaging story. I felt like I was getting the headlines of a much deeper and truer story waiting to be told. No one should feel the need to share more than they’re comfortable with, I just tend to gravitate toward the whole messy and at times ugly truth.
After reading a memoir i want to feel like the author and i just sat down over coffee and they told me their story. Not just the things they did right but also their mistakes. This was not like that.
This was a prime example that not every famous persons story needs to be told. I know I’m in the minority here considering the raving reviews, but this was unfortunately bland. I wanted to love it, and certain aspects of it I did but for the most part i was underwhelmed. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters and could relate to a few of the issues she experienced. After that it was a brag fest and a “I’m not like other girls” reiteration. I didn’t swoon at the incessant oneupmanship between she and her husband nor did I like the tasteless way she made herself out to be the hero in every story.
Unfortunately there wasn’t enough for me to love to enjoy this overall and they weren’t strong enough to overcome the downfalls. I think Alicia is dope and I like some of her songs and i really love how accepting and confident she is in herself and I appreciated that aspect of her journey. Simply put, there wasn’t enough substance here imo to make for an entertaining and engaging story. I felt like I was getting the headlines of a much deeper and truer story waiting to be told. No one should feel the need to share more than they’re comfortable with, I just tend to gravitate toward the whole messy and at times ugly truth.
April 27, 2020
Alicia Keys was indeed my very first girl crush, of which has indeed been restored!!!
I'm going to say what no one else will say... I was mad at AK... over AK, really because of all the buffoonery that I was hearing about she and Swizz and I honestly feel stupid for allowing that to permeate my consciousness.
I don't think that there has been a more humble woman on the planet! The things I have learned from this book simply astounds me and I could not stop reading. THIS BOOK has been just a breath of fresh air! I loved this story and the way that it ebbed and flowed. I love the journey that we took to learn Alicia, her reasons for what we did and did not see and finally her becoming a mother. This book was honest, raw, open and a wonderful recant of the life that she has lived. The familial relationships and the growth that they showed left nothing to be desired and the story of her grandmother—had me near tears.
Finally, the book was heartfelt and I simply took everything at face value, no judgement and with that Ali has made her way back into my heart lol—I’ve learned that we are more alike than not! It’s a TOPS!!! 💚💚💚
I'm going to say what no one else will say... I was mad at AK... over AK, really because of all the buffoonery that I was hearing about she and Swizz and I honestly feel stupid for allowing that to permeate my consciousness.
I don't think that there has been a more humble woman on the planet! The things I have learned from this book simply astounds me and I could not stop reading. THIS BOOK has been just a breath of fresh air! I loved this story and the way that it ebbed and flowed. I love the journey that we took to learn Alicia, her reasons for what we did and did not see and finally her becoming a mother. This book was honest, raw, open and a wonderful recant of the life that she has lived. The familial relationships and the growth that they showed left nothing to be desired and the story of her grandmother—had me near tears.
Finally, the book was heartfelt and I simply took everything at face value, no judgement and with that Ali has made her way back into my heart lol—I’ve learned that we are more alike than not! It’s a TOPS!!! 💚💚💚
April 26, 2020
I enjoy Alicia Keys and the music that she puts out into the world. So it was an easy grab at the store while grocery shopping to read her words. Unlike other "celebrity " books, there are no family or press photos entombed in the books pages. The focus or intention of the book is about the exploration of the singer-songwriters search for identity.
I think what I appreciated was the incorporation of quotes from people around Alicia and their encounters or special moments with her. Whether it was her parents, lovers, or the people she's met along the way like Oprah, Prince or Bono, it conveys a sense of genuine understanding of who Alicia Keys really is as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and performer. This isn't a salacious story of hookups or backstabbing frenemies. Thank goodness for that!
Goodreads review published 26/04/20
I think what I appreciated was the incorporation of quotes from people around Alicia and their encounters or special moments with her. Whether it was her parents, lovers, or the people she's met along the way like Oprah, Prince or Bono, it conveys a sense of genuine understanding of who Alicia Keys really is as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and performer. This isn't a salacious story of hookups or backstabbing frenemies. Thank goodness for that!
Goodreads review published 26/04/20
April 17, 2020
Alicia Keys is a uniquely talented artist and deeply sensitive person. I alternated between reading her book and listening to her voice read her audiobook. I really enjoyed both. She's both a young person, who began her career at 14 years old, writing songs and composing music, with an old soul, as some artists can be. She's also a visionary, an activist, who cannot stand by and let injustices continue. She is a force with so much energy that people know to follow her is the right path.
Please always create Alicia, for that is your calling, you're a natural.
Please always create Alicia, for that is your calling, you're a natural.
May 12, 2020
I read this book cover to cover within one week, savouring, enjoying, like a piece of chocolate.
it is a book of poetry, a book of realness and authenticity. reading it I became more myself.
I recommend Audible edition, as Alicia narrates the story herself, includes some songs and guest appearances. It made it so real and close!
it is a book of poetry, a book of realness and authenticity. reading it I became more myself.
I recommend Audible edition, as Alicia narrates the story herself, includes some songs and guest appearances. It made it so real and close!
April 15, 2020
I can now go back to sleeping, eating and working properly while secretly hoping that this book will once be featured in my 'signed-my-precious' shelf. I don't know how personal it was to A. Keys, but it felt damn personal to me. I would occasionally stop to listen to a song or an interview, and at the end of the book I found myself shedding crocodile tears over Alicia's hosting performance at the 2020 Grammys. The book is beautifully written and I believe it will surely vibe with all of us striving to be more in touch with ourselves. Just when I thought I'd outgrown my fandom, I realized I had always secretly been lurking behind the scenes and I knew about all of the events in the book. I think Alicia is the artist and woman who has most influenced me in my life. I will forever be grateful for all the music and lessons, and I will continue to be excited about her journey just as her music will continue to be the background of my own story.
August 3, 2024
This was enjoyable until it became less about Alicia and more about constant name-dropping.
I love her journey and her inspiration to be one's authentic self.
She's incredibly talented, and I hope to see her bright light in the world for a long time.
I loved the guest cameos and the bits of songs.
4-4.5 Stars
I love her journey and her inspiration to be one's authentic self.
She's incredibly talented, and I hope to see her bright light in the world for a long time.
I loved the guest cameos and the bits of songs.
4-4.5 Stars
February 14, 2021
This was a pleasant enough read. I think it left me with more questions than answers. Lol. I’m not a major fan of Alicia Keys, but I do respect and admire her talent. I’m still looking to learn more about her journey.
May 2, 2020
Absolutely beautiful. This is a bit awkward, I'm more of a fan of her than her music. After 9/11 I saw her playing in a tribute performance. At that time, I thought "what a beautiful young woman, and her music is amazing and her voice and..." I bought her first album and loved it. However, I have not followed through. Her next album and her next and her next... didn't quite connect. Never the less, their is something real about her that makes me respect. This book is the story of her life so far and I can't remember being more choked up at more of anyone else's memoir. She manages to keep it real to the extent that I found myself rooting for her as I read. She is amazing.
Love her music or not, Alicia Keys is an icon and an artist that represents an era. She is also a spiritual person whose soul is enlightened. Alicia knows who she is and communicates that with such intensity that her words are moving. I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Alicia tells her story and pulls you into her spiritual journey. This book is well written, a well crafted journey. I enjoyed every step. I am also re-listening to her entire catalog which is well crafted and more interesting than I initially thought. I've always been impressed by her voice and piano virtuosity, but her hip hop production and pop stylization have always put me off. Listening again for the first time I hear the subtle inflection and chord changes that make her original in a way I had not heard before. She is the real deal. Check out her book and her songs. Alicia Keys is truly an artist for the ages.
Love her music or not, Alicia Keys is an icon and an artist that represents an era. She is also a spiritual person whose soul is enlightened. Alicia knows who she is and communicates that with such intensity that her words are moving. I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Alicia tells her story and pulls you into her spiritual journey. This book is well written, a well crafted journey. I enjoyed every step. I am also re-listening to her entire catalog which is well crafted and more interesting than I initially thought. I've always been impressed by her voice and piano virtuosity, but her hip hop production and pop stylization have always put me off. Listening again for the first time I hear the subtle inflection and chord changes that make her original in a way I had not heard before. She is the real deal. Check out her book and her songs. Alicia Keys is truly an artist for the ages.
May 3, 2020
After I read Gabrielle Union’s - we’re going to need more wine, I thought - hey, these celebrity memoirs could possibly be quite cool. So I tried a celebrity memoir whose music I really like - Alicia Keys & she had recently released it so....
Not my best decision. It’s not terrible, it’s just blaa. Given how many great stories they are to read out there, to spend 9 hours of your time reading, in my case listening, to something that’s mediocre at best, boring at worst is a waste of my time.
I think what’s challenging about memoirs is, you as the writer, have to ask yourself what’s in it for the reader. In Alicia’s book, there is nothing for the reader...it’s definitely not funny, it’s not insightful, it’s not a self-help book, there are no scandals, there is no love story - (she does write snip bits abt her and Swiss’s extravagant birthdays and without the context of their true love story comes off as shallow), it’s not a rags to riches story - she found success at 16/17.
It feels like a peak into a diary that someone left behind, knowing it would be read - her thoughts, ideas and amazing successes.
Not my best decision. It’s not terrible, it’s just blaa. Given how many great stories they are to read out there, to spend 9 hours of your time reading, in my case listening, to something that’s mediocre at best, boring at worst is a waste of my time.
I think what’s challenging about memoirs is, you as the writer, have to ask yourself what’s in it for the reader. In Alicia’s book, there is nothing for the reader...it’s definitely not funny, it’s not insightful, it’s not a self-help book, there are no scandals, there is no love story - (she does write snip bits abt her and Swiss’s extravagant birthdays and without the context of their true love story comes off as shallow), it’s not a rags to riches story - she found success at 16/17.
It feels like a peak into a diary that someone left behind, knowing it would be read - her thoughts, ideas and amazing successes.
April 5, 2020
Keys speaks of fame and growth, philanthropy and feminism. My favorite bits were about her style evolution and motherhood. She skipped any controversy regarding the start of her relationship with husband Swizz Beatz, but it’s her story to tell how she pleases. That’s the beauty of memoir. I listened to this on audio and Keys’s speaking voice gets on my nerves, but she sings a few song snippets a cappella which are an incredible addition.
May 2, 2020
I love her.... she just exudes positive energy! This book is a biography of her life growing up in New York and going into the music industry.
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