It's a Long Story: My Life

Digital audiobook read by Christopher Ryan Grant.

Oh, Willie! I’ve had a long-standing crush on the “red-headed stranger” and am glad to have learned more about him, because I like him even more now.

Willie lays it all out there. He talks about his childhood and the importance of church and faith in his upbringing. He talks about the poems he began writing when he was still in grade school, and how music filled his soul and helped him express himself. He talked about family and yet tried to maintain some privacy for his wives and children. He doesn’t shy away from chronicling his mistakes and owning them – from profligate spending to drinking to adultery – but he also celebrates his shining moments and gives credit to the show more many people who helped him along the way.

I listened to the audiobook read by Christopher Ryan Grant. I have to say that Grant’s delivery made me think that it was Willie, himself, relating the story. So I was somewhat disappointed that when he mentioned the lyrics of some of his more famous songs, they were spoken rather than sung. On the other hand, the audio does have a bonus at the end with a small section read by Willie and then a song. show less

I loved this book. It seems to genuinely come from Willie Nelson's voice, warts, drugs, infidelities, highs & lows & all. The guy's a lot of fun, and that comes through. I learned a lot about country music I didn't know, & will definitely revisit some of his albums. Jeez, he's now 82(!), and has been consistently been putting out 2 a year. No wonder I didn't know about many of them!!! Who can keep up?

Written with David Ritz, this autobiography of Willie Nelson is as comforting and as comfortable as one of his ballads. It was a joy to read.

Written while he is in his 80s, he is as laid back and generous as I'd always thought. Even when things go wrong, he takes it in stride. He takes responsibility for his mistakes as quickly as he excuses other people for their mistakes. Forgiveness doesn't enter into the picture, because generally, he doesn't think there is anything to forgive.

Even raised by his grandparents after his too-young parents took off, he still thinks highly of his parents, stayed in touch with them, and considers himself lucky to have such a loving, if somewhat unorthodox family. And he has his faith, grew up with faith, show more studied and adapted, and believes. While I am not a religious person, I enjoyed reading about his faith, about as far from proselytizing as you can get.

I've always loved his music. He can do different genres and it always sounds wonderful, and always sounds like Willie. In his music, his heart and soul always shines through, along with no small amount of humor. This book is no different. I felt almost as if I were visiting him, having him tell his story to me, his long story.

I enjoyed reading about his fellow musicians and his relationships with them, some names familiar to me and some not.

He stands up for what is right,whether or not it is a popular stance at the time. But in his personal relationships, he didn't always do the right thing, and he acknowledges that. He speaks kindly and gently of his ex-wives.

As autobiographies go, this is one of the most entertaining I've read. And one full of soul. 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

As an aside, I got to hear Willie live at a Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, several years ago. He was already a big star, had already had his share of ups and downs, and was playing in this open-air rodeo arena lined with bleachers. Even in this decidedly unglamorous location, he sang his heart out, and for a remarkably long time.

Thanks, Willie. show less

Full Disclosure, I love Willie Nelson. I love the way he lives his life and the way that he makes everyone he works with, family. I love Willie's philosophy of life, and I love the way people love Willie. There was little doubt that I would like this book. I have liked everything I have read about or by Willie. The book Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, was a beautiful tribute to Willie, and by him, for his family and friends.

Among the people Willie has met, are the Dalai Lama, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and I think pretty much every singer who has ever sung publicly, or maybe even privately. His music is as much the story of his life as this book. His honesty should never be questioned, nore his capacity to love. His show more generosity is legendary .

This and more, is what this book is about. Maybe you will have some of his music to play in the background wile you read, like I did. Willie's music is his poetry, his poetry is the background of his life. But first there is family, friends and God. You simply cannot read about Willie and not love him. Every decade makes him wiser and more dear. This is an honest story of his life, the good times, the bad times, the hard times and the joy and love that runs through all times. show less

I know who Willie Nelson is, maybe could name one or two of his songs, and I know he loves his pot, but that's probably about all I know. He is incredibly honest and forthright, holds nothing back, honest about his marriages and how he contributed to the failure, and how much he loves his children and family, that's his personal life. When talking about his professional life, he tells no tales that are gossip, only his story. This man worked for his fame and money, nothing was handed to him...I don't know that I would have the determination or fortitude that he had to continue working for my dream. Talks about his trouble with the IRS, his parents, beloved grandparents and sister, his ex-wives and how one of the worst decisions he ever show more made was trusting his manager. There is plenty more and I was never bored listening to the audio. Willie narrates the prologue and Christopher Ryan Grant narrates the book. He's great, sounds a lot like Willie Nelson, great job. show less

I was excited when I was able to borrow this audiobook from the library. Willie Nelson seems to be the quintessential maverick American man and is quite the musician to boot. But, Willie, Willie, Willie, did you use so much profanity when you hung out with your friend, President Carter? I don't consider myself a prude; my husband was a D.C. cop and rolls his eyes at the language in some of the movies I watch. But dulcet tones or not, 30 minutes with every other sentence punctuated by obscenity was just all I could do. Cheap, Willie, and not very imaginative. I had anticipated giving this book to a sharp 14-year-old boy I am acquainted with. Guess I'll go with Mariano Rivera's autobiography. Did not finish so no stars.

Another autobiography with pretty decent writing, and Willie Nelson is one of those people that are funny without trying to be...at least to me.

Did you know, before the Willie Nelson we all think of today, he was a struggling song writer, and wrote Crazy, sang by Patsy Cline?

This is the story of Willie's love of music. I was surprised to find how much he was influenced by blues and jazz, crediting Sinatra as his favorite singer. Willie hasn't sang with the multitude of artists from different genres just to to stay relevant and just to make money, but become he loved the songs and the musicians. Apparently, Willie has a whole reggae album that I must look up and apparently he sings a song called "Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly Fond of show more Each Other". This book was very enlightening to Willie who I now see, not only as a musician and a song writer, but a poet. He revolutionized how country songs were written.

In this book he shares his faith and beliefs, which were interesting, and he advocates for the legalization of marijuana, but these are smaller portions of the book.

My respect and appreciation of Willie Nelson as a song writer, musician, singer, and artist has grown. If you are a music lover, not just country lover, you should read this book. show less