Classic rock fans will not want to miss this book! Cameron Crowe details his background writing for music magazines, including Rolling Stone, while in his teens. He writes about meeting now-famous bands before they were famous, and gives us a little glimpse of life behind the scenes of the rock world. This is not a complete autobiography, as he jumps around in time a bit and skips some years altogether. But overall it was a really fun read and I enjoyed reading about his encounters with so many of the bands that I love, like the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and the Allman Brothers.

Loved it loved it. Areal honest examination of Crowe’s life-extraordinary in some respects- ordinary in others. How he navigates fame and almost fame-and family troubles is fascinating. Well written too. I was enthralled. You will be too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for a review.

I'm a huge fan of Cameron Crowe's movies, especially his autobiographical film Almost Famous. This memoir is his longer, true story of this time in his life, as a teenage writer for Rolling Stone and other music publications. I know the basics of 70s rock but am not a huge fan. Despite not knowing every musician's catalog, I really enjoyed reading about his real life journey, the rock stars he followed, and how his home life and family kept ties on him. I was happy that the ebook included photos that I could enlarge.

Cameron Crowe has more or less always been on my radar. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a classic film with the best soundtracks of all time. I watch it every time it comes on. Rolling Stone is also one of my favorite magazines, so I was interested in learning some behind-the-scenes intel on that. So, I had high expectations for the book, and those expectations were surpassed. Crowe obviously has a way with words. He has an uncanny ability to strip down a story and make the highlights shine. He tells his life story in a way that makes him maybe not so relatable (I don't know anyone else who finished high school so young and started a career writing about music at the age of 15), but likable.

The reader gets a glimpse at what it would have been like to cross paths with the likes of David Bowie, Greg Allman, and the Eagles - and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Crowe makes them human underneath their rock star skins. The photos are a nice accompaniment to the stories.

My only critique is that the chapter on Fleetwood Mac was so very small and didn't contain any information that the world already knows about the band. He also skips over his marriage to Nancy Wilson, naming her once as his "then girlfriend."

No surprise that I absolutely devoured @cameronbcrowe book the moment I got it. Crowe choose to focus on his music career as opposed to the films which means I need a part two of this asap. For me as a writer who's been influenced by Crowe's films and journalism there were moments reading this where I felt so seen, and some passages are so painfully poignant in their authenticity. No surprise, Crowe also has a fabulous command of nostalgia and, if anything, this reminded me why I love journalism (as I cover it dying on the daily). If you're a Crowe fan, a lover of music, or writing, this is a must.

Thanks to #AvidReaderPress and #NetGalley for the DRC of #TheUncool. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I've enjoyed most of Cameron Crowe's movies (especially Almost Famous) and I grew up in the 70s, listening to a lot of the music he wrote about as a teenaged writer for Rolling Stone magazine. Crowe chronicles his introduction to music, despite his mother's disdain for rock & roll, and how it impacted his life. This memoir is also about his family - especially his mother and older sister - but you still get the vibe of "uncool" kid who just loves the music.

If you're a fan, you've likely heard or read most of what this memoir includes. But it's still a fun and engaging read with several behind the scenes photos.

If you love Almost Famous, this book is undeniably great. Such a delight to get a behind-the-scenes look at the real adventures that inspired the movie, and all written in Crowe's engaging, warm voice. As a fan of his work, this was a real pleasure to dive into.

5 stars. Almost Flawless.

Did I cry during a chapter on David Bowie? Yes.
Did I cry during a chapter on The Allman Brothers? Also Yes.
Did I cry during the entire ending? Of course.

Do you love music? This book is for you.
Do you love the craft of writing? This book is for you.
Do you love your mother and your complicated relationship with her? This book is for you too.

This is such a wonderful memoir. Cameron Crowe really was in the right place at the right time, and he has fabulous stories to tell. Absolutely my personal favorite memoir of all time, and one of the best I have ever read.

Many people are deeply familiar with Cameron Crowe’s life story and oeuvre, from the interviews he did with famous musicians to the movies he later made. I was not among them before reading this book, having merely heard ABOUT Crowe’s unusual life path without having actually been exposed to his work beyond references and clips here and there. Still, I very much enjoyed this book, Crowe’s thoughtful look back at his youth in the music world (his later moviemaking is covered less thoroughly). His story speaks to the value of being in the right place at the right time and having the wisdom to meet the moment. While still too young to drink, he met and spoke intimately with some of the most storied musicians of the 20th century, carried along by his fascination with music and his drive to know more about those who created it and share what he learned. Juxtaposed with this is the story of his relationship with his family of origin—particularly his unusual mother, a force to be reckoned with in her own way. This was a worthwhile read and will appeal widely regardless of how much or how little a reader starts out thinking they know about Cameron Crowe.

Well I knew that this was going to be great, and it is. It’s spectacular. I loved it. Cameron Crowe was almost Forrest Gump-like in his uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time with the right people. He has some amazing stories to tell, and the talent to tell them well. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’d love to read a compilation of his Rolling Stone interviews. I would also like a Volume Two of this book, focusing on his movie career. Truly, I’m interested to read anything he wants to write! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.