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Posted: **March 6, 2008 9:27 am**

Last fall I saw this book (see subject of this thread) on Amazon. I considered buying it, but the customer reviews that I read were less than glowing, and Jimmy was not thrilled about this book being written, so I did not want to sink any money into it. Well, my State library that sends me books on tape sent me this book, and I am considering reading it when I have time. Will I be wasting my time reading this book, or is it worth the time to read it? Should I just send it back to the library?

Posted: **March 6, 2008 9:43 am**

I liked it but then I paid only a couple of bucks at a local used book store.
He put a letter from Jimmy asking him not to write it at the beginning of the book. Some good info that seems to be pretty accurate.
Probably not much a die-hard parrothead would not know though.
It's a good way to pass time at work

Posted: **March 6, 2008 10:46 am**

ParrotHeadInThe Making wrote:Last fall I saw this book (see subject of this thread) on Amazon. I considered buying it, but the customer reviews that I read were less than glowing, and Jimmy was not thrilled about this book being written, so I did not want to sink any money into it. Well, my State library that sends me books on tape sent me this book, and I am considering reading it when I have time. Will I be wasting my time reading this book, or is it worth the time to read it? Should I just send it back to the library?

Jimmy should setup a paypal account for a situation like this.
If you buy the book for 2 bucks at the used book store, send 3 bucks to Jimmy with details of why you donated the 3 bucks

Posted: **March 6, 2008 10:56 am**

z-parrothead wrote:
ParrotHeadInThe Making wrote:Last fall I saw this book (see subject of this thread) on Amazon. I considered buying it, but the customer reviews that I read were less than glowing, and Jimmy was not thrilled about this book being written, so I did not want to sink any money into it. Well, my State library that sends me books on tape sent me this book, and I am considering reading it when I have time. Will I be wasting my time reading this book, or is it worth the time to read it? Should I just send it back to the library?
Jimmy should setup a paypal account for a situation like this.
If you buy the book for 2 bucks at the used book store, send 3 bucks to Jimmy with details of why you donated the 3 bucks

Why don't you just buy a concert ticket, t-shirt, and a Landshark if you want to donate.

Posted: **March 6, 2008 10:59 am**

Burny Charles wrote:
z-parrothead wrote:
ParrotHeadInThe Making wrote:Last fall I saw this book (see subject of this thread) on Amazon. I considered buying it, but the customer reviews that I read were less than glowing, and Jimmy was not thrilled about this book being written, so I did not want to sink any money into it. Well, my State library that sends me books on tape sent me this book, and I am considering reading it when I have time. Will I be wasting my time reading this book, or is it worth the time to read it? Should I just send it back to the library?
Jimmy should setup a paypal account for a situation like this.
If you buy the book for 2 bucks at the used book store, send 3 bucks to Jimmy with details of why you donated the 3 bucks
Why don't you just buy a concert ticket, t-shirt, and a Landshark if you want to donate.

already doin' all that

Just thought something like that would place a specific reason for the donation...to take a little jab at the author

Posted: **March 6, 2008 1:06 pm**

whether it is factual or not, it was one of the most poorly written books I have ever read

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Posted: **March 6, 2008 1:16 pm**

I have it and consider it a valuable resource... like an encyclopedia...
which is just about the style it is written in. A "fun read" it's not.
But when someone asks me for a Buffett fact (I'm VP of our PHC),
it's quite useful.

Posted: **March 6, 2008 1:35 pm**

I've got it, and I enjoyed reading it. At the time, there was plenty of info in it that I didn't know.

Jimmy is fortunate to be sufficiently famous to have an unauthorized bio written about him.

Posted: **March 6, 2008 5:42 pm**

Since you already have it, go ahead and give it a shot. For anyone else, I definitely wouldn't spend any real money on it. There are a few little interesting tidbits and stories in there, but don't expect any great insights.

My biggest criticisms of the book were:

1) Because it was an unauthorized biography and Jimmy and those close to him refused to cooperate, the book relies on a lot of stories just taken out of newspaper and magazine reports. Not the author's fault, admittedly, but definitely a detraction. The book reads like a middle school research report, with lots of information just paraphrased or quoted from other sources.

2) The author's previous book was about country music pioneer Porter Wagoner. Apparently he had a bunch of leftover material because the book is loaded with a lot of history and background about the Nashville music recording scene. Some of it may be informative, but if you're just trying to learn about Buffett, it's a whooooooole lot of overkill.

3)

Cubbie Bear wrote:whether it is factual or not, it was one of the most poorly written books I have ever read

What he said.

Posted: **March 7, 2008 12:52 am**

In my humble opinion the book is wonderfully written and EXTREMELY thoroughly researched.

I know this is not the popular opinion, but I view Steve Eng as a man who was doing his job. As a journalist, he is great. As a Poet, Eng is also quite gifted. He began working on a book about Nashville, which sadly will not be finished. Mr. Eng has Alzheimer's (very advanced) and it cannot be finished.

I always was kind of tickled at Mr. Eng's fighting spirit. I remember an interview where he mentioned Buffett's offer of a beer in lieu of him writing the book and Eng said, "I'd rather write a book than have a drink."

Ha ha! Cracked me up.

I got to talk to a lot of the people who were the interviewees that Eng gained a lot of fascinating insight from. They all said that while he was a bit eccentric, it was clear that it was because of him being very intelligent. But a very kind-hearted and good soul.

My advice would be to buy the book. It's a good read, if you like non-fiction. Which I enjoy. I find non-fiction to be fun. As Mark Twain said, "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Posted: **March 7, 2008 2:08 am**

To me, it was a lot more "background" info about where he was from, what his world was like, how he might have been influenced. You'll learn a lot about what helped make him who he is, but not so much about himself.

Posted: **March 7, 2008 2:11 am**

OKay, now I'm confused, because I found this thread: http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66747 and I can't tell if this is the book that came out years ago, or if it is something new.

Posted: **March 7, 2008 9:20 am**

The other thread does say "VINTAGE" article. That's because it was written a decade ago - when Jimmy was 50.

I have also read the book. While in many areas it is very dry - especially in all the show business stuff - it does contain some more insite into the man. And I found that it had more details than Jimmy's own "A Pirate Looks at Fifty". JB's book has better prose and more quotable lines, but Eng's book has more business facts.

No one is going to know what Jimmy went through to give up drugs, etc. unless he decides to tell us. And something tells me that he never will reveal any more of his private life than he already has.

Posted: **March 7, 2008 12:18 pm**

RainTree wrote: While in many areas it is very dry - especially in all the show business stuff - it does contain some more insite into the man. And I found that it had more details than Jimmy's own "A Pirate Looks at Fifty". JB's book has better prose and more quotable lines, but Eng's book has more business facts.

Thinking back, instead of picking through the book for "fun Buffett history facts",
if you just read it, there is a ton of detail about the music industry and how it works.
If that interests you, go to the trouble of reading through it cover to cover. Otherwise,
some of that can get pretty tedious. Kind of like reading Gone with the Wind... some
great story, but tons and tons of civil war facts bogging down the narrative.

Posted: **March 7, 2008 1:03 pm**

Bwana Paul wrote:In my humble opinion the book is wonderfully written and EXTREMELY thoroughly researched.

I know this is not the popular opinion, but I view Steve Eng as a man who was doing his job. As a journalist, he is great. As a Poet, Eng is also quite gifted. He began working on a book about Nashville, which sadly will not be finished. Mr. Eng has Alzheimer's (very advanced) and it cannot be finished.

I always was kind of tickled at Mr. Eng's fighting spirit. I remember an interview where he mentioned Buffett's offer of a beer in lieu of him writing the book and Eng said, "I'd rather write a book than have a drink."
Ha ha! Cracked me up.

I got to talk to a lot of the people who were the interviewees that Eng gained a lot of fascinating insight from. They all said that while he was a bit eccentric, it was clear that it was because of him being very intelligent. But a very kind-hearted and good soul.

My advice would be to buy the book. It's a good read, if you like non-fiction. Which I enjoy. I find non-fiction to be fun. As Mark Twain said, "Truth is stranger than fiction."

I humbly agree. The book was well done and VERY informative, especially for a "new" Buffett fan .

Posted: **March 7, 2008 4:00 pm**

I am very fascinated in "behind the scenes" type stuff.

The stories in the book about JB's former manager Irving Azoff are PRICELESS. I really think that it was Azoff (with JB) that got him going.

Then I think the merchandising The Coconut Telegraph, Margaritaville Stores, circa 1985-Present which propelled him into Superstar Status. It really kept him in the mind of the public. He thought his career was over, and that he should at least make some cash.

I respect that!! His career was just starting really...

If you are entranced by facts, and history, I find that stuff fascinating...it really tells you the story about Jimmy Buffett.

Posted: **March 8, 2008 4:47 am**

The book arrived in the mail yesterday, and I started reading it. It's a harmless enough book, but I am very glad that I read A Pirate Looks At Fifty first. The beginning of the book is a bit of a slo go for me.

Posted: **March 9, 2008 6:20 pm**

Hello.

I have the notion that JB used Eng's book to recollect facts and conjure up memories for his autobiography/travelogue A Pirate Looks at Fifty.

There are a few business ideas that I believe JB may have glommed from the book. Can't blame him. C'mon, if someone wrote a book about you--you'd read it! You know he probably has a copy.

I bet JB will probably write another non-fiction book before long...a lot has happened in the last 11 years..

Posted: **March 9, 2008 9:00 pm**

First of all, thanks to everyone for their feedback on this book. I spent yesterday reading this book.

Let me put it to all of you this way. I will not be buying this book. I'm glad that I chose to check it out of the library. If a new fan were to come up to me and ask me if he or she should read this book in order to know more about JB, I would tell that person to read A pirate Looks at Fifty first. The other book can come later if desired, but it is not a high priority on the Buffett things to do list.

This book is harmless, and thank God, it was not a scandalous book. While I do not mind history and facts in a book as these things help a reader to understand the character this book went extremely over board in the history and facts department, and some things were irrelivant. You can definitely tell that this book lacked Jimmy's cooperation as the author had to utilize other sources, and I think the author certainly meant no harm in writing this book. However, accuracy cannot be totally guaranteed utilizing a lot of newspaper articles and second hand information.

Well, I read the book, and tomorrow I'm happy to send it back to the library. It is not a book that I feel the need to read again.

Posted: **March 10, 2008 12:39 am**

I can't wait until there is a "The Jimmy Buffett Scrapbook" thread!

BuffettNews.com

Jimmy Buffett; The Man From Margaritaville Revealed!

Jimmy Buffett; The Man From Margaritaville Revealed!

Re: Jimmy Buffett; The Man From Margaritaville Revealed!

Re: Jimmy Buffett; The Man From Margaritaville Revealed!

Re: Jimmy Buffett; The Man From Margaritaville Revealed!

Steve Eng's book.

Re: Steve Eng's book.

Irving Azoff.

Spectacle

Props.