No One Here Gets Out Alive

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Well-Assembled.
Review: "No One Here Gets Out Alive" is always signaled as the definitive biography of Jim Morrison. I see it more as a good read, a very good read. There have been some plausible accusations of serious myth-making taking place in the writing of this book (Ray Manzarek is said to have crossed out "the bad stuff"). James Riordan's "Break On Through" is a better, more-detailed and captivating book in my opinion. But "No One Here Gets Out Alive" plays like what it has been accused of being, a great myth. It is kind of appropriate, considering Morrison is essentially a myth onto himself. His image has not died and the music is still alive and well among the youth (I'm not complaining, hot chicks love "Light My Fire" whenever I put it on). The book is a must for Doors fans, it is a document of the life and times of Morrison, of the era in which he flourished and it celebrates the power and poetry of his songs. It is a neat visual experience in the descriptions of Jim's stage performances and in his primal acts we see a blue-print for the madness we so regularly see in today's rock acts. Reading the book is like reading some kind of modern legend. It is also packed with some great photos of Jim and the band (some album covers are included). The story of The Doors has always been a big epic drenched in excess, insane genius, artistic tenderness and even tragic romance. You can see where all the great songs come from. Jim Morrison was a brilliant artist, his songs are timeless and he was also a fantastic poet capable of creating very captivating images in wonderful songs like "The Crystal Ship" and "End Of The Night," he took us on dark, hypnotic journeys in "The End" and "When The Music's Over" and simply recorded some great music. "No One Here Gets Out Alive" celebrates more the image than the man, and yet is also a fascinating examination of the life. I will never tire of reading Jim's lyrics and hearing The Doors' best songs, "No One Here Gets Out Alive" is a book for fans who feel the same.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, the Doors are a band
Review: Every person has two sides. One is visible at all times. It projects what that person wants thought about him. The other, and the more important one, shows the person himself. A very lucky and select few get the opportunity to glimpse at this side. Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman got their glimpse, and after four years of research, proudly present it to the world.

Of course, the obvious is included. Jim was in the Doors. He didn't like authority, and he had a drinking problem. Unfortunately, this is the basis of most biographies. That's why there are 100 books on Abraham Lincoln. But these authors chose to go beyond that, creating a piece of art instead of a manual. They gathered quotes from family, friends, producers, managers, police, and even his favorite books. They pieced together entire conversations. To the best of anyone's ability but Jim's, they showed the man that he was.

To write a full-length novel on a person who didn't see his 30th birthday is incredible. To make it enjoyable to read is even more so. With the help of too many people to count, they traced his childhood, teenage and college years, entrance to music, rise to fame, and fall into oblivion. All leading to his mysterious death. They followed his rapid transitions of temperament and progressive changes in wants and beliefs as well as his day to day life.

To be frank, there is no need for any other book about Jim Morrison. To write one would be to tarnish the current one, not because it will be greater, but because it will most certainly be worse. To all the fans of the man or his band, and to all who are just curious, do yourself a favor and find this one.

Rating:
Summary: Morrison Spirt Lives Forever
Review: This is one of the greatest books that I have ever read, I don't know what it is, but this book just has that something extra in it. The co-authors, Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins, doa great job of re-telling the events that went on during Morison's time. But the number one reason this book is so good, is because it's about Jim Morrison. Arguably one of the most legendary, and controversial musicians of all time. Morrison was blessed with a strong intelligence, and this book does nothing but show just how smart he was. In his songs, poems, movie, and in his life, this book clearly shows that Morrison was a very intelligent person yet somewhat independent and unique. Lastly, this book is very well written, and it just flows and flows. It's very easy to lose interest in this book, that's why you should read "No One Here Gets Out Alive."

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Rock Writer of all time.
Review: This is probobly the best book i have ever read in my whole entire life. It's not just about his rock performances it's about everything that goes on inside his head. I think it's more of a story than it is a biography. Even if you don't like the doors this book will still make you interested. It talks about when he was a kid up to when he died. I really think this was a great book and i recamend this to everybody.

Rating:
Summary: Not so great
Review: I bought my first (and only) copy of this book at a used bookstore. It was the only JDM bio there. Now I see why. I did not like this book.

This book chronicles Jim Douglas Morrison's life from childhood to his early death, of his meteoric rise to fame and nationwide adoration. The problem is that it gives us little of Jim Morrison below stereotypes and surface.

Jim is portrayed primarily as a drunk and a jerk who did drugs and used people and so forth. A more disturbing detail is that the more positive aspects of his life are covered in as little time as possible. We are given plenty of detail as to the nasty breakups with his high-school girlfriend, his argument with Patricia Kennealy-Morrison prior to her abortion, any semi-obscene gesture or word, and his brutal treatment of a one-night stand. Yet we are given virtually no information on his poetry and feelings about that, any brighter shades to his romantic relationships with aforementioned Kennealy-Morrison or Pamela Courson, or indeed of any friends he truly had.

Yet, despite the constant coverage of rockstar-badboy antics, Hopkins and Sugarman give him an embarrassing level of adulation. (I could easily psychoanalyze here, but I think I shall not) Had Morrison truly been as they wrote him here, I couldn't imagine anyone being devoted to him.

Adding bad to "verse," the writing style is so choppy and bloated at times that I found this book painful to read. It is also uneven: There is a pretty high level of detail throughout much of the book, and then three quarters through it speeds up and dumps the detail. (Did the editor die?)

Like "Wild Child," I cannot recommend this book. I advise you to read "Break On Through," which is a far more fluid and balanced account of Jim Morrison's life and death.

Rating:
Summary: Burn all your bibles and get this book
Review: Greatest book ever, greatest man ever. I've read this book five times and each time it gets better. He is so much more evolved and intellectually advanced than normal people it's scary. Maybe even the best poet too. Jesus Christ can rot in hell.

Rating:
Summary: Wild life, complicated man, fun book...or is it?
Review: It appears that many people like this book, and many don't. People who knew very little about Morrison before they read this book will likely enjoy it and learn many suprising things about him, like the fact that he read enough books in his short life to fill a small library. The book also contains many wild, often humorous stories about him that a new reader should like. However, people who are already familiar with Jim's life may find the book to show mostly his bad side, thereby telling only half the story. It seems the book only tells facts and stories without revealing his true character. Although, I read this book before I knew about him and enjoyed it, inspiring me to read many more things about him, so I recommend it to anyone. Just keep in mind it has been revealed that parts of it were glamourized, but you can usually tell which parts are.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Have Ever Read!
Review: This I the first Doors book I hae ever read and i can honestly say from the firs page it was the best book I have ever read in my life. This book not onlygave me excellent facts aboutJim orrison and te other Door butit also keptmy intest thewhole intire time. This book took me less then 1 week to read and is vey hard to put down.

I reccmend this book to any Doors fan ndanyone who likes an interesting story of the lifeof a rockstar/celebirty/interesting person. Ji Morrison is a ver interestng perso and was an absolute genius. This again was the best bok I have ever read! Peace, Hannah

Rating:
Summary: No One Gets Out of This Book Without Food for Thought
Review: First I must tell you that although I like the Door's music, I am not a big fan, in fact I never bought one of their albums. I bought this book for my husband. He's the mega fan, but I'm the book reader. On a whim, I read the forward by Danny Sugerman and was immediatly captured. The rest of the book held me slave as well.

The writing is simply well done. And I believe that Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins did their homework and presented the life of Jim Morrison in an unbiased manner. They write of Jim's dark side and addiction, yes, but they also reveal Jim's warmth, humor, and the tumultuous bright mind of a shy boy. What a storm of emotions! Who wouldn't drink to stop the endless flow of feelings and thoughts from a spigot that you can't shut off?

This is just one of many interpretations the reader might come away with concerning Jim's self-destructive lifestyle, his fluctuating moods, and his obvious talent for poetic metaphores. This book gives the reader much to contemplate: the struggle of the human spirit, the need for freedom, the desire to express one's thoughts and ideas, be understood, and therefore; be able to share your experience with others. A few previous reveiwers seemed disappointed that Hopkins and Sugerman did not delve into the psychological reasons for Jim Morrison's addiction, but why should they; they are writers not pyschologists? And I felt they tossed out plenty of bread crumbs as to why Jim seemed bent on self-destruction for the reader to think about and draw our own conclusions.

In defense of Danny Sugerman (someone commented that he was just the mail boy and a Jim Morrison wanna-be), who would be more privy to the personal exploits and be more qualified to write about your life than someone who opened your fan mail every day and worked in the midst of your busy office? Also, if you read the last inside page of the book, you will find that Mr. Sugerman has written other well-received material since. He's not a one hit wonder who writes only about the Doors. And also on behalf of Jerry Hopkins, aside from "interviewing nearly 200 of Morrison's relatives, friends, and associates" for this biogrophy, Mr. Hopkins has written biogrophies of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Yoko Ono. No slouch this guy. I honostly almost did not buy this book because of the negative comments made about the authors. I'm glad I ignored them because if I hadn't, I would have missed out on a wonderful book about triumph and tradgedy and the fascinating life of the tortured poet, James Douglas Morrison.

Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLY WRITTEN WITH A ONE-SIDED VIEW
Review: I didn't like this book at all - I'm sorry I purchased it, let alone read it. Jerry Hopkins interviewed Jim Morrison on a few occasions and Danny Sugarman worked at a menial job in the office of the Doors. Does this warrant writing a book about Jim Morrison?

To my mind, Hopkins is infatuated with Jim and Sugarman is a Jim Morrison wanna-be who practically worships the man. There is no new material here; it's rather dry and boring. I suggest skipping this book and reading others, such as "Light My Fire" by Ray Manzarek, "Riders on the Storm" by John Densmore, and "Strange Days" by Patricia Kennealy. Also check out "The Ultimate Doors Companion" - intelligently written with various perspectives.