Rating: 
Summary: Worth a read - but not a second
Review: After reading this book, I feel that I have gained additional insight into Sting's life and, in that respect, don't consider the effort spent with this book a waste of my time. However, I feel that any additional time invested in reading it a second time WOULD be a waste.Mr Sandford spends too much time editorializing on his thoughts and beliefs about the man and not enough telling the story. He has his own perceptions of Sting and, instead of those perceptions merely coloring his prose, they completely overshadow the story being told. One factual error - Mr Sandford states that Sting was the culprit behind Henri Padovani's departure from The Police once Andy Summers had been tapped for guitarist duties. Message In A Box (even Sandford states that Sting had no part of this box set release) contains an essay written by Mr. Summers himself where he specifically states that HE, Andy, was the one that laid down the ultimatum that he was the guitarist-of-record for the Police and that Henri had to go. The Police played ONE gig as a quartet and Andy told Sting and Stewart that there would not be a second with Henri. Sting and his 'overwhelming self-important ego' were NOT the reason Henri left The Police. That error alone makes me discount many other statements made by Mr. Sandford. Demolition Man is worth one (and ONLY one) read, but remember to bring a grain of salt with you when you do because, in this case, you definitely can't believe everything you read.
Rating: 
Summary: The best biography on Sting to date.
Review: Although Sting did not co-operate or contribute to the biography Sandford's book is really very good, and the author has clearly done a great deal of research. It helps that Sandford is a good writer. The stunning analogy he draws in the first few paragraphs of the book between 60's supergroup Cream and the Police was one of the best introductions to a book we can remember. Very few people - understandably - get really close to Sting, so Sandford has sought out old friends, colleagues (and enemies) to help fill out Sting's life. Sting of course has lived the second half of his life in a media glare so bright it would have blinded and broken lesser men. Forever in the news and always available for a media friendly news-bite or always 'arms-length' interview, all of the attributable quotes in this book are recognisable to fans. It is in his examination of career-defining points, that Sandford digs up anecdotes and stories that have you glued to the page. Whether t! hese are details of Sting's legal case with Virgin which resulted in the return of ownership in his songs (and later guaranteed royalty income of millions of pounds), the decision to go solo in 1985, the visit to the Brazilian Rainforest, or his well publicised "missing millions" legal case in the mid 90's, the stories are told objectively and not in the tabloid friendly sensationalist manner of Wensley Clarkson's poor biography from 1996. There are of course errors which keen fans will see - The Police for example played no concerts in 1985, the show referred to was on the Blue Turtles tour (we were there at the Newcastle show he describes) and this story appears to be cribbed from Clarkson's book which makes the same error. There are one or two other factual errors - at one point Sting is described as past 50, when he won't hit that landmark until 2001! On the whole though, the book is well researched and it is clear that Newcastle Library has been graced by a visit or! two as the Newcastle Journal archives have been extensivel! y trawled. For example, "On the morning Gordon Sumner was born the weather broke in a shawl of rain." Sting comes out of the book with great credit, and as something of a conundrum - the shy man for example, who thinks nothing of performing in front of 200,000 people but quakes at the thought of playing to a few hundred. A perfectionist who toils late into the night mixing tracks or choregraphing shows, but who shows his accountant a picture in Country Life whilst walking on the beach and says "I want this house". Sandford also recognises that Sting, despite being is a star of huge proportions - selling out concerts from Croatia to Hong Kong - is also a journeyman, happily dueting with rapper Puff Daddy, trading licks with his peers at the Montserrat benefit, playing guitar for crooner Julio Inglesias, or donning a bootlace tie and adopting "Maverick" mode to play at the Country Music Awards. In short, the book is bang up to date, and is without questio! n, the best biography written to date on Sting.
Rating: 
Summary: Factually Interesting, But Poorly Written
Review: First, a confession--I'm a Sting fan for several years, and a die-hard one at that. As much as I love his work with the Police and his solo material, I also know he isn't infallable--there are several instances where a different path might have reaped larger artistic dividends. Still, this is a hard read. It's interesting from a factual standpoint, as I learned a number of things about Sting that twenty years of fandom had failed to impress upon me. But the way Sanford writes is just so darn annoying that it approaches worthlessness at times. At times he's insightful, and you're pleased at how much sense his views make. Other times, you're amazed at just how hard he's trying to be hip, to be cool and dispassionate. At best it's annoying, at worst grating. You'll not find a better book on Sting on the market today...and that's the problem.
Rating:
Summary: Complete waste time and money
Review: I have not purchased this worthless piece of trash, but I have read it. First of all, it is unauthorized, which usually mean that certain sources will not be available to the auther, such as the person they are writing about! Secondly, the writing is dismal, and rather like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. I gave it one star because there was no lower rating. If you are a Sting fan, or curious, I would highly recommend "Broken Music," Sting's autobiography. It is beautifully written, and painfully honest.
Rating:
Summary: Complete waste time and money
Review: I have not purchased this worthless piece of trash, but I have read it. First of all, it is unauthorized, which usually mean that certain sources will not be available to the auther, such as the person they are writing about! Secondly, the writing is dismal, and rather like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. I gave it one star because there was no lower rating. If you are a Sting fan, or curious, I would highly recommend "Broken Music," Sting's autobiography. It is beautifully written, and painfully honest.
Rating:
Summary: Other reviewer (Erica) is right on the money
Review: I'm reading the book now, ¾'s way through and I rate the book a [10] on the irritation scale. The author constantly slams Sting's personal short comings throughout the entire book. I bought it mainly to know more about Stings rise to stardom. Yes all the basic facts and figures are there but Sandford's personal observations and criticism over shadows everything else. I found it odd that Sanford spent time quoting exact financial data from Sting's many companies annual reports. I also didn't appreciate Sandford's personal review of each song on each of Sting's albums. He took it upon himself to explain what Sting's "real" intentions were. I got the feeling that Sandford is in awe of Sting's financial worth and personal achievements but felt it was his right to put him in check by constant digs at his ego, shyness or obsession with loneliness. Also the book is a difficult read. There are many phrases and sentences that simply to do make any sense. It's littered with English slang cockney (speak) that just gets old, the author spends too much effort in trying to be "witty". There is no sense of story, transition or flow, it's just plain poor writing. I got the feeling that Sandford really knows nothing about Sting personally and his exhaustive research is filtered with his own personal jaded opinions. The book mentions alot about Sting's career in film but Sandford never fully explains his need to be in front of a camera. I would say if you're a Sting fan this book will leave a bitter aftertaste. Sandford's take on Sting is primarily negative throughout the entire book. Now I know why this biography is unauthorized because it was done poorly, I wish I selected another book.
Rating:
Summary: One should write about something one likes
Review: Let me put it this way: If you thought THE SOUL CAGES was a bad album lyrically and musically, why oh why would you take the time to write a biography of the man who wrote the album? DEMOLITION MAN is useful in many respects, but the one thing I couldn't escape was that Christopher Sanford cannot praise Sting without adding in a criticism, and usually a pin-headed criticism at that. The above is a perfect example; CAGES was the most heartfelt, autobiographical album Sting has ever done, and Sandford TOTALLY slags it off. I'm sorry, but if you didn't like CAGES, you'll probably have trouble with Sting, and Sandford has a lot of trouble with Sting. He constantly criticizes him for being pretentious (musically and politically), writing bad songs and generally being a cad-- and yet, sometimes on the same page, he praises Sting unabshedly. Sometimes, when talking about politics, the praise and condemnation is on the exact same topic! I don't mean to say that only fans should write biographies; this book is good in many ways. It's a virtual how-to guide to being a wealthy pop star, and the business stories are really fascinating. The facts are also solid, and it's a good story. But you can't help noticing that Sandford really hates about half of Sting's music. It's one thing to be an independent observer, and quite another thing to take shots at someone for sport. Sting fans should buy this book, but they will be irritated by it. Oh, and also, the prose style is utterly insufferable.
Rating:
Summary: One should write about something one likes
Review: Let me put it this way: If you thought THE SOUL CAGES was a bad album lyrically and musically, why oh why would you take the time to write a biography of the man who wrote the album? DEMOLITION MAN is useful in many respects, but the one thing I couldn't escape was that Christopher Sanford cannot praise Sting without adding in a criticism, and usually a pin-headed criticism at that. The above is a perfect example; CAGES was the most heartfelt, autobiographical album Sting has ever done, and Sandford TOTALLY slags it off. I'm sorry, but if you didn't like CAGES, you'll probably have trouble with Sting, and Sandford has a lot of trouble with Sting. He constantly criticizes him for being pretentious (musically and politically), writing bad songs and generally being a cad-- and yet, sometimes on the same page, he praises Sting unabshedly. Sometimes, when talking about politics, the praise and condemnation is on the exact same topic! I don't mean to say that only fans should write biographies; this book is good in many ways. It's a virtual how-to guide to being a wealthy pop star, and the business stories are really fascinating. The facts are also solid, and it's a good story. But you can't help noticing that Sandford really hates about half of Sting's music. It's one thing to be an independent observer, and quite another thing to take shots at someone for sport. Sting fans should buy this book, but they will be irritated by it. Oh, and also, the prose style is utterly insufferable.
Rating:
Summary: Worth a read - but not a second
Review: Mr. Sandford gives an insightful look into Mr. Sting. Unfortunately, the more you read, the more you discover that Mr. Sting is one of the most self indulgent, arrogant, childish people you would ever not want to know. A waste of a good write.
Rating:
Summary: The more you know the more you don't care
Review: Mr. Sandford gives an insightful look into Mr. Sting. Unfortunately, the more you read, the more you discover that Mr. Sting is one of the most self indulgent, arrogant, childish people you would ever not want to know. A waste of a good write.
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