Rating: 
Summary: Thorough and hugely entertaining biography of Sting
Review: Sting can truly be called a 20th Century Rennaisance Man which this thorough and well-researched book points out several times. Full of facts and anecdotes about a fascinating and multi-talented man. It is a book, not just about Sting, but about the music and entertainment business in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It is a book well worth returning to again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: Factually Interesting, But Poorly Written
Review: The book is heavy. It's about 400 pages and tells you everything about him, you almost think you'll learn what his favorite food is. Most of the complaints about the writer are angry concerning how he puts Sting down or critiques his music. They are not about the quality of the writing. I think rather than a fan write a glory book that makes him God, this approach is better; it's neutral. When Sting has accomplished good he is praised by the author and when he's in a slump the author hits him hard as though "he could have done much better". I loved the book because it tells you how he rises from the slums to the mansions the way it happened. I wished I had a dictionary at times as the writer uses very descriptive upper English, but you realize it couldn't be done any other way since Sting is also a former English teacher and intensely literate. What I got out of it was a look at how Sting came to be what he is and how he has continued it beyond The Police.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining insight in to Sting's musical genius
Review: The book is heavy. It's about 400 pages and tells you everything about him, you almost think you'll learn what his favorite food is. Most of the complaints about the writer are angry concerning how he puts Sting down or critiques his music. They are not about the quality of the writing. I think rather than a fan write a glory book that makes him God, this approach is better; it's neutral. When Sting has accomplished good he is praised by the author and when he's in a slump the author hits him hard as though "he could have done much better". I loved the book because it tells you how he rises from the slums to the mansions the way it happened. I wished I had a dictionary at times as the writer uses very descriptive upper English, but you realize it couldn't be done any other way since Sting is also a former English teacher and intensely literate. What I got out of it was a look at how Sting came to be what he is and how he has continued it beyond The Police.
Rating: 
Summary: Destined for 'la poubelle'..
Review: To give all those interested in Sting, a flavour of this book, and just how incredibly irritating it truly is to any self-confessed fan such as myself, I will attempt to entertain you with a mimic of the author's style of writing in this scathing review- only this time the spotlight being turned on Mr.Sandford - the self-styled 'le critique par excellence'. "Its obvious from the very beginning, to the educated, of the 'rationale' this author proclaims to have on music, and quite obviously, it is nothing less than a mixture of his misplaced determination and ambition and our bad luck that Mr.Sandford ever thought to write a biography on Sting. I do indeed compliment the author on his ability to critise and praise Sting on his life, however contrite and unjustified it often is. And its with sincere regret that after much careful 'investigation' - talking to 100 or so people (no less) about Sting* (*his music)- The 'facts' are as follows: Having read some first-hand 'evidence' of Stings childhood , ie. "A Sting In The Tale" by James Berryman (a better book- highly recommended) "Chris" (Mr. Sandford) falls short of delivering any unbiased information, however well informed by the Tabliod sheets (see back pages for actual references) and therefore, in no uncertain terms, makes himself 'look' (and I say look as I'd never intend to bias my reader) like a self-congratulating hypocrite. Indeed if I read about it in a Tabloid- i'm sure it would be true. Chris, my dear friend, you were once a journalist now you are little more than a 'pretentious git' in my eyes... at least Sting has the sense of humour to appreciate that some people will always see him that way for whatever reasons. You however - don't." ah, thank you kindly
well if you're still interested - just don't believe all the stuff he sprouts!
Rating:
Summary: It's cr*p, in convenient book form!
Review: Upon completion of this book, I put it down, and made a silent, futile wish that the time I wasted reading it might somehow be returned to me. It was informative in some respects, such as shedding a little light on Sting's background and the rise of the Police. But I found myself slogging through all too many paragraphs which were full of editorial comment about Sting's psyche. And let me say, there were more than enough of these paragraphs to skip over time and time again, until the book became an amazingly fast read. Granted, I am interested in learning more about Sting, the individual, which was why I bought the book. But I could really do without the author's consistently negative opinions of his chosen subject. This book contains 25% fact, 25% interviews from people who may or may not even know Sting, and 50% editorial comment and snidely worded jabs from the author. So even though it SAYS "Biography," it's more like 352 pages of unadulterated cr*p. I should have listened to the man himself, when he said "Go over everything in my C.V. - you'll still know nothing 'bout me." Then I wouldn't have squandered my money - and my time! - on this most unsatisfactory book.
Rating:
Summary: A waste of a good tree!
Review: When I first purchased this book I was really excited because Ihad never read a Sting biography before. As I ventured into the lifeof Sting through the words of Christopher Sanford, I began to wanna vomit with disappointment. For six years, I have been a devoted Sting fan and Mr. Sanford's words felt to me as if he was bashing Sting throughout the book. I do not recommend this book if you love Sting. Mr. Sanford makes Sting out to be an egomaniac catastrophe that has turned the rock and roll generation into a bottomless pit of narcissism. I was very dissspointed and could not even finish the book. I was sick to my stomach! The end.
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