Broken Music: A Memoir

You would expect nothing less than an accomplished architect of the English language with a distinct accent, but the glorious laugh-out-loud hilarity was the best surprise. Musicians banter made public! Fantastic and absorbing. It’s always a pleasure to see icons as human flesh and blood.

Fascinating read. I grew up listening to The Police and Stings solo stuff as well. This book could be dry in parts, but I think it's honest and deeply interesting. If you think that Sting lead some easy path to stardom and being a singer/songwriter, then you are simply wrong and should read this book. He had a path in life that was predictably boring for him and easily followed in England (office deskjob, teacher), but risked everything in order to find the thread of a more artistic life. Sting met random people, took chances and made decisions on gut instinct that led him down his path. He was always looking for the instruction book to success, but after searching, knew there wasn't one. He had to invent his own. (Like we all do)If you want to see how Sting did it, read this book. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, bred to become a star. Far from it.

It's been easy to assume that great musicians achieved glory overnight in our culture.It was no small task to make it to the top for Sting. Years of working two jobs, haulingyour equipment around and doing gigs when almost nobody was there to hear you play...This Memoir, 'Broken Music', was eye-opening for me.

Everything perfect, as expected

Love that this is about his life up to the start of success with The Police and not just a rehash of their successes. Sting has a very interesting and intelligent writing style. This book is a good read and worth the investment of time.

Like any memoir worth reading, Sting's is candid.He doesn't cover up any mistakes. Most of the book is about his childhood and his relationships.What I liked about "Broken Music" is the music material like:* Early musical influences on Sting. Most notably the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.* How Sting changed his bass playing style when he started singing more.* The song "Roxanne". Everything about the song was interesting. The origin and the path that the song took to become a huge hit.This book does give the reader a personal glimpse of the man that became a superstar and some insight into his musical style.I wish that there would have been more info about the bandmates in The Police. That and more background information on songs like "I Can't Stand Losing You" which got some attention in passing. There were big hits like "Message In A Bottle", and "Don't Stand So Close To Me" that got no mention. The book missed some opportunities in that regard and there was nothing about Sting's music as a solo artist after he left The Police. He was wildly successful after he left the band and I think that era would have been very interesting also. It feels like the book was never fully finished.

"Broken Music" is an amazing memoir by a talented and intelligent musician. I was very surprised by Sting's ability to write. Sting's story is written in a style which is honest, raw and extremely emotional. I laughed and cried. I felt that I had gained insight after I read this book.I was very impressed by Sting's ability to convey complex emotions and feelings in a touching and deep manner. He could be a writer, aside from being the musical genius he already is. I hope he writes more books in the future. I think he has much to say and he has a true talent for writing. I have loved his songs and music and I loved this book. I highly recommend this book. It deals with issues that are all too familiar to most of us- family, love, disappointments, challenges, coming of age.This book would be a great gift for a parent or a child. All in all, one of the best autobiographies I have read. It is touching, inspiring and enlightening. What more could you ask for from a book?

This is the life story of a bright restless soul from a backwoods English town whose talent and drive escaped the workaday routine of everyday people but turns out in his self portrait to be just as down to earth as the man on the street.It's a heartfelt makeshift autobio of an intensely introspective singer/songwriter evolving in study of life's intellectual meaning and not about to make his legacy all about the spoils of fame and fortune. He's much too deep or modest for that.In this book the ego of Sting gave way to the humble humanity of Gordon Sumner. It's a fascinating read that reveals a soft rock legend who has realized his dreams yet is haunted by the sentimentalist mortality of life's uncertainty.His 25 years on the road first as a blossoming musician, then as the iconic front man for The Police as well as a prolific soloist are covered herein almost as an impromptu coda after saging spirit over aspiration to soul search what really matters.About those who helped make him who he is and of the fate that blessed his ambition, this memoir salutes his mercurial journey and not the epic destination of having become someone, which lends insight into why his music is so enlighteningly mystical.Most of all, Broken Music is a tribute to those dear to him whom he has survived, old friends and family in the estranged late parents of a distant broken home. So much so, that he often identifies himself more by loved ones lost than success found.

Just amazing to read a memoir with so much life lived memory and perspective. Truly a pleasure to read.

A really engaging read, the opening experience is fascinating. Interesting to read about the long years of playing pubs, clubs and small venues in the build up to creating The Police. There are several laugh out loud moments and it ends with a rather charming experience about Sting’s property . Having recently discovered Sting’s solo music, the book gives more depth and understanding to his music and lyrics.

Amo Sting da sempre. Le sue canzoni e la sua musica mi hanno accompagnato dai 15 ai 60 anni e probabilmente continueranno a farlo. Se nell'epoca dei Police lo pensavo un po' arrogante nella sua verve artistica, ho imparato poi a conoscerlo meglio attraverso i suoi lavori come persona sensibile, intelligente, anche di una certa cultura, musicista e autore di classe, pur rimanendo nell'ambito "pop" (ma ad ampio spettro). Leggere il suo percorso personale prima di diventare famoso mi ha ulteriormente affascinato, riuscendo a farmelo sentire quasi come un fratello maggiore, qualcuno con cui vorrei passare più di una serata a passeggiare, parlare, persino suonare, ma in un ambiente intimo come una casa privata. Ha un vocabolario molto ampio, il mio inglese è buono ma ho spesso dovuto ricorrere al dizionario online per molti vocaboli, si sente la sua preparazione scastica e la sua sensibilità anche in questo. Percepisco in lui anche un lavoro di crescita personale non indifferente, probabilmente una psicoterapia.E poi ho ripercorso l'epoca inglese del post Beatles, affascinante anch'essa anche se non così centrale bel libro. Bello, sono felice di aver letto questo libro. Sting, sei un grande musicista, cantante, ma anche un grande uomo.

For a start, I wish this book was 700 pages long and shared more details about Sting and his approach to composing his music and the great albums he created with The Police and beyond. Sadly, these details are missing. There is not a single detail about their musical evolution and not even of one their greatest albums of all time - Synchronicity. There is a large amount of information about his playing in a jazz band on week-ends and him singing but no names of the songs but mostly descriptions of the players and the audiences. There are scant details about his two marriages and absolutely no details about his band mates and their musical chemistry. But Sting is a worthy wordsmith and he shows you just a little so you can read between the lines and his turn of phrase is a delight on every page. The trajectory of his life from a shipbuilding yard to an immensely prolific singer, composer and solvent landowner is nothing short of amazing. A must have book on every shelf.

I think it's a super beautifully written book, and with a clever recall. I may be a very big fan of Sting, but I'm sure it appeals to non-fans as well, if you're interested in the life of a creative and persevering man.