The Beautiful Ones

I was excited about this book. I wanted to like it. I didn't. Not only was it not finished, but the writing had barely begun when Prince passed away. This isn't what Prince wanted. He wanted to make an impact with his truth, transparency and creativity. The estate and the publisher wanted to make money. That's all this book is- a contract. The writer did a good job with the limited material he had and it's clear he cared about Prince. However, a few handwritten pages by Prince on a legal pad is not the achievement Prince was aiming for. It was the beginning of a conversation. I wept the day Prince died. I'm just a fan. Had I realized how incomplete Prince's contributions to this work were I wouldn't have bought it. I miss this man and his music. I could have kept my $20 and still honored his legacy as I always will- by listening to and appreciating his music.

The book arrived shrink-wrapped in plastic, preserving its gorgeous, high quality, textured cover and thick glossy pages. It's packed with photos including pages of his diary and songs in his own hand. Easy to flip through or read cover-to-cover, it's clear that between the frank honesty, humor, and style, Prince seeps through every page. You're gonna know and love him even more after you pour over this richly annotated, curious exploration of Prince's life, thoughts, and images. A unique and very artistic book, as you'd expect and hope for, given, you know... Prince.

It is so interesting to read Prince’s reflections on his life. The family photos are my favorite. So inspiring to look at those pictures knowing that the little boy grew up to become the globally renowned and respected musician that he was. So relatable to read about the love and admiration he had for his parents.

This is a quick read, but you won't quickly forget how it makes you feel. As a fan, it was amazing to see Prince's handwritten notes, lyrics, and memories. But, also as a fan, it is painful to imagine how amazing this memoir would have been if he had lived long enough to complete it. The vision he had for everything was on a whole other level than us mere mortals and I wished we had been able to see the finished product. Any lover of music, creativity or Prince will love this book.

Prince Rogers Nelson was one of the most creative musical geniuses. He was known far and wide. I got to know him through his film, ‘Purple Rain’, and, then, of course, all of his music. Difficult to find anyone who didn’t listen to his music. His death felt unreal, a calamity out of proportion, and then, to know he was addicted to drugs was a cruel blow. Too young, too much for him to do, but that’s how it is in our lives, now. This book, started as an autobiography by Prince, he knew what he wanted to say, and let others know. "Try to create," he told one person. "I want to tell people to create. Just start by creating your day. Then create your life." This book is an attempt to do just that. But, it feels strange, we go from photos of prince to the written word, and then the second half is told through photos of his writings, photos of his life, and photos of everyone in his growing years. I read his book on a kindle, and it was difficult to read the writings on a kindle. In the beginning of the book, we get to meet the author, and an explanation of how writer Dan Piepenbring, was chosen to finish the book on Prince. This is his first published book, and it is well done. How to finish a book that was begun by the genius, Prince. We learn of Prince’s life growing up and into adulthood, but most of the book is about the music, the writing of his music. And, then, the people Prince met and liked. He had an unusually eclectic group of people who would gather at his Paisley Park. Prince loved music and his music, his fashion, the layers, and his relationships to people. Prince was creative in his life in many ways, and this was one of his greatest achievements. Recommended. prisrob 10-29-19

I was FLOORED by the book, a weird and endlessly interesting pastiche of many different elements, all as creative and unique and dazzling as the person they are about. We have highly engrossing accounts of Prince by friends and associates, handwritten biographic information by the man himself, unseen photos from his life and career, handwritten lyrics of classic songs, even the original story of what became his seminal mid 80s classic movie (and album and single) PURPLE RAIN. It's also a truly haunting piece of work in that as you consume the pages you slowly realize that THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS EARTH LIKE PRINCE. A super HIGH FIVE also to the young writer who helped put his book together too - Mr. Dan Piepenbring. Buy this book and learn more about one of the True All Time Greats.

HUGE Prince fan..grew up & am a Minnesota girl..was in Purple Rain..but,like so much since his death..especially having seen him as a local..I was heartbroken by this book..hard to read, does not flow and doesnt really tell a story from his point of view..😥💜💔

This book, had he been able to finish it and allow some of the same rawness, memorabilia, and pictures, would have been massive in size...volumes... so its tempting to give the book less than five stars, but I can't fault a memoir for an unfortunate and tragic death that curtailed its completion. Its brilliant what they were able to do in spite of his death though. Plus, had he lived he might have chucked it anyhow. A two hundred page journal discovered after he died would have probably been brilliantly raw...the fact we get 28 pages of that is still a treat. Some have said this is a quick read, but really its not. It is surprisingly dense with tidbits and offers new insights when you re-read it. The article (with his conversations and thoughts throughout), the captions in the back, his memoir and its notes, the pictures and things he kept (his dad's wallet with his mom's picture in it--speaks volumes) , the original darker PR script--all make up a puzzle... When you assess all this stuff and organize it a bit by theme, its got a lot to say about Prince's core dilemma and the way in which he filtered his personal experiences (how he attempted to use humor, imagination, self invention, and optimism to combat despair and often succeeded) . You discover a man tormented by insecurities/an identity crisis, religious guilt, and a longing for unity due to polar-opposite parents who drug him into their drama (not intentionally but still) leaving him feeling divided and unclear of how loved he was. He is consumed with imagination and a brilliant savant-like mind and as a result, he decides to use art, music, fame and re-invention (maybe a bit too soon after the 'traumatic" divorce) as a way to create a happy harmonious life, and when he was up on that stage soaking up the audience's love , I believe it worked.. But, it must have been exhausting to be Prince though (and this might have helped lead to his death) and I am not sure he ever found that harmony on a regular basis, but his life had wonderful moments through out. The Beautiful Ones hurt you the most and sometimes you love them but don't trust them but there is still love, forgiveness, beauty, and humor in the little moments. And even if one is warring with oneself a lot of the time, there is still moments of harmony and joy to be had in the expression of that duality. Do we learn about what Prince thought about his mistakes later in life or his behavior with others and some of his narcissistic defenses? .NO. (But there is a point when he alludes to his tendency to self-protect by bailing out of relationships when he figures they are heading into the pits..to guard his heart) But we are given a motivation for his need to create himself and control that creation...we get his motivation for making his art his life. (Very few artists do I find to be misunderstand and "tortured" artists to the extent I see in him.) But his warm attention to detail in terms of describing others and his love of people like Bernadette Anderson, his parents, the musicians who inspired him, and his community overall indicate a heart more caring than he might have wanted people to believe in the past. Plus, the book has got cool pictures and is damn funny at times.

The book itself is fascinating- worth every penny- BUT- it comes sealed in shrinkwrap and when opened, the fumes are strong- sortof like formaldehyde. So I've been reading it at arm's length and will probably put it away so it can air out for awhile. Having said that- its full of photos, and very personal to Prince, so the smell is worth it, even to me with asthma. UPDATE: It's actually the shrinkwrap plastic that smells- so some of it sticks to the book, but this morning the book is fine- while my trashcan smells like a chemical factory.

Who knew Prince was so beautiful inside and out? His handwriting was also beautiful. Such a thoughtfully made memoir in memory of Prince. This book offered me so much insight to what made Prince Prince! If you like to analyze handwriting, drawings, fiction writing, songs, and rough drafts, this book got it. It also has childhood photos of Prince young teenage/ young adult and chubby baby photos that make you want to pinch the photos. I love his photo book that Prince personally made too! He was so creative and had a great sense of humor. The most interesting thing to me was seeing photos of his young mother and his description of her through his eyes. It’s mysterious and revealing at the same time. A must read for Prince fans!

I was excited about this book. I wanted to like it. I didn't. Not only was it not finished, but the writing had barely begun when Prince passed away. This isn't what Prince wanted. He wanted to make an impact with his truth, transparency and creativity. The estate and the publisher wanted to make money. That's all this book is- a contract. The writer did a good job with the limited material he had and it's clear he cared about Prince. However, a few handwritten pages by Prince on a legal pad is not the achievement Prince was aiming for. It was the beginning of a conversation. I wept the day Prince died. I'm just a fan. Had I realized how incomplete Prince's contributions to this work were I wouldn't have bought it. I miss this man and his music. I could have kept my $20 and still honored his legacy as I always will- by listening to and appreciating his music.

The book arrived shrink-wrapped in plastic, preserving its gorgeous, high quality, textured cover and thick glossy pages. It's packed with photos including pages of his diary and songs in his own hand. Easy to flip through or read cover-to-cover, it's clear that between the frank honesty, humor, and style, Prince seeps through every page. You're gonna know and love him even more after you pour over this richly annotated, curious exploration of Prince's life, thoughts, and images. A unique and very artistic book, as you'd expect and hope for, given, you know... Prince.

It is so interesting to read Prince’s reflections on his life. The family photos are my favorite. So inspiring to look at those pictures knowing that the little boy grew up to become the globally renowned and respected musician that he was. So relatable to read about the love and admiration he had for his parents.

This is a quick read, but you won't quickly forget how it makes you feel. As a fan, it was amazing to see Prince's handwritten notes, lyrics, and memories. But, also as a fan, it is painful to imagine how amazing this memoir would have been if he had lived long enough to complete it. The vision he had for everything was on a whole other level than us mere mortals and I wished we had been able to see the finished product. Any lover of music, creativity or Prince will love this book.

Prince Rogers Nelson was one of the most creative musical geniuses. He was known far and wide. I got to know him through his film, ‘Purple Rain’, and, then, of course, all of his music. Difficult to find anyone who didn’t listen to his music. His death felt unreal, a calamity out of proportion, and then, to know he was addicted to drugs was a cruel blow. Too young, too much for him to do, but that’s how it is in our lives, now. This book, started as an autobiography by Prince, he knew what he wanted to say, and let others know. "Try to create," he told one person. "I want to tell people to create. Just start by creating your day. Then create your life." This book is an attempt to do just that. But, it feels strange, we go from photos of prince to the written word, and then the second half is told through photos of his writings, photos of his life, and photos of everyone in his growing years. I read his book on a kindle, and it was difficult to read the writings on a kindle. In the beginning of the book, we get to meet the author, and an explanation of how writer Dan Piepenbring, was chosen to finish the book on Prince. This is his first published book, and it is well done. How to finish a book that was begun by the genius, Prince. We learn of Prince’s life growing up and into adulthood, but most of the book is about the music, the writing of his music. And, then, the people Prince met and liked. He had an unusually eclectic group of people who would gather at his Paisley Park. Prince loved music and his music, his fashion, the layers, and his relationships to people. Prince was creative in his life in many ways, and this was one of his greatest achievements. Recommended. prisrob 10-29-19

I was FLOORED by the book, a weird and endlessly interesting pastiche of many different elements, all as creative and unique and dazzling as the person they are about. We have highly engrossing accounts of Prince by friends and associates, handwritten biographic information by the man himself, unseen photos from his life and career, handwritten lyrics of classic songs, even the original story of what became his seminal mid 80s classic movie (and album and single) PURPLE RAIN. It's also a truly haunting piece of work in that as you consume the pages you slowly realize that THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS EARTH LIKE PRINCE. A super HIGH FIVE also to the young writer who helped put his book together too - Mr. Dan Piepenbring. Buy this book and learn more about one of the True All Time Greats.

HUGE Prince fan..grew up & am a Minnesota girl..was in Purple Rain..but,like so much since his death..especially having seen him as a local..I was heartbroken by this book..hard to read, does not flow and doesnt really tell a story from his point of view..😥💜💔

This book, had he been able to finish it and allow some of the same rawness, memorabilia, and pictures, would have been massive in size...volumes... so its tempting to give the book less than five stars, but I can't fault a memoir for an unfortunate and tragic death that curtailed its completion. Its brilliant what they were able to do in spite of his death though. Plus, had he lived he might have chucked it anyhow. A two hundred page journal discovered after he died would have probably been brilliantly raw...the fact we get 28 pages of that is still a treat. Some have said this is a quick read, but really its not. It is surprisingly dense with tidbits and offers new insights when you re-read it. The article (with his conversations and thoughts throughout), the captions in the back, his memoir and its notes, the pictures and things he kept (his dad's wallet with his mom's picture in it--speaks volumes) , the original darker PR script--all make up a puzzle... When you assess all this stuff and organize it a bit by theme, its got a lot to say about Prince's core dilemma and the way in which he filtered his personal experiences (how he attempted to use humor, imagination, self invention, and optimism to combat despair and often succeeded) . You discover a man tormented by insecurities/an identity crisis, religious guilt, and a longing for unity due to polar-opposite parents who drug him into their drama (not intentionally but still) leaving him feeling divided and unclear of how loved he was. He is consumed with imagination and a brilliant savant-like mind and as a result, he decides to use art, music, fame and re-invention (maybe a bit too soon after the 'traumatic" divorce) as a way to create a happy harmonious life, and when he was up on that stage soaking up the audience's love , I believe it worked.. But, it must have been exhausting to be Prince though (and this might have helped lead to his death) and I am not sure he ever found that harmony on a regular basis, but his life had wonderful moments through out. The Beautiful Ones hurt you the most and sometimes you love them but don't trust them but there is still love, forgiveness, beauty, and humor in the little moments. And even if one is warring with oneself a lot of the time, there is still moments of harmony and joy to be had in the expression of that duality. Do we learn about what Prince thought about his mistakes later in life or his behavior with others and some of his narcissistic defenses? .NO. (But there is a point when he alludes to his tendency to self-protect by bailing out of relationships when he figures they are heading into the pits..to guard his heart) But we are given a motivation for his need to create himself and control that creation...we get his motivation for making his art his life. (Very few artists do I find to be misunderstand and "tortured" artists to the extent I see in him.) But his warm attention to detail in terms of describing others and his love of people like Bernadette Anderson, his parents, the musicians who inspired him, and his community overall indicate a heart more caring than he might have wanted people to believe in the past. Plus, the book has got cool pictures and is damn funny at times.

The book itself is fascinating- worth every penny- BUT- it comes sealed in shrinkwrap and when opened, the fumes are strong- sortof like formaldehyde. So I've been reading it at arm's length and will probably put it away so it can air out for awhile. Having said that- its full of photos, and very personal to Prince, so the smell is worth it, even to me with asthma. UPDATE: It's actually the shrinkwrap plastic that smells- so some of it sticks to the book, but this morning the book is fine- while my trashcan smells like a chemical factory.

Who knew Prince was so beautiful inside and out? His handwriting was also beautiful. Such a thoughtfully made memoir in memory of Prince. This book offered me so much insight to what made Prince Prince! If you like to analyze handwriting, drawings, fiction writing, songs, and rough drafts, this book got it. It also has childhood photos of Prince young teenage/ young adult and chubby baby photos that make you want to pinch the photos. I love his photo book that Prince personally made too! He was so creative and had a great sense of humor. The most interesting thing to me was seeing photos of his young mother and his description of her through his eyes. It’s mysterious and revealing at the same time. A must read for Prince fans!

Prince. The mere mention of his name brings up memories of my first Purple Rain album, waiting in 100 degree heat for tickets, the exhilaration of his concerts, and the giddy joy of it all. There was no one on earth who was great with music, greater with double entendres, and the greatest at singing about his ode to joy: sex. And he did it with high heels and makeup. Prince was my life. Until his life ended. A few months before he passed, Prince was working on publishing his memoir. He sought out an unknown journalist named Dan Piepenbring to do the ghostwriting. For three months Piepenbring spent time in Prince’s inner circle, had lengthy discussions with him, and read over his handwritten notes. After his lonely death, the estate granted Piepenbring access to Prince’s personal items that spanned his entire life. Those personal items are the core of the Beautiful Ones, Prince’s “incomplete” memoir. Replete with family photos, school pictures, his drawings, and with his written songs, The Beautiful Ones gives us a glimpse of his family and his early years. It also gives us an idea of what it was like for Prince to grow up black in Minneapolis. In good ways and bad, one can glean that Prince’s childhood not only shaped him, but allowed him to channel those struggles into his music. The real treat of the Beautiful Ones is the photo journal taken in 1977, right before Prince’s rise to superstardom. You see Prince the wunderkind, mugging for the camera, knowing he’s a star. The early photos of Prince are both poignant and sad, because it shows his brilliance yet shows his vulnerability and loneliness. It’s almost like he’s taking those pictures from a fishbowl. Because of its incompleteness, The Beautiful Ones has a lot of photojournalism along with quotes from various interviews and magazine articles. The rare photography of Prince shows his sheer presence, and his hunger for fame. For the Uber-Stans, The Beautiful Ones won’t disappoint you. If you’re a casual fan who wants an in-depth memoir into Prince’s life, look elsewhere. It isn’t a coincidence that The Beautiful Ones is incomplete, just as his death wasn’t as untimely as we’d like to believe. Prince lived on his enigmatic terms, and he died as one. He gave us everything he had, but he wasn’t going to give us everything. He gave us just enough to keep us guessing, without giving himself totally away. Prince loved his fans, which is why he wrote this beautiful book. This was his swan song, his thank you, and his goodbye to his fans. I found myself in awe throughout the book, because it’s truly that beautiful...And in tears because it’s truly that sad.

I followed Prince back in the 1970's, before he made it to the "white" radio stations. Then I saw him perform in the 1980's and again in 2007. I will confirm first hand what you already know if you're a Prince fan: he started out as a magician and then got better. He wrote truly unique tunes and played them as a phenomenal instrumentalists--he considered his voice as only one of his many instruments. You'll gain much insight about the artist with this book; but, there's something much more important between the covers-- if you are open to the idea. Thoreau talks about the most frightening journey is the one that goes inside. Most people never have the courage to even listen to what's inside, much less are they inclined to actually act on what they hear. Prince lived his life and wrote his music from a place of what he heard from inside with little regard for the rest of the world's opinion. I remember in the 1980's when some fundamentalists protested his music (even though at the time he had his own devotion to GOD that you could find in much of his music). I was brought up Christian (am part Jew by genetic testing, eat kosher, studied meditation with the last living disciple of Paramansa Yoganda, and sent my children to a Catholic School, and read the Koran, the Gita, and the Old Testament)--so I have some religious tendencies; but, I did not agree with the "religious" protests against Prince. I could hear something more than sex in his music (though the music stands on the sex part alone). He once held up a live concert for over an hour while he discussed his ideas about GOD with a journalist. And I witnessed that after his concert in 2007 (Biloxi Mississippi), he pointed to the sky and bowed, to let the audience know where he thought the music started (this after driving the crowd wild with sexual desire). He did that concert with only a drummer to accompany him: he played all the other instruments, with no piped in fake music. It was all live and it was magic. That was Prince at his best. He lived his life with the courage to be himself. This book could give you more volition to do the same. And, you will see some fun photos from his life.

Prince and I shared the same birthday, Although I am about 10 years older than he was. I always believed that he was one of the most phenomenal musical geniuses of all times. I still mourn that I did not attend his last concert at the Fox Theater in my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. I was very anxious to get this book as soon as it was released. I am very disappointed and wished that I saved my money. The book is a Big Disappointment.

this book was hard to read only because of the realization of its finality. prince was written about by many who really didn't know his innerlife and at times his outward appearing life. to hear him describe himself as a superhero with this amazing and vibrant imagination is wonderful and so apropos! prince is a unique person shaped by his family experiences but then deciding freedom and creativity were the only things worth living for. he is the most prolific songwriter, possibly in musical history and more to the point, the greatest musician of this or any age. he didn't play at music, he is music. every single kind you can think of, he did extremely well. i hope the world at large gets to see, experience and understand some of what prince was about by listening to his music, especially from the 90s until the end of his time here. he is beyond amazing. his bravery and social consciousness were beyond measure. there is so much left unsaid in this highly emotional book, but reading prince's own words about how he viewed the world as he was becoming our 'prince' is awesome. create your life. prince created a world and he invited us all in.

I also purchased this book hoping to understand my favorite of all time musician!! WHAT A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!! I should have saved my money!! What a jumbled mess of a book that made no sense at all! I am sure if HIS ROYAL BADNESS had finished the nook himself it would have been something great, but this was not!! IT WAS horrible and it pains me to say this about the man I adored. Yes, I liked seeing his actual handwritten notes, but they seemed out of place in the book.... This was truly a mess of a book and I am an AVID PRINCE DEVOTEE..... DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.

This book does not do well. I guess it could have been more had prince lived and got to express what should have been. It felt more like a jumble of his life and accomplishments. I think where it was headed had he lived would have been completely different. The author.... this was a missed chance and he wanted to make something of the time he spent with prince. I feel it was one of the almosts that happen in life. I almost had greatness. I almost got to know prince. I almost had the love of my life. I almost caught the prize winning fish..

If you loved Prince as I did this is a good collectors item. Don't expect juicy details if you already know this awesome musicians early life story. Being a larger than life fan of the late great Prince Rogers Nelson, I will cherish this book for the handwritten lyrics, photos & his personal "doodle" drawings with captions. Personally art was another hidden Prince talent. Its going to take a brave confidant, siblings/cousins, former band members or former girlfriend(s) to air the details people are so intrigued to know. Being a true "Purple Rain" Royalty fan .... I will just be content. Enjoy Purple Fans!

AMAZING PRESENTATION!!! WOW!! Every book should be packaged as this one was. It arrived nicely in the box (as usual) but the difference between this book and the hundreds that I have bought before it was this one was perfectly wrapped in shrink-wrap! No one else has ever opened or looked at this book of mine, and that is a wonderful feeling!! :) I think every single book should be treated with this much care and concern! I LOVED IT!! Can't wait to read the book!!!

If you want to know all the details of his childhood and Maurice day in the making of purple rain fine. But this is not a book written by Prince other than photo copies of pages of handwritten notes. A lot of pages but nothing that’s all that interesting as far as his last 20 years

I wanted to love this book, but it's barely a book. I like the author, but I had already read 80% of his journey with Prince in a magazine before The Beautiful Ones came out. There's just not much here. Right after he passed, someone explained how he managed to keep everyone around him so quiet about his life and artistry. "If you know Prince, Prince don't know you." Now that he is gone and this book is out of the way, someone can go talk to all those people that knew him - even those with their own books - and assemble something substantial about the artist we all love.

I was really disappointed in this book. I am not an obsessed Prince fan but I do own and love most of his music. The book starts with the journalist reminiscing about how we and Prince meet and it's very interesting and starts off very good. But then Prince dies and he shows pictures of Prince's scrap books and writings but it was next to impossible for me to even read Prince's handwriting. I tried but I couldn't get through the book. The pictures are cool and seeing photos of his personal items about as far as a detailed story about Prince? This not the book. If you're a Prince obsessed fan then you will probably want this in your collection but other wise? Forgetaboutit!

The author was a huge Prince fan, however, he seemed to lose his way. He knew Prince for 3 months and was aware of the direction Prince wanted to go with the book, much to the dismay of the reader, it turned into a scrap book. If you had access to all of Paisley Park and all you grab is a few lyrics and photos from the 70's? Why? Prince wanted to focus on his career up to the Super Bowl performance. The writer gets to Purple Rain and just gives out. Like, nothing happened after Purple Rain. Boom. Book done. The writer missed a HUGE opportunity. He had the golden ticket. He had Prince who had signed on, and then access to all of his belongings and he turned it into a scrapbook.

Prince has been one of my all time favorite artist since I was a kid, I was actually listening to Let's Go Crazy when i heard the the news of his passing 😞 - wish he were able to finish it but I believe the people invovled in making this happen did the best the could with what they had. Very pleased with my purchase and glad to add it to my growing Prince collection.

Went back & forth not knowing if I should buy this book or not. So beyond heartbroken that he wasn't able to finish it himself. And he did say "u should always get it from the horses mouth" so I take everything other ppl say with a grain of salt. Who really knows what the truth is. But I finally decided to buy it becuz he also always said he wanted to share with us ("For You"). I am so glad I did. Beautiful photos & his writings...so worth it. I am glad they put this book out. I hate that he didn't have the final say about the finished product, of course, since I know how much he liked to control every aspect of his work (true meaning of GENIUS imo), but I'm happy that we can see more of him, especially his writings & photos. I haven't "read" it yet and may not. I absolutely love the writings/songs he did on paper. And the photos are beyond awesome. I still miss u, Beautiful One. RIParadise.

This book has unique photos and hand written noted by Prince. The scribbles, sketches and stories he shared about his childhood hold important messages that he clearly wants to get across about being in charge of yourself, your art and your life. It was also an insight into what was weighing on his mind in his final days. ... Do not be surprised when it ends abruptly. It leaves a bit of an empty feeling, giving the reader PTSD from the day they heard of his sudden death.

Finally we get to hear from the man himself. The little bit that he had time to write is very interesting. He clearly was ready to revisit his past and reveal more than ever before. I also enjoyed Piepenbring's framing story about meeting Prince and learning about Prince's vision for the book. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the remainder of the book is a fitting completion of that vision. Seeing the original handwritten lyrics to iconic songs and Prince's treatment for the film that became Purple Rain is simply amazing.

Couldn’t put the book down. Saw Prince perform with 3RDEYEGIRL about 25 feet from where I was standing at Paisley Park when he gave one of his short notice parties for the public; the music was out of this world, He was truly a musical genius. Love the photos and the hand written lyrics in the book! Some of the quotes/statements from Prince illustrate how genuine he was. It makes me miss him even more.

I love Prince, and was very saddened by his sudden transition. I already own all of authorized Prince publications, and when I heard that it was Skipper himself as the author, well I just had to have it. However, I was not happy with this book for a couple reasons, the first being, it still feels unfinished. I wanted more, thinking this would cover something's about him that I didn't really know. I loved when the co-author talked about meeting Prince and how he was picked, something, but still not what I wanted. The pictures were beautiful, and I loved that. Once book, but for a true Prince fan, it left me wanting more of the Purple One. He is still truly missed

While it is tragic that Prince died shortly after he started writing his memoir, we are extremely lucky that 30ish handwritten pages exist. Coupled with a treasure trove of personal photos and amazingly illuminating footnotes, this book is an absolute gift to Prince fans.

I 've been a fan of Prince since 1999 (the album, not the year) and found this book really enjoyable. They did a good job of padding it out considering there was so little that he'd gotten finished when he passed. I really liked reading the hand written portion (the parts that he'd written himself are offered in both typewritten and actual photocopies of the pages written in his own scrolly handwriting) and it made it feel even more personal. I thought it was a nice touch. If you're a Prince fan, you may be surprised to find that this isn't written in the mysteriously cryptic "Prince" style that we've come to know (who are we kidding? If you're a fan, you already have this). He comes across as a pretty regular guy in his recollections which, sadly, only cover his youth. It was fascinating. It's a must have for fans but, even if you don't count yourself among their number, and only knew him from the radio or the Super Bowl, you're likely to find this an enjoyable read.

To see Prince's handwritten pages were worth the purchase for me. I read the book on Kindle because I haven't been able to open the physical book because it is beautiful-the texture, the color, the embossed writing-it's more than just the read. I read the words on his pages rather than the recaps; to absorb those words was a great experience for me. Nothing is more fun than reading Prince's handwriting and uncovering his thoughts. If you want to "hear" his experience this is it.

Meh. It was pretty cool to see his writings, but they were difficult to read, thank goodness they were deciphered! I wish he would’ve been able to actually finish the book......gone too soon.

This memoir is a wonderful gift to be absorbed and savored! In Prince-like fashion, he has peeled back a layer or so to reveal some of the beautiful facets of his sparkling persona. What’s not to love about his purple heart and soul sprinkled throughout these pages?!? Love, love, love it!

I have waited for this book since he first announced he was writing his memoirs back in March 2016...then he passed away unexpectedly and surprisingly. My heart was shattered, I've been a "fam" of his since 1982. After the shock wore off I was afraid his words would never see the light of day. I read he wrote 50 pages, could have been 10 and it wouldn't have mattered to me. Finally it's here and beautifully done. I'm amazed at all the keepsakes he held onto. Now I look at some of his songs in a different light, for example "SchoolYard". Cari has been brought to life lol. Who knew Sometimes It Snows In April kind of manifested during the For You days?! That blew my mind. I'm grateful for the beautiful photos he shared, his experiences and fell more in awe of him than before. The pages are also high quality, from the cover to the middle and back cover. I will say; as his words ended...it was abrupt and had me feeling a certain way; a little sad he wasn't able to finish. Alas, the book ends as Prince lived his life; in mystery. Maybe as it was meant to be. Love this man to the moon and back. I highly recommend.

I'm an avid MN Prince fan … I have been to Paisley Park and his concerts. I was curious about this book because he had only written a few pages before his untimely death and how could anyone complete it and do justice to the book? It's pretty interesting, I learned more about him than I knew before. There are many pages that are pictures of his letters and notes. It's very hard to read so I think those pages could have been omitted unless you like to look at his scribble and cursive.

It's Still on the shelf, haven't started reading it yet, i have others to finish off first. But I know it'll be a good read. For know it's still wrapped up.

First let me say how shocked I was at the weight of this book! Pretty heavy for such a small book. Extremely impressed with with the quality of the cover, the paper used and the photos. I tried reading it but just couldn’t get into it. From the videos I’ve seen of people’s interactions with him, portrays him as a spur of the moment kinda guy, which is cool, but that’s kinda like how the book starts out. I think I’d rather just know what I know about Prince and the great musician that he was. I would definitely still recommend this book to anyone who loves Prince.

I loved the whole packaging of the book. From the cover and the paper it was printed on, to the layout inside. The photographs gave me a whole different look to Prince. I was sad finishing it because we all know what happens next, but we didn't get to read his experiences and his thoughts and what he went thru. It's still sad 3 years later but having this book actually brought some comfort because Prince really thought it out how he wanted this project to be and though it wasn't finished, it remains just as mysterious as he was. There's no ending but it's kinda like Prince, to leave you to wonder. I'll cherish this book and I bought another to keep sealed. #Prince4Ever

As a big fan I bought the hard copy and Kindle version. I’ve been collecting Prince books and cover magazines[like Ebony/Jet/Newsweek etc.]over the past 3 years. I’m happy I bought to add to my memorabilia. Was disappointed with this book’s layout sometimes making narrative difficult to follow and smallish font making Prince’s script writing difficult to read. Maybe I was expecting too much but to me this was not a true autobiography:( Since I didn’t read it through I will return to it with a fresh perspective a couple of months into the New Year.

I've loved Prince since my college days, so I was excited to read his story . He chose the writer, then died after collaborating for the first part of book. The photos are charming, Like we had back in the day, but the author put all photos together, then all photo captions together, so u have to flip back and forth for each photo. Lame. Also, some artwork is so small you can't read it. Lots of writing on napkins and loose leaf paper notebooks. Neat to see how easy writing was for Prince. I expected more artistry in his book. More interviews with others in his bands. A little too simple, for an amazing artist's story.

This book would have probably been a bigger seller than the Purple Rain movie and album put together, if it would have been fully realized. Unfortunately, we lost it's author. It was a good attempt, but there just was not enough in it for me. Not terrible...just not great. I actually enjoyed the beginning of the book as compare to the actual memoir portion of the book. This a book that all true Prince fam (not fan) should have. Rest in the dawn, P. We miss you!

While the pics are great it’s literally a few pages that Prince finished and 95% photos and a write up by the books author . You can finish the book in an hour or less if you pass up looking at the images . Could have been awesome but sadly he passed . Was hoping there was more finished but this memoir was really early stages to the point I’m not sure how they thought they could make a full book .

This book was hyped up to be something it is not. If you were a true Prince fan, this is old information. Not worth the money.

I love it... I love Prince! I especially loved the copies of the lyrics! I truly miss this genius of a man!

Thanks for Prime & pre-order opp. I purchased 2 copies which arrived quickly. Beautiful book that I gave to my beautiful 1st born daughter for her 21st bday and the other one I gave to my Prince superfan girlfriend. I had already listened to the book on audible and read excerpts, but the actual book is an incredible treasure trove!!

If you are a prince fan I definitely recommend getting this book. There’s so many pictures from his early childhood, it talks about so any different things i’m not gonna spoil them because I want you to buy the book, but it’s definitely worth every penny. I couldn’t be happier with this purchase. the cover of my book did come a little bit dented but it didn’t bother me much. it may bother others the cover also feels like sandpaper is kind of gritty. But no worries it’s made that way. I truly truly truly do love this book its probably one of my favorite books that I have bought so far. It truly is an amazing book and it truly is worth every penny and I really do mean that with all my heart. May u live to c the dawn!!!

I loved it even though it is obviously incomplete and only talks about Prince's early years. It is an intimate look into his life, his thought and creative process, how he viewed music. The pictures of his lyrics and glimpses of writing style make you feel connected to his musical genius. It is too bad it was never completed it would have been fascinating to see from his own perspective how he involved as his music changed.

I really didn't know what to expect from this book? I had a small run in with Prince one time many years ago so I was a tad bit unsure if I would have like this book. it was written by him (Prince) but really it was not by him. looks of pictures in it. Like I said before it was an okay book. I still love his music just to let you know.

I just wish Prince was still alive on earth..then this book wouldn't be unfinished. I enjoyed reading his words, and seeing his handwritten drafts. Reading Princes' memoir written in his own words, looking at his photos, felt very much as if Prince was speaking to the reader. It was well worth the purchase, because it was about Prince, mostly by Prince. It's a wonderful keepsake.

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK, I WISH PRINCE COULD HAVE FINISHED IT BUT AM APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE WHAT WE DO WITH THIS BOOK. HE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE AN ICON AND NO ONE WILL EVER REPLACE HIM.

I noted this book as interesting because I wasn't a fan of Prince when he was at the top of his ride to fame although I knew of him. it wasn't till later that I discovered his music and showmanship/stage presence & ultimate professionalism. So I wanted to know more about his life before of which this book does an adequate job of but it leaves a lot of space for improvements.

In my opinion, this book was written in reverse. The beginning/first chapter/section dealt with the end of Prince's' life. The remaining portions were written in a better and more concise order. Just has a tendency to make you feel as though you could enjoy it better had you read this book starting from back to front.

OMG! Top quality and packaged nicely for safe delivery. A treasure keep book of a super and talented artist the one and only “Prince”. The book smells really good and the pages and everything about this book is amazing. Excellent customer service with speedy delivery. Kudos to all the designers who put this book together 👩🎨😘. I highly recommend this company.

I wanted to buy "The Beautiful Ones," because I am a Prince fan. But the book fell way short. Dan Piepenbring was chosen by Prince to help him write the book, that choice was a major mistake!! As Dan states in the introduction he published zero book at the time, he was an editor at The Paris Review, a literary magazine and twenty-eight years his junior. The book reflects that!! The best parts of the book were the family photos, the "Photo Book" and his handwritten pages. I still would recommend the book to Prince fans because it's a book that Prince wanted to get out to his fans. Unfortunately he died before we could have seen his life up to the "Super Bowl."

Beautiful book. Heavy. Well made. High quality photos. Haven’t finished reading but well written so far. Must but for Prince aficionados.

...The only reason it does not get a 5th star, is bcuz it is tragically incomplete...a must read 4 anyone who 💓's music.

Liked the information about his family but wish it was further along when he passed . Just makes you feel incomplete...

It's so sad that Prince's untimely death ended this project. It feels a bit cobbled together, using that they could to make something fans would appreciate. You do get the sense that Prince would've approved of it. But we'll never know. This book is for the real fans, who just have to know more about the most amazing musician of our time.

What can I say....I love Prince! Have been a super fan for as long as I can remember. I was pleased to see most of this written in his own words. I appreciate that much more than books written by others. Prince didn’t let many into his inner circle so I know to take what those books say with a grain of salt. Loved the never seen before photos and hearing more about his early years.

I loved the pictures, just wished it could have gotten finished.

I loved the intimacy of this book. There was always so much we didn't know about Prince & his music. This book gives us an in-depth look at who he was as a child & where he came from. As well as inspirations & muses that came along, even before the music. And I love all of the photos!!! A must-read for Prince fans!

I enjoyed this book, but realistically it's not written by Prince - it's a hodge-podge of Prince's notes, conversations with the author, and old interviews. But it does reveal more than I have heard or seen before about Prince. I was hoping for much more material, but it just isn't there. I liked what was there, but there isn't enough.

Poor job of putting Prince’s life in a book, was more like a scrapbook, sadly enough.

I guess we'll never know fully about Prince, as he intended. I thought this would be the book that did it and was on it's way until Prince passed away suddenly. Book was kind of a let down unfortunately..

I thought this would be a biography of Prince. It was written by someone else and side from the first few chapters, it was all of writings in cursive by Prince. I could hardly read any of it. DO NOT BUY this book!

It was a nice book. That's all I can really say, as it was unfinished because of Prince's death. But I liked what he was able to write and the interview he had with the author. Reading his past interviews, story boards for Purple Rain and looking at his photos was nice.

If you just want pictures of Prince with "very little" actual writing, this is the book for you.

This was a present for a true Prince fan. She has every record and yes I said record that he made and they are first editions. She has over 30 Prince books and 60 magazines that mention him on the cover. She was awestruck because she had NEVER seen this book. Thank you for having it available.

Bottom line, if you’re a fan of Prince you will enjoy owning this book. I’ve seen the author talking on various TV spots and he’s kind of misleading. The books starts with an “Almost Famous” kind of vibe, but once we lose Prince, it becomes a series of quotes from past magazines. BUT...like I said if you lie Prince, it’s cool to see what he was starving to piece together for this memoir and his collection of photos and of course his handwritten drafts. Me personally, I love the handwritten song lyrics. I don’t give it 5 stars because it isn’t really a book that flows tell g a story.

Many have written about him, but to read his own words is truly an experience for Purple fams! Never before seen pics of him with his quirky yet humorous comments. The only con for me is he couldn't finish it. But just like any Prince experience (commonly known as a show) you are left wanting more. Great gift for any Prince fams (yes I said fams instead of fan) for Xmas.

Loved the intimate and candid feel of the book. Loved how prince is basically speaking to you through his experiences. The only let down for me was i wanted more. I felt the exclusivity provided a much needed closeness to understand the artist, but it felt cut short. It could have gone more into his thought process and creative choices. Why he decided certain things and his feelings about the finished works in question. I also, wanted to know more about his love of instruments. Why he loved the guitar so much and how he felt about it. Still, for any prince fan or anyone inspired by him it is a must read.

What a strange book! The first third is the introduction. There are copious hand-written pages in Prince's recognizable style. Lots of photos and sparse prose. And yet, I enjoyed it. I feel I know Prince better, but, oh, what could have been!

The photos were unremarkable. The text was boring. Prince was brilliant and beautiful both physically and in his soul. He deserved so much more than this book offered.

Well put together considering the untimely passing of Prince. It was really interesting to hear how Purple Rain originally was versus how the movie turned out. I'll definitely have to watch it again with a new perspective.

I liked the information/story. I did not care for the explanation of information and photos to be pages apart. So sad that Prince's life came to an end at such a young age. He had so much to offer the world of music.

Beautiful book very pleased with this book perfect Prince collectable. It's got lots of pictures and handwriting lyrics that's amazing some words and deep thoughts and it's like you dive Right in his brain of a genius. Pleased greatly.

Well written. Felt like I was right there with the author. However, the hand written copies of Prince's manuscripts were faint and very hard to read on the kindle. Thankfully the author transcribed the information.

Wasn't impressed by this book at all! Very disjointed and confusing. Love Prince but this book was not a great tribute to him. Liked the pictures and seeing his written pages of songs.

LOVE IT! BOOK IS BEAUTIFUL AND PACKED WITH PICTURES!! READS WELL.

I wish he could have finished it himself but this book was beautifully done regardless. The photos and the way the additional author took Prince’s work and folded it in to this beautiful book was so nice.

It was unfortunate that Prince died three months after Dan had been meeting with him. However, Dan did a wonderful, insightful job sticking with Prince’s desire to convey HIS feelings, his story and his truths.

I enjoyed this book because I've been a Prince fan since 1979. The casual fan probably wouldn't feel the same. It's very light on "memior material". There are several pages actually written by Prince. Most of the text, however, is the author's detailed account of his interactions with Prince while laying the ground work for this book just before his death. There are a lot of personal pictures and hand written lyrics to most of his hits, which are interesting to see. I'd recommend this book for a true Prince lover.

If you are a fan add this to your collection now.

As a lifelong Prince fan it was great to dive into his thought process. His life showed you don't have to be a victim of your circumstances. There were great things ahead of him. I'm sad he didn't get to finish the book or complete his future plans.

Not a lot of text in Prince's own words but what is written down had me wanting more. Personal stories were shared for such a private person. Buy if you are a Prince fan. Gone too soon--RIP to Prince.

If you were already sad about all we lost when he died, this book will make you sadder. The intro is fascinating and revealing (a lot of it was already in a New Yorker article), but the actual writing by Prince is maybe 1/32 of what we might have gotten had he lived: and that is sad. The photos, paper quality etc are superb, but ultimately it's pretty skimpy; there is so little here compared to what might have been. Glad to learn what I did, but leaves you wanting to much more.

Great detail read about the making of our Prince. However, when writing about the movie Purple Rain, I wonder why Vanity 's name was used and not Appolonia's name as the actress that played Prince's girlfriend?

A must read for all Prince fanatics. It was very difficult to read his hand written notes. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Comes wrapped in plastic and is a beautiful book.

This was a gift for my wife, she says it is a great book. She loves it.

finally found where it was delivered

I haven’t even read it yet. It appears beautifully put together. I’m just not quite ready to dive in. I wish he was still here and could have completed the book. I hope and pray that it’s a true representation of who he was.💜🙏🎸☔️

This is a book you must own. Prince's handwriting, the personal pictures, his wit, his personal views on growing up and life. You can read all the other books that speak of individual's relationships with Prince...but this is the book HE wanted the world to know. I'm devastated that the book is a mere portion of all that he meant to write...but I will take anything over nothing.

Great book for the Prince fan of any age. This is just another great look into the world of my favorite musician. I wish that he could have completed it, I wish that he was still with us.

Fans of Prince who “think” they know him really need to read this book. (*Spoiler Alert: Prince’s handwritten original screenplay idea for Purple Rain is included - and it’s very different from what we all saw!*)

Well written, well thought out book. Filled with a ton of candid & professional photos. It was a treat to see lyrics written by his hand with doodles on the pages & to read his own writing. I knew it was only going to cover his life up to Purple Rain, but it was so engrossing, I was still kind of surprised when it ended. Highly recommended!

Not sure why this book got such great reviews. It's basically a picture book with some text. Disjointed at best and very much unfinished. I was hoping for more.

I've been a fan since the beginning and this is the closest I've ever felt to Prince. The hand written notes and lyrics made my heart race. It was the same feeling I had the many times I saw him in concert. It was so intimate and personal. To read about your all time favorite performer, in their own words (literally), is beyond belief. IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH!!

Prince would be so proud of how Dan Piepenbring completed this masterpiece. Excellent job on the layout of the book. Prince was such an amazing person and this book showcases who he really was as a person and as a talented musical artist. The Beautiful One will forever live on!

Hesitated to break the spine, took a Sunday and read and browsed the photos. Such an interesting view from esiro Dan. Enjoyed reading about Prince's infamous antics. Sad the dream of his big idea of multiple books will not come to fruition. As a Prince enthusiast, I will treasure this book with his pages of flowy writings.

Didn’t even want to give it one star! Very hard to read. Tried several times. Wish I could have returned it!! Donated it was the best I could do. Truly one for the trash

This book is a gift for my daughter, and it arrived sealed in cello shrink wrap, perfect jacket condition and I would recommend it for a great read or gift giving.

Hasn't caught my attention. I've started and stopped reading several times. Guess I'm disappointed that we have to experience Prince's autobiography through a writer that's just guessing what Prince would have wanted him to write. Photos are nicely done.

I really love reading about prince and this book was pretty decent. It was not what I expected as over half the book had very old notes hand written by the artist himself and a few pictures. Mostly songs he was writing. I expected to read more about prince himself.

I am a avid and devoted Prince fan and I was disappointed in this book. It did not delve into anything new or unexpected about the artist. It was an effort to use what little material Prince had begun to formulate for his biography but it was then peppered with pictures which took away from the entire project. If the co author had utilized Prince’s sister’s Tyka or others accounts to fill in the blanks it would have made for a much better endeavor.

This was seriously the boringest book I've ever read. I'm a huge Prince fan but the story here isnt engaging. I read 2-3 pages and fall asleep. It does have some FANTASTIC pictures though. It's worth purchasing just to see the old famy pix and stuff. The biographies that his ex girlfriends wrote are much better.

I love this book and would have paid much more for it. It's so personal. It shares handwritten notes, lyrics, thoughts and amazing pics. I felt very connected to Prince before reading this book. Once i received it, i felt an even greater intimacy. He definitely was the beautiful one!

My fiancé loved this. It has amazing pictures, notes in Prince’s handwriting and everything I hoped it would be. If you can’t get to Paisley Park this will help you feel connected to Prince. Well done.

Great read. It's to bad Prince did not live to finish the book. I miss him so much. We will never know what all he wanted to say and reveal. The writer could only tell us what he talked to Prince about and see There is so much more to know 💜💜💜💯

As a longtime Prince fan, I was extremely grateful for the posthumous release of The Beautiful Ones. The book provides a humorous look into his personal opinions of fellow musicians (Alexander O’Neal) and an intimate look into his most formative years and troubled relationships with his parents. The book covers various defining moments all of which ultimately manifested the creative genius of Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson.

I am a lifelong, devout Prince fan who is still very much grieving his passing. This intimate view into his private life is forever cherished. 💜

I loved the way the book was written, and it’s a personal account of his life. I gave it as a gift to a real fan Of Prince and he was Thrilled!!

bought this as a Christmas gift for my boss. She read the whole book in one night and was truly impressed with the pictures as well as the personal notes written by Prince !! Definitely a must buy for a fan !!!

No mention of Mayte!!! Extremely disappointed. Plus it seemed like the book was stretched in some weird fashion. I enjoyed the pics though.

It was a good story and it would have been a lot better had he lived. With that being said, I think it would have just been better if he had not published it.

Loved reading and looking at every page in this book! A must have for any Prince fan. I was fascinated by Dan’s telling of his brief and unique friendship with Prince. Reading the few pages Prince was able to write before he died about his early years was so relatable and gave a lot of insight to the artist and man he became. All the pictures, lyric sheets, and drawings were wonderful to see.

Beautifully bound book. Prince’s influence evident even in packaging. The book is very intimate, almost like visiting a close friend. A treasure.

Great book but the handwritten pages are difficult to read on the Kindle edition so I had to adjust the settings. A minor issue.

If only he lived to finish it. Yet the book was written by him and his hand picked author . What more could we want . Great book!

I loved this book, pretty much written by My Prince himself in his own words. He was Purple Rain before it even came to be the movie, as it was stated in the book. He was the color purple and so much more. This book touched my heart and my soul and helped me understand Prince and his inner soul and his shyness more than I ever dreamed of before now. He is gone, but he will always be here forever more. He will continue to rain down on us all and continue to fall in the Purple Rain. I love you My Prince! Get this book, my friends. Prince depends on everyone to help pay his bills now!

If I get new info on Prince it's worth the money..he does write will feeling. A sad ending to a brilliant man and his music.

Loved this! Huge Prince fan! Book is full of wonderful photos! Lots of cool notes and writings never before seen! Glad multiple people sell this on amazon!

This book is like talking to Prince. He had a very hard life growing up. One very good book. One interesting book to read.

Incredible memoir or (auto)biography. I love that the author or editor wrote (or left it) it in Prince's prose or the way that he wrote. Wonderful and I (and the world) sure misses him and his talent.

Great book of prince

It wasn't what I expected! It was to short and not worth the money I paid for it..

Sadly, I was not overjoyed by this read. I was so hopeful to gain more insight about the man and the mystery that Prince was.

All I can say is wow!! This book is so good I read it in 2 days. It has handwritten songs, personal photos of Prince, friends and family throughout his life. It feels like you're with a long time friend and he's sharing his photo album during kitchen table talk. Definitely worth the purchase, I feel this book would have made Prince proud. PRINCE ...Rest In Peace "Beautiful One"

Revealed some things I did not know and others I forgot. Very interesting to see his thoughts in his own handwriting. Only true fans will like this book. I loved it.

An essential addition to the music and literature of one giants of the modern music. Great addition to our library.

Great book - must have for Prince fans -- but the Kindle version is worthless -- many pics, handwritten notes (hard to read on Kindle) and drawings --- then captions and explanations later in the text -- so it's impossible to follow. Buy the hardback.

This isn't much of a read but if you're a fan then you will LOVE the pictures, the personal notes from Prince and even the cover is beautiful.

I purchased this book as a gift. I am very happy. The product is in a sealed, transparent sleeve to protect it from damages. Delivery was lightening fast. Thank you!!

This is a must read for every Prince fan! It’s insightful and enjoyable to hear it from Prince’s point of view.

I wish the author and Prince had more than a few months together to pen this. Great insight on Prince by Prince.

If you are a Prince fan, this book should be in your Prince collection!!! Good read and love the pics. Lots that I've never had the chance to see...until now.

I found this book difficult to read. Even though I am a Prince fan from way back. Have to return.

First chapters are good from the author explaining the beginnings of this book. Unfortunately Prince dies soon thereafter. The rest of the book is just pictures and notes.

This was an Xmas gift for my son in law. He went goofy when he opened it and kept thanking my husband and I. It was a hit

Booked arrive well packaged, in expected condition, and quickly. Happy use the vendor again!

I loved the way the author salvaged what little time he spent with Prince and wrote as much as he could, honoring Prince's life and his wishes. The pictures from his life and original writings were fantastic. I recently visited Paisley Park and found this book to be a nice compliment to that.

Prince was the greatest musician ever to walk the face of the earth. Wow this dude is Rock n Roll from the garage 2 the basement 2 the top of music world.

So this book automatically receives 5 stars just for the few pages written by Prince.

Great book

If you’re a true fan like myself, you’ll enjoy this book. Only complaint is that we lost him before he could realize his vision for his memoir. Because Prince valued his privacy and mystique, even this little peak into his life was enjoyable.

I may just be a ubber fan. But I enjoyed seeing his pinned work. The author worked around the death of Prince good, to give the fans something that included Prince.

Ordered Friday and received Monday. Lovely, high quality book. I wish it could have been what Prince envisioned, but it's still valuable the way it is.

I’m a HUGE Prince fan! I ordered this book soon after it came out. I’m enjoying it!

Love the fact that this book shares a lot of Princes thoughts and feelings,

Liked the book. Was interested to read it especially because my nephew worked for Prince

Like his life, this story seems to end just as abruptly... Nice, easy read...

I was expecting more material from Prince himself. I did thoroughly enjoy the photographs that I'd not seen before.

I know prince passed away during the writing process they could of just included what he wrote with a cd I didn’t need the quotes from magazines

Loved this book... a treasure. Every page is beautiful, filled with Prince's voice and personality; his writings, humor, photos, lyrics, drawings, vivid childhood impressions. A unique, special book.

Didn't care for this...really no story to me just pics never before seen...

This was a gift and so far the person I gave it to has loved this book so much. Great pictures and such an intimate look into Prince’s early years.

I have not read the book. I can't bring myself to open it yet. I'm a huge supporter and fan of Prince.

Sometimes it takes me awhile to read books but this one was done fast. Very good book. Glad I. Have it. An it comes from prince himself

Gone too soon, this explains too little. But it's what we have. Prince was a star of my life in the 80s and now.

Cool wife spends more money on husband's Prince obsession. See album review also.

Music is healing. Some secrets r so dark they have 2 b turned in2 song 1st b4 one can even begin 2 unpack them. ~Prince~