Autobiographies - How and How Not To.

OK, for my money here is how to write and not write an autobiography/memoir.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is the autobiography by explorer Ranulph Fiennes. A plane flight to London means you need a good book. I don’t need to tell you that. So an autobiography with a title like Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know written by an English ex SAS soldier, mountain climber, Polar explorer per excellence and multi marathon runner should be a tale of daring do, endurance and bravery that will keep you enthralled on a long flight, but you know what, fuck it is boring.

I can’t work out whether this has occurred through modesty, false or otherwise, unavailability of a ghost writer or more likely, given the nature of the individuals who do these death-defying activities, supreme self-confidence but in the end it doesn’t matter. Ranulph makes walking across Antarctica unsupported about as interesting as a daily tram ride to work. He buries us in a mess of details and completely fails to make imminent death and endless battles for survival gripping. It is a rare skill. I got a third of the way through but found myself bored and disinterested. You might feel differently.

The strange thing is I think it is more my fault. I have always found famous peoples’ autobiographies to be unappealing. There are a few exceptions but most are too concerned with their reputations and just because you can climb mountains doesn’t mean you can write for shit.

Lucky I had a backup book.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know

Ranulph Fiennes

Hodder Books 2007

445 pages with Appendices

Detours

Detours is an autobiography or perhaps a memoir of sorts by Australian rock and roller, song writer, raconteur and broadcaster Tim Rogers, lead singer of the great You Am I. Now Tim knows how to present some facts about himself in an entertaining, witty and emotive way, unlike last month’s effort. Although, I have to admit I am biased. I reckon Tim is a national treasure, our own Keith Richards, Kris Kristofferson and Rod Stewart all rolled into one, so if last month I was harsh, this month I am dripping with praise.

Why? Well Tim can write and he understands that we want to know more about the why of his life and not the how, what and when. I mean they are important and we want the facts and not a lot of made-up stuff that makes the writer look good but when it comes down to it, to me, the why of his songs is more important than knowing what studio they was recorded in and who played what on which guitar etc. Keith Richards and Jimmy Barnes understood this too which is why they are also great autobiographies from rock performers. I would argue that Tim’s Detours, written in a more episodic and non-linear format is even better.

Unafraid to tell of his vices, mistakes and foibles, the situations and slices of his life that Tim narrates in this book are not always about him directly but every one of the twenty-seven episodes gives you a sense of the man. Also as a depiction, but not necessarily a recommendation of the creative life and temperament, this book is one of the best I have come across.

In one episode he considers the great Hoagy Carmichael song, Stardust written in the 1920s but probably best known now for Willie Nelson’s version from the 70s. After talking about how he was introduced to the song by his dad when he was eight and travelling in the back of a car on a family holiday, Tim writes how it has popped up at various times in his life, in discussions with fellow musos on the song’s structure and its use in the film Beginners which he saw in a plane whilst on tour. Finally Tim notes, “You’re sweet and sad, and you step lightly. But you’re not easily listening. It rankles me when casual listeners regard anything delivered without a lot of force as being so. … you let me know it’s okay to be alone. To live with a heart that’s full…. Full enough to be like a companion as I skulk along the rooftops, slow footed and stealthy as a fog. Guided by the stardust.”

Some of the other episodes cover his often fraught relationships with his partners and his daughter, growing older, footy, and fathers while others explore the creative process and embracing and surviving a rock and roll lifestyle. Nothing new in subject matter but when seen through Tim’s eyes and delivered with a fantastic prose style it is a wonderful read. This is a revealing, soulful book that gives a great deal of insight into many aspects of life relevant to TGBC members. Very highly recommended.

“Handsome Dick Manitoba* dictated it, now listen to the words

Ain’t nothin’ better in the whole wide world than singin’ ‘bout cars and girls”

Tim Rogers - “Cars and Girls”

*Don’t know who Handsome Dick is? Look up NY proto -punk band The Dictators.

Detours

Tim Rogers

4th Estate – Harper Collins 2017

336 pages