I almost didn't read "Shakey" until I read Neil Young sanctioned it. Neil Young has always been such an elusive fellow regarding his private life which I respected. I saw Neil Young on many occasions during a 20 year span. I enjoyed his music and supported him by buying his records and going to his concerts. "Shakey" is one LONG (insert snooze) book with lots of interviews and trips down memory lane. Growing up in the 60s in Southern California, reading of my old stomping grounds like the Whiskey, Topanga Canyon, Pandora's Box (LOL), etc. made me smile throwing me right back into that era long gone. The smile only lasted a few pages. The rest of the book could have been shorted by AT LEAST in half. (insert another snooze)
Neil Young, in my opinion, has sold his soul to the devil by allowing this biography to be published. He certainly is not out to gain any more fans. It makes me wonder if he did it for the money. People in the spotlight are so dissected by the Pencil Paparazzi (my new term for these parasites/journalist wannabees) and this person responsible, Jimmy McDonough, is the King of Pencil Paparazzi. Neil Young is JUST A MAN. My God, I cannot imagine any fan (fanatic) spending so much energy, time and effort. He's an extremist to the max! He did forget to write "look at me, I'm cool maaan, hanging out with Neil". heh heh Oooo awwwwe 50+ hours interviewing Young himself. Everyone has skeletons in their closets. Neil Young's skeletons were better off left in his closet. His wife Pegi is the smart one by not allowing McDonough to interview her. I applaud the woman!
Reading this book has certainly put a new perspective on Neil Young. I will forever listen to his music in a different light. That is not necessarily a positive.

Fascinating book, but i'm only half way through and i already getting fed up with the inaccuracies ....eg Joni at Woodstock !!etc. If you look closely there are actually quite a few ... particularly when McDonough talks about subjects he is less knowledgeable about. It's a good book, but McDonough comes across as arrogant and some of his put-downs when comparing others with Young are frankly laughable. I realise that he wanted to put across his own viewpoint, but a little more humility wouldn't have gone amiss.

This book works most effectively because after each sub-chapter, Neil Young responds to what the author has written about his life(shown in Italics). There is a lot of detail here and if you are a Neil Young fan, then this book is for you.

If you're a big fan of Rock 'n Roll(I am) and have read many bio's on Rock's most influential personalities(I have), you won't find a more indepth or detailed biography than this. Most Rock bio's are like a movie that you enjoyed seeing but was forgot about soon after. This book will have you thinking about some of it's passages for quite awhile. And some of the humorous escapades (like Springfield getting busted for loud music and possession at their Topanga pad while jamming with Clapton)will have you thoroughly amused.
Young gave the author complete access to his thoughts and rememberances and the result leaves you with a clear picture of how his mind works and what has touched him most deeply..
Apparently, when Mcdonough was close to wrapping this thing up, Neil almost pulled the plug on it. But Neil being Neil, he let it be published.
My only bone to pic with Mcdonough would be considering the long, tumultuous association Young had with Stephen Stills and the repeated lashings he takes in the book from Neil, that we get zero perspective about it all from his old friend and recurring musical partner.
There are very, very few musicians with as rich and endurring a career as Neil Young's and this is a very satisfying account........