The way he talks about Prince’s 1999 exhibits the powerful way music has affected him and is something I can relate to. I love to know what inspires people and how they think, which I’m sure is why I’m so drawn to McKagan’s distinct writing style. This chapter brings to mind Billy Idol’s (who Duff refers to as a friend and mentor) bio that oozed with enthusiasm about music. There are some obvious music choices for a punk rock bassist who grew up in the ’70s – Aerosmith, The Beatles, Black Sabbath – but then there’s ABBA, Bauhaus, David Bowie, PJ Harvey, Elton John, Etta James, and Kate Bush. In the chapter “Know Your Tunes” he lists 100 albums that he says are “critical to my being” and that every man should know. In How To Be A Man, McKagan strips down his experiences and offers quick, easy tips on how to be a better (hu)man, starting with music. His latest book, How To Be a Man, is a humorous, well-written account of a man who has turned his vices into life hacks for a healthy, productive journey. His last book It’s So Easy (And Other Lies) was the first rock bio that made me both laugh, cry, then want to conquer the world. You’d hardly expect Duff McKagan from the ’80s hard rock band Guns N’ Roses to have become such an inspiration, but every time I finish one of his books I feel energized.
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