513jMRpuapL._SL500_Synopsis: “Bono—artist, activist and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2—has written a memoir: honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he’s lived, the challenges he’s faced and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him. Narrated by the author, Surrender is an intimate, immersive listening experience, telling stories from Bono’s early days in Dublin, to joining a band and playing sold out stadiums around the world with U2, plus his more than 20 years of activism. Throughout a remarkable life, music has always been a constant for Bono and in the audiobook, his distinctive voice is interwoven with a very personal soundtrack adding atmosphere and texture to each and every scene. From moments of classic U2 hits to snippets by The Clash, Patti Smith, Verdi, Johnny Cash and Mozart, Surrender also exclusively features clips of newly recorded reimagined versions of U2 songs including ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, ‘With Or Without You’, ‘One’, ‘Beautiful Day’ and more, glimpsed for the first time on Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. As one of the music world’s most iconic artists and the co-founder of organizations ONE and (RED), Bono’s career has been written about extensively. But in Surrender, it’s Bono who picks up the pen, writing for the first time about his remarkable life and those he has shared it with. In his unique voice, Bono takes us from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was 14, to U2’s unlikely journey to become one of the world’s most influential rock bands, to his more than 20 years of activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Writing with candour, self-reflection, and humour, Bono opens the aperture on his life—and the family, friends and faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him. Surrender’s subtitle, ’40 Songs, One Story,’ is a nod to the book’s 40 chapters, which are each named after a U2 song.”

My Review

This was a an amazing audiobook! In fact it’s one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to and I’ve listened to a lot over the years!

I must admit that before I listened to this I wasn’t actually that keen on Bono as a person. I’d seen U2 in concert twice back in the 80s, and they were one of my favourite bands. However as they became bigger on the world stage, and as Bono started speaking out about social issues, I went off them. I actually thought he was very full of himself, and got bored of hearing his patronising words to the masses.

I hadn’t intended to listen to this or even read it, until I read a brilliant review by Bargain Sleuth Reviews earlier in the year, and when I mentioned it to my husband, we decided to use an audible credit and listen to it together. Even though it’s taken us 4 months I’m really glad I did as it’s completely changed my mind about him.

There was so much that I didn’t know about Bono, like his mother dying suddenly when he was 14 years leaving him with anger issues for most of his life. How U2 became his family, as did his girlfriend Ali’s family. That he’s a man of faith. and it’s that faith that has made him, his wife (and the band at times) activists. He knows he can be too much at times, like the time with that free album on iTunes!

I loved hearing about how his faith moves him to act, bringing him into contact with world leaders, and most importantly the people on the ground doing the real work. He really does want to make the world a better and fairer place, and will continue to speak out for those who don’t have a platform like his.

Highly recommended on audio, but be warned this is about Bono and not U2!