He was the "Man in Black," a country music legend, and the quintessential American troubadour. He was an icon of rugged individualism who had been to hell and back, telling the tale as never before. In his unforgettable autobiography, Johnny Cash tells the truth about the highs and lows, the struggles and hard-won triumphs, and the people who shaped him.

In his own words, Cash set the record straight -- and dispelled a few myths -- as he looked unsparingly at his remarkable life: from the joys of his boyhood in Dyess, Arkansas to superstardom in Nashville, Tennessee, the road of Cash's life has been anything but smooth. Cash writes of the thrill of playing with Elvis, the comfort of praying with Billy Graham; of his battles with addiction and of the devotion of his wife, June; of his gratitude for life, and of his thoughts on what the afterlife may bring. Here, too, are the friends of a lifetime, including Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Kris Kristofferson. As powerful and memorable as one of his classic songs, Cash is filled with the candor, wit, and wisdom of a man who truly "walked the line."

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It's not the most *interesting* bio, but it's a look-see into his soul. He's simple, he's straightforward, and he's honest, though he's not too giving of all the details. Hence his lack of candor. One thing you do grab from this is how Johnny and June were soulmates, how they shared life's best and worst moments, and how Johnny knows and understands any mistakes he's made there. Thankfully, he doesn't practice victimology and blame the rest of the world for his problems. Instead, he tells us he looks to God for guidance.

He tells the reader a few stories that will be new to them, in regards to his life of celebrity. Other than that, this is not a summarization of all that he's done or where he's been, but instead, it's a small window through which he viewed life and its assorted players. Read it if you are really interested in Johnny Cash.

38 of 38 found the following review helpful:

An absolute delight to read! Johnny writes as if he's talking to you over a cup of coffee in the breakfast nook.Feb 08, 2006
By Just Bill
I've recently become re-acquainted with the music of Johnny Cash. Thanks to seeing Walk the Line and buying Rick Rubin's astounding American recordings (American Recordings, Unchained, Solitary Man and The Man Comes Around), plus nearly all of Johnny's remastered CD back catalog (including the perfect The Legend box set), I've gained enormous respect for this charismatic and talented music star. I can't seem to get enough of him, in fact.

I wanted to know more about Johnny Cash. However, I nearly always approach biographies and autobiographies with a grain of salt, skeptical that they'll be (a) untruthful, or (b) unable to hold my attention.

With Cash: The Autobiography my natural skepticism was totally eliminated within the first 10 pages.

This book is wonderfully engaging. It reads exactly like a conversation with an old friend. In fact, I can hear Johnny's rich baritone voice in my head as I read it. I can picture his sincere face. And I'm enthralled.

If you want to know who Johnny Cash was, this book is a great introduction to the man. Not just because of what he wrote about; but, also, because of how it was written: conversationally, openly, honestly, and sincerely.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through the book. I love it.

I highly recommend Cash: The Autobiography.

30 of 31 found the following review helpful:

Cash is kingOct 21, 2004
By Johnny Heering "trivia buff"
Johnny Cash tells his life story in this book. It's not written in a linear style; he jumps all over the place to different times in his life. But it works; it comes across very conversationally, like Cash was in the room with you saying, "Oh, yeah, and then there was the time that this happened." It's a good read, and the Man in Black's fans should really enjoy it.

22 of 22 found the following review helpful:

What A Storyteller Was This Man!Dec 01, 2005
By Notnadia
Cash was an old soul with many layers to his personality. For anyone who admires Johnny Cash the person, loves the music of the Man In Black, or just wants to read about a life that was lived as far from the chains of "ordinary" as it's possible to get, then this is an autobiography that will not disappoint. I was impressed not only with Cash's sometimes devastating honesty about himself and his views on his own failings as a father, a husband, a Christian and a man, but I kept thinking what a gift for telling a good story he had. There isn't a boring chapter here and scarcely a page escapes without this great American passing on an anecdote that leaves the reader laughing, awestruck, amazed, or close to tears. Cash was an original and a man of courage, insight and drive. Whether he was going against the popular stance and opposing the Vietnam War, or disregarding his record company's advice and playing concerts among hard-timers in prison, Cash did things his way. He experienced all the cards in life's hand from pain and tragedy, to triumph, glory and redemption, and, yes, amidst this extraordinary life, he also delivered a collection of songs that won him legions of fans the world over. After finishing this book, I admired Johnny Cash even more than when I started. His was a life spent standing up for the underdog and this book is his own story of how a sharecropper's son from Arkansas named JR struggled to the top (more than once) and became the legend Johnny Cash.

14 of 14 found the following review helpful:

Ramblings of a Ramblin' ManOct 27, 2005
By R. Kirkham "jrkirkham"
The chapters of this book do form a simple sort of outline, but that outline is loose. More likely it appears that someone gave Johnny Cash a dictating machine and asked him to record his memories as he traveled. From one location to another he records events from his life. The years and subjects meld together with little discernable order. The style of language is like a conversation.

But it works. I thought the book started a little slow, but then I grew accustomed to the style. Having read the book I felt I had a deeper understanding of the life of Johnny Cash, the backstage lives of country music stars, and, more importantly, a greater appreciation for my own life. After reading the book I realized that I wouldn't trade my life for his for anything.

I gave the book 5 stars because I have a feeling that it will stay with me a long time. There is something deep and tragic about this story.



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