Reggae Video and Music from Jamaica

It almost immediately rises to a pre-climax of the hardships of Trenchtown, with Bob not only struggling to survive, but also hesitantly nourishing his dream of being a BIG musician, his tackle with the Rastafarian faith and his immediate deep conviction, his frequent "travels"; e.g. to visit his mother in Deleware, USA or his short stay in Sweden full of stress. To me, these are the formative stages of the "Tuff Gong International" and these travels overseas broadened his perspective, both as a musician and as a man, especially a highly sensitive man as Bob.

The book further on describes how Bob's talent and faith - in Jah and in himself - evolve into extraordinary, peerless musical craftsmanship, making Bob's music explode to the four corners of the earth ... almost like a miracle, in the twinkle of an eye! At the climax of this book, Bob is already a supertar, confident, uncompromising, mature, wiser and hard to equal, the wiry cult-hero from Trenchtown, Jamaica.

It's also interesting to observe Bob's relationship with the press, as the press was from the start of it all invariably attracted by his magnetic charm, which thing in turn really [directly or indirectly] raised him to the star of mythical and mystical prorportions that he REALLY is. Because he simply deserved it. Just at the climax of this book, Bob dies, and that's when - in retrospect - things really start looking like a tale, like an unended tale. Pathetic. Mystery. That's just when the "real universal meaning of being Bob Marley" comes to light and is understood: a mission.

Reading this book, one feels the sadness, the love, the hate, the pain, the hope, the godly determination, the fear, the doubt, the anger and the danger that escorted Bob throughout his astonishing rise to superstardom; he becomes almost a religious figure with his ever-growing numbers of fans and disciples, but much the same as his persona continues defying "classification". One can interpret him as a cult-hero, poet, prophet, revolutonary, "statesman", champion of human rights, supreme musician, or the painstaking musical craftsman who knows really well how to poetically "play about with words" in his compositions ...

... Yet, this book will show you how really simple, modest, serious, human, honest and humane Bob was and how this can be sometimes taken advantage of by others [including "friends"]. This is a very good, well-researched book and, I would say, a must for all of you Marley fans and Black Survivors out there [especially if you never read a full book about Bob!]. Peace! WE WILL FIGHT THE DEVIL!


A dear tale of The Soul Rebel who made the world listen ...   November 18, 2000
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is a very original book about the Tuff Gong. It traces Bob's evolvement as an infant-child, boy, pupil, "street rebel", struggling youngman, father, "lover", musician, poet, Rastafarian and beloved Freedon-Fighter we all know. It is a moving, evocative book. It starts almost like a mellow tale describing the humble, natural surroundings of the deep Jamaican interior into which Bob was born.

It almost immediately rises to a pre-climax of the hardships of Trenchtown, with Bob not only struggling to survive, but also hesitantly nourishing his dream of being a BIG musician, his tackle with the Rastafarian faith and his immediate deep conviction, his frequent "travels"; e.g. to visit his mother in Deleware, USA or his short stay in Sweden full of stress. To me, these are the formative stages of the "Tuff Gong International" and these travels overseas broadened his perspective, both as a musician and as a man, especially a highly sensitive man as Bob.

The book further on describes how Bob's talent and faith - in Jah and in himself - evolve into extraordinary, peerless musical craftsmanship, making Bob's music explode to the four corners of the earth ... almost like a miracle, in the twinkle of an eye! At the climax of this book, Bob is already a supertar, confident, uncompromising, mature, wiser and hard to equal, the wiry cult-hero from Trenchtown, Jamaica.

It's also interesting to observe Bob's relationship with the press, as the press was from the start of it all invariably attracted by his magnetic charm, which thing in turn really [directly or indirectly] raised him to the star of mythical and mystical prorportions that he REALLY is. Because he simply deserved it. Just at the climax of this book, Bob dies, and that's when - in retrospect - things really start looking like a tale, like an unended tale. Pathetic. Mystery. That's just when the "real universal meaning of being Bob Marley" comes to light and is understood: a mission.

Reading this book, one feels the sadness, the love, the hate, the pain, the hope, the godly determination, the fear, the doubt, the anger and the danger that escorted Bob throughout his astonishing rise to superstardom; he becomes almost a religious figure with his ever-growing numbers of fans and disciples, but much the same as his persona continues defying "classification". One can interpret him as a cult-hero, poet, prophet, revolutonary, "statesman", champion of human rights, supreme musician, or the painstaking musical craftsman who knows really well how to poetically "play about with words" in his compositions ...

... Yet, this book will show you how really simple, modest, serious, human, honest and humane Bob was and how this can be sometimes taken advantage of by others [including "friends"]. This is a very good, well-researched book and, I would say, a must for all of you Marley fans and Black Survivors out there [especially if you never read a full book about Bob!]. Peace! WE WILL FIGHT THE DEVIL!


Cited error   August 8, 2000
 1 out of 7 found this review helpful

Instead of writing a review I am citing an error that I observed in reading the book. On page 141, Mr. Davis states that Bob Marley had a daughter named Kimane. He had a son named Kymani, who is now a singer and recording artist.


An excellent excursion in the life of Nesta Robert Marley   January 30, 2000
You will enjoy this book as much as you would enjoy his music. Stephen Davis recreates Bob Marley's life from his ancestors to his final days . I really enjoy this book because Stephen Davis makes you feel like your there with him from days of dread to days of glory. I highly recommend this book to readers. Its very easy reading.


The quintessential book on Bob Marley   January 9, 2000
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Stephen Davis is a writer extraordinaire. He manages to capture the spirit that was, and still is, Bob Marley. His words transport you into a world of sound and emotion as he describes the life and music of the King of Reggae. He brings us Bob Marley: the man, the champion of human rights, the son, the husband, the proud father, the lover, and the musicmaker. He shows us how profound Bob Marley's short life was and its impact on the world and yet he reveals an ordinary country man dealing with the issues of survival: work, family, crime, political unrest and betrayal. Once you begin reading this book, you will be unable to put it down. At the end, you will be emotionally spent.