Book review for Clapton: the Autobiography (328 pages)

"I had no desire for fame or recognition; I just needed to make the best music I could, with the tools I had."
These were the words of Eric Clapton, as he was speaking of his career in music. During his long and successful career, Clapton has experienced the ups and downs of fame, and managed to come out the other side alive. Eric Clapton's Clapton: The Autobiography is an extremely in-depth look past the music and allows the reader to see the true Eric Clapton.
Eric Clapton, in my opinion, is an extremely fortunate man, and is lucky to be alive. A major theme of this book is how Clapton overcame several types of addictions and how he tries to help others with the problems he overcame. Alcohol, cocaine, and heroin troubled Clapton throughout his career and nearly ended his life on several occasions. Car crashes and bad encounters with other addicts were just a few of the situations he had been in. His addictions were also, unfortunately, what caused many of Clapton's most famous bands to break up, including Cream, and Derek and the Dominoes. After reading this book, no one should ever want to drink or take drugs, based on many of Clapton's mistakes while he was taking them.
As the book progresses, the evolution of Clapton from a young kid in Ripley, England to the world-famous guitarist he's known as today, shows how his childhood affected his music and other aspects of his life. From his illegitimate birth in 1945 to the discovery of who his real parents are, accounted for many of Clapton's social problems and his music. Clapton used music as an escape route from this life he had and forged on to become the best musician in London. With his reputation established, he set off on new quests, and, before long, became one of rock's greatest guitarists. Clapton's drive and determination throughout his life is very inspiring, and shows that anything is possible.
The one aspect of Clapton that made me want to read this book the most was the music he has made. In John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, and as a solo artist, Clapton has managed to capture the imagination of more musicians, arguably, than any other guitarist before or after himself. Throughout classics like "Layla", "Sunshine of Your Love", and "All Your Love", Clapton's pioneering guitar playing turned an entire generation to the blues music Clapton loved so much, and turned these songs, along with many others, into rock standards. The back-story behind these songs, and more, are revealed in his autobiography.
In conclusion, I give this book my full recommendation to anyone who enjoys Clapton's music. The book is a revealing look inside the man who brought us so much timeless, classic music.