Scan barcode
a_cloud's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this- it covers his life up to the writing and recording of 'Play.' I'm hoping that he releases a follow up book that continues his story.
usernamemustbeunique's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this memoir, which doesn’t try to paint its author in a particularly positive light. Instead, it offers a recounting of vivid memories and self-critical reflections on Moby’s early life and career. I really enjoyed the clear references to his music and wish other artists were able to draw such clear connections to their anecdotes and works. You don’t have to be a fan of his for this to be a good read, but it definitely helps.
sararaymond's review against another edition
1.0
Omg. YAWWWWWN. Terrible, terrible writing. Totally unreadable.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
This is Moby's autobiography which covers the decade leading up to the release of Play - the record that made him a global star. When the book begins in 1989, he is a sober, vegan, Christian struggling DJ who is living in an abandoned factory with no running water for $50 a month and who runs Bible Study classes in his spare time. Gradually he starts to build a career in NYC and over the course of the book he starts touring, releases two records, appears on Top of the Pops in the UK and mingles with the likes of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, David Bowie and Miles Davis. He also falls rather spectacularly off the sober wagon. Throughout, he views himself as a dorky, unattractive outsider.
Moby can write. Wow, can he write. You live the grimy squalor of his early days and feel like you're partaking in the strobe lit, drug fuelled, drunken raves. He is achingly honest and isn't afraid of telling anecdotes that portray him in a bad light - one memorable example being when he throws up all over a Berlin hotel room (and himself) and then passes out on the footpath outside. Although I did feel that the book could have been shorter. There are only so many times I needed to read variations on "wow I was the only sober vegan person at this drug-fuelled rave and these are the songs I played" or later, "wow I was so drunk and this who and how I had sex with that night".
Porcelain is very much Moby's personal story. The reader is aware of his growing income and profile but its kind of on the periphery rather than the main storyline. And while I understand his ending the book when he does, I would have loved to read about how "Play" and its enormous success affected him. I suspect it sat a little uncomfortably with him.
For all its flaws, this book is a compelling read because it takes you inside Moby's experience and you feel like you lived through that decade with him. He is a sweet, honest and self-deprecating man and I enjoyed spending time in his company.
Moby can write. Wow, can he write. You live the grimy squalor of his early days and feel like you're partaking in the strobe lit, drug fuelled, drunken raves. He is achingly honest and isn't afraid of telling anecdotes that portray him in a bad light - one memorable example being when he throws up all over a Berlin hotel room (and himself) and then passes out on the footpath outside. Although I did feel that the book could have been shorter. There are only so many times I needed to read variations on "wow I was the only sober vegan person at this drug-fuelled rave and these are the songs I played" or later, "wow I was so drunk and this who and how I had sex with that night".
Porcelain is very much Moby's personal story. The reader is aware of his growing income and profile but its kind of on the periphery rather than the main storyline. And while I understand his ending the book when he does, I would have loved to read about how "Play" and its enormous success affected him. I suspect it sat a little uncomfortably with him.
For all its flaws, this book is a compelling read because it takes you inside Moby's experience and you feel like you lived through that decade with him. He is a sweet, honest and self-deprecating man and I enjoyed spending time in his company.
deecreatenola's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not quite sure why I selected this book beyond the fact that Moby has always been a somewhat intriguing person to me even though I've never followed his music. I follow his Tumblr of LA architecture photos and I heard him talk about this book on Gretchen Rubin's Happier podcast. I guess I thought there would be some wisdom in the book that I could use in my own life.
Moby's story is really a cautionary tale. I enjoyed the first third of the book when he describes starting out, living in an abandoned warehouse, going to Bible study, and abstaining from alcohol. When he slips back into drinking, his life seems to slip, too. Before that, he was slowly gaining momentum. He had a strong following and was making music people wanted to hear, not that there weren't drawbacks. Being in demand is hard.
He doesn't say it explicitly, but the reader sees how drinking impacts his life, and it made me mad that he began drinking again in response to breaking up with a girl who obviously was never suited to him. Although he portrays himself as typically male and definitely wanting sex (even despite being a pretty dedicated Christian at one point), it's after this point that the sex becomes seedier. I honestly read more than I wanted to know.
The book feels unfinished. There was no real resolution to the cautionary tale. Although you can see awareness beginning to dawn especially after losing his mother, I really wanted more. I wanted to see the adult Moby emerge. Considering it's 2016 and the book ends in the late 90s, there's definitely more material. I wanted to read about how he ended up in LA since he loved NYC so much. Did he leave to get away from the unhealthy club scene there? I wanted more about his passion for photography, and I want to know: did he ever find love? Also, where is his faith now? That was such a part of the first part of the book. He touches on it at the end, but it became obvious that he was beginning to have many doubts.
Moby is definitely an interesting character. He had a rough upbringing and while I know he loved his mom, I think he was on his own very early. He seems shy and quiet, yet even when he wasn't drinking describes himself as kind of a wild man on stage, dancing on his keyboards. He had a lot of self-doubt and anxiety, yet he had his finger right on the pulse of electronic/rave music. He seemingly been very successful with soundtracks but I don't have a clue how he has done with other music in recent years.
I both curious to read a second book yet unsure if I want to. Really, I'd like to meet him for coffee (soy milk, of course) and just talk with him.
Moby's story is really a cautionary tale. I enjoyed the first third of the book when he describes starting out, living in an abandoned warehouse, going to Bible study, and abstaining from alcohol. When he slips back into drinking, his life seems to slip, too. Before that, he was slowly gaining momentum. He had a strong following and was making music people wanted to hear, not that there weren't drawbacks. Being in demand is hard.
He doesn't say it explicitly, but the reader sees how drinking impacts his life, and it made me mad that he began drinking again in response to breaking up with a girl who obviously was never suited to him. Although he portrays himself as typically male and definitely wanting sex (even despite being a pretty dedicated Christian at one point), it's after this point that the sex becomes seedier. I honestly read more than I wanted to know.
The book feels unfinished. There was no real resolution to the cautionary tale. Although you can see awareness beginning to dawn especially after losing his mother, I really wanted more. I wanted to see the adult Moby emerge. Considering it's 2016 and the book ends in the late 90s, there's definitely more material. I wanted to read about how he ended up in LA since he loved NYC so much. Did he leave to get away from the unhealthy club scene there? I wanted more about his passion for photography, and I want to know: did he ever find love? Also, where is his faith now? That was such a part of the first part of the book. He touches on it at the end, but it became obvious that he was beginning to have many doubts.
Moby is definitely an interesting character. He had a rough upbringing and while I know he loved his mom, I think he was on his own very early. He seems shy and quiet, yet even when he wasn't drinking describes himself as kind of a wild man on stage, dancing on his keyboards. He had a lot of self-doubt and anxiety, yet he had his finger right on the pulse of electronic/rave music. He seemingly been very successful with soundtracks but I don't have a clue how he has done with other music in recent years.
I both curious to read a second book yet unsure if I want to. Really, I'd like to meet him for coffee (soy milk, of course) and just talk with him.
tonyzale's review against another edition
3.0
“Porcelain” uses a series of short personal anecdotes to cover the techno musician’s early career, rise to fame, fall from popularity, ending as he verges on his greatest commercial success. Each tale takes only a handful of pages and the writing is straightforward. It is easy to root for Moby, living in dilapidated warehouses and NYC tenements, devoting all his time and limited resources to making music while wrestling with his sometimes patronizing spirituality. There’s a palpable joy to his time in the early rave era’s clubs when the music drove the scene instead of being incidental backdrop. Fame follows and it feels deserved - it’s a byproduct of his work, not the primary goal.
Time passes and Moby’s early successes are voided by turning his back on the music genre he helped create. His New York misadventures continue, but with a darker theme. After years of clean living he becomes a heavy drinker; he is rudderless and his judgmental attitude and jealousies come to the forefront. This phase of the book initially amuses with its wacky drunken tales but eventually becomes sad and boring. The book closes with events surrounding the death of his mother. This isn’t treated as a pat wake up call but does directly coincide with the sessions that produced his multi-platinum selling album “Play”, letting the book end on a bittersweet note.
A worthwhile read for fans of the musician and a second volume will hopefully follow.
Time passes and Moby’s early successes are voided by turning his back on the music genre he helped create. His New York misadventures continue, but with a darker theme. After years of clean living he becomes a heavy drinker; he is rudderless and his judgmental attitude and jealousies come to the forefront. This phase of the book initially amuses with its wacky drunken tales but eventually becomes sad and boring. The book closes with events surrounding the death of his mother. This isn’t treated as a pat wake up call but does directly coincide with the sessions that produced his multi-platinum selling album “Play”, letting the book end on a bittersweet note.
A worthwhile read for fans of the musician and a second volume will hopefully follow.
hollyejacobs's review against another edition
4.0
Loved 3/4 of the book but was a bit disappointed by the end. It is beautifully written though and worth the investment of time!
shosh222's review against another edition
I miss NYC in the 1980s, the beginning of this book takes me back to that gritty, fun, crazy place. I would read a whole book about that. I liked reading about how he wrote the songs & then listening to Moby's music.
debr's review against another edition
3.0
Moby's memoir is brutally honest and an engaging read. I am frankly amazed by his willingness to put his psychology on display to the public- it takes a lot of guts to write as he has. He certainly does not hold back on showing us his weaknesses, his confusion, his complexities, his moral exploration. I find him to be a fascinating mix of deeply curious and skeptical and incredibly naive and trusting, which makes some sense as you read about his experiences and childhood. I felt very much in his head, and both sympathetic to and extremely critical of his life choices- which I think is the point. Its his life, told with all its raw contradictions and ugliness and beauty. To be able to present all that is a pretty amazing accomplishment.
categal's review against another edition
3.0
First off, I have absolutely no interest in Moby's music, and reading this book didn't change that at all. Why the heck did I read it? Well, it came in where I work, and I needed something to read in the mornings while my computer was waking up, plus I'm a sucker for music origin stories. Moby is an honest writer, and I liked hearing about his early days and how much grit and determination he had to get himself out of the burbs and becoming a DJ in the NY club scene.
Would I want to meet Moby, or hang out with him as he drunkenly picks up strippers, or eat any of that bowel-blocking vegan fake-ass food he snarfs down between bottles of vodka? Nyet.
Would I want to meet Moby, or hang out with him as he drunkenly picks up strippers, or eat any of that bowel-blocking vegan fake-ass food he snarfs down between bottles of vodka? Nyet.