Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash: The Life (2013) by Robert Hilburn. The life of country music icon Johnny Cash was certainly interesting, and especially so if you are a fan of his music. I am not, although I enjoyed a few of his songs ("I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire," "A Boy Named Sue"). Most prominent in this biography, perhaps, is Cash's addiction to pills (amphetamines). He abused his body for many years, and it is somewhat of a surprise that he didn't die young. He lived to be 71 years old, but he was in great physical pain for much of his life after the age of 50. He suffered from a catalog of illnesses, and it's amazing that he managed to keep going as long as he did. What struck me most about this book is its tendency to name as many as possible of his songs and albums and what he was going through at the time he made them. This might be interesting information to fans of Cash, but it got old for me. I did, however, manage to make it through the book. It's pretty comprehensive, and Hilburn writes with authority and first-hand knowledge of his subject. Grade: B