Nick HastedThe Dark Story of Eminem

Bought for my husband who is not a reader, he loved it.

This is info compiled before Eminem's extended break from the public and then his return initiated a quick updating. But nothing recent.This is well-researched in the author not only saw one of the U.K. concerts but gives great insight into what the reaction was to Eminem in the U.K.Another interesting aspect is the author went to Detroit and interviewed people at locations where Eminem was known to have frequented.In RL he couldn't get service at the restaurant he used to work at once he was successful whereas here the author gets chummy with a waitress who says she occasionally dated Em and he's a frequent customer.There is a good effort in the early days to fill in the background of Eminem.However, there is some strong attitude from the author re Eminem the performer being dull or having no charisma, and he repeats this more than once, and many fans would argue that assessment. (I know a couple of generations in one family who witnessed Eminem in concert approx twenty years ago and they said it was a fantastic concert.)The author also utilizes a lot of quotes from interviews (he had no direct interview with the subject), which is great if you haven't read all those interviews. But here he can get into trouble, too, in not being discerning when it comes to relying upon publications and taking for granted some veracity.There is a controversial did-it-really-happen incident that portrays Eminem on-stage kicking a doll made to look like his then-wife and the author details this one version in which he demonizes Eminem for cruelty. But it's highly questionable the version related here is true. The more popular version of this famous incident has the doll in question representing something other than her - in fact the Insane Clown Posse. The rivalry betw D12 and them initiated a doll with a blond wig that is even on video in a backstage incident where it's labeled and kicked by Eminem. This could be why Kim says she was watching TV and saw this happen and made assumptions it was personal. Another version of this story is she was at a concert and the doll appeared and the audience laughed at her and she left the concert in humiliation and went home and slashed her wrists.To sum up, this is an enjoyable read though it's in very small font! If you download the book you can at least increase the font size.And you might find out something you didn't know before. Then again, you can't take anything at face value, keeping in mind everything is subjective.Lots of photos, all seemingly for official publication.

It was a good book, don’t get me wrong but pretty much all the author talked about was The Marshall Mathers LP and The Slim Shady LP. He did for many many chapters. I’m only on chapter 10 and there’s 17 chapters and he hasn’t even gotten into The Eminem Show. I don’t recommend this. I would like an up to date book that I actually can read and learn about eminem. I am a Stan and know almost every thing about him. It did give some good facts but overall the author just kept repeating stuff.

Thanks to amazon.com for excellent and fast customer service. Just super.A good beautiful book I advise Eminem fans to purchase such a book for the collection.

I liked the insights into the "real" Eminem. The person. He is a genius and even a book purportedly about his dark side comes off as a positive. Long live Em!

We all have them, sometimes they win, sometimes we do. Even people who seem to have everything are still products of their dysfunctional past. Enjoyed the book, love the man and his music.

This book retells the story of Eminem's life and perfectly shows the intensity and impact of the rap god. It is a truly inspiring tale told by someone who was well informed of Marshall Mathers' life. I would recommend this book to everyone, especially fans of Eminem.

I got this for my friend for Christmas and she loves it, really goes deep into Eminem's history and life.

I almost never read biographies, but something about Eminem made me want to know more. His public image as Slim Shady often incites anger and promotes the idea that he is without any moral compass - and yet in many interviews he comes across as a soft-spoken, intelligent, and honest man that is quite at odds with that public image.This book is sympathetically yet even-handedly written: Nick Hasted is the first to admit those times that his subject overstepped the mark, and yet manages to show us the damage - partly caused by we, the public, in our often-invasive want for celebrity gossip - that has made Marshall Mathers into the man he is. I was honestly moved by the accounts of his early life, and later his life in the goldfish bowl, and came away with the impression that this was the story of a mostly good man turned borderline insane by the crazy media-led society we live in.The middle portions of the book, detailing his many legal battles, home troubles, criminal convictions and inflamatory lyrics may turn many off him - I admit even I found some things distasteful, as I have some of his music, and I'm largely unshockable - but the latter chapters make up for that by showing us how those things can be overcome. Nick Hasted cleverly refuses to shy away from the more unsavoury parts of Em's story while somehow helping us to understand how culture, poverty, and issues of identity may have contributed to its happening.Eminem's battle with prescription drugs, alcohol, and lethargy ultimately make for inspiring reading, as he comes out the other side to one of the most impressive comebacks in recent music history. Listening to Recovery and its uplifting messages of re-birth and renewal, it's hard to believe just how far he's come.On a more personal level, I am myself on prescription painkillers for a long-standing condition, and have sleeping tablets likewise for when I need them. Reading this and watching Em's many candid interviews on drug use have made me think carefully every time I reach for the pills. I now stop to think "Do I need them at this moment? Am I actually in pain right now, or going by habit?" and it helps me make a more responsible decision on when to take them. So thank you, Marshall, and thank you, Nick, for this great story.

Great book. Really goes into great detail about what made eminem the international superstar he is and one of the best rappers of all time - trials and tribulations, demons, drugs and alcohol, the hood he grew up in, family and his motivation. You won't be disappointed.

I always knew eminem had it hardReading more and more you start to appreciateThe family you haveHe doesn't have a loving family.My heart goes out to him.More respect towards this fighter

Present for my Grandson who is a big fan of Eminem, he's very pleased with it.

I'm really enjoying this book. I love Eminem. This gives some insight to his life.