Life is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett
By Tony Bennett
Narrated by Joe Mantegna
5/5
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About this audiobook
In this beautiful and rich New York Times bestselling retrospective, the entertainment icon shares with his fans the life lessons he has learned throughout a career that spanned six decades. Illustrated with Bennett’s own hand-drawn artwork, Life Is a Gift is a work that will captivate, delight, and be cherished by fans and music lovers of all ages.
“Writing in the same style as he sings. . . Tony Bennett shares countless tales about showbiz, his famous friends, his family, and his artistic career. . . . [His] tips for happiness, success, and longevity are like music to the ears.” — Publishers Weekly
Legendary singer, artist, and performer Tony Bennett was one of the world's most beloved entertainers for more than six decades. From the 78 to the LP to the digital age, Tony did it all. Decade after decade, this artistic icon—who won twenty Grammys, sung for ten presidents, and performed for royalty—refused to compromise his vision or values. Even now, Bennett's popularity grows as new generations discover his timeless songs and incredible voice.
In this entertaining and thoughtful memoir, Bennett shares stories of friends and family and the essential lessons they taught him: of the value of hard work and of creating art that continues to inspire; of perseverance and a dedication to excellence; of the necessity of humility, love, respect, and, most important, gratitude. He pays tribute to all the remarkable talents he has had the honor to work with and to learn from, including Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and others.
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett (1926 – 2023) grew up in Astoria, Queens, during the Great Depression. After serving as an infantryman in World War II, he studied singing and signed with Columbia Records in 1950, releasing his first hit with the label in 1951. Over the course of his career, which spanned more than sixty years, he sold millions of albums that achieved gold and platinum status both in the United States and worldwide, and won twenty Grammy Awards.
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Reviews for Life is a Gift
2 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I've admired Tony Bennett for years. He is a consummate professional and a great singer. He is also a renowned artist.
This book is a little different, he gives hints and tips about how to make your life better. There is plenty of stories from him life and things that have happened to him but all are meant as examples of where you can make a choice and why some choices work out so well when other fail.
The "Zen" part are summaries of lessons he talked about at the end of each chapter.
Great writing, love the inside look at the entertainment industry but other than some disagreements (not fights, no dirt) he is so positive in what he writes that it is a joy to read.
If you like biographical books for the "dirt" they dish, this isn't the book for you. If you like biographical books that show how a person succeeded and why, you'll love this.