Bart Simpson isn’t the only boy who grew up in a town called Springfield and struggled with school.  So did Dave Grohl, iconic drummer for Nirvana and leader of the Foo Fighters.

The liner notes describe Grohl’s autobiographical work as a ‘collection of moments’ in his life, and that is exactly what this book is.  The book is not exactly linear, with flashbacks and flash forwards in most of the chapters. More structure might be better for readers not already familiar with his work and career.  It may also be that Grohl doesn’t see his life as one built to travel a linear path to some clearly defined pinnacle of stardom.

Sure, Grohl gets older and goes from childhood heartbreak to playing at the White House and the Oscars, but this isn’t a ‘how to succeed’ guide. Instead we are treated to the memories of a man who revels in the experience of being a musician with few expectations.  This book demonstrates Grohl’s deep commitment to giving his fans the best show that he can, whether it is in a small club like the Rivoli in Toronto or a stadium in Sweden with a freshly fractured foot. 

The narrative is humble and describes a career built on good fortune and a single-minded focus on being the best musician he can be.  Even when he talks about his friend Paul (McCartney), he isn’t bragging.  Grohl is the ultimate fan-boy, seemingly surprised to have been noticed and grateful for having the opportunity to play with greats such as Tom Petty, AC/DC and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. Even after 30 years in the industry, he is still nervous and excited when he gets the chance to play with Joan Jett .

While his is clearly a talented musician, his super power is staying grounded – most of the time. He does fly halfway around the planet and back to get to a father-daughter dance while on tour in Australia and introduces a friend’s mother to her musical idol Neil Diamond because Dave’s playing a show with him.

If you are looking to understand stardom, why Kurt Cobain overdosed or how to get an album made, this isn’t your book.  Grohl isn’t ready (or interested?) in providing deeper answers to big questions.  Instead this book provides an easy to read and entertaining story of a high school dropout from the suburbs of Washington DC.  A drop-out who finds a career he loves, settles down and builds a family. Maybe there’s hope for Bart Simpson.