More Myself audiobook

Listened to the audio which included a star studded line up of readers. Remarkable reflective life, admire her on so many fronts. Was a wonderful audio experience.

I have grown up listening to Alicia Keys and she has been such an inspiration. She is amazingly talented and I enjoyed this memoir about her life, family and career.

First, let me just say that Alicia deserves every bit of recognition and appraise she gets from her music, to her persona, to this newly released book. I had no idea that she had such a complex story to share - let alone so similar to my own. She brings us on a journey through her life growing up in the little condo in New York City - Hell's kitchen - and discusses the struggles her mother faced being a single parent and hustling around to make enough to provide. Above that, she's had to overcome challenges with her father being out of the picture, providing for his second wife and children. She had to deal with many issues of abandonment and loneliness. One thing I found so relatable was that she leans on music for comfort through this loneliness and pain. Of course, she showed us the many struggles that musicians face in the music industry - self image, being seen through the public eye, meeting other people's expectations, trying to fit in to the current trends. What I love about Alicia is how resilient she is. She faced struggles about how to respond to these issues, but she still chose to keep her identity and rise above it, and I think that is so important. She had challenges with relationships but the relationship she had that broke my heart was when she was talking about the passing of her grandmother. I literally started balling my eyes out, because I could sense the amount of pain she must have been feeling based on her word choice and the way she mentioned her throughout the book. This made her so much stronger, because with pain comes strength and I think that's a great life lesson to learn from. Honestly, I loved this book. I read the entire thing in two days, and saw some of herself in me. I think most of us can agree that during some point in our lives we come to the question: who am I really? Being in my 20's, still relatively new to being an adult and figuring out who I am, she really made me feel like I'm not alone and there are ways to cope. She is so beautiful and resilient and I am so proud of her. I have been a fan since her first debut - Fallin'. When I was a little girl, I remember singing it in the car with my siblings. "No one" and "Brand New Me" still rank as my favorites, but you can't go wrong with any of her songs, because she is so original. The fact that she writes all her own music while playing the piano really has lots to say about her talent, and the explanation for all her success and grammy awards.I want to thank her for sharing her growth and experiences with the world, because I really feel like she has impacted me in a significant way. After she discussed how she went to Egypt because she needed that time for herself - a chance to heal and listen to her inner voice - that really made me want to hop in my car and drive as far away from here as possible, because I can relate to feeling that way all the time! It's unfortunate that many woman don't see their true independence and strength and just take a break from the world and say "I'm doing this for me because I'm worth it". She represents the exact image of what it means to be a woman: strong, powerful, resilient, beautiful, and unique. I loved this book so much, and would highly recommend! If you aren't already a fan, you will be when you're done reading this!

Probably more like a 3.5⭐️ but the audiobook is so damn good.

Finally a book that I’ve loved and can recommend to everyone! Alicia Keys is not only a talented musician, singer and songwriter but she’s got a depth to her that I truly admire and aspire to! In my opinion, this book is up there with Michelle Obama, Glennon Doyle, Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert. I listened to this book and would recommend that you do too. Don’t speed it up.... take the time to learn at a slower pace and be soothed by her voice and wisdom. Some favorite quotes that resonated with me and that I want to remember: “It dawned on me how often I’d suppressed myself over the years, how I dim my light so it wouldn’t blind others or make them uncomfortable around me.”“At certain moments, I even dumbed myself down or chose not to talk about the many blessings I had received. I fear that if I shared my experience in its entirety, if I took the lid off my joy, it would push others away or make them feel small.”“Some parts of my spirit was always signing up for less because that is what I believed I deserved. For so many years I thought I was just being modest. I never wanted to come across as self absorbed. It’s how we women are brought up; don’t ask for more, don’t take credit, don’t outshine others.”“My alleged modesty was just a disguise, a mask for a lack of self worth. It was a huge revelation. For me, the seed of worthlessness was planted in childhood.”“And when I reveal my true heart, not everyone is going to approve. What I know know is that I don’t need them to.”“It’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment when we internalize others assessments; it’s usually not just a single experience but rather a series of moments that bruise the spirit and lead us to distrust ourselves and those around us. And then we wake up at 17 or 25 or 37 and realize we don’t know the last time we’ve lived life to only please ourselves.”“An aha moment is not a happy ending-it’s an open doorway, one you have to choose to walk through.”

3.75|5Wow, I definitely haven’t expected to like this book so much. I adored listening to this narrated by Alicia and her guests (Oprah and Michelle are there 🤯), she’s such a ray of light and such a force of nature in the same time. Her writing can be poetic but factual also, you can definitely see her talent bleed into everything she wrote.I wasn’t the biggest fan of Alicia before, but after this book I understand her so much better and I will follow her projects more closely. She’s a truly inspiration.

This is a great autio book read by the author. It was a faboulas account of her struggles through life and her tryumphs which were many.

I enjoyed the peek into Alicia's world...I loved how she talked about trying to resolve some life issues, finding and understanding real love, self-discovery, awakening, sisterhood and forgiveness....This was a really nice read and her adding people to contribute to her story like her husband, her parents, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Bono to name a few....Alicia narrated the book...who better to tell her story.

I'm a few generations away from being in Alicia Keys' main demographic music-wise. . .and really didn't follow her on her rise up in the world. My girls may have? I picked up this book because it was recommended, and I was hoping it would prove me wrong about my theory of young celebrities writing their memoirs. . . .they are too young to really have a clear hindsight perspective. . . .of course everyone gets to have thoughts on the backward looks at their experience. No doubt about that. It's just if you have something to cast out on the waters to the rest of the world, it really helps to have a variety of experiences and years in the saddle. Other than that no judgment here - it was an interesting read, she's got a great support group, she's a hard-worker, and seems to be generous and kind. She's talented in the ways the world wants her to be, as they prove with each and every dollar.She's just so young. I will revisit when she does her later memoirs.3.5 stars, rounded up.

I enjoyed that she narrated this herself! Celebrities never share much on these memoirs but still thoroughly enjoyed the vibe.

Alicia Keys was indeed my very first girl crush, of which has indeed been restored!!! I'm going to say what no one else will say... I was mad at AK... over AK, really because of all the buffoonery that I was hearing about she and Swizz and I honestly feel stupid for allowing that to permeate my consciousness.I don't think that there has been a more humble woman on the planet! The things I have learned from this book simply astounds me and I could not stop reading. THIS BOOK has been just a breath of fresh air! I loved this story and the way that it ebbed and flowed. I love the journey that we took to learn Alicia, her reasons for what we did and did not see and finally her becoming a mother. This book was honest, raw, open and a wonderful recant of the life that she has lived. The familial relationships and the growth that they showed left nothing to be desired and the story of her grandmother—had me near tears.Finally, the book was heartfelt and I simply took everything at face value, no judgement and with that Ali has made her way back into my heart lol—I’ve learned that we are more alike than not! It’s a TOPS!!! 💚💚💚

I read this book cover to cover within one week, savouring, enjoying, like a piece of chocolate. it is a book of poetry, a book of realness and authenticity. reading it I became more myself.I recommend Audible edition, as Alicia narrates the story herself, includes some songs and guest appearances. It made it so real and close!

Absolutely beautiful. This is a bit awkward, I'm more of a fan of her than her music. After 9/11 I saw her playing in a tribute performance. At that time, I thought "what a beautiful young woman, and her music is amazing and her voice and..." I bought her first album and loved it. However, I have not followed through. Her next album and her next and her next... didn't quite connect. Never the less, their is something real about her that makes me respect. This book is the story of her life so far and I can't remember being more choked up at more of anyone else's memoir. She manages to keep it real to the extent that I found myself rooting for her as I read. She is amazing.Love her music or not, Alicia Keys is an icon and an artist that represents an era. She is also a spiritual person whose soul is enlightened. Alicia knows who she is and communicates that with such intensity that her words are moving. I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Alicia tells her story and pulls you into her spiritual journey. This book is well written, a well crafted journey. I enjoyed every step. I am also re-listening to her entire catalog which is well crafted and more interesting than I initially thought. I've always been impressed by her voice and piano virtuosity, but her hip hop production and pop stylization have always put me off. Listening again for the first time I hear the subtle inflection and chord changes that make her original in a way I had not heard before. She is the real deal. Check out her book and her songs. Alicia Keys is truly an artist for the ages.

You Don’t Know My Name, but you know hers—Alicia!!! No One, Not Even the King could write a memoir this moving and creative and inspirational. As you read, you can’t help but Fallin in love with Alicia and the way she rose to fame and uses her platform for good. She takes you with her from where NYC gave her an Empire State of Mind, to Egypt where she explored empowering history and her roots, to center stage at the Grammys. She makes you feel like one of her girls as she explores all the things that make her Unbreakable--like at any moment she might turn to you and say, I have nothing If I Ain’t Got You. And it’s not just her story—after reading this book, I feel like a Brand New Me, ready to find my inner Girl on Fire. PS-Audio this one! She reads beautifully, sings occasionally, and has a full cast of stars and people close to her who intro every chapter.

Besides being my favorite genre, this book is such a lovely audiobook. Alicia Keys is the real deal in so many ways. I loved hearing her background, perspective, and insights—even when, and maybe especially when—they differ from my own views. Mad respect for Alicia Keys and all she does and has accomplished. I’ve been rediscovering her music too which is an absolute delight.

A journey sure describes the life of Alicia Keys. Money and fame without humility, mentors, spirituality and piano here, or otherwise some kind of external creative outlet, I can't even imagine.I definitely do not want excess money or fame. This is comforting to be sure of.

It was amazing. Alicia Keys is warm and honest. This memoir tells the story of her life so far and how she lost, and found, herself along the way. It was a lovely read and her style is just lush. I couldn’t put it down.