Yanni in Words FROM OUR EDITORS
For a self-taught musician, Yanni has had almost unparalleled success. His albums have sold more than 20 million copies, and he has performed live for more than 3 million people in countries around the world. In Yanni in Words, he retraces the path of his amazing career and explains why he suddenly chose to spend three years out of the public eye.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Yanni is practically a force of nature. Not only has he sold over 20 million albums worldwide, and earned 35 gold and platinum awards, this inspirational artist has entertained millions more with his groundbreaking concert events at the Acropolis, in Athens, at India's Taj Mahal, and in China's Forbidden City. No wonder the Washington Post called Yanni's career "a miracle, a lesson in pluck that could be taught in business school, preached from pulpits and woven into bedtime stories." And yet, even Yanni's greatest fans know very little about the man behind the music.
Yanni in Words is the remarkably forthright, never-before-told story of the critically acclaimed musician's personal odyssey: from his childhood under a Greek military dictatorship to success as his country's national 50-meter swimming champ at fourteen; from his college years at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a degree in psychology; to his wild years playing rock and roll across America before going solo. Yanni openly discusses his intense nine-year relationship with Linda Evans (Linda herself contributed to the book); his battle for respect from critics and a music industry bewildered by his new style of contemporary instrumental music; the journey through a burn-out depression that threatened to derail his career and prevented him from touching a piano for a year; and his eventual recovery and return. This is a story of how a single-minded musical vision and indomitable will to be heard became the source of Yanni's biggest frustrations, greatest triumphs, and deepest insights about creativity.
Yanni in Words is also a love letter to his parents, under whose enlightened and gentle guidance he learned lessons about love and truth that have lasted a lifetime. It is brimming with a clear-eyed understanding of the human condition, the rewards of original thinking, and the secrets of satisfaction -- all of which evolved as Yanni confronted challenge after challenge in pursuit of his musical dreams. Yanni in Words also includes an exploration of the creative process by which Yanni composes his unique music -- and that anyone can use to pursue their own creativity. As poignantly memorable as it is unprecedentedly candid, this is the story everyone has been waiting to read. Yanni in Words is heartfelt, open, inspirational, honest, and emotional. Just like Yanni's music. Only in words.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The platinum-selling electronic don t call him New Age instrumentalist Yanni tends to inspire strong opinions, and this ambitious autobiography, which Yanni calls a book about a life of challenges, lessons, dreams, and obstacles, is unlikely to change any of them. Yanni, with the help of Rensin (who similarly aided Tim Allen and Chris Rock with their memoirs), adopts a conversational, occasionally almost condescending tone, full of tics like Mind you and Can you imagine? . He recounts his idyllic childhood in a Greek village; his high school years as a champion swimmer; his time in rock bands (complete with groupies and cocaine); his nine-year love affair with Linda Evans; his near-breakdown; and his determination to make and market his music. Throughout, his plainspokenness is jarringly juxtaposed with show-offy references to the likes of Socrates and Schopenhauer. His claims that anyone could match his success if only he or she tried hard enough, perhaps meant to be inspirational, come off instead as preachy. In his acknowledgments, Yanni writes that words have never been my medium ; fortunately, his fans love him for his music. (Feb.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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