Whilst this book would purport to give a true and unbiased insight into Paul Weller over a number of years through the eyes of someone who was a close friend, it comes across as a lifes account that is really quite spiteful, vindictive and vitriolic. While Hewitt at times will try to write what he see's as remarks which are generous and praiseworthy (and they are) in the next sentence he will make comments that appear so nasty and spiteful that anything of a generous nature said before is lost in his poison pen. I would suggest that this is far from what should be a balanced view which is a shame as with the access to material, experiences and the man himself that Hewitt has had he has missed the chance (I feel) to write a really good, balanced and informative book. At the start he alludes to a falling out between the 2 of them saying that Weller and himself are 'no longer friends' but does not say why. He obviously has his own resons for keeping this quiet but by letting the reader… more »

Whilst this book would purport to give a true and unbiased insight into Paul Weller over a number of years through the eyes of someone who was a close friend, it comes across as a lifes account that is really quite spiteful, vindictive and vitriolic. While Hewitt at times will try to write what he see's as remarks which are generous and praiseworthy (and they are) in the next sentence he will make comments that appear so nasty and spiteful that anything of a generous nature said before is lost in his poison pen. I would suggest that this is far from what should be a balanced view which is a shame as with the access to material, experiences and the man himself that Hewitt has had he has missed the chance (I feel) to write a really good, balanced and informative book. At the start he alludes to a falling out between the 2 of them saying that Weller and himself are 'no longer friends' but does not say why. He obviously has his own resons for keeping this quiet but by letting the reader know why it would allow them to judge in a more favourable way the material he has put to paper here. He has been critical enough of the man himself in here and I would suggest if the falling out was down to something Weller had said or done to him then he would have bared it here as he has with everything else. I can then only conclude that he was at fault somewhere and Weller has turned his back on him. He's right in one respect, friendship and loyalty are everything to Weller and if he has done something to loose that then thats why he is 'out in the cold'...maybe this book was it. If you are a Weller fan then it is something that maybe you should read. however do not expect something that appears fair and balanced whilst in places being critical at the same time. It is unbalanced and in places down right nasty (In my opinion) and if you are not a Weller fan then I do not think it will give you as much of an insight into the man himself as it could have done and there are certainly more informative and interesting books out there that can do that. Hweitt has missed an opportunity to write an incredible book here with all the material he had to hand and instead has written a book that is thin and watery, lacking substance that appears to come from a stance of wanting to stick the knife in the back and twist it in deep.