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A sweeping and evocative memoir from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Award-winning, platinum selling singer-songwriter Michael McDonald, written with his friend, Emmy Award-nominated actor, comedian, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Paul Reiser.
Doobie Brothers. Steely Dan. Chart topping soloist. Across a half-century of American music, Michael McDonald’s unmistakably smooth baritone voice defined an era of rock and R&B with hit records like “What A Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “Peg,” “It Keeps You Running,” “You Belong to Me,” and “Yah Mo B There.”
In his candid, freewheeling memoir, written with his friend, the Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, Michael tells the story of his life and music. A high school dropout from Ferguson, Missouri, Michael chased his dreams in 1970’s California, a heady moment of rock opportunity and excess. As a rising session musician and backing vocalist, a series of encounters would send him on a wild ride around the world and to the heights of rock stardom—from joining Steely Dan and becoming a defining member of The Doobie Brothers to forging a path as a breakout solo R&B artist.
Interwoven with the unforgettable tales of the music, Michael tells a deeply affecting story of losing and finding himself as a man. He reckons with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him, the drug and alcohol addictions that plagued him, and the highs and lows of popularity. Along the way he relays the lessons he’s learned, and that if he’s learned anything at all it’s that there’s often little correlation between what you get and what you deserve.
Filled with unbelievable stories and a matchless cast of music greats including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, and Quincy Jones, What a Fool Believes is a moving and entertaining memoir that is sure to be a classic.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Abait –
It’s a great look back over the years and all the great music and all the details surrounding different songs and how they came to be. I’ve admired him for years and went to each and every concert I possibly could, in my area. A big surprise is stories of other entertainers that he worked with and the details of his thoughts and contributions to other works. A great bonus is in the back of the book all the pages with the anthology of all other creative works that he was involved with. He is truly amazing. I’m glad that I have this book to refer to and cherish his career.
Amazon Customer –
Biographie Rock a lire absolument. On connais tous les chansons et cette voix Soul…
Lisa –
What’s beautifully written story. Great snippets of the LA music scene, his gratitude for being in the right place at the right time. I thoroughly enjoyed learning this man’s journey! So talented and so humble. Thank you Michael McDonald! Thank you Paul Reiser for helping to bring this to all of us fans 🍀
He Said She Said –
I saw an article about the audio book “What a Fool Believes” on AP News and decided to give it a try. It was a complete joy. Michael McDonald’s descriptions of his time line and stories are so vivid I felt like I was there. Maybe I found it very relatable because I was a wannabe musician in my younger days. There’s a lot of great behind the scenes trivia with the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan as well as other major musicians and performers. I really appreciated his honesty and humility in presenting the happy and sad stories and events in his life. Every once in a while he would speak about vocal or keyboard techniques that he picked up along the way – which for a musician is a real bonus. There’s a brief but very enjoyable podcast-like interview/dialog between Michael McDonald and is co-writer Paul Reiser at the end. Man I loved this audio book.
The Cape –
I grew up around six blocks from Michael and about two blocks from North St. Louis’ City “Club Imperial,” below was a music store where I took lessons after bringing my guitar down behind me in my wagon, for it was too far to carry. Club Imperial was on the second floor. Unfortunately, I went for my lesson, and the store he music store was firebombed; an attack on “Club Imperial” wasn’t successful, but the music store was toast. My career was halted. Then Northland Shopping Center, Velvet Freeze (St. Louis Ice Cream), and EJ Korvette stores brought many memories of my youth. They are all gone. It was one tough neighborhood in the early seventies and a complete war zone now, but home. I was lucky and made it out, and I was about five years younger than Michael. I have enjoyed his Music since I first saw his name on that Steely Dan album. Years ago, he used to return and place and play in the Ferguson/Florissant days. I have an excellent bootleg copy of one of those concerts and have purchased everything Michael has recorded in about every form: album, cassette, CD, remaster, etc. One of the best entertainers of our generation. It’s a fantastic book; it is as honest and open as you would think he would be. Listen to the Music!
Retiredteacher2022 –
I really enjoyed reading up on the history of Michael MacDonald. It was great that he collaborated with comedian/actor Paul Reiser to present his life story. If you love 70s/80s music, this would be a great book to read.
JP –
Too big a fan not to love this book. On occasion, he’s less focused on how his tunes were built and why or how he truly felt while among his fans at his concerts. But, those were the only limitations. A great, honest, intimate memoir from a music giant.
Beep –
I’m a fan of musical bios and Michael McDonald’s work, so I preordered this memoir in anticipation. I had listened to and enjoyed several of the advance interviews that he and Paul Reiser did to promote the book, and couldn’t wait to dive in. However, upon finally being able to read it, I found that many of the colorful stories shared during the interviews fell short in the book; there was really not as much extra context or background given. The essential stories about young Michael’s stage debut, picking up (and nearly dropping) a pivotal gig for the Emergency! tv show cast party, the Steely Dan tour dates (the ballerinas, the hummus!) and more are without much additional color commentary whereas the stories are lively and humorous when told in person by McDonald. I really hoped the book would’ve been more in depth, not the other way around.
The other problem, and arguably the biggest in my opinion, is that many of the chapters read in Reiser’s personal punchy, comedy set-up writing style as seen in his own books (Couplehood, Babyhood) and as a result, they come across with Reiser’s signature delivery instead of McDonald’s voice. Eventually I was able to settle in to McDonald’s voice, but not until I was at the midway point.
My favorite parts were once McDonald gets into his career with Steely Dan, Doobies and his own solo and studio work. I love reading artist bios to pick up tidbits on how songs were written, albums were made and connections were cemented in music history, and the recent autobiographies by McDonald contemporaries Elton John and Toto’s Steve Lukather are stand outs in my mind. I wish there had been more industry insider kind of material here, but perhaps those details fell victim to the editor’s pen or else they are just vague recollections from the hazy, substance-fueled 1970s and 80s.
Overall, I give What A Fool Believes 3.5 out of 5 stars, but rounding up to 4 because the final chapter has a beautiful closing paragraph, and I’m a sucker for a full-circle moment.
Steve_2020 –
Loved this autobiography. If you’re a fan of Michael McDonald or the Doobie Brothers you probably will too. I’ve followed Mike’s career by reading various articles in music magazines over the years and thought i somewhat knew his story, but turns out I had no idea. He fills in the details in What A Fool Believes.
I got the audiobook version and am glad I did. Hearing Mike read his own book is wonderful and I feel it adds a lot, especially to the many dryly humorous moments and stories. I found myself laughing out loud.
His story is not all roses (whose is?) yet it’s still an ultimately uplifting book by one of our great singers and songwriters. Is it possible for a guy this talented to be this humble? I also read the recent book by Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons this year; according to them, the answer is yes. He’s also a deeply soulful singer and musician -but we already knew that.
Michael Williams –
WHAT A FANTASTIC BOOK COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN READ IN TWO DAYS SO ENTERTAINING AND THOROUGHLY HONEST ABOUT HIS JOURNEY TO NOW WITH NO SUBJECTS HIDDEN. I LIKE HIM EVEN MORE AND HAVE BOUGHT SOME OF HIS BACK CATALOGUE I HADN’T GOT ALREADY. I WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT HIM NOW.
Jean Marie Manning –
I have been a fan of Michael McDonald since a young girl. This book is beautifully written and it great insight to such an amazingly talented artist. Truly unbelievable the artist Michael has collaborated with. You will enjoy this read.
Great book from one of the greatest singers to ever live –
Great book from one of the greatest singers of all time Mr Michael McDonald and the guy who sent Ellen Ripley and those colonial marines off to die on LV426…anyway, great read from beginning to end.
Robert L. –
I’ve been a fan for years, so I had to buy and read this book. Good “road” stories, good stuff about how certain songs came to be. But did he really have to include the names of everyone he ever encountered in the music business?