From the Publisher
"In the process of revealing the human being behind the artist, Ricky Martin offers us a testimonyof exemplary honesty and greatness of soul. While I was reading, I remembered averse from the Persian poet Hafez, ‘Not even seven thousand years of joy can justify sevenyears of repression.’"—Paulo Coelho
"Ricky Martin has written an extraordinary memoir, the story of a tortured soul who healedhimself by returning to the state of innocence and authenticity. His story will speak to you,because it is, in a sense, the story of humanity—of the sacred and the profane, of forbidden lust and unconditional love. It takes courage to be so ruthlessly honest and transparent, but it is only this kind of courage and this kind of love that can heal the world. Bravo!"—Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Library Journal
Forget about "Livin' la Vida Loca." What pop megastar Martin offers is more like "Livin' la Vida Espiritual." He reviews his career, from his years toiling in the boy band Menudo, to acting in soap operas, to launching his solo singing career. By the late 1990s, Martin topped the Latin charts, dominated the world with the "La Copa de la Vida," the anthem for the 1998 World Cup, and quickly won over the English-language market. A chance encounter in Bangkok with a fellow Puerto Rican (and former Buddhist monk) set Martin on a spiritual journey, and the results permeate this book. At its worst, this memoir is superficial, redundant, and full of easy platitudes. At its best, Martin provides an insightful look at personal issues, such as his decision to become a father through surrogacy. Sexual identity—both his struggle with understanding his own sexuality and his decision, earlier this year, to reveal that he is gay—is an important theme, and one that Martin handles well. Verdict Avoiding any name-dropping, sensationalism, or self-exploitation, Martin takes the high road. As a result, this earnest memoir will appeal solely to Martin's serious fan base.—Brian Kenney, Library Journal
