Review of "Heart Full of Soul" by Taylor Hicks

I purchased Heart Full of Soul by Taylor Hicks Thursday; I enjoyed the book immensely and read it in one setting. Taylor Hicks grabbed my interest and kept it held until the conclusion. In fact he has made me want a second volume.

In Heart Full of Soul, Taylor Hicks reveals some very painful years in his life, both as a child and as an adult. A few lines from the books description that really describes the foundation of the book are, "For the longest time, during some rough boyhood years in Alabama and the grind of performing on the road, the odds against me were discouraging. But there was always a voice inside telling me it was going to get better. In Heart Full of Soul, I share some life stories that will hopefully inspire you-give you a sense of my philosophy and how it drove me. For example, I talk about my good friend who died in a tragic accident and the prediction he made that tugged at my thoughts throughout Idol's qualifying rounds. A lot of great fans lined up behind me the night of the Idol finale. This book is about the strange path that led me to that pop-culture moment, and the sharp directional changes that occurred after that phenomenal night, including touring America, producing an album, and experiencing that two-sided gig known as American celebrity."

Heart Full of Soul is a very interesting and entertaining story of a man's desire and drive to live his dream. The book tells the story behind Taylor Hicks' success that explains both the strength of his character and the charming personality that sets him apart from the rest in the music business. Heart Full of Soul is a straightforward story of how one man believed, devoted himself to his passion, turned his pain into motivation and he is now living his dream.

Taylor Hicks shares with the reader stories from his life. Some of the things this man experienced would have broken the spirit and motivation of many. Taylor kept on though, he believed in himself and what he had to share with the world.

Any fan of Taylor Hicks knows how driven he is to work at his music. He has been performing every where or on tour nearly non - stop since he won American Idol. His commitment to his job of delivering great music and top-notch concerts to his fans is one of the things that fans love so much about Taylor Hicks. In Heart Full of Soul he shares that the Hicks side of the family is the ones who instilled in him the importance of working hard. However it just so happens that just like Taylor told me in an interview that I had with him in December, He loves his job. That shows with every concert or appearance he makes.

In Heart Full of Soul Taylor also shares with the readers a night that he corrupted Bucky Covington and Elliot Yamin and the three of them snuck out of the hotel away from the watchful eyes of American Idol.

I laughed out loud in parts of this book and felt sad in other parts. I also connected my own life in many parts. It is amazing how much in life we all crave the acknowledgment that we have talent or that someone is proud of us. In Heart Full of Soul Taylor Hicks shares his feelings of self-doubt and how he craved as much as the rest of us to be acknowledged in some way, even if it was just a pat on the back.

Near the end of the book there is a part that really hit me as being very motivating. "Even though life throws some tough breaks at you, there always remains that golden chance to make things better, but only if you keep trying. Don't stay home in bed waiting for somebody to come knocking on your door to deliver your big break. Ultimately, it's not incumbent on anybody else to get you what you need-it's up to you. Don't just wait for that magic wand to gently touch down on your shoulder because you could be waiting a long, long time."

No matter what it is you desire in life Heart Full of Soul is inspirational in showing that if you have a dream or desire it is up to you to keep on keeping on. Don't sit around waiting, do what it takes to make your dream happen and work hard at it.

Taylor's American Idol revelations are not as revealing as some fans would have liked, but I would assume that is because of his contract. He does tell enough that I think you can read between the lines and figure some of the meanings out for your self.

I always felt Taylor Hicks went into American Idol knowing exactly how to capture America's heart. After reading Heart Full of Soul I am convinced even more of this. Taylor Hicks is a very smart man. His journey is only beginning.

Taylor Hicks is a man who loves the music much more than the fame. He loves the support of his fans and thoroughly enjoys giving them the music they love.

This book is a must for any Taylor Hicks fan and also for anyone who enjoys an inspirational story. If you are struggling to live your dream and at times you feel like giving up or wonder why you are sticking with it, Heart Full of Soul could be just what you need to lift your spirits and show you it is worth chasing your dream because you never know when you might catch that dream, just like Taylor Hicks did.

Heart Full of Soul can be purchased online at amazon.com or your local Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart online, Barnes and Noble, Borders and many other stores. There is also a 3-CD audio-book read by Taylor Hicks.